Playing Catch Up (Part II) - Milwaukee Film Festival

This is the part I'm most disappointed in being behind on...

The festival has begun it's second week of screenings and boy has it been exciting.

They have had the intriguing documentary 1971 kick off the festival and followed that up with a slew of interesting titles and appearances.

The Opening Saturday featured Stray Dog from the Academy Award-nominated director and
co-writer of the Jennifer Lawrence breakout film, Winter's Bone (also screened earlier the same day) Debra Granik. It didn't hurt that Ron "Stray Dog" Hall (no relation) was a Harley rider in a Harley town. Excellent programming choice if I do say so.

Saturday featured the enormous Sing-A-Long showing of Mary Poppins. Yep ... that was something special to be at, but I ... well I got sick... ARGH and bed/couch had its grip on me.

The weekend featured many appearances by Directors, Writers, Actors and more...this despite the fact that the craziness in Chicago at the air traffic control tower caused many travelers to not make it in for their appearances. The sellouts kept coming though and there are so many films already on rush through the end of the festival, that if you were thinking of going get your tickets now. (Check out what they have on rush AND what's selling quickly and buy your tickets in advance).

But the fun didn't stop for this year's turn with the Milwaukee Film Festival once the new week started.

Monday saw the Patels - the stars of Meet the Patels in town for their film and The Milwaukee Show I (always a crowd favorite with local flavor).

We saw big screenings of Man With a Movie Camera and This Is Spinal Tap on Tuesday.

Wednesday made me jealous of my colleague Gino Salomone as he sat down with Jim Abrahms and Jerry Zucker before that nights' special presentation of Top Secret! Sorry Gino - I stole this photo from your Facebook page...I love it! Catch Gino daily on Studio A on FOX 6 and well...with every celebrity under the sun!

Thursday was a slow night - let's face it...everyone was watching the Packer game - except of course myself who got called to Mayfair for a last minute look at Gone Girl before it's release on Friday.

And then....We get ready for another weekend.

What am I looking forward to as time goes on the next couple days here...

Well tonight ... legend Robert Townsend is in town for a screening of his hit Hollywood Shuffle at the Oriental, John Axford (formerly of the Milwaukee Brewers and now Pittsburgh Pirate) had an opening he'd rather not have with the Pirates elimination from the playoffs but will be doing his second favorite thing...seeing Dr. Strangelove at the Oriental and saying hi to his friends from Milwaukee Film. The Ax man is still a contributing sponsor to the festival and loves movies period! I still think it would be fun to do a review show titled, "Common Guy and The Stache" with him...but I digress.

Saturday features something I would love to see... Jimi: All Is By My Side from Mequon native John
Ridley. Ridley will be in town courtesy of Chris Abele to present the film in front of a hometown crowd that has long been on rush to see this. If you want a chance to get in...get you to that rush line as soon as you can before the 7PM show at the Oriental. And if that's not enough...that night will also feature a screening of the classic music film Stop Making Sense with Jerry Harrison schedule for the house.

Sunday features the film on rush that is truly garnering Oscar Buzz coming out of Toronto - It will take getting in line early on this Packer Free Sunday to get a chance at a seat to The Imitation Game starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Toronto film fest going critics LOVED IT and many of the the experts at Goldderby.com have it in their list of possible Top 10 Best Picture candidates - as well as Benedict being at the top of many lists in the Best Actor race.
Click each of the links for the full list - a great chance to see a true favorite EARLY!!!

So that will take you through the weekend, yes there is more...but I have to stop at some point here...

Thanks Milwaukee Film for another Great Run - Folks ... you have one week left (including today) to get out and enjoy some great films! Do it now!!!

My apologies for the less indepth coverage...but now that I'm kicking this illness - we will get in as much as we can before I have to get back to the rest of my life...

Save me a Seat!