Page 14 - the NOISE September 2014

SEPTEMBER’S CLASSICS & INDIES
FROM LEFT: The Professionals at NAU’s College of Arts & Letters Film Series September 16; Horses of God at NAU’s International Film Series September 17;
Crime, part of Manhattan Shorts, at Prescott Film Festival September 27.
September brings the students back to NAU and with them, two popular free film series offered to the public at large. The College of Arts & Letters Film Series returns Tuesday evenings in Cline Library at 7PM. This semester the “two Paul’s” (Paul Helford & Paul Donnelly) celebrating
“Oscar winning and nominated screenplays – Adapted from another medium.” (Next semester, they’ll showcase ‘original’ screenplays.)
Of the five great films playing from Tuesday Sept. 2nd – The Philadelphia Story to Sept. 30th and The Professionals, the one that will be interesting to see ‘if ’ it holds up is East of Eden on September 16. This sprawling epic novel by John Steinbeck about an estranged youth and his hard-hearted father has the vast exteriors of Texas cattle fields and the minute interior voices that ‘can’ stand the test of time. Will a modern audience be ‘taken’ on the same ride as the original audience? Is that even possible? Are themes still relevant?
What does it mean for a film to hold up? Is film, like the other critical arts (literature and music) an artifact to hold up and enjoy only ‘in the context’ of its time and place, or is it a thing of beauty, in itself, for eternity? Of course, you can have the students fill out a form, after the film, (as they do) and determine if the majority thinks it ‘holds up.’ But how many students say so, because their ‘names’ are on the paper they turn into their professors?
Regardless of the antiquated ‘look, style, feel to the piece’ can celluloid from the past hold up today? Does it move ‘fast’ enough for contemporary audiences? Often in the wonder- ful “Question and Answers” after the film, you get a better sense of what works and why on young audiences. The mode of articulation forces the viewer to capture their immediate
reaction to the experience of communal film watching, the secular church in the night, where ideas are shared, volleyed, debated and real education takes place.
This is where we see ... ‘if ’ the film held up. Then again, these are only a few brave souls that linger to take advantage of the ‘collective wisdom’ of the audience. Perhaps the ‘test of time’ is a personal taste, like apples and oranges, that can’t be right or
wrong? It either works for the viewer or doesn’t, usually be- cause of pace. Still, we return to the classics, because some- thing is there, the ‘shoulder’s of giants’ ... do they still hold up? Come find out and check out the CAL website at NAU!
NAU’s International Film Series for the Fall returns, helmed by the erudite Jude Costello, with the semester theme: “Heroes, Villains & Ordinary Folk.” All films show on Wednesday evenings in Liberal Arts Building, room 120, at 7PM. They are free and open to the public, as well as students. They are all unrated; with viewer discretion advised! On Wednesday September 17th Horses of God is a story of youth and fanaticism on the outskirts of Casablanca. Based on a ter- rorist event in 2003, this is a portrait of repression, zealotry and poverty. Don’t miss!
A Touch of Sin plays on September 24th, directed by Jia Zhangke, considered one of China’s new great directors. Set in a bleak ‘modern’ China, the film almost didn’t get approval to be shown, as it depicts a modern China on the verge of im- plosion. It shows four loosely connected stories of individuals driven by the humiliation of their circumstances to commit random acts of senseless violence. Cleansing by violence is the last step in humanities devolution, where mere anarchy may be let loose upon the world. This film is certain to build quietly and touch a nerve. Check it out.
The Sedona International Film Festival holds a wide se- lection of eclectic screenings at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre in September. The films usually play at 4 & 7PM, but check SedonaFilmFestival.com for exact times!
9/1-2: Third Person and A Five Star Life
9/3: Snowpiercer
9/4: Ida
9/10: Live From NY’s 92nd St. Y: The Real Wolf of Wall Street 9/10: Duran Duran Concert Documentary by David Lynch 9/11: Cowspiracy
9/12-16: The Last of Robin Hood
9/17: The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz
9/18: Alive Mind Cinema Series: Faith Connections
9/21: Royal Shakespeare Co: The Two Gentleman of Verona 9/25-27: Performance & Film: Armen Ra
9/26-30: My Old Lady
9/28: National Theatre of London’s Madea
9/29: Presentation & Lecture: Route 66 Movies with Jeff Berg. 9/30: Live from NY’s 92nd St. Y: The Glass Cage
The Prescott Film Festival will show The Manhattan Short Film Festival on September 27 at 6:30PM at the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $8 and you get to see some of the best shorts in the world and vote for your favorite! Around the globe, for around a week, they show these great films at theatres, universities and museums to over 100,000 film lovers in 300 cities. As a celebration of the art of the short film, there may be none bigger or better. PrescottFilmFestival.com
| Bob Reynolds is bringing his own juice to the theater these days. film@thenoise.us
14 • SEPTEMBER 2014 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us