February 2015! Laughton & Rogers, Black Independent Filmmakers, and the Work of a Master Carpenter!

January '15 lies in its frost-ridden grave. And GOOD, sez moi. Its younger brother, the equally insidious February, has just entered the fray, and its demise is equally desirable. And yet, within this foreboding 28-day cycle that looms, we have some occurances to be treasured; Valentine's Day, the 87th annual Academy Awards ceremony, and, of course, the most welcome sign of the coming thaw, pitchers 'n catchers. Those of us afflicted with the classic film bug have much more reason to be pixelated this month, with series dedicated to Charles Laughton and John Boorman at Film Forum, to Women in Film and Black Independent voices from the 70's and 80's, at MoMA and Lincoln Center respectively, and the proudest set of hours - the John Carpeneter retrospective at BAM Cinématek! Even Punxsutawney Phil can't possibly ruin these treats, which also include the resumation of the Rubin Museum's Cabaret Cinema swankery, Moving Image's trib to the late great game-changing DP Gordon Willis, and Anthology Film Archive's annual salute to romance, the Valentine's Day Massacre! Even if none of these entice, even if the unspooling of Gregory La Cava's MY MAN GODFREY, part of the series Screwball Romance at IFC Center, fails to pry you from the warmth and cracker crumbs of your couch this month, there is this consolation; its only going to last 28 days. That's 2-3 less than any other month. So, bleak, punishing, Draconian even. But brief. Stay tuned for the February '15 podcast, to be posted in the next few days. Til then Stockahz, see you at the movies!