December 12th 2015. Pick of the Day.
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Continuing series this day include Film School 101: Canon Fodder and Rated Xmas: Holiday Classics, Naughty and Nice, both at IFC Center, the deliciously diabolical Women Crime Writers at Film Forum, the slowly winding down Antonio Pietrangeli: A Retrospective at MoMA, and the delightfully unhinged trib to one perhaps the most important film school of all time, American International Pictures, Part 2: Drugs, Bikers, and Rock & Roll at Anthology Film Archives. The filmic fandango be thus;
IFC Center
THE RULES OF THE GAME (1939) Dir; Jean Renoir
Rated Xmas: Holiday Classics, Naughty and Nice
WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954) Dir; Michael Curtiz
DIE HARD (1988) Dir; John McTiernan
GREMLINS (1984) Dir; Joe Dante
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) Dir; Frank Capra
SHOCKER (1989) Dir; Wes Craven
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981) Dir; Steven Spielberg
Nitehawk Cinema
HOME ALONE (1990) Dir; Chris Columbus
Film Forum
LAURA (1944) Dir; Otto Preminger
BEDELIA (1947) Dir; Lance Comfort
PAL JOEY (1957) Dir; George Sidney
MoMA
Antonio Pietrangeli: A Retrospective
MARCH'S CHILD (1957) Dir; Antonio Pietrangeli
Anthology Film Archives
American International Pictures, Part 2: Drugs, Bikers, and Rock & Roll
THE COOL AND THE CRAZY (1958) Dir; William Witney
WILD IN THE STREETS (1968) Dir; Barry Shear
THE GLORY STOMPERS (1967) Dir; Anthony M. Lanza
THE SAVAGE SEVEN (1968) Dir; Richard Rush
Essential Cinema
TRIUMPH OF THE WILL (1935) Dir; Leni Reifensthal
Tarrytown Music Hall
A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983) Dir; Bob Clark
Landmark Sunshine Cinema
DIE HARD (1988) Dir; John McTiernan
Today's Pick? As was yesterday's case, the plate be full. I'd love to throw my slender weight behind AFA's AIP trib, but it's tough when they don't offer a multi-film discount. Multiple Xmas classics old and new are unboxed this day, but I feel like I've got plenty of time to shine the tree lights on such fare. I've done the Pietrangeli retro recently, and Renoir and Reifensthal screen on a fairly regualr basis in our movie-mad burg. So let's leave the burg, shall we? And take a short trip north just outside the city, in a town appropo of the film they're hosting. You'll believe you're walking through the very era repped onscreen, an experience that puts all the Real 3D trickery to shame. Just don't lick any lampposts. Some things are left best onscreen.
Bob Clark's modern holiday classic A CHRISTMAS STORY screens in what I hope is glorious 35mm at the lovely Tarrytown Music Hall, a venure reached by a quick express MTA north trip within 30 or so minutes. It's a magical spot, the theater and te town, and it'll absolutely transport you to the era the film is set in. Until you have to pay $4 for a bag of sour gummies. Then, not so much. but hey, Holiday Cheer one and all. And make sure you don't shoot yer eye out, Ralphies.
For more info on these and all NYC's rep film screenings in December '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 warmer, fiercer cuddle of the sun's sunnier disposition has begun its annual wane, 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!
