I apologize for my absence in last weekend’s issue of the Argus. I think that my cousin (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) wrote a nice review that hopefully opened Wesleyan students up to the sort of viewpoint that is so often silenced on this campus. I (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, nudge, say no more) could not write anything because I was finishing my thesis film and now it is, indeed, finished. Phew. Now what? I’m not sure exactly what I’m going to do with my time. In truth, I still have three term papers and class presentations to do, but… should I care? The worrier in me, of course, will not completely allow me to let go. So I’m not yet in relaxed drunken mode. But the time will come. Counting down the days.
There is more time though to do things like going to the movies down at Ye Olde Destinta. I hadn’t seen anything there in a long time and, despite how crummy a theater it can often be, it’s great fun to go see something opening weekend with a crowd. I saw “Sin City,” which I thoroughly enjoyed. It’s funny to think though, “How many more times in my life will I go see a movie at Destinta?” Or in the Film Series, for that matter. Sorry to get all senior year apocalyptic on you, but I think it is important to realize that the available days in the semester are becoming fewer and fewer. And for some of us, that’s a big deal. I think the point here is being aware and taking advantage of what Wesleyan offers us while we’re lucky enough to still be here. Whether it’s the Film Series, or the great visual arts theses in Zilkha, or sitting out on the hill when it’s warm and dry enough, or all night dance parties, or whatever, just enjoy it. My pact with myself is to attempt to be in the moment and enjoy these last few weeks. And how better to enjoy oneself than by watching a bunch of movies????
Unfortunately, there will be no Science Center films this weekend, as a big debate competition is occurring in Science Center 150. But, to make up for it, I have good news. The MYSTERY MOVIE that you see at the bottom of the Film Series poster has been decided upon. And it is… “THE INCREDIBLES.” So best. And we’ll be showing it in the big new CFS screening room, instead of in the old CFA Cinema. This is a harbinger of things to come, as next year, the series will be shown entirely in the CFS screening room. Get excited. So Scarface will be the last ever Film Series screening in the Cinema. More info to come.
THIS WEEKEND IN THE CFA:
Everyone loves a colorful Spaniard. Pedro Almodovar is our archetypal flamboyant Spaniard, who we’ve gotten a chance to watch on various awards telecasts for years now. He’s a character. But as fun as he is to watch, his movies are better. His most recent, “Bad Education,” was a brilliant slow burn, in the noir tradition. The picture that we’re showing this weekend is Almodovar’s take on the melodrama, explicitly referencing cinema’s all-time cattiest backstage story (not counting Showgirls), “All
About Eve,” and the Tennessee Williams scorcher “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
This is a great film, full of vivid color, and a brilliantly serpentine narrative. The film won Almodovar an Oscar for Best Foreign Language film of 1999 and if you like “Talk to Her” or “Bad Education,” do check out this film. It’s already a modern classic of international cinema. It is hard to go wrong with Almodovar. Did I mention Penelope Cruz is in it?
“All About My Mother,” Friday & Saturday, April 8 & 9, 7:30 & 10 pm, CFA Cinema, $4.
NEXT WEDNESDAY IN THE CFA:
“I Am Cuba” in 35mm! This is going to look amazing! What a better way to celebrate the end of Senior Theses than by checking out the work of Mikheil Kalatozishvili, the Russian genius who directed “The Cranes Are Flying,” one of those amazing movies that Lisa Dombrowski shows in Film 310 that you’d never heard of and go apeshit over and instantly buy the DVD and love forever. The film is a tour of Cuba in 1964. But that is unimportant. This film is so stylistically innovative and adventurous, that its moving camerawork has become legendary. It’s mentioned in the same breath as “Man with a Movie Camera.” If you care about photography, see this movie and prepare to have your mind blown.
“I Am Cuba,” Wednesday, April 13, 8 pm, CFA Cinema, $4.
Want to pick the movies in the Film Series?
Apply to be on the Film Board!
E-mail Lea (lcarlson@wesleyan.edu) for an application or Max (mgoldblatt@wesleyan.edu) with questions.
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