Hey all. Mike here with a revival list for the next week. Sorry for the delay, but I spent enough time at the U.S. Open, that catching films of any age wasn't possible. This list could have been longer, but better to post a few for better focus. Here we go:
HOWARDS END (1992)- Tues Sept 13- Thurs Sept 15 at 6:30 and 9:20- Film Forum- 3 more days to see this, and then bye-bye. A 4K DCP restoration, from the original camera negative. In time for the 25th anniversary, for an open ended engagement. Since this means we don't know when this will end, it's just easier to post the start date, the current screening times, and we'll just let you decide for yourself. For me, once the U.S. Open occurs, I won't have much time for this picture. But if that's when it works for you, go right ahead.
The third and last adaptation of a E.M Forester novel from producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory. Arguably their best film. Now the plot is a little complex to break down here, especially since we're dealing with 3 families from different classes. The title home, Howards End, represents England and who might inherit it (figuratively and literally). We start off with two Liberal sisters (Emma Thompson, and Helena Bonham Carter, full into her corset role portion of her career), and lets just it gets very hard to maintain their various levels of idealism.
Oscars for Thompson for Best Actress, Adapted Screenplay, and Art Direction. Nominations for Picture, Director, Vanessa Redgrave for Supporting Actress, Cinematography, Score and Costume Design. A hit on the art house circuit back in the Spring of 1992, and was considered a leading contender to win Best Picture. Then Unforgiven came along late that summer, and so much for that. As the years have gone by, Unforgiven became a classic film from 1992, as did Aladdin and A Few Good Men. You want to argue the same for My Cousin Vinny and Basic Instinct, do that elsewhere. Reservoir Dogs gained cult status, arguably so has Glengarry Glen Ross. Do you note Howards End anywhere there? No, you didn't. This anniversary restoration could change that:
BLAZING SADDLES (1974)- Tues Sept 13 and Wed Sept 14 at 7:30- AMC Empire and AMC Loews 19th St East- The film gets special screenings at some AMC screens, as a tribute to the late Gene Wilder. Same days and times, the engagements end on Wednseday.
Mel Brooks' comedy classic, that still works as incisive satire even today. Brooks told the story on Bob Costas' Later about how the Warner Bros. studio heads loved the film when they screened it the morning before it's big test screening. They told Mel how much they loved the flick, but they wanted a few changes. They then proceeded to give him a laundry list of what they wanted cut, of all which Mel just nodded his head and kept saying yes. "The bean farting scene, we want out, the sheriff is a niGONG, we want out, all n-word jokes, out, etc.". And after they were done giving notes and departed, Mel told his assistant "Fuck em. Send the film out as is.". Supposedly at the time, it was the most successful screening Warners ever had for a comedy. Oscar nominations for Madeline Kahn for Supporting Actress, Editing and Brooks' title song. If nothing else, it would be better to spend dollars to catch this, as opposed to most of the late summer/ early September dumps:
ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS (1958/61)- Fri Sept 16 (a question for me), Sat Sept 17 (also a question for me), Wed Sept 21 and Thurs Sept 22 at 7 and 9:15- Film Forum- The French Film Noir classic in a digital restoration. The one week run of this restoration was so popular for the Forum back in August, it's been brought back for another week-long run.
Louis Malle's first film. A man and a woman plot the murder of her husband, succeed, and then things begin to fall apart. An almost real time escape attempt from the police before they discover the body. Made stars out of director Malle and Jeanne Moreau as the descendant to Barbara Stanwyck's character in Double Indemnity, and the ancestor to Kathleen Turner's character in Body Heat. With a wonderful Miles Davis score:
ALMOST FAMOUS (2000)- Sun Sept 18 at 7:15- Museum of the Moving Image- Part of the Museum's Phillip Seymour Hoffman retrospective. He's not the lead in Cameron Crowe's semi-autobiographical take of a high school kid's coming of age. The coming of age as he follows an up-and-coming rock band on tour, as he tries to write a Rolling Stone article about them. No, Hoffman doesn't play the kid, but he plays kind of the wise soul music critic, who tries to guide the kid. Billed to be the film of 2000. Technically it was a flop, but a beloved flop. The likes of Crouching Tiger and Traffic overshadowed the film critically and at awards time. Films like Meet The Parents, Remember The Titans and the re-release of The Exorcist overshadowed it at the box office. But those who love it, really love it, and it's kinda kept the film out in the ether, so to speak. Though also being known as director Crowe's last watchable film doesn't help. Oh, like you sat through Aloha or We Bought A Zoo?
An Oscar for Crowe for Original Screenplay, nominations for Frances McDormand for Supporting Actress and Editing. Also, a Supporting Actress for Kate Hudson, who was made a star from this film. And she appears to still be a star, despite some really shitty movies. But then again, this is a Phillip Seymour Hoffman retrospective, no need to go on:
Let me know if there's interest, take care.
