Discland
edited by Jonathan Doyle
Mafioso (The Criterion Collection, 3.18.2008) Nino Badalamenti is a supervisor in a car manufacturing plant who hasn't taken a vacation in over two years. On his way out the door to visit his beloved childhood hometown of Sicily -- with his blonde wife and daughters -- Nino is handed a package by his boss and asked to deliver it to a powerful and influential Sicilian gangster named Don Vincenzo. Once in Sicily, Nino has a hoot seeing friends and family, but his wife has trouble fitting in and is unfairly dismissed as a snob by Nino's family. Even more worrisome, Nino finds himself entangled in an intricate web of secret mafioso dealings and is eventually sent on an unexpectedly... elaborate errand. (continued)

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July 2

Hancock

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The Whackness

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Diminished Capacity

Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson

Holding Trevor

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Full Battle Rattle

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A Man Named Pearl

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Eight Miles High

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Hellboy II: The Golden Army

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A Very British Gangster

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Two Tickets to Paradise

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Boy A




 

Executive Washroom

For years I've made do at the Cannes Film Festival with a regular pink pass, which at least is better than blue and way above yellow. A couple of days ago I found out that I've been slightly upgraded to a pink-with-a-yellow-pastille pass -- the first time this has ever happened despite years of persistent pleading. The highest-grade press pass is all white, but that's a privelege extended mostly (only?) to veteran dead-tree types. Has an online journo ever been granted one? I'm asking.


No Escape<< previous | next >>Knives and Tongues

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on May 10, 2008 at 05:57 AM

comment #1

MattyC [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

What are the tangible differences between the various color grades?

Do you get more access now? A room with a view? Or is it just about the prestige of who has the coolest pass?

Posted by MattyC [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 10, 2008 09:38 AM

comment #2

Adonis [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

With great power comes great responsibility. Use it wisely, Wells.

Oh, and well-deserved.

Posted by Adonis [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 10, 2008 11:13 AM

comment #3

Bocephus [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

I imagine it's like the business card scene in American Psycho. Watch out, Jeff. Poland might see the yellow pastille and jealously murder you while listening to Phil Collins.

Posted by Bocephus [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 10, 2008 12:11 PM

comment #4

berkguru [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

I envy your life

Posted by berkguru [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 10, 2008 01:46 PM

comment #5

Richard_Stone [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

That pic is the same shot from your masthead?

Posted by Richard_Stone [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 10, 2008 03:36 PM

comment #6

Richard_Stone [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Sorry for the previous inane comment, just noticed it was an old pass.

Posted by Richard_Stone [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 10, 2008 03:39 PM

comment #7

gruver1 [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Wells to MattyC: I think there is something a tiny cooler about having a pink-with-yellow-pastille pass, and therefore I am. But I do mean "a tiny bit" as in miniscule. All it boils down to is not having to wait as long to get into hot screenings -- you get to go in right behind the whites. Wells to Bocephus : For whatever reason, Poland doesn't ever go to Cannes....not his can of Coke, says it's over-rated, says it's too costly, doesn't like Europe...something. He Sundances, Torontos and Tellurides with the best of them, and he's been a lordly Grand Poobah of the Bermuda Film Festival for years. But Cannes...non!

Posted by gruver1 [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 10, 2008 04:00 PM

comment #8

The Pope [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Mr. Wells,
Do you really have to be so dismissive of those who are further up the food chain than you. Referring to critics with the highest-grade press passes as "veteran dead-tree types" is laughably infantile. Why can't you just admit that there are critics out there who are more respected, more widely read and write better? Next thing you'll be telling us you're the only one on the Croisette with a laminated bucket and spade.

Posted by The Pope [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 10, 2008 06:17 PM

comment #9

EDouglas [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

"Watch out, Jeff. Poland might see the yellow pastille and jealously murder you while listening to Phil Collins."

Nikki Finke will have the exclusive scoop on that.

Posted by EDouglas [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 11, 2008 07:23 AM

comment #10

nemo [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

What the hell is a pastille anyway?

I looked it up just now. The yellow pastille on the card must be definition 2: "lozenge". Which is pretty funny when you think about. The higher status card has a yellow cough drop on it.

Definition 1 for pastille is even funnier: "a small mass of aromatic paste for fumigating or scenting the air of a room." Those French!

Posted by nemo [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 11, 2008 09:18 AM

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