Cinéma du Parc Midnight Series
La Haine
With a list of classics that would delight any cinema studies prof, Cinéma du Parc offers nine films that are meant to be enjoyed late at night. In a series of late night showings, each film will be screened on Friday and Saturday at midnight (11:30 p.m., but you’ll be in the film at midnight!). What can cinephiles stay up late for?
Things start with Existenz, a David Cronenberg film about a game designer on the run. Since VR has started to become a household item, it’s a little harder to imagine the UmbryCords, ports that attach to a player’s spine, as a way to experience reality-deforming video games. But that’s what makes for sci-fi horror of 1999.
Next along is technological horror piece is Westworld, where one might say AI is taken to its fearful limit in thsi Michael Crichton film from 1973. Androids make for a special kind of western-style recreation park. But a few androids are not playing by the don’t-hurt-the-customers rules.
Spike Jonze’s Being John Malkovich is something that can only be the by-product of some narcotics use. A puppeteer (already a sign we’re in altered state) finds out that he can enter the head of movie star John Malkovich.
12 Monkeys, along with its initial inspiration, La Jetée, are also being shown. Criminals are sent back in time to find out the cause of a virus that killed five billion people.
La Haine tackles race and poverty, as it follows three young men in one of Paris’ seedy suburbs. The cops beat one of the three and revenge is sought. Gritty, violent, and of course, tension make this a defining film of the 90s.
Full Metal Jacket is like… well.. dark. Stanley Kubrick’s piece begins with the effects of an abusive boot camp during the Vietnam war. In the second half, one of those recruits goes on to work as a war correspondent, only his job as journalist is soon laid aside as staying alive in a chaotic mess.
Just around Easter, catch The Last Temptation of Christ, Martin Scorsese’s telling of the tale of Jesus, based on Nikos Kazantzakis’ novel. This is about Christ the tempted — he has sex, for one thing, and not just with Mary Magdalene.
Finally, get your Bruce Lee on with Enter the Dragon. This film will cure you of your belief that movies have too much dialogue, and not enough action.
For tickets and information about this upcoming series, head to Cinema du Parc’s website HERE.The series starts March 1st and continues Friday and Saturday nights until April 26-28. Tickets $13 adults, $11.50 seniors, $10 under 21.
