Bert Stern: Original Madman a film review
I met Bert Stern in NY in the late 60’s when I worked in a restaurant called Maxwell’s Plum on First Avenue and his studio was a few blocks away. Every model wanted to be photographed by him. He was the Picasso of the photography world and you would be noticed all over the world if he shot you. So I was very much looking forward to this film because I was in there when it was happening and seeing it on the screen, brought back all those fo...
Bert Stern: Original Madman a film review
I met Bert Stern in NY in the late 60’s when I worked in a restaurant called Maxwell’s Plum on First Avenue and his studio was a few blocks away. Every model wanted to be photographed by him. He was the Picasso of the photography world and you would be noticed all over the world if he shot you. So I was very much looking for...
Silver Case glitters in Hollywood Premiere
By Ron Gilbert
The Arena theatre in Hollywood is a perfect venue for the award winning film Silver Case which is a great example for any filmmaker who wants the crash into the Hollywood film scene using their own vision and not governed by corporate film studio executives.
Director Christian Filippella and his producing partners Claire Falconer, Salvatore Zannino, Brian Keith Gamble, Corrado Musso and others put their metal to the petal driving...
“Stand Up Guys” is a fun film with 3 Oscar winning actors who are enjoying their roles and audiences will be sharing the fun with them.
There will never be another aging buddy film that will top this film with Val( Al Pacino) , (Doc)Chris Walken and Hirsch (Alan Arkin). The reason I am saying this is because I have so much in common with these actors and the mob life setting. I have know these Al and Chris from Actor Studio days early 70's and have worked with them and they ar...
“Stand Up Guys” is a fun film with 3 Oscar winning actors who are enjoying their roles and audiences will be sharing the fun with them. There will never be another aging buddy film that will top this film with Val( Al Pacino) , (Doc)Chris Walken and Hirsch (Alan Arkin). The reason I am saying this is because I have so much in common with these actors and the mob life setting. I have know these Al and Chris from Actor Studio days early 70's and have worked with them and they are s...
Last night I attended the SAG-AFTRA awards and was very happy with the choices made, in particular , Jennifer Lawrence in winning best actress for her performance in the motion picture, Silver Linings Playbook.She auditioned on Skype for the director and is a major talent at 22. Tommy Lee Jones won best supporting actor for Lincoln which was well deserved. Robert DeNiro was also nominated but missed out which in a way made me happy because he has not done his best...
Silver Case a film which shines
By Ron Gilbert
After finally seeing this film on the big screen, at the LA Film & TV Festival at the magnificent Chaplin theater in front of an enthusiastic audience and I was blown away by the production values.
This film is a great example for any filmmaker who wants the crash into the Hollywood film scene using their own vision and not governed by corporate film studio executives.
Director C...
Supercapitalist has a familiar plot line but Derek Ting (writer/producer )who stars in this film is Chinese and he explores a world that we have not seen in these Wall Street films. He immediately transfers this film from Wall Street to Hong Kong and I do not recollect any film doing that in the last few years. We all know that China has entered the capitalist world in a big way ,so here we are in this very hot and sexy world where money is the key to happiness.
I have been in...
I must honestly say that this is the happiest film festival in Los Angeles. I should tell executive director, Kirsten Schaffer, to rename it, “The Happy film festival” from all the smiling faces of the packed audiences and participants.Everyone is in the happiest frame of mind to be there which translates into the real meaning of the word”Gay”. This year they hit the pinnacle of their success in my opinion.The opening night film “Vito” was the most perfect and touching film to pre...
On the opening day of the The Los Angeles Film Festival, the day was filled with excitement with fans packing the streets and watching the parade and honoring the Stanley Cup champions.
The LA Kings but movie fans were looking forward to Oscar winner Woody Allen appearing and presenting his romantic new film”To Rome with Love”.
So love was in the air all over downtown Los Angeles with smiling faces , the red carpet and the film fans and lovers of Hollywood. The LAFF direc...
On the opening day of the The Los Angeles Film Festival , the day was filled with excitement with fans packing the streets and watching the parade and honoring the Stanley Cup champions .The LA Kings but movie fans were looking forward to Oscar winner Woody Allen appearing and presenting his romantic new film”To Rome with Love”.So love was in the air all over downtown Los Angeles with smiling faces , the red carpet and the film fans and lovers of Hollywood. The LAFF directors were very s...
On the opening day of the The Los Angeles Film Festival , the day was filled with excitement with fans packing the streets and watching the parade and honoring the Stanley Cup champions .The LA Kings but movie fans were looking forward to Oscar winner Woody Allen appearing and presenting his romantic new film”To Rome with Love”.So love was in the air all over downtown Los Angeles with smiling faces , the red carpet and the film fans and lovers of Hollywood. The LAFF directors were very sma...
“Marina Abramovic The Artist Is Present” captivates the audience
by Ron Gilbert
In all honesty ,I must say that I was not familiar with the career of the incredibly creative artist, Marina Abramovic, but after seeing this documentary I would be the first in line to see her live in action.
The advantage audiences will have in seeing this documentary is that the film explores her 40 year career and traces her roots in Yugoslavia, where she was raised by communist parents in a h...
by Ron Gilbert
Director Gérald Hustache-Mathieu has jumped into the Marilyn Monroe mystique and has created a film which allows you to join him in his whodunnit script.
David Rousseau (Jean-Paul Rouve) is a crime novelist( just think James Elroy), and is searching for a story for his a new novel and lo and behold ,while speeding down the highway in his convertible,he passes the scene of an accident or it is a suicide and his writer/detective instincts start to flow as he follows t...
Dances with Films 2012 in HollywoodDances with Films trots into its 15th Year in Hollywood
by Ron Gilbert
The Dances with Films FIlm Festival has planted its’ footing along the stars on Hollywood Boulevard at the Mann Chinese theatre. Festival directors Leslee Scallon and Michael Trent have moved this festival into the ranks of a festival to be reckoned with. As the saying goes the “Truth is in the Pudding” and after attending this festival now in its’ second day ,the theatre i...
Dances with Films 2012 in Hollywood
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Stan Lee Marvels audience at Catalina Film Festival 2012
by Ron Gilbert
Stan Lee preferred to appear at the opening of the 2nd Catalina film festival on the same day of the record breaking weekend release of "The Avengers". The attendees loved having him there for 2 days on which he appeared and discussed his marvelous journey after the audience viewed "The Avengers" which preceded the documentary "With Great Power" -The Stan Lee Story. Stan is very pe...
Morgan Spurlock is the the greatest example of a filmmaker who thinks outside the box and has the imagination and inspiration of a true artist.
I compare him to the artist Andy Warhol because he sees what others may view but his artistic talent allows him to create something unique. Perhaps his determination to be a filmmaker after being rejected by the USC film school several times but finally making the cut at the NYU film school opened his eyes in a ...
I was not surprised that "The Artist" was named the year's best independent feature at the Film Independent Spirit Awards at beautiful Santa Monica Beach surfing over all the competition on a tidal wave to the Oscars on Sunday.
The film also won awards for director Michel Hazanavicius, lead actor Jean Dujardin and cinematographer Guillaume Schiffman, taking home prizes in four of the five categories in which it was nominated.
Indie Spirit Award voters made the Oscar favorites, the...
'The Artist' Dominates Independent Spirit Awards
I was not surprised that "The Artist" was named the year's best independent feature at the Film Independent Spirit Awards at beautiful Santa Monica Beach surfing over all the competition on a tidal wave to the Oscars on Sunday.
The film also won awards for director Michel Hazanavicius, lead actor Jean Dujardin and cinematographer Guillaume Schiffman, taking home prizes in four of the five categories in which it was nominated...
Father’s Day is not a title for a film reflecting on what most of us remember as a special day for dads. What we have is a dark revenge movie going off into the deep crevices, of Grindhouse movies with a the combination of 80s late-night TV and a perverted sense of humor which makes this film something truly unique.
If that is your flavor for film and you are a Troma fan,you will love this movie. How Astron-6 did this film on such a limited budget is mind-blowing.
After the cast s...
Crazy Horse ,an erotic documentary on the Parisian Cabaret
by Ron Gilbert
All I keep hearing on my mind’s sound track when I watched this documentary by talented director Frederick Wiseman , were the lyrics “you make me crazy”.
Years ago I had the good fortune to visit the Landmark Le Crazy Horse cabaret in Paris and so my memories were still intact. This film is a very inside view of the workings of this famed cabaret where all these beautiful dancers are more than just sexy...
by Ron Gilbert
Now it in its thirteenth year this Film Festival .offers a Scandinavian Cinema combined with a Smorgasbord treat starting on January 7, 8, 14, 15 at Writers Guild Theater (135 S. Doheny/at Wilshire) in Beverly Hills. I have been very fortunate to be in attendance at this film festival and have chosen this fest instead of Palms Springs and Sundance on my weekends.
The five Nordic Oscar submissions plus additional current feature films, shorts, and documentaries...
When i was a young actor starting out in New York , I was granted the privlege of meeting Sue Mengers and the advice she offered me was to take a chance on making it in Holywood.She told me to take 6 months in Hollywood and to see what the result would be and if I got a lucky break to stay there.Well it took me 12 years to get to Hollywood from NY and I had an an opportunity to meet with Sue at a conference and we shared our meeting and her advice. We both laughed and ...
LOS ANGELES IRISH FILM FESTIVAL 2011 PROGRAM AND TRIBUTE TO FIONNULA FLANAGAN
THE STEVE BRENNAN TRIBUTE AWARD TO FIONNULA FLANAGAN
Los Angeles Irish Film Festival 2011 Program
OPENING NIGHT
Thursday, September 29, 2011 at 7pm
TRIBUTE TO FIONNULA FLANAGAN
PERFORMANCE BY JUDITH MOK
SPECIAL SCREENING OF "THE GUARD"
Director: John Michael McDonagh
Producers: Chris Clark, Flora Fernandez Marengo, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe
Writer: John Michael McDonagh
Cast...
Gilbert Ron 
