pjs National Film Theatre Film Season

Asylum Forums : Powered by vBulletin version 2.2.8

Asylum Forums > Sensory Overload > pjs National Film Theatre Film Season

Last Thread Next Thread

Author

Thread

pj
Captain America

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: anywhere but here
Posts: 4420

pjs National Film Theatre Film Season

ok this is what i would do if i were planning an NFT film season.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issues NFT Film season

The Issues Season is a collection of some of the most thought provoking films of the last ten years, all of which have a common bond; they all deal with an issue of some description whether it be racism, gender, capitalism, poverty, war or any of the many ill’s that affect this world that we live in. One such film is David Fincher’s Fight Club which poses some awkward questions about masculinity and consumerism in the modern age and has subsequently become cult film amongst young men spawning real fight clubs in some areas of the United States. Films in the season deal with the wars that rage in the streets via the sports arena, to the bedroom, the courtroom, and the shantytowns of Somalia. All of the subjects dealt here with affect us in different ways regardless of whether the viewer is male of female, young or old. The Issues Season questions the influence of the western way of life, about the complicated masculinities of the modern man and the paternal society that is at the core of the capitalist regime.

To start the season the National Film Theatre is honoured to have star of both Fight Club and American History X Edward Norton in house on the Issues season opening day of Saturday 14th August. Edward Norton is one of the most talented actors of his generation known for his uncanny ability to play any kind of character with absolute conviction. The films he stars in this season are a good indication of his talents shown through his metamorphoses between a rookie lawyer, a muscular white supremacist, and a weedy and emasculated yuppie. Edward will be a special guest for a Question and Answer session between 12.30 and 2.00 where he will answer questions on the wide range of topics that feature in The Issues season.

American History X
Saturday 14th August 2.30 NFT1 Saturday 21st August 2.30 NFT2

This film is one of few that dare to tread the racial conflict line, neither condemning racism nor championing it, but simply showing it through the eyes of Daniel Vinyard, younger brother of a Derek Vinyard a re-habilitated former white power leader who tries to save his younger sibling from ending up in prison like he did. A gritty no holds barred piece of film making by debut director Tony Kaye.
US 1998/Dir Tony Kaye. With Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Avery Brooks. 119mins. J-Cert 18.

Fight Club
Saturday 14th August 4.45 NFT1 Saturday 21st August 4.45 NFT2

When insomniac Jack find that he only feels live when he engages in fist fights he starts his own Fight Club, only to find that he is not alone in his feeling powerless in this modern age. Based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk by the same title, David Fincher’s dark take of the emasculated man of the nineties is a brutal assault on the senses and was possibly the most controversial film of 1999; some critics even labelled it a ‘dangerous’ and ‘fascistic’ film.
US 1999/Dir David Fincher. With Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham-Carter. 139mins. J-Cert 18

The People Vs Larry Flynt
Saturday 14th August 7.30 NFT1 Saturday 21st August 7.30 NFT2

Based on the life story of Larry Flynt, owner of porn magazine ‘Hustler’ this satirical film covers everything from drugs, censorship, the American dream and explores the hypocrisy at the heart of the American Right. It follows Flynt as he crusades against those who seek to destroy his publication and his freedom of speech. Featuring some outstanding performances Woody Harrelson flourished in his portrayal of the porn king, and Courtney Love in her cinematic debut surprises with some excellent acting as Flynt’s AIDS infected girlfriend.

US 1996/Dir Milos Forman. With Edward Norton, Brett Harrelson, Donna Hanover.

Traffic
Sunday 15th August 2.30 NFT1 Sunday 22nd August 2.30 NFT2

Hated by some, loved by others, Steven Soderbergh’s take on the drug industry has to be one of the most insightful seen in many a year, it offers a more balanced argument towards the drug issue than most other films of this kind. Taken from multiple points of view, this academy award winning film views the drug war through the eyes a Mexican cop, a newly appointed head of the DEA, his addict daughter and the wife of a drug lord.

US 2000/Dir Steven Soderbergh. With Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Torro, Catharine Zeta-Jones, Don Cheadle. 147mins. J-Cert 18

American Beauty
Sunday 15th August 3.30 NFT1 Sunday 22nd August 3.30 NFT2

The move from stage to screen turned out to a shrewd one for director Sam Mendes and his story of the average family in American suburbia. Looking beneath the veneer of what appears to be a happy family there is a host of emotional problems between husband, wife and daughter that manifest in unpredictable ways and in this story things are indeed not quite what they seem. Beautifully shot with some dazzling performances, the tag line of this film was ‘look closer’ and it is definitely advice worth heeding.

US 1999/Dir Sam Mendes. With Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari. 121mins J-cert 18

La Haine (Hate)
Sunday 15th August 5.45 NFT1 Sunday 22nd August 5.45 NFT2

Set in the Parisian projects this realist film is a day in the life of three youths after a riot has put their friend in a coma and subsequently in hospital. Each of the three youths has their own reason for hatred be they frustration, police brutality, or boredom. The realist qualities within this piece are to such a standard that the film was viewed by French Prime Minister Alain Juppe to exemplify the troubles that faced his cabinet.
France 1995/Dir Mathieu Kassovitz. With Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé, Said Taghmaoui. 96mins J-Cert 15

Clockers
Sunday 15th August 7.45 NFT1 Sunday 22nd August 7.45 NFT2

Brooklyn is the setting for Spike Lee’s turbulent film adaptation of the Richard Price novel about community drug dealers known as ‘Clockers’. Following the tale of head clocker Strike and his confrontations with his drug dealing boss and a wrinkled cop who has him marked as main suspect of a local murder. Lee’s take on the gangster lifestyle, and its effect on community and family life is both brutal and stark, in a quest for realism he recruited debut actor Mekhi Phifer partially because of his dealing history.
US 1995/Director Spike Lee. With Harvey Keitel, John Turturro, Isaiah Washington, Delroy Lindo. 128mins J-Cert 18

Chasing Amy
Monday 16th August 1.30 NFT1 Monday 23rd August 1.30 NFT2

Possibly director Kevin Smith’s finest filmic moment to date, this romantic comedy tells the story of a comic book artist who is unable to deal with his girlfriend’s sexual history. Threatened by feelings of inadequacy and the prospect of losing the friendship of his closest male friend he resorts to dramatic and ultimately impracticable actions. Examining sexual relationships between the genders this film caused controversy with its representations of the gay community, something that to this day Smith remains unrepentant for.
US 1997/Dir Kevin Smith. With Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Lee. 111mins J-Cert 18

Blackhawk Down
Monday 16th August 3.45 NFT1 Monday 23rd August 3.45 NFT2

A visceral and brutal film directed by master of visual image Ridley Scott and based on the book that chronicled the actual events that took place in Somalia in 1993, Blackhawk Down is the story of a few courageous men who fought against the odds to save their fellow Americans. Whilst in term of narrative it neglects the politics that led up to the debacle in Somalia in America’s only attempt at being a peace keeping force it is nonetheless an interesting snapshot of modern warfare.

US 2001/Dir Ridley Scott. With Josh Harnett, Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana. 143mins J-Cert 15

Any Given Sunday
Monday 16th August 6.20 NFT1 Monday 23rd August 6.20 NFT2

The arena of American football is the focus of this film, delving into the corporate world that resides behind the glamorous image of the American sports machine. Al Pacino is the ageing head coach of the Miami Sharks, a troubled team that has problems both on and off the pitch. Possible the most insightful movie of its ilk Any Given Sunday was filmed using football players such as ex New York Giants star Lawrence Taylor thus giving it an air of authenticity and intense realism.

US 1999/Dir Oliver Stone. With Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, James Woods, Jamie Foxx. 162mins J-Cert 15