September 16th 2014. Pick of the Day.
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It's a weird September lull on the movie scene, for both the first-run and rep circuits. Michaël R. Roskam's THE DROP, released last Friday, is among the more exceptional films I've seen all year, and a new Terry Gilliam, coming this weekend, is always cause for joyous anticipation. Beyond that the pickin's be slim. Thank god the repertory programmers are the busy bees they are, ensuring some semblance of attendance-worthy cinema graces our city's screens. Today's sked may be slim, but it's also golden.
New and continuing series today include The Great War: A Cinematic Legacy at MoMA, Nonesuch Records on Film at BAM Cinématek, The Tenth Dimension: Edward D. Wood, Jr. at Anthology Film Archives, and the returning CinéSalon at the French Institute/Alliance Français. The fromagerie's wares be ainsi;
Film Forum
ROME OPEN CITY (1945) Dir; Roberto Rossellini
THE CONFORMIST (1970) Dir; Bernardo Bertolucci
MoMA
The Great War: A Cinematic Legacy
LAFAYETTE ESCADRILLE (1958) Dir; William A. Wellman
LILAC TIME (1928) Dir; George Fitzmaurice
BAM Cinématek
EAST OF EDEN (1955) Dir; Elia Kazan
Anthology Film Archives
The Tenth Dimension: Edward D. Wood, Jr.
BRIDE OF THE MONSTER (1955) Dir; Edward D. Wood, Jr.
NIGHT OF THE GHOULS (1958) Dir; Edward D. Wood, Jr.
French Institute/Alliance Français
MISSISSIPPI MERMAID (1969) Dir; François Truffaut
Today's Pick? I've still got time to shine the Kliegs on Film Forum's twin offerings, Rossellini's first neo-realist msterpiece and Bertolucci's completely and gorgeously fabricated one. I've much love for the Ed Wood sked today and little for the Kazan flick. And I'm totally unfamiliar with the proceedings at MoMA today, two little known offerings (by me, anyway) unspooling as part of their slowly winding down trib to the centennial of WWI, two facts which themselves alone would normally be cause enough for my selction and attendance. However, an equally beloved screening space resumes its repertory sked this day, and proffers a Truffaut which I've yet to see. In addition to this unwitnessed work from a fave autuer, a most well-regarded film scribe from a most venerated fish wrapper will be on hand to present the film. I've a lot of love for this space; the projection and sound quality are among the finer I've enjoyed, and their programming is choice. Tonight's screening is sort of a soft opening for the upcoming rep sason, and seats may by now be long gone. But be game, and give it a shot. If you do snag a tik to tonight's doings you'll thank yourself for a long time that you attended. This is the celluliod equivalent of heroin, the 35mm version of an opium high. Plus Cat Deneuve gets naked. Well, a guy can hope anyway, no?
François Truffaut's MISSISSIPPI MERMAID screens tonight at the French Institute/Alliance Français as part of their CinéSalon series. New Yorker film critic Richard Brody will be on hand to introduce and discuss the film. C'mon, jump at this opportunity. You know yer feelin' froggy!
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in September '14 click on the interactive calendar on the upper right hand side of the page. For the monthly overview and other audio tomfoolery check out the podcast, and follow me on SoundCloud! For reviews of contemporary cinema and my streaming habits (keep it clean!) check out my Letterboxd page. And be sure to follow me on both Facebook, where I provide further info and esoterica on the rep film circuit and star birthdays, and Twitter, where I provide a daily feed for the day's screenings and other blathery. Back tomorrow with a brand new Pick, til then coffre-fort, le son, assurez-vous que le prochain chat est trop. Et merci Google Translate .
-Joe Walsh
