Spinning Platters Interview: Edward Norton on “Stone”

Edward Norton in STONE from Overture Films

Edward Norton does not seem like much of a movie star in person. When he first walked into a small Ritz Carlton conference room to discuss his new movie, Stone, with a handful of sweaty, panting, near-hysterical online journalists (okay, that was mostly me), he didn’t exactly blow the roof off with “star power” magnetism. He was soft-voiced, studious, and modestly dressed.

As he sat down and began answering our questions, he gave lengthy and eloquent answers while leaning far forward onto the table, glinting through those famously heavy-lidded eyes as he fussed with his rings. You’d be more likely to mistake him for an author than an actor. But perhaps that’s appropriate, given the thoughtful and well-considered roles he’s taken since his Oscar-nominated debut performance in Primal Fear skyrocketed him to international fame fourteen years ago.

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The Spinning Platters Guide to the 33rd Mill Valley Film Festival

Colin Firth in early Oscar buzz favorite THE KING'S SPEECH, making its Bay Area debut this week at the Mill Valley Film Festival. All photos courtesy of the MVFF.

The 33rd annual Mill Valley Film Festival kicks off tomorrow, October 7, boasting a genuinely impressive roster of major 2010 film festival favorites making their Bay Area debuts. The MVFF will also host appearances by actors Edward Norton, Annette Bening, Sam Rockwell, and James Franco, directors Julian Schnabel and Alejandro González Iñárritu, and many more. Look after the jump for our 11 MVFF Must-Sees. For complete festival and ticket information, check out the MVFF official website.

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In Theaters Today: “Jack Goes Boating” / “Howl” / “You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger” / “Waiting For ‘Superman'” / “Let Me In”

Kodi Smit-McPhee and Chloë Grace Moretz star in Overture Film's LET ME IN.

Look after the jump for reviews of five new films playing in the Bay Area this weekend.

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Spinning Platters Interview: Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman on “Howl”

Script supervisor Tony Pettine discusses a scene with directors Jeffrey Friedman and Rob Epstein in the courtroom set of HOWL. Photo courtesy of Telling Pictures.

The Times of Harvey Milk. Common Threads: Stories From The Quilt. The Celluloid Closet. Paragraph 175. Over the course of 25 years, two Best Documentary Oscars, and a smattering of Emmys and Peabodys, San Francisco-based filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman have forever changed the face of documentary film-making and revolutionized the portrayal of gay and lesbian subjects in American culture. Now, they’ve made Howl (opening in Bay Area on September 24), their first scripted film, in which James Franco brilliantly embodies Allen Ginsberg. They recently sat down with Spinning Platters to discuss their latest effort.

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Show Review: The Chapin Sisters at Café Du Nord, 9/15/10

Abigail and Lily Chapin, a.k.a. The Chapin Sisters, singing with She & Him in festively nautical attire on Governor's Island in July. Photo by Doug Glass.

Sister acts: they’re not just girl-group nuns on the run from the mob anymore. As far as I know, at least. I can’t personally vouch for The Chapin Sisters’ lack of involvement with organized crime. But I can vouch for the utter gorgeousness of their performance at Café Du Nord last night, so I certainly hope they don’t get bumped off by Harvey Keitel anytime soon. That would be tragic.

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Film Review: “The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector”

Phil Spector as he appears during his lengthy interview in "The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector." Photo courtesy of BBC Arena/Vixpix Films.

How do you solve a problem like Phil Spector? In The Agony and the Ecstasy of Phil Spector (opening today at the Roxie Theater), filmmaker Vikram Jayanti — who co-produced the Oscar-winning documentary When We Were Kings — creates a compelling but fundamentally flawed portrait of this culture-shaking musical genius and convicted murderer.

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Show Review: Jenny and Johnny with Sonny & the Sunsets and Farmer Dave Scher at Great American Music Hall, 9/2/10

I’m Having Fun Now, the “debut” album by Jenny and Johnny (Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice), is being marketed as the first collaboration between indie lovebirds Lewis and Rice. This isn’t strictly the case, though; Lewis and Rice have been all over each other’s material (what the kids are calling it these days) for the last five years. Rice has been playing in Lewis’ touring band since 2006, and had a very strong presence on her underrated 2008 LP, Acid Tongue. In turn, Lewis co-wrote and sang on several tracks from Rice’s 2007 album, Further North. But now these kids have made it official and released a full-length duets album. Last night, they played the first of two nights at Great American Music Hall. How did it go?

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 7/29/10-8/4/10

Look how much your girlfriend is enjoying herself at The Mountain Winery in Saratoga. So many concerts! So much wine!

As July transitions into August, The Mountain Winery continues to generally kick the ass of every other Bay Area concert venue this week—and it’s actually kind of an off-week for them. Nobody likes a showoff, Mountain Winery! Other highlights this week include Joanna Newsom, a free concert by Rickie Lee Jones, and the final performance by local favorites Make Me before they take an indefinite hiatus. All that and more, after the jump…

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Spinning Platters Weekly Guide to Bay Area Concerts, 7/1/10-7/7/10

Mya (who has since been name-usurped by M.I.A.), Bif Naked (clearly nonplussed), Sarah McLachlan, and Martina McBride sitting at a Lilith Fair press panel back in the day. Photo courtesy of Lilith Fair.

Welcome to our first Bay Area concert guide for the lovely (in the East Bay) month of July. After the jump, check out this week’s relatively low-key concert offerings (I guess concert promoters don’t think people enjoy live shows on Independence Day?), but with at least one major event: the long-awaited return of the greatest concert package tour of all time! Or at least of the ’90s. And at least of the concert packages that only featured female singers. Regardless: Lilith Fair is coming to town, y’all!

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Show Review: Jay Brannan with Terra Naomi at Bottom of the Hill, 6/16/10

Photo by sascha10er

Sensitive gays from around the Bay Area flocked to Bottom of the Hill last night for the latest San Francisco appearance by outrageously cute twee-folk pin-up Jay Brannan.

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