May 21st 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.
Continuing series this day include The Apu Trilogy at Film Forum, Actuerism: Joel McCrea at MoMA, "Written" by Philip Yordan at Anthology Film Archives, and Booze 'N Books at the Nitehawk Cinema. The widescreen wimwammery be thus;
Film Forum
APARAJITO (1956) Dir; Satyajit Ray
MoMA
THEY SHALL HAVE MUSIC (1939) Dir; Archie Mayo
Anthology Film Archives
BLOWING WILD (1953) Dir; Hugo Fregenese
THE DARK SIDE OF LOVE (1984) Dir; John Carr
BowTie Chelsea Cinemas
SABRINA (1956) Dir; Billy Wilder
Nitehawk Cinema
DUNE (1984) Dir; David Lynch
Today's Pick? As I said, I'm waiting for the full day Apu hijinks, so next week it must be. And AFA's Blacklist series, dedicated to the man who might've been the greatest "front" for those of his fellow scribes banned from the industry, tempts mightily. I just have to go with a childhood fave that, while I've never once maintained is a good film per se, is one I find myself compelled to return to every three years or so, at the very least. It was perhaps the film I was most eager to see in the wake of RETURN OF THE JEDI, as I'd already become a lover of the director's 1980 Oscar nominee THE ELEPHANT MAN. And I'd then just recently freaked out to his debut, the midnight movie masterpiece ERASERHEAD. I'd already at that young age discerned a signature style, images and themes that were the filmmaker's prime concerns. Plus, the thought that they'd given this guy the-then largest budget of all-time, to visualize what was considered by many to be the greatest sci-fi tome ever scribbled, had me absolutely gaga with anticipation.
Imagine if you can my utter inability to process the resulting film upon viewing. It was a mess, a wreck of galactic proportions, a wildly intoxicating mixture of experimental visuals and expositional gobbledegookery that meshed staid Old Hollywood Roman Epic pomp with alien culture glossary. It was goofy, perplexing, ultimately impenetrable.
And yet, it was mesmeric. Something I'd never quite seen before, the very reason its director, who'd ironically turned down the JEDI gig, was hired to begin with; to present his fringe vision freely, on a scale monumental. Yes, it had every problem a film shouldn't, but this handicap would eventually, ironically, become, in my opinion anyway, its greatest strength. Not everyone likes this film or will like it, and that's the point; it's a film made for the cult crowd that it will and does speak to. It's one-of-a-kind, never boring, and a work every film lover should see at least once. And that ain't just the spice talkin', either.
David Lynch's DUNE sceens tonight at Williamsburg's own Nitehawk Cinema as part of their Booze 'N Books series. The sleeper will awaken. But if he/she doesn't, the seats are pretty damned comfortable.
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!
