Chlotrudis Monday Night at the Movies + Indie Film Round-Up, November 12 – 18

Hello Film Lovers!

Haven’t heard anything about ENDURING LOVE, a UK production starring Daniel Craig, Samantha Morton and Rhy Ifans. Directed by Roger Michell, who already brought us the thought-provoking film THE MOTHER earlier this year, ENDURING LOVE is an adaptation of Ian McEwan’s popular novel and is billed as a thriller, but I suspect perhaps that it’s more than that. Join us Monday night at the Kendall Square Theatre for the 7:30 show. Dinner plans to follow over the weekend. Read the synopsis below:

dir. Roger Michell w/ Daniel Craig, Rhuys Ifans, Samatha Morton 91 min.
A picnic in the English countryside suddenly becomes a crisis as a hot air balloon plunges from the sky. When it’s discovered a young boy is in danger, Joe (Daniel Craig) and three other men race to the rescue’but one of them meets his death. Joe is haunted with guilt for his part in the matter, while another rescuer, intense and obsessive Jed (Rhys Ifans), fixates on Joe and sets out to systematically destabilize Joe’s life, career and relationship with his girlfriend (Samantha Morton). A new thriller from director Roger Michell (CHANGING LANES, THE MOTHER), based on Ian McEwan’s best-selling novel.

Scot and I are also planning to catch up with TARNATION, a film many of you saw at the Sunday Eye Opener a few weeks ago. Well, if you haven’t seen it, or want to see it again, we’ll be heading out to the Coolidge Corner Theatre on Sunday evening, where director Jonathan Caouette himself will be in attendance for the 5:15 (and 7:45) screening. We’ll be catching the 5:15 show, and possibly doing something afterwards. Read the Chlotrudis review if you want to know more about the film, and if anyone wants to join us, let me know!

Even as the 16th Annual Boston Jewish Film Festival completes is successful run (there are still a week’s worth of films to catch, so don’t miss them!) Boston, and more particularly the Museum of Fine Arts, hosts The 11th Annual Boston Festival of Films and Music from Iran. Among the films being featured: Abbas Kiarostami’s 10 ON TEN, a documentary follow-up to his Buried Treasure nominee Ten. The festival’s opening night film, MAMA’S GUEST by Dariush Mehrjui, is an ensemble comedy… not a common genre emerging from Iran. Another highlight comes from Samira Makhmalbaf (BLACKBOARDS), one of few women directing in Iran. Her new film is called AT FIVE IN THE AFTERNOON (pictured left.) Check the Museum of Fine Arts schedule below.

On Sunday, the Eye Opener returns at the Brattle Theatre, 11:00 a.m. Caitlin should be happy, we’re back in the realm of the documentary, and this one comes from Sundance. Ron saw this and told he he was pretty intrigued. The feature debut of Mark Brian Smith and Tony Montana, OVERNIGHT had its world premiere at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, where its alternately horrifying and hilarious take on one man’s extraordinary misadventures in the screen trade had particular resonance for both industry insiders and aspirants. And, what makes this incredible tale even more scary and funny is that every single bit of it actually happened! OVERNIGHT begins as the classic Cinderella story when Boston-bred bartender and budding filmmaker Troy Duffy sells his screenplay, THE BOONDOCK SAINTS to Harvey Weinstein of Miramax Films. A bidding war gets Duffy much more than a hefty check; it also gets him the right to direct the film plus a deal for his band to produce and perform its soundtrack. Then, in a gesture straight out of a fairy tale, Weinstein offers to buy Duffy the very bar in which he works, turning the young man and his yet-to-be-made movie into overnight sensations. What happens next makes for a fascinating documentary. Don’t miss OVERNIGHT.

While we’re talking Brattle, let me tell you about a very special fundraiser event happening on Thursday, November 18: RETURN TO CASABLANCA. Celebrating a bygone era of single screen cinemas, Hollywood glamour and the magic of movies, the Brattle is hosting RETURN TO CASABLANCA, a seat-sale and fundraiser for the Brattle Film Foundation which operates and programs Harvard Square’s beloved movie house, the Brattle Theatre. Fabulous food and decor, a signature ‘Casablanca cocktail,’ decadent desserts and party-goers dressed in their swell suits and Bacall-best will all be there to honor legendary screenwriters of CASABLANCA, Julius & Philip Epstein. Leslie Epstein, author and professor, son of Philip, nephew of Julius and father of Theo (what a family!), will accept the Epstein ‘chair’ at the Brattle on behalf of the Epstein family. Support the Brattle and enjoy a really spiffy party! Tickets are $100 each, but it’s for such a good cause. R.S.V.P. to Michael or the Brattle if you’re interested in attending.

See you at the movies!

Playing this week, November 12 – 18.

Boston Jewish Film Festival
Full schedule announced! Tickets on sale now!
Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi Museum of Fine Arts – MFA (Thu.)
Finding El’ar MFA (Thu.)
All I’ve Got & Turkey MFA (Thu.)
Recuerdos Cooldige Corner Theatre – CCT (Thu.)
Resist MFA (Thu.)
Behind Enemy Lines CCT (Thu.)
The Rashevski’s Tango West Newton Cinema (Thu.)
Watermarks Hollywood Hits (Thu.) & MFA (Sun.)
No. 17 MFA (Thu.) & West Newton Cinema (Sun.)
Channels of Rage CCT (Thu.)
Le Grand R’/i> MFA (Sat.)
The First Letter MFA (Sat.)
The Danish Solution: The Rescue of the Jews in Denmark MFA (Sun.)
Lullaby MFA (Sun.)
Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust MFA (Sun.)
Closing Night Film
The Lost Embrace MFA (Sun.)