2008 on Sunday Night Film Club - Boston

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - Dec 28th

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:19:26 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Dec 28th at 7pm for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button at the Regal Fenway Stadium 13 . Look for Michael 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.

“I was born under unusual circumstances.” And so begins ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,’ adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: a man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time. We follow his story, set in New Orleans from the end of World War I in 1918 to the 21st century, following his journey that is as unusual as any man’s life can be. Directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett with Taraji P. Henson, Tilda Swinton, Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas and Julia Ormond, Benjamin Button is a grand tale of a not-so-ordinary man and the people and places he discovers along the way, the loves he finds, the joys of life and the sadness of death, and what lasts beyond time.

"Let The Right One In" - Dec 21st

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:06:05 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Dec 21st at 5pm for Let The Right One In at the Somerville Theatre . Look for Audra wearing a “good day to you sir” shirt 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.

“Oskar, a bullied 12-year old, dreams of revenge. He falls in love with Eli, a peculiar girl. She can’t stand the sun or food and to come into a room she needs to be invited. Eli gives Oskar the strength to hit back but when he realizes that Eli needs to drink other peoples blood to live he’s faced with a choice. How much can love forgive? Let The Right One In is a story both violent and highly romantic, set in the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg in 1982.”

"Frost/Nixon" - Dec 14th

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:50:41 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Dec 14th at 5:30pm for Frost/Nixon at the AMC Boston Common 19 . 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.

“For three years after being forced from office, Nixon remained silent. But in summer 1977, the steely, cunning former commander-in-chief agreed to sit for one all-inclusive interview to confront the questions of his time in office and the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency. Nixon surprised everyone in selecting Frost as his televised confessor, intending to easily outfox the breezy British showman and secure a place in the hearts and minds of Americans. Likewise, Frost’s team harbored doubts about their boss’s ability to hold his own. But as cameras rolled, a charged battle of wits resulted. Would Nixon evade questions of his role in one of the nation’s greatest disgraces? Or would Frost confound critics and bravely demand accountability from the man who’d built a career out of stonewalling? Over the course of their encounter, each man would reveal his own insecurities, ego and reserves of dignity–ultimately setting aside posturing in a stunning display of unvarnished truth.”

"Milk" - Dec 7th

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:48:00 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Dec 7th at 6:35p for Milk at the Kendall Square Cinema . 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.

“Gay Rights Activist. Friend. Lover. Unifier. Politician. Fighter. Icon. Inspiration. Hero. His life changed history, and his courage changed lives. In 1977, Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into major public office in America. His victory was not just a victory for gay rights; he forged coalitions across the political spectrum. From senior citizens to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very nature of what it means to be a fighter for human rights and became, before his untimely death in 1978, a hero for all Americans. Co-starring James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna and Josh Brolin. Directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, My Own Private Idaho) from an original screenplay by Dustin Lance Black.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:46:07 +0000

In observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend, the Sunday Night Film Club (SNFC) will not be meeting this week. We will resume our normal schedule on Sunday, December 7th. Have a great holiday, and see you next week!

"Slumdog Millionaire" - Nov 23rd

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:17:26 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Nov 23rd at 7:15pm for Slumdog Millionaire at the Coolidge Corner Theatre . Look for Dan wearing a striped shirt 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.

“From director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Millions) and screenwriter Simon Beaufoy (The Full Monty) comes this darkly funny rags-to-riches story that was a breakout hit at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is the story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on IndiaÂ’s Â“Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?Â” But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much?

Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game showÂ’s questions. Intrigued by JamalÂ’s story, the jaded Police Inspector begins to wonder what a young man with no apparent desire for riches is really doing on this game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find outÂ…”

"JCVD" - Nov 16th

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:26:52 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Nov 16th at 7:15pm for JCVD 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.

“Between his tax problems and his legal battle with his wife for the custody of his daughter, these are hard times for the action movie star who finds that even Steven Seagal has pinched a role from him! In JCVD, Jean-Claude Van Damme returns to the country of his birth to seek the peace and tranquility he can no longer enjoy in the United States.”

"Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist" - Nov 9th

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:28:35 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Nov 9th at 5:15pm for Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist at the Somerville Theatre . Look for Audra wearing a Hyperbole shirt 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.

“It’s been three weeks, two days, and 23 hours since Tris broke up with Nick. And now here she is at his gig, with a new guy. How could she have moved on so fast? This begins the night of Nick, Norah and Manhattan. The night of stripping nuns, hotel ice rooms, Russian food, psychotic ex-boyfriends and lovingly trashy ex-girlfriends. It’s the night of Julio and Salvatore. The night of holding hands and writing songs and singing in the rain. It’s a night they’ll never forget.”

"Fear(s) of the Dark" - Nov 2nd

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:44:37 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Nov 2nd at 7:05pm for Fear(s) of the Dark at the Kendall Square Cinema . Look for Dan wearing a striped shirt 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.

“Different black-and-white animation techniques tell several scary stories. There’s a story of a teenage boy who meets the wrong girl. Another tale deals with a small community where people disappear and are never seen again. Then there’s the narrative of a little Japanese girl who suffers from horrible nightmares followed by a tale where a man doesn’t get the rest he hoped for in an old not-so-abandoned house. These stories are connected by the story about a man with a devilish smile and four enormous dogs from hell and by a woman’s monologue about her fears.”

"Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story" - Oct 26th

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:25:42 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Oct 26th at 7:15pm for Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story 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.

“Boogie Man is a surprising look at Lee Atwater, the blues-playing rogue whose rambunctious rise from the South to Chairman of the GOP made him a household name. He mentored Karl Rove and George W. Bush and played a crucial role in the elections of Reagan and George H.W. Bush. He wrote the Republican PartyÂ’s winning playbook which the McCain campaign is currently using.

In eye-opening interviews with Atwater’s closest friends and enemies, Boogie Man re-examines AtwaterÂ’s crucial role in the remaking of the Republican Party. To Democrats offended by his cutthroat style (to say nothing of the 1988 Willie Horton controversy), Atwater was a political assassin dubbed by one Congresswoman “the most evil man in America.” But to most Republicans he remains a hero for his deep understanding of the American heartland, his expert manipulation of the media, and his unapologetic vision of politics as war. Director Stefan Forbes offers a timely documentary for this election year as he examines the charming yet Machiavellian godfather of the modern negative political campaign.”

"W." - Oct 19th

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:44:34 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Oct 19th at 4:35pm for W. at the AMC Boston Common 19 . 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.

“Whether you love him or hate him, there is no question that George W. Bush is one of the most controversial public figures in recent memory. In an unprecedented undertaking, acclaimed director Oliver Stone is bringing the life of our 43rd President to the big screen as only he can. W takes viewers through BushÂ’s eventful life – his struggles and triumphs, how he found both his wife and his faith, and of course the critical days leading up to BushÂ’s decision to invade Iraq.”

No Movie this Weekend

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:38:26 +0000

The Sunday Night Film Club will be taking this Sunday, October 12th off in observance of the Columbus Day holiday. We will return to our normal schedule on Sunday, October 19th.

"Religulous" - Oct 5th

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:50:45 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Oct 5th at 4:25pm for Religulous at the Kendall Square Cinema . 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.

No religion is safe from the sharp aim–and still sharper wit–of Bill Maher in this comic look at organized belief systems around the world. This controversial documentary is directed by Larry Charles, who previously made both fans and foes with BORAT.

"Choke" - Sep 28th

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:36:01 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Sep 28th at 7:10pm for Choke at the AMC Boston Common 19 . Look for Michael wearing a red shirt and smile 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.

Victor Mancini is a medical-school dropout who has devised an ingenious scam to pay elder care for his Alzheimer’s-afflicted mother: he pretends to choke on pieces of food while dining in upscale restaurants. He then allows himself to be “saved” by fellow patrons who, feeling responsible for Victor’s life, go on to send checks to support him. When he’s not pulling this stunt, Victor cruises sexual addiction recovery workshops for action, visits his addled mom, and spends his days working at a colonial theme park.

"Towelhead" - Sep 21st

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:24:39 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Sep 21st at 7pm for Towelhead 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.

Towelhead follows the dark, bold and shockingly funny life of Jasira, a 13-year-old Arab-American girl, as she navigates the confusing and frightening path of adolescence and her own sexual awakening.

When Jasira’s mother sends her to Houston to live with her strict Lebanese father, she quickly learns that her new neighbors find her and her father a curiosity. Worse, her budding womanhood makes her traditional and hot-tempered father uncomfortable. Lonely in this new environment, Jasira seeks friendship and acceptance from her neighbors Mr. Vuoso, an Army reservist, and Melina, a meddling but caring expectant mother.

Thrown into an unfamiliar suburban world, Jasira must confront racism and hypocrisy at home and at school - and at the same time struggle to make sense of her raging hormones and newfound sexuality. Her boyfriend, Thomas, though a few years older, provides some comfort - but even that relationship causes problems when her father discovers that Thomas is black. Surrounded by adults who are just as lost as she is, Jasira yearns for understanding, even amidst often brutal acts.

"Burn After Reading" - Sep 14th

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:22:24 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Sep 14th at 7:20pm for Burn After Reading at the AMC Boston Common 19 . 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.

“A dark spy-comedy from Academy Award winners Joel and Ethan Coen. An ousted CIA official’s (Academy Award nominee John Malkovich) memoir accidentally falls into the hands of two unwise gym employees intent on exploiting their find.”

"Vertigo" - Sep 7th

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:47:18 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Sep 7th at 7pm for Vertigo 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.

Fifty years on, VERTIGO has lost none of its power as a gripping thriller, but as we know in our Dr.-Phil-enlightened age, it’s also an exploration of some serious untreated emotional disorders. Stewart doesn’t play against type so much as he burrows into his persona to newfound and frightening depths as a San Francisco detective who finds himself obsessed by (at least) two versions of the seductive Kim Novak.

(And if you want to make it a double-feature, be sure to catch Rear Window at 4:30pm!)

Labor Day - No Film

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:05:03 +0000

The Boston Sunday Night Film Club will not meet this Sunday, August 31st in observance of the Labor Day holiday. We will resume our normal schedule on Sunday, September 7th.

"Man on Wire" - Aug 24th

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:13:10 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Aug 24th at 7:35pm for Man on Wire at the Kendall Square Cinema . 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.

On August 7, 1974 a young Frenchman named Philippe Petit stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between New York’s Twin Towers, then the world’s tallest buildings. After nearly an hour dancing on the wire, he was arrested, taken for psychological evaluation and brought to jail. Petit spent eight months in New York planning the execution of the coup. Aided by a team of friends and accomplices, he had to find a way to bypass the World Trade Center’s security; smuggle the heavy steel cable and rigging equipment into the towers; pass the wire between the two rooftops; anchor the wire and tension it to withstand the winds and the swaying of the buildings. The rigging was done by night in complete secrecy. At 7:15 AM, Philippe took his first step on the high wire 1,350 feet above the sidewalks of Manhattan. James Marsh’s documentary brings Petit’s extraordinary adventure to life through the testimony of Philippe himself, and some of the co-conspirators who helped him create the unique and magnificent spectacle that became known as “the artistic crime of the century.” Music by Michael Nyman.

Special Screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark at the Coolidge

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:20:31 +0000

The Coolidge Corner Theatre will launch a brand-new season of its popular Science on Screen series on Monday, September 1 at 7:00 p.m. with a special presentation of Steven Spielbergâ€™s classic adventure tale, Raiders of the Lost Ark. Before the film, archeologist Curtis Runnels will speak about the realities of archeology versus how it is portrayed in the movies. Harrison Ford stars as Dr. Jones, a world-renowned professor of archaeology hired by the U.S. government to track down the Ark of the Covenant, a supremely powerful (and deadly) Biblical artifact. With his trusty leather fedora and all-purpose whip, Jones sets out on a journey across the continents. But he isn’t the only one after the Ark. With a little help from his friends and his old flame, Marion (Karen Allen), Jones must fend off unscrupulous SS officers eager to get their leather-clad mitts on the Ark and harness its power for their evil cause. Curtis Runnels is professor of archeology at Boston University. He taught at Stanford University from 1981 to 1987 before moving to BU, where he is also editor of the Journal of Field Archaeology. He has carried out archaeological research in Greece, Turkey, and Albania since 1973 and has published numerous articles and books. With Science on Screen, the Coolidge Corner Theatre presents a feature film or documentary with a basis in science along with exciting introductions by notable figures in scientific fields. This monthly series is co-presented by the Museum of Science, Boston and New Scientistmagazine. All Science on Screen programs are $7.75 for students and Museum of Science members and $9.75 regular admission. Events are free for Coolidge Corner Theatre members. Tickets are available in advance at the box office or online at www.coolidge.org/science. The Coolidge Corner Theatre is located at 290 Harvard Street in Brookline. For more information, visit www.coolidge.org or call 617/734-2500.

"Tropic Thunder" - Aug 17th

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:10:24 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Aug 17th at 7:05pm for Tropic Thunder at the Regal Fenway Stadium 13 . 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.

“Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. lead an ensemble cast in Tropic Thunder, an action comedy about a group of self-absorbed actors who set out to make the most expensive war film. After ballooning costs force the studio to cancel the movie, the frustrated director refuses to stop shooting, leading his cast into the jungles of Southeast Asia, where they encounter real bad guys.”

"Pineapple Express" - Aug 10th

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:29:36 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Aug 10th at 5pm for Pineapple Express at the Somerville Theatre . Look for Audra wearing a “perfectly cromulent” shirt 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.

“Lazy stoner Dale Denton has only one reason to visit his equally lazy dealer Saul Silver: to purchase weed, specifically, a rare new strain called Pineapple Express. But when Dale becomes the only witness to a murder by a crooked cop and the city’s most dangerous drug lord, he panics and dumps his roach of Pineapple Express at the scene. Dale now has another reason to visit Saul: to find out if the weed is so rare that it can be traced back to him. And it is. As Dale and Saul run for their lives, they quickly discover that they’re not suffering from weed-fueled paranoia; incredibly, the bad guys really are hot on their trail and trying to figure out the fastest way to kill them both. All aboard the Pineapple Express.”

"Tell No One" - Aug 3rd

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:10:40 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Aug 3rd at 6:50pm for Tell No One at the Kendall Square Cinema . Look for Michael wearing a solid orange shirt and blue jeans 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.

“Eight years ago, Margot Beck was murdered by a serial killer. Though the killer has confessed to eight of these murders, he has always denied to be responsible for Margot’s death. However, the specific mutilations found on her body seem to remove all doubts over his guilt. Today, Alexandre Beck, her husband, is still deeply psychologically injured by the loss of Margot. He temporarily escapes his memories during the day by immersing himself completely in his work as a pediatrician. Outside of that, only the friendship he has formed with HÃ©lÃ¨ne Perkins saves him from total isolation from the rest of the world. But when two new bodies are uncovered near where Margot’s body was discovered, Margot’s case is reopened. At the same time, Alexandre receives a strange e-mail with a link to a video-surveillance web-cam and a time at which to watch it…”

"Danger Diabolik" - Jul 27th

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:55:04 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Jul 27th at 7:30pm for Danger Diabolik at the Brattle Theatre . Look for Howard 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 rarely screened super-thief flick features B-movie fave John Phillip Law in a starring role as Diabolik, an international man of mystery who steals from the rich toÂ… wellÂ… keep it for himself. Yes, Diabolik is a thief, pure-and-simple, but he is perhaps one of the hippest robbers ever committed to celluloid. Sort of like To Catch A Thief on steroids, DANGER: DIABOLIK features great locations, beautiful women, fabulous riches, and a cop who will stop at nothing to catch his man. Directed by the immortal Italian schlock master Mario Bava and featuring a devilishly charming performance by Law, this movie is a colorful, mod confection not to be missed on the big screen.

"Hellboy II - The Golden Army" - Jul 20th

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:49:38 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Jul 20th at 7:05pm for Hellboy II - The Golden Army at the Regal Fenway Stadium 13 . Look for Howard 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.

“The mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth, so as Hellboy and his team returns they must save the world from the rebellious creatures. Now, as the creatures who inhabit the spiritual realm gear-up for an all out attack on the human plane, the only one capable of saving the Earth is a tough-talking hellspawn rejected by both worlds.”

"Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson" - Jul 13th

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:48:33 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Jul 13th at 6:55pm for Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson at the Kendall Square Cinema . 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.

Fueled by a raging libido, Wild Turkey, and superhuman doses of drugs, Thompson was a true “free lance, " goring sacred cows with impunity, hilarity, and a steel-eyed conviction for writing wrongs. Focusing on the good doctor’s heyday, 1965 to 1975, the film includes clips of never-before-seen (nor heard) home movies, audiotapes, and passages from unpublished manuscripts.

No Movie this Sunday - Happy Independence Day!

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:01:11 +0000

The Boston Sunday Night Film Club will be taking this weekend off in observance of Independence Day! See you next Sunday!

"WALL-E" - Jun 29th

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:36:36 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Jun 29th at 7:05pm for WALL-E at the Regal Fenway Stadium 13 . 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.

“After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, WALL-E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) discovers a new purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL-E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet’s future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home). Meanwhile, WALL-E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most exciting and imaginative comedy adventures ever brought to the big screen. Joining WALL-E on his fantastic journey across a universe of never-before-imagined visions of the future, is a hilarious cast of characters including a pet cockroach, and a heroic team of malfunctioning misfit robots.”

"Alexandra" - Jun 22nd

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:12:27 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Jun 22nd at 7:15pm for Alexandra at the Kendall Square Cinema . 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.

“Alexandra, played by opera legend Galina Vishnevskaya, is an elderly woman who has come to see her beloved grandson Denis (Vasily Shevtsov), a young officer at a remote military outpost. In oppressive heat, with the enemy just beyond the compound, she acquaints herself with the routines of military life and makes a revealing trip into the outlying countryside. An official Selection at the Cannes, Toronto and New York Film Festivals, Alexandra is a powerful new film from the great Alexander Sokurov, director of Russian Ark and Father and Son. (Fully subtitled)”

"The Animation Show 4" - Jun 15th

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:51:38 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Jun 15th at 7:25pm for The Animation Show 4 at the Kendall Square Cinema . Look for Dan 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.

The Animation Show is back with an all-new collection of incredible independent animation! This year Mike Judge has gathered together over two dozen of his favorite funny short films from around the world. It’s a groundbreaking program of eye-popping adult animation from tomorrow’s next great animators. This isnÂ’t a dirty Â“adults onlyÂ” animation show but the program does skew towards a mature audience with some explicit language and adult subject matter. This year The Animation Show has commissioned some truly amazing new work from four incredible artists. Kicking things off is the uber-talented Joel Trussell with an epic viking Animation Show Intro. Australian animator Dave Carter debuts three new commissioned shorts with the hilarious Â“Psychotown.Â” Dave continues his collaboration with the comedy team The Nice Guys for a blend of cut out and stop-motion animation. Also featured is stop-motion superstar PES, who has been an Animation Show regular the last two tours and returns this year with the instructional cooking treat Â“Western Spaghetti.Â” This is PESÂ’s most complex film to date and an instant classic! The program also features the first commissioned short film from the commercial design team Smith and Foulkes (known for their award-winning commercial spots for Coke and Motorola) with the CG tale Â“This Way Up.Â” The piece centers around two undertakers working hard to lay the dead to rest. Like past tours this new program is packed with festival favorites and premieres. This year The Animation Show is the first to theatrically share the work of Steve Dildarian (new HBO series “The Life and Times of Tim” debuting in September). Another highlight is a collection of films never seen in the U.S. from the prestigious French animation college Gobelins, featuring the shorts Â“Burning Safari,Â” Â“Cocotte Minute,Â” Â“VoodooÂ” and Â“Blind Spot.Â” Returning this year are animation greats Bill Plympton with the premiere of Â“Hot Dog,Â” Corky Quakenbush with the irreverent Â“YompiÂ” and Georges SchizgebelÂ’s gorgeous Â“Jeu"!

"Bigger, Stronger, Faster*" - Jun 8th

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:37:06 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Jun 8th at 5:15pm for Bigger, Stronger, Faster* 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.

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“More scrupulously reported than your average Michael Moore film but every bit as entertaining.” - Peter Debruge, Variety

From the producers of BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE and FAHRENHEIT 9/11 comes a new film that unflinchingly explores America’s win-at-all-cost culture through the lens of a personal journey. Blending comedy and pathos, BIGGER, STRONGER, FASTER* is a collision of pop culture and first-person narrative, with a diverse cast including US Congressmen, professional athletes, medical experts and everyday gym rats.

At its heart, this is the story of director Christopher Bell and his two brothers, who grew up idolizing muscular giants like Hulk Hogan, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and who went on to become members of the steroid-subculture in an effort to realize their American dream. "

"The Visitor" - Jun 1st

Thu, 29 May 2008 13:39:31 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Jun 1st at 7:15pm for The Visitor at the Kendall Square Cinema . 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.

“Having lost his passion for teaching and writing, 62-year-old Walter Vale (Richard Jenkins) fills the void by trying to learn to play classical piano. Sent to Manhattan to attend a conference, Walter is surprised to find a young couple has taken up residence in his apartment. Victims of a real estate scam, Tarek (Haaz Sleiman), a Syrian man, and Zainab (Danai Gurira), his Senegalese girlfriend, have nowhere else to go. In the first of a series of tests of the heart, Walter reluctantly allows the couple to stay with him. Touched by his kindness, the talented Tarek insists on teaching the aging academic to play the African drum. The instrument’s exuberant rhythms revitalize Walter’s faltering spirit and open his eyes to a vibrant world of local jazz clubs and Central Park drum circles. When Tarek is arrested as an undocumented citizen and held for deportation, Walter finds himself compelled to help his new friend with a passion he thought he had long ago lost. Written and directed by Tom McCarthy (The Station Agent).”

"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" - May 25th

Wed, 21 May 2008 14:18:20 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, May 25th at 6:15pm for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull at the Regal Fenway Stadium 13 . 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.

Note: This is likely to be a popular show, so you may wish to purchase tickets in advance!

“Famed archaeologist/adventurer Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones is called back into action when he becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls.”

"OSS 117 - Cairo: Nest of Spies" - May 18th

Wed, 14 May 2008 18:24:40 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, May 18th at 7:10pm for OSS 117 - Cairo: Nest of Spies at the Kendall Square Cinema . 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.

“Colorful and action-packed, this jubilant film endearingly spoofs James Bond-style spy adventures from the 1960s. The setting is Egypt, 1955. Cairo is a veritable nest of spies, with everyone wary of everyone and plotting against everyone: the English, French, SovietsÂ—even the radical Eagles of Kheops brotherhood. To bring order to this desert at the edge of chaos, the French Secret Service sends their main weapon: Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath (Jean Dujardin), a super agent and ladies man otherwise known as OSS 117. His mission: investigate the death of a friend and fellow spy, control the Suez Canal and establish peace in the Middle East!”

SPECIAL DRIVE-IN TRIP - "Speed Racer"

Mon, 05 May 2008 19:51:58 +0000

The Boston Sunday Night
Film Club will be making a special trip to the Mendon Drive-in in Mendon, MA this Sunday, May 11th. We will be seeing “Speed Racer” at 8:10pm, but we will be aiming to get there around 7pm for the best parking spots. Since everything at the Mendon is a double-feature, after the film you can choose to watch “10,000 BC” on the same screen, or drive over to the other one to see “Drillbit Taylor”.

Look for Sean in his silver Hyundai Elantra with a “Donkey” bumper sticker. Also, if you leave a comment or send an email I will get you my cell phone number. The concession stand at the Mendon is fantastic, so we’ll be eating during/between films.

Obviously, not everyone is able to drive out to Mendon, so we are hoping that those of you with cars can help out those without. Those looking for a ride, or those with empty space in their car, can use the comments on this post at the club website.

Directions and other information is available at the Mendon Drive-in website. We will return to our regularly-scheduled format next week, May 18th.

"Young at Heart" - May 4th

Thu, 01 May 2008 18:06:27 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, May 4th at 6:40pm for Young at Heart at the AMC Harvard Square 5 . Look for Audra wearing a yellow “perfectly cromulent” shirt 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.

“Documents the true story of the final weeks of rehearsal for the Young at Heart Chorus in Northampton, MA, whose average age is 81, and many of whom must overcome health adversities to participate. Their music is unexpected, going against the stereotype of their age group, performing songs, for example, by James Brown, and Sonic Youth. Although they have toured Europe and sang for royalty, this account focuses on preparing new songs, not an easy endeavor, for a concert in their home town, which succeeds in spite of several real heart breaking events.”

"Mongol" - Apr 27th

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:21:58 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Apr 27th at 7pm for Mongol 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.

IMPORTANT: This screening is part of the 2008 Independent Film Festival of Boston. The festival starts today (Wednesday) and runs through next Tusday.

“This sweeping epic follows Temudgin from his perilous childhood to his ascension as the legendary Ghengis Khan. Starring Tadanobu Asano, considered JapanÂ’s Johnny Depp. From director Sergei Bodrov (PRISONER OF THE MOUNTAIN).”

"Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?" - Apr 20th

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:02:12 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Apr 20th at 7pm for Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? at the Kendall Square Cinema . 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.

“In his entertaining new documentary, Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) takes on a franchise even more lethal than McDonald’sÂ—Al Qaeda. With no military experience, knowledge or expertise, he sets off to do what the CIA, FBI and U.S. military have all failed to do: find the world’s most wanted man. But before he finds bin Laden, he first needs to learn where he came from and the environment and influences that shaped him. Following bin Laden’s trail through some of the most dangerous places in the world, Spurlock encounters both the rational and the radical faces of the Middle East. He risks life and limb to uncover the truth about bin Laden, and in doing so explores the lines that divide, those that unite, and the countless shades of grey between.”

"Contempt" - Apr 13th

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:00:39 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Apr 13th at 7:15pm for Contempt 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.

p.s. Tickets for the Boston Independent Film Festival are now on sale. The film club will be seeing “Mongol” on Sunday, April 27th at 7pm at the Coolidge. Head on over to the festival’s site to preorder tickets for this and any of the festival screenings!

“Starring the incomparable and exquisite Brigitte Bardot, CONTEMPT is the story of a woman who gradually develops an overwhelming contempt for her husband (Michel Piccoli), a screenwriter beset by doubts when he is hired to doctor the script for a new film version of The Odyssey. He finds himself caught between the director (legend Fritz Lang playing himself), who wants to remain faithful to Homer, and the vulgar American producer (Jack Palance) who is interested only in filling the screen with topless mermaids. Adapted from the novel by Alberto Moravia, featuring a sublime score by Georges Delerue, shot in breathtaking CinemaScope by Raoul Coutard, CONTEMPT in a new 35mm print is undoubtedly the cinematic treat of the spring!”

"Monkey Warfare" - Apr 6th

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:28:46 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Apr 6th at 7:30pm for Monkey Warfare at the Brattle Theatre . Look for Dan 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 wonderful Canadian feature premiered to acclaim at last year’s Independent Film Festival of Boston but has failed to find a U.S. distributor, not one to be stopped by such a fact, the Brattle has gone ahead and negotiated with the filmmaker to offer this premiere run of one of the most endearing of revolutionary films. Dan (McKellar) and Linda (Wright) are a couple of forty-something ex-radicals who ride their bikes everywhere, live off the grid and maintain their pot and vinyl record habits by picking trash and selling their finds on eBay. When their usual pot dealer is busted, Dan runs across a new one, Susan (Litz) - who happens to be pretty, young, and impressionable. A sort-of love triangle develops between the three but, when Susan uncovers the secret revolutionary past of her new clients, she becomes inspired and heads down a path that has the potential to upset everyone’s lives more than any romantic entanglement could. An excellent film with three great performances, a truly outstanding soundtrack and a witty, playful script that stands above most of the quirky, perky indie films that play every year in film festivals. Winner of a Special Jury Prize at The Independent Film Festival of Boston 2007!”

"Stop Loss" - Mar 30th

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:03:53 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Mar 30th at 7pm for Stop Loss at the Kendall Square Cinema . 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.

Decorated Iraq war hero Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) makes a celebrated return to his small Texas hometown following his tour of duty. He tries to resume the life he left behind with the help and support of his family and his best friend, Steve Shriver (Channing Tatum), who served with him in Iraq. Along with their other war buddies, Brandon and Steve try to make peace with civilian life. Then, against BrandonÂ’s will, the Army orders him back to duty in Iraq, which upends his world. The conflict tests everything he believes in: the bond of family, the loyalty of friendship, the limits of love and the value of honor. Co-starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Abbie Cornish. Directed by Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don’t Cry).

"Otis" - Mar 23rd

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:01:07 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Mar 23rd at 8:30pm for Otis 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 feature is the closing film for the Boston Underground Film Festival. Tickets might sell out, so you may want to pre-order them from the Brattle.

The festival runs from March 20th through the 23rd. It’s a great festival, so head on over to their site and see if there are any other films you are interested in!

“Meet Otis. Otis is about as well-intentioned as a serial-killer can be. He just wants a date to the prom. His victims survive so long as they are willing to play along. While Otis may think he is still in high school, he is actually a pizza delivery driver and perpetual fuck-up.”

“Meet the Lawsons Â– an idyllic suburbanite family. They are average in almost every way. But when teenage daughter Riley is abducted by Otis, the remaining broodÂ’s desire to take matters into their own hands is exacerbated by the FBIÂ’s appointment of an insufferable douchebag as the agent in charge of the investigation, and facilitated by Riley’s clever escape from OtisÂ’ clutches.”

“As the situation becomes more farcical, and the Lawson’s quest for vengeance becomes more indiscriminate, the stage becomes set for a tragedy of Mystic River-like proportionsÂ… only way funnier. Featuring an impressive cast and clever script, Otis is a wickedly subversive dark comedy that marks the directoral debut of veteran producer Tony Krantz (TVÂ’s 24, Mulholland Drive).”

"The Bank Job" - Mar 16th

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:47:12 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Mar 16th at 7:20pm for The Bank Job at the Regal Fenway Stadium 13 . 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.

“A car dealer with a dodgy past and new family, Terry (Jason Statham) has always avoided major-league scams. But when Martine (Saffron Burrows), a beautiful model from his old neighborhood, offers him a lead on a foolproof bank hit on London’s Baker Street, Terry recognizes the opportunity of a lifetime. Martine targets a roomful of safe deposit boxes worth millions in cash and jewelry. But Terry and his crew don’t realize the boxes also contain a treasure trove of dirty secrets - secrets that will thrust them into a deadly web of corruption and illicit scandal that spans London’s criminal underworld, the highest echelons of the British government, and the Royal Family itself…the true story of a heist gone wrong…in all the right ways.”

"The Counterfeiters" - Mar 9th

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:06:40 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Mar 9th at 7pm for The Counterfeiters 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.

“Based on the true story of Salomon Sorowitsch, counterfeiter extraordinaire and bohemian. After getting arrested in a German concentration camp in 1944, he agrees to help the Nazis in an organized counterfeit operation set up to help finance the war effort. What followed was the biggest counterfeit money scam of all times. Over 130 million pound sterling were printed, under conditions that couldn’t have been more tragic or spectacular. During the last years of the war, as the German Reich saw that the end was near, the authorities decided to produce their own banknotes in the currencies of their major war enemies. They hoped to use the duds to flood the enemy economy and fill the empty war coffers. At the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, two barracks were separated from the rest of the camp and the outside world, and transformed into a fully equipped counterfeiters workshop. “Operation Bernhard” was born. Prisoners were brought to Sachsenhausen from other camps to implement the plan: professional printers, fastidious bank officials and simple craftsmen all became members of the top-secret counterfeiter commando. They had the choice: if they cooperated with the enemy, they had a chance to survive, as first-class prisoners in a “golden cage” with enough to eat and a bed to sleep in. If they sabotaged the operation, a sure death awaited them. For THE COUNTERFEITERS, it was not only a question of saving their own lives, but also about saving their conscience as well…”

"Taxi to the Dark Side" - Mar 2nd

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:49:36 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Mar 2nd at 7:15pm for Taxi to the Dark Side 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.

“TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE, the latest documentary from now two-time Oscar-nominee Alex Gibney (ENRON: The Smartest Guys in the Room), confirms his standing as one of the foremost non-fiction filmmakers working today. A stunning inquiry into the suspicious death of an Afghani taxi driver at Bagram air base in 2002, the film is a fastidiously assembled, uncommonly well-researched examination of how an innocent civilian was apprehended, imprisoned, tortured, and ultimately murdered by the greatest democracy on earth. Intermingling documents and records of the incident with candid testimony from eyewitnesses and participants, the film uncovers an inescapable link between the tragic incidents that unfolded in Bagram and the policies made at the very highest level of the United States government in Washington, D.C. Combining the cool detachment of a forensic expert with the heated indignation of a proud American who holds his country to a high standard, GibneyÂ’s film reveals how the Bush administration has systematically betrayed the very ideals it professes to uphold.”

Oscar Sunday - No Movie this Week

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:40:40 +0000

With both the Spirit Awards and the Oscars, it’s the Super Bowl Weekend for film nerds. Therefore the Boston Sunday Night Film Club will be taking the week off to let people nerd out. See you next Sunday, March 2nd!

"Jumper" - Feb 17th

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:17:01 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Feb 17th at 6:30pm for Jumper at the AMC Boston Common 19 . 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.

“A smart kid with a tough family life discovers that he has the ability to teleport. Empowered, he leaves home for NYC. While using his abilities to track the man he blames for the death of his mother years earlier, he draws the attention of both the NSA and a possibly nefarious guy his own age who has the same abilities and enters into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with both.”

"4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" - Feb 10th

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 03:29:15 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Feb 10th at 7:05pm for 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days at the Kendall Square Cinema . 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.

“Winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, this unforgettable drama is so gripping it plays like a thriller. Set during the last year of the CeauÃ§escu dictatorship, ironically called the “Golden Age of Romania,” life has become a nightmare for the hard-pressed citizens. The film unfolds over 24 tense hours as a college student (Anamaria Marinca) desperately tries to arrange an illegal abortion for her irresponsible roommate (Laura Vasiliu). As almost everything that could possibly go wrong does, the film reveals how oppression infects every aspect of the culture. A political, moral and spiritual knockout.”

At the HFA: Arthur Penn in person!

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:00:49 +0000

If you’re looking for something Non-football related to do over the next few days, check out what’s going on over at the Harvard Film Archive! sean

At the Harvard Film Archive February 1 - February 7, 2008 Arthur Penn, American Auteur February 1 - February 4 Arthur Penn in person February 1 and February 2! Director Arthur Penn in person Special Event Tickets $10 The Chase Friday February 1 at 7pm Penns first great masterpiece is also one of his darkest works, a portrait of small town America as a festering backwater stagnant with avarice, envy and racism. Marlon Brando is magnificent as the weary sheriff appointed by a small towns corrupt patriarch and reluctantly assigned to capture a misunderstood fugitive, played by Robert Redford. As night descends, debauched house parties boil over into a frenzied carnival of raw violence that tears apart the flimsy faÃ§ade of cracker barrel hospitality erected by the town elders. With an impressive line-up that includes Angie Dickenson, Jane Fonda, James Fox, Bruce Cabot and Miriam Hopkins, The Chase boasts an ensemble cast that draws from both Old and New Hollywood. Directed by Arthur Penn. With Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, Robert Redford US 1966, 35mm, color, 135 min. Screening with The Tears of My Sister In 1953, Penn directed two live television dramas from scripts by Horton Foote, The Death of the Old Man and The Tears of My Sister. The broadcasts mark the beginning of Penn’s work for live television, which would culminate in The Miracle Worker and launch Penn’s film career, as well as the beginning of a partnership with Foote that would be renewed with The Chase (based on Foote’s play and subsequent novel). The Tears of My Sister is narrated by a young girl, whose voice we hear but do not see, played by Kim Stanley, as she watches her older sister struggle with the pressure to marry a man she does not love. Directed by Arthur Penn. With Kim Stanley, Katherine Squire, Frank Overton US 1953, video, b/w, 30 min. Little Big Man Saturday February 2 at 3pm A remarkable adaptation of the Thomas Berger novel, Penns epic recasting of American history blends dark satire with ribald comedy to crack open the myths of the tamingof the Western frontier. Dustin Hoffmans hilarious and heart-wrenching portrait of the stumbling anti-hero, Jack Crabb, brings a poignant vulnerability to Bergers story of the little manswept along by the forces of history. Often cited as one the finest of the revisionist Westerns, Little Big Mans potent outrage over the cruel massacre of Native Americans echoed loudly during the Vietnam War. Directed by Arthur Penn. With Dustin Hoffman, Faye Dunaway, Martin Balsam US 1970, 35mm, color, 150 min. Director Arthur Penn in person Special Event Tickets $10 Night Moves Saturday February 2 at 7pm One of the strongest of the film noir revivals popular during the 1970s, Night Moves pushes the genre to a bleak point of no return. Gene Hackman is wonderfully cast as a disillusioned Los Angeles detective hired to track down a washed out movie stars daughter while also trying to understand the mystery of his own rapidly disintegrating marriage. Night Moves sinister tale of conspiracy and intrigue powerfully evokes the Watergate-era and stands as one of the quintessential American films of the 1970s. Directed by Arthur Penn. With Gene Hackman, Jennifer Warren, Susan Clark US 1975, 35mm, color, 100 min. Followed by Mickey One Strangely underrated, Penns wonderfully offbeat and inventive film is an extraordinary tour de force and one of his most stylish and satisfying works. Warren Beatty gives a brilliant turn as Mickey, a stand-up comedian on the lam who descends, like Orpheus, into a strange back alley underworld that just might be of his own invention. At turns haunting and comic, Mickey One offers a mysterious allegory of fear and redemption that features gorgeous photography by Robert Bressons favorite cinematographer, Ghislain Cloquet, and an improvised soundtrack by jazz great Stan Getz. Directed by Arthur Penn. With Warren Beatty, Alexandra Stewart, Hurd Hatfield US 1965, 35mm, b/w, 93 min. And The Hightest from Visions of Eight In Penns cinema the human body is frequently explored as expressive medium, with gesture, posture and movement taking on a new level of meaning and subtlety in his filmsoften more expressive than even dialogue. Penns contribution to the eight-part omnibus film of the 1972 Tokyo Olympics is a wonderful study of the body in motion that follows the thrilling trials of the pole vaulting competition. Directed by Arthur Penn. US/West Germany 1973, video, color Alices Restaurant Sunday February 3 at 3pm Loosely based on Arlo Guthries spoken ballad, Alices Restaurant is Penns first and only credit as a screenwriter. A lament to the end of the countercultural revolution,Penns film vividly evokes the hopes and dreams burnished by the hippie generation. Guthrie himself stars as a wandering soul perplexed by the strange contradictions of America during the Vietnam-era and ultimately engaged in a peaceful one-man battle against the bureaucratic war machine. Effused with a melancholy spirit, Alices Restaurant is one of Penns gentlest and most poignant films. Directed by Arthur Penn. With Arlo Guthrie, Pat Quinn, James Broderick US 1969, 35mm, color, 111 min. Bonnie and Clyde Sunday February 3 at 7pm One of the pivotal films of the 1960s, Bonnie and Clyde is also a wonderful portrait of amour fou, with Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway as the eponymous heroes whose pursuit of love and larceny scars a dark arrow across the heart of America. Penns brilliant evocation of the Depression-era and Americas most notorious bandits caused a scandal for its unusual counterbalance of comedy with a new level of graphic violence hitherto unseen in American cinema. Directed by Arthur Penn. With Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Gene Hackman US 1967, 35mm, b/w, 111 min. Followed by The Left Handed Gun Totally ignored by American critics when it was first released, The Left Handed Gun was recognized as a major first film by the French, who noted the films sensitive portrait of troubled youth and its disturbing vision of violent America. Originally conceived as a vehicle for James Dean, Penns debut explores the first in a line of social outcasts that recur throughout Penns cinema, reinventing the legendary figure of Billy the Kid as a sympathetic misfit unable to integrate into a society deliberately cruel to those who are different. Paul Newman subtly captures Billys fragile, troubled life in a nuanced performance that frequently replaces words with resonant and unexpected gestures. Directed by Arthur Penn. With Paul Newman, Lita Milan, John Dehner US 1958, 35mm, b/w, 105 min. The Miracle Worker Monday February 4 at 7pm Penns first real recognition as a director came from his screen adaptation of the beloved play which he had successfully directed twice on Broadway. For the screen, Penn beautifully captured the tenderness and terror that united Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, played with great sensitivity and power by Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft, respectively. The Miracle Worker is a key work in Penns oeuvre, the film that perhaps makes clearest the concern for non-verbal communication and expressive gestures that runs throughout his films. Directed by Arthur Penn. With Anne Bancroft, Patty Duke, Victor Jory US 1962, 35mm, b/w, 106 min. Missouri Breaks Monday February 4 at 9pm Featuring the incredible pairing of Jack Nicholson as a feckless cattle thief and Marlon Brando as the Irish regulatorhired to hunt him down, Missouri Breaks is a rollicking and highly unusual Western that, in typical Penn fashion, strains the boundaries of the genre. Penns empowerment of performers is taken to a wonderful furthest extreme by the subversive presence of Brandos cross-dressing and unpredictable assassin, who effectively turns codes of masculinity and narrative continuity upon their heads. Once dismissed as an oddityin Penns career, The Missouri Breaks has been reevaluated as one of the more ambitious and original Westerns of its time, placing it in the company of Peter Fondas The Hired Hand and Monte Hellmans The Shooting. Directed by Arthur Penn. With Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Randy Quaid US 1976, 35mm, color, 126 min. The Harvard Film Archive is located on the lower level of the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts, 24 Quincy St. Cambridge 617 495 4700 http://hcl.harvard.edu/hfa Check us out on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/harvardfilmarchive or on facebook: http://harvard.facebook.com/profile.php?id=645641425

No Movie This Weekend

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:54:10 +0000

The Sunday Night Film Club will be taking this Sunday off to avoid any collateral insanity associated with the Patriots success (or failure) at the Super Bowl. See you on February 10th!

"Billy the Kid" - Jan 27th

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:17:17 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Jan 27th at 7:15pm for Billy the Kid at the Coolidge Corner Theatre . Look for Dan wearing a “Grave Digger” monster truck t-shirt 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.

Winner of the Best Documentary title at both the SXSW and Los Angeles film festivals this year, BILLY THE KID is a sensitive and humorous verite portrait of Billy, a 15-year-old outsider growing up in small-town Maine. Billy appears, in many ways, like other teenage boys. He’s into heavy metal and martial arts, is an desperate to find a girlfriend, and aspires to a career as an actor and rock star. Yet in other ways Billy is unique. A troubled past and ongoing behavioral issues have left him marked. But he is unapologetic about his personality and refuses to be victimized, creating his own techniques to help him survive in an environment of pain, conformity and prejudice. Billy funny, sharp and strangely funny for his age, and remarkably candid. We witness his life from his perspective – from intimate conversations with his mother, to being bullied at school, to his fantasies of becoming a superhero. We also experience the exhilarating pangs of first love as Billy pursues Heather, a shy 16-year-old waitress. Will Billy get the girl? Will his community accept him on his own terms? BILLY THE KID challenges viewers to imagine themselves beyond labels.

"Cloverfield" - Jan 20th

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:48:57 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Jan 20th at 7pm for Cloverfield at the Regal Fenway Stadium 13 . 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.

Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives.

"Persepolis" - Jan 13th

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:06:37 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Jan 13th at 7:15pm for Persepolis at the Kendall Square Cinema . 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.

With amazing wit and heart, this award-winning animated feature tells the poignant story of a young girl coming-of-age in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Through the eyes of precocious and outspoken 9-year-old Marjane, we see a people’s hopes dashed as fundamentalists take powerÂ—forcing the veil on women and imprisoning thousands. Clever and fearless, she outsmarts the “social guardians” and discovers punk, ABBA and Iron Maiden. Feeling vulnerable and alone in a strange land after being sent to school in Austria, she has to combat being equated with the religious fundamentalism and extremism she fled her country to escape. Featuring the voices of Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux and Simon Abkarian. Directed by Marjane Satrapi (based on her acclaimed memoir) and Vincent Paronnaud.

"There Will Be Blood" - Jan 6th

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:33:25 +0000

Join the Boston Sunday Night Film Club this Sunday, Jan 6th at 6pm for There Will Be Blood at the AMC Harvard Square 5 . 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.

“The story chronicles the life and times of one Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis), who transforms himself from a down-and-out silver miner raising a son on his own into a self-made oil tycoon. When Plainview gets a mysterious tip-off that thereÂ’s a little town out West where an ocean of oil is oozing out of the ground, he heads with his son, H.W. (Dillon Freasier), to take their chances in dust-worn Little Boston. In this hardscrabble town, where the main excitement centers around the holy roller church of charismatic preacher Eli Sunday (Paul Dano), Plainview and H.W. make their lucky strike. But even as the well raises all of their fortunes, nothing will remain the same as conflicts escalate and every human value Â– love, hope, community, belief, ambition and even the bond between father and son Â– is imperiled by corruption, deception and the flow of oil.”