I have very little detail about this series but I'm excited about it so I wanted to share what I've got.

In June, 2008, Apex Entertainment will host the First Annual Louisville Gay & Lesbian Film Series as part of the Louisville Exclusives Films project which brings art and foreign films to the Louisville community. The 2008 Gay & Lesbian Film Series will present several award-winning titles including "Shelter" and "The Witnesses". 

I personally would like to see a selection of modern gay fairy tales, that is to say gay films that are romantic and have happy endings. I can only take so many sad (and frequently more realistic) gay stories.

Suggested titles for my modern gay fairy tale series? Well since you asked here are three:
Big Eden
Kissing Jessica Stein
Saving Face

The folks who run Midnights at The Baxter are really tender, soft hearted people aren't they? You'll recall that for Valentine's Day they ran Moulin Rouge. Now, for Mother's Day, they're showing Psycho. I love these people. Oh and if you bring your mother to the film? She gets in free. I really love these people.

Have I told you much my beloved adores the work of Alfred Hitchcock? How in our living room there is an poster from the 1954 release of Rear Window? No? Well she does and we have. My point being I have to be very careful to make sure she doesn't know Psycho is showing this weekend at midnight or she'll make me stay up and go. She's already hounding me to know what Hitchcock movies the Palace will be showing this summer. If anyone has any inside scoop on that it would be greatly appreciated.

Psycho
Saturday May 10, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204 

First off did you know about the Kentucky Film Lab? You better not cause I'm going to be agitated if you were holding on me and not telling me about yet another cool IdeaFest initiative. You weren't holding out on me? Good, now we can both congratulate the Kentucky Film Lab for getting a grant from the fine folks that bring us the Oscars every year.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has awarded a $5,000 grant to the Kentucky Film Lab (KFL), to support KFL's 2008 Filmmaker's Studio.

The grant from the Los Angeles-based Academy, best known for its Oscars, comes as the non-profit KFL is gearing up for its fifth Filmmaker Studio in Louisville this fall.

"It's great news that the Academy recognizes the importance of our mission - supporting cinematic arts in the region," said KFL co-director Brad Riddell.

"This will pay long-term dividends for filmmaking in Kentucky," said Arthur Rouse, KFL managing director. KFL studio participants have gone on to direct their own films, form writers' groups, and work on feature-film crews.

The KFL Filmmaker's Studio is a rigorous three-day educational seminar covering the fundamentals of filmmaking, from script to screen. It includes hands-on production training, individual script analysis, and a series of speakers working today in film and television.

I love the idea of this project. Film has been on my mind a lot lately what with Allison Anders recent visit, the premier of Winding Road and all the great stuff the Louisville Film Society has bee ndoing.

Update: In woefully unpleasant news I have to tell you that Raiders of the Lost Ark won't be shown in the park. For some reason, since I wrote about this, the movie that will be shown at this event has been changed from Raiders of the Lost Ark to Goonies.

I am so excited for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull which is coming out in late May. So excited. I don't care if he's old, I don't care if fanboys hate George Lucas for "destroying Star Wars", I don't care if most of Steven Spielberg's recent movies have sucked. I care about none of that. I can about the fact that Indiana Jones kicks ass. That being said I'm pleased to tell you that you can head out to EP Tom Sawyer Park next Saturday night to watch Raiders of the Lost Arc under the stars. It's the first in what is hoped to be a series of Movie Night under the Stars and Picnic in the Park at EP Tom Sawyer State Park.

The event last from 7PM-Midnight with some other activities thrown in but the only important part is that Raiders of the Lost Arc starts at 8:45. OK fine, another important part is that the event is a benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Jo Self and Bon Vivant Savant presents the first of - and hopefully many - Movie Night under the Stars and Picnic in the Park at EP Tom Sawyer State Park, Saturday, May 10 from 7:00pm-Midnight. This family fun event will feature the original Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark, which begins @ 8:45 as well inflatable jumpies, the Chick-fil-A Cow and complimentary Chick-fil-A chicken, $1 popcorn and cotton candy machines, music prior to movie and some good ole fashioned fun!

Event Line-Up:
7:00pm-8:00pm-BabyFishMouth performs
8:00pm-8:45pm Announcements and Introduction of Boy and Girl of the Year
8:45: "Raiders of the Lost Ark" begins

EP Tom Sawyer State Park offers plenty of ample parking and bathrooms. The event will be held right by the pool and main parking entrance. Coolers are welcomed but no alcohol allowe.

Admission/Donation:
Children under 12-$5
Adults-$10

ALL Money raised will go towards the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Raiders of the Lost Arc trailer after the jump.

This is one of those film classics that I know I should have seen but I actually never have. So let me give you wikipedia's description:

"Chinatown is a 1974 film directed by Roman Polanski featuring many elements of the film noir genre, particularly a multi-layered story that is part mystery and part psychological drama. It stars Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and John Huston. Also appearing in the film are John Hillerman, Diane Ladd, Perry Lopez, James Hong, Joe Mantell, Bruce Glover, Burt Young, and Noble Willingham.

The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, winning in only the category of Best Original Screenplay for Robert Towne. In 1991, Chinatown was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

A sequel, called The Two Jakes, was released in 1990, starring Jack Nicholson (who also directed it), with a screenplay written by Robert Towne."

Chinatown
Saturday April 26, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

I got a press release about a the premier of a locally shot and produced film by student filmmaker Justine Feldt. It sounds like she and her partner pretty much bootstrapped the film and have been working on it like mad for the past year.

Local filmmaker and college student, Justine Feldt, will hold the premiere of her new film Winding Road on April 25 at Jefferson Community and Technical College.  The event will be in the Hartford Building basement located on 649 South First Street. A mini-concert featuring soundtrack artists such as Douglas Lucas, Teneia Sanders, and Cast Iron Airplane will take place at 7pm. The film will begin at 8:30pm. The event is free and open to the public.  

An avid filmmaker, Feldt has spent the last year working non-stop on Winding Road.The film follows the story of a young Haley Smith, who dreams of becoming a famous songwriter. Without her mother's knowledge, Haley leaves home for a prestigious songwriting competition in Chicago. Along the way, she hitches a ride with a young man who is her complete opposite. Through their journey, they form an unlikely friendship, despite Haley's growing concerns about the young man's true intentions.

Winding Road is a low-budget independent film, funded solely by Feldt and her co-producer and assistant director, Claire Thixton. Because of Louisville's thriving art scene and support of independent artists, Feldt was able to find many volunteers and musicians to help make the film a success. The film was entirely shot in Kentucky, with the majority of scenes filmed in the Louisville area.  As a female filmmaker, Feldt is an advocate for gender-equality behind the camera. Feldt, who has attended the New York Film Academy and was apart of the 2006 Samsung Fresh Films competition, hopes that Winding Road will lead her to more filmmaking opportunities.

I dig that last paragraph. Particularly the part about Louisville's thriving art scene and support of independent artists." Damn skippy. I hope lots of people take the opportunity of the Winding Road premier to come out and show support for Louisville's art community.  

Should I pepper this post with quotes from The Big Lebowski? Nah, that'd be over the top wouldn't it? You already know if you're a Lebowski person or not don't you? If you are then get yourself to Baxter Avenue Theatres this Saturday evening for a big screen presentation of The Dude and company.

The Big Lebowski
Saturday April 19, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

I hate it when the Midnight Movie at Baxter Avenue Theatre is something I'm ignorant of. It makes me feel like a cinema novice.

In any case this week's midnight movie is something called Videodrome. Wikipedia has a pretty detailed synopsis if you're interested.

Videodrome
April 12, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

On Tuesday April 15, 2008 the Louisville Film Society and the 21c Museum Foundation present An Evening with Allison Anders. Two of her films, "Border Radio" and "Gas Food Lodging", will be shown and a QA with the Kentucky native filmmaker will take place after each film.

Tuesday April 15, 2008
7PM Border Radio followed by a Q&A with Allison Anders
9PM Gas Food Lodging followed by a Q&A with Allison Anders

Filmmaker info from Louisville Film Society

Before carving out a niche as one of the most distinct voices in nineties American cinema, Allison Anders made her debut, alongside codirectors and fellow UCLA film school students Kurt Voss and Dean Lent, with 1987's Border Radio. A low-key, semi-improvised postpunk diary that took four years to complete, Border Radio features legendary rocker Chris D., of the Flesh Eaters, as a singer/songwriter who has stolen loot from a club and gone missing, leaving his wife (Luanna Anders), a no-nonsense rock journalist, to track him down with the help of his friends (John Doe of the band X; Chris Shearer). With its sprawling Southern Californian and Mexican landscapes, captured in evocative 16mm black and white, Border Radio is a singular, DIY memento of the indie film explosion in America.

21c Museum Hotel
700 West Main St.
Louisville, KY

Again I point out what a fantastic weekend this is for late night movie going. If Tarantino is not your bag then you can held of to Floyd Theater on the UofL campus tonight to watch Alien.

Alien
Friday March 29, 2008 11:55PM
$1 - students
$2 - all others

Trailer after the jump.

Floyd Theater
University of Louisville
Student Activities Center (Under the clock tower)
Continue reading

Dude. Just dude. This is the weekend for you to stay out late seeing movies. On Friday you can see both parts of Kill Bill then on Saturday you can see Trainspotting. Arguably Ewan McGregor's finest work.

Yeah, yeah everyone knows the "Choose Life" bit from Trainspotting (of course it helps that it's on the poster to the right) but you want to know my favorite quote from the film? Here it is: "Some people hate the English, but I don't. They're just wankers. We, on the other hand, are colonized by wankers. We can't even pick a decent culture to be colonized by."

Trainspotting
Saturday March 29, 2008

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

This Friday March 28, 2008 there's a special edition of Midnights at the Baxter. It's a double feature featuring Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Volume I and Kill Bill Volume II. What a most excellent double feature.

This special Friday edition of Midnights at the Baxter is in conjunction with the Kill Ville party down at Glassworks on Saturday March 29, 2008. So really, you can just make this weekend a Tarantino extravaganza.

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

As I know I've mentioned before the Alzheimer's Association is an organization near and dear to me. Each fall I work as hard as I can to raise money for the annual Memory Walk. That's a not so subtle way of letting you know I'll be harassing you to donate come August. I want to raise more money that ever for the Memory Walk this year and I sincerely hope you'll give me your support. In addition to supporting me in the Memory Walk here is another cool way you can support our local branch of the Alzheimer's Association:

Local film production company Hart-Lunsford Pictures helped produce the independent film "Diminished Capacity." The film stars Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, and Virginia Madsen. In the film Alan Alda plays a man with Alzheimer's. On Sunday April 13, 2008 a local premier of the film including a Q&A with screenwriter Sherwood Kiraly is being held as a fundraiser for the Kentucky-Southern Indiana chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.

Tickets are $50 and include a wine/beer/ hors d'oeuvres reception, film viewing and the Q&A. The entire $50 ticket price will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association.

Tickets must be purchased through the Center for The Arts. They can be purchased online starting today at www.kentuckycenter.com or over the phone at 502-584-7777.

Sunday April 13, 2008
6:00PM
Kentucky Center for the Arts

There's a reception and after party at 21c Friday night following the screening of FLOW: For Love of Water at Baxter Avenue Theatres. From the press release:

Please join us in celebrating the Kentucky premiere of the acclaimed documentary FLOW: For Love of Water
See the film @ 7:30 @ Baxter Avenue Theatre and make your way to 21c Museum Hotel for the afterparty.

Meet the Director Irena Salina and Co-Producer Gill Holland

Friday, March 21, 2008
10pm until Late
Atrium Gallery
Special Musical Guest DJ Jesse Jamz
Free with FLOW Ticket Stub or Donation to the 21c Museum Foundation
Cash Bar

The film was a co-production of Louisville-based The Group Entertainment, Executive Produced by Louisvillian Augusta Brown Holland and co-produced by her husband Gill Holland, and is directed by French filmmaker Irena Salina.

21c Museum Hotel
700 West Main St.
Louisville, KY

Let me tell you what wikipedia says about Monty Python's Life of Brian.

"Monty Python's Life of Brian, also known as Life of Brian, is a 1979 comedy written and performed by the Monty Python comedy team. It tells the story of Brian Cohen (played by Graham Chapman), a young man born at the same time as Jesus Christ, who is mistaken for the Messiah.

The film was controversial because of its combination of comedy and religious themes. However, it has also been very popular with viewers: in 2000, readers of the British Total Film magazine voted it the greatest comedy film of all time; in 2004, the same magazine named it the 5th greatest British film of all time; in 2006 it was voted the best comedy movie of all time on two separate polls conducted by the British TV channels Channel 4 and Five."

Clearly, it would be an absolutely horrible thing to confess that you've never seen such a comic masterpiece. *Whistles* Old School Louisville Filter: Baxter Avenue is showing Life of Brian this Saturday "in honor of The Vogue's tradition of featuring the film the night before Easter."

Life of Brian
March 22, 2008
Trailer after the jump

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

FLOW: For Love Of Water, a new film by Irena Salina, highlights the local intimacies of an emerging global catastrophe: African plumbers reconnect shantytown water pipes under cover of darkness to ensure a community's survival; a Californian scientist forces awareness of shockingly toxic public water sources; a 'Big Water' CEO argues privatization is the wave of the future; a "Water Guru" in India sparks new community water initiatives in hundreds of villages; a Canadian author uncovers the corporate profiteering that drives global water business.

With an unflinching focus on politics, pollution and human rights, FLOW: For Love of Water ensures that the precarious relationship between humanity and water can no longer be ignored. While specifics of locality and issue may differ, the message is the same; water, and our future as a species, is quickly drying up. Armed with a thirst for survival, people around the world are fighting for their birthright; unless we instigate change, we face a world in which only those that can pay for their water will survive. FLOW: For Love of Water, is a catalyst for people everywhere: the time has come to turn the tide and we can't wait any longer.

Friday, March 21, 2008 7:30pm
Followed by a Q&A with director Irena Salina

Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 7:30pm
Followed by a Q&A with executive producer Augusta Brown Holland and co-producer Gill Holland.

Baxter Avenue Theatre
1250 Bardstown Rd.
Louisville, KY

I've never before heard of "Titicut Follies" so I'm going to share a quote about the film from the event announcement.

"Titicut Follies" is a documentary film that tells you more than you could possibly want to know - but no more than you should know - about life behind the walls of one of those institutions where we file and forget the criminal insane... A society's treatment of the least of its citizens - and surely these are the least of ours - is perhaps the best measure of its civilization."
- Richard Schickel, Life Magazine

Tuesday, March 18th, 2008 7 & 9 PM
Free

21c Museum Hotel
700 West Main St.
Louisville, KY

My friends at Backseat Sandbar wrote about the Kill Ville event a couple weeks ago but just in case you missed it I wanted to post about it as well.

"The sequel to last year's PULP FUNKTION, KILL VILLE will be a large-scale theme party based on the soundtracks and films of Quentin Tarantino, with a special focus on Kill Bill Vol. 1.

A Tarantino themed dance party presented by HAY DJ and Glassworks featuring Hay DJ, DJ Matt Anthony, Woodrow on the Radio, DJ Dwight Johnson and the band The Ladybirds plus a martial arts demonstration, costume contest and prizes!

Glassworks 2nd floor will be transformed into the Tokyo dance
club where Uma Thurman (Black Mamba) defeats Lucy Liu (Oren Ishii)."

Kill Ville A Tarantino Themed Dance Party
Saturday March 29, 2008
9PM-2AM

$10 admission, advanced tickets available at ear X-tacy and online
Cash Bar
21 and over

Glassworks
815 W. Main Street
Louisville, KY

I know absolutely nothing about this movie. I don't think I've even heard of it before so I've got no info for you. I'm just going to post the poster and maybe it will ring a bell for you or spark your curiosity. Oh alright I'll give you a wikipedia quote about it as well:

"The City of Lost Children (French: La Cité des enfants perdus) is a dystopian French fantasy/drama film by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet released in 1995. The film is stylistically related to the previous and subsequent Jeunet films, Delicatessen and Amélie."

Midnight
March 8, 2008

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Community Farm Alliance invites the public to the world premiere of L.I.F.E.'s Lessons, a new short film showcasing CFA's work in bringing fresh, local food into Louisville's food deserts, on Thursday, March 6th from 7-9 PM at locally-owned Derby City Espresso, located at 331 East Market Street in downtown Louisville. There is a sliding scale of $5-$30 for admission, which includes a year's membership to CFA. CFA is a statewide grassroots membership organization working on, among other things, connecting small family farmers in Kentucky with urban markets.

Wow, doesn't this sound cool? I'm very interested in CFA's work, in supporting local farms and food producers and buying local as much as possible. As we've discussed ridiculously often I don't eat much meat but I'm not a complete vegetarian. When I do buy meat I want it to be as locally and humanely raised as possible. During the summer when I can buy direct from farmers at the farmers market that's what I do but when that isn't an option I'm at a bit of a loss. I called a couple meat markets in town the other day and was really disappointed to find out the only locally direct sourced meat they carry is Kentucky bison.

Way back at Halloween Baxter Avenue Theater held a costume contest. The winner got to choose a film to be shown at a future edition of Midnights at the Baxter. The time has come to show that selection, and what a great selection it is: Léon the Professional.

Luc Besson's masterpiece of violence and an unexpected relationship stars Jean Reno, a very young Natalie Portman, Gary Oldman and Danny Aiello. If you haven't seen it you're missing out. If you have, which means you love it, then don't miss the opportunity to see it again on the big screen.

Saturday February 23, 2008
Midnight

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

I hesitate to post about this because I don't want the free tickets to be gone before I confirm with my beloved that we can go but I'm a kind person so I'm going to go ahead and tell you that the Louisville Film Society and Actors Theatre are presenting a free screening of Rushmore on Monday (how is it that I don't own the Rushmore soundtrack? Must.Correct.Now).

I'm an unabashed Wes Anderson fan girl. The Royal Tenenbaums is a classic and one of my favorite films ever (also a brilliant soundtrack). I even like the bad Wes Anderson movies (*cough* The Life Aquatic) so of course I love Rushmore.

Actor's Theatre
Humana Festival Movie Night
Monday, February 18, 2008 7:30 PM
Free, ticket required-Call 502-584-1205

Actors Theatre of Louisville
316 W Main St
Louisville, KY 40202

The folks at Floyd theater say

Hate Valentine's Day? Spend it with us watching two awesome movies!

First up it's Blow with Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz.

IMDB says:
"A boy named George Jung grows up in a struggling family in the 1950's. His mother nags at her husband as he is trying to make a living for the family. It is finally revealed that George's father cannot make a living and the family goes bankrupt. George does not want the same thing to happen to him, and his friend Tuna, in the 1960's, suggests that he deal marijuana. He is a big hit in California in the 1960's, yet he goes to jail, where he finds out about the wonders of cocaine. As a result, when released, he gets rich by bringing cocaine to America. However, he soon pays the price."

Next up it's the shoot things/blow stuff up class Die Hard.

IMDB says:
"Tough New York cop John McClane finds himself in a tight situation when an office building in Los Angeles is taken over by terrorists. Apart from himself, everyone else in the building - including his wife - is held at gunpoint while their captors spell out their demands. The F.B.I. are called in to survey the situation, but John McClane has other plans for the terrorists."

February 14, 2008
6PM
$1 - students
$2 - all others

Trailers after the jump.

Floyd Theater
University of Louisville
Student Activities Center (Under the clock tower)

I'm going to confess to being a little hesitant about any film featuring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. I'm sure that makes me a bad person or something but I'm being honest here so cut me some slack. That being said I'm intrigued by Southland Tales, the second feature film from Richard Kelly writer and director of Donnie Darko.

Wikipedia says "The title refers to the Southland, a name used by locals to refer to Southern California and Greater Los Angeles. Set in the near future, the film is a portrait of Los Angeles and a comment on the military-industrial news-tainment complex. The film features an ensemble cast. Original music for the film was provided by Moby."

Sounds interesting. The film was released in theaters last year but apparently was only shown on something like 63 screens across the U.S. After seeing the trailer I could understand that it would be a little hard to market but I think it's definitely worth a look, particularly since seeing movies at Floyd Theater is such a great deal. The film is showing this weekend only (it actually opened last night but I'm a little late).

Friday February 8, 2008 8 pm
Saturday February 9, 2008 5 & 8 pm
Sunday February 10, 2008 5 & 8 pm
$1 - students
$2 - all others

Floyd Theater
University of Louisville
Student Activities Center (Under the clock tower)

Trailer after the jump

That exclamation point is really in the title of the film, I'm not just super excited about the tragic Nicole Kidman/Ewan McGregor weird musical love story being shown this Saturday night February 9, 2008 at Baxter Avenue.

That's right, just in time for Valentine's Day those crazy romantics at Midnights at the Baxter are showing Moulin Rouge!.

Saturday February 9, 2009

Trailer after the jump

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

I saw The Savages at Baxter Avenue Theaters yesterday (capsule review: more bitter than sweet but I'm glad I went to see it) and saw a poster advertising free coffee or a free scoop of ice cream from Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Kitchen with your Baxter Avenue ticket stub/receipt. I noticed when driving by the new branch of Homemade Ice Cream and Pie (can I just shorten that to Pie Kitchen since that's their url?) a big sign out front advertising it as a coffee shop and know that they've had live music in there as well. They've got free wifi and outstanding desserts (I recently had a really fantastic slice of birthday cake), if they can make a proper cappuccino I might have to start hanging out at the Pie Kitchen from time to time.

Slightly off topic but let me compliment Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Kitchen for having the nicest, most not surly teenage employees of any establishment in town. Seriously, they've got the most consistently nice young employees I've come across. I notice and appreciate it so I'm sure other people do as well.

Could there be any other movie choice for Midnights at the Baxter to show on Groundhog Day than the Bill Murray classic Groundhog Day? No, clearly there could not be.

Be there or be square my friends. Just don't drive angry.

February 2, 2008

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

The Louisville Jewish Film Festival begins February 16, 2008. Here's the lineup so you can scope out all the films and plan your schedule accordingly. Tickets for all of the films are $8 with the exception of the special screening of The Rape of Europa event at the Speed Museum on February 23. Tickets for that event are $45.

Feb. 16 • 7:30 PM     Village 8 
The Black Book 
A Dutch World War II thriller about singer Rachel Stein who pretends to be a Gentile in order to help the resistance. She has been in hiding for years, but is sent on the run and is forced into one morally compromising position after another. Netherlands

Feb. 18 • 7:00 PM     JCC
Saved by Deportation 
In 1940 Stalin ordered the deportation of 200,000 Polish Jews to labor settlements in the Soviet interior. This story of survival retraces the path Asher and Schifra Sharf traveled to Siberia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Co-produced by Louisville native, Robert Podgursky, who will speak at film reception. USA

Feb. 19 • 7:00 PM     Village 8
Comme t'y es belle! 
A huge hit in France, this ''Sex in the City''-style romantic comedy features a cast of Jewish women and the ups and downs of their messy love lives, motherhood, and careers. France 

Feb. 20 • 7:00 PM     Village 8
What a Wonderful Place 
Israel's 2005 Oscar entry examines the difficulties foreign workers experience in Israel. Thai laborers, human traffickers, a Filipino couple, a depressed old man, and a ex-cop share the need for human dignity and contact. Israel 

Feb. 21 • 7:00 PM     Village 8
Jellyfish 
An ensemble comedy-drama, Jellyfish weaves together concurrent stories of loneliness and the attempts to connect with one another. Winner of the Cannes and Israeli awards for best film by directors. Israel

SPEED ART MUSEUM GALA • Feb. 23 • 7:30 PM
The Rape of Europa 
A fabulous evening featuring hors d'oeuvres by the Bristol Café and the premier of the award-winning film Rape of Europa. This film tells the story of the theft, destruction and miraculous survival of Europe's art treasures during World War II. A staff member of the Speed will discuss the elaborate research done on their collection to ensure that none is stolen property. Seating is limited - $45 per person. USA

More info from the Speed Museum on this event: "The Rape of Europa tells the epic story of the systematic theft, deliberate destruction and miraculous survival of Europe's art treasures during the Third Reich and the Second World War.Joan Allen narrates this breathtaking chronicle about the battle over the very survival of centuries of western culture. Kim Spence, Associate Curator at The Speed Art Museum, will discuss the museum profession's ongoing attempts to return looted artwork to its rightful owners and the Speed's research on its own collection"

Feb. 24 • 4:00 PM     JCC
The First Basket 
Documentary on the impact of American basketball by Jewish immigrants and their importance in shaping modern basketball and their notable success from the 1920's to early 1950's. Newsreel footage of the first basket and first game in NBA history is shown. USA

Feb. 25 • 7:00 PM     Village 8
The Tribe 
This short film is a brilliant, irreverent and buoyant film about an icon of American culture, the Barbie doll, and its creator, a Jewish woman. USA 

Mauvaise Foi 
A comedy about a Jewish woman who falls in love with an Arab pianist and the reactions they encounter from their family and friends when they decide to marry. France

For tickets: 459-0660
$8 • ADULTS    $6 • STUDENTS    

If you're the kind of person who'll go see John Carpenter's The Thing then you already know what it's about. I'm not the kind of person to go see The Thing so all I know is that it involves a bunch of people at a research station in Antarctica fighting an evil alien who can transform itself in other creatures. If that's your bag then go see it this Saturday night January 26, 2008 at Baxter Avenue Theaters.

You know what Midnight at The Baxter presentation I'm really excited about? February 23 it's Leon (aka The Professional). I love that movie.

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Trailer after the jump

The Louisville Film society is presenting a special screening of the documentary Mountaintop Removal.

"If you drink water or use electricity you're connected to Mountain Top Removal. Louisville Film Society invites the public to a special screening of this timely regional film followed by an open discussion with director Michael O'Connell and hosted by writer Erik Reese ( Lost Mountain) . This 74-minute feature documentary explores the costs of mountaintop removal coal mining on the people, mountains and culture of Southern Appalachia. Filmed over a two-year period, Mountain Top Removal chronicles citizen conservation groups as they oppose the coal industry and the effects of mountain top removal coal mining on their communities. You will not think coal is "cheap" after watching this film."

Jan 31, 2008 7 PM
Clifton Center
Admission: $10

Mr. 43 Folders himself Merlin Mann was of course at Macworld last week and filmed a couple interviews for the fine MacBreak program. These interviews are interesting if you're a Mac geek (and I am) but we're most interested in the "Abide" shirt Merlin is rocking in the videos.

That shirt is a fine example of the superior quality materials our friends from Lebowski Fest have sent out into the world. You should buy one. You might also considering buying a sticker or other Abide materials.

All this reminds us that the 7th Annual Lebowski Fest is happening July 11 and 12, 2008 here in Louisville. Being the 7th annual event here in Louisville is cool enough but when you consider this year is the 10th anniversary of the film's release, well then you know that excellence will abound. 

I'd never heard of The Price of Sugar before yesterday but now I can't wait to head to Village 8 to see this documentary, narrated by Paul Newman about Haitian workers on sugar plantations in the Dominican Republic.

"On the Caribbean island of the Dominican Republic, tourists flock to pristine beaches unaware that a few miles away thousands of dispossessed Haitians have toiled under armed-guard on plantations harvesting sugarcane, much of which ends up in U.S. kitchens. They work grueling hours and frequently lack decent housing, clean water, electricity, education or healthcare. "The Price of Sugar" follows Father Christopher Hartley, a charismatic Spanish priest, as he organizes some of this hemisphere's poorest people, challenging powerful interests profiting from their work. This film raises key questions about where the products we consume originate and at what human cost they are produced. Narrated by Paul Newman."The Price of Sugar" raises key questions about where the products we consume originate, at what cost they are produced and ultimately, where our responsibility lies."

Showtimes (Friday 1/18-1/24)
12:50, 3:15, 5:10, 7:20, 9:40

Village 8
4014 Dutchmans Lane
Louisville, KY

Trailer after the jump

Tracy from the Louisville Film Society let me know about the incredible deal movie screenings at Floyd Theater at UofL are. $1 for students, $2 for the rest of us and some of the best and most interesting films in town.

Showing this week it's Control: "A film documenting the life of Ian Curtis, late frontman of Manchester band Joy Division, was made during 2005 and 2006. Celebrated rock photographer and video maker Anton Corbijn makes his debut."

Control will be shown Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 6 & 8:30pm

Next Friday January 25, 2008 at midnight American History X will be shown.

The Floyd Theatre
2100 South Floyd Street
SAC w308 (University of Louisville)
Louisville, KY

Cost:
$1 w/student ID
$2 without