David O. Russell – Ted Mills

SBIFF: Director David O. Russell receives SBIFF’s first award

February 1, 2014September 2, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

Mr. Russell speaks with Roger Durling during Friday's program. — Mr. Russell speaks with Roger Durling during Friday’s program.

Director David O. Russell returned to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Friday night after a year’s absence to accept the Outstanding Directing Award.

Last year he arrived first as a panelist, one of six directors talking about their work, his being “Silver Linings Playbook.” Then he was an award giver, descending into the maelstrom of Jennifer Lawrence fandom to present her with an award for her young but stunning career.

This year it’s Mr. Russell’s turn to be in the spotlight and sit down for a career overview. His latest, “American Hustle,” is a clever romp with a cast of hilarious characters in New Jersey with the backdrop of the very real ABSCAM sting operation of the ’70s.

Director David O. Russell receives SBIFF’s first award

February 1, 2014September 10, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

Director David O. Russell returned to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Friday night after a year’s absence to accept the Outstanding Directing Award.

Russell’s Hustle – SBIFF HONORS THE DIRECTOR OF ‘AMERICAN HUSTLE,’ ‘SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK,’ AND MORE

January 31, 2014August 21, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

The comedian Louis C.K. recently compared David O. Russell’s directing method to playing soccer: no time-outs, no huddles, you just keep moving. “Go big or go home” is often heard on a Russell set. And interviewing Mr. Russell is like that, too. He’s all energy, running here and there from anecdote to anecdote, and even though he’s probably been telling these tales since the very first junket, he sounds absolutely in the moment, like he’s just walked off set and can’t wait to tell you about it all.

Santa Barbara will get a full evening of Mr. Russell tonight in the first of SBIFF’s celebrity tributes, as he sits down for a career retrospective and the Outstanding Director Award.

Rule breakers: SBIFF directors panel entertaining but uneven

January 27, 2013December 28, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

The directors panel, from left, moderator Peter Bart; Tom Hooper, "Les Miserables"; Rich Moore, "Wreck-It Ralph"; David O. Russell, "Silver Linings Playbook"; Benh Zeitlin, "Beasts of the Southern Wild"; Malik Bendjelloul, "Searching for Sugar Man"; and Mark Andrews, "Brave." NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS — The directors panel, from left, moderator Peter Bart; Tom Hooper, “Les Miserables”; Rich Moore, “Wreck-It Ralph”; David O. Russell, “Silver Linings Playbook”; Benh Zeitlin, “Beasts of the Southern Wild”; Malik Bendjelloul, “Searching for Sugar Man”; and Mark Andrews, “Brave.”
NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS

Six of this year’s Oscar contenders for best director from the narrative, documentary and animation fields sat for a panel discussion on their craft early Saturday morning at the Lobero.

Led by longtime moderator Peter Bart, the annual “Directors on Directing” panel was an entertaining look into their craft, dealing with actors, theories of editing, and working with audiences.

On the other hand, it was an uneven panel in terms of speaking time, and occasionally let down by snark from Mr. Bart.