First night of 3rd weekend

Over 300 people showed up to see the free screening of MAN IN THE CHAIR starring Christopher Plummer. The film won the jury prize for Best Independent film. The whole weekend is sponsored by Horny Toad. So stop by at the Riviera to see the rest of the line up! And yes, all the movies are free. 

Cinema Society

THE NAMESAKE is confirmed for Tuesday, February 6th at 7:30 pm. Theatre TBD. Unfortunately, we cannot host director Mira Nair. I tried!

Almost like being in love

Brigadoon is a musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, first produced in 1947. It tells the story of a mysterious village in Scotland, which appears for only one day every hundred years. Far from being a curse, the enchantment is viewed by the villagers as a blessing. According to their covenant with God, no one from Brigadoon may ever leave the village, or the enchantment will be broken and Brigadoon and all its inhabitants will disappear into the mist forever. Two American tourists, lost in the Highlands, stumble upon the village just as a wedding is about to be celebrated, and their arrival has serious implications for the village’s inhabitants.

Leonard’s curse

Before Borat fans start giving each other high fives, 20th Century Fox wants to make clear that the boorish Kazakh journalist is not headed back to the big screen just yet.

Hours after News Corp. Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch told reporters on Thursday that British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen had signed a deal to make a sequel to his hit movie “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” a studio spokesman said the idea was merely under consideration.

“We’re eager to work with Sacha again, and we’ve had casual discussions about a sequel, which we’d love to do, but at this point, it remains too preliminary to discuss,” said Chris Petrikin, a spokesman for News Corp.-owned 20th Century Fox.

Free movies – the best of the fest!

Just remember about our 3rd weekend starting tonight at 7pm at the Riviera theatre. We will be showing MAN IN THE CHAIR. On Saturday, we will be showing DARIUS GOES WEST at 1pm followed by DARK BLUE ALMOST BLACK at 4pm and BEAUTY IN TROUBLE at 7pm. On Sunday, we start with WELCOME HOME at 1pm, then CRAZY LOVE at 4pm and SPIRAL at 7pm. All of the screenings are sponsored by Horny Toad, and we received a grant from the Academy of Motion Pictures. This is all for free, but reps from the UNITY SHOPPE will be on hand to accept any donations.

Photo from BEAUTY IN TROUBLE

Little town blues…

We’re mentioned today in the opening paragraph of Cindy Adams’ New York Post column. She writes…”DAN Klores’ docudrama CRAZY LOVE caused a bidding war at its Sundance premiere, just won Santa Barbara’s film festival grand prize and, me, I actually mix into its chemistry. The astonishing tale of this real-life, obsessive roller-coaster relationship between New Yorkers Burt and Linda Pugach made news decades back. Ten years ago I was on that story.”

This is pretty awesome.

Blue days

There’s no point in hiding it. I’m pretty sad since the fest ended. I’m in a funk. Here’s hoping that the upcoming 3rd weekend cheers me up. 

I can’t deny it anymore…

Tower of Brilliance

Jeff Wells predicts it will be BABEL as Best Picture.  This would make me extremely happy.  As you all know, I have loved this film since I first saw back in August. 

And speaking of Mira Nair…

She has worked with Hollywood superstars like Denzel Washington and Reese Witherspoon, but now Indian-born director Mira Nair is set to take on the “challenge” of directing Johnny Depp. Depp will star in her next project, “Shantaram,” based on the life story of Gregory David Roberts, whose book of the same name describes his escape from an Australian prison to Mumbai and his adventures with the city’s powerful mafia dons. Roberts, who was later captured and extradited to Australia, now lives in Mumbai and has set up a free health service for the poor and does some teaching, the author says on his Web site www.shantaram.com.

Blonde on Blonde

LEGALLY BLONDE is Broadway bound.  Following in the heels of several succesful movies being adapted to the stage – comes this screen to stage musical based on Reese Witherspoon’s celluloid hit.  The show is trying out in San Francisco, and the critics have been raving – comparing it to HAIRSPRAY in its buoyancy.  Laura Bell Bundy who starred in the latter musical – plays the lead role of Elle – and the show will mark the directorial debut of Jerry Mitchell who choreographed LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, HAIRSPRAY among many other shows.  Okay, okay, yes, I wil be getting my tix now for my trip in May!