There was a sold-out house Monday night, September 11, at Loew’s Cheri Theatre in the Back Bay for the Boston Film Festival’s premiere of THE CONTENDER. Starring such notables as three time Academy Award nominee Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Gary Oldman (who also produced), Christian Slater and Sam Elliott, the premiere guaranteed a powerful ovation for Bridges, who received the 2000 Film Excellence Award. Bridges, returning to Boston for the first time since his controversial (if not destructive) multi-million dollar film shoot of BLOWN AWAY, was introduced by television news personality Dixie Watley, who was introduced by Film Office director Robin Dawson.

Bridges spoke fondly of working here in Boston, saying BLOWN AWAY remains one of his favorite pictures to have worked on if only because it gave him a chance to work with his dad, film star Lloyd Bridges, and of course to watch lots of things on and off set blow up. Seriously though, Jeff complimented to the extreme the excellence of his collaboration on BLOWN AWAY with his "wonderful crew, director, and fellow actors", saying that he would jump at the opportunity for the right script to return to Boston to film again. He noted that it is hard to find scripts he wants to do, because he will only do movies he wants to ultimately see.

Jeff Bridges and THE CONTENDER Writer/Director were very attentive special guests during the Boston Film Festivals. They were both on hand at the State House to present the Mass Film Office Seventh Annual Screenwriting Award to winner kris Johnson of Hopkinton, MA for screenplay WRITTEN IN WATER. An Imagine Photo by Erika Hahn.

Bridges introduced THE CONTENDER’S new writer/director Rob Lurie , who took the stage, breaking up the audience with the proclamation, "The Dude is President. Who would have thought?…," followed by "I have these three words to take into November’s election: Vote for Jeff." Lurie, former L.A.-based WKABC radio film critic and current Connecticut resident, wrote his second feature length script (his first was last year’s DETERRENCE, starring Timothy Hutton) for Joan Allen, and Bridges only signed on once Allen was confirmed to the deal. The film, most influenced by, and reminiscent of features such as Alan J. Pakula’s THE PARALLAX VIEW, ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN, and John Frankenheimer’s THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE His first feature independent film, THE CONTENDER, was made for under $10,000,000, and was fortunate to have DreamWorks pick it up and supply most of the postproduction costs beyond the initial costs. Steven Spielberg himself assisted Lurie in the editing room, and when suggesting that he use fewer close ups to lighten the story up, Lurie held firm on his choices and received the Spielbergian wisdom, "That’s the way Stanley [Kubrick] would have done it [too]."

Lurie is set to direct his next feature, CLINK, INC., an original comedy in pre-production, based on a female Wall Street broker. If THE CONTENDER’S feminism is any example of Lurie’s own evolved wisdom on women, it can be assured that it will be another work of inspired genius. As to Bridges, I’m betting he will finally get that coveted Academy Award, as may Allen, and Lurie may give Spielberg himself some competition, taking Best Director, Writer and Picture. After all, what other competition has there been this year?

Vinca Jarrett is an attorney of counsel to the firm of Shames and Litwin, a full service law firm with foremost experience in the field of entertainment. She is also the owner and principal of SKRIPTEASE, which specializes in screenplay drafting, editing and consulting on feature and television projects. For more information on Skriptease, email Vinca at Skriptease@aol.com.