Yesterday's first press screening of this year's NYFF was quite packed. That's because it was MARIE ANTOINETTE. Today's double-feature of KNIFE IN THE WATER and SUMMER WITH MONIKA (part of the amazing Janus Films sidebar) was sparsely attended. Your loss, y'all. I look forward to reading the homework assignment I gave Tom Hall, in which he must craft a thoughtful essay comparing the two films (which have a striking number of similarities).

This year's experience is a tad less glorious due to the annoying construction that is being done to Lincoln Center. But I imagine I'll get used to it.

Tomorrow brings my second most anticipated film of the festival, Apichatpong Weerasethakul's SYNDROMES AND A CENTURY (number one being INLAND EMPIRE, of course). If SYNDROMES AND A CENTURY is only 12% as good as TROPICAL MALADY, it will easily be near the top of my year end list. Unfortunately, there's no Q&A with Weerasethakul. I wanted to soak in some of that guy's magic.

I'm trying to figure out how to present my coverage of the festival this year. One thing I'm definitely not going to do is "rate" the films. I wish I hadn't done that before. In my Netflix queue that's fun to do, but here it seems pompous and silly. I'll probably just do another two-part wrap-up once the screenings conclude in my typical 100ish-word aimless, meandering, over-verbose fashion.

I also plan to attend Thursday night's FOUR EYED MONSTERS screening at the IFC Center to support Arin and Susan's groundbreaking distribution strategy. Just thinking about the energy involved in making that happen gives me the heebie-jeebies, so I want to live vicariously through their (hopeful!) success.

Lastly, COCAINE ANGEL has received its first year-end award nomination. I couldn't be prouder if it were an Oscar nomination for Best Director. Actually, I think we're all even prouder!

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