Oscars on the Big Screen....At the Sunshine Cinema

Watch the Oscars on the big screen at the Sunshine Cinema Downtown on Houston at 2ND Ave. This Indie theater is going to play the Oscars on their largest screen for free. Yep you heard it right! They will be playing Hollywood's big night right here in NYC for free. Hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco both turned down the offer to host Sunday's Oscars. Then Decided that their 'chemistry' was right for the Job. The stars will be out and shining in LA. The Men in black and white and the ladies in silk and sequins. As if one need a reason to dress up and enjoy the red carpet. If you want to make it a special night head Downtown to the Sunshine and see the stars all in lights.

Al Pacino's 70's - THE PANIC IN NEEDLE PARK

This week go back to the 70's with Al Pacino at the film forum. The two films that stand out from this retrospective are "The Panic in Needle Park" 71' and "Scarecrow" 73'. Panic is a gritty New York story with Pacino as a street pusher that brings a young girl into the seedy circle of drug addicts and crooks on the West Side. Mostly shot on the streets this film by Jerry Schatzberg gives one the feeling of being part of the gang of degenerates. This film has a one day run this Monday. In even a shorter run with only two shows is "Scarecrow" also by Jerry Schatzberg. This 70's classic pairs Al Pacino with Gene Hackman as two down and outs hitching from California to Detroit. This is a dialogue movie that has both actors at the height of their abilities. If you would like to get an insight on either of these two films the director will be having a Q & A after the 7:40pm show of "Scarecrow" on Thursday. Once again the Film Forum brings New York what it wants to see.

THE PANIC IN NEEDLE PARK - Monday - 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:45, 10:00
DOG DAY AFTERNOON - Tuesday - 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30
SERPICO - Wednesday - 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30
...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL - Thursday - 1:10, 3:20, 5:30
SCARECROW - Thursday - 7:40*, 9:50 Q & A after the 7:40pm show!!

Lemmy on "Lemmy"

Motorhead's frontman who plays the bass was born on Christmas Eve but he is no saint. This English rocker has been bang-in' around the scene forever and is now over 60 years old and still rockin'. He was a roadie for Jimi Hendrix and was part of the band "Hawkwind." That is all ancient history because what we know him for is being the godfather of Heavy Metal. This is because no one played as loud and as fast a Motorhead. They where the first to not give a shit and turn the amps way up. Lemmy's distortion is produced naturally by the amplifiers set high volume. No pedals here. Now at the Cinema Village one can rock out with one of the best in his new documentary just called "Lemmy." This is a mash up of 16 mm film and HD video that takes you into Lemmy inner sanctum and on stage with plenty of crowed footage. Lets not forget all the other rockers that give you their take on the man in black... too many to list here. Producers Greg Olliver and Wes Orshoski took three years out of their lives to bring us one of the best rock in roll films out sense "Gram Parsons: Fallen Angel." Playing till this Thursday with only one late night show a day at 9pm here is the rock and roll alert - "Get down to the Cinema Village and see "Lemmy!!" When its to late one will have to get the DVD.



"Lemmy gives the filmmakers enough time and candid access to create a profile of the man that goes deeper than just the sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll - even though in Lemmy's case, there's enough of a surplus of all three to power multiple documentaries."
-Ian Buckwalter, NPR

Kitten with a Whip with Jhon Waters:Anthology Film Archives 40th anniversary

If one happened to walk passed 2ND street and 2ND Ave last night you could not help but wonder: Whats the big line for? Would you believe it was for a film made over 40 years ago. The Anthology Film Archives was celebrating their 40Th anniversary with John Waters and one of his favorite films starring Ann-Margret called "Kitten with a Whip." This is known as one of the worst movies of all time but that's what makes it so good. Young 17 year old Judy (Ann-Margret) escapes from reform school and takes David (John Forsythe) a man running for senator, hostage in his own house. "She is all out for kicks... and every inch of her spells excitement." Made in 1964 about 10 years to late for its beatnik juvenile delinquent plot this film has all but been forgotten except to people like John Waters and Mystery Science Theater 3000 (fifteenth episode of season six). Not too forgotten to the New York film goers proved by the turn out at the Anthology last night. For those lucky enough to get in it was a fun night of pulp theater with Booze, Kicks and car chases. This was one of those nights that proves just how big the downtown film community is and that film is not dead.

WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS with Fritz Lang at the Film Forum

Fritz Lang is well known for the films he made in Germany. Not wanting to be told what to do by anyone, let alone the Nazis Lang left Germany for France and then America. Lang made twenty-one American features in twenty-one years. The critics found his American work sub-par to his German masterpieces. Getting on his back for making Film Noir and Pulp films. Lang's pessimistic view was perfect for these types of movies. The best of these have gritty scripts like the police drama The Big Heat (1953) and While the City Sleeps. (1956) While the City Sleeps is set in a news room where a race is on the find the Lipstick Killer. The publisher (Vincent Price) has set the bar high for the men fighting to get the new job of running the company. This is not the whole story. There is a short of love story filled with sarcasm and drunken advances. On top of all this is the Killer with all his mother issues. Lang makes New York a very twisted place While the City Sleeps.


Do not miss the rest of Fritz Lang's American films at the Film Forum!!
Most shows are two for one admission:

THE BIG HEAT back by demand with daily showtimes through Tue. Feb. 8 - Separate Admission.

Thur. 3rd HANGMEN ALSO DIE! & CLOAK AND DAGGER.
Fri. & Sat. 4Th/5Th MINISTRY OF FEAR & MAN HUNT.
Sun. & Mon. 6Th/7Th CLASH BY NIGHT & RANCHO NOTORIOUS.
Tue. 8Th HOUSE BY THE RIVER & Raymond Burr in THE BLUE GARDENIA.
Wed. & Thur. 9Th/10Th YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE & YOU AND ME.
Thur. 10Th BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT - Separate Admission.
Thur. 10Th Spencer Tracy in FURY - Separate Admission.