The Burgh's Giving a Festival: Three Rivers Film Fest Line-Up Announced

Pittsburgh's annual Three Rivers Film Festival continues to receive big films for their opening night reception.  Last year, Silver Lining's Playbook was the center of the festivities, and the year before I attended the opening night gala and saw David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method.  I couldn't even get close to nabbing tickets in 2009 when Precious opening the festival.  The line-up was announed late last night, and there are some films I really want to see this year.

The two biggest films (or most high-profile) are Philomena and Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom.  Normally, one of these would play on the Friday opening night, but, for some reason, they are playing the following day.  No need to quibble, though.  I think I would be too distracted during Mandela.  Idris Elba is so effing gorgeous that I will be thinking that he needs to take his shirt off the entire time.  I don't think I need to think of Nelson Mandela that way.  Right?

  

In addition to Philomena, I am most interested in Prince Avalanche and Stranger by the Lake.  I could watch Avalanche on demand, but I would rather see it on the big screen.  Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch star as two highway road workers in 1988.  Misadventures and comedic squabbles ensure.  I love Rudd--he's national treasure status for me, and I love when Hirsch does comedy.  There's an unpredictable quality to him.  Director David Gordon Green helmed Pinapple Express and Snow Angels.  

On the flipside, Stranger is a gay cruising thriller drama from France.  I was a little surprised that it didn't play at the recent gay and lesbian film festival a few weeks back.  I don't know that much about it, and I want to keep it that way.  The trailer is all mystersious and gay and features some naked behind, so I'm there. 

I really need to go through the line-up and pick other flicks I want to see.  The Three Rivers Film Festival runs November 8-23 at various theaters around the city.  Head over to 3rff.com for more information or click here for a complete list of films. 

In the meantime, however, check out the trailer for Stranger!