Hey folks, welcome back to Little Big Screen: On the Big, Big Screen, where film columnist Benjamin McElroy recommends five screenings happening at Iowa’s independent movie theaters. This month, the rotten word from Washington D.C. can’t be ducked. FilmScene and Varsity Cinema were both notified on May 2 that their National Endowment for the Arts funding had been terminated. There’s nothing nice to say about this one small part of something much larger and more monstrous, but thanks to the work these nonprofit theaters have already done in Iowa City and Des Moines, action is well within reach for anyone who gives a shit. Go get a ticket. Go see a movie.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Directed by Peter Jackson
Sub City on First Avenue was where I found my still-favorite lunch combo of a sandwich, drink and dirty ceiling tiles. I didn’t know it then, but Sub City’s dill spread was forged in the lower level of Lindale Mall by Debbie and Warren Wood, the owners of Alfalfa’s Deli. The Woods sold the deli in 1989 and moved to Los Angeles when their son’s acting career took off, but you can still get the spread today at Deb’s, a couple blocks away from the old Sub City. And this weekend, an hour or so east on I-80, you can see their son, Elijah, in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
The Last Picture House, Davenport, Saturday, May 10, 6 p.m., and Sunday, May 11, 3 p.m.
Crash (1996)
Directed by David Cronenberg
J.G. Ballard died before America’s cars swelled in size and violence, designed and sold to plow through anything, anyone. But when Ballard wrote Crash in the early ’70s, he already seemed to understand the stupid sex thing that would drive us to big, dumb trucks and SUVs. Cronenberg’s film adaptation, its own wreckage of seatbelts and pantyhose, is less about the book’s car crash fetish and more about the fetishists. The leads (James Spader, Holly Hunter, Elias Koteas, Deborah Kara Unger, Rosanna Arquette) all get nude and weird, while Howard Shore’s score squeals like new brakes, or maybe, a Fender headstock scraping paint. The effect is life — and kink — affirming. These backseat sickos cross every possible divider line, and yet, I’d rather run into one of them than another F-150.
FilmScene, Iowa City, Saturday, May 10, 9:30 p.m., and Thursday, May 15, 7 p.m.
For the Cannes-celed series, FilmScene has a wall of red (boos) and green (ovations) Post-It Notes going. Cast your vote for Crash after the screening.
The Decline of Western Civilization (1981)
Directed by Penelope Spheeris
The Decline of Western Civilization is spiky and raw — and why wouldn’t it be? Filmed in Los Angeles from December 1979 through May 1980, this documentary features a who’s who of early punk, from Black Flag to X, before anybody knew who they were, and by and large, lets the scene speak for itself, from the venerated to the venereal.
Iowa Basement Tapes, a weekly radio show with hundreds of hours of episodes dedicated to our state’s own DIY music scene, is bringing The Decline of Western Civilization to the Varsity. Kristian Day, host of Iowa Basement Tapes, also knows a thing or two about the documentary form. If for some reason you haven’t seen The Last American Gay Bar, his six-episode limited series about The Blazing Saddle, it’s streaming on OUTtv right now.
Varsity Cinema, Des Moines, Thursday, May 22, 10 p.m.
Chisum (1970)
Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen
It’s the name on everybody’s lips! A couple months after winning the Academy Award for Best Actor, John Wayne was back in the saddle as the really, truly, ridiculously named cattle rancher John Chisum in this western about the Lincoln County War of 1878. Chisum was Wayne’s 200th starring role, and although he was more presence than muscle at the age of 63, he wasn’t yet out to pasture. By the third act, which is a hoot and a holler and a half, you better believe the bad guys get the horns.
Chisum is screening at The Iowa Theater as part of Winterset’s big birthday bash for the hometown hero. Built in 1899, the theater itself is worth the drive from Des Moines, with age in all the right places (architecture, concession prices) and touch-ups only where absolutely necessary (picture, sound).
Field of Dreams (1989)
Directed by Phil Alden Robinson
“At least he’s not a book burner, you Nazi cow,” might not be the first quote that comes to mind from Field of Dreams, but it’s definitely said, and I suspect it’s the reason FilmScene is featuring the film in their Banned Books on Screen series.
I had remembered this movie as a meatball over the middle, having only seen it at a sleepover in second or third grade because my dad was too busy showing me The Terminator and Total Recall. But, no, the collective memory is right about Field of Dreams, a movie as eerie as it is sweet. Kevin Costner is photographed in cornfields like Arthur Russell. Ray Liotta’s eyes are still and spectral (nothing like the wide and wild ones a year later in Goodfellas). And yeah, the iconic game of catch made me want to watch an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie with my dad.
FilmScene in the Park, Iowa City, Saturday, May 24, 8:30 p.m.
More special screenings and movies playing in local cinemas this month:
DES MOINES
Thursday, May 8, 7 p.m., Tall Tales A Companion Film to Thom Yorke’s New Album, Varsity Cinema
Tuesday, May 13, 7 p.m., Amadeus with Des Moines Symphony Introduction, Varsity Cinema
Wednesday, May 14, 7 p.m., Ritual Mountain Bike Film Tour, Varsity Cinema
Friday, May 16, 10 p.m., The Legend of Butch & Sundance, Fleur Cinema
Friday, May 23, 4:30 p.m., Death by Fruitcake, Fleur Cinema
This all-Iowa joint, written and directed by Max Allan Collins of Road to Perdition fame, stars Alisabeth Von Presely and Paula Sands. The two navigate a whodunit set in small-town Iowa after the star of a Christmas play bites it during a rehearsal.
Sunday, May 25, 5:30 p.m., 5683, Fleur Cinema
Tuesday, May 27, 7 p.m., Minnesota Mean Presented with Des Moines Roller Derby, Varsity Cinema
Thursday, May 29, 7 p.m., Paris is Burning – A Pride Kickoff Extravaganza, Varsity Cinema
A special screening to kick-off Pride Month. Join local community orgs to celebrate the ground-breaking documentary following Paradise Garage and the drag ball culture of the 80s.
IOWA CITY
Wednesday, May 7, 7 p.m., Out of Office w/ Means TV + Rock Hard Caucus, FilmScene
Presented with Rock Hard Caucus and Means TV, this doc covers striking office workers in Wisconsin. The screening features a live podcast recording with director Will Roberts. All ticket sales for the event will go to Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund.
Wednesday, May 7, 10 p.m., Race with the Devil, FilmScene
Saturday, May 10, 4 p.m., University of Iowa MFA Thesis Screening: The Films of Arman Hodasefat, FilmScene
After this screening of short films by Director Arman Hodasefat, he will be joined by others on the creative team for a Q&A.
Sunday, May 11, 12 p.m., National Theatre Live: Dr. Strangelove, FilmScene
Monday, May 12, 7 p.m., Hamlet 2, FilmScene
Tuesday, May 13, 7 p.m., Reservoir Dogs, FilmScene
Saturday, May 17, 3:30 p.m., Stories of Community 6, FilmScene
Saturday, May 31, 4 p.m., Observer, FilmScene
