Kenyon Film Society Allstus
Fall 2000
Back to KFS Allstu Archive Main Page
Well, tonight's the night to make all your dreams come true!
Kenyon Film Society presents. . . .
BEING JOHN MALKOVICH
tada!
When: 10:15
Where: Higley Auditorium
Why: Because it was one of the best and most original movies of all last year. John Cusack plays an out of work
puppeteer who stumbles upon a mystic portal that leads into John Malkovich (played very convincingly by John Malkovich.
It was a role he was born to play) So if you don't have anything else planned ( I know we were a little late on
this e-mail. Shame on us) and you want something to do, this is it. This movie has something for everyone. . .
sex, drugs and monkeys with repressed memories. You won't be disappointed.
Lazily,
Valerie and Hannah
Well it can.
Tonight
8:00 PM
Higley Auditorium
THREE KINGS
It is basically a bank robbery movie set in the sandy climate of Kuwait. Cool, huh? Actually, I think it was rather
hot. Anyway the "Three Kings" are played by (in order of silliness) Ice (a huge metaphor ate me in Anaconda)
Cube, Mark(-y Mark of the Funky Bunch fame), and George (Dr. Doug Ross) Clooney. It's a great movie, so COME ON
DOWN as we finish off our first week of KFS shown entertainment!
Excitedly,
Valerie, Hannah, and Bob Barker
Well, today we are kicking off our laughter-filled week of Woody
Allen movies and already we have a minor problem. Those of you who have gotten schedules (and that's not many of
you because we are very, very lazy. But we pride ourselves on that) notice that the film scheduled for today is
"What's Up Tiger Lily" (It's an obscure one, but it's my favorite). Due to technical difficulties (it's
not easy finding the obscure movies) the movie ANNIE HALL will be shown tonight.
Higley Auditorium
10:15
In a love story only Woody Allen could tell, in the role that made Diane Keaton a star, everyones favorite Woody
Allen movie, a classic among classics.
. . .
ANNIE HALL!
The glitch has been de-glitched. Everybody say YAY! Now everybody
go see probably the most obscure, yet undoubtedly wonderful Woody Allen movie ever.
Saturday
8:00 PM
Higley
WHAT'S UP TIGER LILY?
This is one of my absolute favorites so everyone has to make a special effort to see this special slice of filmatic
genius. One year Woody Allen decided to make a movie unlike any other before it. That year he bought the rights
to a legitimate Japanese spy movie that had been released in 1964 entitled Kagi No Kag. Then good ol' Woody had
a brainstorm. "What if I redub the soundtrack and voices of this movie" he pondered "and then I
could make the characters say whatever I wanted them to say!" "That's it!" the dubious director
exclaimed and he did just that. Kagi No Kag at that moment became WHAT'S UP TIGER LILY? in which the object of
international intrigue is an egg salad recipe, and characters Terri Yaki and Suki Yaki are plotting to get their
hand on it! Oooh, ahhhh, what will happen? I don't know that, but I do know that The Lovin' Spoonful makes a dramatic
appearance in this funny, funny film.
Don't ya just love movies with long, elaborate, and horribly convoluted
plots? I know I do. They make you, as Winnie the Pooh would say, think think think. So if you are a fan of thinking
or just like to stare at walls for hours on end. . .
Higley is the place to be.
Wednesday
10:15
MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL
This panoramic tale of Savannah's eccentricities focuses on a murder and the subsequent trial of Jim Williams:
self made man, art collector, antiques dealer, bon vivant and semi-closeted homosexual(played by the one of the
greatest actors of our generation, of course Kevin Spacey). John Kelso (played by cool John Cusack) a magazine
reporter finds himself in Savannah amid the beautiful architecture and odd doings to write a feature on one of
William's famous Christmas parties. He is intrigued by Williams from the start, but his curiosity is piqued when
he meets Jim's violent, young and sexy lover, Billy (the lovely Jude Law). Later that night, Billy is dead, and
Kelso stays on to cover the murder trial. Along the way he encounters the irrepressible Lady Chablis, a drag queen
commedienne, Sonny Seiler, lawyer to Williams, whose famous dog UGA is the official mascot of the Georgia Bulldogs,
an odd man who keeps flies attached to mini leashes on his lapels and threatens daily to poison the water supply,
the Married Ladies Card Club, and Minerva, a spiritualist. Between being Jim's buddy, cuddling up to a torch singer,
meeting every eccentric in Savannah, participating in midnight graveyard rituals and helping solve the mysteries
surrounding Billy's murder, Kelso has his hands full.
Lovingly,
Valerie and Hannah
P.S. Just come to experience Kevin Spacey and his delightful Huckleberry Hound-esque accent. It's scrumdiddlyumptious.
. . . while watching the weekend movies we've got lined up. They've
got some seriously complicated plots. This weekend KFS presents movies that make you go "huh, what just happened".
Friday
8 PM
Higley
A SIMPLE PLAN
We tried to show this one last year but the film company was so confused by the plot that they sent the movie to
the wrong address. Two brothers, one a mild-mannered hardware store manager (Bill "I see a Twister a coming"
Paxton), the other an unemployed slob (Billy Bob "Yeah, that's Angelina Jolie on my arm and no, I didn't brainwash
her" Thornton) and a friend stumble onto $4.4 million cash in stolen money. The newfound booty leads Paxton's
character, Hank, (with help from his cunning wife) to great lengths to keep the money a secret from local authorities.
The three men begin to doubt each other's trust, which leads to shocking results of lies, deceit, and eventually
murder.
And if that's not enough for you. . .
Saturday
8 PM
Higley
L.A. CONFIDENTAL
Yeah, baby, one of the coolest movies I've seen, of the record, on the QT, and very hush hush of course. 1950's
Los Angeles is the seedy backdrop for this intricate noir-ish tale of police corruption and Hollywood sleaze. Three
very different cops are all after the truth, each in their own style: Ed Exley (played by Guy Paerce, whose follow
up movie was Ravenous! Way to cash in on success Guy), the golden boy of the police force, willing to do almost
anything to get ahead, except sell out; Bud White(played by the then unknown Russell Crowe who is now shooting
a movie for Jodie Foster in which he plays a circus freak. Hope he doesn't get type cast), ready to break the rules
to seek justice, but barely able to keep his raging violence under control; and Jack Vincennes(Kevin Spacey, nuff
said), always looking for celebrity and a
quick buck until his conscience drives him to join Exley and White down the one-way path to find the truth behind
the dark world of L.A. crime.
Craftily,
Valerie and Hannah
Dustin Hoffman!
That's right folks. The film voted to be the number 2 funniest American movie ever (by the lucsious American Film
Institute). . . The movie that makes me laugh my butt off every time I see it. . .My reason for living, so to speak.
TOOTSIE
Wednesday
10:15
Higley
Michael Dorsey (Delicious Dustin Hoffman) is desperate; he can't find a job. That is, until he gets a female role
in a soap opera and becomes very famous. Of course, nobody knows that this new television star is a man... But,
after a while, he falls in love with the leading actress of the series, and here is the big problem: how can he
express his feelings, since she thinks that Michael is a woman? This movie is so great I can't even it express
it to the degree I want to. Terri Garr and Jessica Lange were both up for the Best Actress Oscar because of this
movie (Jessica Lange won). Bill Murray plays Dustin's best friend, which is reason enough to come. Just remember
"I don't like when somebody comes up to me the next day and says, "Hey, man, I saw your play. It touched
me; I cried." I like it when a guy comes up to me a week later and says, "Hey, man, I saw your play...
what happened?"
Busting a gut,
Valerie and Hannah
First of all, I'd like to say that this is an allstu that has point
so don't jump the gun and burn me in effigy (is that how you spell it? I don't know,
doh) just yet. Second, I was supposed to send this yesterday (so you special Kenyon folks could have time to plan
your weekend) but I am the Queen of Procrastination so I didn't get around to it until 3AM. I know I could have
sent it then but I decided to pick sleep. I hope nobody is mad at me. Alas!
Anyway. . .
Tonight
8 PM
ZEFIRELLI'S HAMLET
Usually this is where I give the summary of the movie, but COME ON, the is Hamlet for goodness sake! If you don't
know the plot of this movie it is a little sad. Sigh. It's Shakespeare, that's all you really need to know. And
this is the one that has been affectinately dubbed "that Mel Gibson one". I haven't seen it either, so
we can experience it together. Come on, don't afraid. It will be okay. Hopefully something won't smell rotten in
Higley Auditorium.
And. . .
If you're up for it. . .
Saturday
8 PM
NOISES OFF
Okay, if you're going to twist my arm, here's the summary of this one:
Lloyd Fellowes (Michael Caine, before the Oscar) is the director of a theatre company. He's desperately trying
to get his production together, despite the best efforts of the cast, the crew, and Lady Luck. We follow the production
from final rehersals, through opening night, and onto the tour: as with any group of actors forced to work closely
together for any great length of time, romances and arguments are bound to break out. Quite often, what's happening
on stage is nothing compared to what's happening backstage.... Starring cool people like Carol Burnett, Christopher
Reeve, and John Ritter.
It's really funny, I swear and its directed by Peter Bogdanovich. He is neato. He directed films like The Last
Picture Show and Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women ( also known as The Gill Women from Venus, a classics
classic).
So. . . I think that's all I have to say. Oh, wait, God loves his body.
There I said it, now I am a validated human being.
Valerie and Hannah
To all those Beatles fans out there, and I know there are many, you
are going to want to kiss my feet after this week because. . .
Wednesday
10:15 PM
BACKBEAT
Higley
It's the story of the fifth Beatle, baby! And no, it isn't Pete Best, it's Stuart Sutcliffe. You don't know everything,
do you? A pre-fame Beatles head for the seedy clubs of Hamburg in search of success. The band meet up with a group
of trendy German beatniks, one of whom (Astrid Kircherr) bass guitarist Stuart Sutcliffe(played by Stephen Dorff)
falls in love with. Whilst best friend John Lennon can only watch, Sutcliffe has to choose between rock 'n roll
and a new life in Germany... This movie will make you yearn to talk like a Liverpuddlian for days and days. Jolly
good, jolly good.
Cheers,
Valerie and Hannah
KFS is rounding out our spectacular music-themed week with two of
the coolest documentaries to come out in a long time. How can a documentary be interesting you ask? Well, everything
is interesting when it envolves JOHNNY ROTTEN! Johnny Rotten, YEAH! (Those words are meant to be said in a loud
and obnoxious fake British accent, if you can't tell. Darn this, the written word. Curses.) Anyway. . .
Friday
8 PM
THE FILTH AND THE FURY
(A documentary on the SEX PISTOLS, YEAH)
You can count on one hand the rock and roll documentaries (Woodstock, Stop Making Sense) that have have done justice
to the grandeur of their subjects. To that very short list, add "The filth and the fury", a great searching,
incendiary chronicle of the Sex Pistols, the razor-hearted visionaries of punk anarchy. Made in collaboration between
the now middle-aged band members and director Julien Temple, whose first feaure "The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle"
was a cynical, nose-thumbing fantasia on the same saga, now puts an arresting face on the brief, unholy reign of
Johnny Rotten, Sid Vicious, and company. We're given a definitive inside view of their boyhood, their bitter alliance,
and the medious circus that surrounded their grisly flamoue of an American tour, the tragedy of Vicious' heroin
driven downfall - which actually inspires the present day John Lydon, ie Rotten, to choke up on camera (Awww, he's
the Sad Punk that the Pixies were talking about). And you thought the Sex Pistols had no feelings.
What more can you ask? Well, how bout this. . .
Saturday
8 PM
THE BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB
A group of legendary Cuban musicians, some as old as their nineties, were brought together by Ry Cooder to record
a CD. In this film, we see and hear some of the songs being recorded in Havana. There is also footage from concerts
in Amsterdam and New York City's Carnegie Hall. In addition, many of the individual musicians talk about their
lives in Cuba and about how they got started in music.
Sabia usted que?
Adios,
Valerie and Hannah
Wishing for the days when the only thing expected of you was to watch
Sesame Street? Missing Play-doh and Lite Brite right now? Yes? That's what I thought you'd say. Well this is your
lucky week peoples. It's the KFS cartoon week! YEA! Rah-rah sis-boom-bah! Here's your chance to curl up into the
fetal position and watch. . .
Wednesday
10:15
Higley
THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH
Hooray! A kooky cartoon from the sixties. It's based on everybody's favorite kids book of the same name and stars
(as a voice) the kid who played Eddie Munster. Mel Blanc also lends his voice talents to this fine, fun film (Chuck
Jones's first directorial effort) Milo is boy bored with life until one day a tollbooth magically appears in his
bedroom. Having nothing better to do, he hops in the toy car and drives into a crazy, mixed up world where he must
save the Princesses of Rhyme and Reason from the Demons of Ignorance. At the same time he must settle a war between
the kingdoms of Dictionopolis (ruled by King Azaz, the Unabridged) and Digitopolis (ruled by the Mathemagician).
This movie is fun for everyone and is guaranteed to at least make you laugh.
Happily,
Valerie and Hannah
Never fear! KFS is here! We are showing TWO, count them TWO, phantasmagorically
wonderful cartoons that are guaranteed to brighter your
mood and to lift your spirits.
Friday
8 PM
Higley
THE THIEF AND THE COBBLER
Behold, the mighty, the wonderful, the critically acclaimed feature-length fantasy created, written, and directed
by the 3 time Academy Award winner Richard Williams. Almost 30 years in the making, it incorporates extraordinary
M.C. Esher-like backgrounds with classic 2-1/2 dimension hand-painted animation. It makes for an interesting and
beautiful brand of animation (i.e. It's wicked/hella/freaking cool) In the ancient city of Baghdad, magically protected
by three Golden Balls, a timid shoemaker named Tack (voiced by Matthew "Ferris" Broderick) falls for
the lovely, adventure-loving Princess Yumyum (voiced by Jennifer Beals. Remember her? The last time we saw her
she was Flashdancing her way into our hearts with styling leg warmers). When a bumbling thief (voiced expertly
by cool and half Kenyon alum Johnathan Winters) manages to steal the enchanted orbs, they fall into the hands of
the wicked wizard Zigzag (voice provided by creepy Vincent Price, who recorded his part 20 years ago, which is
why they were able to release this film 5 years after his death). Tack and the Princess must recover the magic
balls, defeat the evil Zigzag, and save their beloved city from destruction! Oh no! What ever will happen. Come
on Friday to find out! (Side note: even more neato completo wowee people provide voices in this movie. People such
as Toni "Why does my son see dead people" Collette and Eric Bogosian (you know him from such plays as
SubUrbia and Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll) Oh by the way, if you are worried about other Friday plans, this movie
is only 73 minutes. I think you can squeeze it in. You spend more time than that on Napster.
And making this an even longer email. . .
Saturday
8 PM
Higley
THE IRON GIANT
"Iron Giant" is based upon the 1968 story,'Iron Man,' by the British poet laureate Ted Hughes (A little
something for the English majors). The film is about a giant metal machine that drops from the sky and frightens
a small town in Maine in 1958, only to find a friend named, Hogarth (I wish that was my name!), that ultimately
finds its humanity and saving the towns people of their fears and prejudices. Voices provided by Jennifer Aniston
and Harry Connick, Jr., but don't let that disuade you. This is one of the best animated movies I've seen in a
long time. It's good, really.
Valerie and Hannah
P.S. Have fun this weekend without me. I'm going home to Columbus to get my wisdom teeth out. Yeouch! Have sympathy
for me and have fun.
So, yeah, I didn't send out a email to alert you guys of the movie
tonight at Higley but I was busy, Okay? I got my wisdom teeth out over break! I don't even remember Saturday so
I consider myself repreived. So, here's what you've all been waiting patiently for. You are cordially invited to
George and Martha's for an evening of fun and games.
Tonight
10:15
Higley
WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?
I know I am. Elizabeth Taylor is pretty scary in this cinematic classic (ooh, that rhymed). Mike Nichols' first
directorial effort represents a milestone in psychological realism and "foul" language in American cinema.
George and Martha, as played superbly and without vanity by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, are as far from
the bourgeois 1950s perfect married couple as you can get, alternatively badgering, berating, abusing and loving
each other, both alone and accompanied by the naive young married couple that have come over for a nightcap (portrayed
brilliantly by George Segal and Sandy Dennis). The fun and games in which George and Martha involve Nick and Honey
are a
lacerating look at the older couple's existence, where the emotional brutalizing fill an unspeakable void at their
center, and a troubling preview of what the younger couple's life could become. Edward Albee's dramatic vision
combines the banal, the vulgar and the poetic, and Ernest Lehman's adapted screenplay is amazingly faithful to
the structure of Albee's play. The acting is uniformly excellent, and Taylor and Burton were never better together.
A harrowing movie experience, but very worthwhile and finally unforgettable. This movie is completely awesome.
All four of the main characters were nominated for the four acting Oscars (Liz and Rich won). Don't miss this terrifying
trip into marriage.
Spookily,
Valerie and Hannah
P.S. For those who pay attention, LOST WEEKEND will be shown on Friday. All right, I think that's it.
And. . .
That is the theme for KFS this week.
Guess what it is.
Come on, guess!
Don't be shy.
It's depressing movies. (Get it? We're back at college. Ha Ha! Well, I thought it was funny...)
Anyway.
Friday
8 PM
Higley
THE LOST WEEKEND
Don Birnam, long-time alcoholic, has been "on the wagon" for ten days and seems to be over the worst;
but his craving has just become more insidious. Evading a country weekend planned by his brother Wick and girlfriend
Helen, he begins a four-day bender. In flashbacks we see past events, all gone wrong because of the bottle. But
this bout looks like being his last...one way or the other. Looks like a little Kenyon irony. Hmmm. What should
I do on my Friday night? Drink alcohol or watch a movie about an alcoholic? Tough choice. This movie is a classic
and also the first film to use a theremin on the soundtrack. Come to just find out what a "theremin"
is (or just ask Liam), whatever.
And just as your tear ducts are drying back up. . .
Saturday
8 PM
BOYS DON'T CRY
Well, if you haven't heard about this movie you've been living in a hole for the past year. Anyway, I tell you
what it's about, for those of you who prefer the shade of a nice rock. Based on actual events. Brandon Teena is
the popular new guy in a tiny Nebraska town. He hangs out with the guys, drinking, cussing, and bumper surfing,
and he charms the young women, who've never met a more sensitive and considerate young man. Life is good for Brandon,
now that he's one of the guys and dating hometown beauty Lana. However, he's forgotten to mention one important
detail. It's not that he's wanted in another town for GTA and other assorted crimes, but that Brandon Teena is
actually a woman named Teena Brandon. When Brandon's best friends make this discovery, his life eventually is ripped
apart by betrayal, humiliation, rape, and murder. Yeah, sort of a downer but a great movie.
Sadly,
Valerie and Hannah
Well, I don't think so. Not unless you can name 3 Ingmar Bergman
films (when it is Ingmar Bergman, its definitely a "film") After this week you will be well on your way.
But we're only showing one. We can't do all the work for you, silly.
Wednesday
10:15
Higley
PERSONA
A young nurse, Alma, is put in charge of Elisabeth Vogler: an actress who is seemingly healthy in all respects,
but will not talk. As they spend time together, Alma speaks to Elisabeth constantly, never receiving any answer.
Alma eventually confesses her secrets to a seemingly sympathetic Elisabeth and finds that her own personality is
being submerged into Elisabeth's persona.
Ooooh, sounds arty to me, what about you? And to add to the effect we are showing it on 16 MM film. Neato completo
wowee.
Mysteriously,
Valerie and Hannah
Eureka!
I have a great idea! Shazaam and all that whatnot. Take your parents (or just yourself, we don't discriminate)
to a movie that they'll remember with love and you'll laugh your butt off at.
*special, secret message at end of email, keep reading*
Friday
8 PM
Higley
DR. STRANGELOVE, or HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB
Voted by the American Film Institute as the #3 comedy of all time, this film was originally written as a drama
until Stanley Kubrick realized that some of the scenes he had written we actually really funny. U.S. Air Force
General Jack Ripper goes completely and utterly mad, and sends his bomber wing to destroy the U.S.S.R. He suspects
that the communists are conspiring to pollute the "precious bodily fluids" of the American people. The
U.S. president meets with his advisors, where the Soviet ambassador tells him that if the U.S.S.R. is hit by nuclear
weapons, it will trigger a "Doomsday Device" which will destroy all plant and animal life on Earth. Peter
Sellers portrays the three men who might avert this tragedy: British Group Captain Lionel Mandrake, the only person
with access to the demented Gen. Ripper; U.S. President Merkin Muffley, whose best attempts to divert disaster
depend on placating a drunken Soviet Permier; and the former Nazi genious Dr. Strangelove, who concludes that "such
a device would not be a practical deterrent for reasons which at this moment must be all too obvious". Will
the bombers be stopped in time, or will General Jack Ripper succeed in destroying the world?
And if you get really pissed at your parents just tell them " You can't fight in here, this a War Room!"
*You're close to the secret, keep going*
And then a little something for the kids
Saturday
8 PM
Higley
EXISTEN Z
Allegra Geller(Jennifer "Single White Female" Jason Leigh), the leading game designer in the world, is
testing her new virtual reality game, eXistenZ with a focus group. As they begin, she is attacked by a fanatic
assassin employing a bizarre organic gun. She flees with a young marketing trainee, Ted Pikul (The Talented Jude
Law), who is suddenly assigned as her bodyguard. Unfortunately, her pod, an organic gaming device that contains
the only copy of the eXistenZ game program, is damaged. To inspect it, she talks Ted into accepting a gameport
in his own body so he can play the game with her. The events leading up to this, and the resulting game lead the
pair on a strange adventure where reality and their actions are impossible to determine from either their own or
the game's perspective. It's like Tron for the 90s (with slime!)!! Don't miss it guys, really.
Ok, now time for the secret. So do you rememeber a couple weeks ago when we were supposed to show THE FILTH AND
THE FURY, but we couldn't because of a shipping glitch? Well, we still really wanted to see it, so we are showing
it right after eXistenZ ends at around 10 PM. Wahoo!! And, to say sorry, the film company sent us a free THE FILTH
AND THE FURY poster. So maybe if you show up with some good Sex Pistols knowledge, you might end up with a really
cool poster. Okay, so don't forget. Saturday at 10 PM. Be there or be bloody square.
Cheers,
Valerie and Hannah
Wednesday
10:15
Higley
POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE
It's a hilarious movie written by and based on the life of Carrie Fisher ( you know, Princess Leia. "Help
me Obi Won, you're my only hope!")
Substance-addicted Hollywood actress Suzanne Yale (played by Meryl "That Oscar is mine!" Streep) is on
the skids. After a spell at a detox center her film company insists as a condition of continuing to employ her
that she live with her mother Doris Mann (Shirley "I was once reincarnated as a garden gnome" McClaine),
herself once a star and now a champion drinker. Such a set-up is bad news for Suzanne who has struggled for years
to get out of her mother's shadow, and who finds her mother still treats her like a child. Despite these problems
- and further ones to do with the men in in her life - Suzanne can begin to see the funny side of her situation,
and it also starts to occur to her that not only do daughters have mothers, mothers do too. Don't miss this funny,
funny movie that also stars Dennis Quaid, Gene Hackman, Richard Dreyfuss, Rob Reiner, and Annette Bening. Cool
people, funny movie, yeah baby.
Who would you pick to play yourself in a movie? Hmmm, interesting question.
Mysteriously,
Valerie and Hannah
Halloween is coming, and that means the Great Pumpkin will rise from
the pumpkin patch at midnight! No, not really. But this weekend we are showing some really awesome films based
on the lives of the best and worst horror directors, ever!
First, comes the worst. . .
Friday
8 PM
Higley
ED WOOD
Movies were his passion. Women were his inspiration. Angora sweaters were his weakness. A biopic of the life and
work of the legendary 'worst director of all time', Edward D.Wood, Jr., concentrating on the best-known period
of his life in the 1950s, when he made 'Glen or Glenda', 'Bride of the Monster' and 'Plan 9 From Outer Space',
and focusing on both his transvestism and his touching friendship with the once great but now aging and unemployed
horror star Bela Lugosi. Stars Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Bill Murray. Directed by another
cool guy named Tim Burton. Come on! Who doesn't want to pretty Johnny Depp in drag? What a lovely precursor to
the
Drag Ball. Hmm.
Second, is the best. . .
Saturday
8 PM
Higley
GODS AND MONSTERS
Set in 1957,James Whale(played by Ian "Shiver shiver" Mckellen), the director of Show Boat, The Invisible
Man, Frankenstein and Bride Of, had long since stepped back from the glamour and glitz of Hollywood. A stroke triggers
once buried flashes of memory of his life in Dudley, his film career, and, most influentially, the trenches during
the Great War. Haunted and lonely, he recounts many of his experiences to his muscle bound gardener, Clay Boone
(played by Brendan "Mmmm" Fraser). Despite the divide that exists between them, their friendship develops.
Reliant on his sternly disapproving housemaid, Hannah, the flamboyant director whose time has passed sees himself
slipping away, unable to stop the decline, and indulges his fantasies. Good film. Nominated and won an Oscar or
two. Cool and a half.
Ghoulishly,
Valerie and Hannah
But I did just fine in French!
Wednesday
10:15
Higley
BLUE
Blue is the first part of Polish filmaker Krzysztof Kieslowski's "Three Colors" trilogy on France's national
motto: Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. And guess what! KFS is showing all three of them! Yippee Skippee!
Blue is the story of Julie who loses her husband, an acclaimed European
composer and her young daughter in a car accident. The film's theme of liberty is manifested in Julie's attempt
to start life anew free of personal commitments, belongings grief and love. She intends to spiritually commit suicide
by withdrawing from the world and live completely independently, anonymously and in solitude in the Parisian metropolis.
Despite her intentions, people from her former and present life intrude with their own needs. However, the reality
created by the people who need and care about her, a surprising discovery and the music around which the film revolves
heals Julie and irresistably draws her back to the land of the living.
These are movies that you must see just so you can casually slip them into conversations and sound extremely cultured
and intelligant (even if you're not). Come for the bragging rights, or maybe you have some sort of subtitles fetish
that needs to be appeased once in awhile. Whatever, we don't discriminate. The French are our friends.
Adieu,
Valerie and Hannah
George Lucas can attest to that! So, to those of you who came and
saw the wonderful film BLUE on Wednesday, you know you have to come see the other two movies in the set. Don't
fight it, man. It's just a requirement. What? You didn't know that? Well, too bad. I'll see you there. And for
the rest of you, don't worry about being lost. These movies don't have connecting plotlines, but they are wicked
cool. (You can't beat something that's "wicked") Maybe you can get extra credit in your French class.
I don't know, just come.
Friday
8 PM
Higley
WHITE
This is the second of the "Three Colors" trilogy "Red" "White" and "Blue";
the colors symbolizing liberty, equality and fraternity. White, therefore, was written around the destructive dynamics
of a relationship based upon great inequality. Karol is a Polish hairdresser working in France. He has a beautiful
wife, Dominique, who he loves to obsession, and who is in the process of divorcing him for his inability to "consummate
the marriage". Karol looses all of his earthly possessions and is literally driven out of France by his estranged
wife. The remainder of the movie has Karol fight- ing to resolve his deep passion for Dominique with his own helplessness.
French and Polish with English subtitles.
and. . .
Saturday
8 PM
Higley
RED
. . . the final chapter from the director whose name I could never hope to pronouce (Krzysztof Kieslowski) Valentine
is a young model living in Geneva. Because of a dog she ran over, she meets a retired judge who spies his neighbours'
phone calls, not for money but to feed his cynicism. The film is the story of relationships between some human
beings, Valentine and the judge, but also other people who may not be aware of the relationship they have with
Valentine or/and the old judge. Redemption, forgiveness and compassion...
P.S. And this is a BIG P.S. LateNites didn't have anything planned for Saturday, so they got us, the KFS divas,
to pick a cool movie to show at 11 PM. And the winner is. . . SO I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER!! This movie really
underated and hysterical. See you at 11 on Saturday!
Bye bye bye,
Valerie and Hannah
So, yeah, I have a HUGE paper due on Weds. and 3 tests this week.
I think I'm going to keep this email short and sweet. Please don't complain, I'm saving what's left of my creativity
to writing a paper. Gee, I hope it works.
Wednesday
10:15
Higley
A THOUSAND CLOWNS
Twelve-year-old Nick (played by Barry Gordon) lives with his Uncle Murray (Jason Robards), a Mr.Micawber-like Dickensian
character who keeps hoping something won't turn up. What turns up is a social worker (Barbara Harris), who falls
in love with Murray and a bit in love with Nick. As the child welfare people try to force Murray to become a conventional
man (as the price they demand for allowing him to keep Nick), the nephew, who until now has gloried in his Uncle's
iconoclastic approach to life, tries to play mediator. But when he succeeds, he is alarmed by the uncle's willingness
to cave in to society in order to save the relationship.
Well, that's it. Come, it's good. Okay, back to work.
Wearily,
Valerie and Hannah
Hmmm, a Mount Vernon weekend? No, a Milos Foreman weekend. Two strange
guys, two equally strange biopics. But good movies, none the less.
Friday
8 PM
Higley
THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLINT
Strip club owner Larry Flint(played by everybody's favorite pot advocate, Woody Harrelson!) and his wife, Althea(Courtney
Love), create a pornographic magazine that ignores society's morals and taboos. "Hustler" magazine brings
the Flynts not only millions in profit but also the wrath of "decent" people. Flynt and his overburdened
attorney find themselves in courtrooms all over the nation defending Larry against criminal and civil charges.
In the meantime, Flynt is beset by paralysis, the result of an assassination attempt, drug addiction, mental illness,
and Althea's failing health. The real Larry Flint has a cameo as a judge. Sidenote: My uncle used to work for Hustler.
He was one of Larry Flint's accountants. He would send us letters on stationary that said "From the desk of
HUSTLER Magazine". Our mailman would always give us strange looks. The End
Saturday
8 PM
Higley
MAN ON THE MOON
Hello, my name is Andy and this is my movie. Oh, Jim Carrey, you are a really cool guy and a good actor, why hast
the Oscar gods scorned thou? So, yeah, Jim Carrey in another wonderful, underappreciated preformance as one of
my favorite comedians of all time. A biopic based on the life of Andy Kaufman, an eccentric comedian who went onto
enjoy a career as lovable foreign car mechanic Latka Gravas on TV's "Taxi" and later gained infamy as
an inter-gender wrestling champ. The film studies some of Kaufman's comedy antics as well as his personal life
and his relationship with his manager George Shapiro, his best friend/partner Bob Zmuda and his girlfriend Lynne
Margulies (played by Courtney Love) "Always play with their minds."
Diabolically,
Valerie and Hannah
A lot of people speculate about which country churns out the best
depressing movies. Most think that the French have a corner on the market, but the dark (and I mean DARK) horse
contender is defenitely the Germans. They KNOW how to squeeze tears effectively. In honor of end of the year papers
and projects, here's. . .
Wednesday
10:15
Higley
THE LOST HONOR OF KATHARINA BLUM
Katharina Blum is a young handsome German maid. She meets Ludwig, and they fall in love at once. They spend the
night together. In the morning, the police bursts in her flat, looking for Ludwig : he is a terrorist. But he was
no longer here. Katharina is arrested, humiliated, suspected to be a terrorist herself, dragged in the mud by the
newspapers...It is a solid drama that is also a stinging commentary on individual freedom, political repression,
and the dangers of media manipulation. Based on the Henrich Boll novel. Stars, obviously, a bunch of Germans.
I don't remember the German word for goodbye and I don't want to embarass myself,
Valerie and Hannah
So, yeah, I know that it says BARBER OF SIBERIA on your calendar
and stuff, but we, the KFS divas, decided to break the rules a bit. Cuz, you know, we have that power. And what
fun is power if you don't flex it a little. Muhahahahaha. Therefore tonight, rather than giving you a Russian epic,
we're jumping back in time (because we have that power too) and we're showing a bad ass French flick that had to
be cast by the wayside due to technical difficulties. It wasn't our fault that the projector was broken, but we
are mending our wounds and showing. . .
RED
Friday (today)
8 PM
Higley
Valentine is a young model living in Geneva. Because of a dog she ran over, she meets a retired judge who spies
his neighbours' phone calls, not for money but to feed his cynicism. The film is the story of relationships between
some human beings, Valentine and the judge, but also other people who may not be aware of the relationship they
have with Valentine or/and the old judge. Redemption, forgiveness and compassion... This is the 3rd and final chapter
of Krzysztof Kieslowski's wonderful Three Colors trilogy. It's good, it's French (I know that's a contradiction),
and it's Academy Award nominated.
Just come already, I'm tired of typing.
And while you're at it. . .
ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER
Saturday
8 PM
Higley
The BEST Foreign Film of 1999, according to the Academy Awards and I tend to believe them. A single mother in Madrid
sees her only son die on his 17th birthday as he runs to seek an actress's autograph. She goes to Barcelona to
find the lad's father, a transvestite named Lola who does not know he has a child. First she finds her friend,
Agrado, also a transvestite; through him she meets Rosa, a young nun bound for El Salvador, and by happenstance,
becomes the personal assistant of Huma Rojo, the actress her son admired. She helps Huma manage Nina, the co-star
and Huma's lover, and she becomes Rosa's caretaker during a dicey pregnancy. With echoes of Lorca, "All About
Eve," and "Streetcar Named Desire," the mothers (and fathers and actors) live out grief, love, and
friendship. Directed by cool Pedro Almodovar whom Billy Crystal says "Makes Roberto Benigni sound like an
English teacher!" Cool.
Confusedly,
Valerie and Hannah
Yeah, so this is the last week of movies before finals and then vacation
so we thought that we ought to make the movies this week extra good, you know, so that you will have an excellent
reason to procrastinate. Oh, come on, you know you will. Everybody's doing it. Write a paper, watch a movie, hmmmmm.
Tempting isn't it? How can you resist the siren's call of. . .
THE OPPOSITE OF SEX
Wednesday
10:15
Higley
So, yeah, plot: On the death of her stepfather, cynical sexy young Dedee Truitt (Hee hee, one of my favorites,
Christina Ricci) heads off and moves in with her gay schoolteacher half-brother Bill. Seducing his partner Matt
(Ivan Sergei, Does anyone remember that show "Jack+Jill"? Didn't think so, but he was on it), she then
announces she is pregnant, and disappears with him. Bill meanwhile is falsely accused of past sexual misconduct
at school by one of Matt's ex-lovers(Darlene's boyfriend on Roseanne), causing much media attention. As the situation
snowballs, the only person who sees what Dedee is up to is Bill's rather frustrated acid-tongued sister Lucia(Lisa
Kudrow, in the role that made me gain so much respect for her). This movie is damn funny. Trust me.
Oh, and by the way. Saturday is our Final Surprise Movie. I won't tell, no matter how much you torture me. I will
give a dasturdly evil hint that will probably just make you mad at me. Ah well, that's the fun of KFS.
Hint: The seedy underbelly of the entertainment industry. A man accused. A long-legged woman acts a catalyst for
mayhem. Film noir-ish wonderfulness. And it's not what you think, it never is. But you will like it, love it perhaps.
Mmmmmmysteriously,
Valerie and Hannah
It's a dark and stormy night. You are walking down middle path, hoping
you won't lose any fingers/ears/noses to frostbite... dark. crimson anguish of a frosty night... Suddenly, you
are bathed in heavenly light, and a chorus of angels begins to ring in your ears, filling your bruised soul with
a dulcet sweetness... like glorious sirens, they beckon to you, "Get your butt over to Higley auditorium,
stupid!"
because THEY KNOW that in Higley auditorium, KFS is showing a damn good movie, an award-winning classic, none other,
in fact, than
HIS GIRL FRIDAY
Higley
8:00
Friday, dec. 8th
Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell play, respectively, a Chicago News hound and his ex-wife/best employee. When he
discovers that he's about to lose both her work and the possibility of getting back together with her, crazy 1950s
shenanigans ensue, bringing a smile to the lips of one and all, even those among the audience who have comps/finals/frostbite,
etc.
Wait!!! Don't delete this yet! I know, you can't believe it, but there's more! This is important information my
little frozen coeds. . .
Saturday
8:00
Higley
FINAL SURPRISE MOVIE !!!!!!!!
Greed. Corruption. SEX. A mystery. Revenge. Tragic loss. Catharsis. Death. Murder. The Mob. Car chases. Bars. Lipstick.
Love. More sex.
Can you guess? I didn't think so. I guess you'll have to come on over. . .come on over, baby. Remember, if you
don't find out, it might kill ya. I'd do it myself. . . for two bits.
Noir-ly,
Valerie and Hannah
(A crash of thunder and the computer goes dead) (SCREAM)