The Cinema Lounge
On Wednesday, October 23, 2024 [NOTE DATE CHANGE] at 8:00pm please join the Cinema Lounge, the DC Film Society's monthly film discussion group.
TOPIC: Baseball Movies with Noah Gittell
"The one constant through all the years has been baseball" the late, great James Earl Jones said in Field of Dreams. "America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. It's a part of our past. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again."
Movies have featured baseball for over a century, with Babe Ruth starring in Babe Comes Home. The Pride of the Yankees turned Lou Gehrig from an all-time great into a national icon. Take Me Out to the Ballgame and Damn Yankees turned baseball into a musical. In the 1970s Bang the Drum Slowly made audiences cry, and The Bad News Bears made them laugh. The 80s and 90s became the golden age for baseball movies, with Field of Dreams and The Natural playing up the mythic qualities, Bull Durham and Major League having fun with baseball tropes, Eight Men Out examining the sport's ugly side, and A League of Their Own showing baseball as a force for change. More recently, Moneyball, Sugar and 42 took a harder look at the sport.
What have baseball movies had to say about our national pastime, and how has that changed over the years? How do baseball movies reflect the sport's role in American life and values?
We are thrilled to be joined by Noah Gittell, author of Baseball the Movie. Noah was born in 1980, but he came alive in 1986 when the Mets won the World Series. A lifelong fan of baseball and movies, he has since channeled his passions into articles for The New York Times, The Ringer, The Guardian, LA Review of Books, Slate, Defector, Elle, Esquire, GQ, Wired, UPROXX, Decider, and more. He has been a regular critic at Washington City Paper and The Rye Record for over a decade and is a regular on-camera contributor to BBC’s flagship film program “Talking Movies.”
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 Reflects on The Voice, James Earl Jones
James Earl Jones, who passed away recently at the age of 93, spent a mere two and a half hours recording lines for Darth Vader in the first Star Wars. By his own admission he didn’t think much of his work. He was paid a mere $7000 for his efforts. Yet it’s impossible to think of Darth Vader without that rich, deep, menacing voice. While understanding that a talent such as Jones can never be pigeonholed, for me he will always be Vader first and foremost. For a whole generation, Darth Vader defined evil. He was not a villain. He was, and still is, the villain. I explore how Jones brought Vader to life 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
The 35th "AFI Latin American Film Festival 2024" (September 19-October 10) features award-winning films from Latin American countries plus Spain and Portugal. Some will have in-person conversations with filmmakers and Embassy-hosted parties. The Closing Night film is Pimpinero: Blood and Oil (Andrés Baiz, 2024) from Colombia.
"Noir City DC: The Washington DC Film Noir Festival" (October 11–24) is doing something new this year: "Darkness Has No Borders," with 15 thematically linked double features pairing non-English language films noir with US/UK films noir movies. The double features are Le Samourai (1967) with This Gun for Hire (1942); Never Open That Door (1952) with If I Should Die Before I Wake (1952), both from Argentina; Assault on the Pay Train (1962) with Armored Car Robbery (1950); Hardly a Criminal (1949) with Plunder Road (1967); Odd Man Out (1947) with Victims on Sin (1951); Union Station (1950) with Cairo Station (1958); Without Pity (1948) with The Small Back Room (1949); Black Tuesday (1954) with Le Trou (1960); High Sierra (1941) with Rififi (1955); The Asphalt Jungle (1950) with Symphony for a Massacre (1963); La Bete Humaine (1938) with Human Desire (1954); Zero Focus (1961) with Across the Bridge (1957); Murder by Contract (1958) with Smog (1962); They Made Me a Fugitive (1947) with Aimless Bullet (1961); and Elevator to the Gallows (1958) with Strongroom (1962). Some are in 35mm. Film Noir Foundation founder Eddie Muller with introduce screenings October 11-13 and film historian Foster Hirsch will introduce films October 18-20. Some films will have a second showing. A festival pass is available.
"Halloween on Screen 2024" (October 25–31) is an annual celebration of Halloween movies. Titles include A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984); the 50th anniversary of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) presented by Count Gore; Mahakaal (1994) from India in a new restoration; Nosferatu the Vampire (1922) also part of the "Silent Cinema Showcase"; Shaun of the Dead (2004); Sugar Hill (1974); Suspiria (1977); The Shining (1980); The Sixth Sense (1999); Young Frankenstein (1974); and The Rocky Horrow Picture Show (1975) with a guest introduction.
"Silent Cinema Showcase" (October 25–November 16) starts off with the great vampire classic (and also part of "Halloween on Screen") Nosferatu (1922) with the film synced to Radiohead's "KID A" and "Amnesiac." More in November. A festival pass is available.
"Special Engagements" for October include Dazed and Confused (1993) in a new 4K restoration; the documentary Eno (2024) with a pre-recorded Q&A with filmmaker Gary Hustwit; and Sugarcane (2024) for Indigenous Peoples' Day.
"AFI Silver After Dark" is a series of midnight-style movies. The film for October is Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989) from Japan.
"Stage and Screen" presents filmed performances including stage productions from the National Theatre and concert performances. The October selection is Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party (2024).
"Anime Expo Cinema Nights" (September 11, 2024-March 16, 2025) presents some of the most influential anime films. The series continues in October with Mobile Suit Gundam I (1981); Mobile Suit Gundam II-Soldiers of Sorrow (1981); and Mobile Suit Gundam III-Encounters in Space (1982).
Freer Gallery of Art
On October 9 at 2:00pm is Double Suicide (Masahiro Shinoda, 1969) part of the "Japanese Classics" series of films. To be shown in 35mm.
As part of "Asia After Dark: An Evening with Vietnam Society," the film Three Seasons (Tony Bui, 1999) will be shown on October 4 at 7:30pm. Other events will take place starting at 5:30pm including food, music, and fashions. Tony Bui will discuss the film after the screening.
The "China Noir" series starts October 18 at 7:00pm with Only the River Flows (Wei Shujun, 2023). Also part of the China Noir series is Dust to Dust (Jonathan Li, 2023) on October 20 at 2:00pm; Wild Goose Lake (Diao Yinan, 2019) on October 25 at 7:00pm; and Black Dog (Guan Hu, 2024) on October 27 at 2:00pm.
National Gallery of Art
The series "Art Films and Special Screenings" presents two films in October. Obsessed With Light (2024) is on October 6 at 2:00pm with filmmakers Sabine Krayenbuhl and Zeva Oelbaum in person for post-screening discussion. On October 12 at 2:00pm is the documentary 1874, The Birth of Impressionism (Julien Johan, 2024). Note that this film has more showings throughout the year.
The series "Color, Cinema, and the Impressionist Moment" is a 3-part series to accompany the exhibit "Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment," examining how the beginnings of cinema shaped and was shaped by the modern world of color. The series starts on October 19 at 2:00pm with Part I: Early Color Cinema and Impressionism." Andrew Simpson will provide live musical accompaniment and the series is introduced by Joshua Yumibe, professor of film at Michigan State University. Part II: A World in Color" is on October 27 at 2:00pm with musical accompaniment by Andrew Simpson. Part III is in November.
National Portrait Gallery
On October 3 at 6:30pm is Exhibiting Forgiveness (Titus Kaphar, 2024). Location: McEvoy Auditorium.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
On October 9 at 6:30pm is With Drawn Arms (Glenn Kaino and Afshin Shahidi, 2020), a documentary about Glenn Kaino's aerial sculpture Bridge. Followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker and others. The film is shown at the McEvoy Auditorium and the sculpture can be seen at the museum.
Washington Jewish Community Center
On October 10 at 7:30pm is the documentary Frida (Carla Gutierrez, 2024), about Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. A pre-screening reception starts at 6:30pm and the filmmaker will do Q&A after the film.
The cult comedy Wet Hot American Summer (David Wain, 2001) is shown on October 17 at 7:00pm.
Goethe Institute
On October 3 at 6:00pm is Goodbye, Lenin! (Wolfgang Becker, 2003). On October 10 at 6:00pm is All Quiet on the Western Front (Edward Berger, 2022); and on October 21 at 6:30pm is Elbow (Aslu Ozarslan, 2024) with the director present for Q&A.
Strathmore
On October 25 at 7:30pm is Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) in Concert with live music by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
National Archives
On October 6 at 2:00pm is the documentary The Price of the Ticket (1989) to celebrate James Baldwin's centennial. A discussion follows.
Cinema Arts Bethesda
"Cinema Arts Bethesda" is a monthly Sunday morning film discussion series held at Landmark's Bethesda Row Cinema. On October 6 at 10:00am is Return to Seoul (Davy Chou, 2022).
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
For October, the "Programmer's Choice" series picks Eno (Gary Hustwit, 2024), a documentary about musician and artist Brian Eno, showing October 8 at 8:00pm.
On October 16 at 8:00pm is All Your Faces (Jeanne Herry, 2023) part of the "French Cinematheque" series.
The "Avalon Docs" film Union (Stephen Maing and Brett Story, 2024), a documentary about Amazon workers, is on October 23 at 8:00pm.
On October 30 at 8:00pm is The Monkey House (Avi Nesher,) for this month's "Reel Israel DC" series.
Library of Congress
The Mary Pickford Theater shows classic films and restored films. On October 10 at 7:00pm is Those Who Dance (William Beaudine, 1930), preceded by the Laurel and Hardy short film Blotto (James Parrott, 1930).
Kennedy Center
On October 6 at 3:00pm is the documentary Sugarcane (2024). On October 13 at 3:00pm is the documentary Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes (2023); on October 20 at 3:00pm is the Alfred Hitchcock film The Birds (1963); and on October 27 at 3:00pm is The Blair Witch Project (1999). All are shown at the Kennedy Center's Justice Forum
Old Greenbelt Theater
In the "Cinema Classics" series is Witness for the Prosecution (Billy Wilder, 1957) starring Marlene Dietrich on October 7 at 1:00pm and October 10 at 8:00pm.
On October 17 at 8:00pm is Jennifer's Body (Karyn Kusama, 2009), part of the "Cult Classics" series.
On October 28 at 7:00pm is Run Lola Run (Tom Tykwer, 1998), part of the "Film in Focus" series.
Hill Center
"Epidemics on Film: The Past is the Future" is a two-part series by Tom Zaniello, professor of film studies and author of Epidemic Films To Die For: A Chronicle of the Covid-19 Plague Years, which will be published in October. The second part is on October 15 at 6:00pm with short films associated with polio, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's, Big Pharma and more.
Angelika Film Center Mosaic
The "Angelika Classics" series shows classic films on the first Monday of the month at 7:00pm. On October 7 at 7:00pm is Carrie (1976).
"Classics in Black and White" features a classic B&W film on the third Monday of each month at 7:00pm. On October 21 at 7:00pm is Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978).
A Harry Potter series (March 30-October 26) is on Saturdays at 11:00am. On October 26 at 11:00am is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part II (2010).
"Dinner With" is on the fourth Monday of the October 28 at 7:00pm is Chinatown (1974).
"Hitchcocktober" is an annual celebration of films by Alfred Hitchcock, shown on Wednesdays at 4:00pm and 7:00pm. On October 2 is North by Northwest (1959); on October 9 is The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956); on October 16 is The Trouble with Harry (1955) on October 23 is Strangers on a Train (1951); and on October 30-31 is Psycho (1960).
FILM FESTIVALS
