STEPHEN O REGAN v THE DUBLIN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL = THERE WILL BE BLOOD

I have a bit of an odd movie related story to tell. Warning: It has a bit of a back story, and name dropping and obligatory blogging moaniness. So if you are not in the mood for a bit of mindless indulgatory blogging turn away now.

Back story. As you may or may not know, I´m a big movie fan and wannabe film director. You may notice this as I try to write movie reviews here when I can.

My favourite film director is Paul Thomas Anderson. PTA as he is better known to the geeks amoungst us, is concidered a maverick young director. In his short directorial career he has directed only a few films including Boogie Nights, Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love.

While on holiday in LA a few years ago I met him by coincidence at a gig in an Irish bar! I was awe struck. Completly speechless. It was a bit like when Ed Wood met Orson Welles.

Since I met PTA I have made one short film of note. All the superficial aspects of the film are PTA inspired. ´Inspired´ is the wrong word. ´Ripped off´ is better.

So now we are at present day. I warned you this would be indulgent.

After going to a Saturday morning think thank for The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival in November, I got thinking to myself, what would really make the festival great?

With that I immediatly emailed the festival organisers. I suggested they screen PT Andersons new film (and first in five years) There Will Be Blood; but not only that; they should also try lure PT Anderson over to the screening with the films star Daniel Day Lewis.

The festival organisers responded promptly saying they would take the idea on board.

Truth be told, I didn´t really think they had a chance of getting the two stars over. The film has afterall been critically acclaimed and nominated for 8 Oscars. With the Dublin Festival taking place just one week before the Oscars the chances of luring them both over would be further decreased.

So you can imagine my surprise when at the beginning of February, as I was looking through the Dublin Festival guide, there was listed a screening of There Will Be Blood and in tiny small print below, guest appearances by director Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day Lewis!

I couldn´t believe it. I immediatly asked to buy a ticket. But it was already too late. SOLD OUT.

My reaction was instant...´but...but...but´

I knew that there and then I was doomed. I emailed the festival. Pleaded compassion. I begged. I complained. But no chance. No ticket for me.

That´s the end of the story in truth. The screening of There Will Be Blood takes place in the Savoy Cinema tonight at 7PM with PT Anderson and Daniel Day Lewis in attendance. An idea I suggested mid December.

Granted they may have had the idea before me, but no words up, no nothing. No compassion. No love. Its hard to take.

It is the Irish way these days. Thou shalt not help. Thou shalt not give a F.U.C.K about your fellow man.

There´s the moaniness.

Enough now. All I can say in closing is that I did manage to squirm a screening of There Will Be Blood last night. And suffice to say it is quite brilliant and true to form.

So Dublin International Film Festival Organisers = Mean
There Will Be Blood = Very Good
This blogger = Aggreived