Lacy (winner, Most Affectionate)
@ Dupont Circle
Q:If your dog was a celebrity, who would it be?
A:"Charlize Theron. She's glamorous."
THE AFI SILVER THEATRE and Cultural Center in Silver Spring always makes summers worth a cinephile's while. First there's Silverdocs, which features more than 100 films from around the world and draws both celebrities and tens of thousands of film-lovers to the center. Then there's AFI's annual "Lawrence of Arabia" screening, where it shows the award-winning film every Sunday from July to August.
And if you're not interested in documentaries about boxer Muhammad Ali ("Facing Ali"), Vogue editor Anna Wintour ("The September Issue") or Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James ("More Than a Game") and David Lean's epic film about T.E. Lawrence's partnership with the Arabs during World War I, then AFI has different film series during the summer that honor different genres, actors and directors who changed cinema as we know it.
Beginning this month and continuing into September, AFI will recognize the '80s, Steven Spielberg, French New Wave filmmaker Francois Truffaut and Michael Douglas — an utterly random collection, but one that will probably appeal to most film fans. Each series has a few different flicks, but if you can't afford spending $10 on each, then we made it easy for you: We picked the ones from "Totally Awesome 3: More Films of the 1980s," "Steven Spielberg Retrospective, Part II," "The Films of Francois Truffaut, Part I" and "AFI Life Achievement Award Retrospective: Michael Douglas" that are totally worth your while. See them all, if you can afford to splurge — it's what we're planning on doing.
Continue Reading "A Little of This, A Little of That: AFI Summer Movie Picks" »
WHEN IT COMES to summer blockbusters, studios and audiences alike normally clamor for flashy style over finessed substance, which is how films like "Transformers," "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "X-Men" rake in the millions. It's not about the acting ability of the films' main stars (although Johnny Depp was a dashingly handsome Capt. Jack Sparrow), but about how many explosions, special effects and cool CGI a director can cram into a couple of hours — just watch some previews for "The Final Destination" to figure out what we're talking about.
But before you shell out $12 to watch more dumb, pretty and skanky teenagers get offed in the most ridiculous of ways, why not watch some actually good actors instead?
Enter "Public Enemies," the Michael Mann drama/thriller focused on bank robber John Dillinger and the Feds — specifically agent Melvin Purvis — chasing him. Starring Depp as Dillinger and Christian Bale as Purvis, the film — which is also an adaptation of the book "Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34" by Bryan Burrough — looks like one of this summer's best bets.
In their fantastic duo-ness, Depp and Bale are following in the footsteps of lots of other great acting pairs who've lit up the silver screen with their acting chops (and let's face it, good looks). Here are five collaborative favorites:
Continue Reading "They Came Two by Two: Epic Dramatic Duos" »
THIS WEEK: If you've never seen the documentary that preceded Gus Van Sant's "Milk," you're in luck. "The Times of Harvey Milk," a tear-jerking take on the life and murder of the ground-breaking gay politician is playing every day through Thursday at the AFI Silver Theatre. If you're not moved by the footage of the vast vigil held in San Francisco after "Milk" was shot, you're not allowed to sit next to us.
» AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring; 8:30 p.m., $6-$10; 301-495-6720, afi.com. (Silver Spring)
Photo courtesy Crawford Barton/Gay and Lesbian Historical Society of Northern California
MONDAY: Can't get tickets to see Helen Mirren live onstage in "Phedre" this September? Beat all those ticket-carrying sheep to the show on Monday when the Shakespeare Theatre Company screens a performance of London's Royal National Theatre's production. The public screening is part of Natty Theo's initiative to broadcast performances of plays from London on cinema screens around the world.
» Harman Hall, 618 F St. NW; Mon., June 29, 7:30 p.m., call theater for prices; 202-547-1122.
Photo courtesy The National Theatre
MONDAY: The National Theatre provides a cool breeze in the middle of sweltering heat with its free, six-part summer cinema series honoring Elizabeth Taylor. The films in "Who's Afraid of Elizabeth Taylor?" include 1958's "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," above, screen on Monday nights.
» National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW; through Aug. 8, 6:30 p.m., free; 202-783-6854.
Photo courtesy The Washington Post Archives
SATURDAY: Kids can indulge their movie-inspired fantasies this summer as Smithsonian Associates hosts "Night at the Museum" Smithsonian Sleepovers. Get to know the National Museum of Natural History by moonlight and take in an IMAX screening. The series begins this Saturday with 12 hours of educational fun that includes a tour, evening activity, snack and light breakfast — but probably not Owen Wilson.
» National Museum of Natural History", 1000 Constitution Ave. NW; Sat., June 27, 8 p.m.-Sun., 8:30 a.m., 8 years old and up, $125; 202-633-3030. (Smithsonian)
Photo by Linda Davidson/The Washington Post
Bargain Redemption
An edgy stop-motion animated feature that explores the meaning of life is not kiddie fare, unless your toddler has been asking what it's all for. "$9.99" takes audiences on a wild ride with a 28-year-old slacker who finds an ad that promises a booklet that will explain his reason for being. The cost? $9.99. The angel that comes with it? Priceless.
» E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW: opens Fri., June 26, 202-452-7672, (Metro Center)
Hold the Martini
The International Spy Museum screens the film debut of the popular kids' book series "Stormbreaker" as part of its KidSpy program on Thursday. The film follows Alex Ryder from prep-school lad to super-spy when his uncle disappears. The $7 ticket price includes a debriefing from a former spy.
» International Spy Museum, 800 F St. NW; Thu., June 25, 1-3 p.m., $7; 202-393-7798. (Gallery Place-Chinatown)
Continue Reading "Indies & Arties: Meaning of Life Comes at a Price" »
IF GEEKS ARE the new cool crowd, don't tell that to the producers of "The IT Crowd," a ridiculously funny British sitcom whose second season has just been released on DVD.
The show was produced, not surprisingly, with the help of British "The Office" alumnus Ash Atalla, and it shows in the series' tone and tempo, as well as its taste for the occasional mind-boggling quirk, tossed off so casually you'd think — well, many people do anway — the British Isle are populated by only weirdos and perverts. But the basic parameters of a low-key Britcom are all in place: Soul-crushing, pass-the-time work environment; eccentricities bristling from behind every desk; absurd bureaucracy hampering our heroes' every move - check, check, check.
In a forgotten basement of Reynholm Industries, a huge corporation of unspecific purpose, biracial, literal-minded ubergeek Moss (Richard Ayoade) and Roy (Chris O'Dowd), a rumpled slacker cutie with low self-esteem and a bitter sense of humor, toil under the none-too-focused supervision of Jen (Katherine Parkinson) a technical naif who tries to keep the boys in line but is just as happy to play "Guitar Hero" with them in slow times. Soon after her introduction to the basement office — that's how the first episode of the series kicks off; the Season One DVD is an amusing, but not necessary adjunct to the recent release — Jen's own facade begins to crack, and hilariously. She's the "normal one," but only when thrown into contrast with these two losers (and with Richmond, the sweet-souled Goth even the geeks find off-puttingly weird; they keep him locked in a little room behind a red door.)
AS "TRUE BLOOD" demonstrates, being an old vampire doesn't mean you can't be modern. Consider Count Gore De Vol, the first TV horror host to move his show online. On Saturday, the AFI celebrates Dick Dyszel's 1972-1987 tenure as the Count and kiddie emcee "Captain 20" with the premiere of the documentary "Every Other Day Is Halloween," hosted by "Heavy Metal Parking Lot" co-director Jeff Krulik.
» EXPRESS: How did you get involved?
» DYSZEL: Curtis [Prather] would show up with cameras at events, and ask for clippings and footage. About a year ago, he said he would put it together as a film. Speaking as someone who grew up with hosted kids' shows, if you grew up here and watched Channel 20, you owe it to yourself to see this film.
» EXPRESS: What horror hosts did you watch growing up in Chicago?
» DYSZEL: There was "Shock Theater" with "Marvin," a beatnik with Coke-bottle glasses. After Universal released their classic films for TV, almost every station that bought the package put on some kind of hosted showcase around these movies.
THE DIVIDE BETWEEN fans of the original "Transfomers" animated series and the ones who became interested in the franchise after 2007's live-action Michael Bay adaptation is pretty great. One group calls the other nerdy; one labels them bandwagon-jumpers ... it's a surprisingly intense rivalry. You don't want to get in the middle of that kind of hatred (it brings to mind some Backstreet Boys vs. *NYSNC action).
But with "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," the much-anticipated sequel to Bay's blockbuster, those dueling groups of fans may have a glimpse of reconciliatory hope. Maybe the attack scenes between Autobots and Decepticons will be cooler this time around. Maybe the robots will actually display recognizable emotions (like they're supposed to). Maybe Megan Fox will do less talking and more posing.
We can all dream, can't we?
Either way, even if "Revenge of the Fallen" defies expectations or fails to meet them, it has to be better than 2007's "Transformers" (if you can't tell, we're part of the frustrated fanboy camp). Bay sapped the franchise of its kitschy spirit and childlike charm with his film, and anyone who says different needs to catch an episode of the original 1984 Generation 1 cartoon to understand what we're talking about. (Read our review of the series.)
Maybe "Revenge of the Fallen" will have more elements of awesome, but "Transformers" is a lost cause, a plague upon your DVD collection. What were the only good moments in the Shia LaBeouf-anchored film? They were sporadically few and far between, but we figured out five things that made us smile (well, at least they didn't make us cringe).
Continue Reading "Otherwise Crappy: Five Good Things About Michael Bay's 'Transformers'" »
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