Free Movies in Traverse City, Michigan
March 30, 2009 by Jane Boursaw
Regular Film Gecko readers know I’m big on free movies! While most of my free-movie posts involve online movies, today I’ve got spectacular news about free movies on a big screen in an actual theater!
If you’re in the area of Traverse City, Michigan, catch a free film or two or three at the State Theatre in downtown Traverse City. My kids and I saw “Meet the Parents” this afternoon, and it’s a thrill to see old favorites on the big screen. Plus, it’s a fun thing to do on their spring break.
Consider supporting the State Theatre in Traverse City by becoming a member; and/or supporting the Traverse City Film Festival.
After the jump, the rest of the schedule this week!
VH1 snags rights to heavy metal doc "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" - Trailer
March 11, 2009 by Jane Boursaw
I’m absolutely cheering over this news, because I not only saw "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" at the Traverse City Film Festival last year, but the band also played after the screening. Talk about fun! I’ve been waiting for a good opportunity to interview these guys, and this is definitely it.
It’s a documentary about a real-life heavy metal band that’s basically been playing and striving their whole lives to get somewhere, but in the meantime working at dead-end jobs and doing measly European tours. It’s a little bit like "This is Spinal Tap," only these guys are the real deal. It’s not a mockumentary.
Directed by Sacha Gervasi, "Anvil!" follows the band from a 1980s stadium tour with Scorpions and Bon Jovi to more recent gigs playing in bars. Parts of it are funny, but it’s also poignant and uplifting, too. It’s picked up several festival awards, and VH1 plans an April 10 release in 18 cities.
More after the jump, including the UK Trailer…
Michael Moore Takes on Economy - Not Exactly a News Flash
November 13, 2008 by Jane Boursaw
Maybe Michael Moore should team up with Roland Emmerich for a “2012″ companion movie. Word is that Moore’s follow-up to “Fahrenheit 9/11″ was originally supposed to focus on foreign policy. But since the economy’s nose-dive in recent months, he’s decided to focus on that instead.
The still-untitled project is said to contain an end-of-the-empire tone that doesn’t focus on politics. Say what?! I can’t believe any movie of Moore’s won’t include his left-leaning views. Maybe because there’s a Democrat in the White House now?
Still, Moore (pictured with pal Madonna at the Traverse City Film Festival) has never been particularly optimistic about the United States, so a lot of us are wondering how that’ll play into his filmmaking in this more-hopeful Obama climate.
More after the jump…
Controversy Surrounds Michael Moore - Really?
October 4, 2008 by Jane Boursaw
Several web sites linking to Michael Moore’s freebie film Slacker Uprising have received cease-and-desist letters demanding removal of the links.
What? That makes no sense whatsoever. I’m sure he wants publicity for the film, which he released online in September as a free gift to his fans in the U.S. and Canada. He sent out an email giving people permission to “share it or show it in any way you see fit.”
But, apparently, he/we can’t do that. The problem comes from international distribution of Slacker Uprising through the peer-to-peer sites, according to a lawyer from the firm of Franklin, Weinrib, Rudell & Vassallo, which issued the takedown notices.
More after the jump…
"Captain Abu Raed" Joins Oscar Race
September 7, 2008 by Jane Boursaw
I’ve been a big fan of Captain Abu Raed ever since I first watched the film and talked with director Amin Matalqa. It’s the touching story of an airport janitor who’s mistaken for an airline pilot by a group of kids living in his neighborhood. As he begins to weave fantastic stories for the kids, something bigger and more powerful begins to happen in all of their lives.
Now the film — the first to come out of Jordan — has been selected to represent the country at the 81st Annual Academy Awards, scheduled for Feb. 22, 2009 in Hollywood.
More after the jump…
"Terra" Review and Trailer
August 30, 2008 by Jane Boursaw
I saw Terra at the Traverse City Film Festival a few weeks ago. It’s a beautiful, animated tale about a race of peace-loving aliens on a distant planet. Humans were forced off the earth eons ago, and are now looking for a place to settle, as their life support system will soon expire on their space station. But the humans are much more aggressive in their struggle for survival, and their methods for overtaking the planet are war-based, which is all new to the gentle aliens.
Directed by Aristomenis Tsirbas, it features the voices of Evan Rachel Wood, Brian Cox, Luke Wilson, Amanda Peet, Justin Long, and Dennis Quaid. It’s a beautiful film in color, animation, characters and theme, with some thought-provoking questions about living together with other species. Note that it IS rated PG-13, though, because of the violence and intense themes. So it’s not for very small kids.
More after the jump, including a trailer…
"Captain Abu Raed" Review - Traverse City Film Festival
August 6, 2008 by Jane Boursaw
| Film: Captain Abu Raed * Official Site | In Theaters: Screenings |
| Runtime: 102 minutes | Directed by: Amin Maltaqa |
| MPAA Rating: Not Rated |  Gecko Rating: |
Captain Abu Raed is one of those films that sticks with you long after you leave the theater. And the more you think about it, the more you absorb from it. The film is touching, heartbreaking, and gives you hope that good exists in the world, sometimes from the least expected places.
The story revolves around an aging airport janitor named Abu Raed, played with quiet intensity by Nadim Sawalha. One day he finds a pilot’s hat and wears it home. The poor neighborhood children mistake him for a real pilot and beg Abu to tell them stories of his adventures.
Read more and watch a trailer…
Exclusive: Interview with Amin Maltaqa, Director of "Captain Abu Raed" - Traverse City Film Festival
August 6, 2008 by Jane Boursaw
Captain Abu Raed (read my review here) screened at the Traverse City Film Festival, and I had the pleasure of talking with the director/writer, Amin Maltaqa (pictured, with Hussein Al-Sous and Mohammad Qtaishat), the night before the film screened. He called me around 11:30 p.m., just moments after arriving in Traverse City.
Jane: Hi, Amin. Thanks so much for calling. Are you in Traverse City now?
Amin: Yes, I’m at the Cherry Tree Inn. It’s awesome. The room is bigger than my apartment.
Jane: I was thinking you’re still on California time. So, really, for you, it’s like what…8:30 p.m. or so?
Amin: Yeah, I do not sleep, so it’s ok. I’m still on Japan time. I was in LA for a couple days and then here.
Read more…
Traverse City Film Festival - That’s a Wrap!
August 4, 2008 by Jane Boursaw
I’m still recovering from the Traverse City Film Festival, which ended last night with the final film, Encounters at the End of the World, a fantastic documentary by Werner Herzog. I’ll continue posting reviews for the films I saw over the next week or so.
Overall, the film festival organizers did a superb job. Everything from the volunteers to the film selection was great. It’s amazing that there’s only one paid staff, executive director Deb Lake. She must have some kind of internal meditation going, because you’d see her here and there at the venues, and she always seemed calm, cool and collected.
Read more…
Madonna Wows the Traverse City Film Festival
August 4, 2008 by Jane Boursaw
Madonna caused a major stir in Traverse City, Michigan by appearing at the restored State Theatre to introduce her film, I Am Because We Are, at the Traverse City Film Festival.
Folks waited in line for days to score seats to the event, and weren’t disappointed. She showed up as scheduled, wearing a black dress (I’m pretty sure it was a size 0), stood for pictures outside the theater, and spent several minutes on stage with film fest organizer Michael Moore and director Nathan Rissman, discussing the film to a sold-out 540-seat crowd.
More after the jump, including photos…