Pasadena’s Movie Going Treasure A+: Movie Choice D- (“I’m Still Here”)

Pasadena is one of those cities that has it all, particularly when it comes to entertainment, it has among the best movie theaters in all of Los Angeles.   It boasts boutique movie houses that show mainstream films, as well as specialized ones. It also has two art houses that show rare films that once could only be seen in the west end of town in the old days.   The Laemmle Theater Group, perhaps the oldest and only surviving family-run cinema house in Los Angeles, is one of those cinema halls that has been in Pasadena for the longest time and where rare independent and foreign films are exhibited. So, while in a night out in the town, why not check out a film at one of these cinemas?

Joaquin Phoenix’s “I’m Still Here” Reality Show Stunt

I’m Still Here is one of the most recent films that released exclusively in selected theaters nationwide in early September, including the Laemmle Theaters.  The film is a mockumentary directed by Casey Affleck–Ben Affleck’s little brother.  The film stars Joaquin Phoenix–Casey’s brother-in-law and his best friend–and follows the life of Phoenix, from the moment he announced retiring from show business after being of an acting ensemble benefit play in the Bay area, to the actors pursuit to becoming a hip hop artist.  The film is a reality show that follows him during that very moment in 2008 to the current year.

The actor decision to leave Hollywood shocked everyone and many didn’t believe it, as the whole thing looked like a hoax.  A hoax indeed was as it turns out. The fact that the events of the film had been deliberately staged was not disclosed until after the film had been released.  The actor was so entrenched into his character that he looked like a cavemen junkie, as throughout the film and publicly humiliated on the David Letterman show as we all remember.   During the show, Phoenix seemed to be in another planet altogether; giving shorts incoherent answers, not remember anything about the film he was promoting–Two Lovers–nor the name of actors he share the screen with, and of course chewing gun and taking it out of his mouth and sticking it under Letterman’s desk. How are we to sympathize with this guy?

The film goes on tediously showing Phoenix at his lowest: doing drugs, having sex with prostitutes, getting into a fight in a club in Miami, falling from stage in Las Vegas, witnessing Antony Langdon–Spacehog guitarist and musician–defecate on his face while asleep as a result of a feud between them that loses Joaquin’s trust.   The scene where he finally meets rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs in his studio, he was able to be there on time for their meeting and bring his demo CD for “Diddy” to listen and at after listening to the third and last song Phoenix says: “So when do we record?” Then “Diddy” looks a him with a look of pity and tells him: “The first two songs were good, I liked them, but the last one brought it downhill…you can’t record with me, not under my name”.   This scene was one of those few moments in the film where one feels for the guy.

The film is only one hour and six minutes, but it dragged on forever, and it followed the typical hollywood formula: it ended at the same place where it began.   One is suppose to sympathize with the guy and his trials and tribulations, but the film does very little to do that.   Instead we are reminded that Joaquin is ‘still here’, as the title says: “I Am Still Here”.  He duped us all.

For everyone’s amusement, here are a couple of images of Joaquin’s appearances at the Dave Letterman show before and after the stunt…it really makes one vomit at the snobbery of calling a reality stunt ART!

If really bored and have nothing else to do than going to a movie, be sure to read up on this film before being stuck in a theater watching what happened to the once promising Joaquin Phoenix; instead, check out the theater marquee for other film options and save the trouble.  The film gets one star out of four, and that’s being quite generous!

Luckily the Laemmle Playhouse is a multiplex cinema that can offer movie lovers many other good options.

This movie is more about the local cinema treasures we have in Pasadena, more than about this film that just happened to be playing at the given date and time. For more information on what’s playing at Pasadena Laemmle Playhouse theaters go to the Laemmle.

The Action on Film Festival Returns to Pasadena – July 23-30

For those film lovers in the Pasadena area searching for something different with a bit more action and substance then big Hollywood summer blockbusters, there is a new film festival I have recently discovered and recommend, called: Action on Film International Film Festival.

This year’s edition will bring nearly 400 low-budget films that promise to be for everyone’s liking, and will attract well-known actors who will be rewarded for their bodies of work, such as: Talia Shire (from the Godfather and Rocky) and Deborah Kara Unger (from White Noise and Silent Hill). I love independent films and going to see them in my city–the crown city–and just hope that the festival is a big success in town, so that the city can attract and host more events like this promoting smaller niche films.  I hope to catch a few worthwhile films at this year’s festival, as Movie Maker Magazine suggests: “It’s one of the top 25 film festivals worth the fees…”

The festival kicks-off Friday, July 23 and will play for a week.

From AOF’s official website:

“The AOF Fest is one of these most progressive film festivals on the scene today. With writers, producers, directors and filmmakers from all over the globe, we are truly an International affair. We have assisted a number of filmmakers in starting their careers; Stan Harrington, Mark Mahon, Justin Owensby, and many others. We have helped people sell their films and projects and helped others gain the recognition and representation they deserved.

Celebrities like Costas Mandylor, Michael Madsen, John Savage, Maria Conchita Alonso, George Takei, Bill Duke, John Saxon, Frances Bay, David Carradine, Steven Williams and many others have found a home at the AOF Festival. And now, people behind the scenes like super producer Karen Kramer, the people from SONY, The Will Rogers Foundation, Independent Distribution Companies, and Industry Insiders etc., now mix and mingle with our independent filmmakers and writers to guide them along the path to success in their careers.

With our move to the beautiful city of Pasadena in 2008, the AOF Festival proved itself to be one of the top events in the world with beautiful theaters, star studded Black Tie Dinner and Award Shows, Writer’s Award Events and hundreds of screenings of the most provocative films, videos, documentaries and works of the written word being showcased today.

The Action on Film Festival is dedicated to filmmakers and to film making. We have developed a program that supports artists and creators and allows them a voice via their work. We have showcased and will continue to showcase, talent, innovation, edge, new voices and YOU.

Action On Film is more than just a film festival, it is a community with members from all over the globe. We extend to you, the filmmaker the opportunity to show your work and to share your dreams with an audience that is ready to stand up and put their hands together, for you.

Don’t forget the Free Events like the Sunday Symposium with Studio Executive Alan Bailey, the new Free Actor’s and Writer’s Symposium and a new event, the Anthony De Longis Making Action Count Seminar which is brought to you by the R.I.O.T. Act and sponsored by In Magazine and the Sheraton Hotel. Order Making Action Count Tickets Here.

Join the Executive Producer of Criminal Minds Ed Bernero when he hosts a very special evening, SWAN, to benefit the Lung Cancer Foundation of America and to honor the work of Andy Swan. Click Here to Learn More“.

For complete scheduling of the movies, visit the website.

Dinner and a Movie = A Classic Combination

When you think of dinner and a movie you may think of going out to dinner and then rushing to the theater to catch your favorite flick, right?

Well, Village Roadshow–an Australian media company with interests in cinema, theme parks, film production and distribution–is now introducing a new concept to the States that will make you look at the good old dinner and a movie idea as a true experience!  The Australian media company is calling their venture “Gold Class Cinemas”, which aims to deliver ‘first and gold class’ treatment to its clientele.

I first learned about this new chain when strolling around Old Pasadena and saw their sign and mark key reading coming soon.  And then earlier this week, there was an article on the local newspaper about the official new theater experience coming to town.  I agree with the Pasadena Star News about this potentially becoming the “next big thing in Old Pasadena”, as it has been sometime now since the One Colorado Laemmle Theaters left the district and a new concept like this was desperately needed!

‘Gold Class Cinemas‘ will be taking over the old Laemmle art house spot in the One Colorado structure and it’s scheduled to be completed in time for Christmas and should certainly boost business sales to the district this holiday season.

The six-screen luxury theater experience will be the first of its kind in Southern California and part of the Australian-based company’s roll out plan that includes existing sites in Washington State, Texas and Illinois.  Each screen will have a smaller number of seats to make the experience a bit more intimate and overall integrity in line with their luxury approach.

This is already a hugely popular concept in Australia and I think it should do well here in the States, but will it be popular among restaurants–which are many over 100 in Old Pasadena alone–and ultimately the consumer’s pockets?

Well, it provides with a convenient approach by having everything in one place…a server serving you, sipping a nice wine or glass of champagne in a reclining chair accompanied with your loved one, sounds good, doesn’t it?

It’s certainly a small luxurious approach to the experience of going out, especially when you add a blanket and a pillow to an already comfortable leather chair, at a prize tag of between $25 – $35 a pop–this does not include tax or tip.  It’s not so bad I think…It’s completely reasonable.  I am ready to impress my loved one with a special date…can I bring my own rare wine?

One think that I would be concerned is the noise level and the distraction factor when having people mingle, eating and servers running around with food…should be interesting to see how this plays out.

For more details visit “Gold Class Cinemas”

WATCH THE EXPERIENCE HERE: