Pick of the Week:
The Little Mermaid (1976). Directed by Karel Kachyňa. Starring Miroslava Šafránková, Radovan Lukavský, Petr Svojtka.
Playing at the Clinton from Church of Film on May 21st—a Czech film, so of course I’m highlighting it. A wonderful fairytale adaptation where the mermaids are “sea nymphs who appear to have strong disdain for humanity.” Finally, a movie I can relate to.
Also Playing:
Fallen Angels (1995). Directed by Wong Kar-wai. Leon Lai, Michelle Reis, Takeshi Kaneshiro.
Playing at Cinema 21 on May 16th—the excellent neo-noir that our pal Ebert said is for “those who subscribe to more than three film magazines.” How many movie substacks does that translate to? It’s about two interconnected stories, much like Chungking Express—a hitman trying to get out of the life, and an ex-con on the run. Ebert also said that the movie appeals to “the kinds of people you see in the Japanese animation section of the video store, with their sleeves cut off so you can see their tattoos.” Well, fuck you too Roger.
This Week:
16mm Oddball Comedy Night comes to the Hollywood on May 20th for “Get ready for another round of corny comedy, with many new films this time... From greats to unknowns, Repressed curator Ian Sundahl digs deep into his 16mm vault to bring his favorite 'cornball' comedy films to the Hollywood for one night of laughs.”
At 5th Ave:
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me plays this weekend. Something I think about—does this movie make any sense if you haven’t seen Twin Peaks? I don’t think it does.
At the Academy:
Hedwig and the Angry Inch returns to Portland theaters for a run. This is one of the movies that everyone plays for Pride but should be played any time! It’s a great musical.
Mark of the Devil opens for a run. Another somewhat obscure 70s European horror movie. It’s about a witch hunter in the 17th century and was an infamous video nasty and spawned a franchise. It’s a gruesome grindhouse film. With Udo Kier.
The early 2000s anime of Metropolis opens for a run. It’s about a plucky robot.
At Cinema 21:
In a Lonely Place plays on May 17th. I haven’t seen the movie but the book is a classic feminist noir from the point of view of a serial killer who kills woman. They changed a bunch from the book.
At Cinemagic:
Universal Soldier plays on May 16th. This is a fun, if very dumb, Van Damme and Lundgren movie about a Vietnam solder brought back to life to shoot a bunch of guys. Hey, Jerry Orbach is in this!
From Dusk til Dawn opens for a run. This is the Tarantino written, Robert Rodriguez directed, foot fetish vampire movie that Quentin shows you what a terrible actor he is. Here is my favorite Saturday Night Live sketch he was in.
Inherent Vice opens for a run. This is the Paul Thomas Anderson Pynchon adaptation that I watched on a laptop years ago (as PTA intended) and I didn’t like. Should I give this another shot? Signs point to yes.
Joe Dante’s The Burbs opens for a run. I remember this being a fun 80s comedy that was on TV all the time but haven’t seen this in decades. Does it hold up? Who knows? Tom Hanks used to be pretty funny though.
Tiger on the Beat plays on May 21st. This is a fun sounding Chow Yun-Fat action picture that’s a Hong Kong Lethal Weapon knock-off. Chow would, of course, join the Lethal Weapon franchise.
At the Clinton, CorMAYnia—the films of Roger Corman:
Galaxy of Terror on May 16th. “A visceral and nightmarish sci-fi dystopia film featuring a space crew confronting primal fears after they are marooned on a distant planet.”
Forbidden World on May 16th. “A direct second bootleg on the heels of Alien, Forbidden World features a team of space explorers trying to contain a genetically engineered creature that has gone berserk. Erotically.” An erotic Alien knock off? Sounds like my life!
Humanoids from the Deep plays on May 17th. Another gory, wet, and sexy monster movie.
Battle Beyond the Stars plays on May 17th. A John Sayles written Kurosawa knock-off—so Star Wars but with John Saxon! John Saxon! From Mitchell!
Attack of the Crab Monsters plays on May 18th. A movie about giant killer crabs (not me) that was an influence on my beloved Lost Skeleton of Cadavra.
The original Little Shop of Horrors plays on May 18th, which is, of course, about a plant that eats people. Guess who plays the dentist patient?
The Velvet Vampire plays on May 20th. “Seductive and eerie, a vampire film that mixes supernatural horror with sensuality and suspense. It’s a hidden gem that explores desire, bloodlust, and the supernatural in a horny, atmospheric package.”
Do you have 4th of July plans? WELL YOU DO NOW! Revolutions Per Movie is back at the Clinton with Julie Klausner on July 5th. They will be screening Raquel Welch’s special which promises to be an erotic journey. I GOT MY TICKET, GET YOURS. (Also, someone put that Difficult People clip of them making fun of David Byrne on the Internet.).
At the Hollywood this week—a bunch of neat screenings sold out, like All That Heaven Allows and Vertigo but including those in case tickets are released.
Filmed by Bike opens for a run. These are movies about bikes, not movies filmed by sentient bikes, like I thought. PHEW.
My Body is a Machine plays on May 18th. “Four secret OVA films screened in marathon format with an accompanying anime convention in the lobby! All four films are set in the future we deserve, when we become robots. The titles range in aesthetic from cyberpunk to post-apocalyptic sci-fi, and in genre from action to horror and comedy.”
The Annihilation of Fish plays on May 19th—a restoration of a late 90s drama with a stellar cast that was not well received upon release. Robert Daniels, from our pal Ebert’s website, wrote: “In The Annihilation of Fish, age is the accumulation of scars. Aching memories, unhealed bruises and pent-up desires remain alive even when many of the sights and sounds that once decorated one's existence are dormant. For James Earl Jones and Lynn Redgrave, two actors who were already in the autumn of their lives when the film was initially released a quarter century ago, age appears to have been an especially potent subject.”
Capote plays on May 19th. This is the Phil Seymour Hoffman Capote picture, which is a better movie than Infamous but Infamous is more fun to watch because it’s out of it’s mind.
Check the Joy Cinema’s website! Who knows what kooky films they’ll play next.
At the Kiggins:
I Know Catherine, The Log Lady opens for a run. It’s about the Log Lady. From Twin Peaks! You know her.
Rogue One: A Star Wars story opens for a run. Tony Gilroy wrote this and they didn’t let him put any baguettes in it. :(
At Omsi:
No Place to Grow Old plays on May 22nd. It’s “a powerful exploration of the rising crisis of senior homelessness in Portland, Oregon, uncovering the systemic challenges and deeply personal stories of those unexpectedly finding themselves with no place to call home.” There will be a panel discussion with Central City Concern after the film.
At the Tomorrow Theater:
Violet Hex returns with Josie and the Pussycats BINGO on May 16th. If you’ve never seen this, this is a campy and fun movie and a guaranteed nice time with Violet Hex.
The Joe Wright Pride and Prejudice returns, again, on May 18th where you can knit and crochet in the dark (or maybe they have the house lights on I don’t fucking know).
The excellent 90s movie Girlstown plays on May 18th. It’s an incredibly underrated coming of age story with a great all lady soundtrack from the 90s.
The tip jar is open. Look at how happy I would be if I had a bag full of baguettes. All tips will go to baguettes. Also, you should watch Michael Clayton.
