I lever myself out of bed and mainline some coffee. Zombie impression on bus to Cameo. Press screening of what will be my first 5 star movie of the Festival (and not just cos it kept me awake! honest!)
Quick re-fuel. New batteries in the dictaphone. Red Carpet for the major new film, Control. I seem to be one of the few people in the press pen who have seen the film and nobble the leading man. Next I try to listen in as the person next to me interviews the supporting actress, but it's all in German. Joy Division music blares from appreciatively placed speakers.
Inside, the cast and crew seem serious and respectful to the subject matter (and recent death of Tony Wilson). Samantha Morton, usually confident and stylish, looks almost in character, tremulous. She is engagingly articulate but that damson coloured dress is not as well chosen as her EIFF outings in previous years. Supporting actress Alexandra Maria Lara has plumped for safer choices. A frame of cascading blonde hair crowns a black top with low, unbuttoned neckline and matching short black skirt. Leading man Sam Riley is in a matching black outfit. I think female fans have already marked him down as serious eye-candy even before they see the film.
Cineworld boasts two red carpets tonight, with one more following Control. After the film, I linger near the exit to catch some of the audience questions, and throw one in too to keep things moving. People are still in shock. I look at one lady's tear-stained face. This is not a movie you will forget in a hurry.
I leave before the end of the questions - several reviews needed urgently. Walking towards Lothian Road I strike up conversation with another film goer (Isn't that one of the great things about the Festival?) We enthuse over Control and also the (superb) cult film she's off to see next, It's Gonna Get Worse. I pop in to the Filmhouse to check the Audience Award ratings so far and enjoy an intense conversation with one of the staff as we wax lyrical over Tilda Swinton's films. It's still early. The bar looms temptingly. But I also have to be up for a 9am screening so it's back onto the bus.
Hot Gossip
Buff Sam Riley fell in love with co-star Alexandra Maria Lara and lives with her in Berlin - no wonder the on-set chemistry is so good!
Sam (who plays Joy Division's Ian Curtis in Control) also played Mark E Smith of The Fall in the film 24 Hour Party People. Sean Harris, who played Curtis in 24 Hour Party People, is also in Edinburgh, promoting his new film, Saxon. In Control, when Curtis has recovered from an epileptic seizure on stage, his manager tells him, "Could be worse: you could be the lead singer in The Fall!"
Lizzie Francke, who was Artistic Director of the Edinburgh International Film Festival from 1997 to 2001, was an Executive Producer on the film.
Coming Saturday:
6.45 & 7.15pm at Cineworld: Angelina Jolie in Michael Winterbottom's new film, A Mighty Heart. 9.30pm at Cineworld: Sell your soul to get a ticket for the new Tarantino movie, Death Proof. 9.30pm at the Filmhouse: or lift your soul in song in Chansons d'Amour, a charmingly wonderful (adult) French musical. Late night: get stuck into some late night Russian vampires at the Cameo. Day Watch starts 15 minutes before midnight.
