May 3rd 2014. 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.
From first meal to midnight snack, you could virtually live inside NYC's repertory theaters today and scarcely meet the sun. While I advise against such a lifestyle, particularly following a winter that would scare all other winters back to their icy mommas, I could understand the temptation given today's schedule in classic screenings, starting with The Goblin King and ending with ROBOCOP. The real ROBOCOP.
Continuing series today include the Ellen Burstyn trib at BAM Cinématek, and the Kenji Mizoguchi retrospective at Museum of the Moving Image. Lead on MacDuff...
Nitehawk Cinema
THREE AMIGOS (1986) Dir; John Landis
LABYRINTH (1986) Dir; Terry Jones
PIECES (1982) Dir; Juan Piquer Simon
Film Forum
OTHELLO (1952) Dir; Orson Welles
BAM Cinematek
ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE (1974) Dir; Martin Scorsese
(Q&A with star and series honoree Ellen Burstyn following the 7:30pm screening.)
Museum of the Moving Image
SANSHO THE BAILIFF (1954) Dir; Kenji Mizoguchi
STREET OF SHAME (1956) Dir; Kenji Mizoguchi
Anthology Film Archives
THE IN-LAWS (1979) Dir; Arthur Hiller
BIG TROUBLE (1986) Dir; John Cassavetes
IFC Center
ROBOCOP (1987) Dir; Paul Verhoeven
Today's Pick? We have legit, honest-to-goodness cinematic royalty gracing our rep circuit this day, and her appearance is as graciously appreciated as the sun's newfound interest in shining down upon our winter-battered souls. The luminuous Ellen Burstyn, she of a well-deserved Oscar win, three noms in total, and a still unfolding and mesmerizing career, will indulge the attendees of tonight's 7:30pm screening of ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE at BAM Cinématek with a rare Q&A, hosted by Variety's Scott Foundas. It would be enough to recommend Ms. Burstyn's perf alone, one of the 70's New Hollywood's most indelible, a rich, complex, nuanced portrait of a young widow's neccesitated search for her own unique identity. The screening's elevated to status absolutely unmissable by her attendance, as she has proven time and again to be not only one of the more intelligent thesps Hollywood ever had the good fortune to feature, but also one of the more forthright. Listening to her expound on her past efforts and her approach to craft is like listening to Mozart explain why he chose a particluar key. You'll regret missing this, so get yer tix while they're still available. And think up some intelligent questions. This woman survived William Friedkin, she'll eat you for lunch.
For more info on these and all NYC's classic film screenings in May '14 click on the interactive calendar on the upper right hand side of the page. For the monthly overview listen in to the new podcast, and follow me on SoundCloud! 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 tomorrow with a brand new Pick, til then safe, sound, make sure the next knucklehead is too! Excelsior!
-Joe Walsh
P. S. Should you be feeling charitable during this still harsh weather period please remember to check in with the good folks over at Occupy Sandy. Some of our NY neighbors are still feeling the effects of the 2012 hurricane. Be a mensch.
