7:55 – Tokyo Sonata
My most anticipated film of the year. Woo!
Set in contemporary Tokyo, Tokyo Sonata looks like a melodrama of an ordinary Japanese family of four, but is made by Japan’s suspense-thriller master, a film whose quiet exterior hides a completely different kind of horror from his usual kind. The quiet unraveling of the family begins when the father loses his job unexpectedly, rendered superfluous by outsourcing to China. Facing completely unfamiliar circumstances, he decides not to tell his family and begins his lonely sojourn into the world of the secretly unemployed.
By popular demand, the third live-action adaptation of the fantastic Death Note anime Death Note L: Change the World will screen in select theaters on Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30 at 7:30 PM. In Minneapolis, the event will take place at Kerasotes Block E 15.
The April 29th screening will be a subtitled version, and the 30th screening will be English dubbed. The event will feature exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and interviews of Kenichi Matsuyama (L), Alessandro Juliani (L’s English voice actor), and Hideo Nakata (the director, also of Ringu).
To not spoil the happenings of Death Note, I won’t post the synopsis, but you can read it over at Fathom Events over HERE.
Whoa! The Oak Street is still playing films! Showtimes are TBA.
-Il Divo
What I said about its MSPIFF screening . . . “Stylish biopic of Italy’s controversial ‘Senator for Life’ Giulio Andreotti. Overlong and ridiculously confusing, but still quite entertaining. Toni Servillo’s Nosferatu-esque performance of Andreotti might just be the best acting I’ve seen all year.”
Slimane has worked in the same shipyard job for over 35 years, when his growing dissatisfaction leads to a big dream of opening a fish restaurant. His contagious conviction and persistence work their way into the hearts of his loyal but dispersed family; the four children from his marriage his ex-wife, current girlfriend and her bright, outspoken daughter, Rym.
- Silent Light Carlos Reygadas‘ best work to date. A beautiful work for film lovers with patience, though probably alienating to everyone else.
In Northern Mexico’s unique Mennonite community, a husband and father of seven struggles with his love for a woman who is not his wife. His personal and religious crisis plays out against the eerily massive spaces of Chihuahua, Mexico.
The film tells the tragical story of the life of Lola Montes who was a great adventurer and stopped being the attraction of her circus after having been the lover of various important men.
- Shall We Kiss
A very ‘meh’ French dramedy recently played at the Uptown Theatre.
When Gabriel and Emilie meet by chance, he offers her a ride, and they spend the evening getting along famously. At the end of the night, Emilie declines Gabriel’s offer of “a kiss without consequences”. Emilie admonishes him that the kiss could have unexpected consequences, and tells him a story about the impossibility of indulging your desires without affecting someone else’s life.
About one of the last remaining grocery stores in Reykjavik, run by two eccentric brothers, it is the glue that keeps the community together. Armed with humor and good intentions, the brothers fight a battle against a world of globalisation, fast food, and supermarkets, determined to hold on to the old ways. How far does one go to help one’s neighbor and how much can one talk on the topic of potatoes and chewing gum?
NOBOT will be playing around town twice next month. May 22 at the Nomad with the New Monarchs, I, Colossus and then on May 30 at the Turf Club with Seymore Saves the World.
Matt Perkins (Minnesota Public Radio, Nomad World Pub) is having three fine local bands play his birthday party next Friday night. Added bonus for having a rock, paper, scissors tournament as well.
The Craig Show is a web show about golf starring Craig Teiken, a scratch golfer and professional coach. Craig believes that the game of golf started out as a fun, casual way to gather, and that’s what it should be today. According to Craig, we need to get away from the obsessive emphasis on gear and technique and get back to the community roots of the game.
Thanks to Craig for the shout out to Switchblade Comb!
For the record I’ve only been golfing once in my life. Last year a friend of mine dragged me along to some course in Golden Valley. After sucking it up on the first hole some official looking groundskeeper smugly thanked me for visiting the course and reminded me of the 10 stroke limit. All that being said I’m obviously not a golfer, but I still enjoy watching this locally produced show.
There’s some really excellent (as well as not so excellent) comedians coming to our fair city in the next several months. There’s way to many to do separate posts on each of them so here’s a big long list of the ones worth seeing. You’ll notice Lisa Lampanelli is not listed here. That’s because she’s terrible.
More information like ticket prices and times can be found on each venue’s respective websites.
April 24
Louis CK
Pantages Theater
May 3
Flight of the Conchords + Eugene Mirman
Northrop Auditorium
May 16
Steven Wright
Fitzgerald Theater
May 18
Todd Barry
Varsity Theater
May 18
Paula Poundstone
Guthrie Theater
May 22
Charlie Murphy
Epic
May 27-30
Jake Johannson
Acme Comedy Co.
May 30
Demetri Martin
State Theatre
June 2-6
Nick Thune
Acme Comedy Co.
June 16-18
Chris Hardwick (yes, the Chris Hardwick from MTV’s Singled Out)
Acme Comedy Co.
