Movie Geeks for February: Stroszek

Werner Herzog's Stroszek. Roger Ebert called it "one of the oddest films ever made" and we're bringing it to the big screen February 24.


Capital City Bar and Grill
Tuesday, February 24.
Doors open at 7:00. Film starts at 7:30.

Apology to the Movie Geeks and a Call to Action

If you have attended a Movie Geeks in the past few months, you've likely noticed the darkness of the screen. And those of you who were in the house last night got to spend the evening with that ugly encroaching blue line on the right side of the screen.

We've had this problem once before at Capital City, a little over a year ago. The problem then stemmed from the bulb on the projector. As the bulb goes bad it emits less light, resulting in a darker screen. The blue line on the side of the screen . . . I don't have an explanation for that.

Needless to say this makes the movie-going experience rather unpleasant. Viewers have a difficult (often impossible) time seeing characters and actions during nighttime or otherwise darkened scenes. Key plot points can be missed. Key gestures can be missed. Elements of the film that the director wanted you to be able to see are going unseen before our watchful eyes.

Please know that Micah and I(John) have no control whatsoever over the equipment at Capital City Bar and Grill. We select a movie once a month and try our best to drag people to the theater for our screenings. Capital City provides the screen, DVD player, sound system, and projection unit. They also provide the service of food and drink.

I know that there is no cover charge for viewing the films, but I still feel if people are willing to make time out of their busy schedule to take in a film, they should be treated to a watchable film. Micah had a brief discussion with one of the owners last night who explained that the bulb was replaced recently but was messed up during a recent concert when a band tech was messing with the lighting.

Whatever the reason, we've noticed that the picture quality has been growing increasingly worse over the past few months, and we're concerned that we will start losing participants.

If you were in attendance last night or in previous months and you felt that the screen quality was poor or that the film was unwatchable, then please contact the bar and voice your concerns. The Movie Geeks Club consistently draws 20-30 paying customers. We buy drinks and food. We tip the waitstaff. We bring in revenue that they wouldn't ordinarily draw on a Tuesday night. Although we don't pay a cover to watch the movie, it is only fair that we be given a reasonable film-watching experience.

You can contact Capital City Bar and Grill by calling (217)529-8580. Let them know you are a paying customer who enjoys coming to the movie club and that you were disappointed in the quality of the film. Maybe they'll get the problem fixed.

Thanks,

John and Micah

Movies for February

Here are our movies for February. Vote now in the poll on the right-hand side of your screen.

Pi -- In my opinion, the finest film Darren Aronofsky ever did. I'm a big fan of number theory, even though I'm terrible at math itself, and it's possible esoteric implications. I loved the section in the book Contact that discusses pi (thank you, Carl Sagan), and I love the Chudnovsky brothers. So, what's not to love about Aronofsky's conspiracy theory-fueled story of one man's attempt to figure out the world in numbers?

6ixtynin9 -- This is a great Thai film (original translation of the title: Funny Story 6 9). Released in 1999, it tells the story of Tum, who loses her job in the financial district during a depression in the Asian economy. She finds herself broke and jobless. Then she finds a box of money in front her apartment and things really start to change for her. Especially when the people who left the money decide they want it back. A darkly hilarious number play that rises into an interesting mystery film.

Stroszek -- A film by Werner Herzog. Written in four days, specifically for German actor Bruno S., this Herzog masterpiece tells the story of Bruno, an alcoholic Berliner, recently released from prison, who joins an elderly friend and a prostitute in their dream to leave Germany and seek a better life in America . . . in Wisconsin to be exact. This film is extraordinary in its ability to keep viewers from predicting what will happen next. Herzog used non-actors for most of the lesser roles in the film. If all of this doesn't sell you, the film was shot in Ed Gein's hometown.

The Fountain -- For someone who is absolutely crazy about esoteric, hermetic, and other random bits of world and spiritual knowledge, this Aronofsky flick was like mind candy. Aside from being beautifully shot, The Fountain contains three narratives (one in the past, one in the present, and one in the future) that orbit around the themes of thanatophobia, the fountain of youth, death, rebirth, and the central soul of mankind and possible deification of such. A true pet project of Aronofsky's, and definitely worth seeing for film fans and seekers of spiritual food.

Lost Highway -- What list of this magnitude would be complete without David Lynch? For this month, we offer up Lost Highway, a film noir treat coupled with surreal themes that we, the obfuscated illusory humans face on a daily (or at least weekly) basis. With an Angelo Badalamenti score, direction by David Lynch, and a role by Robert Loggia, how can you say no? Really, how can you? If you don't vote for this film, I want at least a 500 word essay explaining why.

Update - December Movie Geeks Club Canceled

Due to a party on the last Tuesday night of December at the Capital City Bar and Grill, the December Movie Geeks Club is canceled. Once won the vote for December so it will be come the January film. Sorry about this folks. Enjoy the holidays and have a Movie Geeks Night with your family.

December Films (now January film)

We have the December movie poll up and you might notice a bit of a theme. We selected these films for nomination because we wanted some "feel good" films. Movies with a bit of inspiration. The movie night in December falls right in the midst of the holidays so we didn't want to present anything gritty or provoking. Not that that's all we do by any means but it's a good time of the year to feel good. The ultimate inspirational film is probably It's a Wonderful Life. We don't need to show that because there's a good chance you'll be watching that anyway. We did throw in a Capra film for good measure though. Meet John Doe is a quintessential Capra film that stars Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck. The most modern of the films is Once. John highly recommends this film to everyone. I have yet to see it but I know some of the great music. Only Angels Have Wings is a Cary Grant film that most people, including Cary Grant fans, have never seen. Life is Beautiful was a huge hit in the late-1990's and included an unforgettable performance by Roberto Benigni. I have never seen Breaking Away but I found it highly rated on all of the "inspirational" lists. Here they are:

Once













"An (unnamed) Guy is a Dublin guitarist/singer-songwriter who makes a living by fixing vacuum cleaners in his Dad's Hoover repair shop by day, and singing and playing for money on the Dublin streets by night. An (unnamed) Girl is a Czech who plays piano when she gets a chance, and does odd jobs by day and takes care of her mom and her daughter by night. Guy meets Girl, and they get to know each other as the Girl helps the Guy to put together a demo disc that he can take to London in hope of landing a music contract. During the same several day period, the Guy and the Girl work through their past loves, and reveal their budding love for one another, through their songs." - IMDB


Meet John Doe

















"As a parting shot, fired reporter Ann Mitchell prints a fake letter from unemployed "John Doe," who threatens suicide in protest of social ills. The paper is forced to rehire Ann and hires John Willoughby to impersonate "Doe." Ann and her bosses cynically milk the story for all it's worth, until the made-up "John Doe" philosophy starts a whole political movement. At last everyone, even Ann, takes her creation seriously...but publisher D.B. Norton has a secret plan." - IMDB

Life is Beautiful















"In 1930s Italy, a carefree Jewish book keeper named Guido starts a fairy tale life by courting and marrying a lovely woman from a nearby city. Guido and his wife have a son and live happily together until the occupation of Italy by German forces. In an attempt to hold his family together and help his son survive the horrors of a Jewish Concentration Camp, Guido imagines that the Holocaust is a game and that the grand prize for winning is a tank." - IMDB


Only Angels Have Wings
















"While waiting for her boat, Bonnie Lee stops at a small airport in South America. The pilots there deliver mail over a dangerous and usually foggy mountain pass. Geoff Carter, the lead flyer, seems distant and cold as Bonnie tries to get closer to him. Things heat up as Judy MacPherson, Geoff's old flame, shows up with her husband who is an infamous pilot." - IMDB

Breaking Away










"Dave, nineteen, has just graduated high school, with his 3 friends, The comical Cyril, the warm hearted but short-tempered Moocher, and the athletic, spiteful but good-hearted Mike. Now, Dave enjoys racing bikes and hopes to race the Italians one day, and even takes up the Italian culture, much to his friends and parents annoyance. While meanwhile, the 4 friends try to break away from their townie, Indiana reputation while fighting with nearby college snobs." - IMDB

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

It was a close race until the final hours between The Sting and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Butch Cassidy surged ahead and that will be our November film. It is a well known film that includes one the onscreen best duo's that Hollywood has ever put together. Paul Newman and Robert Redford make Brad Pitt and George Clooney look like children putting on a play for their accomodating neighbors. It looks like it is more fun for them than it is us. Don't get me wrong, I like Clooney and Pitt but Newman and Redford were different. They were fun, cool and "punch you in the face" manly. The film is loosely based on historical fact about two bank robbers who are escaping from the law and trying to go straight.

In a bit of irony, this month marks the 100th anniversary of the (disputed) deaths of the real Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid.

You will also enjoy the music of Burt Bacharach.

The film will play on Tuesday, November 25th at 7:30 pm.
Capital City Bar and Grill

We will nominate the December film and let you know very soon.

November is Paul Newman month

In honor of the late Paul Newman, we will be showing one of his films in November. It was too difficult to pick the usual 5 or 6 films for nomination so we decided to go with a dozen to choose from. The film that will be voted on from today until October 28th will be shown on November 25th. Looking at the list made me want to dedicate every month in 2009 to Newman but you'll have to make a tough decision and watch the other 11 on your own. I won't give a description of each film (too much time) but I will provide a link for each.

Here they are:

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

The Hustler

Cool Hand Luke

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

The Sting

The Towering Inferno

Slap Shot

The Verdict

The Color of Money

Nobody's Fool

Road to Perdition

The Long, Hot Summer