May 15th 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.
I thought NOAH effectively ended its run a couple of weeks ago, but apparently late sunsets and merry birdsong ain't enough of a memo to the elements to justify a work stoppage on the Ark. We must be really bad, man. Double-bag the galoshes, folks, the deluge approacheth.
Ongoing series today include An Auteurist History of Film at MoMA, and Punk Rock Girls and Cool Worlds: The Animation of Ralph Bakshi at BAM Cinématek. The upstream shenanigans looketh thus;
MoMA
MY NIGHT AT MAUD'S (1969) Dir; Eric Rohmer
BAM Cinématek
FRITZ THE CAT (1972) Dir; Ralph Bakshi
STARSTRUCK (1982) Dir; Gillian Armstrong
BowTie Chelsea Cinemas
LOGAN'S RUN (1976) Dir; Michael Anderson
Anthology Film Archives
DUTCHMAN (1967) Dir; Anthony Harvey
IFC Center
GODZILLA (1954) Dir; Ishiro Honda
Today's Pick? A little known, rarely screened time capsule from the formative years of NYC's reinvention as cinematic Mecca, albeit to underground, experimental and fringe filmmakers who were poised to take advantage of the studio era's demise and the emergence of the New Hollywood. Anthony Harvey's DUTCHMAN screens tonight at Anthology Film Archives, showcasing the intense method talents of Al Freeman Jr. and Shirley Knight in this adap of the Obie-winning Off-Broadway examination of ethnic tension in the urban upheaval of the 60's. The film is at worst unsettling and at best infuriating, trading on stereotypes both gender and skin-based, infusing an already uncomfortable journey on a city subway (during summer, why not?) with an electric charge that never quite defines itself as either flirtatious or malevolent, therefore begging a demarcation between the two or, indeed, asking whether one exists. John 007 Barry provides the score, and the Manhattan underground provides the appropriate steel and glass claustrophobia. A real not-to-be-missed unspooling, make sure your canoe's street-worthy.
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 LAND HO!!!
-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.
