Enzian's got plenty of them to brighten your cultural calendar beginning this 4th of July weekend and continuing through next week. Despite our single screen status, we never stop trying to make our programming as diverse as possible. Beginning its second smash week is MONGOL, Sergei Bodrov's Oscar-nominated, thrilling epic on the rise of Genghis Khan, is turning out to be one of the arthouse blockbusters of the year. This is one film you definitely want to see on the big screen--forget about waiting for the home video release, no matter how great your TV setup is.

Sunday the 6th at 12 noon is the first of our opera presentations from La Scala, and what a debut! Screening in stunning digital format with Dolby 5.1 surround sound, Verdi's AIDA should blow even the most-seasoned opera lover away. The fact that it's directed and designed by the great Franco Zeffirelli (ROMEO AND JULIET, Domingo's LA TRAVIATA and OTELLO, the Mel Gibson/Glenn Close HAMLET), is just icing on the cake.

Tuesday the 8th at 9:30 PM is Cult Classics time, and you won't want to miss this. At long last, Quentin Tarantino's hilarious, violent masterpiece of bizarre criminal behavior from 1994 hits the Enzian screen. That's right--PULP FICTION is here for one show only, and has there ever been a better cast in an indie fim, or any film for that matter? Check out this list of names: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Uma Thurman, Harvey Keitel, Christopher Walken, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer, Rosanna Arquette, Ving Rhames, and Eric Stoltz, just to name a few. If you've never seen it you owe it to yourself to catch it in 35mm; if you've seen it already, you know you'll be there.

And last but certainly not least, July's Popcorn Flick takes place in Central Park, Winter Park at sunset on Thursday the 10th (weather permitting), and it's none other than Wolfgang ("Das Boot") Petersen's classic children's fantasy from 1984, THE NEVERENDING STORY. A mysterious book that leads to a world of imagination, flying puppet creatures, free popcorn, and a free movie under the stars--how can you beat that? Don't forget the Citronella candles though.

--Matthew

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

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

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

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

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

With the usual 1st of the month deadline looming this Sunday, there's still 2 more days for all of you budding Florida filmmakers out there to drop off/overnight your entries to June's FilmSlam. Enzian's next monthly program of local and in-state short cinematic works (# 6 for 2008 if you're counting) will take place Sunday, June 8, at 1:00 PM, and apparently there's still room for some more titles to make the starting lineup. Remember that all FilmSlam audience winners are more or less guaranteed a spot (depending on length) in December's Brouhaha Film & Video Showcase, which in turn can lead to early selection for the Florida Sidebar in the 2009 Florida Film Festival. So if you've been thinking about sending in that little project of yours, now's as good a time as any. Details are available on the Enzian website at http://www.enzian.org/films/filmslam.html

--Matthew

Lucas Draper has officially left the building! Enzian's resident big man (all 6+ feet of him) and jack of all trades over the past 3 years or so, had his final day here the end of last week. He will definitely be missed. Lucas started out as the Development Assistant for Enzian and the 2006 Florida Film Festival, but soon expanded his responsibilities to encompass not only sponsorship, but Enzian Film Society membership, FFF Platinum Pass holders, a community outreach program to set up and maintain a garden with a local elementary school ("The Ferncreek Garden Project"), and producing the Young Filmmakers Summer Camp and Kidfest Film Series for campers in Grades 5 - 7--easily the most successful one yet. Lucas departs with the title of "Development & Community Relations Associate."

He also rejuvenated Membership Month for the Film Society last October, producing a series of three special events to bring a lot of attention to Enzian's status as a non-profit cultural arts organization that depends on its memberships to keep the machine running. These events--including "Damn the Man" with a screening of EMPIRE RECORDS preceded by a host of local bands performing live on the theater lawn; "CHOCOLAT and Chocolate" with an evening screening of the Johnny Depp/Juliette Binoche-starrer and a chocolate and wine reception; and a "Guerilla Filmmaking" day with a panel of local filmmakers and a screening of John Waters' CECIL B. DEMENTED--were both incredibly fun and very successful.

Lucas' warm personality, huge smile, passion for film, and fan-boy enthusiasm (name a superhero/genre film he didn't look forward to) will be missed around here, and we wish him the best of luck with his plans to relocate to Seattle. Now I just have to get back the Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs and Submarines CDs I loaned him...

--Matthew

This past Sunday's installment of Enzian's monthly FilmSlam had the misfortune of falling on Mother's Day, but a healthy turnout of film lovers and local filmmakers still showed up and made their Moms proud--hopefully they also took them to brunch before or after the 1:00 show or treated for something tasty at the theater. Congratulations to Jose Zambrano Cassella, director of MINA, about a 12-year-old girl with a dark secret, for scoring big with the audience and winning 1st Place and an automatic bye into December's Brouhaha Film & Video Showcase. Kudos also go out to 2nd Place winners C. Velasco, N. Saati, and S. Robinson for their humorous take on neighborhood politics, JOSEPH HUNTER FOR SPRINKLER CONTROL, and Gerald J. Godbout III's 3rd Place winner about a babysitter and a little boy's imaginary friend, IN THE DARK.

A job well done to all the filmmakers, with an impressive total of 8 films combining for an eclectic mix of themes and styles that kept the audience on their toes. Keep 'em coming...FilmSlam # 6 is just around the corner (June 8).

--Matthew

Before I head out to Northern California to meet up for a little vacation with the brothers, there's some good news to announce regarding Enzian's Cult Classics series that's been showing up the final Tuesday of every month for the past year or two. Apparently Orlando has seen the light (amen!) and there's a strong interest in seeing retro films in 35mm on the big screen at Enzian--especially when admission is only $5 and you can drink and eat and have a grand old time with a whole community of film lovers. So...by popular demand (literally), Cult Classics will now be a part of Enzian's programming twice monthly, appearing both the second and final Tuesday of every month in the 9:30 slot. And check out the lineup of titles for the next quarter of the calendar:

May 13 - 30th anniversary screening of one of the greatest concert films of all time, Martin Scorsese's THE LAST WALTZ featuring The Band, Dylan, Clapton, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Emmylou Harris, Ron Wood and many others.

May 27 - George Miller's THE ROAD WARRIOR (MAD MAX 2) starring Mel Gibson (when he was still way cool).

June 10 - The Ramones in Allan Arkush's ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL

June 24 - Richard Linklater's DAZED AND CONFUSED

July 8 - Quentin Tarantino's PULP FICTION

July 29 - Danny Boyle's TRAINSPOTTING

With the continued support of the Central Florida cult classic-loving community, there should be plenty to look forward to with many more exciting titles to come. So circle your calendars and keep up the good work. We're all excited to be able to supplement our regular, week-to-week programming with such deserving cinematic stand-outs.

--Matthew

Looks like downtown Orlando is going to be waiting a lot longer for the much anticipated return of movie screens in the heart of the city. According to Thursday's Orlando Sentinel Business section, AMC Theatres has opted out of its agreement to manage a 12-screen multiplex in The Plaza office towers because of a lack of progress in completing interior work on the second floor theater complex. Despite the rumors that the only stuff left to do was relatively minor, RP Realty Partners, the owners of the space, haven't even said whether they'd complete the work if they happened to find another tenant. Apparently the crappy economy and the horrible real estate market--in particular condo sales downtown that would house a local audience that could walk to the movies--have got a lot of heavy hitters rethinking their strategies for the entertainment dollar in the city of Orlando.

How many years ago was this thing supposed to open? How many different chains have been attached to this multiplex? Must be pretty frustrating for the locals that did move with the hopes (and shattered dreams?) that downtown Orlando would soon have its first first-run screens since the Beacham Theater on Orange Avenue became a series of concert halls and clubs beginning in the mid-1970s. In the meantime, film lovers can always head 10 minutes north on 17-92 to Enzian in Maitland--you know there'll be a terrific film and great food, beer, wine and snacks waiting for you when you do. And at least you can take comfort in that.

--Matthew

The spoof that launched a thousand spoofs, not to mention a brilliant second career for Leslie Nielsen as a comic actor, lands at Enzian for a rare theatrical screening (in a 35mm archival print no less!) Tuesday night at 9:30 as part of the Cult Classics series. David Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and Jerry Zucker, the team who wrote KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE three years earlier, pulled out all the stops in AIRPLANE! (1980), a relentless laugh-fest that sends-up every airplane disaster film from ZERO HOUR to AIRPORT.

Robert Hays plays the former pilot who's lost both his nerve and his girl (Julie Hagerty is the flight attendant), now forced to take control of a jet when the crew is hit with food poisoning. The passengers become increasingly crazed and ground support more surreal as our hero struggles to land the plane. No Hollywood cliche is left unscathed in this frequently hilarious parody that literally is so fast-paced and has so many jokes, that when one bombs, it's hardly even noticeable. "Serious" actors Robert Stack, Leslie Nielsen, Llloyd Bridges, and Peter Graves, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (!), round out the game cast, and watch for cameos by the likes of "The Beaver's" mom, Barbara Billingsley, and Ethel Merman. And this one ain't over till it's over-- be sure to stay through the end credits to get every last pun.

"Joey, do you like movies about gladiators?"

--Matthew

Despite the best efforts of a crack defense team and 39 pages of testimonials from other show-biz types, friends, and employees, Orlando-born actor/action-star Wesley Snipes was given the maximum sentence Thursday for not filing his taxes for 3 years--an equivalent 36 months in prison. Not even Denzel referring to him as "a mighty oak" (huh?) and Woody's claim that his friend "strives for rightness in all his relations" and that Wesley is "a true citizen of the world" (OK, so?) helped. Neither did celebrity TV judges Joe Brown and Greg Mathis (!!), who both chimed in with the opinion that Snipes didn't deserve prison time. And I'm sure it makes us all feel better to know that fellow tough guy, Chuck Norris, "admires and respects Wesley Snipes...We, in the martial arts, say making mistakes is how you learn to go forward and be a better person." So Walker, Texas Ranger says if I take up karate, I'm cool to cheat the government--awesome.

Whether it's millions of $$$ as the government says or (only) hundreds of thousands as his defense lawyers claim, it's nice to know that justice can't always be bought or celebrity can't always trump right and wrong. In Judge William Hodges own words, "There's nothing unusual about prosecuting a celebrity. [Snipes] never mentioned the words tax or taxes in his apology." The flip side of course, is that the court was sending a little message if its own. But no matter how trusting, gullible, vulnerable, and (let's not forget) rich you are, an educated, grown man has got to be able to figure out that getting involved with sleazes and tax-related schemes to defraud the IRS is not exactly kosher. And now Wesley has to pay the price.

--Matthew

Yes, but has Lowe ever played a disenchanted, alcoholic Broadway composer teaching at a summer theater camp for talented teens like Dixon did in Todd Graff's 2003 musical comedy, CAMP? Check out this clever piece that appeared in Raleigh, North Carolina's The News & Observer--especially timely considering the acclaim for the recently released new R.E.M. (and all the comparisons to their early work), and the new Elvis hitting stores today.

Craig D. Lindsey
Lowe and Dixon: The matchup

For your consideration: Is Don Dixon the American Nick Lowe? Or is Nick Lowe the British Don Dixon? Let's go to the video tape.
•After playing in regionally successful bar bands (Dixon's Arrogance in Chapel Hill to Lowe's Brinsley Schwarz in England), both men produced key albums for future hall-of-famers -- R.E.M. for Dixon, Elvis Costello for Lowe.
•As bass players, support roles come naturally to both. Not coincidentally, each has had success writing hits for others. In 1992, Curtis Stigers' cover of Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" appeared on the mega-massive soundtrack to Whitney Houston's "The Bodyguard," while Joe Cocker had a worldwide hit with Dixon's "I Can Hear the River."
•Both have a quirky sense of humor that sometimes manifests itself in oddball album-title puns -- witness Dixon's "(If) I'm A Ham, Well You're A Sausage" and Lowe's "The Abominable Showman."
•Dixon appears on the 2005 Lowe tribute album "Lowe Profile."
•Both are unafraid to deal with adult themes. A few years back, Dixon put out a song called "All I Wanted," sung as an angry lecture by an 85-year-old man. And Lowe's latest album is a crooning set of classy country soul titled, fittingly enough, "At My Age" (Lowe is 59, Dixon 57).

"A lot of the similarity is we're close to the same age and influenced by a lot of the same records," Dixon says. "He was making cheap records in England at the same time I was making cheap records in the U.S., both of us trying to capture some of the things we liked about old records. I love the records he's doing now, too, although he's way more grown-up than I am."

Touring behind "At My Age," Lowe plays Wednesday at the Carrboro ArtsCenter. Dixon has a new album recorded with his wife Marti Jones just out, "Lucky Stars: New Lullabies for Old Souls," and another on the way called "The Nu-Look" -- which should be out by the time he plays Raleigh's Berkeley Cafe on June 13.

I must say--I've liked both of these guys for a long, long time, from their producing credits to their own bands and solo recordings. Nick was featured prominently in the outstanding BBC music doc, IF IT AIN'T STIFF, IT AIN'T WORTH A FUCK: THE STIFF RECORDS STORY, which had its US Premiere at the 2007 Florida Film Festival, and I got to see him perform solo at the World Trade Center site this past September. I still get choked up thinking of his rendition of "What's So Funny..." Don and Marti haven't been to Central Florida in ages, and they are sorely missed. Any publicity these talented and important artists can get is wonderful--may they keep rockin' for years to come.

--Matthew

Looks like the recently concluded Florida Film Festival helped whet the appetite for independent cinema in Central Florida judging from the past weekend's numbers for both THE BAND'S VISIT and the April edition of FilmSlam. The gentle Israeli/Egyptian comedy had a huge opening weekend, an unusual occurrence coming on the heels of the film festival where local audiences have traditionally shown a post-festival "burn-out" factor with foreign films and skewed a bit more commercial with their filmgoing. What a pleasant surprise!

And what a showing for April's FilmSlam, the monthly program consisting of Florida-made shorts competing for a spot in the end-of-the-year's Brouhaha Film & Video Showcase. A record 166 tickets were sold for Sunday afternoon's offerings, the most in the history of the event (and certainly the most in the last 16 months that Enzian has served as its home). So congratulations to all of the filmmakers and community supporters, as well as FilmSlam producer John Thiesen--obviously everyone's efforts to make this a vital part of the Orlando indie film scene are paying off.

So let's not forget April's winners. First place (and that automatic bye into Brouhaha, time permitting) went to Art D'Alessandro's THE MESS, a story about a man freaking out who fails to see the bigger picture. Second place went to Bill Clar and Donald Lee's FINAL TOLL, a two-girls-in-a-cemetery story, while Banks Helfrich's music video, POOCH SMOOCH, took third in the audience voting.

Mark your calendars now for FilmSlam # 5, Sunday, May 11 at 1:00 PM. Yes, it's Mothers Day, so bring Mom after you take her to breakfast or before you take her to brunch or dinner. Or better yet, treat her to some of Enzian's gourmet offerings and have a delicious lunch at the theater.

--Matthew

The Florida Film Festival may be just 7 days away, but Enzian's special programming keeps hitting home runs as an appetizer. Tonight was CASABLANCA in the park, the March Popcorn Flick under the stars on a cool, crisp, beautiful evening to close out our sixth year of monthly, free outdoor movies in downtown Winter Park.

This Tuesday, March 25 at 9:00 PM, the Cult Classics series presents Alfred Hitchcock's THE BIRDS (1963). One of the only Hitchcock films I've never seen on the big screen (and who knows how edited those TV prints were through the years?), I am quite psyched about this rare opportunity to catch the film in an actual movie theater. Based on a story by famed British writer Daphne Du Maurier, author of two previous novels made into classic Hitchcock films ("Jamaica Inn" and "Rebecca"), the fun and terrifying thriller focuses on a San Francisco socialite who heads north to a quiet California coastal town with a gift for a man she's interested in. Once there however, she slowly discovers birds of all kinds acting strangely, and it's not a pretty picture.

The great UB Iwerks was nominated for an Oscar for Best Special Visual Effects, and Tippi Hedren won a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer. The rest of the terrific cast included Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette, Veronica Cartwright, and Richard Deacon.

"And remember, the next scream you hear could be your own."

--Matthew

Even though the gargantuan shadow of the upcoming 17th annual Florida Film Festival hovers over all Enzian activities this time of year, it's still business as usual for many of our special programs. This past Sunday afternoon the theater played host to FilmSlam # 3 for 2008, and March's group of short works by local filmmakers did not disappoint. This truly was a collection worth losing an hour's sleep over (see: Daylight Savings Time). Presented to a substantial, perhaps bleary-eyed gathering of local film lovers and indie film supporters, six films duked it out for first place honors with the Audience Award ballots and thus an official "bye" into December's Brouhaha Film & Video Showcase. And once you're in Brouhaha, you've got a shot at making it into the 2009 Florida Film Festival as part of the "Florida Shorts - Best of Brouhaha" program in the Florida Sidebar, the same path that four of 2007's monthly FilmSlam winners took to get into the 2008 FFF.

So congratulations go to Chris Tharp for nailing 1st Place with his surreal western tale of a coffin builder, THE COFFIN MAKER. Kudos also go out to Patrick Scott Barnes for earning 2nd Place with BLOW SUNDAYS, a doc about open-mic night at a local Orlando nightspot, and Banks Helfrich for WHY?, the 3rd Place finisher that poses 150 answers in 5 minutes to that particular question.

See you all at FilmSlam # 4 on April 13 at 1:00 PM.

--Matthew

Central Florida has gone crazy for THE BIG LEBOWSKI. Talk about "Held Over By Popular Demand!!" The Coen Brothers' classic 1998 comedy about bowling, mistaken identity, kidnapping, and (of course), The Dude, was originally booked to play the Tuesday night late show at 9:30 as part of our monthly Cult Classics series, complete with a costume contest to come dressed as your favorite character. When that sold out in advance with still a couple of weeks to go, we figured what the hell? Let's see if we can add a Saturday midnight encore showing later the same week (that's tomorrow, March 1, at 12 midnite by the way). Guess what? That sold out as well (standbys only please) with a few days to spare, so now we've added a Sunday matinee (3/2) at 12:30 PM.

That's right! You Dude lovers have one more chance to hang out with Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, David Thewlis, and Sam Elliott (how's that for an amazing cast?!) in one of the great cult films of our era. Thanks to Paul Ginsburg at Universal for being so cool about letting Enzian hang on to the print. Maybe there's room for a repertory cinema in Orlando after all...

--Matthew

Mother Nature reared her sometimes ugly head last night, and the special Popcorn Flick in Shady Park-screening of Alice Walker's THE COLOR PURPLE (via Steven Spielberg) was a wash out. As usual with the regular monthly free movies under the stars in Central Park, Winter Park, the rain date is exactly one week later--same Bat time, same Bat channel. So let's try again next Thursday, February 28 at 7:00, and pack the park to watch this stunning Southern family saga in honor of Black History Month.

--Matthew

Actually, just down the block a little ways. For the first time ever, Enzian and the City of Winter Park's monthly outdoor movie will be in a new location this Thursday. In honor of Black History Month, the special presentation of Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning THE COLOR PURPLE (1985) at 7:00 PM will take place not in Central Park, but rather in Shady Park (by Pennsylvania and New England, near Dexters).

Nominated for a whopping 11 Academy Awards (and just as incredibly, not winning a single one!), this deeply moving period piece tells the story of a black family's growth and struggles in the rural South over a 40-year period. Filled with great performances, including Whoopi Goldberg in her screen debut and Danny Glover, along with Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey (also in her screen debut), Adolph Caesar, Willard Pugh and Rae Dawn Chong, this sprawling saga is stunningly shot by the great cinematographer, Allen Daviau, and has a rich musical score by co-producer Quincy Jones.

Prof. Julian Chambliss from Rollins College is kind enough to do the introductory remarks, and it should be a gorgeous night under the stars. Let's see everyone out there!

--Matthew

The monthly FilmSlam on second Sunday afternoons at Enzian is definitely back in the swing of things. This past weekend nearly 100 local film supporters came out to enjoy a diverse program of short films hand picked by Programmer/Host John Thiesen. When all was said and done, the audience voted on their favorites, with the 1st place winner automatically receiving a "bye" to participate in the Brouhaha Film & Video Showcase at the end of the year. Once in Brouhaha, films are chosen by an industry jury to make up the "Best of Brouhaha - Florida Shorts" program in in Florida Film Festival. The 2008 FFF coming up March 28 - April 6 includes four FilmSlam winners from 2007--not a bad ratio at all.

So the lucky winner of audience honors for the February FilmSlam is...Will Malone's mock batteries commercial called BATTERIES MADE EASY. Congratulations! 2nd Place went to Glenn Bain and Jorge Maura's action spoof, CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT AND THE SECRET SQUADRON: ZERO HOUR, and 3rd Place went to SOLMI's SUPERHERO, about friends and secrets. Nice work, everyone. Let's keep submitting those short films!

--Matthew

Don't forget to join United Arts of Central Florida, Enzian Theater and the City of Winter Park on Friday night, February 8th, for the annual Popcorn Flick kickoff of ArtsFest. This yearly event launches a fundraising and awareness campaign for United Arts by presenting a whole weekend of diverse artistic and cultural offerings at no charge whatsoever--that's right, it's all free! Seating is limited at some of the thearical offerings, but not outside in Winter Park's Central Park for a special screening of the original WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.

While Tim Burton's recent remake with Johnny Depp had its own perverse and freaky charms, there's something about Mel Stuart's original from 1971 starring Gene Wilder that keeps it a classic for the ages. And what's a showing of WILLY WONKA without a contest to find a golden ticket? Peterbrooke Chocolatier will provide a sweet surprise for the lucky winner. The festivities begin at 5:30 PM with a variety of arts and cultural activities, and the film should start around 7:00. So grab the kids, a blanket, and a well-stocked cooler and start the weekend off right with just a touch of magic.

--Matthew

One of the films that came to define the term "Cult Classic" in the 1980s finally makes its Enzian debut Tuesday night 1/29 at 9:30 PM with the Sundance Channel Film Series screening of REPO MAN (1984). The legendary feature debut of Alex Cox (the British actor/director who would go on to make SID AND NANCY just a couple of years later), this inventive sci-fi satire of Southern California life follows the adventures of an LA punk musician (Emilio Estevez) turned car repossessor, his deadpan mentor (the great Harry Dean Stanton), and a '64 Malibu with something mysterious in the trunk. Throw in some pointless violence, media hypnosis, aliens, and a dynamite soundtrack including Iggy Pop, The Circle Jerks, Suicidal Tendencies, Black Flag, Fear, The Plugz, Louis Armstrong (!) and The Andrew Sisters (!!), and it all adds up to one of the best science-fiction/action/punk comedies of all time--in other words, a true cult classic executive produced by none other than ex-Monkee Michael Nesmith. And as always, admission is only $5, so you only have yourself to blame if you miss it.

-- Matthew

Major congratulations are in store for all of the filmmakers singled out in Tuesday's 80th Annual Academy Award nominations whose work has graced Enzian's screen this year or who will be doing so in the upcoming Florida Film Festival (March 28 - April 6). Of those that have played already, FFF 2007 winner of the "Special Jury Award for Innovative Documentary Storytelling," Richard E. Robbins' OPERATION HOMECOMING: WRITING THE WARTIME EXPERIENCE, was nominated for Best Documentary Feature. It also appeared on Orlando Sentinel Movie Critic Roger Moore's "10 Best Films of the Year" list. Cynthia Wade's important and moving FREEHELD played an Oscar-qualifying 2-day run back in July along with Alice Elliott's BODY & SOUL: DIANE & KATHY (shortlisted but unfortunately not selected), and received a nom for Best Documentary Short Subject. And Josh Raskin's ingenious I MET THE WALRUS, a surreal journey around an old John Lennon audio interview, played Enzian as part of the 10th annual Manhattan Short Film Festival back in September. It's up for Best Animated Short Film and is currently playing Sundance.

Films to look out for come Florida Film Festival-time in late March include two other titles nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject, also playing at Sundance: Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega's LA CORONA (THE CROWN), about a beauty pageant in a Colombian women's prison, and Tim Sternberg's SALIM BABA, about a one-man movie operation of a different sort. In the Best Animated Short Film category, another Sundance alum is MADAME TUTLI-PUTLI from Canada, one of the most stunning and mysterious works of stop-motion you'll ever see. And TANGHI ARGENTINI, a charming comedy-with-a-twist from Belgium, is up for Best Live Action Short Film. So there's a lot to look forward to, and plenty more to come.

Major kudos to all of the filmmakers, and the best of luck on February 24. We'll be pulling for you regardless of whatever format the actual ceremony takes place in.

--Matthew

After a one month hiatus in December to make way for the Brouhaha Film & Video Showcase (and ultimately the "Best of Brouhaha" program chosen for this year's Florida Film Festival), FilmSlam returns to Enzian this Sunday, January 13 at 1:00 PM for its first edition of 2008. This month's collection of films produced in-state includes such titles as LOBO NEGRO, THE FUTURE IS A MESH STALLION, THE GORILLA OF BACKWATER COUNTY (John Kontos sighting ahead!), TWENTY-FOUR HOURS, LOGAN DELL, and THE WORLD'S LOUSIEST CROOK.

So if you're not into the NFL playoffs and glued to your TV set all afternoon, come on out and support your friendly neighborhood indie filmmakers for only a $5 admission charge. You'll feel good and they will too when they have an audience for their work.

--Matthew

Yet another great reason to be a member of the Enzian Film Society: for the past three years Enzian and the Rollins College English Department have presented a "Winter With The Writers" special event in late January. These exceptional programs feature a free screening of an acclaimed film based on a classic novel, with the author of that novel in attendance. In 2006 we hosted Tobias Wolff for a showing of Michael Caton-Jones' adaptation of THIS BOY'S LIFE. Last year it was Russell Banks with a screening of Paul Schrader's AFFLICTION. And three weeks from today, on Wednesday January 30, we are proud to present THE HOURS, directed by Stephen Daldry from the novel by Michael Cunningham.

This star-studded, intelligent drama from 2002 won an Oscar for Best Actress (Nicole Kidman) and was nominated for a whopping 8 others, including Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay (David Hare), Supporting Actor (Ed Harris), and Supporting Actress (Julianne Moore). It tells the rich, multi-generational story of three women (Kidman, Moore, and Meryl Streep) who have all had to deal with suicide in some way, and how their lives relate to Virginia Woolf's depression-themed novel, "Mrs. Dalloway."

But even though there's no admission for the event, it is not open to the general public. You must be a current Enzian Film Society member or part of the Rollins College student body or faculty to attend. So with the beginning of the new year and all the other great perks of membership, can you think of a better time to sign up and join the fun at Enzian?

--Matthew

As 2007 comes to a close, it's time for the now-obligatory 10 Best Movies of the Year listing from yours truly despite serious deficiencies in filmgoing and availability here in Central Florida. So, of the films I have seen in the past calendar year in theaters or at festivals, the following list (in no special order) represents my favorites:

1) No Country For Old Men
2) Persepolis
3) In The Shadow of The Moon
4) Once
5) The King of Kong
6) Juno
7) The Savages
8) My Winnipeg
9) Control
10) The Host

The following dozen titles (in alphabetical order) are all films I have not yet seen but suspect could have made their way onto my top ten had I done so. These titles may have never opened in Orlando, played already and I blew it by not making them a priority, are going to be opening soon, or opened recently while I've been up to my eyeballs in Florida Film Festival submissions and unable to leave the house or office screening room:

1) 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days
2) The Assassination of Jesse James by The Coward Robert Ford
3) Black Book
4) The Diving Bell and The Butterfly
5) Eastern Promises
6) The Great World of Sound
7) Into The Wild
8) Michael Clayton
9) No End in Sight
10) Sweeney Todd
11) There Will Be Blood
12) Zodiac

Looks like not such a bad year after all...Happy New Year everybody!

--Matthew

Talk about great timing and chutzpah! I guess it was just one strike too many for even a money-grubbing publisher to ignore. With the recent revelations that 16-year-old teen queen and virginal Nickelodeon star Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant, mother Lynne's upcoming tome on raising children has been "delayed indefinitely." What's amazing is that the always classy behavior of older daughter Britney was not enough to dissuade the Tennessee publisher of religious books from a blockbuster release of "Pop Culture Mom: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World." It took the kid sister children's-TV-star getting knocked up by her church-going teenage boyfriend to stop the presses. The world will be a much poorer place without the maternal wisdom and parenting skills of Lynne Spears' being spread like the gospel--you know the "real" version could've been a fun and trashy read, admit it.

--Matthew

And you better show up early if you intend to get in! Tuesday night January 18 brings one of the great comedies of our generation and a bona fide cult classic to Enzian at 9:15 PM--THIS IS SPINAL TAP. This pseudo-rockumentary about the minimal rise and career-long fall of a lame heavy metal band (with members "David St. Hubbins," "Nigel Tufnel," and "Derek Smalls") was Rob Reiner's directorial debut and still reigns supreme as one of the all-time best satires ever made about the music business.

Advance ticket sales for this Sundance Channel Film Series/Cult Classics monthly selection are the hottest we've ever had (and that's saying a lot considering the recent run of titles including DONNIE DARKO, VANISHING POINT, EL MARIACHI, FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH, BRAZIL, KIDS IN THE HALL: BRAIN CANDY and ARMY OF DARKNESS), so I guess this is one December movie event that doesn't need to worry about people being too busy with Christmas activities. Come on out and experience Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer working their musical magic (and perfecting their comedic craft) on such classics as "Big Bottom" and "Smell the Glove," and watch for a multitude of cameos from the likes of Billy Crystal, Dana Carvey, Patrick Macnee, Paul Shaffer, Anjelica Huston, Fred Willard, and many more. Wish I could be there with you...

--Matthew

The verdict is in! The 16th annual Brouhaha Film & Video Showcase--Central Florida's premier event celebrating the Sunshine State's homegrown filmmaking talent--entertained over 300 indie film supporters this past weekend and the jury has made their decisions. The nearly 6 hours of programming has been whittled down to a tight 88 minute selection (including 4 FilmSlam winners!) for the "Best of Brouhaha--Emerging Florida Filmmakers" sidebar in the upcoming 2008 Florida Film Festival (March 28 - April 6). Congratulations to the following films and filmmakers--we'll see you in the Spring:

Katharine Leis' FOOBIE JESUS, Todd Thompson's MR. BUBBS, Danny Daneau's music video for THE HEATHENS - "DIRTY JEANS," Ali Imran Zaidi's A MAN IN THE ATTIC, Gwynne Olson-Wheeler's THE KITE, Hannah Sherman's ESCAR GO!, Chris Nabholz's RESPIRE, MON AMI, Patrick Algermissen's PUPSOCK & WENDELL IN THE GALLERY OF DOOM, Christi Doucet's BORROWED CAMERA, Trey Chace's WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, Tony Cabrera's TAKEN, Bevin Carnes' A LEG UP, Robert Huth's DUPLEGGCATED, Dave Metzger's PENGUIN: THE MUSICAL and Fredrick Snyder's PROMBIES!

--Matthew

16 years. 46 films. 11 FilmSlam winners. 8 schools. The 16th annual Brouhaha Film & Video Showcase takes up residence at Enzian this weekend with four different programs scheduled for Saturday, 12/8, and Sunday, 12/9 at 11:00 AM and 1:15 PM. This event clearly focuses its spotlight on Florida filmmaking and continues to be Central Florida's premier celebration of the sunshine state's filmmakers. The nearly six hours of films spread out over four programs are made up in equal parts from the 11 monthly FilmSlam 2007 Audience Award