CASABLANCA has some of the smartest, wittiest dialogue, and helps to explain its enduring place in the history of motion pictures. The chemistry between Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman is legendary and very romantic. Of CASABLANCA, the great film critic Roger Ebert wrote: "There are greater movies. More profound movies. Movies of greater artistic vision or artistic originality or political significance...But when it comes right down to the movies we treasure the most, when we are -- let us imagine -- confiding the secrets of our heart to someone we think we may be able to trust, the conversation sooner or later comes around to the same seven words: 'I really love CASABLANCA.' 'I do too.'"

     In the absence of any new movies streaming via the Rose this week, my recommendation is to watch CASABLANCA. You can stream it via Amazon for $3.99. And if by chance you subscribe to HBOMax, I also recommend DAVID BYRNE'S AMERICAN UTOPIA. The genesis was Byrne's 2018 album 'American Utopia,' which he soon conceptualized into a Broadway show that received euphoric reviews. He invited Spike Lee and his 12 camera operators to make a film of it. And did they ever. 

     The premise is simple: twelve performers, including Byrne, perform twenty-one songs, many of them from the 2018 album, but also a grab-bag of greatest Byrne (and Talking Heads) hits. "From out of this stripped down formula grows a wild rumpus of percussion and modern dance, a slow-building explosion." (The New Yorker) Manohla Dargis of The New York Times explains the net effect. "The first thing you should do when you're ready to watch 'David Byrne's American Utopia,' is clear the room in front of your TV. Move any rugs, chairs, tables and cats out of the way. Check your sound, crank the volume, press play. It may take a few songs for every part of you to get moving. But by the time Byrne and company perform 'This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody),' you may find yourself levitating."

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Now Streaming Through The Rose Theatre Film Library

MARTIN EDEN - "A cinematic knockout...the sort of movie that restores your faith in an art form." -Rolling Stone

WHITE RIOT - "Crackles with raucous energy. Shah's documentary will not only please those unfamiliar with the punk scene, but also those looking for stories of average people challenging the status quo." -POV Magazine

HARRY CHAPIN: WHEN IN DOUBT, DO SOMETHING - "...an inspirational portrait of idealism..." - Hollywood Reporter

NOMAD: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF BRUCE CHATWIN - "A poignant testament to two friends' shared curiosity about the world." -Hollywood Reporter

    Cider & Cinema: Each week Finnriver will be pairing one of their wonderful, delicious ciders with one of our streaming movies. For information on their weekly pairings, please visit their Instagram page.

     Pop-up popcorn on sale this Saturday, October 24th, 2:00-5:00

Cinematically yours,
Rocky