One could argue this is the busiest week of the summer for film events in the CLE! Here is your #movienerdreport!
It is the last Wednesday of the month so that means it is the latest in the WTF Wednesday series at the Cedar Lee Theatre (2163 Lee Rd, Cleveland Heights 44118)! Tonight at 7:30 p.m. the film is called “Chainsaws Were Singing.” It is a horror-comedy-musical from Estonia that, at least from the trailer, looks appropriately WTF!
Wednesday is also the latest edition of “Lenora’s Midnight Rental” at the Grog Shop (2785 Euclid Heights Blvd, Cleveland Height 44106). Midnight host Lenora plays a secret film that features live ongoing commentary, tonight she will be joined by John Skrtic from the Cleveland Public Library! Pizza rolls, popcorn and candy will also be on sale! $10 in advance/$15 at the door will get you in!
Thursday evening The Nightlight will be partnering with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park for Cinema in the CVNP for a screening of the 2004 cult classic “Napoleon Dynamite.” The screening will be held at the Happy Days Lodge (500 W Streetsboro St, Peninsula 44264). There will be an alpaca meet and greet, glamor shots by Deb and more! Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the film will start at 8 p.m.!
Friday evening Photo Cleveland is presenting an outdoor screening of David Lynch’s debut feature “Eraserhead” from a 16mm print. It is a free screening but it is BYOB food and drink! Cleveland film expert Robert Banks, will be handling the projection! It all takes place at the Tower Press Building (1900 Superior Avenue, Cleveland 44114). Doors open at 8 p.m. and the film will start between 9 and 9:15 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket!
Saturday is the first of the new month so that means at the Cedar Lee Theatre (2163 Lee Rd, Cleveland Heights 44118) you can catch two cult classics in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and well as Tommy Wiseau’s “The Room.” Both are a blast with the right crowd and both start at 10 p.m.
The big film opening this week is “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”. This is the long awaited follow-up to the hugely successful 2021 installment “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” This installment sees a forgotten Peter Parker forced to reemerge when a powerful new enemy emerges. Tom Holland and Zendaya are poised to have one heck of a good summer with them both also appearing currently in “The Odyssey.”
Also opening is a film that was one of the buzzier titles from this year’s Sundance in “I Want Your Sex.” It is a film that was directed by Gregg Araki, and stars Olivia Wilde (also having a great summer after her film “The Invite”), Cooper Hoffman, and Johnny Knoxville. It tells the story of a young man who lands a job for a renowned artist by becoming her sexual muse.
Over at the Cleveland Cinematheque (11610 Euclid Ave Cleveland, OH 44106):
Thursday at 6:30 p.m. they will present Sidney Lumet’s Oscar-winning film “Network.” The landmark film stars William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Peter Finch and Robert Duvall. Peter Finch won the Best Actor Oscar in a big part due to his “I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore” scene in the film.
Thursday at 9 p.m. the Dario Argento series continues with his 1987 film “Opera.” It is about a young opera singer who is being stalked by a deranged fan.
Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 5 p.m. they will present a 4K restoration of the Middle Eastern film “Bashu, the Little Stranger.” It tells the story of a young Iranian boy who flees home after his family is killed during the Iran-Iraq war and how he is saved by a middle-aged woman.
Friday at 8:50 p.m. and Saturday at 7:20 p.m. they will present the Chinese film “The Hole” from a 35mm print. Despite the film being nearly 30 years old, this is the first time it has been released theatrically in the United States!
Saturday at 9:15 p.m. and Sunday at 5:50 p.m. they will present the iconic “Easy Rider” from a 35mm print! The film was directed by Dennis Hopper and features Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, and Hopper. Plus a killer soundtrack!
Sunday the Andrzej Wajda series continues at 3 p.m. with his 1981 film “Man of Iron” and at 7:50 p.m. with his 1983 film “Danton” which features Gérard Depardieu.
Over at The Nightlight (30 N High Street Akron 44308):
Thursday at 8 p.m. they will be participating in Art House Theatre Day and they will show the Boots Riley film “Sorry To Bother You.” The film features LaKeith Stanfiield and Tessa Thompson and it follows a telemarketer who finds the key to professional success, propelling him to a universe of greed.
They will also be showing Richard Linklater’s film “Boyhood” which is celebrating its 12th anniversary. Now you might be wondering why something would celebrate its 12th anniversary, well, this film was famously shot over a 12-year period. It stars Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette (who won an Oscar for this role) and Ellar Coltrane in the lead role.
They also will be presenting the documentary “Baby Doe.” It follows the story of a woman who gave birth and then left a baby in the woods and how decades later, she is on trial for murder.
Lastly they will be showing the documentary “Out Of Obscurity, Into Oblivion: A Film About The Numbers Band” on Friday and Saturday but those screenings are all sold out!
So there you have it, so much going on! Hope to see ya at the movies!
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