A new Spielberg and Bleak Week are some reasons that should get you to the theater this week, here is your #movienerdreport!
This weekend will mark the release of Steven Spielberg’s 35th feature film as director in “Disclosure Day.” The film tells the story of a whistleblower racing against time to bring about the event that will change human history forever: the day of ultimate alien disclosure. Early word says this is a film that evokes the late 70s/early 80s crowd-pleasing story telling we all know and love from him. Josh O’Connor, Emily Blunt, Colin Firth and Colman Domingo star.
Also opening in wide release is the comedy, “Stop That Train,” which stars RuPaul as President of the United States and it features drag performers from “Drag Race.”
The other film opening in wide release is the Hong Kong action film “The Furious,” which as of this writing currently holds a perfect 100 % percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Over at the Cleveland Cinematheque (11610 Euclid Ave Cleveland, OH 44106) :
They will be partnering with the American Cinematheque for an annual (and quite popular) series called Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair. As they describe it, “Some of the greatest films from around the world, exploring the darkest sides of humanity.” The series consists of 16 films and starts tonight and goes through Sunday.
Here is the entire series of films:
Tonight at 6 p.m. the series kicks off with Lars von Trier’s “Breaking The Waves,” which features Emily Watson and Stellan Skarsgård. It is often cited as one of the best films of the 1990s.
At 9 p.m. Mads Mikkelsen stars in the debut feature of Nicolas Winding Refn in the crime thriller “Pusher.”
Thursday at 5:45 p.m. they will show Abbas Kiarostami’s “Taste Of Cherry,” which won the Palm d’Or from the Cannes Film Festival in 1997.
Thursday at 7:40 p.m. and at 9:35 p.m. continues the series of Nicolas Winding Refn’s trilogy in “Pusher II” and “Pusher III.”
Friday at 5:45 p.m. they will present Polish director Krzystof Kieślowski’s “A Short Film About Killing.”
Friday at 7:25 p.m. brings us “Threads” which from the description says it’s arguably the most devastating piece of television ever produced (hey, it’s Bleak Week after all, ha!).
Friday will finish off at 9:40 p.m. with Michael Haneke’s “Funny Games,” which will be shown from 35mm.
Saturday at 2 p.m. brings French filmmaker Louis Malle’s “The Fire Within,” which will also be shown from a 35mm print,
Saturday at 4:05 p.m. will bring Todd Solondz’s “Happiness,” which features some great performances, but especially from spotlights the turn from the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
The late Bèla Tarr’s “Werckmeister Harmonies” will play at 6:40 p.m. on Saturday.
Saturday will end with the Danish “The Vanishing” at 9:15 p.m.
Sunday at 2 p.m. Lana Turner and Sandra Dee star in “Imitation Of Life.”
Sunday at 4:20 p.m. they will present “Umberto D.” which was directed by master Italian filmmaker Vittorio De Seca and it plays from 35mm.
Another classic in 35mm will play at 6:10 p.m. in the Danish “Day of Wrath.”
And the bleakness concludes at 8:05 p.m. with the Japanese film “Boy.”
More information about the films and ticket prices are at: cinematheque.cia.edu
At the Nightlight Cinema (30 N High Street Akron, OH 44308):
The animated film “Jinsei” shows a man’s journey through life, marked by various names and labels. It comes from a new filmmaker named Ryuya Suzuki, who hand drew the film over 18 months.
They also will be opening the very good film “Tuner,” which tells the story of a piano tuner who finds he has a knack for cracking safes. Leo Woodall and Dustin Hoffman star.
The documentary “Time And Water” follows an Icelandic writer who preserves vanishing glaciers, his departed grandparents and family memories into a time capsule.
More Information about the films and ticket prices are at: nightlightcinema.com
This Saturday at the Main Branch of the Cleveland Public Library (525 Superior Ave E, Cleveland, OH 44114) in their Louis Stokes Wing Auditorium, The Cleveland Silent Film Festival & Colloquium has its latest screening of the 1926 Harold Llyod film “For Heaven’s Sake.” The film will be accompanied by a live piano score by David Blazer. It will play at 3 p.m. and it is free!
Finally at Akron-Summit County Library’s Main Branch (60 S High Street, Akron, OH 44326):
The Ohio Goes to the Movies series continues with a film appropriately by Jim Jarmusch, (who grew up in the Akron area) “Down By Law.” I am honored to have been asked to give the introduction to the film and the first 50 attendees will get a newly commissioned poster from local artist, Shane Lewis! The whole event starts at 1 p.m. and the film will start at 2 p.m. As with all Ohio Goes To The Movies events, they are free!
You can register for this event here: https://services.akronlibrary.org/event/16375961
Until next time, see ya at the movies!
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