Now Playing
Pick of the Week:
Nostalghia (1983). Directed by Andrei Tarkovsky. Starring Oleg Yankovsky, Erland Josephson, Domiziana Giordano.
Opening at Cinema 21 today—a restoration of one of Tarkovsky’s lesser known films. It’s about a Russian writer visiting Italy to research a composer. People didn’t like this one very much when it was released. When one critic asked about the long dream sequences Tarkovsky said, “We spend a third of our life asleep (and thus dreaming): what is there that is more real than dreams?”
Also Playing:
For a Few Dollars More (1965). Directed by Sergio Leone. Starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Gian Maria Volonté.
Playing at the Hollywood on April 3, it’s the second of the Dollars Trilogy and maybe the best? When the man with no name rolls into town you should probably just leave. Leone hated Eastwood so much but realized that he was a valuable tool to make his movies. Not sure how true this quote is, but he said that Eastwood had two ways of acting: “With hat and without hat.”
This Week:
The Last Unicorn plays at the Clinton on April 2nd. I have a memory of watching this movie as a kid and being really freaked out when the tree with large bosoms appears. I’ll discuss why with my therapist this week.
Lady Bird plays at the Clinton on March 29th. Greta Gerwig was the darling of the early 2000s indie scene and this was her first solo directing feature about having a complicated mother, being artsy, and getting into college. Laurie Metcalf was perfect in this. I once called this movie a period piece and someone got mad at me. Look, it’s upsetting but we all get old and return to the earth from whence we came.
Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James Chasse plays at the Clinton on April 4. An important documentary about James Chasse, who suffered from mental illness and was killed by the cops here in Portland.
Ennio opens at the Hollywood—a documentary about Ennio Morricone. He’s created some of the most iconic music soundtracks ever! Will it be a boring talking heads type documentary or something good? Only time will tell!
Titus plays at the Hollywood on March 31st! Anthony Hopkins is in this along with Jessica Lange and Alan Cumming. People like this version a lot!
Ratcatcher plays at the Hollywood on April 1st. A Scottish coming of age story about a garbage strike, rats, and the terrible state of housing in Glasgow. Some critics have called this one hard to watch! Sounds like a perfect WatchThisPDX film.
Cinemagic starts a Staff Picks series—Once Upon a Time in the West is playing if you want to get another Leone movie in. Dracula rules. I started watching it on an airplane recently but got embarrassed by the amount of sex in it. They should warn you! I had to shut it off so I didn’t end up on a list. Hero, Brokeback Mountain, and Wild Zero also play!
Three on a Match plays at Cinema 21 on March 30th. A pre-Code classic about mobsters, drug addiction, and cigarette etiquette! There is a cryptic note on Cinema 21’s site: “PLEASE NOTE: We are offering a discounted ticket of $8 for this screening, as the only transfer available of this movie is below are usual standards at Cinema 21. However, we've determined it's still worth showing Three on a Match in this version.” Hopefully not a VHS rip or something.
Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World plays at Cinema 21 on April 4th. Boy, that is some title. To quote the mayor of New York: “This is a place where every day you wake up, you could experience everything from a plane crashing into our Trade Center to a person who's celebrating a new business that's open. This is a very, very complicated city, and that's why it's the greatest city on the globe.” Well said.
On April 2nd, The Portland Film Festival is showcasing a few independent films at the Kennedy School in celebration of Earth Day. Both sound neat!
Yeast (2008). Directed by Mary Bronstein. Starring Mary Bronstein, Greta Gerwig, Amy Judd Lieberman.
For years Mary Bronstein wouldn’t let this film stream anywhere (it’s now on Criterion), and there was no physical release so either you had to pirate it or hope a theater got permission to play it. The film is about toxic friendships, poverty, and working at Six Flags and features Greta Gerwig playing what may be the most irritating person to ever appear on film—a virtuoso performance. Mary went on to work with the Safdie brothers, who make an appearance in this. A highlight of the early 2000s indie scene.
One critic wrote: “Don't expect us to congratulate you for doing a great job of making something unbearable.”
“A maddeningly oblivious, tyrannical and emotionally stunted young woman tries her best to negotiate two toxic friendships." from IMDB.
5/5 stars from WatchThisPDX! You can either pirate it or watch on Criterion!
The tip jar is open if you feel so inclined/want to support this thing! If you tip I’ll share my Criterion password so you can watch Yeast! Thank you for reading! I love you!
