Founded in 1778, the Teatro alla Scala is widely considered to be one of the greatest opera houses in history. It has been home to many of the most renowned composers, conductors, and virtuoso singers of the international opera world. And for a brief time this summer, some of its finest productions, recorded live in gorgeous High Def with Dolby Digital surround sound, will be appearing on the Enzian screen in a special Sunday matinee series.

The first and third Sundays in July and August will feature these extraordinary filmed performances starting at 12 noon, so what better (and more cultured) reason does one need to get out of the heat? July 6 will be Verdi's AIDA, directed and designed by none other than filmmaking legend Franco Zeffirelli (the 1968 ROMEO AND JULIET, the 1986 OTELLO with Placido Domingo, and the Oscar-nominated Mel Gibson/Glenn Close HAMLET from 1990). Next up on July 20 is Verdi's LA TRAVIATA, conducted by Lorin Maazel and directed by filmmaker Liliana Cavani (1974's infamous THE NIGHT PORTER and 2002's highly acclaimed but virtually unreleased RIPLEY'S GAME). Verdi gives way to Donizetti for MARIA STUARDA on August 3, and the summer series concludes with Puccini's IL TRITTICO on August 17.

Central Floridians have a unique opportunity to experience operas on the big screen from Milan's world famous Teatro alla Scala in stunning digital format and surround sound--how cool is that?

--Matthew

Flippin' channels the other night and I happened to catch Dennis Leary on David Letterman. When the subject rolled around to FX's brilliant series about post-9/11 NYC firefighters, RESCUE ME, Leary mentioned that as a result of the writers' strike the full new season won't air until next April (ouch!). But he also mentioned the concept of "mini-sodes" or mini-episodes which will be airing on FX soon, little 5 - 7 minute vignettes featuring characters in the show to tide us over. And sure enough, Tuesday night's 10 PM broadcast of a new episode of Morgan Spurlock's 30 DAYS will be preceded by the first of these RESCUE ME appetizers. I have no idea how many of these exist or how long they'll be running prior to FX shows this summer (and Fall?), but this is good news indeed.

--Matthew

It was sad and a bit of a shock to hear of comedian George Carlin's death Sunday at the age of 71, though he did appear more frail than usual during his last HBO special and apparently had a history of heart trouble . One of the real giants of standup comedy for over 40 years, his brilliant observations on the absurdities of everyday life and the English language rang especially true to those of us coming of age in our teenage years in the early 1970s. Along with Richard Pryor and to some extent, Cheech & Chong, his fierce intelligence and irreverent social commentary were as important to our counter-culture sensibilities back then as the music we were listening to and the books we were reading.

In those days promoters would often have these eclectic bills mixing music and comedy, and audiences were open and excited (and stoned) to whatever entertainment was offered. I believe Carlin headlined a bill that included Hall and Oates on their first tour of the South (introduced as "Atlantic recording artists Whole Oats" - the name of their first LP), and Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks, and probably someone else as well (The Chambers Brothers?). That was the first and only time I ever got to see him perform, but he was excellent--funny as hell and thought-provoking too. That he would continue doing his thing for another 3 1/2 decades is remarkable. Maybe it wasn't quite as funny as it used to be, but he continued to make people laugh and shed light on the ridiculous for other generations. And he did some fun TV and film work over the years, including "Thomas the Tank Engine," some Kevin Smith stuff, and Pixar's CARS.

To the man whose "Seven DirtyWords You Can't Say on Radio or Television" routine actually led to a Supreme Court ruling on obscenity (and how many comerdians can claim that?), I say rest in peace. And once more for old times sake: shit, piss, fuck, cunt, cocksucker, motherfucker, and tits. R.I.P. George Carlin.

--Matthew

Oh, shut up! Anyone else out there see that photo of the little kid holding up the sign during the Boston Celtics victory parade? How goddamn spoiled have Boston sports fans become in this decade alone? Three Patriots Super Bowls, two Red Sox World Series sweeps, and now a Celtics beat-down of the should-be-embarrassed Lakers. A whole new generation of New England children have barely even experienced the agony of defeat (thanks Eli and the Giants), and will have no concept what it means to have your dreams crushed as a devoted fan, over and over again, from one season to the next.

While I'm thankful not to be a Cubs fan, the track record for my favorite teams in all four major sports is an ugly one: Chicago Blackhawks - last won the Stanley Cup in 1960-61, before I was even a fan (I was only 3 at the time), and have lost in the finals four times since; Orlando Magic - swept by the Houston Rockets in 1995, their only finals appearance to date; Minnesota Vikings - Ugh! four (count 'em, four) Super Bowl losses in the 1970s, no victories, and haven't made it back since; and my Minnesota Twins - World Series champs in 1987 and 1991, but it has been 17 years now (and counting...)

So if you hear any New Englanders whining about their Bruins or college teams, just smack 'em. The problem for the rest of us is the Patriots, Celtics, and Red Sox all look like title contenders for years to come...unfortunately.

--Matthew

Two sterling examples of sportsmanship and decency in the sports world late (and very late) Monday night--well, maybe not. In typical NY Mets fashion, they waited until 3:15 AM Eastern Time to drop the axe on manager Willie Randolph. It's not that Randolph didn't deserve it after guiding the talent-laden team with the highest payroll in the National League to barely a .500 record and being at the helm of one of the greatest collapses in baseball history the last couple of weeks of last year when they let the Phillies catch them for the NL East crown and a playoff berth. But to have him fly 3000 miles across country to start their road trip and can him after defeating a good LA Angels club and winning 3 out of the last 4, that's pretty pathetic.

Apparently team owner Fred Wilpon was passing the buck and saying it was all GM Omar Minaya's fault, and Minaya was nowhere to be found when the press release was issued in the dead of night. Willie was a great Yankee and a class guy but clearly not able to get the most out of his Mets players, especially in a season where Johan Santana was added to that lineup of All-Stars. His dismissal had been rumored for weeks, but it's hard to believe the Mets did it this way. My sister Jolie bleeds orange and blue and is a diehard fan--for her sake, I hope this change helps them get their shit together and start playing like they're capable of.

And how about that surly SOB coach of the Florida State Seminoles baseball team? Beaten by their arch-rivals, the Miami Hurricanes, 7 - 5 in an elimination game at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, his defeated team and the Miami players lined up in a classy gesture to shake hands after the final out was made. Miami Coach Jim Morris also went out to home plate to participate in this ritual of good sportsmanship. Except that FSU Coach Mike Martin stayed in the dugout, turned his back, and walked away. Way to set an example for the kids you moron! While I feel bad for your players over the years, I can't say I'm not just a bit amused that in 14 or so visits to the College World Series, FSU has never taken home the crown. In the immortal words of Alex Chilton and Big Star, "you get what you deserve." Of course, that may mean the cellar for the Mets.

--Matthew

It's all booked and it's all 35mm. Enzian's annual mid-summer film series, KidFest, or the program formerly known as KidFest Peanut Butter Matinees, is set to go for July 22 - 25 and we couldn't be more excited. A supplement to the Young Filmmakers Camp for Grades 5 - 8, ths year's group of rare and unusual kid-friendly films includes (fairly) recently struck prints for 3 out of the 4 titles, so they should look great up on the big Enzian screen.

Kicking things off on Tuesday, July 22, will be Charlie Chaplin's last silent film, MODERN TIMES (1936). After doing Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton the last two years, it'll be fun to expose the kids to the third giant of silent film comedy. Wednesday 7/23 will be Michael Curtiz' multiple Oscar-winning THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938), one of the great swashbucklers of all time starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains. Richard Lester's immortal musical comedy about a day in the life of The Beatles, A HARD DAY'S NIGHT (1964), returns to the Enzian screen on Thursday, 7/24--it played on a double bill with HELP! in the late 1980s and hasn't made an appearance since. And closing things out on Friday, 7/25, will be Jim Henson and Frank Oz' Tolkien-esque fantasy, THE DARK CRYSTAL (1983), a journey of imagination and creatures far removed from their beloved Muppets.

All films screen at 12:30 PM and admission is a mere $5. So start making plans now for those long lunch breaks and take advantage of this rare opportunity to catch these classics on the big screen. And if you can't miss a little work, you may just be in luck--plans are in the works to try and do some "bonus" screenings either the weekend prior or weekend after for a couple of the titles. Stay tuned...

--Matthew

Still playing catch-up with the office move and all last weekend, but I was thrilled to discover that two of the most popular shorts at this year's 17th Annual Florida Film Festival were recently awarded Student Academy Awards at the 35th annual competition presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.The Animation category was won by Nicole Mitchell's delightful ZOOLOGIC, a New Yorker-esque work in which a fussy zookeeper must contend with some uncooperative and rebellious tenants. This under 5-minute gem was the second highest rated animated short in the festival (both domestic and international), with only Aardman's SHAUN THE SHEEP: STILL LIFE garnering a more enthusiastic response from our audiences.

Rajeev Dassani's A DAY'S WORK, winner of a Florida Film Festival Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Acting, took home the Student Oscar honors in the Narrative category. This intense, beautifully acted drama about a middle-class family and three immigrant day-laborers trapped by mistrust and language barriers, was also the third most popular narrative short film out of the 26 in our American Independent competition. Congratulations to both of these very talented and deserving filmmakers.

--Matthew

June's monthly celebration of local Central Florida filmmaking, FilmSlam, took place this past Sunday afternoon and featured one its most diverse programs yet. A nice turnout came out to see a whopping eight different works, including a trailer for Reilly Tyne's BEYOND IMAGINATION, a doc short about THE 2008 PINTURA GRAFFITI CONFERENCE shot by Elizabeth Anne, and a music video for Raquel Martinez called "Heaven in my Heart" directed by David Bermejo.

But the big winner was Banks Helfrich's FLIPPANT, which took 1st Place with the audience votes and time permitting, will receive an automatic bye into December's Brouhaha Film & Video Showcase and a shot at next year's 2009 Florida Film Festival. Miguel A. Ramos' BODY FARM, another couple-lost-in-the-woods-end-up-in-a-bad-situation flick, took 2nd, while Daniel Watkins' TOASTED, a comedy about a young man and the house trying to kill him, walked away with 3rd. Congratulations to all the filmmakers, and be sure to tell your friends about FilmSlam # 7 on July 13.

--Matthew

Friday was moving day, as the satellite office for Enzian and the Florida Film Festival officially ended its 4-year run in the industrial section of Winter Park and headed north to Maitland. Affectionately called “the bunker” for its complete lack of windows and ability to keep power even in the worst of storms, the Clay Street office had as its two main assets an enormous garage/warehouse which stored years of theater and festival archival materials, and of course, the Bob Crane Room. Wood paneling, shag carpeting, mustard and purple colored walls, ancient plaid couches, mismatched glass top and ornate wood coffee tables, full bath with a padded gold vinyl toilet seat, and an AUTO FOCUS one-sheet on the wall all contributed mightily to the ambiance of a highly functional screening room that has seen it all…and then some.

Since we never got mail or deliveries there, our shipping address (the regular Enzian one) and contact info remains the same. The new office is exactly half way between my house in Altamonte Springs and the theater, and is on the second floor of a typical 3-story corporate office building right down the street from the Maitland Post Office. So at the very least, what it may lack in character, history, funkiness, and room (it’s a considerably smaller space with lower ceilings but many windows), it should make up for in gas savings, convenience, natural light, and cleanliness. Time to start unpacking…let the fun begin.

--Matthew

Unfortunately, not for very long. Last week's season premiere (I think) of TV's "Last Comic Standing" reality/comedy competition show featured an appearance by none other than the Florida Film Festival's "Queen of Midnight," Amber Tozer. The unrepentant stand-up comedienne was the writer-creator of two classic, Gill Holland-produced Midnight shorts--THE TOZER SHOW: BOMBS AND BLUEBALLS and THE TOZER SHOW: THE URINE BOMBER--that world premiered at FFF 2005 & 2006. These raunchy and hilarious works, animated by Onur Tukel, offered Amber's brilliant assessments of sex, politics, drunken make-out sessions, the war on Iraq, Bush, and the complications of getting locked in your own apartment bedroom and waste removal.

Consistently outrageous and cute as can be, Amber auditioned before two members of "The Office" cast and they really liked her schtick about growing up and her Mom finding out about her lesbian make-out moment at a Halloween party--funny stuff. But once she got to the group of 20 finalists, they neglected to include her in the final 4 that were chosen to move on in the competition--boo! But what a pleasant early summer surprise it was to get at least a small blast of the Tozer perspective once more--as we eagerly await the next film, we can only hope that perhaps she can find a stand-up gig in Orlando sometime soon.

--Matthew

Yes, Riff Randell is back! The Ramones' number one fan, so perfectly realized by P.J.Soles (what ever happened to her after STRIPES, anyway?) in the wonderfully subversive ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL (1979), struts her stuff once again when the legendary satirical musical comedy plays Enzian's Cult Classics series for one show only on Tuesday night at 9:30. Like a 1950s rebel movie gone beserk, the film follows the kids of Vince Lombardi High as they set out to thwart their new rock 'n' roll hating principal, Miss Togar (Warhol veteran Mary Woronov), with the aid of the coolest band in the world--The Ramones.

"D-M-U-B, everyone's accusing me!" A fantastic mix of oldies, great school songs, studio stuff, and live recordings make up the classic soundtrack--be sure to watch for the subtitled version of "Teenage Lobotomy" so you can sing along. Which of course we all did back in the day, over and over again at the Bradenton Drive-In with a keg in the van. All of the Roger Corman (he produced) veterans are here, including Dick Miller, Paul Bartel, Vincent Van Patten, and Clint Howard, putting their stamp of B-movie quality on this anarchic rock farce. Allan Arkush, who's now producing and directing TV's "Heroes," directed, with some uncredited assistance from Joe Dante (GREMLINS) and Jerry Zucker (AIRPLANE!), as well as James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd.

A word of caution though--as much fun as the original is, the 1991 sequel, ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL FOREVER, is a Corey Feldman crap-tacular that's as lame as it gets. Don't even go there...

--Matthew