Popcorn & Candy is DCist’s selective and subjective guide to some of the most interesting movies playing around town in the coming week.
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Iris Apfel (Magnolia Pictures)A disembodied voice baits a technicolor dowager, asking what she thinks of plastic surgery: “Unless God gave you a nose like Pinocchio or were in a fire or some terrible thing, why mess … some very important people I know came out looking like Picasso.” Interior designer and costume jewelry collector Iris Apfel is the subject of director Albert Maysles’ swan song as a filmmaker, and he goes out with an autumnal bang. Apfel turns 94 this summer and is still one of the most vivacious characters you’ll see at the movies this year—I’d put odds on her against anyone in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though most fashion documentaries slather their soundtrack with uptempo electronica (nothing wrong with that), this film makes music choices as bold as its star’s fashion: my favorite music cue of the year is the Like Flies on Sherbet-era Alex Chilton that serves as Iris’ incongruous but totally perfect theme song. Iris is a testament to hard work, a strong relationship (with her husband Carl, who turns 101 this year), and accessories, accessories, accessories.
Watch the trailer.
Opens tomorrow at E Street Landmark CInema.
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David DeSanctis and Kristoffer Polaha (Tom LeGoff/Roadside Attractions)Calvin (Kristoffer Polaha) is a recovering alcoholic and washed up baseball player who lost his chance in the big leagues when he began to suffer panic attacks at the plate. He struggles to raise his teenage daughter Katie (McKaley Miller) when he can barely keep himself together. But Calvin forms an unlikely friendship with Produce (David DeSanctis), a grocery store clerk with Down’s Syndrome. The movie is a predictable cross between an After School Special and a Christian Hallmark movie, but the leads have genuine and touching chemistry. Although many of the film’s characters are either too evil (the young stud who picks on Produce and wants to steal Katie’s virginity) or too good (Produce), Polaha’s Calvin is a more fully drawn human being with flaws and strengths. Where Hope Grows is corny but competent, and sometimes that’s good enough.
Watch the trailer.
Opens tomorrow at Regal Gallery Place, Regal Majestic and Rave Fairfax.
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Lea Seydoux, Gaspard Ulliel and Aymeline Valade (Carole Bethuel, © 2014 Mandarin Cinema-EuropaCorp-Orange Studio-Arte France Cinema-Scope Pictures, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics)An assistant rattles off upcoming assignments to her boss, designer Yves Saint Laurent: Catherine Deneuve, Francoise Hardy, Sylvie Vartan, Marguerite Duras. Laurent smugly pleads for her to stop: “let me listen to the music.” If only director Bertrand Bonello had listened to his subject’s own advice. The film is impeccably shot, and I would have been happy just to watch images of the fashion designer at work and listening to the music, but the tedious expository dialogue drags this down. A film with vibrant colors and clothes and references to Andy Warhol and the Velvet Underground pushes the right buttons. I haven’t had a chance to watch the whole 150-minute film, but it’s early scenes come off as a poorly written episode of Mad Men, historical context provided in a series of stylish flash cards instead of character development.
Watch the trailer.
Opens tomorrow at Landmark E Street, Landmark Bethesda Row, AMC Shirlington and Angelika Mosaic.
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Bogie and Bergman are looking forward to hearing you talk to the screen.This ninth annual festival described as “Sundance for the troops” returns to the Washington area next week with screenings of old and new films with a military theme. Premieres include Kajaki (May 22 at Angelika Mosaic), based on the true story of a British army unit trapped in a minefield in Afghanistan; and the Melissa McCarthy vehicle Spy (May 21 at Angelika Mosaic). Next week, Sips with Socialites co-hosts an interactive screening of Casablanca featuring cocktails and French-Moroccan food, 1940s costumes are encouraged.
Watch the trailer for Casablanca.
Casablanca screens on Wednesday, May 20 at Angelika Mosaic. $40—ticket includes film screening, casino “funny money” to gamble with, drink tickets and more. Limited to 21 and over.
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Michael Caine and Sue LloydThis weekend the AFI Silver celebrates the 50th anniversary of one of the great British spy films with a rare 35mm screening. Harry Palmer (Michael Caine) is the cockney anti-Bond in this dark espionage thriller that counters the glamorous world of 007 with the bureaucratic and banal. But despite the film’s sometimes bleak nature, it’s a visual delight; director Sidney J. Furie literally and metaphorically set the script on fire, fills the screen with baroque angles, camera tricks and other movie magic. To mar another cinematic anniversary, the AFI will also be screening a 35mm print of Jean Luc-Godard’s Pierrot Le Fou (May 15-17 and 21).
Watch the trailer for the Ipcress File.
The Ipcress File screens Saturday, May 6 and Tuesday, May 19 at the AFI Silver.
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Zoltan, Hound of Dracula aka Dracula’s Dog
Next week the Washington Psychotronic Film Society screens a landmark in demonic dog movies. As the series curators put it, “Dracula wasn’t that tough after all. He took it out on a dog. So Dracula bites the dust and the dog survives. He’s now a super vampire dog with beautiful white fangs and he’s looking for a new master. With one surviving Dracula servant, the demon dog sets off to find his new master in the United States. Mercy me, there’s a vampire dog on the loose and he’s using his underworld powers to knock over trashcans and to pimp out smaller dogs with his mesmerizing hypnotic stare!” With a great synth soundtrack by Andrew Belling, who also put his ear for electronic thrills to use in projects like Body Language for Lovers.
Watch the trailer.
Monday, May 18 at 8 p.m. at Acre 121, 1400 Irving Street NW
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Also opening this week, director George Miller returns to his post-apocalyptic vocation with Mad Max: Fury Road. We’ll have a full review tomorrow.
