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Waiting eagerly for any little tidbits.
Juicy or otherwise.
RE any and all subject matter.
July 12, 2009
Summer Vacation 'Open Mike' has begun!
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We celebrated the great weather today with a barbecue of pulled pork and watermelon. Talk about JUICY.
Sounds a little juicier than our veggie burger /tofurky dog grill this weekend. However, we caught a film called 'Spider' with Ralph Fienes and Miranda Richardson and Gabriel Byrne that was WWW. It had a plot line that seems like it might match up well with the double header that's coming up here on the blog in September in that they all have mental illness as a common thread.
By the way, the last discussion was fantastic.
Hello everyone!
I am writing to you from one of my very favorite places in the whole wide world..Washington D.C. (well, Silver Spring Maryland to be exact)
I lived here for roughly 10 years from about 1985 on. I return yearly and house sit for a wonderful friend who takes her three children on awesome summer adventures around the country that would make your mouth water. I usually stay for three or four weeks and catch up with all my old pals and favorite haunts which I am now doing. And most importantly I play ball with Bogie the dog. I used to feed Ethel the cat but she finally died at a very old age last year (with little to no suffering).
This trip is something that I look forward to all year, when I feel trapped in my sealed filtered world and am forever dodging the constant bullets of toxicity that I feel I can no longer bear, I remember that soon I will be walking in the balmy night air down from the Lincoln Memorial to the lights of the Capitol , picnicing by frothing fountains with nary a human in sight and feeling the general life giving 'buzz' that has always accompanied this special place for me.
And as an added gift this year, the night grounds swarm with fireflies.
Lee, are you taking a vacation from movies during your trip? There used to be a great theatre on Connecticut Ave. One of the last old time screens in the country I believe. Do you know which one I am talking about?
I believe this may be the theatre Jimmy is referring to?
Uptown Theater
Washington, DC
3426 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 United States(map)
202.966.8805
Status: Open
Screens: Single Screen
Style: Art Deco
Function: Movies (First Run)
Seats: 840
Chain: AMC Theatres
Architect: John J. Zink
Firm: Unknown
Exterior view of the Uptown Theater
Photo courtesy of Martin McCafferyOpened by Warner Brothers on October 29, 1936, the Uptown Theater is the last movie palace in Washington, DC still showing first-run films. The Uptown is located near the Cleveland Park subway stop on the Red Line of the Metro. Many restaurants are on both sides of the street.
The theater opened with a seating capacity of 1,364 (914 seats in the orchestra and 450 in the stadium seated balcony). The Uptown Theater was designed by theater architect John Zink, a top designer of Art Deco and Art Moderne style movie houses. In 1939, Zink designed Baltimore's historic Senator Theatre.
In the early 1940's, the auditorium's side walls were covered with fabric. In 1956, the auditorium was remodeled to allow films in wide screen Todd-AO. "South Pacific" ran for seven months in 1958 and "West Side Story" ran for nine months in 1961. In 1962, the auditorium was remodeled to show 3-strip Cinerama films. The original projection booth remains at the top of the balcony, but new booths were added at the front of the balcony. Since Cinerama ended, the center front booth continues to be used.
The World Premiere of "2001-A Space Odyssey" was at the Uptown Theater on April 2, 1968, in its original two-hour and 40 minute version. Kubrick trimmed 20 minutes, and the movie was then shown for 51 weeks. Local theater operators Circle tookover, and that company's founders continue to own the building, though succeeding movie operators lease it. In 1987, Cineplex Odeon tookover, and that company later merged into Loews, which in time merged with into AMC.
Many films were shown in their original 70mm runs, and later, in reissues, to sold out crowds. The restored "Lawrence of Arabia" was shown in 1987, with director David Lean attending the premiere. The restored "Spartacus" was shown in 1991 and the restored "My Fair Lady" in 1994. Cineplex Odeon refurbished this palatial movie house in 1996, reducing the seating capacity to 840 and reopened it with the restored "Vertigo". In 1997, the Uptown was host to the re-release of the Star Wars saga (aka "Star Wars: The Special Edition"). On opening day, the ticket lines wrapped around the block, turned the corner, and continued several blocks away from Connecticut Street. New prints of 36 classic films, starting with "The Jazz Singer" were shown in 1998 to celebrate 75 years of Warner Brothers movies. The other restored classics included "Rear Window" in 2000, and in 2001, a 20th anniversary run of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey". In 2003, the Director's Cut of "Alien" was shown, and in 2007, "Blade Runner, the Final Cut".
Hollywood studios frequently have glittering red carpet film premieres at the Uptown Theater.
First run, blockbuster mainstream movies are the mainstay. Known for having the largest screen in DC (its curved screen measures 32 feet tall by 70 feet wide for 'scope films), the Uptown Theater has been the best place to see event movies for several decades.
Related Websites
AMC Theatres (Official)
Contributed by Karim Alim, Justin Zagri, Howard B. Haas
Yep, that is the one Jack RT and Jimmy. The last film I saw there was the first of "The Matrix" series with my D.C. friend John Urman. Remember that John (if you are reading this post...)?
It was incredibly fun to watch it on such a huge screen.
Another great memory I have of that theatre is seeing "In the Name of the Father" (one of my top ten films), during a rare Christmas snow storm, with only about 6 of us in the entire place. The stunning film and powerful soundtrack , coupled with the storm and the empty theatre made it a pretty mindblowing experience. (BMM!)
Another great memory just came up. While I was still living here in DC I went to the Uptown by myself and was standing in line behind a cool looking couple. They were purchacing tickets and the cashier said to the guy, how many will that be? And I jokingly said pretty loudly, "That'll be three". They turned to look at me and the guy cracked a smile, looked back at the cashier and said, "That's right, that'll be three tickets please". So of course I bought them extra large popcorn and we chatted a bit after the film. I can't even remember what the movie was. But the experience of the evening was FAH (fun as hell.) And oh yes, I ALWAYS sat in the balcony. It truly is a majestic place and the sound system is killer. Can we only imagine what it would be like to see our very favorite film 'Kontroll' there?
As to your question Jimmy...ME? a VACATION from movies? NEVER!! In fact I've doubled my intake since my arrival, one night I did four in a row. Unfortunately due to my health condition, going to an actual movie theatre is no longer an option. All I can say is THANK THE UNIVERSE FOR NETFLIX!!!!!!!!!! or I'd be a very unhappy camper.
So thanks again to both of you for bringing back some of my greatest UPTOWN memories....
very nice blog lee!
Lee, as you seem to have a yen for Scandinavian films I'd like to suggest one we watched tonight called "DAYBREAK". BMM.
I will check it out Filmluver. You are right on about the fact that I LOVE Scandinavian films.
I just watched a Friedkin film called 'Bug'. SOOooooooo NWIE and WBTIE. A must see for sure.
Lee, Saw Bug a few months back. Had read a little about it ahead of time so had some idea what was coming. Still, no way to really prepare for a film experience like this. Ashley Judd was flat out amazing. In fact, all the actors -- even Harry Connick -- were fantastic. Definitely Friedkin's best in a long time!
Hey Ho Oldman! I'm so glad you saw 'Bug' and can join me in my utter amazement about the quality of this film. On every level. Ashley Judd was boggling. Her willingness to become so very ordinary looking when she is a stunningly gorgeous human impressed the hell out of me. When was the last time we saw a leading lady like that with a decent 'real women' size butt and pair of thighs? BMM. She should have won every award available.
And her co-star-(he popped up in Revolutionary Road as well, remember?) is a whole new ball of wax. Looking forward to seeing him in different kinds of roles.
Keep in mind Oldman that I hadn't the SLIGHTEST idea of what the movie was about before watching. And I'm glad I didn't. FAH.
Hope all is well and that you guys are continuing to have a wondrous and adventure filled summer.
Well, after reading your comments about BUG who could resist?
Pulled it off the shelf at Blockbuster on the way home from work and oh yeah,WWW. A. Judd was transformed in my opinion, I had no idea how talented she is. And two thumbs up to those 'real women' thighs. And no less sexy for it!
I suggest watching it on a steamy
summer night, windows open and crickets cricketing, lights out.
And keep a spray bottle of 'Off' just in case you feel a little itch.......
Just discovered something interesting. The TV I've watched my recent films on in DC apparently stretches the image in such a way as to fill the widescreen TV surface (unlike mine at home) thereby rendering all butts and thighs larger than they really are. So my comment about Ms Judd's 'real woman' body may have been slighly off scale so to speak. Regardless, she was superb.
The August heat wave is upon the area and the mosquitos are ravenous so I am spending more time indoors than I did in the first three weeks. I should be back in Boston in about a week.
Silver, anything interesting going on up there?
See 'The Dreamers', 2003, Bernardo Bertolucci. Perhaps NECOT but WWW. A sure thing for Bertolucci fans.
Hey Filmluver, saw 'Daybreak' last night. Thanks for the excellent tip, LEM.
And to anonymous, thanks and I just added it to my list to watch.
Lee, It's been several years since I last saw The Dreamers, but definitely agree with Anonymous that it's WWW. Also agree it may not be everyone's cup of tea. I'm guessing Anonymous suggested this due to the liberal amounts of nudity and sex, not to mention the incest theme where the twins are concerned. Shades of "Luna," but a much more successful film, I think, than that one. Personally I think Dreamers -- as well as Bertolucci's Last Tango -- are perfect arguments for Ebert's oft repeated desire for an additional "A" rating to indicate a film with "adult" content that is nonetheless, not a porno. I do remember wondering first time I saw it whether it would mean the same thing, or as much to someone not of "a certain age." I was in college at the time the events in The Dreamers were taking place making me an exact contemporary of the film's characters. For someone older - who may well have had a far different view of the events of that time -- and especially for someone younger for whom this would be no less a history lesson than a movie about WWII or the great depression, I doubt Dreamers will have the same resonance it does for me. Certainly it will never evoke the same sense of nostalgia I experienced. Frankly I'd love to see it here on the blog, both because I'd be extremely interested in hearing what the rest have to say about it, but also because it seems so perfectly suited to a film blog. Start with the director, Bertolucci, son of a film critic, breaking into films after first making his name as a poet as assistant director on Passolini's great film, Accattone, and director in his own right of truly wonderful movies like Tango, Last Emperor etc. Bertolucci loves films as much as you do, Lee, and Dreamers is chock full of movie allusions. The characters meet, where else, at the Cinémathèque Française. Movies, in fact, are what they have in common. Isabelle even announces early on that she was born in 1959, obviously impossible given that this would have made her about 10 years old. But we get an explanation. This is when Godard's "Breathless" was made. Well, nuff said. I'll be curious to hear what you think.
Think it was Silver who mentioned Rachel Getting Married a while back. Finally had a chance to watch it. A wonderful film with some scenes shot in an almost Dogme 95 style. Anne Hathaway as the junkie daughter is a revelation. She moves about as far from her Disney stereotype as can be imagined here, but unlike in Havoc, this time she makes the transition with her acting as opposed to just taking her clothes off. Actually the entire cast is very good, and it's such a treat to see Debra Winger, mesmerizing as always, in her first film role since Eulogy and one of only 3 or 4 movies she's made in the last 15 years. Although Hathaway's "Kym" is certainly the main character, the film is clearly more about the marriage of her sister Rachel and "Sidney" (Tunde Adebimpe, from "TV on the Radio"), how that goes down, all the multi-cultural guests, family really, and what that may mean these days. Definitely WWW. And check out Adebimpe's CD "Dear Science" if you can. Also well worth hearing!
HI EVERYONE
HOPE YOU ARE MAKING THE MOST OF THIS VERY SHORT SUMMER.
OLDMAN,GLAD YOU LIKED RACHEL AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO BUG.
MY GUILTY PLEASURE HAS BEEN WATCHING A WHOLE SEASON OF IN TREATMENT. JUST LOVE IT!!
SILVER
Your analysis of 'The Dreamers', Oldman, is filled with details that made me look even deeper into why I found the film so satisfying. Surely The Dreamers is a perfect example of why A rating would be a useful tool for allowing one to know in advance that there is in fact a great amount of nudity/sexuality etc. and yet not in the pornographic sense. (other exs. as you mentioned, Last Tango and what was the one with Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger?) As to the question of one's age and the difference that may make as to the movies impact, I am thirty three and although it did not invoke the kind of 'nostalgia' you refer to it was nonetheless quite powerful to me, though obviously not for that reason. I did find the historical perspective and context to be key. Without that it would probably have seemed to be sex for no other purpose than titillation. (But still beautifully photographed and presented.)
BUG. WOW.
Thanks for the tip, never would have watched it. Hard to believe Netflix rating on it is only 2 & 1/2 stars.
The Dreamers is high on the must see list.
Silver, we loved Rachel Getting Married as well. For all the reasons Oldman specifies and more. Isn't that a group of people it would be fun to spend a weekend with!
Watched a wonderful film last night called Jump Tomorrow, sort of a twist on the romantic screwball comedy genre, starring Tunde Adebimpe from Rachel Getting Married (and TV on the Radio). A great film? Maybe not, but enjoyable, sweet and unexpected. This is a low key -- and low budget -- affair in which Adebimpe plays George, a young and very serious Nigerian about to take part in an arranged marriage out of a sense of duty to his family, until he meets Gerard, a lovesick Frenchman (Hippolyte Girardot) and Alicia (Natalia Verbeke) that is. Definitely not a slick Hollywood offering, but much better for it.
Lee, we miss you! As for the weather, hear that it's over 90 there this week too, so maybe that is a sign....No worse than D.C..
Missing you guys big time, Jim. Yeah, it is miserably hot and humid here, like an average August in Washington without the good parts. (being THERE!!)
Maybe it is a sign......
Hi Oldman!
I just watched 'Jump Tomorrow' and realized five minutes in that I saw it some time ago. What a treat to see it again. EVERY scene that took place in the hotel was laugh out loud funny. When Gerard is taking the bubble bath in that giant cup hovering over George who is bouncing around on the vibrating RED bed......Loved the use of color to add to the humor and sense of originality. FAH!!
Dear LEE: Cherry told me that you were a special friend and that I should suggest two films to see: "Intimate Strangers" french and "Cherry Blossoms" german. Both films were memorable. Now watching Russian films "Brother' and "The prisoners of the Mountain" and "The Return". Tom
Welcome Tom!
Any friend of our dear Cherry is a friend of mine.
Thanks so much for the movie tips, I will surely check them out in the near future.
Hope you enjoy the blog and will stay connected, you appear to be quite a movie lover with similar tastes...
And love to Cherry when you connect with her.
Lee
Welcome Tom. I haven't seen Cherry Blossoms; will have to check it out. I have seen Intimate Strangers, however, and agree wholeheartedly: definitely one I'd recommend. Love Sandrine Bonnaire in almost anything. Have you seen her in Vagabond? A beautiful film. Otherwise, have been watching a lot of older films, digging up some of the lesser known screwball comedies of the 30s & 40s. Did anyone catch the Miriam Hopkins marathon on TCM recently? Have to admit a lot of the films shown were new to me. A wonderful comedic actress, right up there with Jean Arthur and Claudette Colbert in this genre. Watched the very funny Lubitsch film, "Design for Living," last night: Hopkins, Gary Cooper and Frederic March learning how to make a menage a trois work. A film that couldn't have even been talked about, much less made only a few years later. Also, managed to watch both Keane and Kira's Reason today. Not about to jump the gun on that conversation, but definitely looking forward to what I'm sure will be a lively discussion.
Sounds like you are having a movie watching marathon Oldman, I can't wait to check out the Lubitsch film. And yeah, Ms Bonnaire was fabulous in Vagabond.
This has been a FAH 'Summer Break' open chat, I have really enjoyed all your input. See you on monday for the double header discussion!
Dear Lee: No new movies to recommend, but the Opera season is beginning in San Jose with :Manon. I am going to the preview next week as I work for the SJ Performacing Arts Ctr. Wish I could Invite you to come with me. Its awonderful opera. Tom
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