Good day, my vegetable dumplings. Sometimes, when traditional romantic relationships fail, troubled folk like you and I engage in an affair with the cinema. But what is this elusive creature? I’m glad you asked. Film can take many forms: a coquette, a beast, a tart. And these are but a few of the possibilities, my children. But only a few. You will learn one day that a relationship with the cinema can change you, for better or for worse. A lust for film can make concrete your latent charm. Or, conversely, it can extricate your inner geek. Or it can reveal the snob within.
Cinema is the kind of lover that endlessly entices. New films come out at a rapid pace, adding to the mental pile of movies you need to see. And even if you were to start watching now and never stop, there is positively no way you could possibly see all that you want or need to before you die.
That’s the sad truth. But sometimes, dearests, you get the opportunity to confront an older film, one from the middle of your pile. Sometimes, you get the chance to see that one elusive movie the way that it’s meant to be seen, the chance to let it shower you with its brilliance and make the sweetest love to you that you could ever imagine.
Guess what? NOW IS THE TIME! If you come to the brand spanking new Center for Film Studies this weekend, you, my friends, WILL GET LAID! You will be caressed. You will be made love to. You will empty your shoes of sand. Because this weekend, we are super proud to present a movie that is the perfect pernicious and epic lover for us all. Friday and Saturday night, it’s David Lean’s gigantic spectacle of crazy-huge ass proportions, “Lawrence of Arabia.”
Already seen it? On T.V.? Can you guess what I’m about to say? Yes. You’re smart. But for those who cannot figure it out, I’ll say this: if you’ve only seen “Lawrence of Arabia” on television, then you have NEVER seen “Lawrence of Arabia.” Well, okay, maybe you have seen it. No, wait. No. You have NOT! You’ve seen “Larry of the Desert.” Which is fine. “Larry of the Desert” is pretty cool, but nothing to write home about. Not a first class roll in the hay, you dig? Or the sand, I guess. That’s more apt.
Well, you want to know what is a first class roll in the sand? SEEING “LAWRENCE OF ARABIA” PROJECTED IN 70 MILLIMETER IN THE CENTER FOR FILM STUDIES! AT 7 P.M. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY! That’s what.
Oh, why is 70mm better than 35mm? Well, the surface size of each frame of film is twice as big than 35mm, meaning that when the projected image hits the screen, it’s twice as dense, twice as rich, twice as beautiful. The detail is far superior, and the loving that you will get may induce nerve damage. If you have never seen a movie in 70mm before, you could do no better than make “Lawrence of Arabia,” your virgin big format experience. And guess what? You have the opportunity. Do not squander it. Do NOT.
In the CFA Cinema this weekend, at 7:30 and 10 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday is “American Splendor,” a film that blends elements of drama, comedy, documentary and animation to present something very unique. The film, directed by Shari Springer Berman (a graduate of the fine University known to many as Wesleyan) and Robert Pulcini, tells the story of comic book writer and begrudging cult figure Harvey Pekar, played brilliantly by character actor, slowly becoming quirky leading-man, Paul Giamatti. The criminally underrated Hope Davis plays his longtime spouse and sometime-collaborator Joyce Brabner. The narrative of this film is quite unique. It’s a truly rewarding film, equally hilarious and touching (but never saccharine). If you like “Ghost World,” I highly recommend this one. It’s one of those movies that got great reviews and just didn’t play everywhere. So maybe you never got a chance to see it in theaters. Well, here’s your second chance at a great little film.
Simultaneously and for free in the Science Center:
FRIDAY: Terrence Malick’s lyrical and slow-burning “Badlands,” starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek. Ray Tintori loves it and you should too.
SATURDAY: The bitchiest movie in the world, “All About Eve.” A classic backstage, backstabbing tale. Almodovar loves it, Verhoeven loves it, I love it. Won’t you?
And next Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the CFA Cinema, the stunning documentary about art and family, “My Architect.” The film’s subject is Louis I. Kahn, who designed incredible structures and also happened to father two illegitimate children. This film is directed by one of them.
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