January 17th 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.
Well, with the wind chill factor, it's a robust 20 degrees today. I'm amazed the molecular activity in my brain hasn't come to a full stop. On the other hand, it might have. The following article will serve as proof either way, Pamela Fallon Thornley. :-)
Continuing series this day include Screwball Romance at IFC Center, and the Orson Welles trib at Film Forum. The 4-perf foofaraw be thus;
IFC Center
HIS GIRL FRIDAY (1940) Dir; Howard Hawks
Nitehawk Cinema
CLUE (1985) Dir; Jonathan Lynn
RAGING BULL (1980) Dir; Martin Scorsese
Film Forum
MACBETH ("Scottish Version") (1948) Dir; Orson Welles
THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS (1942) Dir; Orson Welles
Anthology Film Archives
ZERO FOR CONDUCT (1935) Dir; Jean Vigo
Today's Pick? I see no reason why the anarchist mentality should be denied fair representation in these modern times, especially in light of exactly how bugfuck the planet seems to be on the current calendar page. What with the NYPD pretty much deciding for themselves when and where they're going to perform the task they've been sworn to, the southern states generally acting like the Civil War, the Voting Rights Act and the progress of history in general are myths to be chosen or discarded, or the aggressive murderous acts perpetrated against absurdist social commentators in a foreign but friendly clime, the world, at the moment, remains what it has always been to a larger or lesser degree; a monumental headscratcher. While I by no means believe in anarchist rule, a term inherently contradictory, I embrace anarchy's vigor, its intent, to wipe some slates clean, to expose hypocrisy, to underline societal absurdity, at its best in a peaceable manner. The anarchist sensibility found kindred spirit in the early 30's with such maniacs as the Marx Brothers, Buñuel and Dali, and a short-lived filmmaker from shores Gallic. Himself the child of a very active anarchist, ultimately murderd in prison. Himself struck down young by tuberculosis. The author, nonetheless, of somewhere in the neighborhood of 8 hours of the most important and influential cinema the world has had the good grace to view. Humanity at its best iteration has always striven for boundaries to break, to make marks indelible, for poetry, for romance. If you understand this about the human race, then you understand today's choice.
Jean Vigo's ZERO FOR CONDUCT unspools today at Anthology Film Archives for no apparent reason beyond the fact that it's a friggin' work of beauty. It is accompanied by Karl Valentin's CONFIRMATION DAY, a film unfamiliar to me but promising regardless. I can think of no better way to celebrate the world's absurdity today than to slink into a seat for this screening. Make sure it's a seat you dont stick to, and I don't mean metaphysically.
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!
