Sideshows by the Seashore, Coney Island Museum
1208 Surf Ave. at West Twelfth St.
October 2-4
Festival Pass $45, individual screenings $6-$15
718-372-5159
http://www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com
This ninth annual festival consists of narrative and documentary films made in and about Coney Island and Brooklyn. In addition to the below screenings, there are several shorts programs, featuring such alluring titles as FRANK SIDEBOTTOM SAVES CONEY ISLAND, RISING UP: THE STORY OF THE ZOMBIE RIGHTS MOVEMENT, X-MESS DETRITUS, DEAD SUCKS, CESAR SALAD, WHO SHOT CONEY ISLAND?, and ATTACKAZOIDS, DEPLOY!!
Friday, October 2 Opening Night: THE PRINCE OF MERMAID AVENUE (Charles Denson, 2009), preceded by STEP RIGHT UP (Luke Marshall 2009), screening $6 (7:30), screening and afterparty at the Freak Bar and Sideshows by the Seashore $25 (9:30)
Saturday, October 3 FLYING PUMPKINS, THE LEGEND OF PUNKIN CHUNKIN (Costa Mantis), 1:00
Saturday, October 3 FRIENDS (WITH BENEFITS) (Gorman Bechard), 5:00
Saturday, October 3 SEA LEGS (Craig Butta), preceded by THE RELEASE OF JAN (Jordan Roettele), 7:00
Saturday, October 3 RED HOOK (Elizabeth Lucas, 2009), preceded by BAD DAY AT RED HOOK (Greg Kotis, 2009), 9:00
Saturday, October 3 Special Screening: THE WARRIORS (Walter Hill, 1979), 10:30
THE WARRIORS (Walter Hill, 1979)
At a huge gang meeting in the Bronx (actually shot in Riverside Park), the Warriors are wrongly accused of having killed Cyrus (Roger Hill), an outspoken leader trying to band all the warring factions together to form one huge force that can take over the New York City borough by borough. The Warriors then must make it back to their home turf, Coney Island, with every gang in New York lying in wait for them to pass through their territory. This iconic New York City gang movie is based on Sol Yurick’s novel, which in turn is loosely based on Xenophon’s ANABASIS, which told of the ancient Greeks’ retreat from Persia. Michael Beck stars as Swan, who becomes the de-facto leader of the Warriors after Cleon (Dorsey Wright) gets taken down early. Battling Swan for control is Ajax (SEX AND THE CITY’s James Remar) and tough-talking Mercy (TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT’s Deborah Van Valkenburgh). Serving as a Greek chorus is Lynne (LAW & ORDER) Thigpen as a radio DJ, and, yes, that young woman out too late in Central Park is eventual Oscar winner Mercedes Ruehl. Among the cartoony gangs of New York who try to stop the Warriors are the roller-skating Punks, the pathetic Orphans, the militaristic Gramercy Riffs, the all-girl Lizzies, the ragtag Rogues, and the inimitable Baseball Furies. Another main character is the New York City subway system. There’s nothing quite like THE WARRIORS, currently celebrating its thirtieth anniversary. Be sure to come out and play in this special annual screening on the gang’s home turf — and before Tony Scott’s upcoming remake sours us all.
Sunday, October 4 STRONGMAN (Zachary Levy), 5:00