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.... 8 | TUESDAY,DECEMBER 28, 2010 INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE Culture movies museums HUGH HAMILTON FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES James Caan in his garden in Beverly Hills, California. An Oscar nominee for ‘‘The Godfather,’’ Mr. Caan is now the public face of Openfilm, a video-hosting Web site Old bad boy enjoys a new ride that aims to encourage young filmmakers. BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA tains asense of humor regarding his performance (archived at open- humanistic approach, and a time when As an interim step the site is sponsor- theater and film. In an e-mail statement, place in the industry. How else to explain film.com/chats), the rough and tumble ‘‘there wasn’t this abundance of these ing a series of contests. Filmmakers sub- James Caan pointed out that the advis- what washappening in the den on a of the Internet suits him. He looked to be guys —and God bless’em, some of mit videos specifically for the contest ory board wasnot involved in choosing The actor James Caan, weekday afternoon: the irascible star of in his element as he mocked the two them are great —who all of a sudden be- (and paya$45 entry fee), with finalists the finalists and said the board voted at 70, is helping start up more than 80 films, an Oscar nominee for earnest young men who moderated the cause they shot some music video, determined by public voting and the win- unanimously for ‘‘Help.’’ ‘‘The selection ‘‘The Godfather’’ and an Emmy nomi- chat, flashing the briefest sign of anger they’re shooting some $80 million’’ film, ner chosen by the advisory panel. The of Val’s film wasbased entirely on mer- a video-hosting Web site nee for ‘‘Brian’s Song,’’ sitting down to when one of them stepped on a punch he said. ‘‘Or these other guys who can first winner, Val Lauren for his 40- it,’’ he wrote.) do a live,hourlong Webchat in which line. After a particularly rambling dis- do stuff with C.G.I. and have no respect minute drama ‘‘Help,’’ received a pack- Whatever the Hollywood reality of BY MIKE HALE anonymous questioners with names like quisition on acting,heoffered an anti- for actors. I don’t get it.’’ age valued at $250,000, consisting mostly Openfilm’s business model may be, it’s buckhollywood could solicit anecdotes or apology: ‘‘I don’t know if that answered Mr. Kozko and Mr.Caan have aspira- of a promise of financing for afeature; clear that Mr.Caan is enjoying the ride In the spacious den of James Caan’s ask him to appear in their student films. the question, but it didn’t matter. I was tions to upgrade the movie business not Mr. Kozko said that production would be- and his odd-couple relationship with the home here, high above Los Angeles A mostly good-natured Mr.Caan was babbling and having a good time. gin this spring. The deadline for submis- dapper Russian software engineer.Sit- near the upper reaches of Benedict talking into alaptop in his role as chair- Thanks for joining me.’’ Mr. Caan’s primary motivation sions for the next contest is Friday, and ting in his kitchen in jeans and a polo Canyon Drive, there’s not much evi- man of the advisory boardof Open- Serving as the public face of aWeb in joining Openfilm appears to the value of the prize has increased to shirt, Mr. Caan frequently interrupted a dence of his long career in the movies. A film.com, a video-hosting Web site and startup is in part afinancial bet for Mr. $500,000 ($50,000 in cash the winner can reporter to ask his ownquestions of Mr. poster for ‘‘Rollerball’’ — a film he con- technology company. Openfilm is trying Caan. ‘‘Nobody has abeef with money,’’ be his unhappiness with the use for any purpose, the rest in the form Kozko, who was encased in a black suit sidersunder-appreciated —hangs to distinguish itself from the YouTubes he said after the online session, sitting path that Hollywood has taken a financing package for the feature film), despite the Southern California heat. above a couch; nearby is an oil painting of the world by being selective in the at his kitchen table with Dmitry Kozko, over the last 20 years. though the frequencyofthe contests has Whyshould someone be able to join a of aboxing match in bright primary col- videos that it hosts and distributes, and the young, Russian-born founder and been reduced to two a year from four. live Web chat with the eminent Robert ors, signed ‘‘Sylvester Stallone.’’ by offering assistance and encourage- chief executive of Openfilm. But ‘‘no Winning the first contest has not Duvall (who is scheduled to take part in Mr.Caan does own an exceedingly ment to the filmmakers who submit one’s making money,’’ he said. ‘‘We just through the use of mentorsbut by greatly increased Mr. Lauren’s profile early 2011) for as little as a $2.95-a-month cool poster for ‘‘The Godfather,’’ the film their short films to the site. That’s have shares.’’ (Openfilm has been producing films, expanding the best of within Openfilm; ‘‘Help,’’ with fewer membership? he wondered loudly. that made him famous him at 32; de- where Mr. Caan comes in, along with the backed by the Miami entrepreneur the shorts selected for Openfilm into than 10,000 views, trails far behind the Wouldn’t you just join for a month and signed for the Italian release, it reads ‘‘Il other boardmembers he has recruited: Mike Zoi; it wasrecently acquired by features. (According to Mr. Kozkothe 275,000-plus of ‘‘Hidden Camera S*x then cancel? You’dbe surprised, Mr. Padrino’’ in the familiar blocky lettering. Robert Duvall, who appeared with him the technology company Net Element, site currently hosts about 7,000 videos, Tape.’’ Impartial observers could also Kozkosaid; it’s the type of small fee that To see it youneed to walk out of the den, in ‘‘The Godfather’’ and ‘‘The Rain of which Mr.Zoi is chairman, with Mr. with its staffof screeners accepting question how much of a victory the selec- aperson forgets he has. Mr.Caan shook make a left and go into the guest bath- People’’; Mark Rydell, who directed Kozko retaining his title at Openfilm.) about 9 percent of the videos that come tion of Mr.Lauren’s polished film, which his head at the notion of forgetting about room, where it hangs above the sink. him in movies like ‘‘Cinderella Liberty’’ Mr. Caan’s primary motivation at this in. Openfilm is also distributing some of boasted the actor Adam Beach and the $2.95 a month. ‘‘I’m sorry, I’m from This whimsical touch in interior decor- and ‘‘For the Boys’’; and his son Scott point, however, appears to be his unhap- its videos through services like Tivo and television producer Mark J. Greenberg, Brooklyn,’’ he said. ‘‘We think like that.’’ ation reinforces the impression that Caan, currently a Golden Globe nomi- piness with the path that Hollywood has Boxee. Advertising revenue from view- was for struggling filmmakers. while the 70-year-old Mr. Caan has a nee as a supporting actor for ‘‘Hawaii takenover the last 20 years. He would ing on the Openfilm site and outside dis- (There is also the question of Mr. ONLINE: CRITICS’PICKS healthy movie-star ego, and a history of Five-0’’ television series on CBS. like to open the eyes of young film- tribution is split equally with the film- Lauren’s relationship with ScottCaan; The New York Times reviewers on movies bad-boy behavior to go with it, he main- Judging by the elder Caan’s online makers to the virtues of an earlier, more makers, Mr. Kozko said.) the two have worked together closely in not to miss. global.nytimes.com/movies The quandary of the wine museum: Nary a drop to drink TORGIANO, ITALY The items displayed are rare and in- triguing; manyof them are also beauti- ful. The earliest is a simple, tulip-shaped As 3 Italian exhibitions wine jar made in the sixth millennium about viticulture show, B.C. in Transcaucasian Georgia, where viticulturewas born. Next come intric- senses are neglected ately decorated vases and chalices of Hellenic origin or inspiration, portray- BY KATE SINGLETON als of inebriated satyrsand Dionysian libations, depictions of Bacchanalia, an- It’s not easy to describe something that cient Roman bas-reliefs of wine shops, appeals to the senses in cerebral terms. and a number of winemaking imple- Conception and perception are differ- ments. ent, which is whywine museums canbe But visitors’ perceptions of these disappointing.They mayillustrate magnificent items is solely intellectual, rituals and significance of wine, but they and also somewhat passive. Because areunlikely to conveyavisceral sense wine appeals mostly to taste and smell, of just howfermentation transforms to be offered only a view of the subject is grape juice into something worthyof inevitably reductive. veneration as well as enjoyment. Granted, the Palazzo Pitti event is a ‘‘Vinum Nostrum,’’ an exhibition temporary exhibit. But even permanent showing through April at Palazzo Pitti in wine museums —and Italy has plenty of Florence (www.uffizi.firenze.it/palazzo- them —rarely transcend the 18th-cen- pitti), comprises afascinating selection tury ‘‘cabinet of curiosities’’ approach: of artifacts relating to the production, a collection of equipment, bottles, labels storage and consumption of wine in and images. early Mediterranean civilizations. It Yet with the technology now avail- PHOTOGRAPHS BY FONDAZIONE LUNGAROTTI, TORGIANO also demonstrates some of the limits of able, it should be possible to provide a Winemaking artifacts at the Lungarotti Wine Museum at Torgiano, Italy, include an 18th-century wine press, left, and a cup designed by Jean Cocteau, which was made in Venice in 1963.