Since our local paper chose to run (the only) negative review of Bill Maher’s excellent movie Religulous I feel compelled to set the record straight, just in case anyone crossed the movie off their must-see list. The review in question was written by a certain Renee Rodriguez (it seems possible that some childhood indoctrination influences her point of view) for the Miami Herald.

While I agree with her that fundamentalists of every stripe are easy targets, that doesn’t mean they get a pass. The burden of proof is on the person making the outrageous claim… it’s not bullying to ask for it. But Rodriguez goes on to complain that “It’s a lot harder to explore the point at which scientific thought must give way to spiritual faith.”

What the hell movie was this woman watching? Scientific thought never gives way to faith… that was one of the major points being made. These domains are completely irreconcilable and in the 21st century it’s time to give up the comforting fairy tales. And what she calls his “preachy summation” I have embraced as my new manifesto — it was perfect. On top of all this it is laugh-out-loud hilarious, right up there with ‘Life of Brian’. See it.

The Queer Alliance at Brown is sponsoring a screening of The Young And Evil tonight at 6:30.  It’s “a dramatic short about a defiantly promiscuous young man who finds eros in self-destruction,” according to the press release/Facebook invite.  Apparently it also provides a “chilling lens into how homophobia, faithlessness and longing miscolor the need for human connection.”  Director Julian Breece will be on hand afterwards to talk about it.  Sounds like a hoot!  Here’s the trailer.

It’s happening in Solomon 001, which is one of those buildings near the arch on Waterman.

Paul Newman, Oscar-winning actor and all-around good guy, died this morning of cancer.  There are worse ways to spend a rainy afternoon than watching The Sting, or Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, or Hud, or Cool Hand Luke.  And may I take this opportunity to promote the best sports movie ever made — Slap Shot. It’s funny, and surprisingly raunchy, and features the ridiculous Hanson Brothers who I think were real people. And you do not have to care about hockey. (Hanson Brothers vid after jump.)

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First, hit up the RIPTA service cut hearings at 5:30, at the Elmwood Community Center in Providence, 155 Niagra St. I want to clarify that these cuts will make it impossible to get to and from the West Side, or the University of Rhode Island, or pretty much anywhere, after 7pm.

Then, scurry over to Local 121 to watch “King Corn” at 7pm. Here’s the the trailer:

Finally, shake it all off at Drinking Liberally, Wild Colonial from 8-10pm.

I saw a blurb about this video by Will Braden on CNN, and I couldn’t resist the allure of pretentious French pussy. But who can, let’s be honest?

Sure, the French is atrocious, but the cat looks EXACTLY like my cat Sebastian. My deepest apologies to the dog lovers out there.

I’ve been hearing about this 1982 movie for years — people seem to love it.  The cast is pretty intriguing… a young Laura Dern (13 years old), a young Diane Lane, a young Ray Winstone… okay, so everybody used to be young. Throw in a couple of Sex Pistols and a Clash and you got yourself a rock ‘n’ roll artifact of some kind or another.  It might turn out to be bollocks but it’s probably not boring.  I will see anything with Laura Dern. (Read more at Spin.) Vid after jump.

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WHERE: On the corner of Union St. and Westminster St. in Downcity Providence

WHEN: The film starts at dusk, or when it gets dark, these days its getting earlier.

Okay, so we’ve all seen it, and loved it, right? Forrest Gump is this Thursday’s movie. Come hang with friends at this fun, free Downcity movie and don’t forget to bring the blankets to cuddle up with your honey..we were voted the Best Place for a Date by Rhode Island Monthly after all. Grab some food and drinks at Tazza and settle in for the evening with Tom Hanks and your sweetie. Enjoy the last days of summer weather at Movies on the Block this Thursday.

There’s a really interesting profile in yesterday’s New York Times about Maurice Sendak, the author/illustrator responsible for Where The Wild Things Are and In The Night Kitchen, along with dozens of other books.

The piece, which describes Sendak as a square-shaped gnome, dives deeper into the reclusive artist’s life than anything else I’ve ever read, or thought to read, about him.  Did you know that he’s gay, for instance?  Or that he had a heart attack when he was thirty-nine and didn’t tell anybody because his mother was dying at the time? Or that he admires people like Emily Dickinson for their ability to be alone?  Or that he claims to hate people?

I didn’t even know that Spike Jonze was adapting Where The Wild Things Are into a movie, let alone one with Catherine Keener and James Gandolfini and Paul Dano as Alexander.

Finally, a comedy without any of those guys. Hamlet 2 is for Steve Coogan fans like me. The New York Times did not care for it. I did. But I’m happy just looking at his face. A passing familiarity with Hamlet 1 is helpful but not necessary. It’s only 1 hour and 32 minutes, so it’s got that going for it as well. Rated-R although I can’t remember why that would be. His surprisingly adorable ass-cheeks make an appearance, does that trigger an ‘R’?

(Or you can stay home and rent 24-Hour Party People the true story of Tony Wilson (Coogan), Joy Division and the Happy Mondays.)

He’s the man… the man with Midas touch…. a spider’s touch…. such a cold…. FINGAH!

Okay, so I can’t sing. See Sean Connery c.1964 as James Bond in Goldfinger tonight in the “Movies on the Block” series. Bring blankets or beach chairs, snacks. (Urban Myth #2785 — the actress pictured above died when the paint clogged her pores and she ’suffocated’. Not true.)

starts at dusk/Westminster and Union Streets/free

A documentary backed by Warren Buffett and Pete Peterson warns of the impending collapse of the federal finance system, weighed down by a staggering $53 trillion of debt, exacerbated by enormous and growing trade deficits and shrinking industrial capacity, and undercut by ballooning taxpayer credit failure.

I.O.U.S.A. débuts tonight in 358 cinemas nationwide, including Showcase Cinemas in Warwick. (8 p.m.; $12.50) It’s been selling out, so you may be wise to pay the extra online purchase cost.

Tonight’s showing also features a special one-time live (via satellite) interview, and you may submit questions at the official website.

What the hell was I so busy doing last October that I didn’t get out to see — and hear — this amazing movie in a theater? Oh yeah, the Red Sox were in the World Series. No excuse! The reviews had certainly been great; The New York Times loved it, Ebert swooned. But perhaps I was not the only Beatles fanatic fearful that the music would get Idol-ized and belted out in that dreadful Broadway howl. And maybe I was conflating it with the Vegas-y cheese that is Cirque du Soleil:Love. Maybe I was just out of weed. But I am here to tell you, these arrangements and performances are so original and beautiful, you will hear this music in a whole new way*. The movie holds up in every other respect as well. The story is genuinely poignant, never cloying. As to the visuals, they are so astounding, getting high would be redundant. Love is all you need.

*’I Want to Hold Your Hand’ made me cry.

Backyard Movie Nights @ 155 Vinton Street
Starting August 2nd

Love movies? So do we! Join us in our Vinton Street backyard for screenings every Saturday night and some Fridays. Movies start at sundown. Bring a blanket or a chair and bring your friends. Donations of snacks, cash, or grilling supplies will be gladly accepted… we’re not rich, but we do have surround sound! Help us enrich our community by participating in these fun weekend events! (more…)

Some reviewers have been comparing Heath Ledger’s Joker to the Droogs of Clockwork Orange. But I was suddenly reminded of another favorite movie baddie during my second viewing of The Dark Knight — Luther, the gleefully maniacal leader of the Rogues, from the 1979 movie The Warriors.  It takes nothing away from Heath Ledger’s performance to acknowledge the demented and unhinged wing-nuts who paved the way.

Tonight and tomorrow night as well. There will be two separate showings each night at 6:45PM and 9PM with about a dozen 5-minute films. (You can go in at any time really.) These are the efforts of the 55 teams that participated in the 48-Hour Film Project just last weekend. Sure, they can be a little rough around the edges, but that’s half the fun of it. What’s amazing is how good many of them are given the crazy time restriction on the production. The judges – and audiences – will select among these films to assemble a slate for the “Best of Providence” celebration on August 10.

Wednesday & Thursday 6:45PM and 9PM/Columbus Theater/270 Broadway

Chris Nolan’s latest iteration of Batman that debuted this weekend is breaking records at the box office and receiving high praise all around. While I really enjoyed the film and am glad its doing so well, I’ve got some problems with it that go beyond the simply dorky.

WATCH OUT: there’s spoilers after the jump. (more…)