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Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
SHOW DATE: 11/4
SPEAKER(S): Gavin Witt
Here's some information about the film:
Cinema Sundays at the Charles continues its 40th series on November 4th with Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead. Directed by Sydney Lumet and written by Kelly Masterson. Starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, Marisa Tomei
2007 USA R, 117 minutes
Synopsis (From RottenTomatos.com)
From the unexpectedly graphic opening shot, director Sidney Lumet proves he hasn’t lost any of his bite with age. BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD is a riveting suspense thriller that retains the director’s classic approach to storytelling while updating it at the same time. Working from an intense, expertly woven script by playwright-turned-screenwriter Kelly Masterson, Lumet establishes his tragic tone immediately. The story concerns a New York family with a roiling undercurrent of dysfunction. The eldest son, Andy (Philip Seymour Hoffman), is a frustrated, drug-abusing stockbroker who is unable to satisfy his gorgeous wife (Marisa Tomei). The youngest son, Hank (Ethan Hawke), is passive and struggles to make alimony payments. Their parents (Albert Finney and Rosemary Harris) live in Westchester and operate a small jewelry store. Their lives begin to unravel when Andy approaches Hank about pulling off a heist that will seemingly solve all of their monetary problems. Everything about this idea is risky, yet Andy convinces his timid younger brother that this is his only way out of his current situation. Naturally, their plan falls apart, resulting in a series of tragedies that they never could have predicted.
BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD belongs beside such Lumet classics as DOG DAY AFTERNOON, NETWORK, and SERPICO. The cinematography and editing and score are all excellent, but the performances are what launch the film into the stratosphere. Oscar-winner Hoffman (CAPOTE) and Finney have never been better, and the rest of the cast--Hawke, Tomei, Michael Shannon--rise to the occasion with unforgettable results.
Click here for reviews and extensive information
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/before_the_devil_knows_youre_dead/
Cinema Sundays continues its all star 40th series with the Baltimore premiere of Before the Devil Knows you’re Dead. This latest offering from award winning director Sidney Lumet (now in his 80’s) and this amazing cast combined with an intriguing story…should prove to be electric. Reviews have been great for this family adventure/heist movie that goes oh so terribly wrong in oh so many ways. Come watch the carnage.
Our speaker this week is Gavin Witt Dramaturge for Center Stage. Gavin has done such a nice job for us on so many family friendly films…The Dying Gaul, The Proposition, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead should be right up his alley.
I want to thank Matt Porterfield for doing such a fine job with Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea. Everyone really appreciated your amazing insights in that strange mix of ecological horror and human quirkiness.
I look forward to seeing you on Sunday it’s going to be great.
Jonathan Palevsky
Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea
SHOW DATE: 10/28
SPEAKER(S): Matt Porterfield
Here's some information about the film:
Cinema Sundays Fall 2007 Series 40!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Cinema Sundays at the Charles continues its 40th series on October 28th with Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea. Written and Directed by Chris Metzler and Jeff Springer. Starring Sonny Bono, Norm Niver, Petre Melvin, Leonard Knight and John Waters! (Narrator!)
2004 USA PG 13, 73 minutes
Synopsis
The Salton Sea was once known as the "California Riviera," featuring yachting, fishing, beaches, and nightclubs. Today, the Salton Sea is one of America's worst ecological disasters: a fetid, stagnant, salty lake, coughing up dead fish and birds by the thousands. Yet a few hardy eccentrics hang on to hope, including a roadside nudist waving at passing European tourists, a man building a religious mountain out of mud, and the beer-loving Hungarian Revolutionary Hunky Daddy. Through their perceptions and misperceptions, the strange history and unexpected beauty of the Salton Sea is revealed. Accidentally created by an engineering error in 1905, reworked in the 50's as a world class vacation destination for the rich and famous, and then suddenly abandoned after a series of hurricanes, floods, and fish die-offs, the Salton Sea has a bittersweet past. Plagues & Pleasures... covers the historical, economic, political, and environmental issues that face the sea, it more importantly offers up an offbeat portrait of the eccentric and individualistic people who populate its shores. It is an epic western tale of fantastic real estate ventures and failed boomtowns, inner-city gangs fleeing to white small town America, and the subjective notion of success and failure. Hair-raising and hilarious, part history lesson, part cautionary tale, and part portrait of one of the strangest communities you've ever seen, this is the American Dream gone as stinky as a dead carp.
Click here for official site and trailer!
http://www.saltonseadoc.com/
Cinema Sundays continues its all star 40th series with Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea. This award winning documentary’s was a huge hit at the Maryland Film Festival and has been very well reviewed. (97% positive on RottenTomatos.com.) The incredible transformation of an upscale resort to an ecological disaster seems to grow more relevant to our lives each day and this provocative documentary should make for a great Cinema Sundays discussion.
Our speaker this week is film maker Matt Porterfield. It’s a pleasure to welcome him back to Cinema Sundays.
I want to thank Sharon Bisco for doing such an expert job with Lars and the Real Girl. Everyone really appreciated your amazing insights in this seriously psychological yet strangely stirring charming story.
I look forward to seeing you on Sunday,
Jonathan Palevsky
Jpalevsky@aol.com
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL
SHOW DATE: 10/21
SPEAKER(S): Sharon Bisco
Here's some information about the film:
Cinema Sundays at the Charles continues its 40th series on October 21st with the Baltimore Premiere of Lars and the Real Girl. Directed by Craig Gillespie. Written by Nancy Oliver. Starring Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, Patricia Clarkson, R.D. Reid.
2007 Canada! (our home and native land) PG 13, 106 minutes
Synopsis
Lars (Ryan Gosling) is an awkwardly shy young man in a small nothern town who finally brings home the girl of his dreams to his brother and sister-in-law's home. The only problem is that she's not real - she's a sex doll Lars ordered off the internet. But sex is not what Lars has in mind, but rather a deep, meaningful relationship. His sister-in-law is worried for him, his brother thinks he's nuts, but eventually the entire town goes along with his delusion in support of this sweet natured boy that they've always loved.
Click here for official site and trailer!
http://www.larsandtherealgirl-themovie.com/
Cinema Sundays continues its all star 40th series with the Baltimore Premiere of Lars and the Real Girl. Things have been getting a tad heavy at Cinema Sundays lately (Rape of Europa, This is England, Things We Left in the Fire) so something on the lighter and delusional side would certainly be welcome. Ryan Gosling is one of the most interesting young actors on the screen, the pride of London (Ontario) and a pleasure to watch in just about anything. (The Believer and Half Nelson being two good examples). Patricia Clarkson (The Dying Gaul) always turns out solid fascinating performances and has that beguiling voice I’ve always loved.
Our speaker this week is psychiatrist Sharon Bisco. It’s a pleasure to welcome her to Cinema Sundays. Needless to say this film is full of mental health issues…it should be fun sorting them out
I want to thank Mike Giuliano for doing such an expert job with Things We Lost in the Fire. Thanks for seeing us through those awkward subtle moments of catastrophic loss and addiction!
If you’ve never been to Cinema Sundays before take a look at our new and improved description to celebrate our 40th series.
I look forward to seeing you on Sunday,
Jonathan Palevsky
Jpalevsky@aol.com
things we lost in the fire
SHOW DATE: 10/14/2007
SPEAKER(S): Mike Giuliano
Here's some information about the film:
Cinema Sundays Fall 2007 Series 40!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Cinema Sundays at the Charles continues its 40th series on October 14th with the Baltimore Premiere of Things we left in the fire. Directed by Susanne Bier. Written by Allan Loeb. Starring Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro, David Duchovny, Alison Lohman, Sarah Dubrovsky.
2007 USA Rated R, 112 minutes
Synopsis
After an unspeakable tragedy, two people get a second chance at life in "Things We Lost in the Fire." When Audrey Burke (Halle Berry) loses her husband in an act of random violence, she forges an unlikely relationship with Jerry Sunborne (Benicio Del Toro), her husband's best friend from childhood. Jerry is a heroin user; his addiction has destroyed everything that was once important to him. As Audrey discovers that Jerry is the only person who can help her survive her loss, Jerry finds the strength to overcome his own problems.
Click here for official site and trailer!
http://www.thingswelostinthefiremovie.com/
Cinema Sundays continues its all star 40th series with the Baltimore Premiere of Things We Lost in the Fire. This film features not only an all star cast but the American debut of Academy Award nominated Danish director Susanne Bier (After the Wedding).
Our speaker this week is none other than the ace of the staff, Cinema Sundays veteran, Mike Giuliano. Sometimes I think Mike could read the phone book and somehow make it fascinating. It’s a pleasure to welcome him back to Cinema Sundays.
I want to thank Max Weiss for doing such an expert job with This is England. You made the mother country proud.
If you’ve never been to Cinema Sundays before take a look at our new and improved description to celebrate our 40th series.
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