January. January January January. The bane of the calendar, worsted only by its follow-up relative; February. Here we sit in your midst, January, stoic recipients of the bounty you generously offer; misery, bleak and hell. Perhaps you get an unfair shake as the month chosen to kick-start the entire megillah. Perhaps you offer more than December's hangover, than the residual bills from Yuletide and New Year's celebrations, than fearful, fitful blinks at the morrow. Have we misjudged you, mayhap?

Nah. Yer January. Die, willya?

Continuing series this day include the Orson Welles trib at Film Forum, Acteurism: Joan Bennett at MoMA, and Beyond Cassavetes - Richard Sarafian at Anthology Film Archives. The silly-stringery be thus;

So football happened last night. I mean American football, not footie. Also, not NFL, just the first ever College Football Championship. So there's that. And it means how many days closer to Pitches and Catcher exactly?

New and continuing series this day include the Film Forum's trib to Orson Welles, Eccentrics of French Comedy at the French Institute, Beyond Cassavetes: Richard Sarafian at Anthology Film Archives, and Celluloid Dreams at IFC Center. The wigged wimwam be thus;

2015 has started with omens both well and ill portending the year's path. One the one hand I naerly went into cardiac arrest in pursuit of emergency dental surgery on the first weekend of the new year, and then underwent the surgery, and the surgical removal of half-a-grand for the pleasure. To top it off a jury duty summons arrived in my mailbox shortly after. On the other hand, I not only got to attend a screening of CITIZEN KANE at Film Forum, in a brand-spankin' new DCP resto, I was also lucky enough to catch the screening that was into'd by none other than master filmmaker William Friedkin. And he complimented a photo I took of the occasion. And we're now Twitter buds. So I gotta say the scales are pretty even going into the new circling of the sun.

Add to the plus side a last minute bonus: my normal summertime getaway to my friend's upstate manse has delivered early! I'm about to head out for an overnight stay in the lap of luxury and catch up on some bucket-list films via Netflix & Hulu. so I'm utilizing my rare but effective bulk-push, covering the next three days in one post! Begrudge me this respite not, Stockahz, for I am never far from your hearts. From the city, yes, but always in your ventricles.

New and continuing series this weekend include Screwball Romance at IFC Center, the Orson Welles huggery at Film Forum, Acteurism: Joan Bennett at MoMA, Let There Be Light: The Films of John Huston at the Film Society, and Justice in Film at the New York Historical Society. The three-day tomfoolery be thus;

Well, last night I got to personally witness William Friedkin as he introduced and discussed his all-time fave and raison d'être, a little sumptin' titled CITIZEN KANE. Top THAT, remaining days of 2015!

New and continuing series this day includes
Film Forum's trib to cinema provocateur Orson Welles, MoMA's trib to onscreen vixen Joan Bennett, the Film Society's hosannah to John Huston, and the Nitehawk's resurrection of damp overcoats and lewd intentions. The colorful cacophany is as follows;

Rare is the occasion presented that allows a feting of a friend and fellow film fanatic via the still glorious boob tube. Very rare. Scant. Okay, singular. At least when it comes to everyone's fave game show, by which I am of course referring to none other than ABC's JEOPARDY. So it is with no minute measure of glee that I send a cyber backslap to a good comrade, and I will phrase him thusly; who is Alan Hait? Yer champ in my book sir.

Now to the spools: Ongoing series pertinent to this site today include Orson Welles at Film Forum, and the Joan Bennett trib at MoMA. The filmic foofaraw be thus;

Seems like forever since the last time. I know that's from a song, but I don't care, and I can't remember which tune anyhoo. Meds having worn off, holidays firmly in the rear view mirror,
new toothpick securely in place, let's begin the rep cinema beguine, shallst we?

Ongoing series today include the Orson Welles trib at Film Forum, Let There Be Light: The Films of John Huston at the Walter Reade Theater, and Eccentrics of French Comedy, part of the CinéSalon series, at the French Institute/Alliance Française. The results of the negotiations be thus;

I apologize, my dear Stockahz et Stockehttz, for acting as this site's absentee landlord the last couple of days, the first and perhaps brightest of a New Year. Somewhat more pressing concerns flared, both pun and pain regretted. However, I'm slowly regaining my wits, the little I might've boasted of before my orthodontal mishap, and offer the following bargain...

Here's wishing the best possible New Year to everyone who's supported this site over the last two-plus years, and to those who've yet to discover it. 2015 holds a lotta promise, so here's hoping it comes through on even a hint of it. Stick with me Stockahz, it's gonna be a bumpy year!

Didn't we just do this 12 months ago?

Continuing series this day include MoMA's tribs to legendary actress Joan Bennett and cult filmmaking icon Robert Altman, and the Film Society's comprehaensive career overview of one of Hollywood's maverick auteurs, one John Huston. The filmic foofaraw be thus;

Chilling the champagne. Prepping the noisemakers. Sorting out the firecrackers. Which of course, at this time of year, can mean only one thing; Katy Perry's dropping by my place again.

Hey, you make your New Year's resolutions and I'll make mine. Balloon-popper.

Continuing series this day include Let There Be Light: The Films of John Huston at the Film Society and MoMA's comprehensive trib to Robert Altman. The celluloid higgeldy-piggeldy be thus;