Posted on: Friday, December 19, 2008
Maui festival features lots of award-winning films
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
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Frank Langella stars as Richard Nixon in the drama "Frost/Nixon," screening Tuesday night at the Maui Film Festival's FirstLight series of high-buzz films.
Ralph Nelson
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If you love movies, especially award-winners or contenders for the major awards, the place to see the best and the current is FirstLight, the winterfest of flicks now under way on Maui.
"We have 'em all; 13 days, 37 films, primarily all the nominees from the major studios and a few indies," said Barry Rivers, Maui Film Festival director.
The festival opened Wednesday at Castle Theater of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, where some serious movie-watching continues through Jan. 3, taking brief breaks only for Christmas and New Year's holidays.
"I'm especially proud of the five Golden Globe best-picture drama nominees; we have 'em all," Rivers said.
The early frontrunners for the Globes' best picture, and screening dates:
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," 5 p.m. Sunday; with Brad Pitt as a man born in his 80s and ages backward.
"Frost/Nixon," 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; Ron Howard's bristling take of the TV battle between Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) and David Frost (Michael Sheen).
"The Reader," 7:30 p.m. Monday; a historical story about truth and reconciliation, with Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes.
"Revolutionary Road," 7:30 p.m. Dec. 29; Sam Mendes' take about a 1950s suburban couple, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
"Slumdog Millionaire," already screened; the cult hit about a quizzical Mumbai youth on the edge of winning India's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association shindig unfolds Jan. 11 from the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
The Academy Award contenders won't be announced till Jan. 22 — two days later than normal, because the customary Tuesday unveiling after preliminary balloting coincides with the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration of Barack Obama. The Oscars, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will be held Feb. 22 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.
"Our films represent all the usual sources of print and broadcast critics associations," Rivers said.
"The thing about FirstLight is that it's all about the end-of-the-year movies, the films that the studios hold for awards consideration," he said.
Thus, the slate includes "Doubt," "Changeling," "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," "The Wrestler" and "Milk," some previously screened in commercial film houses, others now on the verge of a launch.
FIRSTLIGHT
Continues today-Dec. 23, Dec. 26-30, Jan. 3
Castle Theater, Maui Arts & Cultural Center
Tickets:
$40, FirstLight 4-Film VIP FastPass
$8, all 2 p.m. screenings
$12, all other screenings
Free, kids 12 and younger, to any G- or PG-rated film
www.mauifilmfestival.com, 808-579-9244; hot line 808-572-3456
"Doubt," 7:30 p.m. Dec. 28. A tense battle of wits, between rigid Catholic school principal Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) and teacher Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman).
"Che" (part 1) 2 p.m.; "Che" (part 2) 5 p.m. Saturday. A Steven Soderbergh epic, with Benicio Del Toro as Che Guevara.
"The Wrestler," 5 p.m. Dec. 30. Mickey Rourke's comeback flick in which he plays an aging wrestler in the match of his life.
"Defiance," 5 p.m. Dec. 23. A tale of honor, family and vengeance, set during World War II; with Daniel Craig, Liv Schreiber and Jamie Bell.
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," 5 p.m. Sunday
"Frost/Nixon," 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
"The Reader," 7:30 p.m. Monday
"Revolutionary Road," 7:30 p.m. Dec. 29
AMONG THE FILMS
"Doubt," 7:30 p.m. Dec. 28. A tense battle of wits, between rigid Catholic school principal Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) and teacher Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman).
"Che" (part 1) 2 p.m.; "Che" (part 2) 5 p.m. Saturday. A Steven Soderbergh epic,with Benicio Del Toro as Che Guevera.
"The Wrestler," 5 p.m. Dec. 30. Mickey Rourke's comeback flick in which he plays an aging wrestler in the match of his life.
"Defiance," 5 p.m. Dec. 23. A tale of honor, family and vengeance, set during World War II; with Daniel Craig, Liv Schreiber and Jamie Bell.
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," 5 p.m. Sunday
"Frost/Nixon," 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
"The Reader," 7:30 p.m. Monday
"Revolutionary Road," 7:30 p.m. Dec. 29
Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.
