Robert Altman's penultimate theatrical film allowed him to apply his classic approach of "community as character" to an existing organism: Chicago's Joffrey Ballet. By integrating actors Malcolm McDowell (as fictional Artistic Director Alberto Antonelli), Neve Campbell (as a striving dancer), and James Franco (as her romantic interest) into a cast of real professional dancers and choreographers, Altman gracefully pirouettes between subtle observational drama and the magnetic forces of star charisma. In chronicling a typical season of a 21st century arts institution, his camera rarely captured such spectacular motion and color. The result is arguably his most underrated and Wiseman-esque masterwork. (2003, 112 min, 35mm)
Part of
Bay Area Now 7: Invasion of the Cinemaniacs!
cine·phile: noun; a devotee of motion pictures
From rabid film buffs, to critics, and beyond, the Bay Area is home to some of the most dedicated cinephiles on the planet. This series pays tribute to a variety of these unsung local heroes, who have selected this superb series of "deep cuts." These are people who are hugely invested in film exhibition, but generally behind-the-scenes. You might know some of them by name, but mostly they will seem, hmmm, strangely...familiar... If you spend any amount of time at the Castro, PFA, Stanford Theater, YBCA, etc, you'll recognize them. They're always there, lurking in the shadows, keeping cinema alive.
Robert Altman's penultimate theatrical film allowed him to apply his classic approach of "community as character" to an existing organism: Chicago's Joffrey Ballet. By integrating actors Malcolm McDowell (as fictional Artistic Director Alberto Antonelli), Neve Campbell (as a striving dancer), and James Franco (as her romantic interest) into a cast of real professional dancers and choreographers, Altman gracefully pirouettes between subtle observational drama and the magnetic forces of star charisma. In chronicling a typical season of a 21st century arts institution, his camera rarely captured such spectacular motion and color. The result is arguably his most underrated and Wiseman-esque masterwork. (2003, 112 min, 35mm)
Part of
Bay Area Now 7: Invasion of the Cinemaniacs!
cine·phile: noun; a devotee of motion pictures
From rabid film buffs, to critics, and beyond, the Bay Area is home to some of the most dedicated cinephiles on the planet. This series pays tribute to a variety of these unsung local heroes, who have selected this superb series of "deep cuts." These are people who are hugely invested in film exhibition, but generally behind-the-scenes. You might know some of them by name, but mostly they will seem, hmmm, strangely...familiar... If you spend any amount of time at the Castro, PFA, Stanford Theater, YBCA, etc, you'll recognize them. They're always there, lurking in the shadows, keeping cinema alive.
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