Wow, it’s September already! But the equinox isn’t until the 22nd, so let’s wrap up summer with some films!
First up is one of the best films I’ve seen at the ByTowne in the last few years, Sing Sing. I recommended this Metacritic must-see docudrama in August. It’s a wonderful exposition of the transformative power of art.
There’s another Metacritic must-see at the Mayfair—one of my fave cult films, Repo Man. A young punk named Otto (Emilio Estevez) gets a job from Bud (Harry Dean Stanton) as a repo man—someone who legally steals cars; and repossesses them. One of his targets is a Chevy Malibu with a $20K bounty and something sinister stashed in its trunk. One of the weirdest, most quotable films ever. As Jay Scott wrote in the Globe and Mail, “There’s more plain fun to be had here in ten minutes than in a whole hour on the road with that jerk Indiana Jones.”
Another one of my all-time favourites, Wings of Desire, is at the ByTowne. This ravishingly beautiful work is about an angel who decides to become mortal. It’s set in Berlin shortly before the Berlin Wall came down. I suspect the images and soundscapes will stay with you for a long time.
In my last article, I wondered how my favourite Canadian play had been transferred from stage to film. Well, Nos belles-sœurs (Our Sisters-in-Law) is a successful transfer! It’s the film version of the stage musical based on the original play. It even stars most of the stage musical’s cast. Does it work? Absolutely! And the actors are uniformly excellent. This may be your last chance to see it at the ByTowne.
You can still catch the delightful action-adventure Thelma at the Mayfair. One of my favourite “feel-good” films of the year! See if you can count all the references to Mission Impossible!
Frances Ford Coppola’s magnum opus (opuses?), The Godfather and The Godfather Part II are playing at the ByTowne. Does any filmgoer need me to rhyme off all the awards these two films received and all the “best of” lists they’re on? Note that the first film is on August 31, not in September.
A pair of films from another renowned Hollywood director is also on offer. The ByTowne has programmed Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol.1 and Kill Bill Vol.2 back-to-back on Sept. 5.
Though he’s more famous in cineaste circles than in Hollywood, Spanish director Victor Erice (Spirit of the Beehive) has just delivered the long-awaited film Close Your Eyes. It’s about memory and closure. 22 years ago on Miguel’s film set, his lead actor and close friend, disappeared. The film was never finished and Miguel has never made another film. Now, he has been asked by an investigative TV program to recount his memories of the actor and his unfinished film. He decides to try to unravel the mystery. This Metacritic must-see is at the ByTowne.
Lindsay Anderson’s satiric O Lucky Man! (released in 1973) is the last film in the Mayfair’s McDowell series. McDowell plays an ambitious coffee salesman whose bizarre adventures destroy his naive idealism. It was a Palme d’Or nominee in a year that was awash with great films.
The Mayfair’s Audrey Hepburn series wraps up with the 1963 thriller Charade. Hepburn plays a widow pursued by several men who are after the money her murdered husband stole. She soon crosses paths with a charming man (Cary Grant). Can she trust him? And can he trust her? A Metacritic must-see.
Didi (at the ByTowne) looks intriguing. It’s a semi-autobiographical film by Sean Wang about a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy navigating the challenges of his family, his crush on a girl, and his place in the world during the summer before high school. And since it’s 2008, it’s also about skateboarding and growing up with the nascent internet—posting amateurish videos and learning how to “kiss like a pro” from YouTube. Didi won the Audience Award and Special Jury Award for Ensemble at Sundance.
And the heartwarming My Penguin Friend is still at the ByTowne. A sweet film suitable for the whole family.
I’m including L’étoile filante (The Falling Star) because one film website compared it to Tati and Keaton. It’s a slapstick pastiche of a film noir with a bunch of clownish characters and silly plot twists. It has a guy hiding from his past, a double, a one-armed vigilante, and a female PI. The trailer is quite amusing, too. At the ByTowne.
And finally, the 2024 Cat Video Fest! When you see this smile-inducing collection at the ByTowne, part of the ticket proceeds will go towards supporting local cats in need.
Happy viewing!
The ByTowne will be closed from Sept. 14-19 for maintenance.
Dates, times, and tickets for the ByTowne are available at www.bytowne.ca. The ByTowne publishes its calendar at least three weeks in advance. Dates, times, and tickets for the Mayfair are available at www.mayfairtheatre.ca. Mayfair usually publishes the coming week’s schedule midweek and adds it to their “coming soon” list, so check their website and emails for the latest updates.
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