January 14th 2015. 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.
January. January January January. The bane of the calendar, worsted only by its follow-up relative; February. Here we sit in your midst, January, stoic recipients of the bounty you generously offer; misery, bleak and hell. Perhaps you get an unfair shake as the month chosen to kick-start the entire megillah. Perhaps you offer more than December's hangover, than the residual bills from Yuletide and New Year's celebrations, than fearful, fitful blinks at the morrow. Have we misjudged you, mayhap?
Nah. Yer January. Die, willya?
Continuing series this day include the Orson Welles trib at Film Forum, Acteurism: Joan Bennett at MoMA, and Beyond Cassavetes - Richard Sarafian at Anthology Film Archives. The silly-stringery be thus;
Film Forum
TOUCH OF EVIL - PREVIEW VERSION (1958) Dir; Orson Welles
MoMA
I MET MY LOVE AGAIN (1938) Dir; Joshua Logan
Anthology Film Archives
Beyond Cassavetes - Richard Sarafian
THE MAN WHO LOVED CAT DANCING (1973) Dir; Richard Sarafian
VANISHING POINT (1971) Dir; Richard Sarafian
Today's Pick? I'd like to boast of a fuller education as pertains to Richard Sarafian. There's but one film of his I'm familiar with from his brief tenure in the director's chair, a road race classic, built upon the car choreography of BULLITT and THE FRENCH CONNECTION, and mingled with the existential vibe of EASY RIDER. It's a masterpiece, a touchstone film for the generations of filmmakers that have followed in its wake. No less a light than Quentin Tarantino has referenced it, even attempted to replicate it. He succeeded in crafting his own contemporary masterpiece, but not in besting the original. Which I'm sure he's quite okay with. No, for the original DNA you'll have to visit the source, and lucky youse! It's screening this very eve.
Richard Sarafian's VANISHING POINT unspools tonight at Anthology Film Archives as part of the series Beyond Cassavetes - Richard Sarafian. Ladies and Gents, start yer stride!
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in January '15 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 2015's new Podcast and first missive, 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!
