May 13th 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.
Just a reminder: the 2015 Scripps Spelling Bee is apparently scheduled for Friday evening the 29th of May. Yes, I know this has nothing to do with classic film. But on the other hand, shaddap!
Continuing series this week include The Apu Trilogy at Film Forum, and both Acteurism: Joel McCrea and Japan Speaks Out!: Early Japanese Talkies at MoMA. The wimwammery be thus;
Film Forum
PATHER PANCHALI (1955) Dir; Satyajit Ray
MoMA
BED OF ROSES (1933) Dir; Gregory la Cava
Japan Speaks Out!: Early Japanese Talkies
THE ONLY SON (1936) Dir; Yasujiro Ozu
HOME TOWN (1930) Dir; Kenji Mizoguchi
Today's Pick? Holding off on a proper three-film marathon of Ray's seminal Apu Trilogy, 'cause that's my thang as of late. Maybe I'll catch AGE OF ULTRON at the end all over again. And much as I champion stalwart studio lead McCrea, if I'm heading to MoMA today it's to catch a pair of post-sound/pre-war gems from the golden age of the Japanese studio system, helmed by two of its finest filmmakers, both crafting quality celluloid yet still working toward the section of their CV's that would mark them as crucial to the medium, storytellers whose influence is still strongly felt to this day. And HEY! Nothin' sez Spring zing like stoic Asian arthouse masterpieces! So stow away that sunblock and stash that pick-a-nick basket for another day, and ensconce yerself in a museum screening space to read a foreign film! Can't I just sell?!?
Yasujiro Ozu's THE ONLY SON and Kenji Mizoguchi's HOME TOWN screen back-to-back today at MoMA, as part of their excellent series Japan Speaks Out!: Early Japanese Talkies. That the universality of our respective humanity might be worrisomely taken for granted by some or, worse, a proposition unconsidered by others, makes programming like this, indeed the existence of the form, essential stuff for our collective soul going forward. Arigato, MoMA.
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!
