Our weekly look at what’s weird in theaters, on hot-off-the-presses DVDs, and on more distant horizons…
Trailers of new release movies are generally available at the official site links.
IN THEATERS (WIDE RELEASE):
Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016): Alice returns to the magical land of Underland [sic] in another Disney adventure based on the beloved classic characters created by Linda Woolverton. Alfred Eaker is sworn to review this. Alice Through the Looking Glass official site.
IN THEATERS (LIMITED RELEASE):
Blue Velvet (1986): Read the Certified Weird entry! Did we mention that Blue Velvet is being re-released to commemorate its 30th anniversary? Because Blue Velvet is being re-released to commemorate its 30th anniversary. The NYC screening at the Film Forum is passed, but Los Angelinos can catch it at Cinefamily all this week. There will be more screenings as surely as the robins return in spring, but the only one we are currently aware of is June 4-6 at the Hollywood Theater in Portland, Oregon. No official re-release site. Blue Velvet at Cinefamily.
SCREENINGS – (Film Society of Lincoln Center, New York City, May 27 & 28):
Fellini’s Roma (1972): Read Alfred Eaker’s review. A rare screening of one of Fellini‘s wildest films, which includes a Papal fashion show of epically tasteless proportions. Fellini’s Roma at Lincoln Center.
SCREENINGS – (Videology Bar & Cinema, New York City, May 27 at midnight):
Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970): Read the Certified Weird entry. OK, now we’re sure the programmers at Videology are cruising this site for midnight movie ideas, since this daringly surreal Czech New Wave puberty allegory marks the fourth weekend in a row they’ve chosen a Certified Weird movie to play at their saloon during the witching hour. Valerie and Her Week of Wonders at Videology Bar & Cinema.
IN DEVELOPMENT (announced):
What Have You Done to Solange?: At Cannes, Nicolas Winding Refn announced plans to produce (not direct) remakes of three sleeper genre films: the 1972 giallo What Have You Done to Solange?, William Lustig’s 1988 sorta-cult film Maniac Cop, and Vincent Price‘s classic historical horror Witchfinder General (which, unlike the other two, seems like it would be hard to improve upon). Not sure how we feel about any of these, or whether they might end up being weird, but there is potential there. Deadline breaks the news.
IN DEVELOPMENT (pre-production):
Insects (est. 2018): Jan Svankmajer has turned to crowdfunding to complete his latest feature, Insects, an expansion of a 1970 short about an amateur acting troupe putting on a play about insects. The sad, if understandable, news is that the 82-year-old Svankmajer has announced that he intends for this to be his final film. So far over $74,000 of the $150,000 flexible-funding goal has been reached, with a month renaming. Some of the incentive rewards are intriguing, including downloads of five Svankmajer films (in addition to Insects) for $50 ($150 gets you five new limited-edition Blu-rays). Insects at Indiegogo.
NEW ON DVD:
“Buster Keaton: The Shorts Collection, 1917-1923”: 32 remastered silent shorts from clown Keaton, including several we’ve written about here: the manic “The Play House,” “Frozen North,” and “One Week.” Kino spreads the presentation across five discs, with a supplemental booklet and rare footage (including a never-before-released alternate version of “The Blacksmith”) among the extra features. Buy “Buster Keaton: The Shorts Collection 1917-1923”
The Chase (1946): It starts as a film noir about a chauffeur who takes his wife’s boss to Cuba, and then is accused of her murder; the third act takes it in a fantastic, surreal direction. If that synopsis alone isn’t enough to convince you to pick up this disc, then how about the fact that the film is championed by none other than 366 saint Guy Maddin, who provides the audio commentary track? Buy The Chase
NEW ON BLU-RAY:
“Buster Keaton: The Shorts Collection, 1917-1923”: See description in DVD above. Same features, same number of discs. Buy “Buster Keaton: The Shorts Collection, 1917-1923” [Blu-ray]
The Chase (1946): See description in DVD above. Buy The Chase [Blu-ray]
FREE (LEGITIMATE RELEASE) MOVIES ON YOUTUBE:
Millennium Actress (2001): Satoshi Kon‘s animated drama revolves around the memories of a dying actress. Thanks to Paramount Vault for making this available.
What are you looking forward to? If you have any weird movie leads that I have overlooked, feel free to leave them in the COMMENTS section.