Saturday, September 24th will be the debut of Art House Theater Day which will celebrate the independent, community-based movie theater. It is a day that recognizes the contribution that the art house cinema has, and continues, to make to film, filmmakers, and film-goers.
A global event, over 160 U.S. art house theaters are participating, as well as, theaters in Canada, Australia, and Estonia. Several film distributors are offering exclusive programs that can only be viewed at a participating art house.
Art house theaters are unique in their approach to movie exhibition in that they support films which otherwise would never be seen by the public. They represent the counter-culture to mainstream cinema and have a loyal following of patrons that love dramas, documentaries, and films covering social topics which are not screened elsewhere. If you are lucky enough to have an art house theater in your area I urge you to support it and recognize that it is providing an entertainment alternative that, in most cases, expands the bounderies of film-making.
Redford At 80
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| Redford at 80, still going strong |
Sticking with the art house theater theme, Robert Redford (dubbed the 'Godfather of the Indie') will be turning 80 next week. The two time Oscar winner and founder of the Sundance Film Festival has been in the movie business for over 50 years.
In a recent interview, Redford expressed his opinions regarding current issues facing the industry. On Oscar diversity, "I'm not into Oscars. I'm not into that. I'm not focused on that. For me it's about the work. Diversity comes out of the word independence. We don't take a position on advocacy. It's tough for films in general. There are all sorts of threats to distribution."
Redford founded the Sundance Festival (now one of the world's largest and best) in 1981 and says, "My goal for Sundance was for it to serve as a platform to elevate documentaries. Independent films survive because of their value and because there are independent theaters that keep that survival going."
Starring in the just released Disney film 'Pete's Dragon' Redford says the film "bucks the trend in fantasy films" in that it is a story based on magic and imagination, both of which are sorely lacking in the current superhero movies. Redford has starred in 43 films, directed 9, and narrated 26 others.
Happy Birthday Bob!
Under The Radar
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| Gibson in 'Blood Father' |
The new Mel Gibson film, 'Blood Father' could (should) be a real sleeper and is a box office gem. The film is really very good and is in the genre of a 'Taken'. Gibson plays an aging ex-con who makes a living as a tattoo artist. When his daughter gets into trouble, it's Dad to the rescue.
Gibson is at his best in this film - that maniac facade a-la 'Lethal Weapon' coupled with the fatalistic demeanor of "Mad Max' or 'Payback'. Now in limited release, watch for it as it may become the next cult classic.
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