A film series worth drooling over

February -- in which the groundhog seeks his shadow, George and Abe add another candle to their respective cakes, and lovers race to buy cheesy greeting cards as proof of their love. But for New York City cinephiles, February means the Film Comment Selects series at the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center. For this, their fifth year running, the crew at FC have scheduled a fantastic lineup of the best films you never saw in 2004. This year's schedule might very well be their best yet. Though several of the films have American distributors, most of them will play in the tiniest of Manhattan's cinemas -- this is an opportunity to see them in an ideal environment. There are three Korean films this year, and all three should not be missed. The first two films of Park Chan-wook's "revenge trilogy", Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy are being screened, as is Bong Joon-ho's Memories of Murder -- easily one of the best policiers of the last decade or so. Regular readers of this site know all too well how Filmbrain feels about the two Park films -- try to catch both in preparation for the third installment which arrives later this year - Sympathy for Lady Vengeance. (Should you miss them, BAM is holding a Park Chan-wook retrospective in March. Details to follow.) Though Filmbrain hasn't gotten around to writing his review, Memories of Murder, based on real-life events surrounding the inability of South Korean police to capture a ruthless serial killer in the 1980's, is at once both brutally savage and wickedly funny, as well as a fairly critical look at life under the Chun dictatorship. Oldboy: Wed 9 @ 4:00 & 9:00 Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance: Sun 13 @ 7:00, Fri 18 @ 8:30 "What distance wouldn't you travel to see that face?" asks the Cinetrix about Maggie Cheung, in the latest film from ex-husband Oliver Assayas, Clean. In Irma Vep, Assayas had her prowling around Paris in a vinyl bodysuit. This time, she plays a junkie, down and out in America and France. This one can't possibly miss, regardless of what some critics say. For some unknown reason, this is only screening once, and is already sold out. For the diehards, there's always standby. . . Wed 9 @ 6:30 Besides Clean, France has six other films in the series -- several of which are worth noting. Christophe Honoré's Ma Mère is based on the novel of the same name by Georges Bataille, and stars Isabelle Huppert. Talk about a match made in heaven! This is the perfect Valentines Day gift! Mon 14 @ 8:30, Fri 18 @ 6:15 The festival includes a tribute to French actress Bulle Ogier, including three wonderful older films. A screening of Jacques Rivette's 1981 film Le Pont du Nord is reason to celebrate -- the film (which has some of the most beautiful shots of Paris ever captured on film) hasn't been screened in NYC in many years. Though Barbet Schroeder's Maîtresse and Luis Buñuel's The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie are readily available on DVD, you shouldn't miss an opportunity to catch them on the big screen. If you've never seen the Buñuel, don't miss it -- this surreal dinner party (without dinner) is a brilliant piece of satire. Le Pont du Nord: Sat 19 @ 3:00, Sun 20 @ 6:15 Maîtresse: Sat 19 @ 9:00, Tue 22 @ 1:00 The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie: Sun 20 @ 1:30 Two of Japan's most controversial directors are featured in the series. Shinya Tsukamoto's Vital stars Tadanobu Asano as a medical student with amnesia, while Izo is the highly anticipated pairing of Takashi Miike and Takeshi Kitano -- a film that's meant to be "outrageous even by Miike standards". Vital: Thurs 10 @ 6:15, Sat 12 @ 6:45 Izo: Fri 11 @ 1:30, Sat 12 @ 4:15 & 8:30 There are plenty of other gems in the series -- too many to be discussed here. (Complete program information HERE.) One could easily spend every night at the Walter Reade for the complete fifteen days. As thrilled as Filmbrain is about attending the Berlinale this year, he's a bit disappointed that he'll be missing the entire series. Oh well. Aaron, George, Cinecultist, Scott, Phyrephox, et. al. -- Filmbrain hopes to hear reports from all of you.

Comments

[Aaron Hillis]

Okay, I'm sold. Just bought tickets for both 'Izo' and 'Le Pont du Nord' (which I've been dying to see on the big screen for years) thanks to you.

[la depressionada]

Two words: Pascale Ogier. I saw it in Paris. I love Bulle Ogier too -- Maitress is a riot. I'm going to Clean with the lovely Ali Z. and my b/f.

[la depressionada]

Addenda: Clean is Sold Out! I knew I shouldn't have waited so long. If anyone comes across a spare ticket, please let me know.

[dave]

Man, I wanted to see Clean BAD! But I've been inspired to pre-order my tickets, and will be at Pont Du Nord, the Fuller double feature, both Park-Chans and Izo. Between this, the upcoming George Stevens retro at MOMA and the first year of Oscar at FF, February is shaping up to be a pretty incredible month.

[Greg Samsa]

I have spoken to someone who has seen Izo and they told me they didn't think it was very good so temper those expectations. However this person also said Vital was excellent - can't wait to see that. Neither of these films has played in Los Angeles yet.

BTW, the essay by Godard in the new Film Comment is a fucking CLASSIC! Must read!

[Filmbrain]

Good news -- just learned that Clean will also be playing in March at the Walter Reade as part of the Rendez-Vous with French Cinema series in March.

[la depressionada]

Great thanks. You know I knew it would play elsewhere. It had too much going for it -- Maggie Cheung, heroin, big hair. I mean really.

Interesting note: we tried to get Irma Vep this weekend b/c the b/f hadn't seen it (so young, so naieve), and it was out at the Kim's and even the Hollywoods -- I think Clean has a little buzz going.

[Aaron]

I've got tix already to Oldboy and Clean tomorrow, and Vital and Downfall (I'm trying to remember the last time Film Comment selects managed to screen an Best Foreign Film Oscar contender between noms and awards). I want to try to get to some others, including Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, but I don't know I'll have the time. (sigh)

And yeah ... all of us here really feel sorry for you, stuck in Berlin and all!

[phyrephox]

Just as a heads up (sorry Aaron), the Film Forum will be showing Downfall sometime fairly soon so don't all rush out to see this as if it is a limited screening like some of the other films. As Filmbrain mentioned, BAM is re-showing the Park films as well, and I believe will also be showing the Sam Fuller war films.

[Aaron]

Phyrephox: Yes, I knew about Film Forum showing Downfall ... it actually opens there a week from Friday. However, and no disrespect to Film Forum because I love the place, go their frequently and have had a membership for years, but I would much prefer seeing any movie at the Walter Reade on their very large screen with their raked, not quite stadium seating, than at Film Forum. And that goes for BAM's theaters too.

But you're right, and the fact is if one can't get into the FCS series, several of these titles will be showing in the area again soon.