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MOVIE TIPS, et al

Published April 16, 2010 1 Closed
Tags: Animal Collective, Charles, Hamilton, Hopkins, Landmark, ODDSAC, Porterfield, Senator

Animal Collective / ODDSAC Looks like this is the weekend to catch up on movies you want to see, but have put off. Yup, you can wait for dvd, cable, etc.- but why ? Have you seen DATE NIGHT or GHOST WRITER at the Landmark, or GIRL WITH A DRAGON TATTOO, GREENBERG, or ART OF THE STEAL at the Charles ? Hurry.

Or, keep looking- Matt Porterfield’s no budget “miracle” film (just quoting the New Yorker) , HAMILTON, is playing in the JHU Film Festival along with some truly iconic films from Renoir and Fellini. A great chance to get ready for Matt’s new film, PUTTY HILL, which will be part of MFF 2010 (after premiering at this year’s Berlin Film Festival, and getting great notices at SXSW).

Danny Perez’ film, ODDSAC, made in close collaboration with the music group Animal Collective, will have one screening at the Senator this weekend and it’s extraordinary. I blogged about it from Sundance (you find it here by typing ODDSAC in the search block) where it left the whats-the-next-big-thing part of the audience scratching their heads. As intended. It’s an amazing fusion of movie and music talent, completely intertwined in a way that nods to rare music/movie partnerships like Eisenstein and Prokofiev, Hitchcock and Herrmann without of course looking anything like their films.

–Jed Dietz, MFF Director

MOVIE TIPS, ETC.

Published April 9, 2010 1 Closed
Tags: BARNES, Charles, HUBBLE, Landmark, Park School, RUNAWAYS, Walters

Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart doing Q&A at Sundance. The real Cherie and Joan are in the background

I know, Tiger’s playing again, and the Os are coming home, but there are some movies to see this weekend. Top of my list are HUBBLE 3D and- wait for it- DATE NIGHT. I’d go see Tina Fey in ANYTHING. I’ve already seen ART OF THE STEAL (Cinema Sundays viewing with a terrific discussion led by the Walters’ Gary Vikan), and it is a must see. The documentary is an angry exploration of the decision to move the great and singular Barnes Collection from its home in a residential neighborhood in Merion, Pa. to a more tourist friendly downtown Philadelphia arts district. It’s commerce meshing with art in a bad way, and despite some criticism of the movie for being too onesided, the commerce side gets good camera time, mostly thanks to former Philly Mayor and now Pa Gov, Ed Rendall who is articulate and well-meaning. It’s a riveting tale of mismanagement and philanthropic hubris. Opens today at the Charles.

The Charles also opens THE RUNAWAYS, a run of the mill sex drugs and rock and roll bio pic about Joan Jetts first band anchored by two really good performances from Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning.

Don’t forget the wonderful music documentary CHOPS, tonight for FREE at the Park School, and pay close attention to Sragow’s new blog for baltsun.com, Mike Sragow Gets Reel

If Tiger glues you to the TV, make room for the premier of David Simons new series exploring the core of a legendary New Orleans music neighborhood most of us have never heard of, TREME, as it fights for its life after Katrina.

–Jed Dietz, MFF Director