September 26th 2014. Pick of the Day.
New York City's premiere resource for classic film screenings in the metropolitan area. Offering reviews, recommendations, venues and a host of links keeping classic film and the silver screens alive.
I bask today in the smug knowledge that 50 years from now, no matter who wins the World Series this year, the story amongst that generation's baseball fanatics will be Derek Jeter's last Yankee Stadium at-bat. Which, in case you haven't heard, was a walk-off single. Such is the manor-born insouciance of Bronx-bred pinstripe loyalty.
New and continuing series this day include 1939 - Hollywood's Golden Year at IFC Center, the Tennessee Williams trib at Film Forum, Retro Metro at BAM Cinématek, and Cabaret Cinema at the Rubin Museum. The projector bulb's ballyhoo be thus;
IFC Center
1939 - Hollywood's Golden Year
DARK VICTORY (1939) Dir; Edmund Goulding
ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981) Dir; John Carpenter
Film Forum
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951) Dir; Elia Kazan
ROME OPEN CITY (1945) Dir; Roberto Rossellini
BAM Cinématek
THE WARRIORS (1979) Dir; Walter Hill
Rubin Museum
THE RIVER (1951) Dir; Jean Renoir
Today's Pick? It's been some time since I've had the privilege to select a most favored series, one that took a short and deserved hiatus in order to shore up its Autumn/Winter sked. One that promises access to its screening lounge only after patronizing its liquor station, an experience within itself, one that delivers live music and exposure to artistic exhibition connected, thinly or otherwise, to that evening's screening. While they may not always offer 35mm unspoolings, they rarely, if ever, provide a visual and aural experience subpar, consistently providing excellent programming, a technically pristine moviegoing experience, and guest speakers who connect the individual screenings to the art space's larger philosophical themes. I'm glad it's back, and I'm excited about the new series, and overjoyed about tonight's kickoff selection, the first Technicolor work from one of cinema's finest portraitists, himself the son of a most august master of the canvas. While it may be a colonialist's vision of the natural beauty they believe within their control, so enthralling whenever it slips like quicksilver from their grasp, it is ultimately only a vision of beauty, full of awe, of regard. Ultimately of humility toward its surroundings, its inhabitants, its culture. It's a love letter to existence. And I'm grateful for its existence.
Jean Renoir's THE RIVER paints its fine Technicolor strokes tonight at the Rubin Museum as part of their swank Cabaret Cinema series. The Pulitzer-winning poet Vijay Seshadri will be on hand to help explain the deeper meanings of the seemingly simple proceedings. Trust me when I tell you this is a special event you won't want to miss.
For more info on these and all NYC's remaining 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 safe, sound, make sure the next knucklehead is too.
-Joe Walsh
P. S. We're swiftly returning to the winter climate, and believe it or not some of our fellow NY'ers have still yet to be made whole in
