May 7th 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.
Y'know, on second bounce, Whedon's AGE OF ULTRON might actually be the better of his two AVENGERS flicks. It's denser, it's weighed with more exposition regarding not just itself but the entirety of the upcoming Phase Three, it's got messier resolutions. So much the better, not just for Marvel fans in particular, popcorn cinema fans in a wider circle, but cinema in general. It proves that there's still room for craftsmanship, if not singular signature filmmaking on the mega-budget level, to properly shine. Shpiel concluded, now to the classics.
Continuing series today include Acteurism: Joel McCrea and Japan Speaks Out! Early Japanese Talkies, both unspooling at MoMA. The silver halide hijinks be thus;
Film Forum
FORBIDDEN GAMES (1952) Dir; René Clément
MoMA
BUSINESS AND PLEASURE (1932) Dir; David Butler
Japan Speaks Out! Early Japanese Talkies
SHINING LOVE (1931) Dir; Hroshi Shimizu
THE NEIGHBOR'S WIFE AND MINE (1931) Dir; Heinosuke Gosho
FIRST STEPS ASHORE (1932) Dir; Yasujiro Shimazu
MIKEY AND NICKY (1976) Dir; Elaine May
BAM Cinématek
THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH (1976) Dir; Nicolas Roeg
BowTie Chelsea Cinemas
SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959) Dir; Billy Wilder
Today's Pick? I've got much from which to divine today, starting with a great pair of series at MoMA, one dedicated to a fave studio-era leading man and the other to some essential works of Japan's early sound cinema. David Bowie clocks in with what is probably his finest screen turn, playing himself in Roeg's distinctive take on EARTH. And the great Billy Wilder is repped by what might be his finest two-plus hours. However, I've put off a very spesh 4K restoration of a postwar masterpiece for the greater part of its 2-week run. There are very few films that combine the haunt of both wartime and childhood in equal measure, let alone find mutual nightmare in both. Del Toro's THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE is the most recent example that comes even remotely to mind, yet even that relies on a magic realism that the earlier film eschews in favor of stark realism. It screens its last today and tonight, barring a repreive. I plan on paying my respects.
René Clément's FORBIDDEN GAMES unspools its newly digitized 1's and 0's for a final 6 showtimes today at Film Forum. France, WWII, pet cemetaries. Bring plenty of Twizzlers.
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in May '15 click on the interactive calendar on the upper right hand side of the page. 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 soon with new Picks 'n perks, til then safe, sound, make sure the next knucklehead is too!
P. S. We seem to be entering, finally, the warm cuddle of the sun's friendlier disposition, but 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!
