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KPBS Film Club reviews PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, MAN ON WIRE, THE LAST MISTRESS, VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA, BAGHEAD and more!

August 6th, 2008 by Scott Marks

Today’s show not only covered the customary five films, we also found time to drop plugs for two more upcoming films. Alan Ray, filling in for the vacationing Tom Fudge, kept the show moving at a brisk clip and without any callers the time literally flew by. The show commences with a cameo by the ever-vibrant Gloria Penner who was called upon to make a couple of corrections on a previous story. After that it’s all movies, only movies. Just the way I like it! Below are Alan’s introductory descriptions of the five films. Listen to the entire Podcast here.

“PINEAPPLE EXPRESS: Pineapple Express is both a stoner comedy and a spoof of action movies. It’s written by the guys who wrote Superbad and produced by Judd Apatow, who directed Knocked Up. Seth Rogen stars as Dale, a stoner who witnesses a murder committed by a drug lord and a crooked cop. As a result, he and his equally stoned friend Saul, played by James Franco, have to go on the lam. The term Pineapple Express refers to high grade marijuana that is very rare. Judd Apatow has had a lot of success with the lovable losers at the center of his comedies; let’s find out if this one succeeds.
Pineapple Express opens in area theaters today.

MAN ON WIRE: In 1974, a group of foreign nationals snuck into the World Trade Center carrying equipment that included heavy grade wire and a bow and arrow. They worked all night preparing for what would happen when daylight arrived. Come morning, Philippe Petit, a French tightrope walker and street performer, walked across a wire suspended between the two towers 110 stories above the ground. He remained on the wire for 45 minutes, attracting a crowd of onlookers on the street below, and finally was taken away by police. The new documentary Man on Wire tells the story of Philippe Petit and his grand caper through interviews with the Petit and his team, reenactments of events, and archival footage.

Man on Wire opens at Landmark’s Hillcrest theaters this Friday.

THE LAST MISTRESS: The Last Mistress is a costume drama written and directed by the French director Catherine Breillat, who is best known for the provocative films Romance and Fat Girl. The Last Mistress is set among the French aristocracy in the 1900’s and tells the story of a passionate affair between a young woman named Veillini and a penniless nobleman named Ryno, who has just married an innocent heiress. Because of his marriage, Ryno has to end his affair, and this doesn’t sit so well with Veillini, who is strong-willed and tempestuous.

The Last Mistress opens at Landmark’s La Jolla Village Cinemas this Friday.

VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA: It’s another Woody Allen movie, with a couple of interesting back stories. There’s another of “those kisses”…and Scarlett Johansson’s e-mail relationship with Barack Obama. The movie is set in Barcelona. It’s about sexual attraction, and what to do about it, with whom.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona opens on August 15 in area theaters.

BAGHEAD: Two couples go off to spend the weekend in an isolated cabin in the middle of nowhere so they can write a screenplay. But, alas, their efforts are foiled by a guy with a paper bag over his head. This is the basic plot of the horror movie/relationship drama called Baghead. Baghead was written and directed by Jay and Mark Duplass, otherwise known as the Duplass Brothers. Their 2005 movie Puffy Chair was an indie favorite. In this movie, they spoof independent film festivals, moviemaking, and horror movies.

Baghead is currently playing at Landmark’s Hillcrest Theaters and tonight’s your last night to see it - or (DON’T!!!) rent it on DVD in a couple of months.”

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KPBS Film Club airs this morning

August 6th, 2008 by Scott Marks

Penelope Cruz in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona

The odds are stacked against me as I enter today’s Film Club batting 1 for 5. The lethargic includes Pineapple Express, Man on Wire, The Last Mistress. Baghead and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Unfortunately, the timing wasn’t right for Frozen River and Bottle Shock, two films worthy of discussion. Sparks will undoubtedly fly as my esteemed co-host is bound to have good things to say about the latest uninspired gift from the Apatow factory.

Join guest host Alan Ray, Beth Accamondo and the man who hates (almost) everything this morning at 10 on KPBS Radio, 89.5 FM. Where’s Fudge, you ask? Why, ’round the corner!

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Emulsion Compulsion curates SDMA’s SCREEN ON THE GREEN

July 30th, 2008 by Scott Marks

Let’s Get Together!

For the second year in a row, the San Diego Museum of Art was gracious enough to ask me to curate their annual Screen on the Green series.

Five weeks out of the year, SDMA transforms Balboa Park into a gorgeous outdoor theatre. Admission is free (San Diegans love free), so even though all of the movies are older, most are even in primitive black and white, we manage to attract a huge crowd. If you are planning on attending, I suggest you get their early with your lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets in tow.

All of the films are family friendly (sadly, no Russ Meyer) and if I do say so myself, this year’s lineup offers a great escape for the next five Thursday evenings. The schedule is as follows:

July 31 Ernst Lubitsch’s The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

August 7 Billy Wilder’s Sabrina (1954)

August 14 David Swift’s The Parent Trap (1961)

August 21 Sing along with George Sidney’s Bye, Bye Birdie (1963)

August 28 Peter Bogdanovich’s Paper Moon (1973)

As is my habit, each feature will begin with a vintage cartoon. Screen on the Green: Summer Movies at Balboa Park plays every Thursday at 8 pm through August 28. The screening is located on the East Lawn, near the Botanical Building and Casa del Prado. For more info, call 619-232-7931 or visit the SDMA website.

Screen on the Green is brought to you through the generous support of Phil and Lyn Gildred. Hope to see you all there!

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Emulsion Compulsion finds Readership in Chicago

July 28th, 2008 by Scott Marks

At last I’ve become a whatever became of!!! Thanks to my pal J.R. Jones for remembering this old Chicagoan with a terrific mention on the Chicago Reader’s Movie Blog. When J.R. joined Facebook, he did a search on Groucho Marx and not surprisingly, my name came up. Ten years ago J.R. wrote a profile piece that nailed me. Wish I could provide a link, but it’s not in The Reader’s on-line archive. Mention it next time you see me and I’ll recite it for you verbatim. J.R. has assumed the recently retired Jonathan Rosenbaum’s spot as The Reader’s #1 critic, and he continues to make the site one of the finest outlets for film criticism on line. In the words of that grate Chicagoan Sig Sackowicz, “Hey, buddy, thanks for taking the time!”

***UPDATE***

I just received a note from J.R. Jones informing me that my Reader interview is on line. Just go to J.R.’s article and click on my name.

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KPBS Film Club reviews THE WACKNESS, MONGOL, UP THE YANGTZE, SAVAGE GRACE & MOTHER OF TEARS

June 25th, 2008 by Scott Marks

Olivia Thirlby in THE WACKNESS

Good show today, but I can’t believe how much mileage we got out of Mongol. Glad that Tom didn’t see Savage Grace (most decidedly not for him), but I wish that he would have been able to catch The Wackness. It’s got Fudge written all over it.

The Argento discussion could have been a bit livelier, by our producer warned me not to mention anything about a sword being thrust so deeply into a woman’s private parts that it pops out of her mouth. Gotta’ love Dario Argento.

Believe it or not, the clip from The Conqueror did not come from my Good Times DVD. Credit Beth with beating me to the punch. It was also nice to have someone other than myself evoke Hitler’s name. Not unlike Woody Allen, I try to sneak it into every show.

To those of you that listen in your car, drive safely.

Download the Podcast here.

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On tomorrow’s KPBS Film Club of the Air

June 24th, 2008 by Scott Marks

Tomorrow’s show will be unprecedented: we’re coming up on July and I like all five of the films we are reviewing and only two are sub-titled!!! This doesn’t happen in winter let alone summer.

Tune in tomorrow to hear Beth Accomando, Tom Fudge and your obedient servant when we review Mongol, Savage Grace, Mother of Tears, Up the Yangtze and my favorite American movie of the year, The Wackness.

For those of you in the San Diego area…how the hell do you afford to live out here? Anyway, for you hometown lads and laddies the show airs at 10 am on 89.5 FM. There will be a link posted amidst tomorrow’s madness.

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