SIFF: First Blood
At long last, after months and months of announcements and press releases, it's finally time to kick off the 33rd annual Seattle International Film Festival. Tonight's the opening gala event (7pm), held for the first time at SIFF's swanky new digs at McCaw Hall. This year's opening night film--Son of Rambow--much like last year's, falls somewhere in between previous year's selections, including the mawkish abomination that is The Notebook and the precious artsy genius of Me and You and Everyone We Know. Rambow won't be out in U.S. theaters until 2008, so this screening is way early, offering you the ability come next year to sigh and say to your lesser-connected friends, "Son of Rambow? Oh, I saw that last spring."
We were lucky enough to wander into the film's first showing at Sundance this year, where it debuted to audience accolades and a $7 million pick-up from Paramount Vantage, making it the most expensive purchase at the 2007 fest, and one of the biggest price tags for a Sundance film ever. So is it worth seven million bucks (or, for that matter, your hard-earned cash)? Well, Paramount is banking on the fact that everybody loves a) cute kids, b) quirky coming-of-age flicks, and c) the '80s, and for the most part, the film delivers on that crowd-pleasing promise.
The directorial team behind The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy spins their yarn about the unlikely friendship that develops between two young boys in 1980s Britain: Will, the spazzy, imaginative, over-protected kid and Lee Carter, the wealthy, under-supervised troublemaker. They bond over a viewing of Rambo: First Blood and attempt to make a home movie sequel of their own (hence the misspelled title). This isn't a groundbreaking plot, but the novice young actors show off some solid (and heartfelt) chops and the film has some dynamic art direction, which allows Will's daydreams and drawings to come to life in clever childlike ways.
Tickets for tonight's gala are $50 for the general public, $45 for SIFF members, available here. If you wish attend the gala in style, with valet parking, a private pre-screening reception (5pm in the Allen Room at McCaw Hall), reserved seating, access to the post-screening VIP lounge, and a swag bag, it's $200 ($195 for SIFF members) to be a VIP, or upgrade your already-purchased tickets to VIP status for $150 more. Confusing and pricey? Yes, but all three options are still available, and the entry fees also serve as fundraising for SIFF Group. After tonight, it'll be one day down, only a month of films to go.
