Category Archives: NewScreen Stuff

Godland. Watch the birdie.

Movies, NewScreen Stuff, Trailers

The advent of the smartphone has put an extremely capable camera in many of our pockets. This has enabled an great amount of creativity to blossom, while at the same time proliferating an abundance of mundane imagery. “Everybody’s a photographer these days!” as they say.

Well… turning the clock back to the late nineteenth century, photography wasn’t easy at all, and creative expression was often not part of the craft. Lucas, the Danish priest dispatched to Iceland to build a church is obsessed with photography, but (often comically) wouldn’t know a good picture if it slapped him in his stoically dopey face. For example, the playful younger sister tried so hard to help him take a good picture, but…

First pose offered
Second pose offered
Third pose offered
And then she gave up

And the horse gave up too, and walked away before he could get a picture.

This is a gorgeous film, and we enjoyed a good turnout tonight. NewScreen continues to shine!

Broker. A family affair.

Movies, NewScreen Stuff
Who’s your mama?

Broker is another fun ride from Japanese director Kore-eda Hirokazu, this time in Korean. As in Shoplifters, a rag-tag “family” is made up of disparate members who have seemingly fallen through the cracks in our societal network.

This was a quiet but lovely NewScreen night. Sheldon takes this week’s [unofficial] prize for paying attention and not missing a single thing!

 

M3GAN – 3xc3ll3nt fun.

Movies, NewScreen Stuff, Strange Stuff
Scanning…

Well, that was a blast!

When I started noticing the posters for this popping up around town , and everywhere, I thought it was probably some some TV show for that would only appeal to Gen Z’ers. My curiosity eventually got the better of me though, and I was blown away. Smart, funny and exciting… just ask anyone who was here tonight!

And yes. The dance!

Aftersun. Aloe vera, anyone?

Love and Life, Movies, NewScreen Stuff
Package holiday with Dad

Charlotte Wells’ beautifully observed feature debut Aftersun struck a particular chord with me (substitute Mexico for Turkey). Unlike this movie, though, my daughter and I remain very much involved in each other’s lives, and we enjoyed watching this together recently.

Judging from the heartfelt reaction of our diverse NewScreen audience, it seems that it’s not necessary for this particular chord to be struck in order to enjoy Aftersun. It’s a gentle movie, and not much happens. Or does it?

Corsage. A tight fit, loosened up.

Love and Life, Movies, NewScreen Stuff
The Empress is not impressed

What a lovely way to start 2023! Thanks for coming, peeps.

Vicky Krieps’ portrayal of Empress Elizabeth of Austria (also the queen of Hungary) was delightful. Part true, part imagined, the spirit of “Sissy” (as she was known at the time) lives on in Maria Kreutzer’s anachronistic celebration of a free-spirited woman in the nineteenth century. A happy ending, and a new beginning.

So… the freshly-baked banana bread tradition almost took a hit tonight, as I was a bit behind schedule with my preparations (what a shocker, no?), but I decided that, although it might be rude to bake in front of the early guests, the loaf must go on. It turns out that I could almost bake this thing in my sleep, and… aprez-movie… happy guests.

I misbehaved a bit.

Viva Las Vegas – Viva Newscreen

Movies, NewScreen Stuff
Dancin’ wit da King!

Well… that was fun! There’s nothing like busting out in song and dance to take the rough edge off, even if that means taking the rough edge off of an unmitigated piece of cheese.

Thanks to all who came out tonight, and to all who continue to make this very special night, well… very special. See you in September for a new season!

Compartment No. 6 – Strangers on a Russian train.

Love and Life, Movies, NewScreen Stuff

I sat on the fence for quite a while about this one. I was all excited to show it, and then Putin’s “Special Operation” to fuck Ukraine got underway, and I had second thoughts. Yes, the director is from Finland, but the film takes place on a Russian train,  and was partly financed with Russian money. Anyway, as time passed, I softened my stance. Putin didn’t make the movie, after all. Compartment No. 6 is a heart-warming movie, very very real, and made a great NewScreen presentation. We needed a bit of a lift… I’ve been hitting people with some pretty heavy stuff for a few weeks prior!

The Northman. Holy Odin!

Movies, NewScreen Stuff
Hello Anya!

Tonight was another pretty heavy dose of blood and guts (actually less guts than our previous feature), but Robert Eggers showed us one more time that he is a visionary director, and doesn’t lose his cool when handed $90 M to make a flick. That’s a lot of dough!

Eggers delighted audiences with his creepy first feature film The Witch, introducing us to the very large-eyed Anya Taylor-Joy (always amazing to watch). Apparently she asked to be cast in The Northman, after Eggers had briefly been “unfaithful” to her when he cast Valariia Karaman  as the mermaid in The Lighthouse… maybe it was a nudity issue? She got naked this time. Just saying.

Anyway, this was a thrilling movie to watch, and even the fossilized Nicole Kidman gave good character. I wonder whether his next movie will be called The (something)?