Man has always longed for the opportunity to fix his mistakes, and Hollywood has offered many theories about Time Travel. This series examines our desire to change the past and peer into the future. We’ll have much to discuss about the inner workings and politics of Hollywood as  we look at different scenes from Time Travel Movies in addition to the featured films in the series!

This Film Appreciation Series must be purchased in its entirety.

September 9 – Somewhere in Time

(Released 10/3/1980) directed by Jeannot Szwarc, 97 minutes. Perhaps the most romantic film of all time, Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour are eternal lovers bound to each other, notwithstanding the fact that they live in different eras. From the director of Jaws IIcomes a film that was a box office flop, but inspired a fan club called INSITE: The International Network of Somewhere in Time Enthusiasts. The film has an unforgettable soundtrack, passionate performances and an intriguing take on time travel.

September 16 – Peggy Sue Got Married

(Released 10/10/1986) directed by Francis Ford Coppola, 103 minutes. A Prom Queen travels back in time while attending her high school reunion, ostensibly to correct the mistakes she made in life. Coppola has made a career out of casting the right people for the right roles and this movie features early roles for Joan Allen, Helen Hunt, and Jim Carrey as well as powerful roles for the leads in their prime: Kathleen Turner and Nicolas Cage. Another John Barry soundtrack helps give this quirky story its emotional impact.

September 30 – Groundhog Day

(Released 2/12/1993) directed by Harold Ramis, 101 minutes. An arrogant weatherman is stuck in a small town which he despises as he repeats the same day over and over. The film was a big hit and its reputation has only grown and is now considered to be one of the best comedies of all time. Buddhists, Christians, and Jews all see the movie as a religious allegory. Bill Murray gives arguably his best performance supported by outstanding character players including his big brother and many SNL alumni, including Robin Duke and Chris Eliot.

October 7 – 12 Monkeys

(Released 12/29/1995) directed by Terry Gilliam, 129 minutes. A volunteer from a dystopian future travels back in time to discover the origin of the disease that has caused devastation in the world. The story is inspired by the 27-minute, 1962 French short film La Jetee from Chris Marker, which we will screen beforehand. Gilliam directs as a hired hand and gets emotional performances from Bruce Willis, Madeleine Stowe and Brad Pitt. Gilliam was eager to prove that he could bring in films on time and within budget, as he did with 1991’s The Fisher King, to secure financing for his more personal films after the perceived failure of 1988’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen.

October 14 – Frequency

(Released 4/28/2000) directed by Gregory Hoblit, 119 minutes. Father and son are linked via an accidental ham radio connection across 30 years in Queens, NY. This is an enjoyable, mainstream, science fiction thriller with two likable leads and an interesting time paradox. Dennis Quaid and Jim Caviezel carry the emotional story that features the ‘69 Amazin’ Mets, the aurora borealis and a serial killer.

October 28 – Donnie Darko (Director’s Cut)

(Originally released 10/26/2001. Director’s Cut released 5/29/2004) directed by Richard Kelly, 134 minutes. A brooding teenager escapes death and is led down another path (alternate timeline?) by a large rabbit named Frank. A beloved cult movie from USC graduate Richard Kelly, who managed to maintain artistic control after convincing Drew Barrymore to co-star and produce. This is our main course! A challenging film that meditates on time travel, God, and the choices we make in life. Real life brother and sister Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary McDonnell, Patrick Swayze and Katherine Ross are all in this movie because they WANT to be part of something special.