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THE BISHOP’S WIFE – This Saturday at the Hi-Pointe – Classic Christmas Film Series

“The only people who grow old were born old to begin with.”

THE BISHOP’S WIFE (1947) is about an Angel called Dudley, yes, just Dudley played by Cary Grant. This Angel comes to Earth to answer a prayer of guidance for Henry (David Niven). Henry wants to build a large and great edifice for God. Henry is married to Julia (Loretta Young) a woman that places a poor second to the new building in the “mind” of Henry. Oh, how she wishes that things were like it used to be when Henry was just the Reverend of a small Parish. When Henry would take her to the restaurant called “Michelle’s.” But now that Henry has become a Bishop, poor Julia gets more attention from the family dog. It will be a tough job for Dudley. Henry only sees a building but Dudley sees a family in crisis. One problem develops, Dudley begins to fall in love with the human Julia, and begins to use his power to distract Henry. They go to Michelle’s, then ice skating and even playing with snowballs which become heavenly events for Julia and Dudley. But is this possible, an Angel with a human? THE BISHOP’S WIFE is heartwarming story filled with comedy, drama and wonderful characters and you’ll have the chance to see it on the big screen when it plays this Saturday morning (December 7th) at St. Louis’ fabulous Hi-Pointe Theater as part of their Classic Christmas Film Series. The show starts at 10:30am at the Hi-Pointe located at 1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63117.

Movies like THE BISHOP’S WIFE have the potential to be sickeningly sweet, but this one accomplishes two things very well; it makes the conflicts real and touching, and it treats the magic with a deft touch, much of this due to Grant’s performance, which is warm and effortlessly comic . Amazingly, the movie was originally cast with the roles of Grant and David Niven reversed, which seems unthinkable watching the movie now. Loretta Young is lovely here, and all the performances shine, including smaller roles by Gladys Cooper, Monty Woolley, Elsa Lanchester , and James Gleason. Don’t miss THE BISHOP’S WIFE!

….and don’t miss IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE when it plays at the Hi-Pointe December 14th or WHITE CHRISTMAS when it plays December 21st. Details on those films to come here at WAMG!

The Hi-Pointe’s website is HERE

http://hi-pointetheatre.com/

and check out the trailer for THE BISHOP’S WIFE:

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

Universal Pictures’ Emotional Video Tribute To Paul Walker

Universal Pictures has released this touching and beautiful tribute to actor Paul Walker who died tragically on Saturday in a car accident.

On Tuesday, Universal Pictures announced that a percentage of proceeds from the upcoming home entertainment release of FAST & FURIOUS 6 will be donated to Paul Walker’s non-profit Reach Out WorldWide, a network of professionals with first responder skill-sets who augment local expertise when natural disasters strike in order to accelerate relief efforts. Walker founded the organization after witnessing deficiencies in local activations following the January 2010 Haiti earthquake, and he remained passionately devoted to the charity.

“With the passing of Paul, the world has lost a man who spent a great deal of his life in service to others. We share in the deep grief of his family, friends and the countless fans who love him,” said Donna Langley, Chairman, Universal Pictures. “We keep Paul’s memory alive and honor his legacy through continued support of Reach Out WorldWide, the non-profit he founded to give hope to those who must rebuild after they have experienced natural disasters.”

FAST & FURIOUS 6 will be available in North America on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital and On Demand on December 10, 2013.

Paul Walker’s family has requested that in lieu of flowers or other gifts, donations be made to support Paul’s charity. To learn more about the efforts of Reach Out WorldWide or make a direct donation, please visit www.roww.org.

From Vin Diesel Facebook page:

“To live in the hearts we leave behind, is not to die.”

Thomas Campbell.

Pablo, I wish you could see the world right now… and the profound impact, your full life has had on it, on Us… on me…

I will always love you Brian, as the brother you were… on and off screen.

Films Announced For 2014 Sundance Film Festival

GOD’S POCKET

Sundance Institute announced today the films selected for the U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions and the out-of-competition section of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, January 16-26 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.

Robert Redford, President & Founder of Sundance Institute said, “That the Festival has evolved and grown as it has over the past 30 years is a credit to both our audiences and our artists, who continue to find ways to take risks and open our minds to the power of story. This year’s films and artists promise to do the same.”

For the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, 118 feature-length films were selected, representing 37 countries and 54 first-time filmmakers, including 34 in competition. These films were selected from 12,218 submissions (72 more than for 2013), including 4,057 feature-length films and 8,161 short films. Of the feature film submissions, 2,014 were from the U.S. and 2,043 were international. 97 feature films at the Festival will be world premieres.

In addition to those announced today, the Festival presents feature-length films in the Spotlight, Park City at Midnight, New Frontier, Premieres and Documentary Premieres sections. Those announcements, as well as selections for the Short Film section and new Sundance Kids section of films for younger audiences, are forthcoming.

On Day One, January 16, 2014, the Festival will screen one film from each of the four Competition sections, as well as one shorts program.

A selection of films from the 2014 Festival will be among those presented at other Sundance Institute programs throughout the year, including the Sundance London film and music festival, April 25-27 at The O2, and the NEXT WEEKEND summer film festival in Los Angeles.

CAMP X-RAY

U.S. DRAMATIC COMPETITION
Presenting the world premieres of 16 narrative feature films, the Dramatic Competition offers Festivalgoers a first look at groundbreaking new voices in American independent film.

Camp X-Ray / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Peter Sattler) — A young woman is stationed as a guard in Guantanamo Bay, where she forms an unlikely friendship with one of the detainees. Cast: Kristen Stewart, Payman Maadi, Lane Garrison, J.J. Soria, John Carroll Lynch.

Cold in July / U.S.A. (Director: Jim Mickle, Screenwriters: Jim Mickle, Nick Damici) — After killing a home intruder, a small town Texas man’s life unravels into a dark underworld of corruption and violence. Cast: Michael C. Hall, Don Johnson, Sam Shepard, Vinessa Shaw, Nick Damici, Wyatt Russell.

Dear White People / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Justin Simien) — Four black students attend an Ivy League college where a riot breaks out over an “African American” themed party thrown by white students. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the film explores racial identity in postracial America while weaving a story about forging one’s unique path in the world. Cast: Tyler Williams, Tessa Thompson, Teyonah Parris, Brandon Bell.

Fishing Without Nets / U.S.A., Somalia, Kenya (Director: Cutter Hodierne, Screenwriters: Cutter Hodierne, John Hibey, David Burkman) — A story of pirates in Somalia told from the perspective of a struggling, young Somali fisherman. Cast: Abdikani Muktar, Abdi Siad, Abduwhali Faarah, Abdikhadir Hassan, Reda Kateb, Idil Ibrahim.

God’s Pocket / U.S.A. (Director: John Slattery, Screenwriters: John Slattery, Alex Metcalf) — When Mickey’s stepson Leon is killed in a construction “accident,” Mickey tries to bury the bad news with the body. But when the boy’s mother demands the truth, Mickey finds himself stuck between a body he can’t bury, a wife he can’t please, and a debt he can’t pay. Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Jenkins, Christina Hendricks, John Turturro.

Happy Christmas / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Joe Swanberg) — After a breakup with her boyfriend, a young woman moves in with her older brother, his wife, and their 2-year-old son. Cast: Anna Kendrick, Melanie Lynskey, Mark Webber, Lena Dunham, Joe Swanberg.

Hellion / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Kat Candler) — When motocross and heavy metal obsessed, 13-year-old Jacob’s delinquent behavior forces CPS to place his little brother Wes with his aunt, Jacob and his emotionally absent father must finally take responsibility for their actions and each other in order to bring Wes home. Cast: Aaron Paul, Juliette Lewis, Josh Wiggins, Deke Garner, Jonny Mars, Walt Roberts.

Infinitely Polar Bear / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Maya Forbes) — A manic-depressive mess of a father tries to win back his wife by attempting to take full responsibility of their two young, spirited daughters, who don’t make the overwhelming task any easier. Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana, Imogene Wolodarsky, Ashley Aufderheide.

Jamie Marks is Dead / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Carter Smith) — No one seemed to care about Jamie Marks until after his death. Hoping to find the love and friendship he never had in life, Jamie’s ghost visits former classmate Adam McCormick, drawing him into the bleak world between the living and the dead. Cast: Cameron Monaghan, Noah Silver, Morgan Saylor, Judy Greer, Madisen Beaty, Liv Tyler.

Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter / U.S.A. (Director: David Zellner, Screenwriters: David Zellner, Nathan Zellner) — A lonely Japanese woman becomes convinced that a satchel of money buried in a fictional film is, in fact, real. Abandoning her structured life in Tokyo for the frozen Minnesota wilderness, she embarks on an impulsive quest to search for her lost mythical fortune. Cast: Rinko Kikuchi.

KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER

Life After Beth / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Jeff Baena) — Zach is devastated by the unexpected death of his girlfriend, Beth. When she mysteriously returns, he gets a second chance at love. Soon his whole world turns upside down… Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Paul Reiser.

LIFE AFTER BIRTH

Low Down / U.S.A. (Director: Jeff Preiss, Screenwriters: Amy Albany, Topper Lilien) — Based on Amy Jo Albany’s memoir, Low Down explores her heart-wrenching journey to adulthood while being raised by her father, bebop pianist Joe Albany, as he teeters between incarceration and addiction in the urban decay and waning bohemia of Hollywood in the 1970s. Cast: John Hawkes, Elle Fanning, Glenn Close, Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Flea.

The Skeleton Twins / U.S.A. (Director: Craig Johnson, Screenwriters: Craig Johnson, Mark Heyman) — Estranged twins Maggie and Milo coincidentally cheat death on the same day, prompting them to reunite and confront the reasons their lives went so wrong. As the twins’ reunion reinvigorates them, they realize the key to fixing their lives may just lie in repairing their relationship. Cast: Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson, Ty Burrell, Boyd Holbrook, Joanna Gleason.

The Sleepwalker / U.S.A., Norway (Director: Mona Fastvold, Screenwriters: Mona Fastvold, Brady Corbet) — A young couple, Kaia and Andrew, are renovating Kaia´s secluded family estate. Their lives are violently interrupted when unexpected guests arrive. The Sleepwalker chronicles the unraveling of the lives of four disparate characters as it transcends genre conventions and narrative contrivance to reveal something much more disturbing. Cast: Gitte Witt, Christopher Abbott, Brady Corbet, Stephanie Ellis.

Song One / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Kate Barker-Froyland) — Estranged from her family, Franny returns home when an accident leaves her brother comatose. Retracing his life as an aspiring musician, she tracks down his favorite musician, James Forester. Against the backdrop of Brooklyn’s music scene, Franny and James develop an unexpected relationship and face the realities of their lives. Cast: Anne Hathaway, Johnny Flynn, Mary Steenburgen, Ben Rosenfield.

Whiplash / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Damien Chazelle) — Under the direction of a ruthless instructor, a talented young drummer begins to pursue perfection at any cost, even his humanity. Cast: Miles Teller, JK Simmons. DAY ONE FILM

U.S. DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
Sixteen world-premiere American documentaries that illuminate the ideas, people, and events that shape the present day.

Alive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory / U.S.A. (Director: Michael Rossato-Bennett) — Five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia—many of them alone in nursing homes. A man with a simple idea discovers that songs embedded deep in memory can ease pain and awaken these fading minds. Joy and life are resuscitated, and our cultural fears over aging are confronted.

All the Beautiful Things / U.S.A. (Director: John Harkrider) — John and Barron are lifelong friends whose friendship is tested when Barron’s girlfriend says Barron put a knife to her throat and raped her. Not knowing she has lied, John tells her to go to the police. Years later, John and Barron meet in a bar to resolve the betrayal.

CAPTIVATED The Trials of Pamela Smart / U.S.A., United Kingdom (Director: Jeremiah Zagar) — In an extraordinary and tragic American story, a small town murder becomes one of the highest profile cases of all time. From its historic role as the first televised trial to the many books and movies made about it, the film looks at the media’s enduring impact on the case.

The Case Against 8 / U.S.A. (Directors: Ben Cotner, Ryan White) — A behind-the-scenes look inside the case to overturn California’s ban on same-sex marriage. Shot over five years, the film follows the unlikely team that took the first federal marriage equality lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Cesar’s Last Fast / U.S.A. (Directors: Richard Ray Perez, Lorena Parlee) — Inspired by Catholic social teaching, Cesar Chavez risked his life fighting for America’s poorest workers. The film illuminates the intensity of one man’s devotion and personal sacrifice, the birth of an economic justice movement, and tells an untold chapter in the story of civil rights in America.

Dinosaur 13 / U.S.A. (Director: Todd Miller) — The true tale behind one of the greatest discoveries in history. DAY ONE FILM

E-TEAM / U.S.A. (Directors: Katy Chevigny, Ross Kauffman) — E-TEAM is driven by the high-stakes investigative work of four intrepid human rights workers, offering a rare look at their lives at home and their dramatic work in the field.

Fed Up / U.S.A. (Director: Stephanie Soechtig) — Fed Up blows the lid off everything we thought we knew about food and weight loss, revealing a 30-year campaign by the food industry, aided by the U.S. government, to mislead and confuse the American public, resulting in one of the largest health epidemics in history.

The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz / U.S.A. (Director: Brian Knappenberger) — Programming prodigy and information activist Aaron Swartz achieved groundbreaking work in social justice and political organizing. His passion for open access ensnared him in a legal nightmare that ended with the taking of his own life at the age of 26.

Ivory Tower / U.S.A. (Director: Andrew Rossi) — As tuition spirals upward and student debt passes a trillion dollars, students and parents ask, “Is college worth it?” From the halls of Harvard to public and private colleges in financial crisis to education startups in Silicon Valley, an urgent portrait emerges of a great American institution at the breaking point.

Marmato / U.S.A. (Director: Mark Grieco) — Colombia is the center of a new global gold rush, and Marmato, a historic mining town, is the new frontier. Filmed over the course of nearly six years, Marmato chronicles how townspeople confront a Canadian mining company that wants the $20 billion in gold beneath their homes.

No No: A Dockumentary / U.S.A. (Director: Jeffrey Radice) — Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter on LSD, then worked for decades counseling drug abusers. Dock’s soulful style defined 1970s baseball as he kept hitters honest and embarrassed the establishment. An ensemble cast of teammates, friends, and family investigate his life on the field, in the media, and out of the spotlight.

The Overnighters / U.S.A. (Director: Jesse Moss) — Desperate, broken men chase their dreams and run from their demons in the North Dakota oil fields. A local Pastor’s decision to help them has extraordinary and unexpected consequences.

Private Violence / U.S.A. (Director: Cynthia Hill) — One in four women experience violence in their homes. Have you ever asked, “Why doesn’t she just leave?” Private Violence shatters the brutality of our logic and intimately reveals the stories of two women: Deanna Walters, who transforms from victim to survivor, and Kit Gruelle, who advocates for justice.

Rich Hill / U.S.A. (Directors: Andrew Droz Palermo, Tracy Droz Tragos) — In a rural, American town, kids face heartbreaking choices, find comfort in the most fragile of family bonds, and dream of a future of possibility.

Watchers of the Sky / U.S.A. (Director: Edet Belzberg) — Five interwoven stories of remarkable courage from Nuremberg to Rwanda, from Darfur to Syria, and from apathy to action.

WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC COMPETITION
Twelve films from emerging filmmaking talents around the world offer fresh perspectives and inventive styles.

52 Tuesdays / Australia (Director: Sophie Hyde, Screenplay and story by: Matthew Cormack, Story by: Sophie Hyde) — Sixteen-year-old Billie’s reluctant path to independence is accelerated when her mother reveals plans for gender transition, and their time together becomes limited to Tuesdays. This emotionally charged story of desire, responsibility, and transformation was filmed over the course of a year—once a week, every week, only on Tuesdays. Cast: Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Del Herbert-Jane, Imogen Archer, Mario Späte, Beau Williams, Sam Althuizen. International Premiere

Blind / Norway, Netherlands (Director and screenwriter: Eskil Vogt) — Having recently lost her sight, Ingrid retreats to the safety of her home—a place she can feel in control, alone with her husband and her thoughts. But Ingrid’s real problems lie within, not beyond the walls of her apartment, and her deepest fears and repressed fantasies soon take over. Cast: Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Henrik Rafaelsen, Vera Vitali, Marius Kolbenstvedt. World Premiere

Difret / Ethiopia (Director and screenwriter: Zeresenay Berhane Mehari) — Meaza Ashenafi is a young lawyer who operates under the government’s radar helping women and children until one young girl’s legal case exposes everything, threatening not only her career but her survival. Cast: Meron Getnet, Tizita Hagere. World Premiere

The Disobedient / Serbia (Director and screenwriter: Mina Djukic) — Leni anxiously waits for her childhood friend Lazar, who is coming back to their hometown after years of studying abroad. After they reunite, they embark on a random bicycle trip around their childhood haunts, which will either exhaust or reinvent their relationship. Cast: Hana Selimovic, Mladen Sovilj, Minja Subota, Danijel Sike, Ivan Djordjevic. World Premiere

God Help the Girl / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Stuart Murdoch) — This musical from Stuart Murdoch of Belle & Sebastian is about some messed up boys and girls and the music they made. Cast: Emily Browning, Olly Alexander, Hannah Murray, Cora Bissett, Pierre Boulanger. World Premiere

Liar’s Dice / India (Director and screenwriter: Geetu Mohandas) — Kamala, a young woman from the village of Chitkul, leaves her native land with her daughter to search for her missing husband. Along the journey, they encounter Nawazudin, a free-spirited army deserter with his own selfish motives who helps them reach their destination. Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Geetanjali Thapa, Manya Gupta. International Premiere

Lilting / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Hong Khaou) — The world of a Chinese mother mourning the untimely death of her son is suddenly disrupted by the presence of a stranger who doesn’t speak her language. Lilting is a touching and intimate film about finding the things that bring us together. Cast: Ben Whishaw, Pei-Pei Cheng, Andrew Leung, Peter Bowles, Naomi Christie, Morven Christie. World Premiere. DAY ONE FILM

Lock Charmer (El cerrajero) / Argentina (Director and screenwriter: Natalia Smirnoff) — Upon learning that his girlfriend is pregnant, 33-year-old locksmith Sebastian begins to have strange visions about his clients. With the help of an unlikely assistant, he sets out to use his newfound talent for his own good. Cast: Esteban Lamothe, Erica Rivas, Yosiria Huaripata. World Premiere

To Kill a Man / Chile, France (Director and screenwriter: Alejandro Fernandez Almendras) — When Jorge, a hardworking family man who’s barely making ends meet, gets mugged by Kalule, a neighborhood delinquent, Jorge’s son decides to confront the attacker, only to get himself shot. Even though Jorge’s son nearly dies, Kalule’s sentence is minimal, heightening the friction. Cast: Daniel Candia, Daniel Antivilo, Alejandra Yañez, Ariel Mateluna. World Premiere

Viktoria / Bulgaria, Romania (Director and screenwriter: Maya Vitkova) — Although determined not to have a child in Communist Bulgaria, Boryana gives birth to Viktoria, who despite being born with no umbilical cord, is proclaimed to be the baby of the decade. But political collapse and the hardships of the new time bind mother and daughter together. Cast: Irmena Chichikova, Daria Vitkova, Kalina Vitkova, Mariana Krumova, Dimo Dimov, Georgi Spassov. World Premiere

Wetlands / Germany (Director: David Wnendt, Screenwriters: Claus Falkenberg, David Wnendt, based on the novel by Charlotte Roche) — Meet Helen Memel. She likes to experiment with vegetables while masturbating and thinks that bodily hygiene is greatly overrated. She shocks those around her by speaking her mind in a most unladylike manner on topics that many people would not even dare consider. Cast: Carla Juri, Christoph Letkowski, Meret Becker, Axel Milberg, Marlen Kruse, Edgar Selge. North American Premiere

White Shadow / Italy, Germany, Tanzania (Director: Noaz Deshe, Screenwriters: Noaz Deshe, James Masson) — Alias is a young albino boy on the run. His mother has sent him away to find refuge in the city after witnessing his father’s murder. Over time, the city becomes no different than the bush: wherever Alias travels, the same rules of survival apply. Cast: Hamisi Bazili, James Gayo, Glory Mbayuwayu, Salum Abdallah. International Premiere

WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION
Twelve documentaries by some of the most courageous and extraordinary international filmmakers working today.

20,000 Days On Earth / United Kingdom (Directors: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard) — Drama and reality combine in a fictitious 24 hours in the life of musician and international culture icon Nick Cave. With startlingly frank insights and an intimate portrayal of the artistic process, this film examines what makes us who we are and celebrates the transformative power of the creative spirit. World Premiere

Concerning Violence / Sweden, U.S.A., Denmark, Finland (Director: Göran Hugo Olsson) — Concerning Violence is based on newly discovered, powerful archival material documenting the most daring moments in the struggle for liberation in the Third World, accompanied by classic text from The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon. World Premiere

The Green Prince / Germany, Israel, United Kingdom (Director: Nadav Schirman ) — This real-life thriller tells the story of one of Israel’s prized intelligence sources, recruited to spy on his own people for more than a decade. Focusing on the complex relationship with his handler, The Green Prince is a gripping account of terror, betrayal, and unthinkable choices, along with a friendship that defies all boundaries. World Premiere. DAY ONE FILM

Happiness / France, Finland (Director: Thomas Balmès) — Peyangki is a dreamy and solitary eight-year-old monk living in Laya, a Bhutanese village perched high in the Himalayas. Soon the world will come to him: the village is about to be connected to electricity, and the first television will flicker on before Peyangki’s eyes. North American Premiere

Love Child / South Korea, U.S.A. (Director: Valerie Veatch) — In Seoul in the Republic of Korea, a young couple stands accused of neglect when “Internet addiction” in an online fantasy game costs the life of their infant daughter. Love Child documents the 2010 trial and subsequent ruling that set a global precedent in a world where virtual is the new reality. World Premiere

Mr leos caraX / France (Director: Tessa Louise-Salomé) — Mr leos caraX plunges us into the poetic and visionary world of a mysterious, solitary filmmaker who was already a cult figure from his very first film. Punctuated by interviews and previously unseen footage, this documentary is most of all a fine-tuned exploration of the poetic and visionary world of Leos Carax, alias Mr. X. World Premiere

My Prairie Home / Canada (Director: Chelsea McMullan) — A poetic journey through landscapes both real and emotional, Chelsea McMullan’s documentary/musical offers an intimate portrait of transgender singer Rae Spoon, framed by stunning images of the Canadian prairies. McMullan’s imaginative visual interpretations of Spoon’s songs make this an unforgettable look at a unique Canadian artist. International Premiere

The Notorious Mr. Bout / U.S.A., Russia (Directors: Tony Gerber, Maxim Pozdorovkin ) — Viktor Bout was a war profiteer, an entrepreneur, an aviation tycoon, an arms dealer, and—strangest of all—a documentary filmmaker. The Notorious Mr. Bout is the ultimate rags-to-riches-to-prison memoir, documented by the last man you’d expect to be holding the camera. World Premiere

The Return to Homs / Syria, Germany (Director: Talal Derki) — Basset Sarout, the 19-year-old national football team goalkeeper, becomes a demonstration leader and singer, and then a fighter. Ossama, a 24-year-old renowned citizen cameraman, is critical, a pacifist, and ironic until he is detained by the regime’s security forces. North American Premiere

SEPIDEH – Reaching for the Stars / Denmark (Director: Berit Madsen) — Sepideh wants to become an astronaut. As a young Iranian woman, she knows it’s dangerous to challenge traditions and expectations. Still, Sepideh holds on to her dream. She knows a tough battle is ahead, a battle that only seems possible to win once she seeks help from an unexpected someone. North American Premiere

We Come as Friends / France, Austria (Director: Hubert Sauper) — We Come as Friends views colonization as a human phenomenon through both explicit and metaphoric lenses without oversimplified accusations or political theorizing. Alarmingly, It is not a historical film since colonization and the slave trade still exist. World Premiere

Web Junkie / Israel (Directors: Shosh Shlam, Hilla Medalia) — China is the first country to label “Internet addiction” a clinical disorder. Web Junkie investigates a Beijing rehab center where Chinese teenagers are deprogrammed. World Premiere

OUT-OF-COMPETITION
Pure, bold works distinguished by an innovative, forward-thinking approach to storytelling populate this program. Digital technology paired with unfettered creativity promises that the films in this section will shape a “greater” next wave in American cinema

Appropriate Behavior / U.S.A., United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Desiree Akhavan) — Shirin is struggling to become an ideal Persian daughter, a politically correct bisexual, and a hip, young Brooklynite, but fails miserably in her attempt at all identities. Being without a cliché to hold on to can be a lonely experience. Cast: Desiree Akhavan, Rebecca Henderson, Halley Feiffer, Scott Adsit, Anh Duong, Arian Moayed. World Premiere

Drunktown’s Finest / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Sydney Freeland) — Three young Native Americans—a rebellious father-to-be, a devout Christian woman, and a promiscuous transsexual—come of age on an Indian reservation. Cast: Jeremiah Bitsui, Carmen Moore, Morningstar Angeline, Kiowa Gordon, Shauna Baker, Elizabeth Francis. World Premiere

The Foxy Merkins / U.S.A. (Director: Madeleine Olnek, Screenwriters: Lisa Haas, Jackie Monahan, Madeleine Olnek) — Two lesbian hookers work the streets of New York. One is a down-on-her-luck newbie; the other is a beautiful—and straight—grifter who’s an expert on picking up women. Together they face bargain-hunting housewives, double-dealing conservative women, and each other in this prostitute buddy comedy. Cast: Lisa Haas, Jackie Monahan, Alex Karpovsky, Susan Ziegler, Sally Sockwell, Deb Margolin.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Ana Lily Amirpour) — In the Iranian ghost town Bad City, a place that reeks of death and loneliness, depraved denizens are unaware they are being stalked by a lonesome vampire. Cast: Sheila Vand, Arash Marandi, Dominic Rains, Marshall Manesh, Mozhan Marnó, Milad Eghbali. World Premiere

Imperial Dreams / U.S.A. (Director: Malik Vitthal, Screenwriters: Malik Vitthal, Ismet Prcic) — A 21-year-old, reformed gangster’s devotion to his family and his future are put to the test when he is released from prison and returns to his old stomping grounds in Watts, Los Angeles. Cast: John Boyega, Rotimi Akinosho, Glenn Plummer, Keke Palmer, De’aundre Bonds. World Premiere

Listen Up Philip / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Alex Ross Perry) — A story about changing seasons and changing attitudes, a newly accomplished writer faces mistakes and miseries affecting those around him, including his girlfriend, her sister, his idol, his idol’s daughter, and all the ex-girlfriends and enemies that lie in wait on the open streets of New York. Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Elisabeth Moss, Jonathan Pryce, Krysten Ritter, Josephine de La Baume. World Premiere

Memphis / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Tim Sutton) — A strange singer drifts through the mythic city of Memphis, surrounded by beautiful women, legendary musicians, a stone-cold hustler, a righteous preacher, and a wolf pack of kids. Under a canopy of ancient oak trees and burning spirituality, his doomed journey breaks from conformity and reaches out for glory. Cast: Willis Earl Beal, Lopaka Thomas, Constance Brantley, Devonte Hull, John Gary Williams, Larry Dodson. World Premiere

Obvious Child / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Gillian Robespierre) — An honest comedy about what happens when Brooklyn comedian Donna Stern gets dumped, fired, and pregnant, just in time for the worst/best Valentine’s Day of her life. Cast: Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, Gaby Hoffmann, David Cross, Gabe Liedman, Richard Kind. World Premiere

Ping Pong Summer / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michael Tully) — 1985. Ocean City, Maryland. Summer vacation. Rap music. Parachute pants. Ping pong. First crushes. Best friends. Mean bullies. Weird mentors. That awkward, momentous time in your life when you’re treated like an alien by everyone around you, even though you know deep down you’re as funky fresh as it gets. Cast: Susan Sarandon, John Hannah, Lea Thompson, Amy Sedaris, Robert Longstreet, Marcello Conte. World Premiere

War Story / U.S.A. (Director: Mark Jackson, Screenwriters: Kristin Gore, Mark Jackson) — A war photographer retreats to a small town in Sicily after being held captive during the conflict in Libya. Cast: Catherine Keener, Hafsia Herzi, Vincenzo Amato, Donatella Finocchiaro, Ben Kingsley. World Premiere

Win Run-Of-Engagement Passes To See Alexander Payne’s NEBRASKA In St. Louis

In Alexander Payne’s NEBRASKA a father and son steer the American road comedy into a vanishing Midwest on the trail of a dubious fortune – and in search of an understanding of each other that once seemed impossible.

This is the story of the Grant family of Hawthorne, Nebraska. Now transplanted to Billings, Montana, stubborn, taciturn Woody (Bruce Dern in a role that won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival) is well past his prime — such as it ever was — and possibly his usefulness, but he believes he’s got one last shot at mattering: a notice that he’s the lucky winner of a million-dollar sweepstakes.

To claim his fortune, Woody insists he must quickly get to the sweepstakes company’s office in Lincoln, Nebraska – a 750-mile journey that seems unlikely given that he can barely shuffle down the road a few blocks, at least not without stopping for a drink. Worried for his father’s state of mind, it falls to Woody’s reluctant, baffled son David (Will Forte) to accompany him on a trip that seems hilariously futile on the surface.

Yet, their odd journey becomes a kind of modern family odyssey. When Woody and David make a pit-stop in their hometown of Hawthorne – with the Grant’s tart-tongued matriarch (June Squibb, “About Schmidt”) and anchor-man son (Bob Odenkirk, “Breaking Bad”) joining them – word of Woody’s fortune makes him, momentarily, a returning hero. Then it brings out the vultures. But it also opens a view into the unseen lives of David’s parents and a past more alive than he ever imagined.

Shot in a black and white Cinemascope that mirrors the dusky beauty of small-town USA and the film’s high contrasts of humor and heartbreak, the film gives comic consideration to questions of family roots and family riddles, delusion and dignity, self-worth and the quiet yearning for a dash of salvation.

NEBRASKA is in theatres now.

WAMG is giving away Run-Of-Engagement passes to NEBRASKA. Each pass admits two (2) to the regular run at LANDMARK PLAZA FRONTENAC, Monday through Thursday.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:

What is your favorite Bruce Dern film and why?

We will contact you if you are a winner.

OFFICIAL RULES:

1. FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BELOW. REAL FIRST AND LAST NAMES REQUIRED.

2. WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING OF QUALIFYING CONTESTANTS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. PASSES WILL NOT BE SUBSTITUTED OR EXCHANGED. DUPLICATE RUN-OF-ENGAGEMENT PASSES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

RATED R

http://www.nebraskamovie.com/

SUGAR – The Review

SUGAR is a touching story that gives viewers a glimpse into the growing homeless youth population in Venice Beach, but it’s still missing a few morsels.

Based on the nine months director Rotimi Rainwater spent on the streets, SUGAR is the story of a young girl who took to the streets after losing her entire family in a car crash. On the streets, she and her outcast friends look out for one another and survive however they can. To them, living on the streets is a better option than the lives that they ran away from.

This film was made with a lot of heart. Shenae Grimes (Sugar), as well as the rest of the cast, took care and consideration into the roles that they were playing. Whether it be a drug addict or a thief, the film still showed the humanity behind it. Having said that, I would have liked to have seen the characters developed a little more, and been given a better look into why these characters ended up on the street. The focus of the movie is to draw attention to the growing population of homeless youth. Anyone that has been to Venice Beach has been made aware of it. Groups of homeless kids and young adults are scattered across the beach and boardwalk hanging with their friends, and trying to survive.

Although the acting in this film was great (with the exception of the counselor), one actor stood out to me above the rest. Corbin Bleu plays Sketch, a young man with mental illness who enjoys sketching people. His character is not in the film for long periods of time, but he definitely makes an impact. It’s great to see him take on diverse roles, and his performance is wonderful in this film.

Overall, I found the film to be interesting, but a bit long. If more time was spent diving into the characters, or focusing more on their everyday lives I think it would have worked better. Heck, one of my favorite parts was when a few of the kids were sitting around, talking about how they would rather be on the street than in the homes they grew up in. The problem is that this scene was fleeting. It was a quick conversation. Another time I boy brought up his past, but only a sentence or two about it. I would have really liked to have learned more. Instead, too much time is spent lagging, or focusing on the characters having fun with each other. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed seeing the characters having fun together, but as a viewer I didn’t become as invested in these characters as I should have. The film is a touching tale, but it only focuses on the surface of the problem – and it only gives us a glimpse into one girls story. Based on the purpose of this film, it doesn’t focus enough on what we can do to help. People should have the urge to do something once they see this film, and I think it misses that mark.

Overall Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars

FOR MORE INFO:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheSugarFilm

WEBSITE: www.thesugarmovie.com

Traverse Media will release SUGAR in Los Angeles on Friday, November 22 at the Downtown Independent. The film has a running time of 93 minutes and will not be rated by the MPAA.

In support and in conjunction with National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, SUGAR has also created FIGHTING FOR THE HOMELESS (http://igg.me/at/Filmanthropy/x/3548242), an Indiegogo Campaign with a goal to feed 10,000 homeless youth and draw awareness to the growing issue of homelessness. SUGAR has partnered with Subway, The National Coalition for the Homeless, My Friends Place, and Attention Homes in order to reach their goal of feeding 10,000 hungry and educating and inspiring the public to get involved. 80% of proceeds from this campaign will go towards the partnered organizations and shelters throughout the country in order to help them to continue their invaluable work towards feeding the hungry, eradicating homelessness and providing a safe haven for those plagued by life on the streets.

Check Out The Explosive Trailer For POMPEII From Director Paul W.S. Anderson

This February, witness the lost city of POMPEII. Watch the new trailer for TriStar Pictures’ action adventure starring Kit Harington, Carrie-Anne Moss, Emily Browning, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Jessica Lucas, with Jared Harris and Kiefer Sutherland.

(Yahoo! Movies)

Set in 79 A.D., POMPEII tells the epic story of Milo (Kit Harington), a slave turned invincible gladiator who finds himself in a race against time to save his true love Cassia (Emily Browning), the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant who has been unwillingly betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator.

As Mount Vesuvius erupts in a torrent of blazing lava, Milo must fight his way out of the arena in order to save his beloved as the once magnificent Pompeii crumbles around him.

Paul W.S. Anderson’s film will be in theaters February 21, 2014.

http://pompeiimovie.tumblr.com/

https://www.facebook.com/PompeiiMovie

https://twitter.com/PompeiiMovie

New Trailer For 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE Comes Online

The new trailer for 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE has been unleashed. Check it out now.

Told in the breathtaking visual style of the blockbuster “300,” this new chapter of the epic saga takes the action to a fresh battlefield—on the sea—as Greek general Themistokles attempts to unite all of Greece by leading the charge that will change the course of the war. 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE pits Themistokles against the massive invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes, and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

The action adventure stars Sullivan Stapleton as Themistokles and Eva Green, as Artemisia. Lena Headey reprises her starring role from “300” as the Spartan Queen, Gorgo; Hans Matheson stars as Aeskylos; David Wenham returns as Dilios, and Rodrigo Santoro stars again as the Persian King, Xerxes.

The film is directed by Noam Murro, from a screenplay by Zack Snyder & Kurt Johnstad, based on the graphic novel Xerxes, by Frank Miller.

Opening in 3D and 2D in select theatres and IMAX on March 7, 2014, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

http://www.300themovie.com/index.php

https://www.facebook.com/300Movie

300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE is rated R by the MPAA for strong sustained sequences of stylized bloody violence throughout, a sex scene, nudity and some language.

OUT OF THE FURNACE Press Day With Christian Bale, Woody Harrelson, Zoë Saldana, Casey Affleck And Scott Cooper

From Scott Cooper, the critically-acclaimed writer and director of Crazy Heart, comes OUT OF THE FURNACE, a gripping and gritty drama about family, fate, circumstance, and justice that hits theaters today. Recently, Director Scott Cooper and stars Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson and Zoë Saldana sat down with press in a small press conference to talk about the film. Check it out below.

Russell Baze (Christian Bale) has a rough life: he works a dead-end blue collar job at the local steel mill by day, and cares for his terminally ill father by night. When Russell’s brother Rodney (Casey Affleck) returns home from serving time in Iraq, he gets lured into one of the most ruthless crime rings in the Northeast and mysteriously disappears. The police fail to crack the case, so – with nothing left to lose – Russell takes matters into his own hands, putting his life on the line to seek justice for his brother. The impressive cast of Christian Bale and Casey Affleck are rounded out by Woody Harrelson, Forest Whitaker, Zoë Saldana, Sam Shepard and Willem Dafoe.

How did the Pennsylvania steel country mountain setting inform the story and characters/performances?

COOPER: I grew up in a small town in Virginia along the same Appalachian mountain range. As the grandson of a coal miner, I have grown up with these people and have spent a lot of time in small town America. While I was touring with my first film, Crazy Heart, I had been reading a great deal about Braddock, Pennsylvania – Brad-DOCK, as they actually say in Braddock – and what the town had undergone over the past 5-7 years dealing with economic turmoil and the loss of the steel industry really touched me. It was important to me to really shine a light not only on small town America like that, but also what we as Americans have undergone the past five turbulent years. That blue collar milieu was something that I really understood and resonated with me and I thought was underrepresented in American cinema. It was very prevalent in the 1970s films that have very much influenced this movie and Crazy Heart, and I wanted to see that represented on screen again because I knew these people very well and I knew their morays and their values and hope to think that I knew about their world view. It was important to weave all those themes into a narrative in a very personal way.

BALE: It obviously helped so much being on location. If you understand what I mean, the different between performing for the rectangle of the camera versus a world being created and the world finds things within that. You know what I mean? There’s a huge difference in that because what it takes away is performance. You don’t feel like you’re performing; you’re just doing it and you’re existing.

AFFLECK: I think they summed it up pretty well. Especially a place like where we were, which has a real story just in the way it looks – to see a place that was once one thing and is now something else. It has a lot of atmosphere. If there’s a lighting set-up that takes 20 minutes, you can go into another room and you’re not just staring at the back of a bunch of plywood; you’re actually in another room in your own house where you’re supposed to be. It helps to ground you.

HARRELSON: I think I’d like to say ditto.

SALDANA: You walk in with this fear of wanting to see something that you can imagine being so heavy. And what you learn from it and take from it is a strength that you’re able to absorb from these people. It’s very easy to leave when things go wrong, but to stick around and to basically give life to a town because of everything it gave you – generation after generation after generation – to me is what defines a true American. [It] is sticking together when it gets really rough, and here is a town that has been hit very, very hard. I’ve been to places around the world that leave you with a big knot in your stomach and you feel like an elephant has sat on your chest, and Braddock was definitely one of those cities. Once you sit down with the people, you wish you had an ounce of the strength they possess every single day by sticking around. I really was very moved by that.

Woody – intense but cool and calm. Rare and scary combination. Did it come natural to you or a technique you’ve developed?

HARRELSON: Well, I think it’s important when you’re acting to be as relaxed as possible, even if you’re doing something intense. So you’re basically in a state of dynamic relaxation. I think these other actors might agree with me.
I didn’t feel there was anything natural about playing Harlan DeGroat. [To Scott] What was it you told me…

COOPER: The very last shot of the film was the very first scene that we shot at the drive-in. When we wrapped, Woody walked over to me and hugged me and he said, ‘I have never wanted to shed a character so badly in my life.’

HARRELSON: Yeah.

COOPER: And truly, for me, I wanted Woody’s character to represent the very worst of American and Christian’s character to represent the very best of America, that kind of dichotomy, and I hope we succeeded. But I just want to really quickly say, as someone who’s had a very unremarkable career as an actor, you quickly realize, if you feel like you have a little bit of talent as an actor, that once you see these four actors and you see the work and you see the other side of the lens, that you quickly realize there’s a difference between being very modestly talented and gifted as they are. It’s a real treat to direct these actors, I have to say.

BALE: But that being said, you need the right environment, and Scott creates that environment.

To Zoe – character torn between two men. How did wrap your head around in loving both and how she dealt with it?

SALDANA: Torn…I think Lena has been torn by her life. She’s probably had a rough life. I needed to build that for her and understand that, and through endless conversations with Scott, we came to the conclusion that she hadn’t had it easy. I needed to know why she just couldn’t stick by the person that she truly, truly loves and she went with somebody that worked in law, that symbolically is going to keep her safe. And it has to do with her inability to cope with danger and pain. I think being torn between two men that have been really good to her is small potatoes in comparison to the torture that she has to live with herself knowing that she just has to make decisions that are going to protect her physically.

With regard to Christian’s character, he’s seen in church in a few scenes. Any particular backstory to his seeking faith and religion to get him through?

COOPER: This is a man who, as I was writing this character, I always thought of as a very good man who is beset on all sides by a relentless fate. It was based on someone in my life who has suffered a great deal of tragedy and pain and loss and who is one of the most positive people I know and is someone who has given me a great source of inspiration. That particular man’s faith has carried him through – whether he’s asking for absolution or redemption or whatever it is he’s asking for in those very quiet and personal moments – and in these small communities throughout America and I’m certain around the world, people all pray to different Gods and they all look for different things when they go to houses of worship and spirituality. It was important for me to have Russell Baze ask for that type of spirituality and faith, as he’s certain he’s doing things that are very morally questionable and things that have happened in his life that, through twists of fate and circumstance, have put him in the position he’s in.

Elaborate on what it’s like to actual be able to tell this story with such a talented group of actors?

COOPER: Well, directors go their whole careers without being able to tell personal stories and to work with a cast as talented as they are. And I don’t even consider it work; I honestly and sincerely consider it a privilege to see the type of work and the preparation and the care that these actors put into helping me realize my vision. There was no ego on the set. They were always questioning. They were taking a script that was decently written and elevating it in every way and making me a better filmmaker and making me really understand more about who I am as a person. And after the modest success of my first film, I found it very daunting to have to live with those kinds of burden of expectations. For someone who grew up with very little money and who had very little money after Crazy Heart, you can get tempted to make movies for the wrong reasons. When you have two little girls who want you to make that movie – or need you to make that movie – and you just can’t, you have to be true to yourself and to your artistic world view. I chose to tell a personal story. When you tell a movie like this that’s emotionally charged as this is, it’s a risk, certainly. I could have taken a much less risky path after the success of my first film, but as one of my great cinematic heroes, Francis Coppola, would say, ‘If you aren’t taking the highest, greatest risk, then why are you a filmmaker?’

Casey, playing a returning Vet…very real. Any special preparation?

AFFLECK: Not anything special. But I did some preparation that starts with reading the script over and over and trying to absorb it, and then talking to Scott a lot about where he’s coming from because it’s not really a part of the movie – it doesn’t delve into [his history] too much, which is good. Then watching some documentaries, things like that, then talking to some veterans and just trying to piece together what – as much as you can – an experience like that might be like for somebody. These guys now in these wars have done more tours than the average soldier in other wars just because it’s not a volunteer army and they’re careerists, so they spend a lot of time over there with a constant level of anxiety. Understanding what those symptoms are when they come back with some post-traumatic stress disorder and the depression, the frustration, the alienation, and feeling like people don’t want to hear what their experiences were and how lonely that can feel, then you have to just forget about that stuff and just be in the living room – there you are talking about cleaning the bed pan or something – and you just hope that all that stuff imbues whatever moment you’re in and not try to bring it to every little scene because you don’t carry around your history in that way; it’s just background noise, and you hope whatever research you’ve done bubbles up to the surface at the right time when you’re playing a scene that’s an argument about a beer and then suddenly you’re sharing some experience that you weren’t even planning on sharing. You just hope that you’ve done the work so in the right moment it clicks and makes sense.

Casey and Christian – great scenes together. Know each other before this? Do anything to develop brotherly dynamic?

BALE: Not really. It just happened. Even though Scott and I had been saying, ‘We want Casey for the role,’ and there were a lot of conversations about that, Scott and I were eventually saying, ‘We’re not doing it without Casey.’ And then I didn’t actually meet Casey until we were doing a camera test in Pittsburgh a couple days before we started. All of the prison stuff was done in two days…

COOPER: The very first two days.

BALE: The very first two days of filming we did all of that prison sequence stuff, so we just got thrown in the deep end, which was nice. That was it. It just happened. Casey’s a fucking great actor and he was wonderful to work off of.

AFFLECK: We spent weeks and weeks together. (laughs)

BALE: I forgot all of it! I was just blasted off my head! Sorry, mate, I just forgot.

AFFLECK: It was like what he said. It’s awkward to say it because he’s sitting right there, but I think he just makes everyone better around him and is an anchor of reality. If someone’s in a scene with you and they’re listening to what you say and they’re looking at you in that way, then you’re having a real conversation and the whole thing feels a little bit more real in some way. I would have to attribute whatever apparent chemistry there is or relationship there is to that. And those first couple days in the prison, those were hard for me – it’s always hard to get right into something and I’m usually terrible the first week – so on the very first day or two we’re doing those scenes and Christian was very patient. I did and said some things that just immediately made me trust him, and it just went smoothly from there.

COOPER: What you see between these two actors isn’t something you can learn in the Lee Strasberg Institute or with Stella Adler. That is these two actors doing a great deal of investigative text work before – they won’t say that – but they’re also as talented as two actors of my generation, simply put. That’s not the type of thing that you as a director can really manufacture, that really are two actors at the very height of their skill level, quite frankly.

The physicality of the role – very realistic and scary. An added level of trust that Woody can be as scary as he wants to be and Casey isn’t worried he’ll eat your face?

HARRELSON: I was worried about him eating my face. (laughs) We were just talking about that before because I was saying working with Casey is like working with a wild animal; you really don’t know if he’s going to bite you or want to be petted. [It was a] really great experience; Christian is one of the greatest actors who ever lived. There’s a level of confidence in the actor you’re working with that really helps a lot. It makes all the difference.

Christian – what was it like to shoot Woody?

BALE: Well, I respect Woody greatly – he’s desperately wrong with what he said, with the utmost respect. The things that happened on the film were just very organic. That whole piece, I viewed it as hunting a deer. It was like that. He wanted to inflict the most amount of pain he could upon this person before finishing him. He wanted to see him struggle. We know he’s good with a rifle. And then it’s almost like a mercy kill in some ways by the end. But really satisfying. (laughs)

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Facebook.com: https://www.facebook.com/outofthefurnace

Twitter.com: https://twitter.com/OutOfTheFurnace

OUT OF THE FURNACE opens in theatres nationwide on December 6

SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT Midnights This Weekend at 2 St. Louis Wehrenberg Theaters

“You scared, ain’t ya? You should be! Christmas Eve is the scariest damn night of the year!”

The Destroy the Brain guys beat them to it when they showed it last Holiday season as part of their Late Night Grindhouse but if you missed SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT when it played midnights here , you’ll have the chance again this weekend when Fangoria Magazine presents, in conjunction with Screenvision, a stunning new HD transfer for the ultimate experience in ho-ho-horror! (though I don’t care how ‘stunning’ it is, it won’t beat the 35mm print they screened at LNGH). The event is this Friday and Saturday (December 6th and 7th) at midnight. The two St. Louis locations are:

ST. CHARLES CINE 18, 1830 FIRST CAPITOL DR. S, ST. CHARLES, MO, 63303

And

RONNIE`S 20 CINE, 5320 S. LINDBERGH, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63126

SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT tells the tale of Billy Chapmen, orphaned at five after witnessing the murder of his parents at the hands of a Santa suit-clad madman on Christmas Eve. Now eighteen and out of the brutal grip of orphanage nuns, Billy is forced to confront his greatest fear, sending him on a rampage, leaving a crimson trail in the snow behind him.

SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT, the poster child for Holiday horror films, caused a huge stink when it was released back in 1984. Influential film critic Gene Siskel especially despised the film, going as far to list, on his syndicated TV show, the film’s producers by name and, wagging his finger like a sweater-vested church lady, wailed “shame, shame, shame” after each name. What got Siskel’s holiday hackles up was the distasteful idea to have a slasher film featuring Saint Nick as its bloodthirsty villain. It wasn’t even the first “killer Santa” movie – (CHRISTMAS EVIL from 1980 has that distinction) but SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT is the most notorious because it had the balls to be released during the Christmas season and its holiday television ads attracted the ire of overly-sensitive parents, some of who actually went out and picketed various theaters in protest of it. Outraged moms and dads wrote letters to the film’s producers (“My little Billy is afraid to sit in Santa’s lap because of a TV commercial he saw for your disgusting film”). Consequently, the flick got pulled out of the cinemas and in some markets, including St. Louis, it was never shown theatrically at all. It eventually did find a big audience when it was released to video stores and several increasingly inferior sequels were spawned (though the great Monte Hellman directed part 3!). Lost in the controversy is that SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT was actually a pretty solid and scary horror flick. Of course it was never meant for kids, who would likely have been scarred for life if they had seen the opening sequence where an escaped criminal in a Santa suit rapes and kills off a kids mom while the child looks on. SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT has plenty of fun bloody death scenes and some great one-liners.

Though I still recommend seeing THE VISITOR midnights this weekend at the Hi-Pointe over this, if you’re up for midnight shows both nights, by all means don’t miss SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT

For more info, go HERE

http://www.screenvision.com/cinema-events/sndn/

Dan Fogler Talks Moon Lake 2

We like to get together with Dan Fogler every few months to chat about his latest projects and get a few updates on some older ones. I had the pleasure of sitting down with him just before Thanksgiving to discuss his new graphic novel MOON LAKE 2, which is now available from the fine folks at Archaia. I loved the madcap lunacy of the first volume but this one has somehow managed to top the insanity with even more sex, violence and twisted humor. Check out the video below to see what Dan has to say about this project, as well as a little update on the long overdue HYSTERICAL PSYCHO. And check back in a few days for the second part of the interview where we discuss some of his upcoming film projects!

And for all you New Yorkers reading this right now, Dan Fogler will be at Forbidden Planet signing copies of MOON LAKE at 7 pm TONIGHT! If you are a fan of any of his work, this is an event you definitely don’t want to miss. Dan said he will be giving away some cool stuff for the first 60 people who show up so if you plan to attend, get there early!

Jerry Cavallaro – @GetStuck – www.JerryCavallaro.com

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Overall Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars

Traverse Media will release SUGAR in Los Angeles on Friday, November 22 at the Downtown Independent. The film has a running time of 93 minutes and will not be rated by the MPAA.

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OUT OF THE FURNACE opens in theatres nationwide on December 6

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