May 9th 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.
A minor midweek lull, and now the rep film circuit begins to buzz anew. Genre works that redefined the cinema of horror and animation, as well as a choice cut from a master of world cinema, grace our city's screens this day. New and continuing series include An Auteurist History of Film at MoMA, Cool Worlds: The Animation of Ralph Bakshi at BAM Cinématek, the Kenji Mizoguchi trib at Museum of the Moving Image, and the Rubin Museum's eternally swank Cabaret Cinema at the Rubin Museum of Art. The 4-perf profundity as follows;
MoMA
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968) Dir; George A. Romero
BAM Cinématek
HEAVY TRAFFIC (1974) Dir; Ralph Bakshi
Museum of the Moving Image
UTAMARO AND HIS FIVE WOMEN (1946) Dir; Kenji Mizoguchi
New York Historical Society
THE WINSLOW BOY (1948) Dir; Anthony Asquith
Rubin Museum
TALES OF THE GIMLI HOSPITAL (1988) Dir; Guy Maddin
IFC Center
GODZILLA (1954) Dir; Ishiro Honda
ROBOCOP (1987) Dir; Paul Verhoeven
Nitehawk Cinema
MOTHER'S DAY (1980) Dir; Charles Kaufman
Today's Pick? Yes, it's always tempting to pick the original Kaiju man, Ishiro Honda's original 1954 GODZILLA, but I made it my Pick a mere two weeks ago. Paul Verhoeven's original (I can't believe I just typed that) ROBOCOP, while a sublime example of genre mastery, screens way too often, almost lazily so on some of our midnight screens. I don't know enough about Guy Maddin's work, having never seen it, and that alone should be reason enough to make his breakthrough effort, 1988's TALES OF THE GIMLI HOSPITAL, tonight's honorary nod. However, another controversial filmmaker, one who also employed a unique aesthetic in the repping of his artistic vision, is the subject of a short but nearly comprehensive career retropsective, and we also get the benefit of his being in attendance for a rare Q&A!
1973's HEAVY TRAFFIC unspools in all of its resplendently garish 35mm glory at BAM Cinématek to kick off their Cool Worlds: The Animation of Raplh Bakshi trib. The director will accompany tonight's 7pm screening to discuss and answer questions regarding this film and his CV in general. Other notable highlights in the series include his notorious 1st cult smash FRITZ THE CAT, the nearly career-derailing COONSKIN, and later works like WIZARDS, HEY GOOD LOOKIN' and AMERICAN POP (Bakshi's earlier take on Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS is strangely absent, perhaps due to rights issues). Snag yer tix early 'cause this is sure to sell out quick. Bakshi may not have achieved the new cinema he aimed for in his heyday, but the remnants of that effort are endlesly fascinating.
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.
