11. THE GREAT SILENCE with Special Guest, Alexander Payne

On Cinematalk this week, we are privileged to welcome one of the finest of all contemporary filmmakers, Alexander Payne. Our discussion begins with a look at THE GREAT SILENCE and the mythic qualities of the Western genre. We also touch on the development of his cinephilia and the future of moviegoing. Usually writing in collaboration with Jim Taylor, Alexander Payne is the renowned director of sophisticated comedies for adults like CITIZEN RUTH, ELECTION, ABOUT SCHMIDT, SIDEWAYS, THE DESCENDANTS, NEBRASKA, and DOWNSIZING. He is the recipient of two Academy Awards for his screenplays and he is also a passionate movie-lover. In 2014, he visited madison to present a Wisconsin Film Festival screening of another 60s Italian classic, Dino Risi’s IL SORPASSO. He also joined us at that time for a Cinematheque screening of NEBRASKA. This week he spoke to us from his hometown and the frequent setting of his movies, Omaha, Nebraska.