Repost: Psycho (October 1st and 2nd at the Cedar Lee Theatre)

[PSYCHO screens Saturday October 1st at 9:30pm and 11:59 pm, and Sunday October 2nd at 7:00pm at the Cedar Lee Theatre.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO has become such a part of the cultural consciousness that it's hard to imagine anyone today seeing the film in a spoiler-free environment. PSYCHO's key moments and iconic imagery show up on so many clip shows and have been parodied so often that everyone knows what happens when Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) stops to spend the night at the little hotel run by Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) even if they've never seen the film itself. That it's still a movie well worth watching even without the element of surprise is a real testament to just how good it is.

Psycho, with the Cleveland Orchestra, on April 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Review by Charles Cassady, Jr.

It was upbeat for a moment there, when the Cleveland-filmed CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER broke box-office records internationally. For an instant it seemed like the world actually liked Cleveland. But...remember, that while CAPTAIN AMERICA shot all over town, it was simply the ruins of post-industrial Great Recession Cleveland passing for other Marvel Comics locales. The real test of "Renaissance City" would come when the Browns-centered football movie DRAFT DAY, actually set in Cleveland, premiered in wide release right after CAPTAIN AMERICA. And we all know what happened.

DRAFT DAY scored a paltry $10 million gross opening weekend. There are Cuyahoga County bureaucrats and educators who regularly steal more than that. It's on track to be the least-seen Kevin Costner movie since SIZZLE BEACH USA. Costner's people have been hard at work floating the story that DRAFT DAY was actually made by an actor-director called "Cevin Kostner," no relation; the real Costner would never dream of setting foot in Cleveland. The Cleveland Film Commission has issued a disclaimer that it actually promotes Cleveland Tennessee; they only have offices in Ohio because the flatline-economy rent was cheaper here.

In other words, superheroes notwithstanding, we're back to relying on the esteemed Cleveland Orchestra being the only thing significant about Cleveland (now that LeBron James has gone).

Repost: Hitchcock (March 7th and 8th at the Cleveland Cinematheque)

[HITCHCOCK screens Thursday March 7th at 6?45 pm and Friday March 8th at 9:30 pm at the Cleveland Cinematheque. Hitchcock scholar and author Phil Skerry will lead a post-film discussion both nights.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

While most film critics seem to prefer VERTIGO, the Alfred Hitchcock film that would likely win the “people's choice” award from regular moviegoers is PSYCHO. The not-quite-a-biopic HITCHCOCK purports to tell the story of how PSYCHO was made while simultaneously exploring the dynamics in the relationship between the Hitchcock and his wife, Alma Reville. Both aspects of the film are shallow and factually dubious, but the cast is fun and director Sacha Gervasi's light, often humorous approach to the material at least make for a mostly entertaining film that is thankfully free of the overly serious tone that characterizes so many Hollywood biopics and “based on a true story” productions, especially those so obviously “going for the Oscar”. 

Hitchcock

Review by Bob Ignizio

While most film critics seem to prefer VERTIGO, the Alfred Hitchcock film that would likely win the “people's choice” award from regular moviegoers is PSYCHO. The not-quite-a-biopic HITCHCOCK purports to tell the story of how PSYCHO was made while simultaneously exploring the dynamics in the relationship between the Hitchcock and his wife, Alma Reville. Both aspects of the film are shallow and factually dubious, but the cast is fun and director Sacha Gervasi's light, often humorous approach to the material at least make for a mostly entertaining film that is thankfully free of the overly serious tone that characterizes so many Hollywood biopics and “based on a true story” productions, especially those so obviously “going for the Oscar”. 

Psycho (March 25th and 26th at the Cleveland Cinematheque)

[PSYCHO screens Friday March 25th at 9:20pm and Saturday March 26th at 7:20pm at the Cleveland Cinematheque.]

Review by Bob Ignizio

Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO has become such a part of the cultural consciousness that it's hard to imagine anyone today seeing the film in a spoiler-free environment. PSYCHO's key moments and iconic imagery show up on so many clip shows and have been parodied so often that everyone knows what happens when Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) stops to spend the night at the little hotel run by Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) even if they've never seen the film itself. That it's still a movie well worth watching even without the element of surprise is a real testament to just how good it is.