The Angelika Plano announced the winners of its HITCHCOCKTOBER contest during last night’s closing screening of DIAL “M” FOR MURDER. As promised, we’re posting the 3 very creative winning entries below.

1st Place Winner – by Neil Scanlan:

2nd Place Winner – “I Confess”, a song by Jessi Whitby

3rd Place – “Peggy Sues”, a short film by Gordon Keith Smith

Below is a video of Jason Schwartzman’s Q&A last week at the Angelika Dallas. Schwartzman, who attended a screening of his new film THE DARJEELING LIMITED, was absolutely charming, and gregariously and intelligently answered all of our audience’s questions after the film (he stayed for so long that our tape ran out!) We would recommend that you grab a snack and a comfortable chair before embarking on this hour-long video!

[QUICKTIME http://www.angelikablog.com/_Content/jasonschwartzman.mov 320 257]

The Angelika Houston is excited to host the 2007 Polish Film Festival, an annual event promoting Polish cinematography and culture. The festival features 9 recent films from distinguished Polish filmmakers, selected episodes of a popular Polish television show as a bonus after certain screenings and the opportunity to meet two outstanding directors.

This year’s festival highlights include PERSONA NON GRATA, a drama directed by Krzysztof Zanussi (Wherever You Are, Life for a Life, The Silent Touch), an internationally recognized Polish producer and film director and recipient of several prizes and awards, including the David di Donatello Prize of the Accademia del Cinema Italiano. Zanussi will be at the Angelika Houston on Sunday, November 4, from 5.30pm to 8.00pm to screen his film and answer questions.

The festival is also screening 2005’s COPYING BEETHOVEN, an acclaimed biographical drama from director Agnieszka Holland (Europa, Europa, The Secret Garden), one of Polandâ??s most prominent filmmakers and an Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film in 1985 for Angry Harvest. Holland will be at the theater on Monday, November 12, from 6.30pm to 9.00pm.

The Festival will be held from November 3 -5 and 11-12 at the Angelika Houston.
Click here for a full schedule, showtimes and ticket information, or here for a complete list of films and synopses.

Jason Schwartzman spent some time at the Angelika Dallas this past week to promote THE DARJEELING LIMITED, his new film with Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody. Schwartzman, whose breakthrough role in the 1998 sensation RUSHMORE made him a consummate star in the indie film world, stuck around to host a Q&A with the audience, chat with fans (some who baked him homemade brownies – which he graciously accepted and ate with chutzpah) and pose with some of our Angelika staff. The Darjeeling Limited is now playing at the Angelika Dallas. Click here for showtimes and film information.

JUNO, penned by famous blogger, author and now screenwriter Diablo Cody, was a hit at this year’s Toronto Film Festival – and it may very well be a result of her long-honed internet savvy. The film’s exceptionally clever script emphasizes all of the aspects of Cody’s writing that made her so popular with a hyper-critical and judiciously judgmental internet audience. In turn, JUNO has been met with unprecendented zeal from web-enthusiasts and indie-film lovers alike, and as pointed out in this article from HollywoodChicago.com, may be the first movie that caters directly to a blogger’s apetite.

Juno opens December 14 @ the Angelika Plano and December 21 the Angelika Houston.

Also, check out Diablo Cody’s blog here.

Director Jonathan Demme’s smart, low-key chronicle of former president Jimmy Carter’s controversial book tour for his book Palestine Freedom or Apartheid confirms Demme’s mastery of the documentary form (STOP MAKING SENSE) and of the inherent decency and intelligence of this subject. Leisurely building to a moving climax, this is a forceful reminder (along with Nobel Prize Winner Al Gore) that America can still produce leaders of integrity and intelligence even if we do not always agree with all of their positions. One of the year’s best documentaries in a year of terrific non-fiction films.

 

 The Village East Cinema is one of New York City’s oldest landmarks in Yiddish Theatre and Vaudeville, so it’s only fitting that we open O JERUSALEM, an ode to friendship and peace between a Jew and an Arab in the tumultuous creation of the State of Israel in 1948.  The film stars the great broadway and New York City legend Tovah Feldshuh as Golda Meir alongside JJ Feild and Said Taghmaoui, and follows two men as they strive to overcome their racial and political differences and remain loyal, loving friends.

The great Philip Seymour Hoffman stars in two of the most anticipated films of the fall film season: Sidney Lumet’s tense neo film noir BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOUâ??RE DEAD and the both witty and deeply moving THE SAVAGES, both film sensations at this years Toronto Film Festival. And then proving once again his versatility, he will provide super support to Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in Mike Nichols’ CHARLIE WILSONâ??S WAR. Not since the likes of Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino, who proved character faces could carry starring roles, has there been an actor who could move with such ease from small art films to big Hollywood productions. Perhaps someday an inspired casting director will pair that other terrifically talented 3 name Philip – Philip Baker Hall in a film (father and son)- that would be a truly terrific trifecta.

More than just a silent film, the Devil Music Ensemble, a 3-piece live ensemble orchestra, will accompany NOSFERATU for two special screenings at The Village East Cinema this Halloween night.

We sat down with one of the founders of the Devil Music Ensemble, Jonah Rapino, to find out more about this cult film with a twist.

Can you tell us a little bit about your production of Nosferatu? How did it start and what do you guys do during the show?
Jonah: We decided to do a new original soundtrack to Nosferatu for a full U.S. tour in 2005. For years we thought it would be too cliché to score and tour with this film, but that year it got included into our list of potential films to score; and when I actually paid attention and watched the entire film, I was hooked. I finally saw how captivating Max Schrekâ??s Nosferatu character really was. I also found that the film was filled with a wide variety of emotions and subjects that would be very inspiring for many different types of musical compositions. Romance, chase scenes, scientific inquiry scenes, the mad house, the ocean, a mysterious book, and the rest of the great tension and release scenes. Our production process is very simple and egalitarian. We set up with a variety of instruments and jam together as the film rolls. We are playing off of the pace and moods of the film as well as each other. We record two or three of these jam sessions and then to listen back to what happened. Out of this raw musical reaction to the film we find our themes, and melodies, inspiration for pacing, mood, and leitmotifâ??s for specific characters and action. We weed out what doesnâ??t work, and expand on what does, all the while collaborating and filling in gaps with new material and honing the soundtrack down to fit absolutely every editing point and emotional characteristic of the film. It is important for us that the soundtrack never get in the way of the film, but rather strengthen the action of what is happening.

Why do you think there is such a public fascination with the film version of Nosferatu?
J: Bram Stokerâ??s novel â??Draculaâ? was a huge success, and introduced the folk legend vampire character to a world audience. Cinema has always had great success in turning popular books into films that people want to see. The power of film in this case is in bringing peopleâ??s imaginations to life. Nosferatu was successful because it really frightened people.

Nosferatu is known for its dedicated fans, and is actually hailed as the first film to have a dedicated cult following. Why do you think that is?
J: I believe it developed a huge cult following for two reasons. Max Schrek became the benchmark for how the Dracula character looks and acts. Grotesque ears, fangs, and fingernails, plus a slow and brooding evil that scares with a look just as much as with a terrible deed. Max Schrekâ??s portrayal brought hypnotic power to the character. So audiences loved this film for Schrekâ??s particular version of Dracula. Secondly, the family of Bram Stoker successfully sued the filmmakers for copyright infringement and a court ordered that the master negative and all of the copies be destroyed. But, illegal copies remained and were shown throughout Europe and America. Banned or illegal works of art are always sought out for that very fact, and Nosferatu reached cult status as such.

What do you think is the appeal of live music and silent film together? They always seem to draw sellout crowds.
J: Live music for silent film is always a special event because of its rarity. The art form survived after the take over of the â??talkyâ? with screenings of silent classics with mostly improvised scores by solo pianists. Recently there has been a growth in the number of larger groups that arrange old material or compose new scores for performance with these classics. But there is only one movie theater in the world that exclusively shows silent films, so itâ??s like hearing that the Peking Opera or Russian Ballet company are coming to town. If you want to see it, you have to go now, because you have no idea when they might come back. The other reason that it is so popular is because audiences love the combination of visual and auditory art.

Do you do this every Halloween? Do people dress up?
J: Weâ??ve played a live soundtrack to a classic silent horror film every Halloween since 2003. Many people get dressed up for these shows. The last two years we performed at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Boston MA, and both times there was a costume contest.

Do you have high expectations for the New York Crowd? Why the Village East cinemas?
J: We have high hopes for this event. This is a perfect Halloween show. NYCâ??s chance to see one of the original horror films with a new score designed to make your pulse race and scare you so much that you will spill your popcorn all over the floor. If you come to this event you are guaranteed to be surrounded by a room full of Halloween revelers gasping in surprise, white knuckling in suspense, and laughing in relief. We felt the need to approach Village East Cinema because of its non-traditional programming, central location, and its 350-seat capacity. We think this will be a show to remember.

NOSFERATU plays one night on Wednesday, October 31 at 7:30 and 9:30pm. Visit www.movietickets.com to purchase advanced tickets.

Ryan Gosling does it again! Goslingâ??s role in this film is such a departure from Half Nelson (which we played at the Angelika NYC for 7 weeks). He plays Lars, an absolutely endearing but painfully shy man who orders and develops a relationship with a life-size anatomically correct doll named Bianca. The film is heart-wrenching and heart-warming, and Emily Mortimer (from BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS and MATCHPOINT), Patricia Clarkson (from STATION AGENT and GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK) and Paul Schneider (from ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES and ALL THE REAL GIRLS) also give terrific performances in what we think will be one of the sleeper hits of the fall.

To view the trailer, visit our website.