February 2024


Posted February 1, 2024. Additions made on February 2 and 9.

Contents

  • The Cinema Lounge ONLINE
  • Adam's Rib Examines the Controversial But Gratifying Oscar Nominations
  • Apollo Closes: Adam's Rib on the Late Carl Weathers -- JUST ADDED
  • We Need to Hear From You
  • Calendar of Events

    Last 12 issues of the Storyboard.



    The Cinema Lounge

    On Monday, February 26, 2024 at 8:00pm please join the Cinema Lounge, the DC Film Society's monthly film discussion group.

    TOPIC: Who Will Win the Oscars?

    In January we picked the nominees. Now it's time to pick the winners for Picture, Director, the acting, and the screenplay categories. Does Lily Gladstone make history with an Actress Oscar or will Emma Stone get her second? Will a possible Oppenheimer tidal wave sweep Cillian Murphy to an Actor win or will Paul Giamatti get his long overdue recognition? What will be the biggest surprise? Who are we rooting for, and who should have been nominated instead?

    Please RSVP to atspector@hotmail.com and you'll get the Zoom link 1-2 days before the discussion.

    The Cinema Lounge, a film discussion group, meets the third Monday of every month (unless otherwise noted) at 8:00pm online via Zoom. You do not need to be a member of the Washington DC Film Society to attend. Cinema Lounge is moderated by Adam Spector, author of the DC Film Society's
    Adam's Rib column.



    Adam's Rib Examines the Controversial But Gratifying Oscar Nominations

    As you may have heard, even though Barbie got eight Oscar nominations, two it didn't get have sparked some understandable but misplaced fury. The hubbub should not overshadow what were generally satisfying nominations that accurately reflected much of the best 2023 had to offer. Best of all, the Academy righted a wrong from nineteen years ago by finally giving Paul Giamatti his long overdue Actor nomination. Check out my takes in my new Adam's Rib column.



    Apollo Closes: Adam's Rib on the Late Carl Weathers

    While we all pulled for Rocky Balboa, we never hated Apollo Creed. He was Rocky’s opponent but not a villain, unlike Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago in the later Rocky films. Eventually we all grew to pull for Apollo too, and much of that was due to the charm, charisma and warmth of Carl Weathers, who passed away recently at the age of 76. While he had never stepped into a boxing ring before landing the Apollo role, Weathers became convincing as a great boxer and so much more. I reflect on Weathers and his signature role in my new Adam's Rib column.



    We Need to Hear From YOU

    We are always looking for film-related material for the Storyboard. Our enthusiastic and well-traveled members have written about their trips to the Cannes Film Festival, Karlovy Vary Film Festival, London Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Edinburgh Film Festival, the Berlin Film Festival, the Palm Springs Film Festival, the Reykjavik Film Festival, the Munich Film Festival, the Virginia Film Festival, the Locarno Film Festival, The Nitrate Picture Show, and the Chicago Critics Film Festival. We also heard about what it's like being an extra in the movies. Have you gone to an interesting film festival? Have a favorite place to see movies that we aren't covering in the Calendar of Events? Seen a movie that blew you away? Read a film-related book? Gone to a film seminar? Interviewed a director? Taken notes at a Q&A? Read an article about something that didn't make our local news media? Send your contributions to Storyboard and share your stories with the membership. And we sincerely thank all our contributors for this issue of Storyboard.



    Calendar of Events

    FILMS

    American Film Institute Silver Theater
    "AFI Silver After Dark" is a new series of midnight-style movies. The February film is Warrior (Walter Hill, 1979).

    "Special Events" for February include Who Can See Forever: A Portrait of Iron and Wine (2023), a documentary about the life and music of Iron & Wine's Sam Beam. Followed by a live solo acoustic performance and conversation with Iron & Wine's Sam Beam. Other titles in this series include Claudine (Hannah Weinstein, 1974), with Diahann Carroll and James Earl Jones in a new 4K restoration; Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (Edgar Wright, 2010); and Tenet (Christopher Nolan, 2020) in 70mm.

    "A Second Look" (February 16-April 20) is an eclectic slate of critically acclaimed 2023 films giving audiences a second chance to see these films at the AFI. Titles in February are Napoleon (Ridley Scott, 2023) in 70mm; Passages (Ira Sachs, 2023) from France; Rustin (George C. Wolfe, 2023); Talk to Me (Danny and Michael Philippou, 2023); and The Killer (David Fincher, 2023). More in March and April.

    "Anime Expo Cinema Nights" (November 8-February 11) features new and classic anime films. The film for February is Paprika (Satoshi Kon, 2006).

    "3-D Classics" (January 27-April 28). Titles in February are Dial M For Murder (1954) doing double duty as part of "Fabulous 50s" and introduced by film historian Foster Hirsch; a double feature of Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) shown with Revenge of the Creature (1955); Kiss Me Kate (1953); and Man in the Dark (1953) and a program of "3-D Rarities." More in March.

    "James Baldwin on Film" (February 1-26) celebrates Baldwin's Centennial (1924-1987). Titles are I Am Not Your Negro (2016); If Beale Street Could Talk (2018); a new DCP restoration of I Heard It Through the Grapevine (1982) and "James Baldwin Abroad: Istanbul-Paris-London" in a new DCP restoration of three short films: Baldwin's N****r (1968); Meeting the Man: James Baldwin in Paris (1971); and James Baldwin: From Another Place (1973).

    "The 28th Annual Festival of Films from Iran" (February 5-March 13). Titles in February are Brick and Mirror (Ebrahim Golestan, 1964); Imagine (Ali Behrad, 2022); Roxana (Parviz Shahbazi, 2023); Terrestrial Verses (Alireza Khatami, 2023); and The Persian Version (Maryam Keshavarz, 2023). More in March.

    "Columbia Pictures" February 2-May 2) is a Centennial retrospective. Titles in February are Groundhog Day (1993); Bonjour Tristess (1958) with an intro by film historian Foster Hirsch; The Whole Town's Talking (1935); It Happened One Night (1934); His Girl Friday (1940); The Goddess (1958); Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939); The Bitter Tea of General Yen (1933); Lost Horizon (1937); Twentieth Century (1934); and Only Angels Have Wings (1939). More in March. Note that some are also part of the series "Fabulous Fifties."

    "Fabulous 50s" (February 2-May 2). Titles in February are Them! (1954); Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956); My Son John (1952); A Summer Place (1959); Imitation of Life (1959); Carmen Jones (1954); Roman Holiday (1953); Sabrina (1954); Singin' in the Rain (1952); All About Eve (1950); Sunset Boulevard (1950); No Way Out (1950); The Night of the Hunter (1955); A Place in the Sun (1951); The Defiant Ones (1958); and Rear Window (1954). Film Historian Foster Hirsch introduces films February 2-4, see the website.

    Freer Gallery of Art
    On February 14 at 2:00pm is Equinox Flower (Yasujiro Ozu, 1958), part of the "Japanese Classics" series and Ozu's first film in color.

    The 28th Annual Festival of Films from Iran continues with the documentary Dream's Gate (Negin Ahmadi, 2023) on February 11 at 2:00pm. On February 16 at 7:00pm is See Your Friday, Robinson (Mitra Farahani, 2021); and on February 18 at 2:00pm is Brick and Mirror (Ebrahim Golestan, 1964). More Iranian films are shown at the AFI Silver Theater.

    National Gallery of Art
    "Art Films and Special Screenings:" Girl (Adura Onashile, 2023) is on February 3 at 2:00pm; on February 11 at 2:00pm is Bushman (David Schickele, 1971).

    February has two "Cine-Concerts." On February 4 at 2:00pm is the surrealist film The Blood of a Poet (Jean Cocteau, 1930-32) with a new music score composed and performed live by Matthew Nolan and Erik Friedlander. On February 18 at 2:00pm is The Hands of Orlac (Robert Wiene, 1924), a psychological drama starring Conrad Veidt, and with music accompaniment by Andrew Simpson.

    "Kevin Jerome Everson: Recent Films" begins with a program of short films on February 24 at 2:00pm, followed by a discussion with the filmmaker and others. On February 25 at 2:00pm is another program of short films followed by discussion with the filmmaker.

    Museum of American History
    The newly renovated Warner Bros. Theater is the location for the History Film Forum's Fly With Me (Sarah Colt and Helen Dobrowski) on February 13 at 7:00pm. This documentary tells the story of the pioneering young women who became flight attendants. A panel discussion follows the film.

    National Portrait Gallery
    On February 15 at 5:30pm is A Sound She Saw (Crystal Whaley, 2022), a documentary about Black women photographers. A discussion with the filmmaker and photographers follows the film.

    Washington Jewish Community Center
    On February 20 at 7:30pm is Supernova: The Music Festival Massacre (Yossi Bloch and Duki Dror, 2023), an hour-long documentary about the massacre of October 7. The film's directors will discuss the film following the screening.

    On February 25 at 10:00am is the animated film An American Tail (Don Bluth, 1986)

    On February 25 at 6:00pm, February 28 at 7:30pm and February 29 at 7:30pm is The Definition of Insanity (Gabriel London, 2020), a documentary about the Miami-Dade Community Health Project.

    French Embassy
    On February 6 at 7:00pm is Sibel (Cagla Zencirci and Guillaume Giovanetti, 2018), set in Turkey's Black Sea region, followed by Q&A with the directors.

    The Japan Information and Culture Center
    On February 8 at 6:30pm is 3ft Ball and Souls (Yoshio Kato, 2017). On February 15 at 6:30pm is Photographs of Memories (Naoto Kumazawa, 2021) and on February 22 at 6:30pm is The Town of Headcounts (Shinji Araki, 2021). Registration is required.

    Cinema Arts Bethesda
    "Cinema Arts Bethesda" is a monthly Sunday morning film discussion series held at Landmark's Bethesda Row Cinema. On February 11 at 10:00am is Past Lives (Celine Song, 2023). This film has two Oscar nominations for Best Film and Best Original Screenplay, plus many other nominations and wins at other film festivals.

    Breakfast is at 9:30am, the film is at 10:00am and discussion follows, moderated by Adam Spector, host of the DC Film Society's Cinema Lounge and author of the column "Adam's Rib." A season pass is available.

    The Avalon
    On February 4 at 10:00am is Do the Right Thing (Spike Lee, 1989) for Black History month, followed by a panel discussion.

    On February 7 at 8:00pm is the Oscar-nominated documentary 20 Days in Mariupol (Mstyslav Chernov, 2023), part of "Avalon Docs."

    On February 14 at 8:00pm is Past Lives (Celine Song, 2023), part of the "Programmer's Choice" series.

    The "French Cinematheque" pick for February is Toni (Nathan Ambrosioni, 2023) on February 21 at 8:00pm.

    On February 11 and 13 at 10:30am is National Theater Live's "Dear England," starring Joseph Fiennes and directed by Rupert Goold.

    For "Weekend Family Matinees" is Hugo (Martin Scorsese, 2011) on March 17, 18 and 19 at 10:30am.

    Library of Congress
    The Mary Pickford Theater shows Lilies of the Field (Ralph Nelson, 1963) on February 15 at 7:00pm. Sidney Poitier became the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor.

    Landmark's E Street Cinema
    "Retro Replay" is a series of classic films shown Tuesdays at 4:00pm and 7:30pm (note that the times may vary). This month's theme is "New Hollywood." On February 6 is Bonnie and Clyde (1967); on February 13 is The Graduate (1967); on February 20 is Easy Rider (1969); and on February 27 is Dirty Harry (1971).

    Kennedy Center
    On February 4 at 3:00pm is One With the Whale (Peter Chelkowski and Jim Wickens, 2023), a documentary about indigenous people living in an island in the Bering Sea. On February 11 at 3:00pm is Round Midnight (Bertrand Tavernier, 1986), followed by a discussion. On February 18 at 3:00pm is Harriet (Kasi Lemmons, 2019).

    Old Greenbelt Theater
    On February 4 at 4:00pm is Scotland, PA (Billy Morrissette, 2001), a black comedy retelling of Macbeth.

    Alden Theater
    This month's foreign film is After Life (Hirokazu Koreeda, 1998) from Japan on February 1 at 1:00pm and February 14 at 6:30pm. The Performing Arts film for February is a double feature: "Sing Faster: The Stagehand's Ring Cycle" and Stravinsky's "Oedipus Rex" on February 1 at 1:00pm.

    Angelika Film Center Mosaic
    The "Angelika Classics" series shows classic films on the first Monday of the month at 7:00pm. On February 5 at 7:00pm is Moonstruck (Norman Jewison, 1987).

    "Classics in Black and White" features a classic B&W film on the third Monday of each month at 7:00pm. On February 19 at 7:00pm is Mildred Pierce (Michael Curtiz, 1945) starring Joan Crawford.

    "Dinner With..." is a series of films on fourth Mondays at 7:00pm. On February 26 at 7:00pm is In the Heat of the Night (Norman Jewison, 1967).

    "Gin-Tastic Golden Age" is a short series on Wednesdays in February. On February 7 at 7:00pm is Dr. No (Terence Young, 1962); on February 14 at 7:00pm is Casablanca (Michael Curtiz, 1943); on February 21 at 7:00pm is The African Queen (John Huston, 1952); and on February 28 at 7:00pm is Breakfast at Tiffany's (Blake Edwards, 1961).




    FILM FESTIVALS


    ReelAbilities Film Festival
    The 11th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival takes place February 1-March 10 at venues throughout the region and virtually. The Opening Night program is an evening of short films on February 1 at 7:00pm, taking place at Pozez JCC in Fairfax. See the website for more information.

    The DC Independent Film Forum
    Independent docs, shorts, animation and feature films are shown February 21-25. Seminars and workshops are part of the festival. A pass is available. Locations vary but include the Avalon, the JCC, Regal Gallery Place, and Angelika Pop-up. See the website for details.

    Mother Tongue Film Festival
    The 6th Mother Tongue Film Festival shows recent feature and short films about indigenous and endangered languages February 21-24. The Opening Night film is Frybread Face and Me (Billy Luther, 2023) on February 21 at 7:00pm followed by Q&A. Location: American Indian Museum.

    The 18th Capital Irish Film Festival
    The 18th annual Capital Irish Film Festival takes place February 29-March 3, celebrating Irish identity, culture and artistry. The Opening Night film is Lies We Tell (Lisa Mulcahy) and the closing night film is Virdigris (Patricia Kelly). Some films have special guests attending for Q&A. A festival pass is available. Location: AFI's Silver Theater.




    FILM-RELATED TALKS

    Smithsonian Associates
    The Broadway Musical Goes to Hollywood
    On February 27 at 12:00pm is a lecture on the colorful history of the Broadway-to-movie musical and traces its development from truncated adaptations, in which most of the songs were abandoned, to reinterpretations like Milos Forman’s Hair or Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story in 2021. Media historian Brian Rose presents this lecture on Zoom.




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