This is the Nuart Theater in Los Angeles, circa 1959. The theater remains to this day a single screen venue specializing in art films and classic revivals. And, even though they have renovated, it looks amazingly like this photo from 50 years ago. I just saw "Easy Rider" there for the first time (and hated it). But, ithe Nuart is dependable for being different. When "The Manchurian Candidate" (not the Denzel Washington junky remake) played there, I talked to Janet Leigh in the lobby as she sipped a Diet Coke.
Amazing cinematic adventures await us all this weekend as Hollywood's summer season gets underway. There might even be a good movie or two on the list below. I cull the offerings from the LA Times and give you my knee-jerk reaction on what to expect.
Up: I hear nothing but great word-of-mouth on Pixar's latest, which fellow blogger Ken Levine has described as "Gran Torino" with balloons. The opening ten minute montage is supposed to be one of the most beautiful moments ever captured on film. All this hype may just serve to set me up for a major disappointment. Hopefully not.
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian: Saw it and liked it, although it is not as clever as the original. Hank Azaria steals the movie in every scene he is in as he channels the spirit of Boris Karloff perfectly. But, overall, just know that two monkeys are not always funnier than just one.
Terminator Salvation: I'm not saving it for any reason whatsoever.
Away We Go: Jackie Gleason courting the June Taylor Dancers? Er, no. Some romantic comedy with some guy from the Office and Maya Rudolph who used to not make us laugh on SNL. Well reviewed, but it looks the same as about five dozen other movies that have come out in the last two years.
Moon: An astronaut meets his younger, almost identical replacement when his health starts to deteriorate. "Apollo 13" meets "The Parent Trip."
The Art of Being Straight: Well, we know it's not about Idol finalist Adam Lambert.
The Hangover: The ads tell me this is from the producers of "Old School" and that's enough to scare me away. The reviews were terrific for this, but the trailer looks absolutely dumb. I now realize that I can no longer trust today's film critics to determine what is a good screen comedy. And what the hell is so funny about a couple of blackout drunks anyway?? Although I bet Billy Wilder could find the humor...
Tetro: Francis Ford Coppola returns and there's no other director who can be so bi-polar with his films. Some are the greatest of all time, while others are the worst of all time. This is about some family in Buenos Aires, another international armpit of a city where the flies around your dinner plate are bigger than the steak on it.
The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3: One of the best action films from the 70s now ruined as a remake from Denzel Washington and John Travolta. About as needless as a manufacturer bottling Legionnaires Disease for sale in your local supermarket. Neither of those two knuckleheads will come remotely close to the performances of Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw in the original. But, I'm sure it will grab some dollars over the weekend, especially from moviegoers who happen to be Black racist Scientologists.
The Brothers Bloom: Not in my garden.
Land of the Lost: Will Ferrell stars and let's all root for the dinosaurs with the sharpest teeth. In a Hollywood full of mystery talents, Ferrell's success is the biggest puzzler of them all. A one note actor and an asshole to boot.
Imagine That: Somebody is still sending Eddie Murphy scripts. Imagine that.
My Life in Ruins: Nia Vardalos forces you on a travelogue through her mother country. She always looks like an aardvark in heat.
Angels and Demons: Lingering around like the swine flu. Opie Vs. the Pope. I heard it is absolutely dreadful.
Drag Me to Hell: Many think you already did. On January 20 of this year.
Star Trek: It came out last month. And the sequel's not out yet? They usually pound out editions of this series like babies spit up drool. Food, Inc.: A documentary about, what else, the food industry. Question: if food processes are so bad, why is the country so fat? Think about that as you reach for your second morning donut. Departures: Saw it and previously discussed here. Walter B. Cooke Goes Asian. Well done and deserving of this year's Best Foreign Film Oscar. The Proposal: More absolute crap from Sandra Bullock. It's in previews this weekend, so you can start avoiding it ahead of the rest of the public. Summer Hours: French bullshit with Juliette Binoche. And she's always great with strawberry jam.
Oh, well. I guess there's always Turner Classic Movies.
Dinner last night: Dried cappacollo on sourdough roll.
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