Reader of the Day: Jamie
Monday, March 28, 2011 at 12:00PM 
Today's Reader of the Day is Jamie who lives in LA. I've never met her but she once volunteered as a magical Film Experience elf to give us a few articles direct from the Cannes Festival (this year's lineup is announced very soon, so stay tuned). So let's start there.
Nathaniel: How did your Cannes journey come out? What's your favorite memory from it?
JAMIE: I had the privilege of attending twice (2008, 2009) through my university. Unlike many college programs, our mandate was simply to see as many films as possible. Simply getting to worship at the altar of film that frequently over the course of two weeks is irreplaceable.
My favorite memory was not seeing one of the many award-winners or much-hyped titles, but rather attending the world premiere of the restored print of The Red Shoes. Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker hosted the screening, and hearing Scorsese talk at length about the passion the film inspired within him, as well as Thelma's relationship with Powell, made me feel like I was part of some exclusive club of cinephiles. I ended up having to miss the premiere of Precious to attend, a decision that bewildered my fellow festival-goers, but it was so worth it. I had never before seen The Red Shoes and seeing it in that environment was almost a holy experience.
A holy experience.
First movie? First movie obsession?
I do not remember my first movie (for shame), and I had a lot of strange obsessions when I was younger. Due to my father's job, we always had access to all of the premium cable and pay per view channels, so I would just re-watch the films I loved on some type of continuous loop until I could move on. That's why I still know all of the dialogue to Selena.
However, my first informed obsessions came toward the end of my high school career. I impulsively bought a Miramax Best Picture DVD set that included The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love. I fell madly in love with each of the films and became obsessed with the narratives that emerged around them and their unfairly maligned legacies. It's when I first became aware of the many intricacies and politics of Oscar season. The films fostered an obsession with Harvey Weinstein and Miramax that eventually led to my first film internship, my honors thesis, and my current not-allowed-to-talk-about job.
Which current director are you rooting for in a big way in the next few years?
Lone Scherfig earned my eternal devotion with An Education. I think she has the potential to become a vital, female commercial directing voice. I don't usually root for the directors I love to sell out, but I think we need more ladies working within the studios. And Armando Ianucci made me laugh harder than I feel comfortable admitting with In the Loop. I love that he doesn't treat politics as sacrosanct and doesn't allow the humor to get in the way of making a resonant point.
Tell us about the biopic of your life. Who will it star, etcetera?
I will have to anger the movie gods and instead opt for a television series. I want Paul Feig and Judd Apatow to create an updated version of Freaks and Geeks based on my high school experience, still starring the lovely Linda Cardellini. The one thing that always bothered me about that show was that Lindsey was forced to choose between being completely straight-laced with Millie and the mathletes or a burn-out with the freaks. I too went to a suburban public high school rife with the usual parties and drama, but it was also extremely competitive and the popular kids were amongst the highest achieving. I'd love to see someone meaningfully tackle the intricacies of being a seemingly "normal" but hyper-ambitious teen still negotiating the pain and angst of growing up.
Freaks and Geeks is so genius. It takes place in a Michigan High School and name-checks places we actually went while in high school in Michigan. The clothes, the language, the "types" ... everything brings back memories -- more than any other movie or high school set show ever has for me. The show reminds me of my sister (although we were far enough apart in age that we didn't actually go to high school together like the brother / sister in the show) and all my Michigan friends so I ♥ it so hard. I really do.
Oops BIG TANGENT! Ok. Let's wrap up. Your favorite movie in the following 5 genres: musical, drama, romance, Woody Allen, and last year (yes, "last year" is a genre). Go.
Due to some unknown childhood trauma, I've always been wary of traditional musicals but I absolutely love All That Jazz and Dancer in the Dark. Regarding the former, the recent news about Bryan Singer directing a Fosse biopic infuriated me. What can any biopic reveal that All that Jazz didn't already cover?
Network is my all-time favorite film, so it easily takes the drama category. As much as I tired of Aaron Sorkin's tear through Oscar season, I couldn't help but smile at every Paddy Chayefsky reference. Romance: Before Sunset. Even though I think it's Woody Allen's least favorite, I adore Hannah and Her Sisters. The "not even the rain has such small hands" moves me every time I see it. Having said that, I was raised on Woody Allen films and would jump at the opportunity to watch any of them at the slightest notice.
Finally, despite my previous Sorkin slight, The Social Network was by far my favorite last year. It felt like one of those special movies made just for me.
Reader Comments (14)
I'm always so jealous of people who attend Cannes. Sounds magnificent.
Me too and i've been to a lot of festivals.
also, like Jamie, i don't remember my first movie either (isn't that horrible considering...)
I'm always surprised when people can remember. I have no idea. I know what my first R rated movie was (Sleepy Hollow) and my first PG-13 (Godzilla) and my first R rated in theaters (Panic Room), but that's it. I know I grew up obsessed with Murder on the Orient Express.
Watching Martin Scorsese talking about girly movies. Drool. Jealous
And for some reason, The Red Shoes is overtaking Black Narcissus for 'most influential Powell/Pressburger/1940's/classic film.' The former will probably influence Hugo Cabaret.
Paolo...Lermontov and I would like to talk about calling The Red Shoes "girly." (Here's what I think of it: You know how Woody Allen details relationships between straight people and the complications resulting? Well, for me, The Red Shoes is about the tangled mess of a relationship between two straight people and one asexual. And why do I identify Lermontov as that? "You're jealous of her." "Yes! I am. But in a way you will never understand." (read: Why would a straight guy not understand the jealousy of a gay guy?) "A dancer who relies on the doubtful comforts of human love will never be a great dancer." (Read: Expects EVERYONE, straight or gay, male or female, to either suppress themselves or get the hell away from him.) I view The Red Shoes as the tragedy, not of Vicky, but of Lermontov. His tragic flaw is born of the expectation that everyone hold themselves to his level of libido (read: ZERO) because he is REALLY jealous, not specifically toward either of them but because he actually wants a libido, and these two are just the most obvious articulator's of lust he can see. He's jealous of EVERYBODY around him and only manages to (barely) keep it in check, so long as he fosters the expectation of repression. That's the perspective that I, an asexual, bring to bear on The Red Shoes.) Jamie: An outsider's perspective on Fosse could be interesting.
Musical: "Just singin' in the rain."
Drama: As in, one that isn't more thriller or horror, my highest positioned drama is Pandora's Box.
Romance: A second silent here, but the absolutely amazing Romantic Thriller Sunrise.
Woody Allen: A rote example, but I have to go with Annie Hall (yet it's position 6 in the romance genre, behind Sunrise, Amelie, Before Sunset, A Matter of Life and Death and Harold and Maude (Hannah: Just saw and I have to say B-. Prefer Zelig for the good VFX.)
Last Year: The Social Network.
I love reading these. It's so refreshing to find someone else in the world who loved An Education as much as I did!
^Totally agree about Lone Scherfig. I can't wait to see One Day. I'm a little worried about Jim Sturgess after seeing The Way Back (he's not exactly leading man material), but I have faith in Scherfig and Hathaway.
In other news, thanks for doing these, Nathaniel. I love learning about the people behind the posting nicknames. It also makes me realize that there are some cute folks on TFE!
Since Scorsese and girly were used in a single sentence with each other I can share this. I was watching The Aviator for the first time since the initial release; wasn't enjoy it the first time because I was watching someone receive oral attention which will always be more compelling than anything Marty can put on screen. Blanchett's performance is more than a bad Hepburn impression, this has led to believe Martin should be making more actress centered movies. Leo is boring these days and I blame two factors: The Academy and Marlan Brando. He wants the Oscar and he believes the only way he'll get there is to swim in a sea of Brando-lite displays of pain.
On another note, since getting a brand new computer I listened to all of the pod audio, Anjelica wasn't the only one being bitchy that night (63rd AA) Martin doesn't clap when Bates' name is announced, he'll always be a petty SOB for that one.
"The one thing that always bothered me about that show was that Lindsey was forced to choose between being completely straight-laced with Millie and the mathletes or a burn-out with the freaks."
I've always said the fictional character who most reminded me of myself in junior high (not necessarily high school though) was Lindsey from this show, and a big part of that was precisely because she had to navigate between these two very different worlds that she felt equally a part of.
We need to start TFE clubs, at least in NY and LA. Go see a movie, grab coffee and talk about it. This is a good idea.
I second that Alex BBats!! TheFilmExperience MeetUp?
I cannot be held responsible for the things that go down! ;)
This was so much fun!
The Film Experience is one of my favorite sites, particularly for its ability to moderate awards coverage with discussions of the films themselves. I hope the reader appreciation tributes continue-- I've loved discovering the unique group of people that value The Film Experience as much as I do.