The Extra Man Opens SIFF this Thursday!
The folks at SIFF go out of their way to make the opening and closing nights of their festival something of a grand event. They roll out the red carpet, throw an after party and generally class things up for the occasion. The films haven't always been the highlights (The Notebook , for example, opened the 2004 festival) but the point of the night itself is all about celebration. Fortunately, this year the festival kicks off with what looks to be a winner in The Extra Man
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We've read the novel by Jonathan Ames, and while it's always a crapshoot as to whether a good book will translate to the screen, we'll wager the fine cast of Paul Dano, Kevin Kline and John C. Reilly, along with the directors of American Splendor, will prove to have the chops necessary to deal with the elegant and sometimes bizarre source material.
The story follows a young, self-proclaimed 'gentleman' named Louis, who moves to New York in search of the kind of lifestyle that can only be found in F. Scott Fitzgerald novels. He rents a room with an old playwright named Henry (played by Kevin Klein) who hires himself out as an escort to rich, older women. Louis hopes that Henry will help him out with his plan becoming a great gentleman, with the only small hiccup being his increasing desire to steal women's underwear and sleep with transexuals. Of course, hilarity and self-discovery ensue.
Benaroya Hall // 7 p.m. // May 20th // Tickets $50-200
