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on Mar 17, 2010 at 07:00pm
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Event Reviews

SBIFF 2010 Closing Night Screening of Middle Men

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Lawyers, Guns and Funny Fittingly, the 25th edition of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival drew to a close on Valentine’s Day, as love (and even lust) filled the air. Earlier in the day, the city bestowed big love on...

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SBIFF - Colin Firth - Outstanding Performance

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If you were looking to see an A-List Hollywood megastar with a sophisticated British flair, then the red carpet at the Arlington Theater was the place to be this night.  On hand was Colin Firth, as he was this years...

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SBIFF 2009 Opening Night E-mail
(9 votes, average 4.67 out of 5)
Show Reviews
Written by Haig Fisher   
Friday, 23 January 2009 15:36

 

Director, Rod LurieDirector, Rod Lurie.

The 24th Annual Santa Barbara Film Festival opened in grand style last evening at its home base, the majestic Arlington Theater. Crowds were on hand to kick off the 10 day festival which will feature over 200 films and several Academy Award writers, directors, and actors.

January 22, 2009. The evening started with the traditional red carpet walk of local actors (Jeff Bridges and his wife Susan, James Cromwell) and actors/directors from the movie being showed on this night, Nothing But The Truth. The director, Rod Lurie, and 2 cast members from the film: Noah Wylie and 8 year old Preston Bailey made the red carpet walk and talked with local reporters and photographers. The Press Line had many young reporters from local junior high and high schools which made for a very endearing red carpet walk. The actors and director thoroughly enjoyed being interviewed by young and aspiring teen age reporters and film makers.

AF090122-0003The movie, Nothing But The Truth, written and directed by Rod Lurie is a fictionalized account of the Valerie Plame case, the CIA operative whose identity was outed by New York Times journalist Judith Miller in 2003.

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Preston Bailey
Kate Beckinsale plays Rachel Armstrong, a D.C. reporter jailed for refusing to name her source in an article exposing the identity of a CIA agent (played by Vera Farmiga). Armstrong is jailed for over a year which causes the break up of her marriage and loss of custody of her young son. David Schwimmer plays her husband, Matt Dillon plays the relentless prosecutor who puts her behind bars, and Alan Alda portrays her loyal and trusted attorney. Throughout this enthralling film, Armstrong holds firm in her committment to protect her source, giving everyone a lesson in morality and integrity.

 

Jeff Bridges
Rodrigo Santoro
Rodrigo Santoro
After the film, the crowds were treated to the opening night party at the Paseo Nuevo Mall. Local restaurants were on hand to provide tasty appetizers and desserts for the several hundred in attendance. Santa Barbara's finest DJ's were on hand and live performers The Coral Sea got the crowds a movin' and a shakin'

Once again, this night represented how special the Santa Barbara Film Festival is to locals and filmmakers alike.

James Cromwell
James Cromwell
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Roger Durling, Executive Director
Roger Durling, Executive Director

 

Noah Wyle
Noah Wyle
Jeff Bridges and Rod Lurie
Jeff Bridges and Rod Lurie

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The Coral Sea
The Coral Sea
AF090122-0326AF090122-0331AF090122-0334AF090122-0350AF090123-0272p