It’s good to be back at home, caught up with work, and back into the swing of things, because there are some really outstanding films screening across the region. We’re getting more and more favorites from last year’s festival season finally making their way to Western Washington – including Ash is the Purest White, An Elephant Sitting Still, and Transit. As always, there are great repertory screenings as well – especially The Grand Illusion’s 35mm run of Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece, The Godfather.
As I get back into putting this out regularly, please let me know if there are any theaters I’m missing, or if there’s anything you’d like to see added to the almanac! Happy moviegoing!
* Recommended Feature
New Features
The Aftermath
James Kent’s The Aftermath has not been getting the best of reviews – it looks one of those post-World War II dramas about infidelity that wants to have something profound to say about human nature, but ends up saying nothing at all.
The Grand Cinema
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Ash is the Purest White *
After it premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, Jia Zhangke’s Ash is the Purest White was one of the films I was most eager to see. It’s been getting really strong reviews, so I will definitely be checking this one out before it leaves theaters.
SIFF Cinema Uptown
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Black Mother *
Khalik Allah’s Black Mother is an incredible, poetic documentary collage of sound and image used to explore Jamaica’s past, present, and possible future. It’s a film that lulls you into its rhythms and, before you know what’s happened, you find yourself deeply and profoundly moved.
Northwest Film Forum
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
The Fifth Element
I know people love Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element, but it’s one of the sci-fi spectacles that I never quite warmed up to. There are fun moments, and the production design is gorgeous, but it just never clicked for me. Still, if it’s a ’90s classic that you love, this is a great chance to catch it on the big screen again.
Central Cinema
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
The Godfather *
Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece, The Godfather, will be screening this week in 35mm at The Grand Illusion Cinema. This will be a great chance to see a classic on the big screen.
The Grand Illusion Cinema
SHOWTIMES
The Mustang
The story of a convict who participates in a rehabilitation program working with horses, The Mustang looks like it has the potential to be a really powerful and moving film. The trailer’s really compelling and the reviews are solid, so it’s definitely one to keep on your radar.
The Grand Cinema
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Rose Theatre
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
My Neighbor Totoro *
One of the most beautiful and charming animated films from Studio Ghibli, My Neighbor Totoro is the quiet tale of two young girls who move to the country to be near their sick mother and end up meeting the forest spirits who live near their home.
Dragonfly Cinema
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Super Troopers
In honor of the Broken Lizard comedy troupe setting their latest work in the region, Central Cinema is bringing Super Troopers back to the big screen. Another recent comedy classic that I never warmed up to, the film has its ardent admirers. If that’s you, make sure to catch it again on the big screen.
Central Cinema
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Transit *
Another film from last year’s festival season that I’ve been dying to see, Christian Petzold’s Transit is about a World War II refugee who assumes the identity of a dead man and becomes involved with the dead man’s wife.
SIFF Cinema Uptown
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Continuing Features
Apollo 11 *
Coming out of Sundance, the documentary Apollo 11 – comprised of recently discovered large-format film footage – looks outstanding and has being receiving glowing reviews. Go see this on the biggest screen possible.
Olympia Film Society
SHOWTIMES
Cat Video Fest 2019
Come on, admit it. You love wasting your entire day just looking at cat videos. Well, now you can fully indulge in the over an hour of cats looking adorable and cuddly at the 2019 edition of Cat Video Fest.
Dragonfly Cinema
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Gloria Bell *
Sebastián Lelio’s Gloria Bell looks like the kind of radiant and sophisticated drama for adults that rarely gets made anymore, so it’s a film I support even if it wasn’t getting such strong reviews.
The Grand Cinema
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
SIFF Cinema Uptown
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Green Book
It’s unfortunately winner of this year’s Academy Award for Best Picture. It’s one of those well-crafted, crowd-pleasing films about racism that’s designed to make white people feel good about themselves without actually confronting the reality of racism today.
Crest Cinema Center
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Never Look Away
Nominated for two Academy Awards, Never Look Away was a disappointingly messy film that never quite knows what kind of movie it wants to be. It goes on for much too long and has too tidy an ending to feel honest or believable. I’m glad to have seen it, but it was definitely my least favorite of the films nominated for Best Foreign Language Film.
The Grand Cinema (One-Day Screening)
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Rose Theatre
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
On the Basis of Sex
It looks to be a fairly standard biopic – and completely unnecessary, especially with the outstanding documentary RBG out earlier this year. Still, I won’t write it off completely before I have a chance to see it. If you like your inspirational biopic, this is probably for you.
Crest Cinema Center
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Styx
This looks absolutely riveting – and is getting great reviews to boot! The story of an ER doctor sailing to a remote island by herself when she encounters a sinking boat filled with refugees, the film serves as an indictment of the bureaucracy that stands in the way of caring for those in crisis.
Rose Theatre
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
They Shall Not Grow Old
Peter Jackson’s World War I documentary looks incredibly compelling – a massive technical achievement. I’m not sure how I feel about the colorization, addition of sound effects, and remastering in 3D, but this has the potential to be a really moving experience.
Crest Cinema Center
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES (3D)
Us *
If you haven’t see Us yet, drop whatever you’re doing and go see it right now. Jordan Peele’s latest social commentary dressed up as horror film is a brilliant examination of our cultural myths and the ways we attempt to bury the sins of our past.
The Grand Cinema
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
SIFF Cinema Egyptian
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
What is Democracy?
This philosophical inquiry travels the globe and looks across history to examine the roots, history, and current foundations of democracy during this time of profound crisis around the world. It’s been getting really solid reviews and is one that I’m looking forward to seeing.
Rose Theatre
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Woman at War *
Benedikt Erlingsson’s Woman at War is a surprisingly moving comedy about eco-terrorism and global warming. It’s one of those films that could all-too-easily dip into maudlin sentimentality or goofy comedy, but Erlingsson approaches the material with such a light touch that is always seems to find the perfect tone.
Olympia Film Society
SHOWTIMES
Rose Theatre
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
SIFF Cinema Uptown
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Limited Engagements
Best of the 45th Northwest Filmmakers’ Festival 2019 *
A collection of short films made by local filmmakers, this represents some of the best filmmaking in our region and should be a really compelling program.
Northwest Film Forum
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
An Elephant Sitting Still *
Hu Bo’s debut (and tragically final) feature is another favorite from last year’s festival season making its way to Seattle. Hailed as a masterpiece, the film is an intimate drama with epic scope that follows four strangers weighed down by the burdens of this world.
Northwest Film Forum
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Faces Places *
In memory of the great Agnès Varda, go see the absolutely charming Faces Places and see Varda and JR travel the French countryside, meeting people from rural communities and elevating the everyday to the mythic.
Rose Theatre
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
The Fate of Lee Khan *
Legendary director King Hu’s The Fate of Lee Khan looks like an absolute blast – an all-star female cast anchors this film of political intrigue and vibrant action sequences. This will be an absolute delight to experience with a crowd.
Northwest Film Forum
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Loving Vincent & Loving Vincent: The Impossible Dream
Loving Vincent is a visually astonishing, animated biopic of Vincent Van Gogh, in which every frame is painted by hand in the artist’s style. The technique is impressive, the film less so. Still, it would be incredible to see this one the big screen. Plus, you can make a day of it and see the documentary about how it was made.
Dragonfly Cinema
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
SIFF Film Center
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES (LOVING VINCENT)
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES (LOVING VINCENT: THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM)
Starfish
A heartbreaking film about grief and loss – that also just so happens to be set at the end of the world – Starfish looks like a really moving and powerful film with a slightly surreal edge. I can’t wait to see it.T
The Grand Illusion Cinema
SHOWTIMES
One-Day Screenings
Cadence 2019 – Full Cadence
This program of video poetry looks riveting. If you’re looking for something off the beaten path and want to explore more experimental filmmaking, this is the program for you.
Northwest Film Forum
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Cartoon Happy Hour *
Central Cinema presents two hours of classic cartoons along with food and drink specials for this all-ages early evening treat.
Central Cinema
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Citizen Ruth *
Alexander Payne’s Citizen Ruth is a sharp, brutal satire about the abortion debate and the ways in which both sides of a political issue often use the ones most affected for their own purposes.
Rose Theatre
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Keanu
Keanu is a charming and delightfully absurd action-comedy from Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele about two friends who end up caring for a drug kingpin’s kitten and go to extremes for their feline friend.
The Grand Cinema
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
The Lavender Hill Mob *
One of the classic Ealing comedies, the film follows a plot to steal gold and smuggle it out of the country reformed as souvenirs and features the always delightful Alec Guinness.
Seattle Art Museum
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Rocky Horror Picture Show
It’s the cult classic, and Dragonfly Cinema will be screening it in 35mm with a live cast, prop bags, and costumes. If you’ve never had the full Rocky Horror experience, this one’s for you!
Dragonfly Cinema
TICKETS & SHOWTIMES
Salut l’Artiste
I don’t know much about Salut l’Artiste, but this comedy of infidelity and romantic woe looks very, very French. I do really enjoy Marcello Mastroianni, so it’s possible that this will be a real treat.
Scarecrow Video
SHOWTIMES
Terror Nullis
This looks like a fascinating, bizarre bit of political sci-fi. Re-writing Australia’s national mythology, the film takes pre-existing footage and twists it into a bold narrative experiment the mixes fact and fiction to get at deeper truths.
The Grand Illusion Cinema
SHOWTIMES
Intersections 