Documentary Film Festival, March 30–April 10
The Art Theater documentary festival last September brought a variety good films to choose from that normally wouldn’t get exposure in a small market such as ours. The upcoming installment looks like it could even top that. The lineup this time around includes festival opener All In: The Poker Movie (a film that we hope to see and have a review to offer in a few days), a new Herzog film, some Sigur Rós, a new look at a classic piece of film, and much more.
All In: The Poker Movie: A mix of history and insight into the world of gambling and poker from the underground in NYC to homes all over the world. Some say poker is now bigger than the Super Bowl. Even folks in Champaign are getting busted for illegal poker operations. Why is gambling restricted? Has the government ruined gambling out of their own greed? Seek answers here.
A Trip to the Moon & The Incredible Voyage: George Melies’ classic A Trip to the Moon helped inspire Scorcese’s Hugo, and now has a documentary about its resoration. The film is accompanied by the music of Air. Yeah, that does sounds pretty cool doesn’t it?
Blank City: Punk explosiveness from the ’70s and ’80s via 8mm and 16mm footage. Looks pretty raw and gritty, the way a punk documentary should.
Under the Boardwalk: Delves into the world of one of the most infamous board games in history, as well as the Monopoly World Championship. The best news? It will take less time to watch this film than to actually play a game.
Passione: John Turturo’s documentary about the lively singing, dancing people of Naples. It’s more color, sound, and movement than documentary-style dialogue.
The Whale: An Orca breaks free and befriends some Canadians.
The Last Lions: One of my favorite parts of going to the library in school was the opportunity to check out the National Geographic magazines and those stunning glossy photos. Here is a National Geographic production that puts those vivid photos in motion, following a lioness and her cubs. Jeremy Irons narrates! Yes, Scar himself. How cool.
Phil Ochs: There but for Fortune: Who? Well, that’s the point of this documentary. Ochs went from living folk legend to a footnote. How did it happen?
Romeo & Juliet (Ballet): I think this is pretty self-explanatory. It’s Shakespeare, dancing, and classical music. If you like one or more of those things then this trailer is worth checking out.
Black Power Mix Tape: 1967–1975: 16mm footage of the Black Power movement from 1967–1975.
Into the Abyss: A Werner Herzog documentary that looks into a Texas triple homicide and examines the politics of the death penalty.
Bhutto: A documentary about Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s assassinated former prime minister.
Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey: Well, I’m tickled this is showing. Meet the man behind Elmo who dreamed of working with his idol, Jim Henson.
Adventures in Plymptoons: Cartoons and sex and weirdness.
Force of Nature: A free screening of a documentary on improvisational dance artist Kirstie Simson, a professor at the University of Illinois.
Inni: A documentary about the beauty and oddity that is Sigur Rós. I actually traveled to Chicago last year to see this film. That’s how much of a fan I am of this band. Inni is nothing like Heima, but then again, why would it be? This film has very little dialogue; it’s almost all music. What I love about it is that it brings back the sound, mood, look, costumes, and sheer magnificence that was this band’s 2008 tour. At the time I saw that tour, and when watching this film, I believed that I’d not get the chance to see Sigur Rós live again, so that made it especially enjoyable.
And it’s true that most of us have probably seen this on DVD already, but I saw the film at Lincoln Hall, and it was simply wonderful. This band demands the huge screen and sound that we can only get inside a theater. Seeing it again at the Art will be just as satisfying as Lincoln Hall, I’m sure. ~~Tracy Nectoux
My Reincarnation: An intriguing look at high Tibetan Buddhist Master and his western-born son, who is considered to be a reincarnation of a spiritual master.
Crispin Hellion Glover’s Big Slide Show, What is it?, and It is fine! EVERYTHING IS FINE!, April 11–12
Crispin Hellion Glover will be at the Art Theater for a couple of days to screen his two films, do his Big Slide Show each night, as well as hold a Q&A and book signing. What is it? looks like part Pi, part Playboy’s production of Macbeth (1971), and part 8 1/2? What is it? seems like a suitable title because your guess is as good as mine. The sequel, It is fine! EVERYTHING IS FINE! plays the first night. Look for an upcoming interview with Glover, who can hopefully clear up all of these uncertainties.
Linotype: The Film, April 12
This documentary details the Linotype type casting machine, which revolutionized printing. The film has local Illinois connections, including Champaign’s Molly Poganski, shop manager of the Living Letter Press. Poganski, who designed the film’s poster, will be on hand with Doug Wilson and others to talk about the film. Look for an SP review sometime before the big one-night only event.
The New Art Film Festival, April 20
The New Art Film Festival is an annual festival showcasing local filmmakers from Champaign-Urbana, IL, and other downstate Illinois cities. We’ll get a sneak peak at this next week.
3rd Annual Feminist Film Festival, April 23, 7:00–9:30 p.m.
For the past two years, students from the University of Illinois have created and showcased independent films that highlight and explore women’s unique experiences and perspectives. I attended last year’s Feminist Film Festival, and it was a grand success. I remember being very moved by Kumars Salehi’s Rose Colored Mirror, and laughing throughout Pants Girl and Dress Boy Fight Hegemony, by Eric T. Roth. And Nicki Werner’s Breathing a Doily into my Trachea … I still remember every second of that oddly compelling (and slightly disturbing) film. I think it was my favorite. All of the nine films shown last year were interesting, entertaining, and extremely well done.
This year’s Feminist Film Festival will be at the Art Theater. If you’d like to learn more about the festival itself, check out last year’s interview that Smile Politely had with its host, Rachel Storm, Program Coordinator for the Women’s Resources Center.
The coordinators of the festival are currently in the “accepting admissions” phase, but you can check in with their Facebook page for upcoming titles. ~~Tracy Nectoux
The 14th Annual Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, April 25–29
Chances are that you’ve seen the lineup by now, but you can’t discuss local film happenings in April without talking about the biggest event of all. Ebert’s picks this year include: Joe Versus the Volcano (opening night), Take Shelter, Iran’s Oscar winner A Separation, and Citizen Kane, with track commentary from Ebert himself. Returning this year is the Alloy Orchestra, who blew my mind during last year’s screening of Metropolis. They’ll be performing Wild AND Weird: The Alloy Orchestra Plays 10 Fascinating and Innovative Films 1906–1926. Also, Patton Oswalt will be one of the guests on hand for two films, Kind Hearts and Coronets (at Foellinger Hall) and Big Fan. I tried to set up an interview with Oswalt, but my Tweet and Facebook message were not returned. Look for our in-depth, larger preview of Ebertfest (and hopefully some interviews) the week of the festival.