John C. Reilly at BAM
While the summer blockbuster films may have lost their luster or at least receipts, indie film festivals are rich in Brooklyn. One of them, the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s CinemaFEST sponsored by the Wall Street Journal transformed from a neighborhood event to an industry happening.
The opening night film, Cyrus, directed by the Duplass brothers and starring John C. Reilly, Marisa Tomei, Jonah Hill, and Catherine Keener brought a little indie glitterati to BAM. Even I got caught up in the paparazzi joining the photogs with my point and shoot and captured this shot of Reilly. The film’s screening in the Howard Gilman Opera House added to the festivities with opening remarks from the filmmakers, WSJ and BAM president, Karen Brooks Hopkins. The event finished with a terrific party in the lobby and the Bamcafé with plenty of libations by Brooklyn Brewery.
Cyrus has created a buzz with the director’s style of filmmaking known as mumblecore, a DIY form of storytelling. Think this generation’s homage to John Cassavetes lofi improvisational films. And with the backing of Fox Searchlight brought some star power to the production. Cyrus takes on the situation comedy love story genre about a divorced and depressed guy who meets the perfect woman, and later learns she lives with her 21 year old son.
Cyrus has great moments by the actors creating interesting characters especially working without formal dialogue from the director’s broad story outline. This all leads to different style of narrative or more collaborative between actor, writer and director. As film attempts to be our reflection capturing subtle nuances, I liked this video review from Film discussing and debating script or no script.
BAMcinemaFEST continues through June 20, 2010.
Howard Gilman Opera House
The after party in the BAM lobby
The party continues in the BAMcafé
