Some Kind of Wonderful
It's that time of year once again when we celebrate the actions of a banker who kills himself, navigates the impersonal civilization that is his vision of purgatory, and then is reborn as a banker who cares about his clients and the housing market. For 33 years, the Grand Illusion has been showing It's a Wonderful Life, and this year's run kicks off at 7:00 p.m. during Northwest Film Forum's holiday party on Friday, December 12, with screenings continuing through Christmas Day (except for sacrilegious, anti-wonderful Mondays). Also on tap for the party is the handing out of the 7th Annual George Bailey Memorial Award, which will go to Steven Shaviro, the local film critic, film thinker, UW professor, author, and all around man about town. Congrats, Mr. Shaviro.
Those who want to see the original "Bad Santa" can come to the late-night showing of Silent Night, Deadly Night (AKA Slayride) at the Grand Illusion on Saturday, December 13. It's the heartwarming story of a boy who sees his parents killed by a psycho in a Santa suit, and then grows up to become a psycho in a Santa suit himself. Over at the Egyptian, the Friday-Saturday midnight movie is The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.
Over in the Central District, the Cinema Diaspora folks return to the Central Cinema (1411 21st Ave) to show a couple of movies that explore the past in order to inform the future. They'll be showing two poetic and interesting films: Sankofa (Sat Dec 13 at 2 pm; Sun Dec 14 at 7 pm) and Daughters of the Dust (Sat Dec 13 at 7 pm; Sun Dec 14 at 2 pm).
On Tuesday the 16th, WigglyWorld Studios (right by the Little Theatre) will be hosting a workshop called Self-Serve Film Transfer, which will teach filmmakers how to use the organization's new telecine machine to transfer their films to video.
Wednesday the 17th is when the Jewel Box Theater in the Rendezvous will be showing the great Samuel Fuller film The Naked Kiss. It's the story of a prostitute who tries to put her past behind her by moving to a small town, only to find even more perversity in her new surroundings. Though released almost 40 years ago, the film feels more current than a lot of what passes for drama these days. Also on Wednesday is a staged reading of local filmmaker Jen Peel's new script, the scientific thriller Bimini's Spring (7:30 pm at Richard Hugo House).
Finally, I want to try and make sure that people with even a passing interest in experimental film know about the show Experimental Works by Robert Schaller (...and a Few Others), which takes place Thursday the 18th at the Little Theatre. I've heard nothing but good stuff about this guy's work, and he'll be there in person to explain his handmade film emulsions and other tricks of the trade. Mark your calendars.
