THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT will bring bright color, loads of style, and murder to Central Park on June 11
The free summer movie season kicks off June 11 in parks throughout the city as Films on the Green, sponsored by the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, goes musical on Cedar Hill in Central Park with Jacques Demy’s charming The YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT, starring Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac; later films in the eclectic series include François Ozon’s 8 WOMEN on June 18 in Washington Square Park and Jean-Luc Godard’s A WOMAN IS A WOMAN on July 2 in Tompkins Square Park. The big screen goes up in Bryant Park on June 21 for its annual summer filmfest, with GOLDFINGER lasering James Bond; on the horizon is such fine fare as THE FRENCH CONNECTION (July 5), MY MAN GODFREY (July 12), and ROSEMARY’S BABY (August 2). Movies with a View in Brooklyn Bridge Park starts its season off in style July 8 with Woody Allen’s ANNIE HALL; also on tap are THE BIG LEBOWSKI (July 22) and REAR WINDOW (July 29). Hudson River Park’s River Flicks screens movies for adults on Wednesdays (THE HANGOVER, PUBLIC ENEMIES) and kids movies on Fridays (THE WIZARD OF OZ, THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER). The River to River Festival’s Movies on the Elevated Acre will pair shorts with such films as BROADWAY DANNY ROSE, AUNTIE MAME, and THE COUNTRY GIRL. And Summer on the Hudson will present Tall Tales, comprising such works as Tarsem Singh’s THE FALL and Tim Burton’s BIG FISH. There will also be free films in Socrates Sculpture Park, Washington Park by the Old Stone House, and other locations; keep watching this space as more titles are announced. Most screenings begin at sundown sometime between eight and nine, but you’ll have to get there much earlier to grab a prime spot.
Friday, June 11 Films on the Green: THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT (Jacques Demy, 1967), Cedar Hill, Central Park, 8:30
Saturday, June 12 CityParks Music & Film: The eighth annual Cine Fest Petrobras Brasil, with live music by Os Paralmas do Successo and Maria Gadu, followed by OSCAR NIEMEYER – LIFE IS A BREATH OF AIR (Fabiano Maciel, 2007), 7:00
Friday, June 18 Films on the Green: 8 WOMEN (François Ozon, 2002), Washington Square Park, 8:30
Monday, June 21 Bryant Park Summer Film Festival: GOLDFINGER (Guy Hamilton, 1964), Bryant Park Lawn, 8:00-9:00 (lawn opens at 5:00
Friday, June 25 Films on the Green: SAME OLD SONGS (Alain Resnais, 1997), Washington Square Park, 8:30
Saturday, June 26 Pajamas and a Movie! MADAGASCAR (Eric Darnell & Tom McGrath, 2005), Marcus Garvey Park, 8:30
Monday, June 28 Bryant Park Summer Film Festival: CAROUSEL (Henry King, 1956), Bryant Park Lawn, 8:00-9:00 (lawn opens at 5:00
Friday, July 2 Films on the Green: A WOMAN IS A WOMAN (Jean-Luc Godard, 1961), Tompkins Square Park, 8:30
Monday, July 5 Bryant Park Summer Film Festival: THE FRENCH CONNECTION (William Friedkin, 1971), Bryant Park Lawn, 8:00-9:00 (lawn opens at 5:00
Wednesday, July 7 Outdoor Cinema United States: FLOOD TIDE (Todd Chandler, 2010), featuring live musical score performed by Dark Dark Dark, Socrates Sculpture Park, film at sunset
Wednesday, July 7 Movies Under the Stars — Tall Tales: NEVERENDING STORY (Wolfgang Petersen, 1984), 8:30
Wednesday, July 7 Brooklyn Film Works: KISS ME KATE (George Sidney, 1953), Old Stone House, Washington Park, JJ Byrne Playground, 8:30
Wednesday, July 7 Postponed: Summerscreen: SAY ANYTHING (Cameron Crowe, 1989), McCarren Park ball fields, dusk
Wednesday, July 7 River Flicks — Wednesdays for Grown-Ups: THE HANGOVER (Todd Phillips, 2010), Pier 54, Hudson River at West 14th St., 8:30
Thursday, July 8 Summer Starz: kids hour with the French Embassy at 6:00, live music by Marie Martin at 7:00, AZUR & ASMUR (Michel Ocelot, 2006) at sunset, East River State Park
Thursday, July 8 Summer of Music: the Maysles Institute presents Afro-Haitian jazz with Buyu Ambroise, 7:00, and I BRING WHAT I LOVE (Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, 2008), 8:30, Morningside Park lower lawn
Thursday, July 8 Movies with a View: ANNIE HALL (Woody Allen, 1977), with DJ Ursula 1000, Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park, 8:00 – 9:00
Friday, July 9 Passport Fridays: South Africa (World Cup Edition), with dance by S.A.G.A., live music by Tuelo Minah, and screening of STREETBALL (Demetrius Wren, 2010), Queens Museum, 6:30
Friday, July 9 Films on the Green: LOVE SONGS (Christophe Honoré, 2007), Tompkins Square Park, 8:30
Friday, July 9 River Flicks — Fridays for Kids: THE WIZARD OF OZ (Victor Fleming, 1939), Pier 46, Hudson River at Charles St., 8:30
Saturday, July 10 Outdoor Summer Movie Series: ZOOLANDER (Ben Stiller, 2001), Firefighters’ Field, Roosevelt Island, 8:30
Monday, July 12 ImageNation Outdoor Film & Music Festival: Black Sheep, 7:30, and GOOD HAIR (Jeff Stilson, 2009), 8:30, St. Nicholas Park
Monday, July 12 Bryant Park Summer Film Festival: MY MAN GODFREY (Gregory La Cava, 1936), Bryant Park Lawn, 8:00-9:00 (lawn opens at 5:00
Tuesday, July 13 Red Hook Summer Movies: THE GOONIES (Richard Donner, 1985), Valentino Pier, 8:30
Wednesday, July 14 Outdoor Cinema Ireland: THE SECRET OF KELLS (Tom Moore & Nora Twomey, 2009), live music at 7:00, Socrates Sculpture Park, film at sunset
Wednesday, July 14 Summer of Music: the Maysles Institute presents the National Jazz Museum All-Stars, 7:00, and NINA SIMONE GREAT PERFORMANCES: COLLEGE CONCERTS AND INTERVIEWS (Andy Stroud, 2009), Marcus Garvey Park lawn
Wednesday, July 14 Movies Under the Stars — Tall Tales: PAN’S LABYRINTH (Guillermo del Toro, 2007), 8:30
Wednesday, July 14 Summerscreen: live music with Mirror Mirror and Light Asylum, 6:15, followed by LABYRINTH (Jim Henson, 1986), McCarren Park ball fields, dusk
Wednesday, July 14 Brooklyn Film Works: GIRL SHY (Fred C. Newmeyer & Sam Taylor, 1924), Old Stone House, Washington Park, JJ Byrne Playground, 8:30
Wednesday, July 14 River Flicks — Wednesdays for Grown-Ups: I LOVE YOU, MAN (John Hamburg, 2009), Pier 54, Hudson River at West 14th St., 8:30
Thursday, July 15 Summer Starz: kids hour with the Brooklyn Children’s Museum at 6:00, live music by the Click Clack Boom at 7:00, BOLT (Byron Howard & Chris Williams, 2008) at sunset, East River State Park
Thursday, July 15 ImageNation Outdoor Film & Music Festival: Jeremy Jones, 7:30, and STILL BILL (Damani Baker & Alex Vlack, 2009), 8:30, St. Nicholas Park
Thursday, July 15 Movies with a View: MONSTERS VS. ALIENS 3D (Rob Letterman & Conrad Vernon, 2009), with DJ Lupe Loop, Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park, 8:00 – 9:00
Friday, July 16 Passport Fridays: Colombia & Ecuador, with dance by Estampas Negras, live music by GeoPro and ACES and Diego Obregon & Grupo Chonta, and screenings of WE PAINT HOUSES, WITH PAINT! (Celectivo El Deposito & Juan Zabala, 2008), THE HOUSE OF THE STIFF CAT (Nancy Burneo Salazar, 2009), and FREKUENCIA KOLOMBIA (Vanessa Goksch, 2009), Queens Museum, 6:30
Friday, July 16 River Flicks — Fridays for Kids: CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS (Phil Lord & Chris Miller, 2009), Pier 46, Hudson River at Charles St., 8:30
Friday, July 16 Films on the Green: TOSCA: THE MOVIE (Benoît Jacquot, 2001), Cedar Hill, Central Park, 8:30
Monday, July 19 ImageNation Outdoor Film & Music Festival: Nokie Henry, 7:30, and FREEDOM RIDERS (Stanley Nelson, 2009), 8:30, St. Nicholas Park
Monday, July 19 Bryant Park Summer Film Festival: THE CHINA SYNDROME (James Bridges, 1979), Bryant Park Lawn, 8:00-9:00 (lawn opens at 5:00)
Tuesday, July 20 Red Hook Summer Movies: DEEP BLUE SEA (Renny Harlin, 1999), Valentino Pier, 8:30
Wednesday, July 21 Outdoor Cinema Sweden: Swedish Short Films, live music at 7:00, Socrates Sculpture Park, film at sunset
Wednesday, July 21 Summerscreen: ROMEO + JULIET (Baz Luhrmann, 1996), preceded by live music, McCarren Park ball fields, dusk
Wednesday, July 21 Movies Under the Stars — Tall Tales: INKHEART (Iain Softley, 2009), 8:30
Wednesday, July 21 Brooklyn Film Works: Asbury Films Short Film Concert, Old Stone House, Washington Park, JJ Byrne Playground, 8:30
Wednesday, July 21 River Flicks — Wednesdays for Grown-Ups: THE PROPOSAL (Anne Fletcher, 2009), Pier 54, Hudson River at West 14th St., 8:30
Thursday, July 22 Summer Starz: kids hour with the New York Road Runners at 6:00, live music by the Backroad at 7:00, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (Shawn Levy, 2006) at sunset, East River State Park
Thursday, July 22 Celebrate Brooklyn!: “The Chaplin Mutuals,” with Carl Davis conducting the Brooklyn Philharmonic through live accompaniment to Charlie Chaplin’s EASY STREET, 1:00 AM, and BEHIND THE SCREEN, with the Two Man Gentlemen Band opening the show, 7:30
There should be plenty of rolling at outdoor screening of Coen brothers classic in Brooklyn Bridge Park on July 22
Thursday, July 22 Movies with a View: THE BIG LEBOWSKI (Joel Coen, 1998), with DJ Cosmo Baker, Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park, 8:00 – 9:00
Friday, July 23 Passport Fridays: South Korea, with dance byVongKu’s Traditional Korean Drum & dance Troupe, live music by the Blue & White, and screening of CASTAWAY ON THE MOON (Lee Hae-jun, 2009), Queens Museum, 6:30
Friday, July 23 River Flicks — Fridays for Kids: THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER (Jim Henson, 1981), Pier 46, Hudson River at Charles St., 8:30
Saturday, July 24 Outdoor Summer Movie Series: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (Steve Barron, 1990), Firefighters’ Field, Roosevelt Island, 8:30
Monday, July 26 ImageNation Outdoor Film & Music Festival: live music tba, 7:30, and EL ESPIRITU DE LA SALSA (Francisco Bello & Tim Sternberg, 2010), 8:30, St. Nicholas Park
Monday, July 26 Bryant Park Summer Film Festival: MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL (Terry Jones, 1975), Bryant Park Lawn, 8:00-9:00 (lawn opens at 5:00)
Tuesday, July 27 Red Hook Summer Movies: BIG WEDNESDAY (John Milius, 1978), Valentino Pier, 8:30
Wednesday, July 28 Outdoor Cinema Czech Republic: DAISIES (Vera Chytilová, 1966), live music at 7:00, Socrates Sculpture Park, film at sunset
Wednesday, July 28 ImageNation Outdoor Film & Music Festival: DJA-RARA, 7:30, and THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WATER (Jeremy Robins, 2008), 8:30, St. Nicholas Park
Wednesday, July 28 Movies Under the Stars — Tall Tales: THE FALL (Tarsem Singh, 2008), 8:30
Wednesday, July 28 Brooklyn Film Works: Piper Film Workshop, Old Stone House, Washington Park, JJ Byrne Playground, 8:30
Wednesday, July 28 Summerscreen: DEAD MAN (Jim Jarmusch, 1995), preceded by live music from Hymns, McCarren Park ball fields, dusk
Wednesday, July 28 River Flicks — Wednesdays for Grown-Ups: DISTRICT 9 (Neill Blomkamp, 2009), Pier 54, Hudson River at West 14th St., 8:30
Thursday, July 29 ImageNation Outdoor Film & Music Festival: DJ Cool Gee, 7:30, and THE PRINCESS & THE FROG (Ron Clements, 2009), 8:30, St. Nicholas Park
Thursday, July 29 River to River — Movie Nights on the Elevated Acre: BROADWAY DANNY ROSE (Woody Allen, 1984), preceded by short films by Alex Kalman and Josh Safdie, 55 Water St. between Broad & William Sts., 8:00 (tickets available starting at 6:00)
Thursday, July 29 Summer Starz: kids hour with El Puente at 6:00, live music by New York’s Finest Jazz Ensemble at 7:00, FINDING NEMO (Andrew Stanton, 2003) at sunset, East River State Park
Thursday, July 29 Movies with a View: REAR WINDOW (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954), with DJ DRM, Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park, 8:00 – 9:00
Friday, July 30 Passport Fridays: Taiwan, with dance by Sun Son Theater, live music by the Formosa Chamber Music Society, and screening of ORZBOYZ! (Ya-che Yang, 2008), Queens Museum, 6:30
Friday, July 30 River Flicks — Fridays for Kids: MONSTERS VS. ALIENS (Rob Letterman & Conrad Vernon, 2009), Pier 46, Hudson River at Charles St., 8:30
Monday, August 2 Bryant Park Summer Film Festival: ROSEMARY’S BABY (Roman Polanski, 1968), Bryant Park Lawn, 8:00-9:00 (lawn opens at 5:00)
Monday, August 2 Waterside Movie Nights: SPIDER-MAN (Sam Raimi, 2002), Waterside Plaza, 23rd St. & FDR Dr., 8:30
Tuesday, August 3 Red Hook Summer Movies: JAWS (Steven Spielberg, 1975), Valentino Pier, 8:30
Wednesday, August 4 Outdoor Cinema India: SITA SINGS THE BLUES (Nina Paley, 2008), live music at 7:00, Socrates Sculpture Park, film at sunset
Wednesday, August 4 Movies Under the Stars — Tall Tales: BIG FISH (Tim Burton, 2004), 8:30
Wednesday, August 4 River Flicks — Wednesdays for Grown-Ups: JULIE & JULIA (Nora Ephron, 2009), Pier 54, Hudson River at West 14th St., 8:30
Wednesday, August 4 Summerscreen: STARSHIP TROOPERS (Paul Verhoeven, 1997), preceded by live music, McCarren Park ball fields, dusk
Thursday, August 5 Summer Starz: kids hour with Rock City Theatrics at 6:00, live music by Opus Ditty at 7:00, ALADDIN (Ron Clements & John Musker, 1992) at sunset, East River State Park
Thursday, August 5 River to River — Movie Nights on the Elevated Acre: AUNTIE MAME (Morton DaCosta,1958), preceded by a short film by Cheryl Dunn, 55 Water St. between Broad & William Sts., 8:00 (tickets available starting at 6:00)
Thursday, August 5 Movies with a View: BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (Ang Lee, 2005), with DJ Soulstatic, Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park, 8:00 – 9:00
Friday, August 6 Passport Fridays: Middle East, with dance by Sramzi El-Edlibi Dabke Dance Group, live music by Salaam Middle Eastern Music Ensemble, and screening of AMREEKA (Cherien Debis), Queens Museum, 6:30
Friday, August 6 Celebrate Brooklyn!: House of Usher: Marco Benevento, White Magic, 7:30
Friday, August 6 Intrepid Summer Movie Series — Heroes of the Big Screen: RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (Steven Spielberg, 1981), Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, dusk
Friday, August 6 River Flicks — Fridays for Kids: BIG (Penny Marshall, 1988, Pier 46, Hudson River at Charles St., 8:30
Saturday, August 7 Outdoor Summer Movie Series: CONSPIRACY THEORY (Richard Donner, 1997), Firefighters’ Field, Roosevelt Island, 8:30
Monday, August 9 Bryant Park Summer Film Festival: THE GOODBYE GIRL (Herbert Ross, 1977), Bryant Park Lawn, 8:00-9:00 (lawn opens at 5:00)
Monday, August 9 Waterside Movie Nights: SUPERMAN (Richard Donner, 1978), Waterside Plaza, 23rd St. & FDR Dr., 8:30
Tuesday, August 10 Red Hook Summer Movies: THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH (John Sayles, 1994), Valentino Pier, 8:30
Wednesday, August 11 Outdoor Cinema Italy: MID-AUGUST LUNCH (Gianni De Gregorio, 2010), live music at 7:00, Socrates Sculpture Park, film at sunset
Wednesday, August 11 River Flicks — Wednesdays for Grown-Ups: PUBLIC ENEMIES (Michael Mann, 2009), Pier 54, Hudson River at West 14th St., 8:30
Wednesday, August 11 Movies Under the Stars — Tall Tales: STRANGER THAN FICTION (Marc Forster, 2006), 8:30
Wednesday, August 11 Summerscreen: POINT BREAK (Kathryn Bigelow, 1991), preceded by live music, McCarren Park ball fields, dusk
Thursday, August 12 Summer Starz: kids hour with New York Creative Arts Therapists at 6:00, live music at 7:00, THE LION KING (Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff, 1994) at sunset, East River State Park
Thursday, August 12 River to River — Movie Nights on the Elevated Acre: THE COUNTRY GIRL (George Seaton, 1954), preceded by short films by Alexandra Lerman, 55 Water St. between Broad & William Sts., 8:00 (tickets available starting at 6:00)
Thursday, August 12 Movies with a View: DREAMGIRLS (Bill Condon, 2006), with DJ Conquerrah, Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park, 8:00 – 9:00
Friday, August 13 Passport Fridays: Brazil, with dance by Carioca Capoeira, live music by Quenia Ribeiro, and screening of THE MAN WHO BOTTLED THE CLOUDS (Liro Ferreira, 2009), Queens Museum, 6:30
Friday, August 13 River Flicks — Fridays for Kids: ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS (Carlos Saldanha, 2009), Pier 46, Hudson River at Charles St., 8:30
Friday, August 13 The Vault of Horror Flicks: INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (Don Siegel, 1956), Tony Dapolito Recreation Center rooftop, 3 Clarkson St., 8:30
Monday, August 16 Bryant Park Summer Film Festival: 12 ANGRY MEN (Sidney Lumet, 1957), Bryant Park Lawn, 8:00-9:00 (lawn opens at 5:00)
Monday, August 16 Waterside Movie Nights: SPY KIDS (Robert Rodriguez, 2001), Waterside Plaza, 23rd St. & FDR Dr., 8:30
Tuesday, August 17 Red Hook Summer Movies: SPLASH (Ron Howard, 1984), Valentino Pier, 8:30
Wednesday, August 18 Outdoor Cinema Colombia: THE WIND’S JOURNEY (Ciro Guerra, 2009), live music at 7:00, Socrates Sculpture Park, film at sunset
Wednesday, August 18 Summerscreen: SAY ANYTHING (Cameron Crowe, 1989), preceded by live music, McCarren Park ball fields, dusk
Wednesday, August 18 River Flicks — Wednesdays for Grown-Ups: STAR TREK (J. J. Abrams, 2009), Pier 54, Hudson River at West 14th St., 8:30
Thursday, August 19 River to River — Movie Nights on the Elevated Acre: THE MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN (Frank Oz, 1984), preceded by a short film by Jay Hufford, 55 Water St. between Broad & William Sts., 8:00 (tickets available starting at 6:00)
Thursday, August 19 Movies with a View: THE BLUES BROTHERS (John Landis, 1980), with DJ Soulstatic, Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park, 8:00 – 9:00
Friday, August 20 Intrepid Summer Movie Series — Heroes of the Big Screen: ROCKY (John G. Avildsen, 1976), Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, dusk
Friday, August 20 River Flicks — Fridays for Kids: ANNIE (John Huston, 1982), Pier 46, Hudson River at Charles St., 8:30
Friday, August 20 The Vault of Horror Flicks: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (George A. Romero, 1968), Tony Dapolito Recreation Center rooftop, 3 Clarkson St., 8:30
Saturday, August 21 Outdoor Summer Movie Series: NIGHTHAWKS (Bruce Malmuth, 1981), Firefighters’ Field, Roosevelt Island, 8:30
Monday, August 23 Bryant Park Summer Film Festival: BONNIE AND CLYDE (Arthur Penn, 1967), Bryant Park Lawn, 8:00-9:00 (lawn opens at 5:00)
Monday, August 23 Waterside Movie Nights: THE INCREDIBLES (Brad Bird, 2004), Waterside Plaza, 23rd St. & FDR Dr., 8:30
Tuesday, August 24 Central Park Conservancy Film Festival — Iconic New York: FAME (Alan Parker, 1980), Central Park, north of Sheep Meadow, behind Mineral Springs, 8:00
Tuesday, August 24 Red Hook Summer Movies: CABIN BOY (Adam Resnick, 1994), Valentino Pier, 8:30
Wednesday, August 25 Central Park Conservancy Film Festival — Iconic New York: THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 (Tony Scott, 2009), Central Park, north of Sheep Meadow, behind Mineral Springs, 8:00
Thursday, August 26 Central Park Conservancy Film Festival — Iconic New York: SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (John Badham, 1977), Central Park, north of Sheep Meadow, behind Mineral Springs, 8:00
Thursday, August 26 Movies with a View: INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE (Steven Spielberg, 1989), Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park, 8:00 – 9:00
Friday, August 27 Lawn Chair Theater: SHARK TALE (Bibo Bergeron, Vicky Jenson, and Rob Letterman, 2004), Salt Marsh Nature Center, Marine Park, 8:00
Friday, August 27 Central Park Conservancy Film Festival — Iconic New York: KING KONG (Merian C. Cooper & Ernest B. Schoedsack, 1933), Central Park, north of Sheep Meadow, behind Mineral Springs, 8:00
Friday, August 27 The Vault of Horror Flicks: ROSEMARY’S BABY (Roman Polanski, 1968), Tony Dapolito Recreation Center rooftop, 3 Clarkson St., 8:30
Saturday, August 28 Central Park Conservancy Film Festival — Iconic New York: SERENDIPITY (Peter Chelsom, 2001) or MANHATTAN (Woody Allen, 1979), Central Park, north of Sheep Meadow, behind Mineral Springs, 8:00
Tuesday, August 31 Red Hook Summer Movies: THE PRINCESS & THE FROG (Ron Clements & John Musker, 2009), Valentino Pier, 8:30
Thursday, September 2 Movies with a View: public vote for film, with DJ to be announced, Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park, 8:00 – 9:00
Tuesday, September 7 Red Hook Summer Movies: THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU (Wes Anderson, 2004), Valentino Pier, 8:30
Friday, September 10 Lawn Chair Theater: WINGED MIGRATION (Jacques Perrin, 2001), Salt Marsh Nature Center, Marine Park, 8:00
Tuesday, September 14 Red Hook Summer Movies: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN (Gore Verbinski, 2003), Valentino Pier, 8:30
In a small Texas town, Deputy Lou Ford (Casey Affleck) has been charged with kicking out local prostitute Joyce Lakeland (Jessica Alba), but something happens to him when he meets her, leading to a violent sexual affair. The soft-spoken, easygoing cop suddenly goes bad, jeopardizing his relationship with girlfriend Amy Stanton (Kate Hudson), his job, and just about everything and everyone he comes into contact with. Based on Jim Thompson’s 1952 pulp noir classic that Stanley Kubrick called “probably the most chilling and believable first-person story of a criminally warped mind I have ever encountered” (Thompson worked with Kubrick on the scripts for THE KILLING and PATHS OF GLORY), Michael Winterbottom’s adaptation of THE KILLER INSIDE is cold and heartless, a lurid, exploitative film that captures little of what made the book so special. Despite staying close to Thompson’s narrative and including voice-overs taken straight from the book, Winterbottom (24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE, WELCOME TO SARAJEVO) concentrates too much on making the characters realistic and believable, inserting his impressive documentary skills and taking the book far too literally. It’s one thing to have Ford describe a brutal beating in the novel; it’s quite another to show him pulverizing a woman’s face into a bloody pulp. Also, whereas in the book Ford talks about “the sickness” inside him developed from childhood abuse, the film tries to hide that, burying it in a handful of brief flashbacks that add nothing but confusion. This new version of THE KILLER INSIDE ME, which was previously filmed in 1976 by Burt Kennedy with Stacy Keach, Susan Tyrrell, Tisha Sterling, and Keenan Wynn, is a major disappointment.
From June 2007 to July 2008, journalists Sebastian Junger (THE PERFECT STORM) and Tim Hetherington (LIBERIA: AN UNCIVIL WAR) made a total of ten trips to the dangerous Korengal Valley in Afghanistan, documenting the full deployment of Battle Company of the 173rd Airborne Brigade. With snipers hidden all around them, the fifteen soldiers of Second Platoon built a remote, strategic outpost they named Restrepo after PFC Juan Restrepo, the well-liked company medic who was killed early on. Junger and Hetherington film such men as Captain Dan Kearney, Staff Sergeant Kevin Rice, and Sergeant Brendan C. O’Byrne as they go about their daily duties, joking around, playing the guitar, meeting with Afghan locals to get information about the Taliban, and digging trenches while prepared to be shot at at any moment. The journalists took more than 150 hours of footage, supplemented with interviews with several of the soldiers after they were safely back at home base in Italy, talking about what they went through. There is nothing political about RESTREPO, nor does it pull at the heartstrings with melodramatic, overemotional scenes; instead, it depicts the harsh realities of battle, including the long stretches of boredom punctuated by sudden life-or-death situations. There is no narration, no one discusses the possible merits of the war, and no generals or politicians are on hand to defend America’s involvement in the region. There’s no ethnocentric yahooism, nor is there racist treatment of the mostly unseen enemy. It’s just war, pure and simple, seen from the perspective of men who chose to join the army and risk their lives for their country. The film won the documentary Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Sundance Festival and opens at the IFC Center on June 25, but you can catch it before then at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival at Lincoln Center; Hetherington will be present at all three screenings as well as for a reception and Q&A with Junger following the June 20 show.
The 1970s was a crazy time in New York City: President Ford told the Big Apple to drop dead, David “Son of Sam” Berkowitz went around shooting strangers, a blackout led to looting and rioting, and a powerful CEO fought to bring the foreign game of soccer to the New World. The vastly entertaining documentary ONCE IN A LIFETIME details the story of Warner Bros. chairman Steve Ross’s determined, desperate attempt to make soccer a major sport in America. And he did it the old-fashioned way: with a lot of cash. Backed by music moguls and big-time soccer fans Ahmet and Nehui Ertegun, Ross put together the New York Cosmos, one of the greatest teams to ever play the world’s most popular game. As the name says, he filled the Cosmos with international stars that would have made Carl Sagan proud: Giorgio Chinaglia, Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto, Steve Hunt, and, of course, the magical Pelé, who was signed to a multimillion-dollar deal at a time when such numbers were unheard of even for baseball. When the Cosmopolitans started winning, the city adopted them, following their exploits from the green AstroTurf of Giants Stadium to the silver disco ball at Studio 54.