Recent Blog Posts
Tue Dec 2, 2:44 PM
Tue Dec 2, 11:53 AM
Tue Dec 2, 1:05 PM
Tue Dec 2, 10:23 AM
Tue Dec 2, 8:00 AM
Tue Dec 2, 7:30 AM
Tue Dec 2, 3:05 PM
Tue Dec 2, 2:00 PM
Recent Articles
Recent Articles by P. Scott Cunningham
The Oops Guys ask you to put your mouth where their banana is.
Lo, an ode to the Arshts new play, in iambic pentameter.
Ze France Cinema Floride Festival, it is so good.
Cine en español hits the Tower Theater.
No related articles found
National Features >
Riverfront Times
Old-school hog farming makes a comeback, thanks to some fine swine from Frankenstein.
By Kristen Hinman
Broward-Palm Beach New Times
Here's how you become one of those people who screams at his kid's coach.
By Bob Norman
SF Weekly
Transgender hookers with rap sheets are successfully fighting deportation--by asking for asylum.
By Lauren Smiley
Houston Press
First, Houston's DNA lab became a laughingstock. Then its controversial director was murdered.
By Randall Patterson
La Dolce Vita
Cineastes live the good life with a bonanza of Italian films.
Published on October 09, 2008 at 3:02am
Italians make everything better. In their hands, scooters become Vespas, coffee becomes espresso, and murder becomes a favor. A film such as Voyage to Italy (1953) in which a bored English couple takes long, conversation-less walks becomes, in Italy, an orgy of lyrical romanticism. The Godfather II surpasses Part I because its partially set in Italy. Basically, any film in which an Italian kills another Italian is guaranteed to be a classic. Even American film is unimaginable without Italian culture. Never mind Scorsese and Coppola; without Fellini, there's no Woody Allen. Without Rossellini, there's no Wes Anderson. Without De Sica, there's no Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. But because of the boorishness of most American theater chains, it's difficult to see recent Italian movies, and that's why the sixth annual Italian Film Festival at Regal Cinemas South Beach is a must-see.
Director Claudio Di Persia, a former vice president at Sony Pictures, personally screens hundreds of Italian films every year and selects the 10 best for this fest, so every showing is Oscar-worthy. Then there are the famous afterparties, which require the $250 VIP Passport. Film geeks can stick to the $60 movie pass, and individual films cost only $10. The festival opens this Thursday and runs through Tuesday. Visit www.cinemaitaly.com for tickets.
Thu., Oct. 9, 2008