Hollywood Chainsaw Blogger » ct film fest reviews

15th
SEP

CT Film Fest Press Conference Today

Posted by chainsaw under CT film fest survival guide, ct film fest, ct film fest reviews

With the Common Council recently giving the green light to allocate $65,000, the organizers of the CT Film Festival are holding a press conference at the Palace Theater today, presumably to kick-off this year’s festival.

The festival will once again climax in Danbury in late May or early June – the organizers will firm up dates today.

Here is the press release festival organizer Tom Carruthers sent out last week:

Dear Community Stakeholders, Sponsors & Members of The Press;

State of Connecticut Representative, Jason Bartlett
&
The Connecticut Film Festival
Would like your presence at a very important press conference on:

Monday, Sept. 15th at 1:00pm at
The Palace Theater, 165 Main St. Danbury

The purpose of this press conference is to announce:
·   The dates, the future plans and expanded scope for the 2009 Danbury festival
·   Additional funding from the State of Connecticut
·   Network with other community stakeholders and sponsors

There will be a light snack and beverages available

Speaking will be:

State Representative
Jason Bartlett

Director of City Center Danbury
Andrea Gartner

Danbury’s Director of Economic Development
Wayne Shepperd

The Honorable Danbury Mayor
Mark Boughton

Northwest Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau Director
Jim Whitney

Connecticut Film Festival Director
Tom Carruthers

Dr. James Schmotter
President of Western Connecticut State University

Connecticut Speaker of The House of Representatives
James Amann

Parking is available behind the Palace Theater. Access lot about midway on Keeler Street.

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Read all about last year’s festival (May 08) by clicking the tags.

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23rd
MAY

CT FILM FEST REVIEW: “Americanizing Shelley”

Posted by chainsaw under ct film fest reviews

Here is a reprint of News-Times staffer Carolyn Mueller’s review of “Americanizing Shelley,” which plays Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Palace. The CT Film Folks are rolling out a red carpet around 6:30 p.m. and will be honoring New Milford’s Christo Bakalov and Namrata Singh Gujral. See the CT Film Fest Web site for more info.

‘Americanizing Shelley’ a family-friendly comedy

By Carolyn Mueller | STAFF WRITER

If you enjoy romantic comedies, be sure you catch “Americanizing Shelley” during the Connecticut Film Festival.

Set for a 7 p.m. screening Saturday at the Palace Theater, “Americanizing Shelly” has an interesting twist to it. Who would imagine a Bollywood-meets-Nashville-by-way-of-L.A. story line?

Apparently, Namrata Singh Gujral would. She wrote the script and stars in the film as Shalini Singh, a village girl from India who travels to “Am’rica” to track down her betrothed, Neil.

The groom-to-be, who moved to the United States years ago, has not been responding to letters from Shalini’s family, bringing embarrassment to them over an arranged marriage that seems to have gone off the rails before it’s begun.

But Shalini is not merely a village girl; she has a “master’s degree in English and cooking,” meant to prepare her to be a good wife and mother.

Neil’s reasons for disregarding his correspondence become apparent soon enough. He’s now a Hollywood agent, representing celebrities-in-the-making and taking advantage of women who want to be his clients. The Indian values of his childhood have been replaced with a harsh appreciation of money over people.

As he tells Shalini in her new American identity as Shelley, once you achieve a certain level of success, you can no longer be nice; you must ditch people who can’t be of use to you in making money.

A couple of other characters, known in the film as Rob and Blaine, have a tremendous impact on Shalini’s American experience. Rob and Blaine graduate from a university in the South and head west to L.A. – one to pursue the girl of his dreams and one to seek a career in the military. Helping Shalini morph into Shelley becomes a challenge for them both, and adds to the cultural mix.This movie can work for you in one of two ways. You can plunk down in front of the screen and coast through it, catching some chuckles along the way. Or you can sit down and really pay attention, which will result in more laughs. (Hint: Listen to the lyrics of the background music and keep an ear out for the wisdom of disc jockey Bend Over.)

The comedy is a mix of typical person-in-disguise farce, cultural confusion and neatly delivered dialogue. The clash of values, the lengths people go to for those they care about, and which funny references you catch in the film will give you plenty to discuss when the final credits roll.

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21st
MAY

CT FILM FEST REVIEW: ‘The Entrepreneurs’

Posted by chainsaw under ct film fest reviews

Here is writer Erik Ofgang’s review of “The Entrepreneurs,” which plays tonight at the Heirloom Arts Theater at 7:15 p.m.

Three helpless businessmen come up with what they think is the ultimate get-rich-quick scheme: Take pictures of Elvis Presley’s grave, make it into a poster, and sell the poster to millions of Presley’s fans.

That’s the premise of the always funny and often hilarious comedy “The Entrepreneurs,” playing today at 7:15 p.m. at the Heirloom Arts Theater in Danbury.

Writer and director James Chip Leonard and Danbury native John Balis, a producer and writer, say the movie was inspired by a real life failed business venture. It was filmed locally on a shoestring budget; audiences from our area will recognize locations such as Cousin Larry’s Caf in Danbury, Bethel’s Sycamore Drive-In and Danbury Superior Court.

The ringleader of the fortune-seeking trio is Jesse (Tom Ellis), who is hoping to win back his former fianc with riches. Jesse’s partner Frank (Jerry Della Salla) is pushed into the project by Jesse and is also looking to meet women. The final member of the trio is the not so bright Chris (Jamie Stern), who signs on because he needs a place to stay and Jesse and Frank let him sleep on their office floor.

This would-be-successful trio is joined by their hysterically clueless lawyer, Bob Barzetti (Bobby Lydiard), who assures them there won’t be any legal obstacles to their plan, and Jesse’s father Ed (Edmund Lyndeck) — he’s knowledgeable about business but in presentations rambles on and never gets to the point.

The characters are engaging and funny from the start thanks to the gleefully oddball script and the comedic strength of the cast. Ellis is great as the wheeling and dealing Jesse. Despite all Jesse’s conniving and unscrupulous business practices, Ellis gives us the sense that deep down he’s a nice guy and we can’t help but root for him.

One great comedic moment comes when the incredibly overconfident Jesse gives the confidence-lacking Frank advice on picking up women. Anyone can see the advice is terrible, but Frank has had such bad luck with women he goes ahead and tries it anyhow, with surprising results.

Another highlight is when the trio’s car breaks down on the way to a meeting where they’re presenting their idea to potential financial backers. With their car busted and without cell phone service they decide to run the rest of the way through the countryside. It’s a ridiculous dash through woods, fields and swamps that shows the characters at their goofy best.

The film is far from an arthouse picture and will likely attract fans of Ben Stiller or Vince Vaughn comedies rather than those of the Independent or Sundance cable channels. “The Entrepreneurs” has some sexual innuendo, so it may not be appropriate for very young kids, but for the most part the humor is pretty clean and comedy fans young and old should check it out.

More reviews here

Info on parking and venues here

List of movies here

Official festival Web site here

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