December 2nd 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.
Tryptophan. I curse you. I curse your legacy.
Today's lone series are Film Forum's trib to Italian filmmaker Mario Monicelli, and BAM's cool sojourn into L.A.'s bright shadow, Sunshine Noir. The moviola mischief be thus;
Film Forum
WE WANT THE COLONELS (1973) Dir; Mario Monicelli
LADY LIBERTY (1971) Dir; Mario Monicelli
CARO MICHELE (1976) Dir; Mario Monicelli
Bam Cinématek
BODY DOUBLE (1984) Dir; Brian de Palma
MIKE'S MURDER (1984) Dir; James Bridges
Today's Pick? De Palma will almost never earn my top honor (for which he loses a great deal of sleep, I'm positive), and Bridges' MURDER intrigues, a well-covered wreck-in-the-making back in its day, in the wake of star Debra Winger's great success in the previous year's TERMS OF ENDEARMENT. I thought it interesting if not entirely successful back in its initial run, and would love to revisit it to perhaps reappraise an overlooked gem. But, really, am I one to pass up a film starring Sophia Loren, William Devane and Danny DeVito? What manner of philistine do you take me for?
LADY LIBERTY screens today for the only two unspools of its booking as part of Film Forum's trib to director Mario Monicelli. I know almost nothing about the filmmaker, save BIG DEAL ON MADONNA STREET, his most famous two hours. I know even less about this film. I charge merrily forth into the cinematic breach, in other words. And happily.
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in December '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 (December edition soon to come), 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!
P. S. We're fully entwined in winter's embrace, and believe it or not some of our fellow NY'ers have still yet to be made whole in the wake of the 2012 storm. Should you be feeling charitable please visit the folks at OccupySandy.net, follow their hammer-in-hand efforts to restore people's lives, and donate/volunteer if you have the inclination and availability. Be a collective mensch, Stockahz!
