big screen

every summer, it seems there's no lack of free outdoor movie events to attend. add big screen plaza's twice-weekly screenings to the list if you're not yet aware. this saturday, beetlejuice will be showing at the space on 6th and 29th, with a host of woody allen and james bond movies to follow later in the month. full details here.

INFLUENCE: the golden ages

rooftop films

this summer's rooftop films series starts tonight, with a selection of short films organized under the title "this is what we mean by short films." it promises to be an intriguing start to the season-long string of diverse releases. run by a non-profit organization, the experience is meant to unite diverse communities while promoting independent filmmaking. info for the full series here.

blank city

a new documentary premieres tonight at the ifc center, focusing on the concurrent no wave cinema and cinema of transgression movements that emerged in the economically depressed but creatively profound new york of the 70's and 80's. these genres pushed the conceptual and cultural boundaries of film in an unprecedented fashion, drawing in some of the era's most luminary figures. accordingly, the film features interviews with many of them, including john waters, steve buscemi, debbie harry, thurston moore, richard kern, and nick zedd. the soundtrack alone, with contributions from patti smith, television, and sonic youth, promises to justify its numerous accolades. full details here, including multiple q&a sessions and introductions by the cast and crew.

straight to hell returns

director alex cox will be appearing at 92y tribeca on thursday for a screening of his 1987 cult classic, straight to hell. this homage to the spaghetti western was written in three days and filmed in three weeks, and it features the likes of joe strummer, grace jones, courtney love, and dennis hopper. the remastered version includes cut scenes and a new soundtrack. a conversation with the director will follow the screening. full details here.

birds of paradise

this weekend, tate modern in london is celebrating its third fashion in film festival. this year's theme explores costume's role as a cinematic element. through elaborate costuming gestures, these underground films express sumptuousness and transformative power. the fascination with jewelry, wardrobe, color, and aesthetics is sure to provide an interesting experience. works by noted filmmakers kenneth anger, jack smith, jose rodriguez-soltaro, and steven arnold are all scheduled for screening. the kenneth anger entry below should give you a good idea what to expect. full details available here.

un chien andalou

if you haven't watched salvador dali and luis bunuel's sixteen minute surrealist masterpiece, now's the time to do it. with endorsements by bowie, the pixies, and mr. oizo (as well as featuring some of the first gore in cinema), it's a must see.