SURF’S UP FOR "R.S.V.P."
IN MALIBU
WINNER
BEST OF FESTIVAL
As the critics weighed in, R.S.V.P.
rode to victory in 3rd Annual Malibu Film Festival.
Malibu, California— 1 September 2002’
After filling three screenings to capacity during
the week and picking up rave reviews from the Hollywood press, award winning
writer/director Mark Anthony Galluzzo’s ‘R.S.V.P.’ walked
off with yet another top prize Thursday night at the Fest’s closing
ceremonies, bringing this indie sleeper’s track record up to two ‘Best
of Festival’ victories in but three appearances.
The West-Coast premiere of ‘R.S.V.P.’ received
much anticipation with an advance review by LA Times film critic, Kevin
Thomas, in which he declared the Hitchcockian Black Comedy to be: "Diabolically
Clever!" and "a matter of increasing suspense!"
Variety’s Scott Foundas later raved about the
outrageous spoof as "An exercise in unpleasantness!"
; "The most despicable cast of characters to descend on Las Vegas
since Peter Berg’s ‘Very Bad Things!"
The Boston Phoenix’s Bill Rodriguez, who caught
the film prior to its East Coast Premiere at the Rhode Island Int’l
Film Fest the prior week agreed with Foundas, lauding ‘R.S.V.P.’
as a "Splendid Send-Up!" and went on to exclaim
"Homage and Spoof do a Dance of Death! Straight out of Hitchcock.
Galluzzo does right… dinging and tooting all the right filmic bells
and whistles!"
In addition to the victory, fans were treated to a
personal appearance by Galluzzo along with cast members Daniel Joseph and,
believe it or not, a shocking public appearance by Kevin Smith’s cult
icon sidekick Jay Mewes (of Jay & Silent Bob fame) at the film’s
opening night.
An old-fashioned yet irreverent comedy romp, "R.S.V.P."
cleverly mixes the spirit of Frank Capra’s "Arsenic and Old Lace"
with Alfred Hitchcock’s "Rope". Set in the heart of sin
city itself,
Las Vegas, Nevada, "R.S.V.P." follows
a group of twenty-something’s on their last— and we do mean
last - night of collegiate bliss. Co-Stars include, Majandra Delfino
(Roswell, Traffic), Reno
Wilson (The Chronicle), Grace Zabriskie (Wild
at Heart, Trash), Jonathan Banks (Wiseguy, Trash), Glenn Quinn
(Angel), and breakout performances by New Yorker Daniel Joseph and
newcomer Nora Zehetner (Septuplets).
The overwhelming sentiment at the conclusion of the
clever comedy’s run was that "R.S.V.P." is definitely a
film that demands to be seen twice. Days later the film walked away with
the top prize, ‘Best of Festival’, presented by Tony Danza at
the closing ceremonies. Past honorees of the Malibu Film Festival include:
James Cameron, John Frankenheimer, Roger Corman, Seymour Cassell, Charles
Bronson, Arthur Hiller, Shirley Maclaine, Lloyd Bridges, and Nick Nolte.
Mark Anthony’s other credits include his critically
acclaimed feature debut "Trash", starring Jaime Pressly (Not
Another Teen Movie, Jack & Jill) and Jeremy Sisto (Jesus, Six
Feet Under), which Kevin Thomas of the LA Times declared, "A
potent coming-of-age drama set on the wrong side of the tracks."
Stayed tuned to www.rsvpthemovie.com
for info on upcoming screenings and festival appearances, including an
encore West Coast screening October 18th — 20th
at the aptly named "Scream Fest 2002".
