May 29th 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.
New, continuing, and concluding series this day include Deneuve X 8 at IFC Center, The Apu Trilogy at Film Forum, Acteurism: Joel McCrea at MoMA, Black & White 'Scope: International Cinema at BAM Cinématek, Titanus Films: A Family Chronicle of Italian Cinema at the Film Society, This is Celluloid: 35mm at Anthology Film Archives, Justice in Film at the New York Historical Society, and Cabaret Cinema at the Rubin Museum of Art. The moving image mayhem be thus;
IFC Center
THE HUNGER (1983) Dir; Tony Scott
EL TOPO (1970) Dir; Alejandro Jodorowsky
Film Forum
APARAJITO (1956) Dir; Satyajit Ray
PATHER PANCHALI (1955) Dir; Satyajit Ray
PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET (1953) Dir; Samuel Fuller
MoMA
ESPIONAGE AGENT (1939) Dir; Lloyd Bacon
BAM Cinématek
Black & White 'Scope: International Cinema
THE 400 BLOWS (1959) Dir; François Truffaut
Film Society of Lincoln Center
Titanus Films: A Family Chronicle of Italian Cinema
THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE (1970) Dir; Dario Argento
LE AMICHE (1955) Dir; Michelangelo Antonioni
THE WHITE ANGEL (1955) Dir; Rafaello Matarazzo
Anthology Film Archives
M (1957) Dir; Joseph Losey
THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (1964) Dir; Roger Corman
New York Historical Society
Justice in Film
ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN (1976) Dir; Alan J. Pakula
Rubin Museum of Art
LE PLAISIR (1952) Dir; Max Ophuls
Landmark Sunshine Cinema
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981) Dir; Steven Spielberg
Nitehawk Cinema
THE FLY (1986) Dir; David Cronenberg
Today's Pick? Lots to consider today, as this excellent month in rep film slowly winds down and a new calendar looms. Certain series are closing their doors, the Deneueve series at IFC, the McCrea at MoMa, although I just made the latter my choice two days ago. The Film Society's Titanus Films series retrospective approaches its own pearly film cannister gates after this weekend. Some great series and bookings have commenced; Fuller's SOUTH STREET at Film Forum, and the throwback tribs This is Celluloid at AFA and Black & White 'Scope at BAM. Peppered in amongst these series are gems like Cronenberg's FLY updating, Spielberg's serial shorts updating, and Jodorowsky's yeah I have no idea what the hell to label this midnight cult film. And Pakula's PRESIDENT'S MEN, one of the great, if not greatest newspaper procedurals of all time, fills the screen at the NY Historical Society. All worthy choices, and a tough crowd to pick from, but to be honest, I can't remember the last time I caught an Ophuls masterpiece on the big screen, let alone sip a Manhattan whilst so doing.
Max Ophuls' LE PLAISIR , starring Jean Gabin and Danielle Darrieux, stalwart icons of French cinema, screens tonight at the Rubin Museum of Art as part of their swank series Cabaret Cinema. Time was the price of a cocktail gained you admission to the screening lounge. Times change. So now the tik is a separate charge, but you can still kick back in comfort with an awesome boozy drink as the film unfolds. One thing hasn't changed; these screenings are immensely popular, so be sure to get there early to mark your territory. Take that last colorful piece of advice as you will.
For more info on these and all NYC's rep 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. The warm cuddle of the sun's friendlier disposition seems finally to have arrived, 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!
