2001: A Space Odyssey in 70mm

The first time I saw this movie was in high school. I'm sure Kubrick never intended for 2001: A Space Odyssey to be screened over two school days on a small television wheeled into a high school film class. Watching this movie in a packed theater, on a giant screen in 70mm is the way it should be seen. The Hollywood Theatre is one of only about a dozen theaters in the country that can even screen 70mm film. All five screenings sold out and it was worth it. There was even a giant monolith outside of the theater. And how fitting that a day after the screening, NASA's Juno spacecraft arrives in Jupiter's orbit.

86/100 - 3rd annual Movie Log... six months in

This is the third year that I've kept a movie log or film diary (2013 Movie Log, 2014 Movie Log). The end of June is the halfway point in the year, so it seemed like a good time to look back on what I've watched so far in 2015. My movie choices are across all genres, some are re-watches and a mix of old and new releases.

January

• To Be Takei
• The Gabby Douglas Story
• Selma
• Skylight - by David Hare (National Theatre Live)
• Trading Places

February

• Treasure Island (National Theatre Live)
• Mr. Turner
• The Duke of Burgundy
• Oscar Shorts (Live Action)
  • Parvaneh
  • Butter Lamp
  • The Phone Call
  • Boogaloo & Graham
  • Aya
• The Eichmann Show
• Advanced Style
• Project Almanac
• Rear WIndow
• A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
• Kingsman: The Secret Service

March

• Mr. Peabody & Sherman
• The Punishing Business ( POW Fest)
• Sisterhood of Night (POW Fest)
• POW Fest Shorts
  • 5 Tropoii Na Pethaneis (5 Ways To Die)
  • Pigeon
  • No one's ready for that
  • B-flat
  • Lines
  • Snowflakes
  • The Real Zombie Housewives
  • Lunchbox Loser
• Wild Tales
• POW Fest Shorts
  • Job Interview
  • Greece
  • Up on the roof
  • Recuiem
  • Mont D'or
  • American Gladiators
• Top Five
• Edge of Tomorrow
• Life Itself

April

• Behind the Beautiful Forevers (National Theatre Live) - Katharine Boo
• Big Hero 6
• Kumiko the treasure hunter
• 9 to 5
• Exhibition on screen: Vincent van Gogh a new way of seeing
• Ex Machina
• The Hard Problem (National Theatre Live) - Tom Stoppard
• White God
• A View from the Bridge (National Theatre Live) - Arthur Miller
• Tootsie
• Love & Basketball

May

• Citizen Kane
• Avengers: Age of Ultron
• Legally Blonde
• Paddington
• Hector & the Search for Happiness
• I am BIg Bird
• Dior and I
• Tomorrowland
• Annie

June

• Mad Max: Fury Road
• The Boxtrolls
• Chappie
• Dope

It's hard to pick a favorite 2015 release but... Sisterhood of  Night, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night and Kingsman: The Secret Service have really stood out to me this year. What's your favorite movie of the year so far?

18/100 - Watch/Review - Ex Machina (new trailer)

“When someone would ask me, ‘When is this taking place,’ I’d say it’s 10 minutes in the future.”

— Alex Garland, Writer/Director of Ex Machina

What will happen if I fail your test? EX MACHINA starring Oscar Isaac, Alicia Vikander and Domhnall Gleeson. - Now Playing Select Theaters

Interview: Alex Garland Talks Lo-Fi Approach To 'Ex Machina'

Ex Machina is finally playing in Portland. I went to see it last Friday. There was hardly a seat free in the theater. Someone was there passing out surveys to get our thoughts after the movie. A new trailer for the film was posted online yesterday by A24 Films. I would describe Ex Machina as a sort-of Twilight Zone story... and I love the Twilight Zone. If you love science fiction, I recommend the movie. If you just a love a good story, I recommend this movie. It's disturbing and beautiful and the special effects are lovely. 

“The thing about particularly low budget filmmaking is to be told the practical parameters and then to be as inventive as you can within them, and to try to find ways of making them into a virtue where possible.”

— Alex Garland

Indie Newcomer A24 Hopes to Find Love for Low-Budget Slate

“AI would be the biggest event in human history. Unfortunately, it might also be the last.”

— Elon Musk