Indy Film Scene Guide: Arthouse flix, foreign films and documentaries are making their mark, even in Northern Michigan

Feb. 2, 2005

At the Golden Globes this year, there were a number of A-list stars who received nominations: Leonard DiCaprio for best actor (“The Aviator”), Uma Thurman for best actress (“Kill Bill Vol. 2”), Clint Eastwood for best director (“Million Dollar Baby”). No surprises here: award shows revolve around successful names.
Box office revenue often correlates directly with nominations… which raises an interesting question: who, exactly, is Imelda Staunton? She was nominated for best actress for her work in “Vera Drake” -- competing against the likes of Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger -- but there didn’t seem to be one red carpet reporter who knew who she was. And what about “Hotel Rwanda”? It was up for best picture, but unlike “The Aviator” or “Finding Neverland,” I’ve never seen it playing at any of the theaters I’ve been to. In all of the glitz and glamour of Tinseltown ceremonies, where do these dark horse nominations come from?
The Globes this year reflected a growing trend in the movie industry: public acknowledgement of independent films. Previously restricted to film festivals and cable channels like HBO, independent filmmaking is finally claiming its rightful place in the Hollywood spotlight… and audiences are sitting up and taking notice. Films like “The Blair Witch Project” and “Napoleon Dynamite” have shown that it doesn’t take a bloated budget to bring in big box office; it’s not special effects but a good story that draws people to theaters. And big-name stars are giving up their inflated paychecks to be a part of these smaller films, hungry for challenging roles and well-written scripts.

LOCAL SHOWINGS
Until recently, it was rare for independent films to be shown in places like Northern Michigan. Even with star-studded casts, these movies are often played in limited release, meaning only big cities like Los Angeles or New York. But thanks to local demand for quality films and the hard work of some enterprising individuals, there are a number of places in the area dedicated to showing independent movies, some at no cost. So the next time you’re stuck trying to decide between “Freddy vs. Jason” and “2 Fast 2 Furious,” remember that you do, in fact, have the right to see a good movie. So grab this guide and treat yourself instead to a film that’s worth your hard-earned money.
You’ll never watch a Ben Affleck movie again.

GKC Horizon Cinemas’ Art House
There is a reason I head to the theaters in Traverse City each week, and it’s not anything Vin Diesel is in. It is the light at the end of the long hallway at Horizon Cinemas, all the way down in theater 10: the Art House feature.
GKC introduced the art house feature a few years back, and it has since been responsible for bringing documentaries, independent films, and limited release features to audiences in Northern Michigan.
Be forewarned: the Art House titles change out on a consistent basis, so if something looks good, see it while you still can. Try going on Tuesday afternoons; not only will you see a great film at matinee price, if you bring your own bucket, popcorn is only 50 cents.

The Bay Theater
The Bay Theater in Suttons Bay may be small compared to some theaters, but as a source of independent films, it is a giant. This “renovated Victorian movie house” usually features an indie film along with a mainstream film as its weekly titles, and that’s just getting warmed up. The Bay is now in its sixth season of its “Beyond The Bay Film Series”, which screens nine of the best, new independent films -- one a month -- from September to May. Viewers have the option of paying for tickets individually, or buying a season pass for the entire series.
Upcoming titles include “Twilight Samurai” and “Moolaade,” both of which made Roger Ebert’s best of 2004 list. It is unlikely you will be able to see these films anywhere else in the area, so it is well worth the drive to visit the Bay. And manager Robert Bahle, a true movie lover, has issued this tempting invitation: if there’s something you want to see and you can’t find it anywhere locally, he will do his best to bring it to the Bay. For show times and theater information, or to take Bahle up on his offer, call 231-271-3772, or go to
www.leelanau.com/thebay.

Traverse Area District Library
If money’s tight but you still want to see a quality film, the library’s Cinema Curiosa series is your answer. There’s no charge for these “experimental, foreign, and uncompromising documentary” films, shown the first Friday of each month, and it’s sure to be worth the outing. There’s usually a crowd, and seating is first come first served, so make sure to arrive early. Doors open at 7:30 pm, movies start at 8 pm.
The next feature, on February 4, is “The Corporation,” a riveting documentary on the history of corporate America that won the Sundance 2004 Audience Award. For more information on this and other films featured in the series, go to www.cinemacuriosa.org.

Coffeehouse Scene:
How many places can you go to see a free movie and enjoy a cappuccino while you watch? One, that I know of, and that is Jacob’s Well. One Sunday a month this coffeehouse on the corner of Front St. and Garfield in TC screens an independent or documentary film free for its patrons. Past features have included “Super Size Me,” “Fahrenheit 9/11,” and “Dogtown and Z-Boys.”
Jacob’s Well also holds an annual film festival in August, featuring the works of local filmmakers. For info on this month’s movie night and other ongoing events, check the web site at www.jacobswell.info.
Then too, check out the IndyFlix series at Kejara’s Bridge in Lake Leelanau. The series offers “occasional screenings of progressive independent videos in a local coffeehouse venue.” A recent showing was that of “Zapatista!” about the struggles of the Mayan people in the Mexican state of Chiapas.

Petoskey Film Theater:
Hosted by the new Petoskey Library on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., this film theater series offers art films, foreign fare and documentaries. Recent showings included “Goodbye Lenin” and the PBS documentary, “The Magic Never Ends,” about the life of author C.S. Lewis. New season to be announced soon.

side bar
Tough love films with Mideast: Just Peace
Northern Michigan’s grittiest, take-no-prisoners film series is offered by Mideast: Just Peace, which hosts monthly documentaries on the turmoil in Israel, Iraq and other Mideastern hot spots.
Formed in 2002 by area citizens concerned over lack of justice overseas, Mideast: Just Peace presents most of its films at the Traverse Area District Library. Recent films have dealt with Israel’s Separation Wall and the role of oil in the war in Iraq. This Monday, Feb. 7, the series will present “Arlington West,” a collection of 64 interviews with soldiers and Marines enroute to and returning from the war in Iraq, plus interviews with military families.
For info on the series, see www.mideastjustpeace.org, or check the Hot Date listings in the Express. -- R. Downes

NMC Sponsors Spring Film Series: Classic Comedies of the ‘30s and ‘40s
Get your laughs free of charge at the Spring Film Series at
Northwestern Michigan College featuring classic comedies of the 1930s
and 1940s. The series will highlight many of the works of writer/director Preston
Sturges, with showings at either Milliken Auditorium or Oleson Center.
A short introductory lecture by an NMC faculty member will precede each
film. All films will all be at 7 p.m.

Thurs, February 3 It Happened One Night (1934)
Thurs., February 10 The Great McGinty (1940)
Thurs, March 3 My Man Godfrey (1936)
Thurs, March 10 The Lady Eve (1941)
Thurs., March 17 The Awful Truth (1937)
Thurs., March 24 Sullivan’s Travels (1941)
Thurs., March 31 Bringing up Baby (1938)
Thurs., April 7 The Palm Beach Story (1942)
Thurs., April 14 His Girl Friday (1940)
Thurs., April 21 Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944)
Thurs., May 5 Unfaithfully Yours (1948)

For more info,
call the
NMC Osterlin Library
at 231-995-1540.