In recognition of World AIDS Day, you’re invited to a community screening of Derek Jarman’s final feature film, BLUE. A single field of radiant blue fills the screen while Jarman, facing AIDS in the final month of his life, speaks of illness, intimacy, and eternity. With only voice and color, BLUE becomes a meditation on presence and absence, on the body in decline, and the spirit in defiant bloom.
This screening will take place at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St, Hartford, CT 06103.
Admission is free, although advance registration is encouraged. (Please note, admission to the film screening does not include museum admission.)
Learn more by visiting the event page here. To register, click here.
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Presented in partnership with Real Art Ways and Out Film CT with support from the Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation Fund at the Wadsworth Atheneum. This special screening launches Glitter & Ash: A Derek Jarman Retrospective, a season-long tribute to one of queer cinema’s visionary artists. The retrospective unfolds alongside the exhibition Gerald Incandela: Photographic Drawings.
Also in the Wadsworth theater lobby, learn about HIV/AIDS-related resources in Connecticut and see exhibiting artist Gerald Incandela’s on-set photographs from Jarman’s Caravaggio, accompanied by a continuous screening of the 1986 film.
“Linklater understands how to use his camera in confined spaces to keep a talkie movie visually arresting. And he’s helped by the snap of Robert Kaplow’s screenplay and by an immaculate cast that nails every line.” – NPR
“In an often remarkable career, Hawke has never embraced that truth so completely as he does here.” – LA Times
“Linklater has crafted one of his finest dramedies, a consistently fascinating exploration of the frailty of the artist, buoyed by one of Ethan Hawke’s most remarkable performances.” – RogerEbert.com
“Blue Moon revels in a fine mind and a great soul, and Hawke’s embodiment of both is exalted and startling. His makeup renders him unrecognizable and is eerily compelling, while his vocal self-transformation is nothing short of miraculous.” –
The New Yorker
Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon tells the story of legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart bravely facing the future as his professional and private life unravels at the opening night party for his former partner’s hit show, Oklahoma! By the time this night is over, Hart will have confronted both a world that no longer values his talent and the seeming impossibility of love.
“This is horror at its best, because it makes you look at life differently.” –
San Francisco Chronicle “Indy and this movie deserve a treat.” –
RogerEbert.com “What comes across most strongly, and gives the film its emotional power, is Indy’s unfailing loyalty to his beloved owner and his willingness do practically anything to protect him.” –
The Hollywood Reporter Our canine hero, Indy, embarks on a new adventure with his human owner — and best friend — Todd, leaving city life behind for a long-vacant family home in the country. From the start, two things are abundantly clear: Indy is wary of the creepy old house, and his affection for Todd is unwavering. After moving in, Indy is immediately vexed by empty corners, tracks an invisible presence only he can see, perceives phantasmagoric warnings from a long-dead dog, and is haunted by visions of the previous occupant’s grim death. When Todd begins succumbing to the dark forces swirling around the house, Indy must battle a malevolence intent on dragging his beloved Todd into the afterlife.
“It’s dazzling and terrifying…” –
Slate “Orwell: 2+2=5 is a vital film.”
Hollywood Reporter “The filmmaker isn’t subtle, but then, neither was his subject, and the film’s points could hardly seem more prescient than they do in this moment.” –
NPR “Peck’s piercing nonfiction has previously given voice to the dead and the dismissed, but now uses one of West’s most acclaimed and quoted novelists to lay bare its persistent sins.” –
AV Club From Academy Award®-nominated and BAFTA-winning director Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro), Orwell is the definitive feature-length documentary on visionary author George Orwell, with the exclusive cooperation of the Orwell Estate. “Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past…,” wrote Orwell in his novel, 1984. Today, the “newspeak” of authoritarian rule is alive and well and in unexpected places, from the rise of AI Chatbots to the Russian propaganda machine, from the marketing webs of commercial metaverses to the political banning of books in the Southern United States. Peck’s “Orwell” will use George Orwell’s life, work, and legacy as a maverick iconoclastic writer to jam the signals of the algorithms gone rogue, which, in the name of personal freedom, threaten to close our minds to a greater possibility.
“Spaces of transgression and safety have never been more important (or in scarce supply) than now, and at its best, ‘Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror’ offers that same playground for its viewers to experience.” –
RogerEbert.com “Anyone who lives, breathes, and bleeds ‘Rocky Horror’ will find comfort in ‘Strange Journey’ and its celebration of the musical’s enduring legacy.” –
IndieWire 100% on Rotten Tomatoes From humble origins as a London fringe theater play to its meteoric rise, fall, and resurrection as the biggest cult film of all time, this is the definitive story of the Rocky Horror Show. With intimate access to its creator Richard O’Brien and other major players such as Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Lou Adler, the documentary explores what makes the play and film so singular: Its groundbreaking and transgressive themes, iconic performances, and epic songs that took over pop culture. The cult phenomenon that sprung around it is unparalleled and created not only the midnight screenings, which continue to this day, but also a haven for those who have ever felt different or marginalized.
“There’s never been a movie more vital this year than The Librarians. If you prize literature, intelligence, independent thought, safe spaces for children, it’s a necessary watch.” –
The Film Maven “From its superb opening-credits sequence paying tribute to card catalogs of yore to its sharp selection of vintage clips and intimate reportage, “The Librarians” is as well-crafted as it is profoundly alarming.” –
New York Times “Filmmaker Kim A. Snyder’s illuminating documentary offers a rattling look at coordinated efforts to ban books. More importantly, it introduces viewers to the everyday and increasingly vital heroes pushing back.” –
Variety 93% Librarians emerge as first responders in the fight for democracy and our First Amendment Rights. As they well know, controlling the flow of ideas means control over communities. In Texas, the Krause List targets 850 books focused on race and LGBTQia+ stories — triggering sweeping book bans across the U.S. at an unprecedented rate. As tensions escalate, librarians connect the dots from heated school and library board meetings nationwide to lay bare the underpinnings of White Christian Nationalism fueling the censorship efforts. Despite facing harassment, threats, and laws aimed at criminalizing their work, the librarians’ rallying cry for freedom to read is a chilling cautionary tale.
Part of our “RAW Terror” horror film marathon programming for Thursday, October 16, during Creative Cocktail Hour… You have the option to purchase tickets for
Midsommar and pair it with
Scream and
The Evil Dead as a Double Feature, OR take on the ultimate challenge of watching ALL THREE FILMS as a Triple Feature – all screening on the night of October 16. Double Feature:
The Evil Dead (5:15) and
Midsommar (9:10): General admission $20 Double Feature:
Scream (7:00) and
Midsommar (9:10): General admission $20 Triple Feature:
Scream (7:00),
The Evil Dead (5:15)
, and
Midsommar (9:10): General admission $24 — “It’s a world that you absolutely believe in, aided by really really brilliant performances.” –
Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review “Indeed, it’s cultural sensitivity that lies at the heart of this movie. It is not about serial killers, aliens or supernatural beings. It is about the ordinary humans we know as the Other because they come from somewhere else.” –
The Australian “Ari Aster’s folk-horror flick is frightening, beautiful, and just a little unhinged.” –
The New Republic A young American couple, their relationship floundering, travel to a Swedish midsummer festival where a seemingly pastoral paradise transforms into a sinister, dread-soaked nightmare as the locals reveal their terrifying agenda.
Part of our “RAW Terror” horror film marathon programming for Thursday, October 16, during Creative Cocktail Hour… You have the option to purchase tickets for
Scream and pair it with
The Evil Dead or
Midsommar as a Double Feature, OR take on the ultimate challenge of watching ALL THREE FILMS as a Triple Feature – all screening on the night of October 16. Double Feature:
The Evil Dead (5:15) and
Scream (7:00): General admission $20 Double Feature:
Scream (7:00) and
Midsommar (9:10): General admission $20 Triple Feature:
The Evil Dead (5:15),
Scream (7:00)
, and
Midsommar (9:10): General admission $24 – “Scream is a howling great time.” –
Toronto Star “You probably have to be a horror-freak to really understand the immense ingenuity of this movie, but in every department — direction, acting, sound design — it is a stunner.” –
The Age (Australia) “No one will ever consider Wes Craven’s Scream Oscar fodder, but this funny and scary little experiment in terror from the man who invented “Nightmare on Elm Street” puts some fun back into a very tired genre.” –
Newsweek The sleepy little town of Woodsboro just woke up screaming. There’s a killer in their midst who’s seen a few too many scary movies. Suddenly, nobody is safe, as the psychopath stalks victims, taunts them with trivia questions, then rips them to bloody shreds. It could be anybody…
Part of our “RAW Terror” horror film marathon programming for Thursday, October 16, during Creative Cocktail Hour… You have the option to purchase tickets for
The Evil Dead and pair it with
Scream or
Midsommar as a Double Feature, OR take on the ultimate challenge of watching ALL THREE FILMS as a Triple Feature – all screening on the night of October 16. Double Feature:
The Evil Dead (5:15) and
Scream (7:00): General admission $20 Double Feature:
The Evil Dead (5:15) and
Midsommar (9:10): General admission $20 Triple Feature:
The Evil Dead (5:15)
, Scream (7:00), and
Midsommar (9:10): General admission $24 – “Sam Raimi’s 1981 breakout feature remains profoundly unsettling due to the gonzo vigour with which he attacks his subject.” –
The Times (UK) “It’s a great audience participation show.” –
The New York Times “The Evil Dead still feels like the punchiest horror flick this side of a Dario Argento gialli.” –
Slant Magazine Ashley “Ash” Williams (Bruce Campbell), his girlfriend, and three pals hike into the woods to a cabin for a fun night away. There, they find an old book, the Necronomicon, whose text reawakens the dead when it’s read aloud. The friends inadvertently release a flood of evil and must fight for their lives or become one of the evil dead. Ash watches his friends become possessed, and must make a difficult decision before daybreak to save his own life in this, the first of Sam Raimi’s trilogy.
“Just trust me when I say that it’s extremely clever and full of surprises, and reinforces that writer, director, and co-star James Sweeney is a bold and refreshing filmmaker to watch.” –
RogerEbert.com “The indignities of grief take center stage in James Sweeney’s touching, hilarious and eventually enthralling Twinless.” –
Observer “Sweeney’s unpredictable movie twists and writhes, while never losing sight of its layered characters’ heartfelt longing.” –
New York Post “Given the twisty, often jaw-droppingly unexpected nature of Twinless, it’ll be a hard one to keep fully under wraps until release. It’s doubly hard given how hugely impressive the film is as well.” –
Guardian Two young men meet in a twin support group and form an unlikely friendship. Roman (Dylan O’Brien) and Dennis (James Sweeney) both search for solace and an identity without their other halves and soon become inseparable outside the group. But when Roman meets Dennis’ ebullient co-worker, Marcie (Aisling Franciosi), all is revealed to be not what it seems, as each man harbors secrets that could unravel everything.
Celebrate The Official Release Party of a Showgirl in theaters only October 3rd – 5th. See the exclusive world premiere of the music video, “The Fate of Ophelia,” along with behind-the-scenes footage from the music video shoot, brand new lyric videos, and Taylor’s never-before-seen personal reflections on songs from her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl. Please note: This is a one-weekend-only event and there are no member-priced / discounted tickets.
“With a profound embrace of the changing times and clever winks at Downton devotees, writer Julian Fellowes and director Simon Curtis deliver a heart-swelling conclusion.” –
Variety “Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale transports you to a time and place that seems so much more glamorous than our own, and to see it all splashed out on the big screen is almost overwhelming. It’s a genteel fantasy worth leaving the couch for.” – TIME Magazine
92% on Rotten Tomatoes DOWNTON ABBEY: THE GRAND FINALE, the cinematic return of the global phenomenon, follows the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s. When Mary finds herself at the center of a public scandal and the family faces financial trouble, the entire household grapples with the threat of social disgrace. The Crawleys must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future.
“It’s funny and a wee bit poignant…” –
RogerEbert.com “Spinal Tap II May Be More Endearing than Funny, But It Still Hits the Right Chords” – TIME Magazine
Forty-one years after the release of the groundbreaking mockumentary
This Is Spinal Tap, the now estranged bandmates David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls (Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer) are forced to reunite for one final concert.
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues also marks the resurrection of documentarian Marty Di Bergi (Rob Reiner), who once again tries to capture his favorite metal gods as they contemplate mortality–and the hope that their 12th drummer doesn’t join them in The Great Beyond. Joined by music royalty Paul McCartney and Elton John,
Spinal Tap wrestles with their checkered past to put on a concert that they hope will solidify their place in the pantheon of rock ‘n’ roll.
“‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ standout Albrecht Schuch gives an irresistible star turn in Bernhard Wenger’s tart, funny, slightly heartbreaking debut feature.” –
Variety “The smart concept, social commentary and a strong central performance from Albrecht Schuch combine to create a polished, slyly entertaining work…” –
ScreenDaily 100% on Rotten Tomatoes At MyCompanion, the cultured and confident Matthias is available — for a reasonable fee — to fill any social role you desire, from ‘the perfect son’ to the ‘enlightened boyfriend’, or even ‘pilot dad’ to impress your classmates at Bring Your Parent to School Day. But while Matthias is at the top of his professional game, his personal life begins to crumble as he detaches from his own identity and burrows deeper into his fictitious lives. Bernhard Wenger’s PEACOCK is a biting and hilarious social satire about the masks we wear in the pursuit of human connection.
94% on Rotten Tomatoes “Lurker is a tight and wicked little film, a promising debut feature for the writer and director Alex Russell, a kind of minimalist counterbalance to the maximalist dissipation of Saltburn.” –
NYT “Both actors have been around for a minute but their moody chemistry together as the star-struck barnacle and the self-serious artist crackles on screen, and could very well mark a turning point in their careers.” –
NPR “The artist and audience member are coequal—and codependent—in this perceptive drama about a parasocial relationship that enters the realm of reality.” –
Slant Magazine A screw-turning psychological thriller made for the moment, LURKER is the razor-sharp directorial debut from The Bear and Beef writer-producer Alex Russell. When twenty-something Los Angeles retail clerk and loner Matthew (Théodore Pellerin) encounters rising pop star Oliver (Saltburn’s Archie Madekwe), he takes the opportunity to edge his way into the in-crowd. But staying there isn’t easy. With an entire entourage (Bottoms’ Havana Rose Liu, Abbott Elementary’s Zack Fox, Y2K’s Daniel Zolghadri, mid90s’ Sunny Suljic) vying for attention, Matthew must prove himself to Oliver as more than just a follower. As their bond grows strained and mainstream fame appears within reach, access and proximity become a matter of life and death. Online fixation meets reality in this parasocial, paranoid cat-and-mouse film driven by star-making performances. With an incisive view to contemporary culture and a brilliant score from Kenny Beats (known for his work with Vince Staples), LURKER presents an exhilarating take on the music industry, the blurred line between friend and fan, and our universal search for validation.
“Covino and Marvin continue to forge a distinct comic sensibility — and, what’s rarer these days, they know how to make the camera work for the humor.” –
The New York Times “Covino’s filmmaking is tremendously appealing, buoyant and playful, and in “Splitsville,” he dials everything up from “The Climb,” especially the comedy.” –
Tribune News Service “The linchpin is Johnson, who turns in a vulnerable yet confident performance.” –
San Francisco Chronicle “The funniest film of the year” Awards Watch After Ashley (Adria Arjona) asks for a divorce, good-natured Carey (Kyle Marvin) runs to his friends, Julie (Dakota Johnson) and Paul (Michael Angelo Covino), for support. He’s shocked to discover that the secret to their happiness is an open marriage, that is, until Carey crosses the line and throws all of their relationships into chaos.
“This is a journey. This is a ride. Highest 2 Lowest is Lee and Washington, reunited and good as ever.” –
Mashable “It’s a movie that gleefully kicks its characters out of their comfy environs to plunge them into New York’s rattling, noisy crowds — and it’s worth watching with the biggest audience you can find.” –
The Atlantic “Everywhere there are grace notes — cameos, recreations of art from Spike Lee’s own collection, in-jokes — to complement the pulsing, vibrant, rousing, seriously musical, and occasionally even profound entertainment that is Highest 2 Lowest.” –
NPR When a titan music mogul (Denzel Washington), widely known as having the “best ears in the business”, is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. Brothers Denzel Washington and Spike Lee reunite for the 5th in their long working relationship for a reinterpretation of the great filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s crime thriller High and Low, now played out on the mean streets of modern-day New York City.
