5.31.2012

American Cinematheque Presents: CRUELLY, MADLY, DEEPLY: The Films of RAINER WERNER FASSBINDER.

Between 1969 and his death at age 37 in 1982, brilliant enfant terrible German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder made 30 films and numerous television productions, including the 15-hour miniseries BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ. Even as he averaged two to three films per year, his work maintained a meticulous, rigorous style, marked by stunning shot composition, laser-precision blocking and deep characterization ranging from bitterly crystal clear to hypnotically allusive. Fassbinder returned to the same themes and fixations again and again: money, sex, pride and cruelty. Postwar Germany is often his cinematic landscape - the place of drained, falsified dreams where his characters make the most of things and act with their own best interests in mind. 

Fassbinder himself was plain, drug-addicted and gay; he had much in common with the outsiders he created. He was notorious for the same cruel nature seen in his films and behaved heartlessly toward those who loved and surrounded him. Still, over the course of his short, astonishing career, he collected a team of dazzling recurring players, including cinematographer Michael Ballhaus and actresses Hanna Schygulla, Margit Carstensen, Brigitte Mira and Irm Hermann. Whether the strain of working with the director was worth the staggering output is hard to say - Ballhaus “burned out” after THE MARRIAGE OF MARIA BRAUN and went to work with Martin Scorsese. But, as film critic and ardent fan Roger Ebert wrote, “Fassbinder was a genius. That much everyone admitted.”

On the 30th anniversary of Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s death, the American Cinematheque unveils a 16-film retrospective of his work, including ALI: FEAR EATS THE SOUL, THE BITTER TEARS OF PETRA VON KANT, LOLA, VERONIKA VOSS, FOX AND HIS FRIENDS, THE MERCHANT OF FOUR SEASONS, MOTHER KUSTERS GOES TO HEAVEN, THE AMERICAN SOLDIER, FEAR OF FEAR, SATAN'S BREW, CHINESE ROULETTE, EFFI BRIEST, BEWARE OF A HOLY WHORE, GODS OF THE PLAGUE and LOVE IS COLDER THAN DEATH. Many of these films are not available in home viewing formats in the U.S., so don't miss your chance to see them on the Big Screen!
The series schedule is listed below in chronological order. Please be sure to note whether films play at the Aero Theatre or the Egyptian Theatre.

All films are in German with English subtitles and will screen in 35mm prints.

BIO HERE

Tickets HERE

5.30.2012

At REDCAT - SANDRA BERNHARD: Sandrology 5.30. thru Sunday, 6.10., 2012


  Los Angeles premiere!

The revered and irreverent Sandra Bernhard appears at REDCAT for a special, intimate engagement of her latest show, I Love Being Me, Don't You? Backed by a smokin' rock band, Bernhard draws on her acclaimed new comedy recording of the same name to deliver her unforgettable blend of outrageous humor, cutting satire and fiercely energetic live performance. Since she first stepped on stage at the Comedy Store in the ‘70s, Sandra Bernhard has been challenging fans and critics with unforgettable stage shows, including Without You I’m Nothing, released as a feature film, Excuses for Bad Behavior, Giving ‘Til It Hurts, Hero Worship, the Love Machine and Everything Bad and Beautiful. Described by WCBS as "Funny but foxy, super smart and slightly mad," Bernhard has delivered her edgy and incisive work in extended runs off-Broadway, as well as numerous tours throughout the U.S. and Europe.

More Here...




5.26.2012

At Carmichael Gallery | Yue Minjun, Mark Jenkins, Aakash Nihalani Opening Reception: Saturday, May 26, 6-9pm


Carmichael Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of limited edition works on paper from the series SMILE-ISMS by Yue Minjun and sculpture by Mark Jenkins and Aakash Nihalani. The exhibition will be on view from May 26 through June 30, 2012, with an opening reception on Saturday, May 26, 2012 from 6-9pm.

About the artists:

Yue Minjun

Born in 1962 in Daqing, Heilongjiang Province, Yue Minjun’s most recent solo exhibitions include Yue Minjun at AroS Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Aarhus, 2011, The Spirit Scenes from Time Past at Shanghai Gallery of Art, Three on the Bund, Shanghai, 2010, Archeological Discovery in AD 3009at Today Art Museum, Beijing, 2009, The Grassland Series at Pace Prints, New York, 2008 and Yue Minjun at the Queens Museum of Art, New York, 2007, his first solo museum show in the United States. His work is currently featured in World Beats: Global Contemporary Art, on view at The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis through July, 2012.

Yue currently lives and works in Beijing.

Mark Jenkins

Born in 1970 in Washington, DC, Mark Jenkins’ most recent solo exhibition, Living Layers, opened at Wunderkammern, Rome in March, 2012. The project, produced in collaboration with MACRO (Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Roma), was augmented by a series of interventions in the public space. In addition to participating in group exhibitions at MAMA, Rotterdam and Thinkspace Gallery, Los Angeles, curated by Harlan Levey and Morgan Spurlock, respectively, 2012 has seen Jenkins create new urban sculptural works for the inaugural RVA Street Art Festival (Richmond, VA), Katowice Street Art Festival (Katowice), Escape The Golden Cage (Vienna) and Nova (Sao Paulo). Forthcoming festivals include WALK&TALK AZORES (Sao Miguel) and Bien Urbain (Besançon).

Jenkins currently lives and works in Richmond, VA.


Aakash Nihalani


Born in 1986 in Queens, NY, Aakash Nihalani has presented solo booths at the 2012 editions of both VOLTA NY and ART HK. The past year has also seen him lend his distinctive aesthetic to a number of creative corporate projects; recent partnerships include the design of transformative installations for Facebook’s New York offices, Colette in Paris and West Elm and Hudson Jeans’ pop-up boutiques in Georgetown and New York, respectively. He is currently one of three featured talents in LACOSTE L!VE’s widely promoted S/S 2012 campaign.

Nihalani currently lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.

More Here...

5.24.2012

TONIGHT ! MAURICE SENDAK Tribute Show @ CINEFAMILY - FREE!

Ever so rarely we are graced with a voice of uncompromising imagination. Those purveyors of whimsy who draw no lines of demarcation between child and adult – who simply create, leaving behind enduring works that are equally enjoyed by children and adults alike. On May 8th we lost one of these rare, loud voices with the passing of Maurice Sendak, a shared hero of the Cinefamily and a man whose work “brought a new dimension to the American children’s book and…helped to change how people visualize childhood” (The New York Times). Whether by way of au naturelle turned dough-dressed darling Mickey’s adventures in the phantasmagoric night kitchen, neighborhood vamp Rosie’s brownstone stoop stage theatrics, the baby thieving goblins of Outside, Over There (which provided inspiration for Jim Henson’s Labyrinth), or the 10 sentence-short-but-lifetime-loved rumpus of hairy monsters and one wannabe feral child that is Where The Wild Things Are, Sendak’s wholly singular creations have left indelible marks on all of us.

Tonight Cinefamily will celebrate his life and legacy through clips, vintage animated adaptations, the Spike Jonze produced live-action/puppet short Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More To Life (featuring the voice talents of Meryl Streep and Forest Whitaker), and the compelling, intimate Lance Bangs and Jonze helmed documentary Tell Them Anything You Want. Come over to the Cinefamily– and let the wild rumpus start!

More Here... 

5.23.2012

Tonight @ The Roxy - Delicious Vinyl Presents..."Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde 20th Anniversary Celebration".




Delicious Vinyl is celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the classic 1992 debut album Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde by pulling together original members and the creative team behind the album for a one night performance.

Founding members Fatlip, Slimkid3, Producers J-Sw!ft & LA Jay, plus special guests will perform the album & skits live from start to finish on May 23rd at the Roxy Theatre in Hollywood.

Delicious Vinyl co-founder Michael Ross, AKA "Mike Floss"who signed the band and executive produced the album, is spearheading this landmark event by rounding up artists involved in the making of the album, including legendary west coast grafitti artist SLICK, who designed the classic roller coaster themed album cover and  iconic logo.  SLICK will be Art directing the stage design and creating sets to be featured on stage. 

Ross, "I have always wanted the band to perform this record in its entirety, but heads have never been on the same page.  Finally, me and J-Swift decided to take matters into our own hands and put the celebratory performance into motion. We got Fatlip and Slim Kid Tre. J-Swift will be on the piano and LA Jay on the tables. I'm sure Quinton will make an appearance as well. Who knows who else will show up.  I can't think of a better way to celebrate the 20 year anniversary of the record than performing it live for the fans. It's gonna be a Bizzare night for sure. 4 Better or 4 Worse."

Kanye West " My favorite album of all time is The Pharcyde's "Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde" 

More Here... Here... and Here...







5.22.2012

At The Trepany House - One Night Only - LIZZ WINSTEAD (Creator of the Daily Show) May 23 @ 8p.


   
ONE NIGHT ONLY!
LIZZ FREE OR DIE: THE BOOK, THE TOUR
An Evening of Politcal Satire w/ Lizz Winstead
PLUS a Reading From Her New Book "Lizz Free or Die"

Co-Creator of The Daily Show, Lizz Winstead returns to Trepany House for a night of some of the best political comedy in the country. This incredible satirist gives her brilliant take on all the latest news with an amazing razor sharp wit, which helped shape The Daily Show and Air America Radio.

And to make the evening even more special, Lizz will close out the night with a book reading and signing of her first collection of essays, Lizz Free or Die, which was released on May 10th, 2012. It is a droll and dark collection that has been called "shrewdly observant, linguistically adept, bravely soul-baring, and caustically smart." Funny and biting, honest and poignant, this no-holds-barred collection gives an in-depth look into the life of one of today's most influential comic voices.
Wednesday May 23rd at 8p.


GET TICKETS HERE -









5.14.2012

At CINEFAMILY - Czech Film Festival 2012 - May 16, through May 23rd.




Czech Film Fest 2012

Co-presented by Czech Film Center, the General Consulate of the Czech Republic in Los Angeles & ELMA

See what’s new in contemporary Bohemian film making with this series featuring the directorial debut of late playwright/former Czech president Vaclav Havel, award-winning narrative and documentary films, and director Q&As. Plus, in addition to the line-up of brand-new films, they'll also have archival 35mm screenings of vintage Czech masterpieces!

More Here...