Film

[click "Play" to listen to host David Oyster on the films]

TFF12-14 The fourth and final program of the film noir series presented by the Telluride Film Festival and The Wilkinson Public LIbrary, part of the film club TFF Cinematheque, includes two classics of the genre: "Out of the Past" (1947, 97 minutes) and "Double Indemnity" (1944, 106 minutes). This double bill starts at 6:00 pm, Monday, December 14, at the Wilkinson Library in Telluride.


Aseriousman_smallposter 2012_smallposter The Nugget Theatre in beautiful downtown Telluride is showing "2012" the week of December 11-17.

What are your plans for 2013? Oh, you didn't make any? Just as well, as this movie posits the end of the world in 2012. Buildings, bridges, monuments: all fall down. There is plenty of selfishness involved- who gets on the lifeboat? Anyway, it should be entertaining. (Rated PG-13)

The Telluride Film Festival presents "A Serious Man" (Rated R) on Thursday evening, December 17. For showtimes, see below. See the Nugget website for reviews and trailers.

Pirateradio_smallposter Disneysachristmascarol_smallposter Telluride's Nugget Theatre is showing "A Christmas Carol" and "Pirate Radio" Friday-Tuesday, December 4-8. There will be three FREE screenings of "Astroboy" on Wednesday and Thursday, December 9-10.

From Disney comes an animation of Dickens' timeless "A Christmas Carol" with Jim Carey as the voice of Scrooge.

In the 1960s, the BBC would only schedule a minimum of popular music. To fill the void Radio Caroline (the Pirate Radio of this movie) was broadcasting rock 'n' roll from a ship offshore, and therein lies the tale. Come for the music if nothing else.

Astroboy_smallposter "Astroboy" is a robot with super-human powers. What's left to want? Acceptance, of course. And that's the nature of this story.

See showtimes below, and the Nugget website for trailers and reviews.

You've heard it before. Telluride is a global sandbox, a place supernovas gather to play. Now in its ninth season, Telluride Musicfest occurs over several weeks in June, mostly chamber music style, in the living room of two of its producers. Telluride Musicfest's artist-in-residence...

Today, November 29, 4:00pm, Telluride viewers can see "Ponyo," Hayao Miyazaki's acclaimed animated feature as part of the Michael D. Palm Theatre's "Sunday at the Palm" series.To view a trailer, see the Apple trailers website.See you there. ...

Paranormalactivity_smallteaser 081926H1 Telluride's Nugget Theatre will show two movies each evening the week of Friday, November 27- Thursday, 12/3.

"This Is It" is a documentary, a compilation of footage of Michael Jackson's rehearsals for the sold-out London performances that were scheduled for July 2009. Jackson died in June. There are also interviews with friends and collaborators, and shots from behind the scenes. Roger Ebert: "...one of the most revealing music documentaries I've seen." (Rated PG)

Plagued by demons? Katie, in "Paranormal Activity" says she has been followed by one for years. Skeptical boyfriend Micah sets up a videocam to put the fears to rest. It doesn't work. Missed Halloween? Try this one. (Rated R)

Note that Thursday will feature FREE cartoons plus the "This Is It" showing. See below for showtimes, and the Nugget website for trailers and reviews.

[click "Play" to listen to Erika Gordon's remarks about "Ponyo"]

Ponyo.11x17 The Telluride Film Festival's Sunday at the Palm series continues Thanksgiving weekend, Sunday, November 29 4 p.m., with a rare treat for the holidays: magic and joy. Unbridled joy that sweeps up like a giant tsunami into ecstatic reverie in the newest award-winning film from animator extraordinaire Hayao Miyazaki, who won an Oscar for "Spirited Away." The film "Ponyo," (2008, 100 minutes) a sorta goldfish – actually some half-human, half-fish daughter of a powerful wizard (Miyazaki's persona?) –  desperately wants to become a little girl after she meets a little boy who loves her.


"Ponyo" takes some inspiration from "The Little Mermaid," by Hans Christian Anderson, but there is nothing macabre about Miyazaki's tale, no one dies and only a few tears are shed.

[click "Play" to listen to Susan's conversation with host Seth Berg]

11-16 TFF Poster final A handshake between the Telluride Film Festival and the Wilkinson Public Library developed into a popular local's film club, Telluride Film Festival Cinematheque. Last season, Telluride Film Festival director Gary Meyer  based his programming on the theme of the French New Wave. (Not a hairstyle.) This season, the subject is film noir, flicks with chicks who put the mythological sirens to shame and hapless heroes whose lives are one bad hair day.

The next FREE program in the noir genre occurs Monday, November 16, starting at 5:30 p.m. for the pre-SHOW reception. The evening is double-billed as it would have been in the 1940s and 1950s when film noir was in its heyday. First up is Stanley Kubrick thriller "The Killing" (1956, 83 minutes), considered by buffs to be the director's most perfectly crafted film.

Wherethewildthingsare_smallfinal Capitalism_smallposter The Nugget Theatre in Telluride is showing "Where the Wild Things Are" Friday, November 13 through Wednesday, November 18. There are two screenings nightly, plus a matinee on Saturday. "WWTA" is based on the wonderful Maurice Sendak children's book, and the critics have raved about the integration of live characters and the special effects "Things" who are animated (inhabited) by the human actors who provide the voices.

On Thursday, November 19 there will be two showings of Michael Moore's "Capitalism: a Love Story." Moore's films often irritate, but they inevitably make us think.

For showtimes see below. For reviews and trailers, check the Nugget website.