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L.A. Readers! Stuart Gordon Takes Over The New Beverly January 15th To 21st! IRREVERSIBLE! A.I.! THE SWIMMER?

Published at:  Jan 15, 2010 1:23:06 AM CST

Beaks here...



When The New Beverly announced the lineup of films chosen by Stuart Gordon for his week of programming (beginning Friday, January 15th), most of the titles seemed totally out of character for the man who bone-sawed his way into our consciousness with the 1985 horror classic RE-ANIMATOR. Okay, Edmund Goulding's sleazy carny noir NIGHTMARE ALLEY made sense, but why the hell was it paired with Frank Perry's John Cheever-inspired THE SWIMMER? Where's the connective tissue? Is there connective tissue?

The always insightful Dennis Cozzalio of Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule recently chatted with Gordon, and it sounds like the double-features are sort of haphazardly paired. NIGHTMARE ALLEY, THE SWIMMER, IRREVERSIBLE, TRUE GRIT, A.I. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE and AMADEUS: THE DIRECTOR'S CUT... these are just six of Gordon's favorite movies; if one film happens to echo another, it'll be completely unintentional. So the fun will be in trying to figure out how each of these movies jibe with the director's utterly demented sensibilities. Perhaps there's more TRUE GRIT in FROM BEYOND than I initially thought.

It all kicks off tomorrow (Friday) night with NIGHTMARE ALLEY at 7:30 PM, followed by the rarely-screened THE SWIMMER at 9:40 PM (both of which will play on Saturday as well). For the brave, there will be a third feature at midnight: Gaspar Noe's IRREVERSIBLE - which is not only my favorite film of the past decade, but, according to Cozzalio's interview, the movie that nearly brought Gordon to blows with Mena Suvari. IRREVERSIBLE may be too much for many viewers, but if you think you can handle the unpleasantness, you'll be rewarded with one of the most memorable filmgoing experiences of your life (which can't really be replicated at home).

For the rest of the schedule, check out the New Beverly's official site. I'll definitely see you there for A.I. (my #15 movie of the previous decade) on Monday.





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    Readers Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 12:28:00 AM CST

    I haven't seen anything this eclectic since

    by yackbacker

    the final meal Mel Gibson's family put together in SIGNS!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 12:31:04 AM CST

    Im drunk and smell bad.

    by craaayz

    and in other news irreversible sucks for attempting to wreck your probably already shakey view of humanity.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 12:39:16 AM CST

    all hail STUART GORDON!

    by frank cotton

    i would not want to see IRREVERSIBLE on a big screen

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 12:39:47 AM CST

    I am drunk too

    by turd furgeson

    Fuck everyone.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 1:04:33 AM CST

    I think one of my dreams is to do a mini fest at the new bev

    by industrykiller!

    that would be pretty freakin rad...and intimidating. The pedigree is incredible. I still when I discovered the new beverly not long after moving to LA from the sleepy New England town where I grew up when I saw they had a double feature of Tron and The Last Starfighter, a film that would probably be in my festival. I just remember thinking "Holy shit, I didn't know they did things this awesome anywhere!"

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 1:12:41 AM CST

    saw A NEW LEAF there on Tuesday

    by hauptman

    loved it!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 1:21:29 AM CST

    I have bad news beaks

    by continentalop

    No rape in NIGHTMARE ALLEY or THE SWIMMER. So that triple feature is blown...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 1:29:05 AM CST

    The Swimmer

    by j_difool

    Is FANTASTIC. and so are most other Frank Perry films.
    A.I. is a piece of shit.
    In other news, I am the Emperor of the World. Throw yourself on your sword!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 1:33:07 AM CST

    Well, Continentalop...

    by mrbeaks

    ... perhaps Gordon will surprise us with LAST SUMMER.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 1:51:24 AM CST

    Conan is funny...

    by vettebro

    He will be missed.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 2:32:19 AM CST

    A.I. is a masterpiece....

    by kirbymanly

    I could watch that film over and over. The darkest film Spielberg has ever made and paved the way for his later out-put...which kind of explains why he was so confused with "Crystal Skull". He's just not in early-Spielberg mode anymore...and that's not a bad thing.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Gaspar Noe is the most talented filmmaker France has produced since Truffaut.He is a genius. Irreversible is a pulse pounding, nerve shredding 94 mins which teaches you more about modern society than any film that comes before it. A balls out tragic love story told backwards with a shocking chain of events all triggered by one bad judgement call. The ultimate critique of violence and our reactions to it. This is about real life violence and the unforgivable way society leaves victims of rape behind as though they somehow deserved it. Cassell and Bellucci are Oscar worthy to put it mildly. Sadly a piece of shit film such as 'the Accused' can get Oscars where as this vat of boiling oil across the face gets nowt.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 6:00:40 AM CST

    kirbymanly

    by james_cameron_raped_my_childhood

    I agree with everything you've said. Gotta add, I loved War of the Worlds, it was very daring for a summer blockbuster to be so grim. There were ideas in Skulls regarding loss & regret that were obviously Spielberg's - but were squashed by Goitre Lucas in favour of juvenile crap.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 6:01:07 AM CST

    A.I. is fucking garbage.

    by maxthesilent

    Does Mr. Gordon really rate that shit?

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 6:06:27 AM CST

    Pineal Glands Out!

    by quantize

    just had to make a From Beyond reference...

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 6:28:10 AM CST

    A.I.: Fantastic

    by d.vader

    Love that movie. Wish I could see it. "Fucking Garbage"? I think not, Max.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 6:59:37 AM CST

    I WOULDN'T EXACTLY CALL THE ACCUSED A PIECE OF SHIT

    by bringingsexyback

    Team Coco!!!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 7:25:29 AM CST

    The Swimmer

    by scratchmonkey

    Needs more love.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 7:58:05 AM CST

    Irreversible.....Perfect Date Movie.....

    by arturo

    Ok mabey not, but its worth watching regardless, still waiting for Gaspar Noe's "Enter The Void"

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 8:28:23 AM CST

    God, I want to see The Swimmer...

    by eustisclay

    ...I'd have probably paired it with Lonely are the Brave from the looks of it. I'd forgotten about Last Summer. Saw it years ago as a kid at the drive in. And it would be a good pair up with Irreversible.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 9:41:37 AM CST

    i liked AI a lot too

    by waka_flocka_flame

    had a little cry cry at end

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 10:09:01 AM CST

    Careful Continentalop

    by we_like_it_very_much

    Beaks bans people who point out his Euro-Rape fetish.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 10:30:38 AM CST

    A.I. will gain appreciation over the years.

    by gotilk

    Re-watched again recently and it had a much bigger impact on me than it did the first time. No matter how hard it tries to "Spielberg out" during it's run-time, it still manages to be both a very human AND very bleak snapshot of the future. (the robot-killing-faire still bugs me though)

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 12:08:54 PM CST

    The Swimmer

    by the starwolf

    Ah, yes, the film about some nut who decides to swim home, one back yard swimming pool at a time. As though the premise wasn't silly enough, the film can't work unless the lead has either time traveled, been in a coma, or is amnesiac. That's not usually a good sign.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 12:47:46 PM CST

    The Irreversible at midnight theater experience

    by liberty valance

    Is some perverse, obese, unwashed slob in the row behind you jacking off while the rapist coos "Shit on me and you're dead" in Monica Belucci's ear while he pumps her ass. Thanks but no thanks.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 1:42:22 PM CST

    Great Lancaster Performance

    by tallsy

    I like The Swimmer but I think it really is just Lancaster rising above the material.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 1:50:44 PM CST

    A.I. most DEFINITELY a MASTERPIECE. Beautiful film.

    by behemoth

    Ranks right up there with Spielberg's best. One of the most moving films I've ever seen. Anyone who says otherwise is not only a pederast, but also a dung-sniffing buffoon who takes it up the chute.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 15, 2010 3:20:52 PM CST

    Beaks!

    by roketopunch

    If you love Irreversible, you should watch I Stand Alone. That is one of Noe's films prior to Irreversible. I demand you to watch it!

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 16, 2010 2:37:25 PM CST

    Gordon & Combs' tribute to Poe: NEVERMORE

    by grinning white skull

    Gordon & Jeff Combs staged an incredible live tribute to Edgar Allen Poe with a stage production entitled NEVERMORE. It played here in Los Angeles to rave reviews and Gordon & Combs are taking it on the road this year. I can't recommend this play enough and if it comes to your city, RUN to get a seat at the theater for one of the most riveting and satisfying one-man shows you'll ever see with Combs' amazing portrayal of Edgar Allen Poe.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2010 3:55:31 AM CST

    A.I.

    by aquanaut

    i'm still very curious as to the specific criticisms some have for this film. it's a top 10 for me.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2010 8:07:05 PM CST

    HJO

    by ieatgarbage

    is an obnoxious little dude.

    Reply to Talkback

  • Jan 17, 2010 11:10:30 PM CST

    Seth Gecko

    by burnhollywood

    "Irreversible is a pulse pounding, nerve shredding 94 mins which teaches you more about modern society than any film that comes before it."
    All it taught me is that gay men are super-creepy freaks who lurk in darkened sex dens and are so fucking stoned out of their minds that they pick fights with strangers and deserve to get their heads pulped with fire extinguishers. Also, they'll rape your pregnant wife, given half a chance. Also, women should do what the fuck their man says or wind up getting raped. By gay men.
    Seriously, get out of here with that pretentious twaddle.

    Reply to Talkback

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