NOW PLAYING

I'm a terrible one for whining about the cinematic silly season of summer, but 2009 is proving me wrong, at least here in Vancouver. First-run fare includes UP (which I've seen twice, and will see again), AWAY WE GO (looks charming), NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 2 (if only because it's got Kerry Vander Griend as a neanderthal), and even STAR TREK is a lot of fun.

But the real action is at Cinematheque, VanCity and Videomatica - quel surprise!

RASHOMON
Pacific Cinematheque
July 3-6, 8
One of the "34 Films"

LAST STOP 174
VanCity
July 9
Wonder how it differs from BUS 174?

TOKYO STORY / THE RULES OF THE GAME
Pacific Cinemathequ
Double Bill July 10-13
Two of the unquestionable film masterpieces.

THE TENANT
July 15
Creepy early Polanski.

ON THE WATERFRONT
July 18, 19, 21
Another of the "34 Films," and certified Soul Food to boot

REVANCHE
Pacific Cinematheque
Friday, July 24-27, 29-30

On small screens, there's plenty of new Soul Food on Videomatica shelves, including brand new DVD releases of THE SEVENTH SEAL and MY DINNER WITH ANDRE. DEFIANCE and GRAN TORINO are other recent additions with SF content.

And then there's the Film Noir series in August at Cinematheque. Highlights include a pair of Chandlers with THE BIG SLEEP and THE BLUE DAHLIA, NIGHTMARE ALLEY (penned by C.S. Lewis's wife's first husband, with the creepiest sideshow outside Bradbury), Jacques Tourneur's NIGHTFALL, and A TOUCH OF EVIL - yet another of the "34 Films".