Midcareer retrospective examines Spike Jonze's eclectic oeuvre
MoMA Film
Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53rd St. between Fifth & Sixth Aves.
Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters, $10, in person only, may be applied to museum admission within thirty days, same-day screenings free with museum admission, available at Film and Media Desk
October 8-18
212-708-9400
http://www.moma.org
In conjunction with the hugely anticipated big-screen, live-action version of Maurice Sendak’s WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, MoMA is praising Adam Spiegel — better known as Spike Jonze — with an eleven-day career retrospective as the writer, director, actor, and practical joker extraordinaire approaches his fortieth birthday. The Academy Award nominee follows his own unique muse, making such well-regarded films as ADAPTATION. and the spectacular BEING JOHN MALKOVICH as well as producing and appearing in both JACKASS movies. MoMA will also be screening many of his music videos, commercials, and skateboard videos, including such genre-defining work as the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” the Breeders’ “Cannonball,” Wax’s “California,” Weezer’s “Buddy Holly,” and Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You” and “Weapon of Choice,” the latter starring a dancing Christopher Walken. Among the commercials being shown is a recent Softbank ad featuring Brad Pitt and a sumo wrestler.
There are also several short films and documentaries, including a revealing look at Al Gore and his family in 2000 and the very strange WE WERE ONCE A FAIRYTALE starring Kanye West, which is mostly annoying until its heartbreaking and bizarre conclusion. Sendak himself will be making an appearance, speaking with Jonze and series curator Joshua Siegel on October 8, and Jonze will be back on October 15 as part of MoMA’s latest PopRally event, an evening of skateboard videos, a panel discussion with skateboarders and Jonze, and a live performance by L.A. neo-punksters No Age. What, you expected something normal and straightforward from a tribute to the eclectic, iconoclastic, DIY genius Spike Jonze?
Thursday, October 8 In Cahoots: Maurice Sendak and Spike Jonze — TELL THEM ANYTHING YOU WANT: A PORTRAIT OF MAURICE SENDAK (Lance Bangs & Spike Jonze, 2009), MAURICE AT THE WORLD’S FAIR (Spike Jonze & Lance Bangs, 2009), and WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (clip) (Spike Jonze, 2009), followed by a conversation between exhibition curator Joshua Siegel, Maurice Sendak, and Spike Jonze, 8:00
Friday, October 9, 4:30
and
Saturday, October 10, 8:00 ADAPTATION. (Spike Jonze, 2002)
ADAPTATION (Spike Jonze, 2002)
Innovateur Spike Jonze and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman follow up the brilliant BEING JOHN MALKOVICH with this adaptation about a screenwriter (Nicolas Cage) and his twin brother (Nicolas Cage) adapting a story based on a book (THE ORCHID THIEF) created by a magazine writer from her NEW YORKER articles about a Florida botanist (Chris Cooper). You’ll never know who or what is real or made up, and that’s a big part of this movie’s charm. However, the last few moments are such a cop-out that it left us pissed off, and not in the way Jonze intended.
Friday, October 9, 8:00
and
Sunday, October 18, 2:00 Spike Jonze: Award-Winning Music Videos and Short Films, Part 1
Christopher Walken is getting ready to dance in Spike Jonze video
Saturday, October 10, 2:00
and
Monday, October 12, 8:00 Spike Jonze: Award-Winning Music Videos, Short Films, and Commercials, Part 2
Saturday, October 10, 5:00
and
Monday, October 12, 4:30 BEING JOHN MALKOVICH (Spike Jonze, 1999)
Sunday, October 11 In Cahoots: Maurice Sendak and Spike Jonze — TELL THEM ANYTHING YOU WANT: A PORTRAIT OF MAURICE SENDAK (Lance Bangs & Spike Jonze, 2009), MAURICE AT THE WORLD’S FAIR (Spike Jonze & Lance Bangs, 2009), and WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE (clip) (Spike Jonze, 2009), 4:00
Sunday, October 11, 1:00
and
Friday, October 16, 4:30 THE BLACK STALLION (Carroll Ballard, 1979)
Wednesday, October 14, 4:30
and
Saturday, October 17, 4:30 HEAVY METAL IN BAGHDAD (Suroosh Alvi & Eddy Moretti 2008)
Friday, October 16, 8:00
and
Saturday, October 17, 2:00 COLLABORATORS (Lance Bangs, 2009), Spike Jonze’s Award-Winning Commercials, and JACKASS: THE MOVIE (Jeff Tremaine, 2002)
