SBIFF to
screen ‘Cold Mountain’ tonight
By
Andrea Estrada
South Coast Beacon
Actors Kathy Baker and Donald Sutherland will be on hand at the Granada
Theatre tonight for an advance screening of Academy Award winning director
Anthony Minghella’s feature film “Cold Mountain.” The
screening is hosted by the Santa Barbara International Film Festival Cinema
Society to benefit the Film Festival, which is set to run Jan. 30 through
Feb. 8.
Based on the novel by National Book Award author Charles Frazier, “Cold
Mountain” tells the story of Inman, a wounded Confederate soldier
who treks across the Civil War-ravaged South to return home to Cold Mountain
and to his beloved Ada.
The film, which opens to general audiences on Christmas Day, stars Jude
Law as Inman, Nicole Kidman as Ada and Renee Zellweger as Ruby Thewes,
a drifter who helps Ada protect her father’s farm.
Baker and Sutherland play supporting roles in the film as Sally Swanger
and Rev. Monroe.
Baker, most recently nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance in
the critically acclaimed made-for-television movie “Door to Door”
with William H. Macy, also received back-to-back Emmy nods for her guest
performances on “Touched By an Angel” and “Boston Public.”
She won a Screen Actor’s Guild Award, a Golden Globe Award and three
Emmy Awards for her work on the CBS television series “Picket Fences.”
A versatile and prolific motion picture actor, Sutherland has demonstrated
his offbeat elegance in more than 100 films, ranging from the political
satire of Robert Altman’s “M*A*S*H” to Robert Redford’s
intimate drama “Ordinary People” to the subtle intricacy of
Alan Pakula’s “Klute” and the eccentric romanticism
of Federico Fellini’s “Casanova.”
The Cinema Society, formed in 1998, exists as a function of the Santa
Barbara International Film Festival to present screenings, receptions
and special events throughout the year. The Cinema Society brings independent,
foreign and major studio features to Santa Barbara audiences year-round,
often featuring actors and actresses who make live appearances for post-screening
question and answer sessions. Those on hand for Cinema Society screenings
during the past year include George Clooney, Philip Glass, Elmer Bernstein,
Bill Condon, Rob Marshall, Ray Liotta, Jason Patric and Joe Carnahan.
“Cold Mountain” screens at 7:30 p.m. today at the Granada
Theatre, 1216 State St. Tickets are $15 and available at the Granada Theatre
Box Office.
In other Santa Barbara International Film Festival news, Peter Jackson,
the director, producer and writer of the “Lord of the Rings”
trilogy, will receive the 2004 Modern Master Award.
The third film in the series, “Lord of the Rings: The Return of
the King” opened Wednesday to rave reviews.
“When I first came on board, I was asked who would be my choice
for Modern Master,” said festival director Roger Durling. “I
could think of only one name that perfectly exemplified a Modern Master
and that is Peter Jackson. My dream has come true. Christmas has arrived
for me!”
Established in 1995, the Modern Master Award honors individuals whose
accomplishments in the motion picture industry have enriched world culture.
The list of past Modern Masters recipients features the likes of Jodie
Foster, Michael Douglas, Anthony Hopkins, Sean Penn, Jeff Bridges and
Diane Keaton.
For information, call the Arlington Theatre Box Office at 963-4408 or
visit the Film Festival Web site at www.sbfilmfestival.org.
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