FILM APPRECIATION – COMING OF AGE
FILM APPRECIATION – COMING OF AGE
Our new Coming of Age series spans 6 decades and looks at growing up in America. Beginning with Richard Brooks’ hard hitting Blackboard Jungle in 1955 and finishing with Wes Anderson’s nostalgic and magical Moonrise Kingdom from 2012.
Although Each class officially begins at 3pm, some participants choose to come early at 2:30pm to watch bonus material such as scenes from related movies and extra content related to the series or each particular screening.
June 28 – Blackboard Jungle (Released 3/20/1955) directed by Richard Brooks, 101 minutes. A WWII veteran takes a teaching position at a rough New York City school for boys. Glenn Ford, Ann Francis and Sidney Poitier lead the cast in this cultural milestone of a film still potent 70 years later.
July 12 – The Last Picture Show (Released 10/22/1971) directed by Peter Bogdonavich, 118 minutes. A year in the lives of the residents of Anarene, Texas centered around lifelong friends Sonny and Duane played by Timothy Bottoms and Jeff Bridges. A stark but moving coming of age story, this was Bogdonavich’s breakthrough film which earned him a Best Director nomination while Cloris Leachman and Ben Johnson both won Best Supporting Oscars.
July 19th – American Graffiti (Released 8/1/1973) directed by George Lucas, 110 minutes. A group of friends spend one last night cruising the strip before they begin their adult life after graduation in the summer of 1962. Produced by Francis Ford Coppola, the first movie under the banner of Lucasfilm, it is one of the most profitable films of all time and was also loved by critics earning a Best Picture nomination.
August 2nd – Scent of a Woman (Released 12/23/1992) directed by Martin Brest, 156 minutes. Charlie Simms is on a scholarship at an exclusive New England preparatory school and he takes a part time job as caretaker/companion to blind retired Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade for Thanksgiving weekend. Hoo-ha! Pacino won his only Oscar for this over the top performance; he’s been nominated 9 times. The young man’s idealism and integrity rub off on the jaded Vietnam vet as much as the old man’s experience and wisdom influences him; iron sharpens iron.
August 9th – Dazed and Confused (Released 9/24/1993) directed by Richard Linklater, 104 minutes. The last day of school in a rural Texas town in the bicentennial year of 1976. Male and female rites of passage are on display in this hilarious and insightful movie made after Linklater’s indie debut: Slacker. Matthew McConaughey, Parker Posey, and Ben Affleck were some of the breakout stars from this film.
August 16th – Moonrise Kingdom (Released 5/16/2012) directed by Wes Anderson, 94 minutes. Two twelve-year-olds fall in love and run away on the island of New Penzance off the coast of New England in 1965. Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Ed Norton, and Bruce Willis are some of the adults in this quirky and delightful look at young love.
Film Appreciation is an ongoing class open to everyone with a love for movies. We examine and discuss in a relaxed atmosphere all aspects of film and filmmaking from how movies are made to each film’s unique place in movie history.
Our class is a dedicated, easy going group of film lovers who have respectful discussions. We talk about what makes a movie great and why some last for decades and others are lost in obscurity. Think of it as a book of the month club for movies.
The class is led by Luke MacCloskey an actor with a degree in Film Studies from the University of North Texas who has experience working on stage and screen all around the country. Please call him at 646-705-4807 or email him at lukedad@gmail.com if you have any questions about Film Appreciation.
