After all was said and done, there were no losers at this year’s Marrakech International Film Festival, where audiences got a free taste of great cinema and Moroccan films made history.
Read MoreSideways The Experience: A quintessential California story makes for the perfect NYC evening
Everyone is probably familiar with the 2004 film ‘Sideways’ by Alexander Payne, starring Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church, playing two best friends on a trip through California’s wine country. Giamatti’s Miles wants to enjoy the wine tastings while his buddy Jack is looking for a last fling before his wedding at the end of their journey together. Sprinkle in Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh as their romantic interests and needless to say, the film was a indie hit. Yet I never realized what a devoted fan following the story has, originally written as a novel by Rex Pickett who also did the stage adaptation for ‘Sideways: The Experience’.
Read MoreThe Venice Film Festival Diaries: Kicking Off Big with ‘Downsizing’ and ‘Nico 1988’
Just when I think I have the Venice Film Festival figured out, La Biennale goes and changes the game on us! Instead of a grand spectacle like ‘Birdman’, ‘Everest’ or ‘La La Land’ — the three films that opened the past editions of the oldest film festival in the world, for this year’s 74th edition Artistic Director Alberto Barbera did a bit of ‘Downsizing’ — Alexander Payne’s ‘Downsizing’ that is, starring Matt Damon.
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