12 January 2009

Two fun things for summer weekends

| johnboy
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Two things going on this summer we’ve been remiss in not mentioning.

1. The Botanic Gardens have got their summer concert series humming again. They’re insanely popular, often with good reason. The best picnic sitting in town as long as you like crowds.

Remaining concerts in the series are:

    17 Jan – Annie & the Armadillos Jazz, rhythm & blues and funk
    18 Jan – As Famous As The Moon Folk, original and jazz
    24 Jan – Vertical Jazz, funk and original music
    25 Jan – Karismakatz Blues, jazz and roots music

(Thanks to Thumper for the photo of Adam Hole & The Marji Curran Trio from yesterday’s concert)

2. Also running on Saturday nights is the “Arc Cinema” at the National Film and Sound Archive (everytime I see their NFSA acronym I think it’s unsafe for work). They’re projecting original 35mm film movies in their beautiful courtyard with the projectionist doing archaic running reel changes every 20 minutes.

The remaining portion of the program is:

    17 JAN: ON THE TOWN (Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen,1949, G) Starring Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Vera-Ellen.

    24 JAN: BARRY MCKENZIE HOLDS HIS OWN (Bruce Beresford, 1974, M) The even more outrageous sequel – starring Barry Crocker, Barry Humphries and featuring a special appearance by Gough Whitlam.

    31 JAN: BIG WEDNESDAY (John Milius, 1978, M) The epic surf-movie classic, starring Gary Busey, Jan-Michael Vincent and William Katt.

    7 FEB: CHINATOWN (Roman Polanski, 1974, M) With Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway.

    14 FEB: A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM (Richard Lester, 1966, PG) Larry Gelbart’s satirical Roman musical, starring Michael Crawford, Phil Silvers and Buster Keaton in his last film role.

    21 FEB: ROBOCOP (Paul Verhoeven, 1987, R) Brand new print!

    28 FEB: PLAYTIME (Jacques Tati, 1967, PG) M. Hulot visits Paris in Tati’s comic masterpiece.

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Robocop seems very out of place in that NFSA listing, but I guess no more strange than watching a Roman-setting musical on Valentine’s Day.

These outdoor screenings occur at ‘Sunset’.
Which are for
17Jan: 2020hrs
24Jan: 2017hrs
31Jan: 2012hrs
07Feb: 2007hrs
14Feb: 2000hrs
21Feb: 1952hrs
28Feb: 1943hrs

iHearColours10:24 am 12 Jan 09

There are licensing rights issues as well apparently, but don’t know the full details.

Wide Boy Jake10:20 am 12 Jan 09

iHearColours said :

In response to Steady Eddie’s inquiry, NFSA is currently working on a new restoration of Wake in Fright for re-release later this year. There are only a few surviving prints of the film, all of which are in pretty rotten condition – which explains why no screenings planned at the moment.

The NFSA has been promising the release of Wake In Fright on DVD for five years now. I’ll believe it when I see it (and I desperately want to see it).

iHearColours10:04 am 12 Jan 09

In response to Steady Eddie’s inquiry, NFSA is currently working on a new restoration of Wake in Fright for re-release later this year. There are only a few surviving prints of the film, all of which are in pretty rotten condition – which explains why no screenings planned at the moment.

If anyone is going to the NFSA Arc Cinema series, you have to check out the “Barry McKenzie Holds His Own” so politically incorrect, crass, and plenty of cans of spurting fosters cans.

Oh and there has to be something very special about a crucifix that helps kill a vampire, especially if it’s made out of fosters cans.

Laughs all round.

Steady Eddie8:55 am 12 Jan 09

Why didn’t the NFSA show the Australian classic Wake in Fright instead of Big Wednesday which pops up on TV every few months and has been out on video and DVD for years?

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