Seamus
@ Dupont Circle
Q:If your dog was a celebrity, who would it be?
A:"He's Seamus. He's a celebrity within himself."
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
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.
SILVERDOCS IS SUCH a must-see, buzzed-about event now that previewing it may seem redundant.
Many of the screenings for the 122 films, culled from 58 countries, will sell out whether or not they receive press coverage. But the greatness of Silverdocs (June 15-22) lies with the taste of its programmers, which pretty much guarantees that if you're shut out of one of the big films — e.g., opening-nighter "More Than a Game" (about LeBron James' high school team), the exclusive showing of the boxing documentary "Facing Ali" — you'll likely be just as amazed by one of the smaller movies that give the seventh edition of the festival its energy and flavor.
On June 17, for instance, you can fight the suit-and-tie crowd for the world premiere of "Convention," an all-star ensemble-made documentary about the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
Common Sense Live
Glenn Beck, best known for crying and being weird on Fox, hits the silver screen with the Common Sense Tour Live. Beck, whose show will stream live into theaters from the Midland Theatre in Kansas City, will examine common sense — or lack thereof — by looking at celebrities, politicians and the state of our culture.
» Thu., June 4; For tickets and theaters, see Fathomevents.com.
Films of the Caribbean
The DC Caribbean Filmfest will continue into its ninth year this weekend. A must-see on the roster is Jorge Louis Sanchez's "El Benny," a biopic about 1950's Cuban bandleader Benny More and winner of the best film award at the 2007 Cartagena Film Festival.
» AFI Silver, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring; Thu., June 4 & Fri., June 5; 301-495-6700. (Silver Spring)
Continue Reading "Indies & Arties: Cultures Collide in Europe Laughs Series" »
SUNDAY: Calling all craft enthusiasts of the indie persuasion: Handmade Mart will be stopping by downtown Silver Spring for a day, bringing with it craft vendors and live music. If you want to do some crafting of your own, check out the hands-on workshops at the Pyramid Atlantic Store for a little screen printing or jewelry making.
Before heading out there for the day, be sure to check out the Handmade Mart blog for Q&As with the vendors, as well as a sweet map that will help you plan ahead.
Be sure to pick up something that'll make all those kids perusing Urban Outfitters jealous.
» Downtown Silver Spring, Ellsworth Drive (between Georgia Ave. and Fenton Ave.; Sun., May 31, 10 a.m.-5p.m.; free. (Silver Spring)
Written by Express' Nicole Ocran
Photo courtesy Handmademart.blogspot.com
'Monsieur Verdoux'
Charlie Chaplin stepped away from his silent comic persona and into controversy with 1947's dark comedy "Monsieur Verdoux." Part Bluebeard tale, part modern serial-killer story, this feature comes to the National Gallery of Art on Saturday.
» National Gallery of Art, 600 constitution Ave. NW; Sat., May 23, 2:30 p.m., free; 202-842-6799. (Archives-Navy Memorial)
Boyle Before the Oscar
Danny Boyle is known for splashy films with a big heart, like a little thing called "Slumdog Millionaire." But the British director's lower-budget days produced small gems such as 1994's "Shallow Grave," showing on Friday and Sunday (through May 28) as part of AFI Silver's Films of Danny Boyle showcase.
» AFI Silver, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring; through July 1; 301-495-6700. (Silver Spring)
THIS WEEKEND: Even in this renaissance of the movie musical — and yes, Hugh Jackman, we all knew about that approximately 2 years before you sang about it at the Oscars — we're still dredging up forgotten classics. "The Band Wagon," which follows the standard people-put-on-a-show-which-fails-and-then-miraculously-succeeds storyline includes one of the most beautiful dance sequences ever filmed. Don't miss the chance to see it on the big screen at AFI.
» AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring; Sat. and Sun., May 16 and 17, 1 p.m. $6-$10; 301-495-6720. (Silver Spring)
Photo from Hulton Archive/Getty Images
THE COMMON TAKE on the dancer-actress Cyd Charisse, who died at 86 last June, is that she was a hell of a dancer.
That's indisputable but incomplete. Indeed, the ballet-trained beauty had a seductress' serpentine majesty when she moved, but for a dancer, she was also one pistol of an actress.
Born Tula Elice Finklea in the great days of studio-mandated name changes (and the great days of Texan-girl names), Charisse would be directed by such greats as Rouben Mamoulian, Nicholas Ray, Stanley Donen and Vincente Minnelli. Seven of her finest films screen at AFI beginning on Saturday.
Continue Reading "Her Legs Go on Forever: Cyd Charisse at AFI" »
THIS WEEK: The 48 Hour Film Project posits the question: what if we give people one character, one line of dialogue, one genre, one prop and two days and see if they can make movies? The answer: They can!
AFI will be screening D.C.'s collection of seven-minute movies, which are made by crack teams of aspiring filmmakers all over the city. If you don't want to sit through it all, check out the "best of" show on May 21.
» AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, May 5-May 8, $10; 301-495-6720. (Silver Spring)
Photo by Lizzie Brinson
TUESDAY: Although Cinco de Mayo is traditionally an alcohol-soaked holiday second only to St. Patrick's Day, Silver Spring is making it family-friendly.
The Austin Grill will open up its patio into a Mexican beer garden — hey, we didn't say there wouldn't be any cheap drinks! — but kids can enjoy face painting, mariachi music and guacamole. There will also be a raffle in honor of the holiday.
» Austin Grill, 919 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring; Tue., May 5, 4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., free; 240-247-8969. (Silver Spring)
Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post
Addison Road