Author: grahams

“Le Monde du Silence (The Silent World)” – September 11th

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, September 11th at 7:00pm for “Le Monde du Silence (The Silent World)” at the Harvard Film Archive. Look for Sean wearing a nametag and sitting with his crutches in the little seating area in the lobby about 15 minutes before the film. As always, after the film we will descend on a local establishment for dinner/drinks/discussion.

“Louis Malle was just 23 when he was asked by author and undersea explorer Cousteau to help make a film that could act as an illustrated companion to his immensely popular book also entitled The Silent World. The film surpassed even the book in its popular impact, garnering an Oscar for Best Documentary and the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival. A lyrical meditation on the mysteries of the physical world, and humankind’s tentative steps to explore them, the film follows Cousteau and his crew as they navigate the oceans; the underwater cinematography, much of it shot by Malle himself, is breathtaking, the brilliantly colored coral reefs serving as a stationary counterpoint to the teeming schools of sea life whizzing past them.”

“The Brothers Grimm” – August 28th

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, August 28th at 6:00pm for “The Brothers Grimm” at the Loews Harvard Square. Look for Sean wearing a nametag in the lobby about 15 minutes before the film. As always, after the film we will descend on a local establishment for dinner/drinks/discussion.

“Director Terry Gilliam, who brought his magical storytelling talents to such films as Time Bandits and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, sets his sights on the Brothers Grimm, turning their life into a playfully grim fairy tale all its own. Set in early 18th century French-occupied Germany, The Brothers Grimm stars Matt Damon as Will Grimm and Heath Ledger as Jake Grimm, siblings who travel the countryside as snake-oil salesmen, convincing unsuspecting towns that they are haunted and agreeing to get rid of the demons–for a price. In the meantime, they set their tales down in writing, creating a wealth of oddball, offbeat, and frightening characters. But after they are caught by General Delatombe (Jonathan Pryce) and his sidekick, Cavaldi (Peter Stormare), they are sent to the tiny village of Marbaden to solve the mysterious disappearance of a number of young girls, placing them in the middle of a fantasy world unlike any they’d ever invented. They enlist the help of a peasant woman, Angelika (Lena Headey), and they set off for the evil forest to save the lives of the girls–and themselves. Gilliam has once again built a unique, entertaining land where anything can happen, and he throws in references to such Grimm tales as Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Rapunzel, and the Frog Prince for good measure. The movie also features Mackenzie Crook and Richard Ridings as the Grimms’ cohorts, Monica Bellucci as the Mirror Queen, and Julian Bleach and Bruce McEwan as two of Cavaldi’s henchmen.”

Yesterday’s Film (“The Aristocrats”)

Sorry to anyone who showed up late to yesterday’s 5:15pm showing of “The Aristocrats”. The theatre cancelled the screening at the last minute due to projector malfunction, so those of us who were there decided to go out to eat first and see the next showing (at 7pm-ish) afterwards. This was actually a first for the club, and I think we handled it pretty well, but if anyone missed out, sorry!

“The Aristocrats” – August 21st

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, August 21st at 5:15pm for The Aristocrats at the Kendall Square Cinema. Look for Sean wearing a nametag in the little seating area in the lobby about 15 minutes before the film. As always, after the film we will descend on a local establishment for dinner/drinks/discussion. Note: This is an unrated film and the theatre has stated that no one under 18 will be admitted. The subject of this documentary is one of the world’s dirtiest jokes, so if you feel you will be offended you might want to skip this week (of course you are still welcome to meet up with us after the film).

“Comedy veterans and co-creators Penn Jillette and Paul Provenza capitalize on their insider status and invite over 100 of their closest friends—who happen to be some of the biggest names in show business (George Carlin, Whoopi Goldberg, Drew Carey, Gilbert Gottfried, Bob Saget, Paul Reiser, Sarah Silverman, etc.)—to reminisce, analyze, deconstruct and deliver their own versions of the world’s dirtiest joke, an old burlesque routine too extreme to be performed in public. One of the smash hits of the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, this star-studded comedy extravaganza is sure to stretch the limits of its audience—particularly how loud and long they can laugh!”

“Bad News Bears” (2005) – August 14th

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this August 14th at 5:15pm for “Bad News Bears” at the Somerville Theatre. Look for Audra wearing a nametag in the theatre lobby about 15 minutes before the film. As always, after the film we will descend on a local establishment for dinner/drinks/discussion.

“A washed-up ballplayer is put in charge of a pack of kids scarcely more mature than himself in this remake of the 1976 comedy hit. Morris Buttermaker (Billy Bob Thornton) is a former major league baseball player whose career and life has hit the skids thanks to his overwhelming fondness for booze and women. Needing a break, his lawyer (Marcia Gay Harden) arranges for Buttermaker to take on coaching responsibilities for the Bears, a Little League baseball team comprised of a handful of hapless losers. As Buttermaker tries to groom his young charges into a winning team, he also gives them a glimpse of his hard-living lifestyle while they gear up to take on perennial rivals the Yankees and their arrogant Coach Bullock (Greg Kinnear. The 2005 version of The Bad News Bears was written by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, who previously scripted another Billy Bob Thornton vehicle, Bad Santa.”

“March of the Penguins” – August 7th

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, August 7th at 5:00pm for “March of the Penguins” at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. Look for Sean wearing a nametag in the theatre lobby about 15 minutes before the film. As always, after the film we will descend on a local establishment for dinner/drinks/discussion.

“During the harsh Antarctic winter an epic journey takes place every year. More astounding than Shackleton’s voyage of Endurance, this is the story of the indigenous Emperor Penguins, who march across the harsh landscape of Antarctica to find their mates and keep the journey going for new generations. Like last year’s hit Winged Migration, The March of the Penguins features astounding up-close footage of birds in action. While penguins may technically be stuck on the ground, they move with such unique grace and calm, walking steadfastly across the most inhospitable terrain, or sliding on their bellies, that you can’t help but root for them every step of the way. Gorgeous cinematography highlights the vast labyrinths of ice that cover of the South Pole, and prepare to be stunned by a never-before-seen underwater sequence that shows the penguins really flying – though the freezing ocean under the Antarctic ice. Director Luc Jacquet and his crew followed the penguins on their journey for 13 months, then cleverly edited the film to tell a narrative story that brings the journey to life through clever penguin dialogue. Filled with excitement, danger, adventure, romance, and gorgeous scenery, The March of the Penguins is a real-life epic.”

“Labyrinth” – July 31st

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, July 31st at 7:30pm for “Labyrinth” at the Brattle Theatre. Look for Sean wearing a nametag in the theatre lobby about 15 minutes before the film. As always, after the film we will descend on a local establishment for dinner/drinks/discussion. This might be a popular show, so you might want to pre-order tickets from the Brattle. In addition, this is the second film in a double feature with The Dark Crystal, so if you are interested in both films, you should show up earlier!

“Oscar-winner Jennifer Connelly stars in this delightful Jim Henson film. When a teenaged girl (Connelly) thoughtlessly wishes her infant brother would just disappear, she has to face the consequences when the Goblin King (Bowie) whisks the baby away to a maze-like world populated with talking dogs, kindly monsters and Bogs of Eternal Stench. This classic children’s story is well-loved by its fans for its amazing set design and thoughtful lessons about growing up. And the five David Bowie songs are just as good as you remember.”

“Murderball” – July 24th

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, July 24th at 5:45pm for “Murderball” at the Coolidge Corner Theatre. Look for Sean wearing a nametag in the theatre lobby about 15 minutes before the film. As always, after the film we will descend on a local establishment for dinner/drinks/discussion.

This is the true story of a group of tough, competitive, and, yes, quadriplegic rugby players who race down the court in souped-up fortified wheelchairs and slam into each other with bone-jarring intensity. The world-class athletes of Team USA are up against their toughest rival yet in a non-stop thrill ride that will leave you breathless. Filmed from a chairs-eye view, the film also shows the lives of the players off the court, for a story filled with family, revenge, honor, sex, and the triumph of love over loss.

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” – July 17th

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, July 17th at 5:10pm for “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” at the Boston Common Loews. Look for Sean wearing a nametag in the main lobby on the ground floor about 15 minutes before the film. As always, after the film we will descend on a local establishment for dinner/drinks/discussion.

“Acclaimed director Tim Burton brings his vividly imaginative style to the beloved Roald Dahl novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, about eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp) and Charlie (Freddie Highmore), a good-hearted boy from a poor family who lives in the shadow of Wonka’s extraordinary factory. Long isolated from his own family, Wonka launches a worldwide contest to select an heir to his candy empire. Five lucky children, including Charlie, draw golden tickets from Wonka chocolate bars and win a guided tour of the legendary candy-making facility that no outsider has seen in 15 years. Dazzled by one amazing sight after another, Charlie is drawn into Wonka’s fantastic world in this astonishing and enduring story.”