lights. camera. action.

Happy Monday Cleveland! What a great Northeast Ohio weekend we had. Bright blue skies. Sunshine. Time with our closest friends. Good food. A drink..or two. A movie. A trip to the market. What did you do this weekend?



Is anyone as excited as I am about the 34th Annual Cleveland Film Fest? Did you know the film line up is available online and the little paper schedule books will begin circulating end of this week?

When I get my hands on one of the paper movie line ups I will make myself a pot of french press or pour myself a good glass of vino and begin my movie attack. From french foreign flicks to an eye-opening documentary. A romantic comedy to something a bit educational. I like to try and take in as many films while still being able to decipher one from the other.

When you get your time to plan your movie attack, "film" me in on any recommendations. I can't wait to see you at the movies!

film classics & egg benedict

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

This Sunday kicks off the first in the Sunday Classics at the Capitol Theatre - Brunch & Movie Series

Come to the Capitol Theatre at 10 am for a screening of the vintage classic of An American In Paris followed by Sunday brunch at LUXE Kitchen. Gene Kelly stars in director Vincent Minelli's 1951 classic musical that won 6 Oscars including Best Picture...I can't believe I have NEVER seen it yet?



The Capitol Theatre is launching its Sunday Classics Brunch & Movie Series. See a different classic film, each month and then enjoy brunch at their partnering restaurant immediately after the film.

The Brunch/Movie Package tickets are $25 ($5 for just the movie) and reservations must be made via phone M-F between 9:00 and 5:00. Please call 440.349.3306 ext. 111 to make your brunch reservation. Call today!

Sci-Fi Movie Marathon (1-15/17)

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 15th through the 17th, 2010.

Long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... In the early 1970's, there were several film groups on the Case Western Reserve campus. These groups had formed because of interest in different genres of movies. Along the way, the groups merged and formed the basis of the current CWRU Film Society.

This weekend pack your backpack, Red Bull, sleeping bags and tooth brush and go to the Science Fiction Marathon. This weekend of approx 36 hrs of back to back science fiction movies, trailers, and surprises was started in 1976 and is attended by CWRU students, the Cleveland community, and people from out of state and from other countries.



The movie schedule is as follows...
Friday
8:00pm Terminator Salvation (2009)
10:15pm Moon (2009)

Saturday
12:00am The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
2:00am SURPRISE I
3:30am First Spaceship on Venus (1962)
5:15am Independence Day (1996)
8:00am Moonraker (1979)
10:15am Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
12:45pm The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988)
2:45pm Short Circuit (1986) (JOHNNY 5 is ALIVE!!!)
4:30pm SURPRISE II
6:15pm The Phantom Planet (1961)
7:45pm The Fifth Element (1997)
10:00pm The City of Lost Children (1995)

Sunday
12:00am SURPRISE III
2:00am District 9 (2009)


For all of the details including parking visit the CWRU Film Society site.

Hometown Writers Movie Picks.

The Golden Globes are quickly approaching, ten more days to be exact. I always love this season when I try to squeeze in as many of the nominated films as possible, although my intake of twizzlers and popcorn and is a bit overboard right now, I am trying to get a handle on it.

Although not all nominated for "Best Performance by an Actor," Clint O'Connor of the Plain Dealer wrote a great run down on what HIS favorite top 10 movies of 2009. I think it was a great article and I couldn't resist passing it along!

Top 10 movies of 2009: Frequent fliers, troubled teens, blue aliens, political screams. By Clint O'Connor, The Plain Dealer

The 3-D revolution raged in 2009, evolving from visual gimmick to movie staple.

"Up," "Monsters vs. Aliens," "My Bloody Valentine," and "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" burst through screens to slap us in the face with brighter, sharper digital images. My brain is still processing those little white floaty things fluttering around Pandora in James Cameron's 3-D "Avatar."

Cameron waited years for the technology to catch up to his vision, and it was worth it.

Michael Bay should have waited for a good script to catch up with to his robots in "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." The drab "Transformers" sequel did score in the green dimension, however, topping the box office with more than $402 million. It needed to make a bundle, because it cost about $200 million to produce.

Conversely, Oren Peli made the scary "Paranormal Activity" for a paltry $15,000. It has pocketed $107 million at last count.

Despite the putrid economy, the Cleveland International Film Festival set glowing attendance records, proving Clevelanders love their movies. Especially if they're dark, weird, and foreign. Cleveland's Capitol Theatre, shuttered for 24 years, reopened as a sparkling three-theater digital palace. A victory for community partnerships and the West Side.

Sandra Bullock wins performer of the year honors for knocking out three films: "The Proposal," "All About Steve," and "The Blind Side." The latter is still going strong in theaters. Bullock expertly plays real-life force-of-nature Leigh Anne Tuohy, the Memphis woman who took in a homeless teenager in crisis and helped set his life on a strong course. A worthy deed in any dimension.

1. "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire," directed by Lee Daniels. Brutal, harsh, harrowing. Daniels' documentary-like style lent the story of an abused teenaged girl a realism that gets inside your heart and stays there. Gabourey Sidibe's stunning performance as Precious was backed by unforgettable turns from Mo'Nique, Mariah Carey and Paula Patton.

2. "In the Loop," directed by Armando Iannucci. Savvy, sharp-edged political satire about a verbal gaffe that sends Middle East policy spinning. Iannucci's quick, two-camera shooting technique lent his fast-talking cast a comic immediacy that juiced the laugh-out-loud moments.

3. "Fantastic Mr. Fox," directed by Wes Anderson. The most painstaking process -- stop-motion animation -- was the perfect format for presenting Roald Dahl's children's story. Anderson's best film, with nifty voice work from George Clooney and Meryl Streep.

4. "Up in the Air," directed by Jason Reitman. Refreshingly smart and funny (and highly relevant in our downsizing cooperate-controlled world). George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick have a ball with their roles. And so do we.

5. "Avatar," directed by James Cameron. It's not a movie, it's an experience. Cameron creates an entire world complete with its own language and culture, and lifts the medium of film to a new technological level.

6. "Me and Orson Welles," directed by Richard Linklater. One of the best and least appreciated American directors, Linklater spins a marvelously entertaining tale of Welles (Christian McKay) and his blustery brilliance at the Mercury Theatre in 1937.

7. "Inglourious Basterds," directed by Quentin Tarantino. Brad Pitt shines in this elaborate Jewish-revenge fantasy about the Nazis and World War II. Pitt's speech recruiting potential killers is a classic Tarantino talkie torrent.

8. "The Hangover," directed by Todd Philips. Somehow Philips and screenwriters Jon Lucas and Scott Moore managed to take the most overdone premise (a wild bachelor party in Las Vegas) and make a fresh and funny film.

9. "The Hurt Locker," directed by Kathryn Bigelow. The non-stop intensity of a bomb squad in Iraq is highlighted by Jeremy Renner's gutsy performance as Staff Sgt. Will James. When an officer asks what's the best way to dismantle bombs, James responds, "The way you don't die, sir."

10. "A Serious Man," directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. The care and detail devoted to even the most minor of characters sets the Coens apart yet again as they investigate the meaning of life in Minnesota, circa 1967.


Thanks Clint!!!! I agree on many of your pics...I still have a few I want to see including Precious, Inglourious Basterds and Me and Orson Welles.

a Wicked weekend

Halloween is my favorite holiday! The warm colors, the spicy scents, the sassy costumes, the sugary sweets it all adds up to the celebration of fall. Plus we fall back so we get a bonus hour of sleep.



This weekend along with bobbin for apples see if you can squeeze any of these little treats to your weekend rundown...

- An “All You Can Eat Buffet”
- A Party with the Dead
- A little Coco before Chanel
- Hoops with the boys
- Being okay with Miss Michaelson

So Happy HAlloween to everyone in the "Land-of-Cleve," and might I warn you, don't come by my house without a costume or you won't get any candy. :)

Wild Thing!!! (10/16)

I know we've all been waiting...and waiting...and waiting.

So....LET THE WILD RUMPUS BEGIN!!!



Head over to Cleveland's newest theatre, Captiol Theatre on Detorit in the Gordon Arts Square District for today's release of Maurice Sendacks show, where the wild things are ... showing at 11:30, 2:00. 4:45, 7:15 and 9:40!


Be there or "I'll Eat You Up!!!" :)

Maverick Movie (8/13)

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

Name this all time favorite flick...

"Maverick is a hot pilot. When he encounters a pair of MiGs over the Persian Gulf, his wingman is clearly outflown and freaks. On almost no fuel, Maverick is able to talk him back down to the Carrier. When his wingman turns in his wings, Maverick is moved up in the standings and sent to the Top Gun Naval Flying School. There he fights the attitudes of the other pilots and an old story of his father's death in combat that killed others due to his father's error. Maverick struggles to be the best pilot, stepping on the toes of his other students and in a different way to Charlie, a civilian instructor to whom he is strongly attracted." (IMDB)



Yep, you're right...TOP GUN. This alltime favorite is this weeks pick at Crocker Park, "Movies in the Park." Located in West Park, the movies takes place at dusk every Thursday evening. Bring a blanket of chair, this one is sure to be packed with aspiring pilots.

www.crockerpark.com

FREE Tickets (8/05)

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

Good morning Cleveland!

I have 2 pairs of tickets to this weeks early viewing of the anticipated flick Julie & Julia to give away thanks to the evenings host...Gatherings Kitchen.



Gatherings Kitchen is a custom catering kitchen that provides corporate and social catering to fit your enetertaining needs. Chefs Ruth and Doug also open their doors for Friday night Super Clubs - where you and your friends have the opportunity to cook together under their supervision. Along with catering & Supper Clubs, Gatherings Kitchen is also available for your private dining needs. Tucked along Madison Ave in Lakewood the space is a wonderful location for your engagement party, team building and childrens birthday party needs. GIve them a shout today for more informtion 216.228.2285


If you'd like one of the pairs of MOVIE TICKETS, leave a comment and tell me this: If you could learn to cook something along side of Ms. Child what would it be?

The contest is open until end of day August 3rd. (please include your email so I can contact you for your mailing address, the tickets will be mailed out today!)

Movie Madness (8/06-23)

August 6th, 2009

Looking for a cool summer afternoon escape? Head to the Palace Theatre for the annual Cinema at the Square movie celebration.

This summer the Palace Theatre’s famous screen (a 20 foot-high by 47 foot-wide super Hurly-Glo projection screen) will feature 15 film favorites as The Twelveth Annual Cinema at the Square Series returns to the Palace Theatre at PlayhouseSquare August 6-23.



On my list of MUST see's...
8/06 : Young Frankenstein (FREE!!!)
8/13 : West Side Story (SING ALONG PRESENTATION)
8/14 : Breakfast at Tiffany's (because I LOVE Miss Hepburn & her updo')
8/23 : Muppets Take Manhattan (because they are silly)

Moviegoers will be treated to pre-show organ recitals on a restored 1928 Kimball organ that contains 13 sets of pipes, a xylophone, Glockenspiel, a complete set of drums and many cymbals. The organ, donated to PlayhouseSquare in 1975, was painstakingly restored by volunteers and is the perfect complement to your evening at Cinema at the Square!

For the full film listing visit Cinema At The Square

Free Movie (7/16)

July 16th, 2009

Looking for a little summer fun this Thursday night? Pack a blanket and some brownies or popcorn and head to Crocker Park for their FREE Movies In The Park this week showing "Ghostbusters"

Three odd-ball scientists get kicked out of their cushy positions at a university in New York City where they studied the occult. They decide to set up shop in an old firehouse and become Ghostbusters, trapping pesky ghosts, spirits, haunts, and poltergeists for money. They wise-crack their way through the city, and stumble upon a gateway to another dimension, one which will release untold evil upon the city. The Ghostbusters are called on to save the Big Apple.



"Movies in the Park" is located in West Park, and taking place at dusk every Thursday evening (around 9-11pm). For more information contact Guest Services at (440)871-6880.

A Tuesday Flick (6/23 & 30)

Tuesday June 23rd and Tuesday June 30th, 2009

Looking for something to do on a quiet Tuesday afternoon? Beat the summer heat by taking in a movie shown on our big screen. Bring a snack if you wish. (twizzlers, rice krispie treats, "juice" boxes...sshhhhh...)



June 23 = Muppet Treasure Island



June 30 = Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Movies begin at 1:00pm For directions visit www.lkwdpl.org

Franco For Sale (6/21)

Sunday, June 21st, 2009

He's talented, attractive and IN PERSON, Cleveland welcomes Golden Globe winning actor (Pineapple Express & Milk), James Franco

Franco, of Milk and Spider-Man fame, makes a live appearance at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The museum will screen the Cleveland premier of the art film, Erased James Franco. After the film, Franco and the filmmaker, contemporary artist Carter, will speak to the audience in person. Museum Director Timothy Rub will moderate. The film will be screened in the museum's Lecture Hall.



For the film Carter approached Franco about reenacting scenes from previous films in his oeuvre (James Dean, Spider-Man trilogy & Rock Hudson) but to revisit these scenes with restraint. At no point is Franco given the opportunity to delve deeply into any one character. Instead Carter directs Franco to use a flat voice and limit his instinctual movement during the filming of each scene. Carter describes his direction as “artificially relaxed - to withhold James' natural ability to act …” which gives the film a muted quality.

Tickets are selling fast $20 for members, $25 for non members. 2:30pm.

Shoes! (5/08)

Friday, May 8th, 2009

If you are a fan of shoes like I am (total addict) then Shoes, Shoes, Shoes: Footwear Fashions Past & Present hosted by Cleveland Public Library, Social Sciences Department will be a reason enough to call in sick this Friday!

The documentary of Head Over Heels will be presented as well as an exhibit on the history of shoes. Come in and see what fashion and costume resources are available at the library. The exhibit will be on display throughout May.



10:00 am Cleveland Public Library, Louis Stokes Wing, 5th floor, 525 Superior Ave. Cleveland. www.cpl.org

Paris 36

If it rains this weekend, you'll know where to find me...

Opening this weekend at Cedar Lee....Paris 36. A film set in 1936 Paris where three out-of-work friends (Gérard Jugnot, Clovis Cornillac, Kad Merad) create a musical and must struggle with their lack of experience and a local thug in order to run the show and raise enough money to buy the theater.



If you want more, check out this scene in the movie filled with a french nautical musical review...I was in heaven!
www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1846084377/



For showtimes visit www.clevelandcinemas.com

Eggshell-LAND; the movie (4/17-18)

Friday, April 17th & Saturday, April 18th, 2009



Lyndhurst residents Ron and Betty Manolio, who have been decorating their Linden Lane yard with thousands of brightly colored egg shells for 52 years, are the subjects of a new documentary "Eggshelland: The Movie" follows a year in the life of the Manolios as they planned and set up their annual Easter display for 2004. Producer and Director Christopher Noice, who was then living in Mayfield Heights, came up with the idea for a documentary the first time he visited Eggshelland in 1985.



The film will premiere April 17th & 18th, 7pm at Cedar Lee Theatre, (Cleveland Heights) For more information about the film visit www.eggshellandmovie.com

It Started...Day 5

It's Day 5 of the 34th Cleveland International Film Festival. Yesterday (Day 4) I was lucky enough to see two very different films.

On the sunny Sunday morning I hopped onto the Rapid and made my way to Tower City for the morning movies. There was a great sense of anticipation as to what this years festival would hold for me. The smell of popcorn, the program all dog-eared, the friends gathering together in the lobby, I knew I was in for a treat.

One of my favorite things is to see is the festival trailer that the designers at Twist Creative and the filmmakers at Authentic Films have created together. This years did not disappoint; great job guys! It's fun to watch and pick out people you may know, take a look below.



Enjoy week two of the festival , with many more films on my agenda, I know I will! For the complete schedule visit www.clevelandfilm.org

Sweet films (3/19-29)

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

Grab your popcorn, twizzlers and large fountain coke and head to the 33rd Cleveland International Film Festival which kicks off tomorrow night!



Did you get your book? Planned your attack? Purchased your tickets? I have and am ready to enjoy an evening or two at this years Festival. Take the RTA, embrace Tower City Cinemas, grab a friend and expericen the film world from across the globe. You won't be sorry with this years lineup of flicks, there is something for everyone. Short animations to documentaries, romance to thrillers, old school to way far out, get your tickets TODAY!

For tickets or information about the festival in general visit www.clevelandfilm.org

I loved last years 32nd CFF film trailer. Wonder what this years will be?

Italian Bike Bash (3/13)

Friday, March 13th, 2009

Join Century Cycles and Masi Bicycles for the celebrazione of the season!

Ever seen the infamous movie "Breaking Away?" Join the gang and celebrate it's 30th year as the "Best Cycling Movie of all times." As part of the evening's celebrazione, Century Cycles in unveiling it's newest bike line in over eight years, Masi.



Try their very own Cutter IPA and Little 500 Lager (while supplies last), specially-brewed by CC Brewmaster Doug. Enjoy Italian food from Coleone's and opera music, just like the hero “Dave” in the movie - who rode a Masi, too. See Masi’s line of 2009 steel bikes, and there’ll be a Masi rep on hand to answer your questions. Win prizes like CUTTER t-shirts, tix to the 2009 Little 500, Cinzano wool jersey, Campagnolo and Cinzano cycling caps, “Breaking Away” DVDs, and more! And if all that isn’t enough, enter our spring raffle to win a 2009 Masi Soulville!

Not familiar with the Italian bike line? Check out the Caffe Racer Doppio (US MSRP: $1,090)



Like a double shot of freshly brewed espresso, the Caffé Racer Doppio is the perfect eye-opener for your busy day. Its 10-speed drivetrain with TruVativ Elita crankset and Shimano Ultegra rear derailleur will make your morning commute downright fun. With its rack and fender mounts, the Doppio easily converts into a 9-to-5 workhorse. On weekends, our finest Masi MetroItalia bicycle simply begs to be ridden all day. It even has this scratch and sniff, Italian espresso bike frame, one caffeinated whiff and you are sure to ride faster..just kidding, but wouldn't that be so cool? :)

For more details on this biking celebrazione visit www.centurycycles.com : 7pm at Century Cycles Rocky River

Oscar Intensive (2/21)

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

This year, gearing up for the Oscars will be a breeze when you spend the afternoon at the 2009 AMC Best Picture Showcase. See all five nominated films (for $30) up for "Best Picture" in one afternoon just in time for the Oscars the next evening.

Movie Times are as follows :
10:30 : Milk
1:05 : The Reader
3:45 : The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
7:15 : Slumdog Millionaire
9:45 : Frost/Nixon



Looks like Cleveland's closest AMC theatre is located in Brooklyn, at Ridge Park Square (4788 Ridge Rd., Ridge Road @ I-480)

For more details visit www.amctheatres.com
Popcorn and unlimited refills included in your ticket price...can one live alone on movie popcorn and twizzlers? I am destined to find out. :)

Everest

Looking for that perfect matinee flick filled with adventure? Join the science gurus over the the Great Lakes Science Museum as they present the Ominmax film, Everest.



The dramatic true story of a team of climbers that takes audiences up dangerous, towering cliffs, through a harrowing rescue and into the dangerous zone of oxygen-thin altitude.

Plays through March 1st. 3pm daily. www.greatscience.com

Running the Sahara (2/18)

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

NEHST Studios is hosting a special premiere screening of the film "Running the Sahara" (www.runningthesahara.com) in Cleveland (& Canton on March 13th). "Running the Sahara" is a documentary narrated and produced by Oscar winner Matt Damon, directed by Oscar winner James Moll, and featuring music by Grammy winner Wyclef Jean (I love the music on the website!). the film follows three ultra-marathoners on their 111-day, 4,300-mile attempt to run across Africa's Sahara Desert.



"Running the Sahara" focuses on three runners: Charlie Engle from Charlotte, North Carolina, Kevin Lin from Taipei, Taiwan, and Ray Zahab from Ontario, Canada – accompanied by a support team consisting of an MD, a physical therapist, and a logistics leader – as they attempt to become the first people to ever run across the Sahara Desert. This character-driven film delves into the life-changing experiences of the three runners as they tackle the physical and emotional obstacles in the Sahara Desert. The film delivers a message of hope and puts everyday challenges in perspective.

7pm : Tower City Cinemas. $35 per person (includes admission to the film, a gift bag valued at over $50, a cocktail reception and Q&A with star of the film, ultra-marathoner Charlie Engle.) A portion of proceeds will benefit the Rodale Institute and Team In Training. For tickets visit www.nehst.com

From Nature with love (2/14)

This Saturday, why not spend the day outdoors with someone you love? The Cleveland Metroparks has a few outdoor adventure offerings that should keep you warm on this lovely winter holiday. Grab your mittens and scarf and wear an extra layer of socks, the fresh outdoor air will do you good.



Valentine's Day Hike : 1-2:15pm : Do something different this holiday - bring a sweetie out for a hike through the beautiful, wintry trails of Rocky River Reservation. Revel in snowy sights with Naturalist Bethany Majeski, then head back to the Nature Center to enjoy some hot cocoa by our warm fireplace. Rocky River Nature Center. Terrain: uneven surfaces, 2 miles

A Hearty Hike : 1-2:30pm : Hearts are to be seen everywhere this season, but the most important heart is your own. Come out and hike in Euclid Creek Reservation; even in winter it's fun and healthy for your heart. Euclid Creek Reservation, Highland Picnic Area parking lot : Terrain: slippery, hill, 2.5 miles

Harlem Love Song : 2pm : Spend some time this Valentine's Day enjoying love poems, music, and a romantic short film from the Harlem Renaissance. We'll provide the candy and flowers and the fireplace, and a lovely backdrop for a souvenir photo. Garfield Park Nature Center Space is limited, Registration required 216.341.3152

For directions and additional information on any of these Metropark events, visit www.clemetparks.com

Movie Night, Girls ONLY! (02/06)

Friday, February 6th, 2008

Shaker Square Cinemas is proud to announce its third Ladies Night benefit for Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Circle of Friends.

The event will kick off at 6:30 pm with a reception in the Shaker Square Cinemas upper and lower lobbies followed by a screening of the new film "He's just not that into you" at 7:30 pm.  John Robert’s Spa will be providing free mini spa and salon treatments to attendees prior to the film at various stations throughout the lobby. Appetizers from SASA, Sergio’s Sarava, Fire and Whole Foods Market plus complimentary wine or soda will be served. Complimentary popcorn will be served throughout the movie. Attendees will also receive gift bags featuring goodies from area businesses.



Women are encouraged to bring pictures of any or all of their exes. href="http://www.metromix.com">www.metromix.com will be on site with a “Shred Your Ex” station to provide a release for any recent or past break-up pains.

Tickets are $35 and are on sale at the Shaker Square Cinemas box office or you can click here to buy your tickets online https://tix.tribute.ca/cleveland/theatre.asp?TheatreID=44002&day=2%2F6%2F2009

"Holly"Wood Christmas

Do you love Xmas movies? Can't WAIT for Thanksgiving to be over to pull out "The Grinch"? Think Will Ferrell is your ultimate HERO in "ELF" Then do I have a place for you to visit!

"Holly"Wood Christmas Movieland in Broadview Heights is filled with collectibles and movie props from many of the beloved Holiday movie classics. What type of stuff?

Among the movie exhibits you will find....
• Santa Claus: The Movie - Costumes and Sleigh Models used for filming
• Jingle All The Way - We do covet this one- the one and only wooden TurboMan costume!
• Christmas with the Kranks - Everybody’s favorite snowman!
• Miracle on 34th Street - Original jewelery, set components, and props
• The Grinch - World’s Largest collection of props - Cars, the Grinch Sleigh, costumes, set components, Martha May’s Engagement Ring, and of course, the very LAST can of Who Hash.
• Elf - Will Ferrell’s snug Costume
• The Santa Clause: Tim Allen’s Santa costume

001 Rt. 82 (E Royalton Road) Broadview Heights, OH 44147 FREE PARKING • 440.453.5889 • www.christmasmovieland.com Bring the whole family while they are in town, fun for everyone!

Le Plasir (11/29-30)

Saturday, November 29, at 5:30 pm & Sunday, November 30, at 4:15 pm

LE PLAISIR (aka “House of Pleasure”)

Max Ophuls’ 1955 color and ‘scope spectacle Lola Montès may be the revival of the year, but until that film gets to Cleveland, feast your eyes on this Ophuls wonder made three years earlier. It’s one of three masterpieces that ended the director’s extraordinary career (the third, The Earrings of Madame de…, shows at the Cleveland Museum of Art on Dec. 30.), and the only one of the three not distributed theatrically in the U.S. (We’re showing a rare 35mm print from France.) Le Plaisir tells, with peerless lyricism and intoxicating camera movements, three de Maupassant stories of fleeting happiness: an old man wears a mask to perpetuate his youth; urban prostitutes spend a day in the country; an artist marries his mistress/model. Subtitles. 35mm. 95 min.



Show Times : Nov 29 (Sat) - 5:30PM : Nov 30 (Sun) - 4:15PM For additional information visit www.cia.edu

Movie Journey

Mysteries of the Great Lakes

Ever wanted to explore the ecology of our inland seas, its threatened species and conservation efforts? Looking for something to do, other than shopping, this weekend? Than why not take a holiday break or a long lunch and go experience the “Mysteries of the Great Lakes” playing at the Great Lakes Science Center.

It takes a drop of water nearly 400 years to travel from the headwaters of Lake Superior to the edge of Lake Ontario. Along the way, the water passes by towering cliffs dotted with early Native American pictographs, caribou and moose grazing on the shores, over giant prehistoric sturgeon lurking among thousands of shipwrecks and past nearly 40 million people who live along the more than 10,000 miles of coastline. It is a dramatic journey through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. It’s a MUST SEE!



November 28-30, 12 & 3 pm and December 1-24, 12pm. For directions, fees, etc. visit www.glsc.org

Rachel Getting Married

I have been wanting to see this film for some time now...and it's here!!!

"Rachel Getting Married" is a contemporary "drama with an aggressive sense of humor" about the return of an estranged daughter to the family home for her sister's wedding. Kym's (Anne Hathaway) reemergence throws a wrench into the family dynamics, forcing long-simmering tensions to surface in ways both hilarious and heartbreaking. "Rachel Getting Married" paints a colorful, nuanced family portrait.



See if you can squeeze in a late night showing this week at Cedar Lee (www.clevelandcinemas.com). For the official trailer visit www.sonyclassics.com/rachelgettingmarried/main.html

Sunday at the Movies (11/2)

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008

Newspaper editor Cary Grant will do anything to keep his ex-wife, ace reporter Rosalind Russell, from remarrying in "His Girl Friday." (1940) He loves her almost as much as the newspaper business and thinks nothing of framing her fiancé and freeing death row prisoners to lure her back for one last big story.



Directed by Howard Hawks, 2:00pm, Main Library Auditorium 15425 Detroit Ave. Lakewood. Free! For more information on this classic flick visit www.imdb.com/title/tt0032599/

Skateboarding Movie Night (10/20)

Monday, October 20th, 2008

Kick off your week with a night out at the Garage Bar for Cult Movie Mondays. This Monday night the theme of both flicks (10:00pm & 12:00 midnight) is SKATEBOARDING. Wonder what movies they will show? Anyone know?

Along with the film, movie night is filled with drink specials, popcorn, and candy! :)

For information, including other specials and directions visit www.thegaragebar.net

Free French Film (10/18)

Saturday, October 18th, 2008

Girl on the Bridge (1999-France) starring Daniel Auteuil and Vanessa Paradis. Filmed in glorious black and white, this is an engaging story of a desperate girl and the professional knife-thrower who saves her. She joins the act, trusting him completely. Their relationship hits a snag, and she leaves. Then it’s he who suffers an emotional crisis. Luminous performances by Auteuil and Paradis.Directed by Patrice Leconte Rated R (French with English subtitles.)



6:00 p.m. Lakewood Library Main Auditorium

In Search of....

....A Midnight Kiss.

Wilson (Scoot McNairy), a twenty-nine-year old guy who has just had the worst year of his life, is new to Los Angeles, has no date, no concrete plans and every intention of locking the doors and forgetting the last year ever happened. That is until his best friend, Jacob (Brian McGuire), browbeats him into posting a personal ad on Craig’s List.

When Vivian (Sara Simmonds), a strong-willed woman hell bent on being with the right guy at the stroke of midnight responds, a chaotic, sometimes hilarious, sometimes touching journey through the black and white streets of L.A. begins. In the waning hours of the year, emotional vulnerability and bitterly honest humor seem to be waiting around every corner.

In Search of a Midnight Kiss is directed by award-winning comic filmmaker, Alex Holdridge, whose last film, SEXLESS, is the only movie to have won both the Jury and Audience Award for best feature film at the SXSW film festival (2003). The veteran art house producer, Anne Walker, (Before Sunrise, Dazed and Confused) is Executive Producer.



For movie trailers visit www.midnightkissmovie.com for local showtimes visit www.clevelandcinemas.com

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

A perfect way to spend a rainy friday night. Dinner at Lemon Grass for Thai and then off to Cedar Lee Theatre!

My pick for the evening...Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Two young American women, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) come to Barcelona for a summer holiday. Vicky is sensible and engaged to be married; Cristina is emotionally and sexually adventurous. In Barcelona, they're drawn into a series of unconventional romantic entanglements with Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), a charismatic painter, who is still involved with his tempestuous ex-wife Maria Elena (Penélope Cruz).

Set against the luscious Mediterranean sensuality of Barcelona, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is Woody Allen's funny and open-minded celebration of love in all its configurations.



Rated PG-13, 96 minutes For more movie info visit www.vickycristina-movie.com. For times and ticket information visit www.clevelandcinemas.com

Pillow Talk? (08/09)

Saturday, August 9th, 2008.

Do you have Saturday afternoon plans? :) The Eleventh Annual Cinema at the Square Series returns to the Palace Theatre. For the ultimate visual experience, the films are shown on the Palace’s 20 foot-high by 47 foot-wide super Hurly-Glo projection screen – the largest non-Imax screen in Ohio.



This Saturday's flick is Pillow Talk, directed by Michael Gordon, Staring Rock Hudson, Doris Day and Tony Randal. A womanizing music composer repeatedly antagonizes the other half of his party line when she complains of his constant telephone use. Mutual hatred ensues, though the two had never previously met. Later, he manipulates her into falling in love with him by adopting the persona of a Southern Gentleman and playing this personality off of his own in a series of occasionally tag-team "three way" party line conversations. She later discovers his deception and is outraged. The film ends (hilariously) with him breaking down her front door and dragging her screaming out of bed through downtown New York, past a police officer, and finally up the stairs to his apartment where everything is made all right again by his condescension to marry her. A delightfully charming piece of Americana. 1959

Moviegoers will be treated to pre-show organ recitals on a restored 1928 Kimball organ as well as a delightful, classic cartoon, pre-movie.

For more information including more shows and times visit www.playhousesquare.org/cinema/

Home Grown Film (7/27)

Sunday, July 27th, 2008

Lakewood Earth & Food Community presents the film...Real Low Calorie Diet. This movie captures a movement across Northeast Ohio to change the way that we eat. As the film reveals through interviews, animation, and beautiful footage of the city and the countryside, the simple act of eating locally honors our land, our communities, and our rich natural heritage. From climate change to nutritional issues in the inner-city, this film demonstrates that many innovations to our social problems are already taking place at the grassroots level, where the real hope for our democracy lies.

Eat right, preserve the environment, and safeguard democracy. 2:00 p.m. in the new Lakewood Main Library Auditorium.

Magical, a perfect description. (7/25-27)

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, June 25th through the 27th, 2008

The Ingenuity Festival returns with a weekend-long celebration of art and technology, designed for audiences of any age and experience, staged in the center of Downtown Cleveland. Prominent international masters present original works alongside the finest of Northeast Ohio's performing and visual artists. High technology firms and major colleges and universities are presented alongside acclaimed artists to create a dazzling display of exciting and immersive new work! Ingenuity pushes boundaries, creating a unique festival experience that draws and celebrates diversity, and involves the audience as both spectator and participant!



There are so many interesting looking shows, exhibits and installations, but one that I deffinatley want to catch will be a late night performance by the Hot Cha Cha's Friday night at the Plain Dealer Star Plaza Stage.

Oh and if you haven't been to the Opening Ceremony (Friday, July 25 4-5:30 pm) before, it is worth it to skip out of work early for the big show...let's just say...it's Magical. :)

For the schedule and more information visit www.ingenuitycleveland.com

King Kong in Lakewood (6/07)

Saturday June 7, 2008

Catch this historical flick this weekend. See what Peter Jackson got wrong in his ill-conceived remake by joining us for the glorious original. An adventurous film crew travels to Skull Island for the scenery and ends up finding the living eighth wonder of the world. Can Kong be tamed? Will New York City ever be the same? Is this the greatest special effects movie of all time?



Directed by Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack. Rated PG. 6:00pm in the New Main Lakewood Library Auditorium
KING KONG (1933)

Blueberry Nights Opens (5/23)

Friday May 23rd, 2008

The vibrant colors, rich soundtrack and inspiring scenery make My Blueberry Nights a total Memorial Day Weekend MUST SEE.



My Blueberry Nights is a 2007 film directed by Wong Kar Wai, starring Norah Jones and Jude Law. It also features Rachel Weisz, Natalie Portman, David Strathairn and Cat Power. The director describes it as "a story of a woman who takes the long route instead of the short one to meet up with the man she loves." It is Wong's first film in English and was the opening film for the 2007 Cannes Film Festival last May.

Being a fan of all three actors; Portman, Jones and the oh so beautiful Jude Law this film will be a delight to the senses. Add it to your holiday weekend plans. It's playing at Cedar Lee theatre. For times and tickets visit www.clevelandcinemas.com

Oh Karl... (5/09)

Friday, May 9th, 2008

Rodolphe Marconi’s new documentary on Karl Lagerfeld, “Lagerfeld Confidential,” has generated a lot of interest for his candor in interviewing Mr. Lagerfeld about his sexuality and his reputation for being cruelly unsentimental in ending relationships of which he has tired.

“Usually when people are 70 years old with a lot of money, a career and celebrity, they stay at home with a bodyguard in a beautiful house with a swimming pool,” Mr. Marconi said. “But Karl is always in danger. He is all the time alive, curious. For me, curiosity is intelligence.”



The documentary also features, Anna Wintour, Nicole Kidman, and Baz Luhrmann. Celebrate Fashion Week Cleveland with this new documentary about the legendary fashion designer, “the haughty high priest of haute couture” according to the BBC. The film takes a revealing peek under the white ponytail and behind the thick shades to reveal an imperious jet-setter who loves books, cinema, and the visual arts as much as his creations for Chanel. (France, 2007, color, subtitles, 35mm, 89 min.)

Be there! 7 pm. For tickets and additional information visit www.clevelandart.org

Banff Film Fest & Bash (04/11-12)

Friday & Saturday April 11th & 12th, 2008

For the dare-devil in each of us, don't miss out on the 11th annual Banff Mountain Film Festival.

This festival is a collection of some of the world’s most inspiring and thought-provoking active, environmental, and adventure mountain films. Traveling from remote landscapes and cultures to up close and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports, these films provide an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world.

The tour makes a stop in Cleveland for an exclusive showing in Northern Ohio, starting at 7:30 p.m. each night. The Cleveland showing of the film festival showcases different films and a reception each evening. Be there for Friday’s Opening Night Reception! The festivities will kick off with appetizers by Chipotle and Mustard Seed Market & Cafe, Great Lakes Brewing Co. beer and dessert by the Cleveland Cupcake Co. Complimentary Red Bull and Caribou Coffee will be offered for both nightly receptions. The receptions, which run from 6:00-7:30 p.m., also feature exhibits of interest to outdoor enthusiasts, charity raffles, prize sign-ups and a cash bar.

Saturday’s HIGH ALTITUDE PARTY, held in the balcony of the Allen, returns in 2008. High Altitude ticket holders will be treated to: Appetizers & drinks as well as a canvas bags full of goodies from our sponsors. Exclusive balcony seating. Live music by guitarist and singer Frankie Starr, who has opened for name acts such as B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Walsh and Ted Nugent!

Tickets to this special party section are limited, so be sure and reserve your space early. Advance ticket prices, thru April 1 at midnight, are: $30 for Friday (includes the Opening Reception and films); $25 for Saturday (includes the reception and films); and $35 for the Saturday High Altitude Party (includes the reception and films, plus admission to the High Altitude Party and balcony seating). Partial proceeds from the Cleveland showing of the BMFF benefit CAI and Pennies for Peace (from the book, Three Cups of Tea, www.threecupsoftea.com).

Event is open to ages 13 and over; parental guidance is advised for some films.
Allen Theatre Playhouse Square Center 1407 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44115 www.playhousesquare.org

6:00 p.m. - Receptions 7:30 p.m. - Film presentations

Easter Weekend in Cleveland (3/21-22)

Friday & Saturday March 21st & 22nd, 2008

Although the weekend will be filled with Cadbury Cream Eggs and black jelly beans (my personal favorites!) there is a lot to do around town other than gorge ourselves on our Easter baskets.

Here are a few things that sound fun...

LISTEN : Parts & Labor perform (www.partsandlabor.net) as part of the rock! MOCA art rock series. $6 @ 8pm www.mocacleveland.org

SEE : Caramel (a big hit @ this years film festival) will be showing for an exclusive engagement @ the Cedar Lee Theatre. www.caramelmovie.com for show times visit www.clevelandcinemas.com

DO : Hunt Easter eggs with the kiddies @ Legacy Village (www.legacy-village.com). Between noon and 3pm. FREE

EAT : Saturday morning, explore the West Side Market for fresh spring produce, cheese & meats. The Easter holiday will bring out the best hustle and bustle the market has to offer. www.westsidemarket.com



Happy Easter Cleveland!

Cleveland FIlm Fest (3/6-16)

Thursday March 6th - Sunday March 16th, 2008

The films are coming! The films are coming! This weeks marks the beginning of the 32nd Cleveland International Film Festival. So many great flicks and not enough vacation days to take off for every show. Below are a few of the films on my "must-see" list. Get your tickets early these shows are sure to sell out!

PRICELESS : Directed by Pierre Salvadori
Ah, life among the jet set on the French Riviera. A whirlwind of parties, shopping, champagne, and caviar. Nice work if you can get it, which gorgeous young party girl, Irene (Audrey Tautou of “Amelie” and “The DaVinci Code.”), certainly can. Jean is one of the have-nots, a mild-mannered bartender in one of the chicest hotels who takes on all the little jobs he can find for the cash. Crazy rich ladies hire him to walk their dogs; sad drunks tell him their stories in the bar late at night. When Irene and Jean’s paths cross, he fakes being a millionaire. Eventually, though, they find they have something in common; a lack of personal finances and a taste for the good life. When Jean begins to take tips from Irene, he soon finds it’s much easier to escort older ladies than to wait on them. In French with English subtitles. Saturday, March 15 at 7:15pm



AMERICAN TEEN : Directed by Nanette Burstein
A huge hit at the recent Sundance Film Festival, winning the Documentary Directing Award for director Nanette Burstein. Burstein spent the 2005-2006 school year shooting footage of seniors at Warsaw Community High School in Indiana. Her film chronicles some of their hopes and lots of their fears as they navigate the tricky waters of small-town high school life and impending adulthood. AMERICAN TEEN is not your grandma’s talking-heads documentary. Burstein uses brilliant animated sequences to express the kids’ fantasy lives, plus a pop soundtrack, voiceovers and graphic collages in the style of MTV’s “Laguna Beach.” It’s a new style of documentary for a new generation totally at home in front of the camera. Sunday, March 16 at 7:00pm

WORLD'S BEST COMMERCIALS!
Ballets have “The Nutcracker.“ Classical theaters have “A Christmas Carol.“ The CIFF has “World’s Best Commercials.“ Buy your ticket early. This one always sells out. Friday, March 14 at 12:00pm

Advanced ticket prices for most films are $9 per film for CFS members and $11 for non-members. Day-of-show ticket prices are $10 for CFS members and $12 for non-members. Tickets are available online, by telephone (1-866-865-FILM),or at the CIFF store in the lobby of Tower City Cinemas. For more information on the 290+ films that will be shown at the Cleveland International Film Festival, log on to www.clevelandfilm.org.

A Musical Hitchcock Affair (2/28)

Thursday, February 28th, 2008

Come see the newly remastered film of Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. Hear the music of Bernard Herrmann performed by a Red quartet with Red's Artistic Director & Conductor Jonathan Sheffer on hand for a post-film discussion.



$20 includes the film, the musical performance and a general admission ticket to Red {an orchestra} March 8th concert. ($10, film only). For tickets and information contact the Red office at 216.361.1733 or info@redanorchestra.org. Note tickets for this event will NOT be on sale at the Shaker Square box office, they will only be available by contacting Red. Shaker Square Cinemas 13116 Shaker Square (SW Quadrant), Cleveland 7:00pm

Bogart in Lakewood (2/16)

Saturday, February 16th, 2008

Everybody comes to Rick's-Nazis, from thieves to old lovers. Humphrey Bogart plays a former freedom fighter who thought he left both love and America behind, drowning his sorrows in a bottle of gin. But then Ingrid Bergman comes back into his life on the arm of her hero husband and "Boggie" begins to rethink his ways.



Casablanca, 1942, directed by Michael Curtiz, is required viewing for anyone who ever thought they had a handle on love, and for those struggling under the burden of a broken heart.

Lakewood Public Library at 7:00 p.m. in the New Main Library Auditorium. Doors open fifteen minutes before the show. Free!
www.lkwdpl.org/calendar/flicks/index.html

Movie Deals

Don't let a little winter weather keep you inside this week, head out and grab a glass of wine and a good flick at Cedar Lee Theatre. Where every Monday tickets are only $5 and every Wednesday enjoy half-price beer and wine from 4-8pm with your purchase of a movie ticket.

This weeks "must see" is the French film "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," Nominated for 4 Academy Awards including Best Director (Julian Schnabel) and Best Cinematography. Through a mesmerizing blast of color, beauty and humor, Schnabel tells the story of Jean-Dominique Bauby (Mathieu Amalric, “Munich”), the high-flying editor of French Elle and father of two, who was renowned for his sense of humor and style, his joie de vivre and amorous energy, when, in an instant, his world was plunged into the depths of catastrophe. Tapping into the limitlessness of his memories, fantasies, wit and wishes, he finds a way to race through experiences of wonder and grief, sex and love, fatherhood and childhood, faith and questioning, ecstasy and absurdity – and touches the very essence of what it is to be human. For more information visit www.thedivingbellandthebutterfly-themovie.com


For movies and show times visit www.clevelandcinemas.com

Down in Fraggle Rock (1/27)

Sunday, January 27th, 2008

Children of the eighties listen up! Join the Cleveland Museum of Art as they share with us, A Better World, Living in Harmony. This program of Jim Henson short films argues that it’s easy being green. Including a complete episode of the 1983 TV series Fraggle Rock, which featured/created an elaborate underground fantasy world. Also included is the 1989 rain forest-themed TV show The Song of the Rain Cloud Forest, a 1989 TV show; and as well as various Public Service Announcements.

Like Walt Disney, puppeteer Jim Henson (1936–1990) created characters that captured the imagination of millions, allowing him to build a pop-culture empire. As the creator of the Muppets, Henson became the foremost puppeteer of the television era; his lovable, pliable creations (some of which he voiced and performed) proved to be more expressive than marionettes and ventriloquist dummies, and dominated family television for decades.



1:30pm at the Cleveland Museum of Art Lecture Hall
Admission to the program is $8, CMA members $6, seniors 65 & over $5, students and children $4
www.cma.org

Relive the music of Fraggle Rock on iTunes >>

At the Movies (11/9-11)

This weekend why not check out some of the movies you've been meaning to catch?
A good tub of popcorn and an icy cola..kick back and enjoy!

A few that I want to see are...
- Bella (Winner at this years Toronto Film Festival) | www.bellathemovie.com

- American Gangster | www.americangangster.net

- 8 Films to Die For | www.horrorfestonline.com

- My Kid Could Paint That | www.apple.com/trailers/sony/mykidcouldpaintthat/trailer/

2 Days In Paris

Don't miss this flick now showing at Cedar Lee Theatre....

A New York couple, French photographer Marion and American interior designer Jack, attempt to re-infuse their relationship with romance on a European vacation. Their week in Venice didn't work out as planned, they have higher hopes for their last two days in Paris. But the combination of Marion's offbeat parents and flirtatious ex-boyfriends, and with Jack's continuing photography obsession, don't make for an auspicious beginning. Will they be able to salvage their relationship? Or will they merely manage to perfect the art of arguing?



RATED: R / RUNNING TIME: 96 minutes
Starring: Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg, Daniel Bruhl, Ludovic Berthillot, Albert Delpy

www.2daysinparisthefilm.com or www.clevelandcinemas.com

Snip Snip (8/31)

Friday, August 31st

Watch as Edward Scissorhands snips his way through a small suburban community. Showing at the Cleveland Museum of Art with cinematographer Stefan Czapsky there to reflect on the film, and the following. Showing at 7:00 pm. $8 a ticket.

http://www.clevelandart.org/

Naaaannny! (opens 8/25)

"The Nanny Diaries” tells the story of the humorous journey of Annie Braddock (Scarlet Johansson), struggling to understand her place in the world. Fresh out of college, she gets pressure from her mother to find a position in the business world although Annie would prefer to trade in her blackberry for an anthropologist's field diary. Through a serendipitous meeting, Annie ends up in the elite and ritualistic culture of Manhattan's Upper East Side. Annie accepts the position as a nanny for a wealthy family, referred to as simply "the X's." She quickly learns that life is not very rosy on the other side of the tax bracket, as she must cater to the every whim of Mrs. X (Linney) and her precocious son Grayer, while attempting to avoid the formidable Mr. X (Giamatti).

Opens in theatres this Friday, August 25th.
For more information on the movie, and to watch the trailer visit www.thenannydiariesmovie.com.

Trailer not doing much for you? There is always the audiobook available on iTunes.

Funny Face at the Playhouse (8/11)

Saturday, August 11, 2pm & 8:30pm

Escape the heat for an evening at the movies as the Tenth Annual Cinema at the Square Series presents Funny Face.

In Funny Face, Jo Stockton (Audrey Hepburn) can only get to Paris if she agrees to model a line of ultra-chic fashions for photographer Dick Avery. Paris provides the backdrop for this blend of Gershwin music and Givenchy fashion. (1957 USA, 103 minutes. Directed by Stanley Donen; Starring Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire.)



For the ultimate visual experience, the films are shown on the Palace’s 20 foot-high by 47 foot-wide super Hurly-Glo projection screen – the largest non-Imax screen in Ohio. Moviegoers will be treated to pre-show organ recitals on a restored 1928 Kimball organ that contains 13 sets of pipes, a xylophone, Glockenspiel, a complete set of drums and many cymbals. The organ, donated to Playhouse Square in 1975, was painstakingly restored by volunteers and is the perfect complement to your evening at this year’s 10th annual Cinema at the Square! Following the organ performance is a delightful, classic cartoon. See classic films the way they were meant to be seen! Unlike seeing a movie at the local multiplex, CINEMA AT THE SQUARE transports audiences back to Hollywood’s Golden Age through its setting in the lavishly restored Palace Theatre, originally built in 1922 for Vaudeville.

For more information visit http://www.playhousesquare.us/cinema2007/movieschedule.asp

Mad for MOCA Mix (7/28)

Saturday, July 28th

For nearly twenty years, experimental filmmaker Robert Banks has been inspiring praise for his short films from avid movie junkies, critics, and other film auteurs from across the globe. So it should come as no surprise that MOCA, in collaboration with Banks, will show seven of his best known short films, complete with new original scores composed the night of by audio/cut-up collective, The Lusty Moors. 8:00 - 11:30 pm. Free for members, $7 for non members.

http://www.mocacleveland.org/