Woody Allen’s iconic romance, MANHATTAN, will close annual Central Park film festival
CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY FILM FESTIVAL
Sheep Meadow & 72nd St. Cross Dr.
August 24-28, free, guest DJ at 6:30, movie at 8:00
www.centralparknyc.org
While most of the summer film festivals are coming to a close, the Central Park Conservancy is just getting theirs ready, screening five films August 24-28 under the banner “Iconic New York.” Highlighting movies shot in New York and featuring famous city sights, the festival begins on August 24 with Alan Parker’s 1980 smash, FAME, set at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts. On Wednesday, they’re showing the wrong version of THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3; while Joseph Sargent’s original 1974 heist film, set in the subway system, is an underground favorite, Tony Scott’s 2009 remake, starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta, is completely unwatchable. Travolta is much better, and far more watchable, in John Badham’s 1977 classic, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, which will be shown in the park on August 26. (Don’t forget your platform shoes.) On Friday, the king of the beasts himself, the mighty Kong, will let loose his mighty roar in the park as the 1933 epic KING KONG climbs the screen. The series concludes Saturday night with the winner of the viewers’ choice, which was a ridiculously silly battle between Peter Chelsom’s tepid romance SERENDIPITY and Woody Allen’s glorious love letter to the city, MANHATTAN. (Guess which one won.) Each evening begins at 6:30 with a guest DJ set, followed by the movie at 8:00. Although attendees are encouraged to picnic in the park, no glass bottles, alcohol, chairs, or plastic tarps are allowed.