Saturday, February 14, 2009

Feb 22 - Mar 2: THE GODFATHER PART II at VanCity


In December we were treated to the first of the GODFATHER films on the big screen, painstakingly restored from the neglected original prints. I'll be honest - the print didn't look all that great. My old dvd version is considerably cleaner, no scratches, dropped frames. Whether that indicates how badly damaged the originals were, or - ironically - if we were viewing a badly worn copy of the "pristine" restored film, I can't say.

Even so, it was terrific to see this big film on a big screen, with an audience. So I hope to be back to the VanCity to see the follow-up film - both a sequel and a prequel to THE GODFATHER - later this month.

THE GODFATHER: PART II
February 22-27, March 1-2 // 7:00 pm
Director: Francis Ford Coppola // USA 1974 // 200 min // 35mm // Rated: 14A
Tickets

Check here for more about the re-release of the original GODFATHER films, and some good background on the restoration process.

Saturday, February 07, 2009

NOW PLAYING: Big & Small Screens

BIG SCREENS

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL
Director Scott Derrickson spoke at Regent College a few years back, and considering his other films (HELLRAISER: INFERNO, THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE) it's no surprise he's turned to this 1950s B-movie sci-fi classic with Christological overtones. Silvercity Riverport, Colossus Langley.

DEFIANCE
G7, P&T, SC Riverport/Coquitlam, Colossus Langley, Station Square

DOUBT
TT, SC Riverport/Coquitlam, Colossus Langley


GRAN TORINO
5th, SC Riverport/Coquitlam, Scotiabank, Colossus Langley, Empire Studio 12 Guildford, Esplanade 6, Meadowtown, Station Square, Strawberry Hill

NEW IN TOWN
TT, SC Riverport/Coquitlam, Colossus Langley, Esplanade 6, Station Square, Strawberry Hill
"New in Town, a romantic comedy with Harry Connick Jr. and Renee Zellweger. also happens to be written by a Christian and stars a Christian, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, in a supporting role. And as if that weren't cool enough, Hogan's character in the film, Blanche, is a Christian—a real, level-headed believer, not some weird, over-the-top Hollywood depiction. We chatted with Hogan about playing the role; we also spent a few minutes with Connick, who talked about how his own Catholic faith has affected his entertainment choices over the years." (Mark Moring, Christianity Today)
Critics don't like it much.

OF TIME AND THE CITY
VanCity Feb 8-10, 7:00 & 8:30


RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
G7

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Danny Boyle's suitcase-full-of-money theme takes on spiritual overtones played out in the slums of India.
5th, TT, SC Riverport/Coquitlam, Colossus Langley, Criterion Caprice 4, Empire Studio 12 Guildford, Park & Tilford, Strawberry Hill


THE WRESTLER
SC Riverport/Coquitlam, Scotiabank, Colossus Langley


SMALL SCREENS

AMAL
(Videomatica)

BELLA
(Videomatica)

CHOKING MAN
"The differences between CHOKING MAN and BEN X make their similarities all the more interesting. Both Ben and Jorge must overcome their shyness and reach out to the beautiful young women they adore. Both must reckon with characters who exist only in their imaginations. And both must wrestle with the implications of a crucified Christ. / CHOKING MAN concludes as a tale of redemption. Jorge finds a moment of clarity during a church service." Jeffrey Overstreet, CT Movies
(Videomatica)

DARATT (DRY SEASON)
Not yet at Videomatica, but released by Facets Aug 26 2008 in "Great African Films, Vol. 3" (with THE DESERT ARK). 

The third entry in a series of award-winning films from Africa. DARATT ("DRY SEASON" Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Chad, 2006) is "an unassumingly 
political work that unfolds with the gravity of a Biblical story," according to Manohla 
Dargis of The New York Times. Set in Chad after a general amnesty has set war criminals 
free, this heart-wrenching revenge story tells of a grandfather who sends his grandson to 
kill the man who murdered the boy's father. Winner of five awards at the 2006 Venice Film 
Festival.


IN BRUGES
(Videomatica)


MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION
New from Criterion in January 2009, vintage Douglas Sirk from Lloyd C. Douglas' religious novel. (Videomatica)


REDBELT
(Videomatica)

SILENT LIGHT
(Videomatica)


SHOTGUN STORIES
(Videomatica)


SON OF MAN
The extraordinary South African life of Christ is apparently now available from Amazon UK as a Region 2 dvd.


SON OF RAMBOW
(Videomatica)

COMING SOON(ER OR LATER): Big & Small Screens

COMING SOON TO DVD

BEN X
"Ben ends up embracing a crooked sort of cross, one that is more about retaliation than redemption. If encounters with Christ throw fuel on our fire to see the bad guys get what they've got coming, well, keep in mind the confession of William Munny in Unforgiven: 'We've all got it coming, kid.' " Jeffrey Overstreet, CT Movies
Available to the public Mar 10 2009 – Film Movement


COMING SOON TO THEATRES

Word is, Jason Goode's short film POP SWITCH (screenplay: Lucia Frangione, cast: Lucia Frangione, Michael Kopsa, Duncan Fraser) will premiere in Vancouver in the next couple months. Feb 2009.

Jack Black and Michael Cera encounter Cain and Abel (David Cross and Paul Rudd) in a scene from the Harold Ramis-directed YEAR ONE. Opens Jun 19 2009.


PRE-PRODUCTION / IN PRODUCTION / POST-PRODUCTION / WAITING FOR DISTRIBUTION

BIRDSONG ("EL CANT DELS OCELLS" 2008, Albert Serra, Spain)
Played TIFF 2008, VIFF 2008
"Most of the historical representations of the Traveling Magi are dramatized after the fact and he wanted to consider what it might have been like as it was happening. He wanted to strip away the theological overlay of thousands of years — which places the story of the Traveling Magi in direct service to the spiritual legitimization of the Christ Child — and return the story to original physical events. By choosing such simplicity and lack of narrative adornment, Serra reduced or abstracted the legend to its essential poetry." Oct 24 2008, twitchfilm
"I chose Serra’s previous film, Honor of the Knights, as my favorite film of 2006, so I was delighted to see his latest–similarly meditative but funnier and more cosmic–receive greater critical exposure. Ostensibly telling the biblical story of the journey of the magi, the film is more interested in its experiential affects than its narrative details, utilizing the powers of long takes and long shots to explore and illuminate barren landscapes, the passage of time, and fragile but resilient human activity. It feels like the ending of Rossellini’s Stromboli expanded into a feature. Serra’s a unique talent, combining a lofty vision with an earthy temperament and a heavy doses of spontaneity." Jan 8 2009, Doug Cummings, filmjourney

"Ralph Fiennes is making his directorial debut with a feature adaptation of William Shakespeare's Roman tragedy CORIOLANUS. Fiennes has already scouted for locations in East Europe. Shakespeare's play, set in the early years of the Roman Republic, is one of his most politically challenging examinations of the way power corrupts. Fiennes will also play the title role of the proud but contemptuous soldier spurred on by his ambitious mother to run for the Roman Senate, which ultimately leads to his downfall. Vanessa Redgrave is in talks to play the part of Coriolanus' mother Volumnia." Feb 6 2009, Variety

"The creative team behind the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy return to Middle-earth with this adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic precursor THE HOBBIT. Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh executive produce the New Line Cinema/MGM joint production, to be shot simultaneously with a sequel film culled from various pieces of the author's work. Acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro is attached to helm the two pics, budgeted at 150 million dollars each. Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
"With work on THE HOBBIT really starting to move forward, director Guillermo del Toro updated MTV News this week with exclusive scripting, casting and pre-production news, including confirmation that HELLBOY creator Mike Mignola will be coming aboard for early visualization." Jan 22 2009, MTV Movie News

"The Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins is to play KING LEAR in a new film version of the Shakespeare tragedy, it was confirmed today. The film will feature Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts and Keira Knightley as Lear's three daughters, according to the director, Joshua Michael Stern. 'It's pre-Roman, Celtic, very raw. It's a period in British history, from which Tolkien took a lot of his inspiration, where there were thatched-roof roundhouses and fortresses.' Hopkins played the role in David Hare's production of the play at the National in 1987. Shooting is scheduled to begin in Britain or Ireland early next year." Jun 25 2008, The Guardian

"Al Pacino will play the title role in KING LEAR, an adaptation of the Shakespeare play that will be directed by Michael Radford. Radford, who wrote the script, is making his second Shakespearean foray with Pacino after their 2004 collaboration MERCHANT OF VENICE, which cast Pacino as Shylock. Radford will shoot the picture entirely in Europe, starting later this year. Feb 3 2009, Variety

"Abel Ferrara’s 15th feature, MARY, which had its premiere at Venice in 2005, is only now having a run in New York. (It opens on Friday Oct 10 at Anthology Film Archives.) It revolves around a film within the film — in this case a biblical indie called THIS IS MY BLOOD. The leading lady (Juliette Binoche) is so shaken by playing Mary Magdalene that she decamps for Jerusalem. Back in New York a television talk show host (Forest Whitaker) finds himself struggling with his faith as he prepares to interview the Jesus movie’s brash director and star (Matthew Modine, in a role that inevitably calls to mind Mel Gibson but also contains strong elements of the freewheeling Mr. Ferrara). MARY is simply the most direct expression of spiritual crisis in a filmography riven with Catholic notions of guilt and redemption. When Ferrara started working on MARY — 'living within three blocks of the Vatican,' he noted — he revisited the Bible and this time approached it 'as a revolutionary tome."' Oct 10 2008, NY Times
Does not appear to have gained wider distribution.

"Barbara Nicolosi has been rewriting Benedict Fitzgerald's screenplay MYRIAM, MOTHER OF THE CHRIST, renaming it MARY, MOTHER OF CHRIST." Nov 24 2008, Matt Page, Bible Films Blog
"MGM has acquired North American distribution rights to MYRIAM, MOTHER OF THE CHRIST, the biblical story of Mary. The screenplay is written by Benedict Fitzgerald, who penned THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST." Jan 23 2009, Hollywood Reporter
"Camilla Belle will star as the titular character and will be joined by Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the dual roles of Gabriel and Lucifer and Peter O'Toole as Symeon. Al Pacino and Jessica Lange are in talks to play Herod and Anna the Prophetess. Argentine helmer Alejandro Agresti (Valentin, The Lake House) is directing the film, which begins lensing in Morocco in May. MGM plans to release the film wide in 2,000-plus theaters Apr 2 2010, which coincides with Good Friday. Media 8 Entertainment will introduce the project at the European Film Market in Berlin." Feb 6 2009, Variety

"THE ROAD is moving its release to 2009. The feature adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize- winning novel, which stars Viggo Mortensen, will have to wait another year for any possible Oscar plaudits. Originally scheduled for November 2008, its filmmaking team has made it clear that the movie just isn't ready for release." Oct 21 2008, L.A. Times

THE ROCK 'N' ROLL DREAMS OF DUNCAN CHRISTOPHER
Producer Gillian Rowe Fritzsche was at Pacific Theatre a couple years before moving to L.A. to be married, study at Act One, and make movies. Here's her first, currently in post-production. Jan 2009

"Mickey Rourke is set to star in ST. VINCENT. He'll play a hit man who returns to New York to complete a botched hit. Masquerading as a priest, he finds himself hearing the confession of the man who he is targetting. Production is slated to begin later this year." Feb 6 2009, Variety

MCN Critics Chart #7

Most recent Movie City News tally of critic year end lists for 2008

Includes 286 Top Ten Lists. A total of 265 films Listed, 106 films with only one vote; Five films appear on more than 100 lists.




Watching for... CORIOLANUS

"Ralph Fiennes is making his directorial debut with a feature adaptation of William Shakespeare's Roman tragedy CORIOLANUS. Fiennes has already scouted for locations in East Europe. Shakespeare's play, set in the early years of the Roman Republic, is one of his most politically challenging examinations of the way power corrupts. Fiennes will also play the title role of the proud but contemptuous soldier spurred on by his ambitious mother to run for the Roman Senate, which ultimately leads to his downfall. Vanessa Redgrave is in talks to play the part of Coriolanus' mother Volumnia." Feb 6 2009, Variety

Watching for... KING LEAR

"The Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins is to play KING LEAR in a new film version of the Shakespeare tragedy, it was confirmed today. The film will feature Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts and Keira Knightley as Lear's three daughters, according to the director, Joshua Michael Stern. 'It's pre-Roman, Celtic, very raw. It's a period in British history, from which Tolkien took a lot of his inspiration, where there were thatched-roof roundhouses and fortresses.' Hopkins played the role in David Hare's production of the play at the National in 1987. Shooting is scheduled to begin in Britain or Ireland early next year." Jun 25 2008, The Guardian

"Al Pacino will play the title role in KING LEAR, an adaptation of the Shakespeare play that will be directed by Michael Radford. Radford, who wrote the script, is making his second Shakespearean foray with Pacino after their 2004 collaboration MERCHANT OF VENICE, which cast Pacino as Shylock. Radford will shoot the picture entirely in Europe, starting later this year. Feb 3 2009, Variety

Watching for... ST. VINCENT

"Mickey Rourke is set to star in ST. VINCENT. He'll play a hit man who returns to New York to complete a botched hit. Masquerading as a priest, he finds himself hearing the confession of the man who he is targetting. Production is slated to begin later this year." Feb 6 2009, Variety

Watching for... MIRIAM, MOTHER OF CHRIST

"Barbara Nicolosi has been rewriting Benedict Fitzgerald's screenplay MYRIAM, MOTHER OF THE CHRIST, renaming it MARY, MOTHER OF CHRIST." Nov 24 2008, Matt Page, Bible Films Blog
"MGM has acquired North American distribution rights to MYRIAM, MOTHER OF THE CHRIST, the biblical story of Mary. The screenplay is written by Benedict Fitzgerald, who penned THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST." Jan 23 2009, Hollywood Reporter

"Camilla Belle will star as the titular character and will be joined by Jonathan Rhys Meyers in the dual roles of Gabriel and Lucifer and Peter O'Toole as Symeon. Al Pacino and Jessica Lange are in talks to play Herod and Anna the Prophetess. Argentine helmer Alejandro Agresti (Valentin, The Lake House) is directing the film, which begins lensing in Morocco in May. MGM plans to release the film wide in 2,000-plus theaters Apr 2 2010, which coincides with Good Friday. Media 8 Entertainment will introduce the project at the European Film Market in Berlin." Feb 6 2009, Variety

Watching for... MARY (2005, Abel Fererra)

"Abel Ferrara’s 15th feature, MARY, which had its premiere at Venice in 2005, is only now having a run in New York. (It opens on Friday Oct 10 at Anthology Film Archives.) It revolves around a film within the film — in this case a biblical indie called THIS IS MY BLOOD. The leading lady (Juliette Binoche) is so shaken by playing Mary Magdalene that she decamps for Jerusalem. Back in New York a television talk show host (Forest Whitaker) finds himself struggling with his faith as he prepares to interview the Jesus movie’s brash director and star (Matthew Modine, in a role that inevitably calls to mind Mel Gibson but also contains strong elements of the freewheeling Mr. Ferrara). MARY is simply the most direct expression of spiritual crisis in a filmography riven with Catholic notions of guilt and redemption. When Ferrara started working on MARY — 'living within three blocks of the Vatican,' he noted — he revisited the Bible and this time approached it 'as a revolutionary tome."' Oct 10 2008, NY Times

Watching for... BIRDSONG (2008, Spain, Albert Serra)

BIRDSONG ("EL CANT DELS OCELLS" 2008, Albert Serra, Spain)

Played TIFF 2008, VIFF 2008

"Most of the historical representations of the Traveling Magi are dramatized after the fact and he wanted to consider what it might have been like as it was happening. He wanted to strip away the theological overlay of thousands of years — which places the story of the Traveling Magi in direct service to the spiritual legitimization of the Christ Child — and return the story to original physical events. By choosing such simplicity and lack of narrative adornment, Serra reduced or abstracted the legend to its essential poetry." Oct 24 2008, twitchfilm

"I chose Serra’s previous film, Honor of the Knights, as my favorite film of 2006, so I was delighted to see his latest – similarly meditative but funnier and more cosmic – receive greater critical exposure. Ostensibly telling the biblical story of the journey of the magi, the film is more interested in its experiential affects than its narrative details, utilizing the powers of long takes and long shots to explore and illuminate barren landscapes, the passage of time, and fragile but resilient human activity. It feels like the ending of Rossellini’s Stromboli expanded into a feature. Serra’s a unique talent, combining a lofty vision with an earthy temperament and a heavy doses of spontaneity." Jan 8 2009, Doug Cummings, filmjourney

Ben X

BEN X
"Ben ends up embracing a crooked sort of cross, one that is more about retaliation than redemption. If encounters with Christ throw fuel on our fire to see the bad guys get what they've got coming, well, keep in mind the confession of William Munny in Unforgiven: 'We've all got it coming, kid.' " Jeffrey Overstreet, CT Movies

Film Movement

Friday, February 06, 2009

Museum of Biblical Art, New York: Reel Religion

Maybe it's time for another visit to New York...

Noah's Ark (1928)

Museum of Biblical Art
Reel Religion: A Century of the Bible and Film
February 6 - May 17, 2009

This exhibition probes the fascination the Bible has exerted over filmmakers as different and distinct as Cecil B. deMille, Mel Gibson, John Huston, Pier Paolo Pasolini and Martin Scorsese. The exhibition features 80 rare vintage movie posters reaching back to the dawn of film in 1898. A selection of original costumes worn by Hollywood screen stars is also on display together with related film ephemera. Visitors will be able to view an array of film clips from the movies the posters promoted.

REEL RELIGION explores how filmmakers have mined the Bible for the edification and drama of religious narratives while at the same time exercising creative license to heighten themes of passion, violence, and intrigue.

Among the exhibition highlights is an early Art Deco masterpiece, a 1923 poster for the film adaptation of Oscar Wilde's 1894 play, Salomé. One of only three existing prints, this exquisite lithograph was designed by Natacha Rambova, the wife of screen legend Rudolph Valentino, and inspired by Aubrey Beardsley's stunning, stylized black-and-white illustrations for Wilde's play. Beautifully produced and designed with a rich art historical awareness, many of these rare vintage movie posters occupy a unique position between high art and advertising.

Original costumes in the exhibition include the chest plate worn by Yul Brynner while playing the role of "Rameses" in deMille's The Ten Commandments (1956, MGM) and the gown worn by actress Nina Foch as "Bithiah," both created by Hollywood's legendary costume designer, Edith Head. Also on display are Charlton Heston's mauve tunic and cape adorned with gold trim, designed by Elizabeth Haffenden for William Wyler's 1959 MGM production, Ben-Hur.

Celebrated visual artists have had a profound impact upon the history of cinema. Among other objects, REEL RELIGION displays an illustrated Bible by the French artist Gustave Doré, on loan from the American Bible Society's Rare Scripture Collection. Doré's Bible, tremendously popular, has influenced the posters, costumes, sets and cinematography of numerous films from 1906 to 2004. Cecil D. deMille drew upon Doré's designs frequently, most notably in his staging of the parting of the Red Sea in The Ten Commandments. Doré was also the inspiration for the design of the Spanish poster promoting Pasolini's Gospel According to Saint Matthew of 1964.

Such intriguing influences and unexpected juxtapositions are explored in depth in REEL RELIGION: A CENTURY OF THE BIBLE AND FILM.

Thanks to Rosie Perera for pointing us to this one. For more on Bible films, check out Matt Page's blog. His monthly Jesus Films podcast has covered...
The Nativity Story (2006)
Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979)
Jesus (1979)
Godspell (1973)
The Passion (2008)
Son of Man (2006)
Gospel of John (2003
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
The King of Kings (1927) 
Jesus (1999)
Life and Passion of Jesus Christ (early 20th century)
Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
King of Kings (1961)
Il Messia (1975)
The Miracle Maker (2000)
Jesus Christ, Superstar (1973)
Jesus of Montreal (1989)
The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
Il Vangelo Secondo Matteo (1964)
Jesus of Nazareth (1977)