An Afternoon with F. Murray Abraham: A moderated chat with the actor whose film credits date back to 1971 and include such films as All the Presidents Men, Scarface, Amadeus, Mighty Aphrodite, and Muppets from Space. Monday, May 26, 2:00 pm, Northwest Film Forum [zg]

Mongol : A sweeping epic film with breathtaking views and heart-pumping action about the transformation of a young nomad into the legendary warrior king Genghis Khan. See it because Genghis Khan’s history is fascinating and also because you really don’t get to see many movies from Kazakhistan. Director Sergei Bodrov attends the screening on the 27th. Tuesday, May 27, 6:30 pm, Egyptian Theater Thursday, May 29, Uptown Cinema [zg]

Spiral Jetty: American sculptor Robert Smithson created a unique work in 1970 that combines mud, salt crystals, basalt rocks, earth and water to form a coil 1500 feet long and 15 feet wide that juts from the northeastern shore of the Great Salt Lake. James Benning filmed 16 different visits to the work to show how changing light and other weather conditions alter the view. Wednesday, May 28, Northwest Film Forum [zg]

Butterfly Dreaming : Writer/director/nice guy Rufus Williams’ first film makes its world premiere at SIFF rather appropriately since it was filmed here in Seattle. Recently widowed Rob is trapped between worrying dreams and an equally worrying waking life in this complex thriller that challenges notions of just what reality really is. Thursday, May 29, 9:15 pm, Harvard Exit Saturday, May 31, 11:00 am, Harvard Exit [zg]

Kiss the Bride : If you’re still chanting: Donna Martin Graduates and want to see Tori Spelling get married to a dude who may or may not be gay, then I’m giving you permission to see this cheesefest. But if you want to see a good movie, then see something else. Preferably without any 90210 characters. Thursday, May 29, 7:00 pm, Egyptian Theatre Friday, May 30, 4:30 pm, Egyptian Theatre [ba]

Let the Right One In : It wouldn’t be SIFF without at least one vampire movie. This one tells the tale of Oscar, a 12 year old boy who is constantly bullied. Then a new neighbor girl, Eli, moves in and gives him the courage to stand up for himself. This would be a nice trite little story of young love and inspiration if Eli could eat food, be out in the sun, or didn’t need to be invited into every room she enters. A rash of murders has broken out since the new family moved in and Oscar needs to decide if he can remain friends with Eli. Thursday, May 29, 9:30 pm, Uptown Cinema Saturday, May 31, 11:00 pm, Uptown Cinema [patriciaeddy]

As Josh wrote the other day, the trailer for this movie was so visually stunning that it was one of the few movies to make it to my “Must See” list without a second thought. The Fall takes place in a 1920′s hospital. A stuntman/actor, Roy Walker, who was injured on a flicker (movie) set, befriends a young girl (Alexandria) with a broken arm and starts to tell her a story of 5 heroes. The story, seen both from Walker’s perspective and Alexandria’s, is a drug-induced ‘epic tale’ (Walker’s words) of revenge, love, loss, and adventure.

I loved this movie. Lee Pace (from Pushing Daisies) plays Walker with just the right mix of desperation, depression, and deception. The young actress who plays Alexandria (Catinca Untaru), was the perfect 5 year old… fibbing when she thinks the truth will get her in trouble, understanding both more and less than anyone else expects, and ultimately being willing to do anything for the approval and love of her new friend. She is, by far, the best actor in the film.

The sets are insanely colorful and fantastic. There are acres of mazes, an entire city of blue, an island in the shape of a butterfly, a swimming elephant, and vast orange deserts. 18 different countries served as shooting locations over the course of nearly a decade. The movie does deal with some dark themes including suicide and drug use, and there is a fair amount of violence, but in general, I did not feel the violence was overdone.

Towards the end of the film, I was so enthralled in the story that I knew exactly how I wanted it to end. Walker sucked me into the story almost as well as he sucked Alexandria in and inserted her into the story. I can’t say the story followed the exact course that seemed so clear in my head, yet it was satisfying in the end.

If you are looking for beautiful cinematography, this movie is a must see. If you are looking for a coherent one-dimensional story, this movie is not for you. I give the movie 4.5 out of 5 stars. Easily one of the top 5 movies I’ve seen since the end of SIFF 2007.

What you need to know: your iPhone won’t work, the National played the very best set of Saturday, it’s occasionally wet here, and the press trailer’s wi-fi is spotty. I’m helping the folks at KEXP out with their coverage; so tune into blog.kexp.org for occasional updates. (here’s day one’s dispatch [kexp])

What happens when your car alarm goes off all day? Seattlites will leave notes under your windshield wipers.

The last time I had to sit through a car alarm going off non-stop for hours, it was at 3am. Enough neighbors located the car and called the police (non-emergency) and had the car towed. Unfortunately, it’s not the right time of day to do this. High density neighborhoods are not a good place for an ultra-sensitive car alarm.

Another copyright infringement case is currently being fought between the Rat City Rollergirls and Starbucks over the use of similar logos. Which will win? (Via Seattle PI)

I don’t know if you guys have been paying attention to the saga of the single feet, with or without shoes that continue to wash up on nearby beaches, but the AP reported today that they have found a fourth foot.

I brought this up at a dinner party several months ago, when I saw the first article, noting that it sounded like some awful horror movie screenplay. One of the other folks thought it seemed more like gang activity. What do you guys think? Gangs? Serial foot-chopper? Jaws, come to life? Have fun this Memorial Day, but whatever you do, keep your right foot out of the water!

_{you’re a sexy little thing, aren’t you? where’d you get that ink? got any more you want to show me? er… photo by anabananasplit [flickr]}

Josh and his In Other Blogs is heading to Sasquatch for the weekend and I wanted to make sure this important information was passed along. Via our neighbors to the south at the TNT’s Grit City (also, I’m told, from this morning’s Adam Corrolla Show) comes a story out of the UK’s Daily Telegraph of a Washington man, Edward Smith, and his lust for cars. No really, his lust for cars. He claims to have had sex with over 1,000 of them — most he didn’t own himself. In other words, however unlikely it may be, it’s possible your car isn’t a virgin.

Mr Smith, 57, first had sex with a car at the age of 15, and claims he has never been attracted to women or men.

“Maybe I’m a little bit off the wall but when I see movies like Herbie and Knight Rider, where cars become loveable, huggable characters it’s just wonderful.”

By the way, Edward’s predilection for automobiles falls under the category of mechaphilia. You can Google that for yourself.

If, on the other hand, you’re planning to brave the gas prices, the holiday weekend traffic, the drive through the mountains, and the questionable weather for the sake of the excellent lineup at this year’s monster-sized three-day Sasquatch, might I direct you to the survival guide that we assembled last year? [metblogs] The rules are tricky and ever-changing and the climate has been known to rain, hail, sandstorm, and scorch within the span of just one day; so you’ll want to be prepared for maximal enjoyment.

The big change this year is that if you get sick of listening to music (is that possible?), there will also be a tent full of comedians to give you a break (laughter, if Reader’s Digest is to be believed, is the best medicine).

My main recommendation is that if you’re going on Saturday be sure to leave early enough to get there, park, and get through the line so that you don’t miss Beirut. They’re one of the few bands that merit hours-long drives and the lack of a Seattle stop on their summer tour means that you have to make the trek to see them anywhere close to home. If the conditions are right, their horn-heavy, sometimes gypsy, sometimes Parisian street-band, always inspirational soaring melodies should be perfectly suited the gorgeous setting.

My secondary recommendation is that you stick around through Monday. There is so much worth seeing, but one reason should be more than enough: FLAMING LIPS U.F.O. SHOW (preceded by a screening of CHRISTMAS ON MARS. on Saturday night). Wayne Coyne, Dancing Aliens, Dancing Santas. What more could you possibly need in life?

After 2 years of going to Sasquatch, I decided I need a break. So with the boyfriend gone and my 2 good friends off in various parts of the world, I’m actually kind of solo for the first time in months. If you have the same predictament, here’s what you (and I) can do:

-Pick up my SIFF tickets. I’m seeing Young People Fucking, 32A and Visioneers.

-Taking a swimming exercise class at Medgar Evers. This was my pool back in my Capitol Hill days. I’m excited to go with a knitting friend and flair our arms around without hitting any of the 90 year olds taking the class with us. Admission means we get full usage of the sauna. Mmmm….

-Go to Anthropologie because they’re having a big *sale, as is Club Monaco and I’m crossing my fingers that Le Frock is too. I will most likely buy nothing. Thus is the curse for being cheap.

-See Ladytron at The Showbox! I’m actually not a big fan of their latest album, but I’m just excited to dance all crazy by myself. And I like that The Showbox has enough room where you can do this, unlike Neumos, where I always feel like I’m being stuffed in a corner somewhere.

-Go to Northwest Folklife Festival. I LOVE this festival. I went to it for about an hour last year by myself and had such a good time. I’m a sucker for hippie music, nice people talking about hemp and lots of kids singing in a choir. Sure the weather is shitty now, but there’s hope for the weekend and I’m thinking this will be the perfect Sunday activity.

-Hit up a craft swap and hope it doesn’t rain because I’ll be near Alki Beach and I would actually like to lay out for once.

-See Indiana Jones at Cinerama! Will everyone else be doing this on a Monday at 4? I hope not, cause I’m usually not good with pre-ordering tickets.  

Wow, maybe I should have a weekend by myself more often. Have a nice, safe, fun, fabulous weekend everyone. I know I will.

*Wesa just informed me about this is also Ikea’s Memorial Day Weekend Tax-Free Sale. I think I rather put my hand in boiling water than deal with the Ikea crowd, but to each his own. Thanks Wesa!