In the first half of June, the ByTowne and the Mayfair are showing an eclectic selection of new and old films.
“One to One” was the name John Lennon and Yoko Ono gave to the two concerts they did in New York one day in August 1972 for a charity for children with special needs. It was the only time Lennon performed a full concert as a solo artist, post-Beatles. Kevin Macdonald’s documentary, One to One: John & Yoko, captures both their experiences in the city and the political upheaval they were embroiled in. At the Mayfair.
Stephen Soderbergh’s latest film, Black Bag, is a real treat for folks like me who love John Le Carré novels. There’s a traitor in a British spy agency. It takes a spy to hunt a spy. But what if one of the suspects is your wife? As I wrote in my last article, there’s a terrific cast, and it’s at the Mayfair.
The ByTowne has programmed a new Canadian noir, Skeet, whose black and white cinematography reminds me of classic noirs. The main character, Billy, has just been released from prison. Naturally, he heads back to his old ‘hood in Newfoundland. Now, besides Billy’s old acquaintances, many Syrian refugees live there, and Billy forms an unlikely friendship with one of them—a man named Mo, who is trying to build a better life for his family.
The Mayfair’s tagline for A Nice Indian Boy is “First comes love. Then comes chaos.” It seems like a perfect description for what happens when Naveen, an uptight Indian doctor, and his fiancé, the “nice Indian boy” who happens to be white, announce their engagement to Naveen’s parents. There are more details in my recent Magic in the Dark.
If you are a Jane Austen fan (aka a “Jane-ite”), don’t miss Jane Austen Wrecked My Life at the ByTowne. As I wrote recently, the predicament of a Jane-ite named Agathe who finds herself in a modern version of one of Austen’s novels is a delightful treat. At the ByTowne.
The older films are even more eclectic.
Buster Keaton is my favourite silent film actor/director, and Sherlock Jr. is one of his best films. Keaton is a film projectionist who dreams of being a famous detective. When a rival for his girlfriend’s affections frames him, he must prove his innocence with his “book-learned” detective skills. But this isn’t an ordinary screening of a silent film! It has a synced soundtrack using R.E.M.’s albums “Monster” and “New Adventures in Hi-Fi”. At the ByTowne.
Shall We Dance? may have you humming or dancing a few steps as you leave the theatre. It’s the story of a successful Japanese businessman with a lovely family who, during his commute, spots a beautiful woman staring out a window. Determined to find her, he stumbles into the competitive ballroom dancing world. The ByTowne is offering us a chance to see the original 137-minute version, which was never released in North America, and it’s a 4K restoration.
If you like your satire fantastical with a touch of theology, Dogma is for you! Two fallen angels (Ben Affleck and Matt Damon) discover a loophole allowing them back into heaven. Unfortunately, this would undo the creation of the universe. A young Catholic woman who works at an abortion clinic and is struggling with her faith (Linda Florentino) is tasked by an angel (Allan Rickman) to stop them. Along the way, she encounters a weird and wild cast of characters, including a chain-smoking cardinal (George Carlin), the 13th apostle (Chris Rock) and a pair of genial prophets who are also drug dealers (Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith). And Alanis Morissette makes her film debut. As the Rolling Stone reviewer wrote, “The first commandment of Dogma: Thou shalt not stop laughing.” So be good and see Dogma at the ByTowne.
For Stephen King completists and fans of Tom Hiddleston, the ByTowne has programmed The Life of Chuck. The film is based on a King novella about three “chapters” in the life of an ordinary man. As a young boy, he’s inspired by a teacher to see life’s infinite beauty. But there’s also the fact of the mortality of those we love and of ourselves.
The rip-roaring Oscar-winning musical Chicago plays at the ByTowne with pre-film entertainment by Frisqué Femme Burlesque. Set in corrupt Jazz Age Chicago, two cabaret performers (Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renée Zellweger) compete for the biggest prize—celebrity fame. There’s a murder, a slick defence lawyer (Richard Gere) and numerous glittering musical numbers, including an incredible tango scene in a cell block.
Moving from glitter to darkness…
The Russian film Come and See is a stunning, immersive film about a teenager’s harrowing experiences in WWII. As Nazis invade his village, Flyora eagerly joins the Soviet resistance. But instead of finding adventure and glory, he finds himself in a waking nightmare of death and cruelty. This may be the most impossible-to-forget anti-war film you’ll ever see. At the ByTowne.
Lots of variety to choose from, folks. So, get out there to see some films!
Dates, times, and tickets for the ByTowne are at www.bytowne.ca. You can also buy tickets at the box office. The ByTowne publishes its calendar several weeks in advance. Dates, times, and tickets for the Mayfair are at www.mayfairtheatre.ca. The Mayfair finalizes its upcoming films’ schedule weekly, which they post online and advertise via email. Both provide information about future weeks’ films. You can buy tickets via their weekly email and at the box office.
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