Don’t think of this month as a bad time for movies, just because the new releases aren’t all that spectacular. The Green Hornet promises an entertaining diversion. It’s also a great opportunity to catch up on all the Oscar worthy films still in theaters – The Fighter, King’s Speech, True Grit, and Rabbit Hole, so you’ll be fully prepared for Three Dollar Bill Cinema’s Oscar Party on February 27th. Screening in Seattle are also some older films- two from the early 90s and a silent one from 1927 that I highly suggest.
New Releases
Totally crushable
The Green Hornet, directed by Michel Gondry, starring Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, and Cameron Diaz. Members of the bear community and other Seth Rogen fans have been waiting for this movie ever since it was first announced last year. Bears bemoaned that the crushable Rogen had lost so much weight for the role. They should be relieved that he’s back to his respectably chubby size. The bigger shoes to fill are for Taiwanese newcomer Jay Chou who will reprise the role made famous on television by Bruce Lee. The fabulous Christopher Waltz again plays the villain. I would hope that he doesn’t become type-cast, but he played evil so expertly in Inglorious Basterds that I want to see more. Finally, Cameron Diaz is back in the stupid girlfriend role that she made famous back in the 90s. I don’t mean any disrespect to Diaz, because I remember adoring her in Charlie’s Angels and Being John Malkovich. It’s just I would love to seem more than the stupid blond girlfriend routine. Or is that all there is?
The Dilemma, directed by Ron Howard, starring Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, and Winona Ryder. I would prefer if this movie were called “Fat Dudes and Skinny Girlfriends.” If Winona Ryder weren’t in it, I’d pretend like this movie didn’t even exist. IThe film gained notoriety when Anderson Cooper called out Vince Vaughn and Ron Howard for making a gay joke in the film’s trailer. They removed it from the trailer, but left it in the movie. Nice. Now I’m all for politically incorrect humor, but it only gets a pass if it’s ACTUALLY FUNNY! In the film one of the fat dudes (Vaughn) freaks out that his skinny girlfriend (Ryder) is having an affair with the hot Channing Tatum. Maybe you wouldn’t have to worry about your wife cheating on you, Vince, if you weren’t such a homophobic ass!
Seattle Screenings
Nicolas Cage, cool at one time
Last week I really ragged on Nick Cage when posting about his latest adventure flick, Season of the Witch, but there was a time when he was at the top of his game. Come enjoy one of his best performances with David Lynch’s Wild at Heart from 1990- the Eqyptian’s midnight movie this weekend. Laura Dern and mom, Diane Ladd, Isabella Rossellini and Willem Dafoe are each in their own way so truly extraordinary and their characters are so perfectly realized in this film. Crispin Glover, Harry Dean Stanton, Grace Zabriski and Sherilyn Fenn also support. Can you say obsessive cult following ten times fast? Friday and Saturday at midnight.
SIFF Cinema presents And Everything Is Going Fine, directed by Steven Soderbergh, the 2010 documentary about genius monologist Spaulding Gray, who tragically took his own life in 2004. Friday through Wednesday at 7:30, additional shows Saturday at 1:00 and Sunday at 2:30.
Sunrise - Expressionist painting on film
Sunrise (1927), directed by F.W. Murnau, starring George O’Brien, Janet Gaynor, and Margaret Livingston, presented at the Northwest Film Forum with a live score by cellist Lori Goldston and Greg Campbell on percussion and French horn. This film by the eminent German expressionist is famous for its starkly bold and imaginative cinematography, like a living painting. Janet Gaynor later received the first Best Actress Academy Award in 1928. Friday at 8 p.m.
Central Cinema presents Mystery Train (1989) directed by Jim Jarmusch. Much like Wild at Heart (at the Egyptian) this film helped define alternative cinema of the late 80s and 90s. An ode to the spirit of Elvis Presley, this film tells three stories that only slightly intersect in a Memphis hotel. Friday through Wednesday at 9:30.
Blair, Borgnine and lots of boobs
On Monday Ernest Borgnine and Linda Blair star in Moving Target (a.k.a Bersaglio sull’autostrada) the Italian made action thriller from 1988. Whenever you hear the phrases “Linda Blair”, “Italian-made” and “action-thriller” used in the same sentence you know this is going to be one of the worst (best) movies ever made. Presented by Bad Movie Art at Central Cinema on Monday at 7 p.m.
Later this week the gays should take notice that Central Cinema will present an Absolutely Fabulous TV Dinner. They will show four episodes from the original three seasons of the hit BBC comedy, which also happens to be the best television show ever made…well maybe next to The Comeback starring Valerie Cherish. Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Ryan Hicks is Sponsorship Manager for Three Dollar Bill Cinema, a film fan and contributor to Seattle Gay Scene.
