Open Thread

What's on your cinematic mind? Do share & discuss in the comments. Maybe two of you are on the same page right this moment?

"Evita" Contest Winners!

Don't cry for these three readers who've won themselves a 15th anniversary Evita Blu-Ray. I asked contestants to submit a photo of themselves in the famous arm(s) up Evita pose if they weren't shy. It was super fun to read the stories of Evita moviegoing and musical obsession, so a big thanks to everyone who participated. I wish I had dozens more copies to give away. 

The winners, drawn randomly, go like so...

TFE Reader Brian on the actual Casa Rosada !

Winner #1 BRIAN, NEW YORK

I had the privilege of traveling to South America last year, and in a two-week trip filled with "money shots" (Machu Picchu, Rio, etc.), the attached photo is probably the champ.  It was taken of me on the actual balcony at the Casa Rosada.  (Madonna popularized the neighboring balcony, inaccessible to tourists, but Eva used both.)  I mean, come on.  How much better does it get for an Evita/Madonna fan?  I still get chills thinking about approaching that balcony.

-Brian

Wow! I never thought when I asked for photos that I'd get a real Casa Rosada shot for posting. Well done, Brian.

Winner #2 ROBERT, UTAH

I remember it was cold and snowing a little, and the line stretched out into the parking lot. Evita was important for me because it was when I fell in love with Madonna. Of course I had sort of followed her career, but I was young (12 in 1996) and I didn't really get into her until I got the soundtrack. As a kid I loved musicals and musical theater, so this was like crack. The curtains opened, the audience fell silent and they were enraptured for the next 2+ hours. I saw it two more times.

It's also just a very special memory with my family. That Christmas was ALL Evita ALL the time. My friends and I would stage "Buenos Aires" or "Another Suitcase" or "Don't cry for me Argentina" in my garage. Great times.

Winner #3  ALAN, CALIFORNIA

I was living in London in the 70s and was one of the lucky theater goers to first see Evita. London went wild over Elaine Page when she brought Evita back to life. I love both the theater and film versions. Madonna most captures the look and essence of Evita. Listening to the score always transports me back to that London night and the magic of Evita and Buenos Aires.

 Congratulations to the winners!

Halfway There... Almost

What's on your cinematic mind when it comes to 2012? Our Halfway Mark Specials begin this Sunday so I'm curious how the year is shaping up for you so far? Has your moviegoing been light or heavy? thrilling or filled with disappointed? Or maybe you're stuck in the inbetween.

Here's what I've personally seen or reviewed so far...

• If I haven't discussed it which 2012 release would you most like to read about?
• Of those we have discussed on the blog, which would you like to keep on discussing? 
• Which halfway mark topic -- don't worry we'll talk Oscar -- do you have a lot to say about?

Afternoon Open Thread

What's the first movie you thought of when you woke up this morning? 

Otherwise what's on your (cinematic) mind today? I'm slow to rise this morning but I'm thinking it's a catch up weekend for me -- jamming in as many movies as I can cram in before the HALFWAY MARK BEST OF (yep, it's coming). Moviegoing = Air Conditioning.

What's on your (cinematic) mind?

I was just thinking about Emma Stone because I spotted this great spoof sketch by Grant Gould of the Easy A poster through the Game of Thrones lens...

So fun! Which is coincidentally a word that doesn't fit Game of Thrones at all. It's too sober for fun. (Daenerys is just about my least favorite character in the Game of Thrones franchise because her story just never goes anywhere... Whatever, this post wasn't meant to be about GoT which I stopped watching a couple episodes ago, remembering how pissed the third book made me so why stick with it?) 

SO..... what were you just thinking about movie-wise before you clicking over to the Film Experience?

P.S. More posts coming to wrap up our Smash coverage, Cannes new, "Best Shot" and more. The past two days have been a little trying.