My first press screening(s) + an extra film to boot...

Today, in the rainy morning gloom of center city Philadelphia, I attended my very first official press screening (which probably isn't breaking news since I've done nothing but talk up the anticipation of it the last few days). First up was Brokeback Mountain - and here are some words I wrote about my experience BEFORE seeing the film:

With trepidation fluttering through my insides, I slink into the Ritz Five, afraid that any moment now, a finger will tap me upon the shoulder and tell me that I am not supposed to be here. Afraid I would be held at bay behind the velvet ropes. Which of course, is ridiculous since I was invited to the damned screening. I sit there, surrounded by a sea of faces - all of whom I know are renowned film critics and editors. One name I hear is Carrie, and I come to the not-so-difficult conclusion that this must be Carrie Rickey of the Phila. Inquirer (and participant in the Top 10 Project). Am I like her? Am I like any of them? Am I good enough to be here? or more importantly, am I respectable enough to be here? Web Critics aren't exactly top of the food chain - although with syndicated conglomerates buying up all the newspapers (including most recently, the Village Voice - perhaps Bohemia is really dead?), we will be the new forerunners of film criticism. Yet still I sit here unsure. A damn dirty web critic amongst all the clean paper critics - oh the humanity. Am I the shady unknown interloper? Perhaps the natives are restless. Perhaps I'll get stuck at the loser table while the popular cliques dance around the golden cafeteria. Will I become part of them? Will I fit in? Is this high school again? What will they say Monday at school?

Ridiculous I know, but still kind of real. But at least my fears were alleviated once Li Wang (of the Patriot-News right here in Harrisburg) arrived. But enough of all that - what about the damned films!!!

First off, let me talk about The Chronicles of Narnia. You see - out of professional courtesy - I am not allowed to run my review of the film until the day it opens (or at the least, the day before). But I will say a few things. It was both much less and much more than I ever expected, which of course means I had two different expectations at two different times. That is all you are getting for now (how's that for a teaser), but you will be able to read my review come December 9th. As for Brokeback Mountain - since it has already played in both Venice and Toronto, and there is talk about it everywhere, including published reviews - you will be able to view my review come tomorrow (since I am way too tired right now to write anything). Actually I will be writing two seperate reviews for Brokeback. One for my site and one for Central Alternative - the Gay&Lesbian Alt. bi-monthly I write dvd reviews for. The one for my site will focus more on the Auteurish aspects of the film (which are heavily apparent) and the one for the alt. will focus more on the Gay perspective (which again is heavily apparent). The alt. review will be out sometime during the first week of January - for those of you in the Harrisburg area.

Oh yeah, and then there was Bee Season. A film I really expected to dislike but thought I should see and review since the Midtown Cinema will be getting it on Friday. You know what - it was surprisingly and strangely beguling. My review for that will also be posted tomorrow night - along with my long delayed review of Rent. As for now, I'm going to sleep. I've been going non-stop since 5:30am. Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Good night...