Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Au Revoir Les Enfants Terribles! - The Last Picture Show at the Bell Theater



It is with a sad yet joyous heart that both Joseph and I invite you to one final grand movie night in our cinema haven. As most of you are already aware, Joseph and I will be moving to Los Angeles shortly after July 4th, and we hope that you are able to stop by and celebrate with us on Saturday, June 25th, 2011. We understand that this is Pride weekend and some of you may have other engagements, but we hope you can drop in for one or both films, or just to say hello. We would like to attempt to walk down the street to the 19 bar for libations and commiserations after our cinematic exploits. Therefore, we would like to begin early on this final movie night by starting at 4:oo PM. Parking may be difficult, so we would be willing to come pick you up at your car if it is necessary to park an astronomical distance from the premises.

In celebration of our departure, we would like to screen the immortal, iconic screen debuts of our favorite leading ladies: Janet Jackson in Poetic Justice (1993) and Sigourney Weaver in Alien (1979). We will be providing Papa Murphy's pizza and some hard liquors for your enjoyment, as well as a dessert or two. If you have received this invitation, we sincerely hope to see you on this last night of cinematic dissemination so we can enjoy some drinks, some time together, and, of course, Janet and Siggy.

We hope that we can remain in contact (in more ways than checking facebook updates) and stay abreast of each other's lives. While it has been a long term goal at last realized for us to move to California, we will miss you all very much. And we hope that you come visit us!


In the words of darling Emily Dickinson, "Parting is all we know of heaven and all we need to know of hell."

Friday, May 20, 2011

Out of the Past: The Week(s) in Film 4/16-5/19













Cess Pool Cinema:
Steam (2007) Dir. Kyle Schickner – US
Streets of Blood (2009) Dir. Charles Winkler – US
The Horde (2009) Dir. Yannick Dahan & Benjamin Rocher – France

The Banal, the Blah, the Banausic:
Hussy (1980) Dir. Matthew Chapman – UK
Tribute to a Bad Man (1956) Dir. Robert Wise – US
Crash&Burn (2010) Dir. R.E. Rodgers – US
The Baby’s Room (2006) Dir. Alex de la Iglesia – Spain
Don’t Let Me Die on a Sunday (1998) Dir. Didier Le Pecheur – France
Seize the Day (1986) Dir. Fielder Cook – US
Tron (1982) Dir. Steven Lisberger – US
Skyline (2010) Dir. Strause Bros. - US

Of Interest:
A Boy & His Dog (1975) Dir. L.Q. Jones – US
The Mirror Crack’d (1980) Dir. Guy Hamilton – UK
To Let (2006) Dir. Jaume Balaguero – Spain
Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) Dir. Nathan Juran – US
Barn Burning (1980) Dir. Peter Werner – US
Louder Than a Bomb (2010) Dir. Greg Jacons & Jon Siskel - US

Recommended:
Ricky (2009) Dir. Francois Ozon – France
A Summer In Genoa (2008) Dir. Michael Winterbottom – UK
My Last Round (2011) Dir. Julio Jorquera Arriagada – Chile
Rabies (2010) Dir. Aharon Keshales & Navot Papushado – Israel
Wet Hot American Summer (2001) Dir. David Wain – US
La Cravate (1957) Dir. Alejandro Jodorowsky – France
Who Am I This Time? (1982) Dir. Jonathan Demme – US

Essential Cinema:
Victor/Victoria (1982) Dir. Blake Edwards – UK
Tess (1979) Dir. Roman Polanski – France/UK
Blow Out (1981) Dir. Brian De Palma – US
A Wedding (1978) Dir. Robert Altman – US

Theatrical Screenings:
The Princess of Montpensier (2010) Dir. Bertrand Tavernier – France
Super (2010) Dir. James Gunn – US
Meek’s Cutoff (2010) Dir. Kelly Reichardt – US
Everything Must Go (2010) Dir. Dan Rush – US
Days of Heaven (1978) Dir. Terrence Malick – US
Bridesmaids (2011) Dir. Paul Feig - US


Rewatched:
Willard (2003) Dir. Glen Morgan – US
The Changeling (1980) Dir. Peter Medak – CanadaShe Devil (1989) Dir. Susan Seidelman – US

Minneapolis/Saint Paul Film Fest, 2011



Best of Minneapolis/Saint Paul Film Festival, 2011

Top 10:

1. The Hedgehog – France
2. We Are What We Are - Mexico
3. Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil - Canada
4. The Queen of Hearts – France
5. Bellflower – US
6. The Actresses – South Korea
7. Nostalgia For the Light - Chile
8. My Joy – Russia
9. Tyrannosaur – UK
10. Happy, Happy - Norway

And the Rest of the Best:

Home For Christmas - Norway
A Screaming Man – Chad
Le Quattro Volte – Italy
The Mill and the Cross - Poland
The Arbor – UK
Small Town Murder Songs – Canada
13 Assassins – Japan

Of Interest:
Mad Bastards – Australia
The White Meadows - Iran
Sound of Noise – Sweden
Hesher – US
Gigola - France
Twelve Thirty – US

Dull and Disappointing:
The Tree – Australia/France
Cracks – US
Au Pair, Kansas - US
On The Ice – US
The Myth of the American Sleepover - US
Troll Hunter - Norway
Dossier K – Belgium
Stake Land – US
Amigo – US

Seen at Other Festivals:
Applause – TIFF 2009
The Sleeping Beauty – TIFF 2010
Film Socialism – TIFF 2010
Beginners – TIFF 2010