The Front Page: August 19, 2008

By Randee Dawn

Let's see ... Hollywood is decamping for the Rocky Mountain part of the U.S., where there will be exclusive parties and genuine stars, a lot of schmoozing and -- hey, who moved Sundance?

Oh, wait: As Elizabeth Guider and Paul J. Gough point out, it's only Denver and it's "only" the Democratic convention, which officially kicks off on Aug. 25 but already has the city buzzing with, well, buzz. They write: "Celebrities expected to attend at least some of the events in the Mile High City include Ben Affleck, Josh Brolin, Annette Bening, Spike Lee, Anne Hathaway, Susan Sarandon, Richard Schiff and Kerry Washington. Among the likely execs on hand will be Sony's Michael Lynton, DreamWorks' Jeffrey Katzenberg, Endeavor's Ari Emmanuel, producer Lawrence Bender and Comcast's Jeff Shell -- all of whom have served on Obama's National Finance Committee. And because it is in Denver, the home of the country's key coterie of cablers, companies like Starz are among those that intend to make the most of their host perch."

Just watch out for the altitude, folks. It's a doozy if you're not prepared, much like the convention itself.

GM has gotten itself off a high perch as a sponsor for the Oscars and Emmys, hoping to save money on ad spending, according to Steve Miller. Notes rep Kelly Cusinato, "The Emmys [also on ABC] and Oscars are prestigious events, and the decision to release them was a difficult one-especially after over a decade of involvement," Cusinato said. They're sticking with the Globes, Grammies and Country Music Awards -- but the industry's real showpieces are going to have to hunt around for some extra cash come September and February....

Finally, ever see a movie review that just made you need to rush out and see the film right away? Well, I have, thanks to Ray Bennett -- and I'm now completely frustrated beacuse he's reporting on the Locarno Film Festival. I'm a sucker for twist endings, and he's built up "Parque Via" (which took top honors there) in a way that pushes all my buttons: "The film's slow pace might deter some viewers, but when the climax arrives, (star Nolberto) Coria's stately discipline and (director Enrique) Rivero's unhurried direction pay off significantly." Get me to Switzerland, stat!