The Academy Awards are so major, so massive, that other film-related events and happenings just naturally simmer and roil up around them. This is good if you love the art of sitting in a darkened movie theater for two hours. And everyone does, we'll state pretty emphatically.
Movie-ish haps (beyond the big show) unfurling over Oscar weekend include...
...Documentary maker supreme Werner Herzog chatting at UCLA's Royce Hall on Friday, February 20. And while he doesn't do documentaries in the traditional sense -- the viewer always feels the director's presence throughout -- his films just engross us. "Grizzly Man" is definitely one that has stayed.
...DocuDay 2009 at the WGA Theater on Doheny on Saturday, February 21. If you need to catch up on your nominated docs, clear your schedule and settle in.
...The art of costume design show is still up at FIDM downtown. We recently paid a visit to this free exhibit and, though we hardly know a seam from a hem, we were wowed to be seeing the actual clothes worn in the actual films. Who knew the Dark Knight was so beefy? And we mean beefy in the best sense. Also, Cate Blanchett's red dress from "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," our favorite 2008 costume, is in the show.
...Speaking of how actors look in a film, the Academy is doing a Makeup Symposium at its Wilshire location on Saturday, February 21.
...And American Cinematheque is throwing a big shebang with the nominated editors and art directors at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, also on Saturday, February 21 at 2:30PM.
Holy Bat Man if we aren't glad to live in LA and love the movies. Do we take this for granted? No, we do not.
