Movie Alert - 8/13/2023
Here's all the good shit I highly recommend checking out.
Happy Sunday
I got to see Kurosawa’s Ran at the New Beverly a few days ago and it was extremely fun (catch the next one if you can); but it reminded me of why I dislike that theater even though I go at least once a week. The audiences are not good. Every single time I go to a movie there and there is any semblance of nudity or sex onscreen, every single person in the audience laughs uncontrollably for like five minutes. They laugh even when the scene isn’t funny just because there’s a titty up there. And that’s because 90% of the audience there is men aged 18-24. The vibe isn’t good. Also, Tarantino is anti-union and I can’t stop thinking about it every time I go. But they do have a nice bike rack outside.
Academy Museum’s Fall Lineup
The Academy Museum just posted its fall screening schedule, and there is some incredible stuff in there, so this entire newsletter will be about that and only that today. As a reminder, the Academy Museum has been named Olga’s Favorite Theater in America. Their screening facilities are absolutely unparalleled and there isn’t a single bad seat in the house thanks to their wonderful stadium seating.
Ennio Morricone series
Ennio Morricone was probably the first composer I ever fell in love with. It’s been three years since he’s died and it still hurts. I’m so glad they’re doing a series showcasing his scores, because there is some excellent stuff on deck. This is what I’m probably gonna cop tickets for:
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - 4K restoration
Once Upon a Time in the West - 4K restoration
The Battle of Algiers - 4K restoration
Investigation of a Citizen above Suspicion + A Quiet Place in the Country - DCP and 4k restoration
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage - 4k restoration
Cinema Paradiso - 4k restoration
Honestly, if you’re a Morricone head you should look through the whole series as there are some rarities in there from his lesser-known work. I know they are all digital, but a good 4K restoration on a massive theater screen beats your bullshit TV any day.
John Waters series
I saw Pink Flamingos on the big screen at USC while I was a student and it changed me. The print they screened was covered in hair and you could see it all onscreen. I’m very excited to check out the John Waters exhibit at the museum when it goes up in the fall, and this accompanying series has some great programming:
Eat Your Makeup with live commentary from John Waters - this is sold out but you can attempt standby
Female Trouble in 35mm
Serial Mom in 35mm
Hairspray (1988) in 35mm
Desperate Living in 35mm
Pecker + Cry-Baby in 35mm
Most of the above are either rated NC-17 or X. I’m extremely bummed that Pink Flamingos and Multiple Maniacs will be DCPs, but I believe the Pink Flamingos DCP will be the 50th anniversary remaster from a 4K scan of the original 16mm film.
Ozu in color series
Every single film in the series is on 35mm except for Floating Weeds. If you’ve never seen an Ozu, it might be worth starting here, even if you haven’t seen his masterpiece Tokyo Story. This series covers his six color films, and the Academy will accompany it with an exhibition of rare behind-the-scenes photographs, publicity stills, and never-before-seen snapshots from Ozu’s life and work, which will be on display through the end of the year.
Miscellaneous
Menace II Society in 35mm
Yi Yi in 35mm
Y Tu Mamá También in 35mm
Amelie in 35mm
Persepolis in 35mm
Cléo from 5 to 7 in 35mm
Le Samouraï in 35mm
Diva in 35mm
City of God in 35mm
Days of Heaven in 35mm
The Player - I have to add this because it’s an all time favorite movie of mine, but this is not a 35mm screening, just a DCP. Fuck!!!