My boss was right. EO is to The Fabelmans what ET was to, say, Plan Nine from Outer Space. I will explain later, because first we give you the nuts and bolts of the HLT machinery, e.g, what plays when.
Today, Tuesday, Jan 31, The Fabelmans (OCAP) at 4:25 and EO at 7:15
Wednesday, Feb 1, The Fabelmans at 4:25 and EO at 7:15
Thursday, Feb 2, The Fabelmans at 4:25 and EO at 7:15
Friday, Feb 3, Fire of Love at 5 and Women Talking at 7
Sat and Sun, Feb 4 and 5, Fire of Love at 3 and Women Talking at 5 and 7:15
Monday thru Thursday, Feb 6 to 9, Fire of Love at 5 and Women Talking at 7
All that being said, there is the exposition to tend to, which is script speak for more being said, or as we are mentored, more being shown. So, let's take a look.
Never in a million years would I dis Steven Spielberg for his creative acumen. His body of work, in my opinion, should entitle him to an Oscar every year. You can make up the category. But the dilemma I faced last week, with results changing on a nightly basis, was this: How to "stack" the two films we had been granted the license to screen. Not having seen The Fabelmans in any degree other than the trailer it was my feeling that it should be the headliner and show after the matinee screening of EO. After all, in what universe would a donkey take top billing over Mr. Spielberg's semi-autographical coming of age story? So I scheduled it as such. Which lasted all of 12 hours before the Big Boss Jeff, called the Director of Marketing, the incredible Emily, who then called me at home to relay the message that we needed to change the billing and flip-flop the films, making EO the headliner. I was "perplexed", but, as any good soldier would, set about the carry out the orders. What is an entire day of revisions, right? As the week unfolded it became clearer to me why this had happened. I will share it with you without any possible spoilers. While The Fabelmans is terrific film, lovingly crafted by an undisputed master of the craft, it is also two and a half hours of self-indulgent homage to the innocence of youth matched against the intimidation and power of the beast known as Hollywood. It is David and Goliath on location where we all know the ending, David winning, or at least getting the horizon correctly framed. But.... while however a good cinematic experience Fabelmans is, EO is a great one. True, it contains a few unsettling sequences, but all add a necessary degree of truth and intrigue to the tale, filed with a breathtaking European eye for style and impact. Taken together, the sum of their respective parts and the emotional catharsis provided by each writer/director, points to EO as the winner of this round. Therefore, my boss was right. I stand corrected. Coming on Friday are a pair of films written and directed by women. If you listened to last week's podcast (and who hasn't?) you graphically heard the disparity that exists between male and female actors. We can call it day and night. The same holds true on the back side of the camera, the writers and directors. You already know that women directors were shutout of nominations for this years Academy Awards. Shameful. Friday we open with Fire of Love, an archival footage documentary about a couple of scientific lovers following their dream of capturing close up footage of active volcanoes, a calling that eventually claimed their lives as they filmed. Directed by Sara Dosa it is the story of Katja and Maurice Kraft, a couple whose lives are best described as utterly intrepid. Runs 98 minutes and rated PG. Here is the link to Women Talking, our feature presentation also starting Friday.
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