Valentines Day Comes Early for Cleveland Movie Fans

Whether or not you are a fan of Valentines Day is really not my concern. I don’t care if it’s a made up holiday manipulated by some companies to sell cards, candy, flowers and other assorted doo-dads. That’s a debate for normal people. For us film fans this two weeks leading up to February 14^th is jam packed with love and goodness from across the world and in our own backyards.

>First off is the announcement of the Academy Award Nominations for 2010, which takes place at roughly 8:30 eastern time on February 2^nd . If you’re a bit of a film nerd, then sitting around your television in the morning watching fabulous stars read the list of the years nominees is not a new experience, but it always feels new to me. Watching the noms is like being bit by a rabid dog. Not long after watching, symptoms start appearing; a foaming at the mouth due to a pick that you think is wrong, a desire to attack anyone who feels a film you love shouldn’t be on the list, and a complete unwillingness to be tamed by a fellow fanatic who is trying to dominate an argument over which actor, film, score, or actresses’ dress is best.

If Oscar Fever is still running hot after the announcements then feel free to join other movie fans later in the day at the Cleveland Cinematheque (Aitken auditorium on the Cleveland Institute of Art’s campus) at 7:00 pm. Inside this cavernous lecture hall/movie theater, John Ewing, the Cinematheque’s director will moderate a panel of film scholars and critics as they go over the nominations. You’ll also get a chance to vote on the awards for prizes! Click HERE for more on what is sure to be a fun night and, I would hope, an almost creepy display of film knowledge.

While were on the topic of the Cleveland Cinematheque, I would not be a very good valentine if I failed to mention the gift that they are giving to us during this romantic time of the year. On February 13^th at 5:00 pm (and again on Feb 14^th) they will be showing a 35mm print of what I think is the greatest romantic film of them all, Casablanca Okay, now I already hear some of you grumbling; “its old and in black and white” or “I can just watch it at home”.

True, it is a black and white film, but if that’s holding you back then shame…SHAME I say. Casablanca is one of those films that uses the technology that it had at the time perfectly. It uses black and white better than most modern films use color. The play between light and shadows becomes as much a character in the film as Humphrey Bogart’s Rick Blaine, a slightly shady casino owner in WWII Morocco and Ingrid Bergman’s Ilsa Lund, Rick’s old flame who needs his help in secreting away her new lover from the clutches of the Nazis.

And sure, you could pop Casablanca into your media player and watch it from your own home, but your going to be missing one of the biggest valentines treats that could be offered up to you within the next few weeks. Sometimes part of what makes a movie great is how it is presented to you, and we sometimes take for granted just how much heat can be generated by two classic film stars because we always see them on the small screen. The Cinematheque is giving you the chance to see Bogey and Bergman sizzle on the big screen at thirty feet tall and I think it would be a mistake to miss it.

Now, if your going to head out to the Cinematheque to catch one of the best movies of all time, I feel it is only fair to offer you the chance to also take your valentine to catch one of the worst movies ever made as well. We Clevelanders are truly lucky to be here to witness a cinematic eclipse. On February 6^th at midnight, a mere seven days before Casablanca, the Cedar Lee theater will be showing The Room, one of the best bad movies you‘ll ever see. This multi-million dollar production comes to us from the strangely beefy auteur Tommy Wiseau and has threatened in overtake The Rocky Horror Picture Show as the midnight movie of choice for discerning moviegoers in many cities. The Room concerns the trials and tribulations of Johnny (played by Wiseau), a banker who cannot wait to marry the love of his life, Lisa. But Lisa is two timing on him with his best friend, and her mother has cancer and their nearly adopted son is hooked on drugs, and the bank where Johnny works doesn’t like his ideas and… whew! Trying to define The Room is like trying to cage a wild animal, it’s dangerous and shouldn’t be attempted by the weak. Just bring some plastic spoons to the show and join in on what has become a great audience participation event. Bring your significant other with you and drink from the somewhat rotten smelling well of knowledge that is contained in this hysterically inept, but wonderful little gem. And if your up for it make it a double feature by showing up around 9:30 pm for the return of what critics call the Rebel Without a Cause for the early 90’s rap set; Cool as Ice. This is the film that Vanilla Ice (the mastermind behind the song Ice Ice Baby) used to break out of music and onto movie screens. Someone must have failed to mention this to the audiences of 1991 though, because Cool as Ice definitely was given a cold shoulder at the boxoffice. But it’s back and we are finally getting our chance to appreciate anew., and if you buy a ticket you get free vanilla ice cream to help make everything go down better. I recommend eating it fast and letting the brain freeze distract you through the slow parts.