Alexander Payne is at the Locarno Film Festival to receive the Pardo d’Onore, but what he really wants to do is watch old movies.

“This university course on post-war British cinema is unbelievable,” he says, referring to the festival’s retrospective Great Expectations. “I couldn’t be less interested in the new films. I’m only interested in the old ones. The star so far is ‘Hell Is a City’ from 1960. That’s an awesome film!”

Talking with Variety , the director of “The Holdovers” and “Election” and two-time Oscar winner for best adapted screenplay for “The Descendants” and “Sideways,” is sanguine about his award. “You’re supposed to say: ‘It’s a huge honor. Thank you so much.’ Although I feel too young for a lifetime achievement, I’ll take this as an encouragement for the rest of my c

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