Director: Orson Welles
Country of origin: USA
Year of release: 1958
Running time: 112'
Language: English
Campus Film Classics is pleased to announce its return with a screening of Touch of Evil, directed by Orson Welles. The screening takes place on Monday 28 September at 5pm (please note new day and time), at the Institute of Critical Thinking (upstairs the Centre for Language Learning, the previous venue for CFC), UWI main campus. The screening is free and open to the public.
Touch of Evil is a brilliant crime thriller, dark mystery, and a cult classic, the last great film noir during the so-called classic era of noirs. Beginning with one of the best opening shots in all of cinema, Touch of Evil explodes onto the screen with a car blowing up, setting into motion a classic noir tale of betrayal and murder. In a complex exploration of character and morality, Orson Welles plays the racist Captain Hank Quinlan, a grotesque, troubled, and powerful figure who runs his small US border town according to his own version of the law.
Quinlan's brutishness and vulgarity contrast starkly with the idealism and playboy good looks of Mike Vargas (Charlton Heston), a Mexican detective trying to put away the leader of a dangerous family of drug dealers. Vargas becomes consumed with exposing Quinlan and his highly questionable methods--too busy to see that his beautiful American bride, Susie (Janet Leigh) is in serious danger.
In almost every way, Touch of Evil is a masterpiece. Every shot is impeccably crafted, every word of dialogue concise and pointed. The supporting cast, led by Marlene Dietrich, gives exhilarating performances. Welles’ last American film, Touch of Evil is a near-perfect examination of the dark underbelly of society and the tragic downfall of a once proud and powerful man.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Intermission
Campus Film Classics is currently on hiatus, while we finalise a new venue for our screenings. We should be back very soon. In the meanwhile, don't miss the upcoming trinidad+tobago film festival--two weeks of great local, Caribbean and Caribbean Diaspora films, workshops, panel discussions and much more.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Screening for Tuesday 18 August: Amores Perros
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Country of origin: Mexico
Year of release: 2000
Running time: 158'
Language: Spanish, with English subtitles
The debut feature by director Alejandro González Iñárritu, Amores Perros features three linked stories based in and around Mexico City. The first tells of Octavio, a young barrio-dweller who is in love with his sister-in-law, Susana. Determined to win her away from his brother Ramiro, a thief, Octavio resorts to using his dog Cifo in dogfighting circles to raise enough money for him and Susana to run away together.
The second story concerns Daniel, an editor who abandons his wife and two children for a supermodel, Valeria. When Valeria is involved in a car crash (the other car is driven by Octavio) and becomes handicapped, Daniel is forced to take care of her. Then Valeria’s beloved dog Richie becomes lost under the floorboards of her and Daniel's new apartment. The relationship strains the longer the pitiful dog's whines are heard without his rescue.
Finally comes the story of El Chivo, a bitter ex-guerilla turned hit man, who is given a contract to kill a wealthy, powerful businessman. A witness to the fateful car crash, El Chivo rescues Octavio’s dog, Cifo, whom paramedics have placed on the street—and who will teach the dehumanised El Chivo a shattering lesson.
Considered the film that launched the recent new wave of Mexican cinema, Amores Perros is marked by interconnected plots, dizzily fast pacing and gritty realism. In its structure and style (if not necessarily its content) it anticipates a number of films from the past few years, including Crash, City of God, and even Slumdog Millionaire.
Country of origin: Mexico
Year of release: 2000
Running time: 158'
Language: Spanish, with English subtitles
The debut feature by director Alejandro González Iñárritu, Amores Perros features three linked stories based in and around Mexico City. The first tells of Octavio, a young barrio-dweller who is in love with his sister-in-law, Susana. Determined to win her away from his brother Ramiro, a thief, Octavio resorts to using his dog Cifo in dogfighting circles to raise enough money for him and Susana to run away together.
The second story concerns Daniel, an editor who abandons his wife and two children for a supermodel, Valeria. When Valeria is involved in a car crash (the other car is driven by Octavio) and becomes handicapped, Daniel is forced to take care of her. Then Valeria’s beloved dog Richie becomes lost under the floorboards of her and Daniel's new apartment. The relationship strains the longer the pitiful dog's whines are heard without his rescue.
Finally comes the story of El Chivo, a bitter ex-guerilla turned hit man, who is given a contract to kill a wealthy, powerful businessman. A witness to the fateful car crash, El Chivo rescues Octavio’s dog, Cifo, whom paramedics have placed on the street—and who will teach the dehumanised El Chivo a shattering lesson.
Considered the film that launched the recent new wave of Mexican cinema, Amores Perros is marked by interconnected plots, dizzily fast pacing and gritty realism. In its structure and style (if not necessarily its content) it anticipates a number of films from the past few years, including Crash, City of God, and even Slumdog Millionaire.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Screening for Tuesday 11 August: Affair in Trinidad
Director: Vincent Sherman
Country of origin: USA
Year of release: 1952
Running time: 98'
In 1948 Rita Hayworth wed Prince Ali Khan (the third of her five marriages) and unofficially retired from the movies. Four years later, the marriage at an end, Hayworth made her comeback to the silver screen with Affair in Trinidad, a romance thriller that reunited her with Glenn Ford, her co-star from the very successful, highly infamous Gilda (1946).
Hayworth stars in Affair in Trinidad as Chris Emery, a sexy, hip-grinding dancer who works in a sleazy Port of Spain nightclub owned by her husband. When he dies in mysterious circumstances, Chris' life is turned upside down, especially after the police pull her into the investigation.
Her brother-in-law Steve (Ford) then arrives, and the two are drawn deeper into the mystery and, eventually, each other's arms. What Steve doesn’t realise, however, is that Chris is keeping a dangerous secret from him, one that could have fatal consequences for them both.
Affair in Trinidad features steamy dance sequences (Hayworth first appears dancing barefoot to a “calypso” number called “Trinidad Lady”) and dazzling evening gowns (for which the film won a Best Costume Design Academy Award). Even better is the tempestuous pairing of the “Love Goddess” Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford. Finally, the film offers the irresistible appeal of seeing what Trinidad was like in the early 1950s—as viewed through the eyes of Hollywood.
Country of origin: USA
Year of release: 1952
Running time: 98'
In 1948 Rita Hayworth wed Prince Ali Khan (the third of her five marriages) and unofficially retired from the movies. Four years later, the marriage at an end, Hayworth made her comeback to the silver screen with Affair in Trinidad, a romance thriller that reunited her with Glenn Ford, her co-star from the very successful, highly infamous Gilda (1946).
Hayworth stars in Affair in Trinidad as Chris Emery, a sexy, hip-grinding dancer who works in a sleazy Port of Spain nightclub owned by her husband. When he dies in mysterious circumstances, Chris' life is turned upside down, especially after the police pull her into the investigation.
Her brother-in-law Steve (Ford) then arrives, and the two are drawn deeper into the mystery and, eventually, each other's arms. What Steve doesn’t realise, however, is that Chris is keeping a dangerous secret from him, one that could have fatal consequences for them both.
Affair in Trinidad features steamy dance sequences (Hayworth first appears dancing barefoot to a “calypso” number called “Trinidad Lady”) and dazzling evening gowns (for which the film won a Best Costume Design Academy Award). Even better is the tempestuous pairing of the “Love Goddess” Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford. Finally, the film offers the irresistible appeal of seeing what Trinidad was like in the early 1950s—as viewed through the eyes of Hollywood.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Welcome the trinidad+tobago film festival 09
Campus Film Classics is pleased to be associated with the trinidad+tobago film festival 09, which runs from September 16 to 29. The festival presents some of the best films by Caribbean filmmakers, as well as films being made about the Caribbean in the Caribbean spirit.
In addition to the main film screenings at MovieTowne in Port of Spain, the festival also encompasses workshops and seminars for filmmakers and others in the film industry, panel discussions with visiting filmmakers, outreach screenings (at StudioFilmClub in Laventille, UWI St Augustine, San Fernando and MovieTowne, Tobago), social events and more.
And for the first time in the festival's history, there will be jury prizes for the best films, including a US $10,000 prize for best feature.
Subscribe to the festival blog for daily festival updates, news, and more.
In addition to the main film screenings at MovieTowne in Port of Spain, the festival also encompasses workshops and seminars for filmmakers and others in the film industry, panel discussions with visiting filmmakers, outreach screenings (at StudioFilmClub in Laventille, UWI St Augustine, San Fernando and MovieTowne, Tobago), social events and more.
And for the first time in the festival's history, there will be jury prizes for the best films, including a US $10,000 prize for best feature.
Subscribe to the festival blog for daily festival updates, news, and more.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Screening for Tuesday 4 August: Rue cases nègres
Director: Euzhan Palcy
Country of origin: Martinique
Year of release: 1983
Running time: 103'
Based on Joseph Zobel’s coming of age novel, the story of Rue cases nègres (Black Shack Alley or Sugar Cane Alley in English) is told through the eyes of José, a young boy growing up with his stern grandmother in the poverty of rural Martinique in the 1930s.
José is friends with Mèdouze, an old field worker who tells José stories of the past and of life in Africa. After Mèdouze’s death José moves with his grandmother to Fort-de-France, where he is to take up a scholarship at a private school. Inspired by Mèdouze’s tales, José begins to write stories that are so accomplished that his teacher is convinced he has plagiarised them.
Humiliated, José runs away from school. When he returns home, however, he finds his grandmother has told his teacher all about Mèdouze’s tales, and the teacher—now full of admiration for the young man—predicts that José will become a great writer.
The debut film by Euzhan Palcy (who would go on to become the first black woman to direct a Hollywood feature, A Dry White Season, starring Marlon Brando), Rue cases nègres is a genuine classic of Caribbean cinema, a vivid and emotional portrait of the colonial society, and one boy’s ability to go beyond the limitations of that society.
(Some info taken from austinfilm.org and imdb.com)
Country of origin: Martinique
Year of release: 1983
Running time: 103'
Based on Joseph Zobel’s coming of age novel, the story of Rue cases nègres (Black Shack Alley or Sugar Cane Alley in English) is told through the eyes of José, a young boy growing up with his stern grandmother in the poverty of rural Martinique in the 1930s.
José is friends with Mèdouze, an old field worker who tells José stories of the past and of life in Africa. After Mèdouze’s death José moves with his grandmother to Fort-de-France, where he is to take up a scholarship at a private school. Inspired by Mèdouze’s tales, José begins to write stories that are so accomplished that his teacher is convinced he has plagiarised them.
Humiliated, José runs away from school. When he returns home, however, he finds his grandmother has told his teacher all about Mèdouze’s tales, and the teacher—now full of admiration for the young man—predicts that José will become a great writer.
The debut film by Euzhan Palcy (who would go on to become the first black woman to direct a Hollywood feature, A Dry White Season, starring Marlon Brando), Rue cases nègres is a genuine classic of Caribbean cinema, a vivid and emotional portrait of the colonial society, and one boy’s ability to go beyond the limitations of that society.
(Some info taken from austinfilm.org and imdb.com)
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Screening for Tuesday 28 July: Hoop Dreams
Director: Steve James
Country of origin: USA
Year of release: 1994
Running time: 170'
Considered by many to be the greatest documentary film ever made (and arguably the greatest sports film ever), Hoop Dreams is the remarkable true story of two young African American men from the inner city determined to turn their love of basketball into personal success.
Plucked from the streets and given the opportunity to attend a suburban private school and play for a legendary high school coach, William Gates and Arthur Agee soon discover that their dreams of glory become obscured amid the intense pressures of academics, family life, economic circumstances and athletic competitiveness.
Yet both boys remain focused on their dream, no matter how hard tragedy strikes or how desperate their situation becomes. Their faith in the game they love continually gives them hope, a hope that ultimately allows them to build upon their failures as well as their triumphs and make for themselves a potentially better life.
Far more than a sympathetic portrait of two teenagers reaching for the
stars, Hoop Dreams, while remaining epic in scope, manages to be intimate in detail, chronicling the universal process of growing up and coming of age. It is about success and failure not just on the basketball court, but also in school, at home, in society, and ultimately, in life.
(Some info taken from kartemquin.com)
Country of origin: USA
Year of release: 1994
Running time: 170'
Considered by many to be the greatest documentary film ever made (and arguably the greatest sports film ever), Hoop Dreams is the remarkable true story of two young African American men from the inner city determined to turn their love of basketball into personal success.
Plucked from the streets and given the opportunity to attend a suburban private school and play for a legendary high school coach, William Gates and Arthur Agee soon discover that their dreams of glory become obscured amid the intense pressures of academics, family life, economic circumstances and athletic competitiveness.
Yet both boys remain focused on their dream, no matter how hard tragedy strikes or how desperate their situation becomes. Their faith in the game they love continually gives them hope, a hope that ultimately allows them to build upon their failures as well as their triumphs and make for themselves a potentially better life.
Far more than a sympathetic portrait of two teenagers reaching for the
stars, Hoop Dreams, while remaining epic in scope, manages to be intimate in detail, chronicling the universal process of growing up and coming of age. It is about success and failure not just on the basketball court, but also in school, at home, in society, and ultimately, in life.
(Some info taken from kartemquin.com)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
