Run straight down to the SFMOMA for Dystopia

The SFMOMA's next film series, "The Future of the Past: Utopia/Dystopia, 1965-1984", starts TODAY and runs Thursdays and Saturdays through April 25th.

Mar 7th @ 1pm: Westworld, 1973 (video)
Mar 7th @ 3pm: Logan's Run, 1976 (video)
Mar 12th @ 7pm: Logan's Run, 1976 (video)
Mar 21st @ 1pm: Soylent Green, 1973 (video)
Mar 21st @ 3pm: A Clockwork Orange, 1972 (video)
Mar 26th @ 7pm: A Clockwork Orange, 1972 (video)
Apr 2nd @ 7pm: Fantastic Planet, 1973 (video)
Apr 4th @ 3pm: Fantastic Planet, 1973 (video)
Apr 9th @ 7pm: Stalker, 1979 (video)
Apr 11th @ 1pm: Stalker, 1979 (video)
Apr 16th @ 7pm: Alphaville, 1965 (video)
Apr 18th @ 1pm: Sleeper, 1973 (video)
Apr 18th @ 3pm: Fahrenheit 451, 1966 (video)
Apr 23rd @ 7pm: Fahrenheit 451, 1966 (video)
Apr 25th @ 1pm: Alphaville, 1965
Apr 25th @ 3pm: 1984, 1984 (video)

While I have heard of most of these movies (and their place in pop culture), I've really only seen one: A Clockwork Orange.

A Clockwork Orange. Wow. I've got a weird association with that movie from high school: whenever I was hanging with a certain group of friends we'd start watching that movie only to get through the first half hour or something.. at which point our attention would turn towards more pressing matters like stealing lawn ornaments or driving around in circles while yelling random shizz out the car windows all night. We had our priorities. ahem.

Yeah, so, I assumed the whole movie was about chronicling the misadventures, ultraviolence and all, of Alex -- "Your Humble Narrator" -- and his crew. Little did I know, at the time, that it wasn't a futuristic snuff film, that it would, instead, be posing questions about, for example, the nature of man's free-will and the need to balance individual freedoms versus social stability (and if that needs to be the zero-sum game it's so often portrayed as). I don't think I was ready to tackle those subjects in high school anyway; hmm.. maybe that's why we never got past the first third of the film?

In any case, I'm planning on checking out at least one of these films, with "Stalker" at the top of the list. But depending on how my schedule shakes out over the next couple of weeks, I may try for "Sleeper", "1984", or -- yes, I could use a refresher on it -- "A Clockwork Orange" too (especially given a personal appreciation for language -- in many forms -- developed over the past couple of years).

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Whoa! "Westworld" is about to start! Run straight down to the SFMOMA; you've got 10 minutes..

It's a strange world, isn't it?

After a long Memorial Day weekend of being sporty during the day (with the wounds to prove it), and a homebody at night (every night), I'm left wondering, "I don't know if you're a detective or a pervert."

In any case (who am I to judge?), I finally had my first proper introduction to the distinctive (and, in some circles, revered) works of director David Lynch. You see, on a quiet Sunday night, a reel of Blue Velvet was unfurled before me (um, via Comcast On-Demand); and I figured a viewing of this cult classic was long overdue. My quiet nights of odd Lynchian design continued Monday, when characters, Wild at Heart, blazed a cross-country trail in a single-minded groove filled with deeply-connected sex and dusty violence. Ah yes, I was reminded that my livingroom couch is no convertible.

Regardless, even from my stationary position, I could view and evaluate these culturally foreign times and places, full of individuals that know nothing but wicked interaction. Scene after scene, Mr. Lynch crafted a violent - in every sense of the word - world of mystery and noir, exposing a bit of the unglamorous (and, further, seedy) underside in even the most mundane of American towns; with respect to the big city, don't even get him started. And you know what?; even as I'm not offended by the occasional graphic nature of the films, his subjects and methods weren't for me.

I mean, I can theoretically appreciate the place of these movies in the pantheon of great films, as they provided example for innovative storytelling technique and helped to break down barriers (with respect to what can/should be considered "appropriate" content in mainstream movies). But in terms of overall enjoyment (via either the viscerals of the characters/stories themselves, or via a more academic analysis of film technique), I just couldn't get into either one.

That said, I put "Inland Empire" on my SF library request list, so I haven't given up just yet; I, at least, want to be able to have a set of reference points when people start talking about Polish-prostitute-this and bugs-under-the-perfectly-manicured-lawn-that. In the meantime, maybe I'll read a few reviews in order to equip me with some analysis/insight from folks more learned than me in the ways of movie-making; my impression is that some of the passion for David Lynch is in an appreciation for his attention to details. "It's a strange world, isn't it?"

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In semi-related news, I've talked about the free movie nights at The Independent before, so let me just say that they-be-back the first two weeks of June:

June 2nd: Rambo
June 9th: Semi-Pro

While I won't be in San Francisco for either of those dates, I think if you had any inclination to see either of these live-action cartoons, The Independent - and, more specifically, watching them while drinking at The Independent - is your best bet for smoothing over any qualms you may have with dumb-ass things like plausible plot or cogent dialog; the drunken group mentality really works for this sort of thing.

Whoa.. I hope that last paragraph doesn't come off as me being uptight. I've had my share of Mad Dog movie nights - as some of my friends would call the smuggling-in of MD20/20 into the movie theater to aid in our viewing of a film with questionable artistic value - over the years; for sure, there is a time and a place for everything. haha.

Movies by the truckload, some free

What are *you* doing on Monday night?

Well, it's been a few weeks since the last one, but *this* Monday night is movie night at The Independent, and that beloved "indie" exercise in quirk (and sass!), Juno, is on the bill.

You see, The Independent (concert venue) runs a free movie night on any Monday that they don't have a show scheduled. And they just posted movies for the next two weeks (godbless 'em):

April 21st: Juno
April 28th: No Country for Old Men

Not too shabby, huh? I'm on the fence for Juno, but I'll make it out for No Country, for sure.

By the way, there is a "two drink minimum" for the show, but noone really checks (not that it would ever be a problem, beer by the pint or pitcher). ;) And they usually have free popcorn, which is a nice touch for making it "homey" (well, as much as a medium-sized concert venue in SF will ever been homey).

Doors open at 7:30pm, show at 8pm; and I'd recommend getting there on the early side if you want a good seat. I've certainly been there when it's very chill, seats no problem, but I've also been there when it was standing room only (most people made do by finding some sort of non-chair seating in various nooks and crannies).

Oh, and out of a somewhat unfortunate coincidence, the Red Vic Movie House is showing Juno on the 21st as well (and also on the 22nd). Even if you catch the free showing at The Independent, definitely give the Vic some love; they are an awesome arthouse institution here in SF, always with a top-notch lineup of films. In fact, I caught Persepolis there earlier this week with a friend and plan on going to see The Big Lebowski tonight. I don't really smoke (green or otherwise), but I can appreciate that they have an annual Lebowski showing around the date of 4/20. Too silly, but oh-so-appropriate. haha.

Long lost Mr. Fischer

You know, I really don't even know that much about Bobby Fischer beyond the major bullet points of his life:

- Youngest international grandmaster of chess
- First American-born world champion.. and Cold War hero
- Erratic and often anti-American or anti-semitic behavior
- Arrest in Japan + amnesty in Iceland

And, now, he is dead:

Bobby Fischer, Chess Master, Dies at 64
By Bruce Weber
Published: January 18, 2008

Man, I haven't really thought about chess in a while, but when I was a wee lad, I used to play quite a bit, at home and at school (pretty cool, huh?). haha. Even then, you knew the name Bobby Fischer, a chess icon always more legend than man.. and even moreso now, in death.

In any case, the NYTimes obituary (not to mention the wikipedia article I linked to at the top) provides a brief, but eloquent, version of his life, and gives a feel for the conditions under which he invigorated the "sport" of chess back in the 70's. Every cause, of course, needs a large personality - ideally, a handsome and charismatic icon - to spark the imagination of players old and new. For chess, Bobby Fischer was it (as far as I can tell; I certainly do not roll with any chess circles anymore). And maybe he will be again..

We'll see if his, um, grand accomplishments on the chess board overshadow his (many) transgressions in the "real world". I assume that they will; history is usually very forgiving in that way.

In the meantime, I have it in mind now to read / listen / watch more about this enigmatic genius, and, perhaps more interesting, about the political backdrop around many of his most high-profile matches. To that end, the book "Bobby Fischer Goes to War" and the movie "Searching for Bobby Fischer" come to mind, and since the SF Public Library seems to have both, I can satisfy these intellectual cravings fairly easily and on the cheap.

But you know I'm a fan of "doing", so let me throw out there that I have a couple of chessboards here at my apartment, so if I can round up a player - any takers? - we can dust those off and have ourselves a go. Bring over a 40, and we'll pour a lil' out in honor of the great minds that came before us. And then, of course, I'll break out The Abyss, allowing us to continue our match into tastier territory..

Why aren't you helping?

Blade Runner, that 1982 cult classic of neo-noir, is back in theaters as a new edit called "The Final Cut"; and its DVD release is set for December 18th (just in time for the holidays).

I know this because Peter Hartlaub, pop culture critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, raved about it today. In fact, his review ends with the funniest thing I've read in awhile:

-- Advisory: This film contained adult language, nudity, violence and gore, plus one tortoise lying on its back, with its belly baking in the hot sun, beating its legs to turn over, but it can't. And you're not helping. Why is that?

Wow.

But, really, why aren't you helping?