I find a playful parallel between LEVITATED MASS and APOLLO 11. Both events - moving a 340 ton rock and landing on the moon - were massive, first-time undertakings. While the giant rock traveled only 105 miles, and the Apollo 11 spacecraft traveled over 953,000 miles, both events were monumental and, in their own way, riveted the public. And how curious that two days ago NASA announced that after sitting untouched in storage for nearly 50 years, the lunar samples collected during the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 missions will be studied for the first time. LEVITATED MASS and APOLLO 11 are excellent movies, and both have received 100% ratings on Rotten Tomatoes.
The chemistry and magnetism between Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem is undeniable. In EVERYBODY KNOWS - their ninth film together - director Asghar Farhadi plays to those strengths in this taut Spanish thriller. In this film, however, they do not play impassioned lovers, but rather ex-lovers, Paco and Laura, who were together in their youth. "Old flames have a habit, though, of refusing to be snuffed out. Ex appeal is real." (The New Yorker).
When I saw the trailer for WOMAN AT WAR it seemed tailor-made for Port Townsend. When I saw the actual movie it didn't disappoint. This delightful new movie from Iceland is thoroughly enjoyable, and as a special treat to Rose Theatre members, we offering a free screening at noon on Saturday, March 23rd. Tickets are available only at the box office, beginning Thursday, March 14th at 3:30; 1 ticket per member. View the trailer. "Woman at War is something wonderful." -Los Angeles Times
Film scholar and educator Ted Walch returns to the Starlight Room for another two-day series on March 30th and 31st. He returns to celebrate the work of director Sidney Lumet. Beginning with Lumet's directorial masterpiece 12 ANGRY MEN (1957), Walch then turns to Lumet's greatest achievement, NETWORK(1976). And he concludes the weekend series with RUNNING ON EMPTY (1988). With each film Lumet honored the writer - Reginald Rose for 12 ANGRY MEN, Paddy Chayevsky for NETWORK, and Naomi Foner for RUNNING ON EMPTY. Each film suits its style to the story, and not the story to the style. Each film is also a sublime collaboration by a deeply professional director who always took charge by taking a back seat.
The work of Jonathan Demme, one of my favorite directors, is represented this Saturday night as we present SOMETHING WILD in the Starlight at 10:00 PM. Melanie Griffith and Jeff Daniels star.
Opening next Friday, March 22nd GLORIA BELL, starring Julianne Moore, and US, from horror-master Jordan Peele (GET OUT).
--Rocky