THE SEARCH FOR MR. ADEQUATE
10/27/06

By Susan Silver

So I went to the Hampton’s Film Festival for the first time. It was not the glitzy glamour of Sundance or even Toronto, but I had a great time.

First of all, it was beautiful out there, the leaves all turning into glorious reds and oranges. And second, my friends Lil and Lennie are the best. And even 5 days away can seem like a month if you are really relaxed and having fun.

Now to the movies: First on the program was a very interesting, if depressing film on Iraq. Probably, the first real time comprehensive movie about this war, it’s called ‘The Situation,’ which is the term used by most people living through it. A drama based on the true time spent there by a female journalist, it did not take sides. But by its complexity and nuance, gave a portrayal of a country that is impossible to control.

There are too many factors that lead to the quagmire. Tribalism, corruption on all sides, history, survival based on double dealing, all mitigate against any kind of solution. Not black and white, it had all shades of gray in its portrayals of the players, be they our government, military, or the Iraquis. The sadness that you are left with after seeing this film really resonated with us.

A real disappointment to me (given that you Dear Readers know how much I love Hugh Jackman) was “The Fountain.” Directed by a talented if quirky filmmaker, Darren Aronofsky who did PI, this was a pretentious time travel piece that was sometimes interesting visually, but made no sense. And my darling Hugh was either in tears or wild eyed through the whole piece. Sigh.

A better showing for actors was ‘Black Irish’ an ensemble piece about…you got it, an Irish family. Though the script was loaded with some fairly stereotypical beats, the performances were amazing. It really worked.

But my favorite, in fact probably one of the best films ever, for me…was the new Will Ferrell movie…yes he can act. It’s called ‘Stranger Than Fiction’  and had the intellectually challenging kind of writing I adore and admire. The director, Marc Forster, also did ‘Monster’s Ball’ and ‘Finding Neverland’ which shows his great range.

The premise is brilliant…a man who leads a really dull, ordinary life suddenly hears a voice. But not a psycho voice, rather a woman who is narrating his life! As it happens, she says it, as she is writing it. He has to track her down and stop her, because she is planning on killing her ‘character’ off. Only it’s for real!

Emma Thompson is the writer, Dustin Hoffman the literary professor he turns to help him figure out who the writer might be. It is fabulous! I can’t recommend it enough. The only people who will be disappointed are the young silly fans of Will Ferrell’s more high school mentality films. He is quite good in this and it’s serious stuff, though very amusing.

We saw some short films, which don’t usually play in theaters commercially and then there was an interview with director Robert Altman. He is funny, interesting and still kicking…at 80ish. Always a rebel outside of the system, he really has had an amazing body of work when you see the list of his films.

And I didn’t know he’d started in TV with Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

As to the rest of the time, we ate ourselves silly. We hit all the good restaurants. And for the man situation, I met two really cute guys…both married. Another sigh. Though there was a young cute guy who really hit on me, too young. But it’s always nice to be hit on nicely!

Back home, I finally got to see the movie I’ve been waiting for. ‘Borat’ the raucous new comedy starring my favorite genius, Sasha Baron Cohen, doing his Kazakhstan character.

If you’ve never seen him, I’ll warn you ahead of time. He does three

characters who are satirical troublemakers. He actually interviews real people, mostly famous in government and asks them outlandish awful questions and they sit there in shock, but answer! The only two who I ever saw walk out were Marlin Fitzwater and Donald Trump. Everyone else actually thinks he’s a real journalist and it is to die for laughing-wise.

This film is mostly real people, not actors being suckered by him. Remember that. That’s why it’s so priceless, he exposes peoples prejudices and eggs them on to horrific conversation.

He had a series on HBO and I can recite almost all of it, that’s how much I love him. He’s a Brit and loves physical comedy, toilet humor and other gross things, which I usually do not, but when he does them, what can I say…I’m his! And you will never and I mean never get the picture of him in a bikini/slingshot out of your mind.

This movie is his trip across America to find Pamela Anderson and there are so many laughs I can’t think of another time I laughed so hard. The four guys I went with…don’t get excited, all friends of my friend the film critic, were falling out of their seats.

I cannot recommend this to people who are politically correct. But if you are not, run to see this as it will be the biggest cult classic, or even commercial comedy classic ever!

Final Warning: there is male nudity, really ugly bodies and quasi satirical ‘gay porn.’ I told you it wasn’t politically correct! I just put my hands over my eyes a few times. Talk about horror…a 250 pound fat naked guy running through a real hotel lobby chased by a skinny naked guy ala Laurel and Hardy.

All around the town

I had a very busy week with breakfasts, yes I actually got up, lunches and cocktail parties. My room looks like a cyclone hit it with clothes strewn all over the place.

The breakfasts and lunches were political which I love as we get close to this very important election. The cocktail party was literary, which I love as well.

A new magazine for women is called “Shattered.” Isn’t that an interesting title? It implies the glass ceiling of course, but also has the connotation of exhausted, tired of the status quo as the publisher, a real smart young entrepreneur from England named Julie Ros expressed it. It’s a kind of different take on business magazines and very well done.

This party held at Christie’s was really friendly, unlike most where people huddle with the people they know and don’t talk to you unless someone thinks you are important. She was a great hostess, introducing people and I met some very cool young execs as well as some terrific women of accomplishment. And one of my favorites, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, was there as she is a guest editor at the publication.

The party honored the mag’s cover subject, the French woman who is the head of Clicquot, Inc the American subsidiary of the great champagne house. Her name is Mireille Guiliano and she wrote the best seller of last year, ‘French Women Don’t Get Fat.’ She was very chic and not fat.

The best part of the whole deal was the champagne! You DR’s know I love and only can drink champagne and this was the BEST I’ve ever had. Usually I drink two glasses and this time I drank four without pain…although I had a hell of a hangover as I had to get up for one of those darn breakfasts.  

A busy fun week and a usual I am always amazed at how hard it is to be depressed when you are out and about! Till next time…

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