"Going to the movies is a social experience," said Rick Kessler, owner of the Magic Lantern Cinemas. "It's an important part of our social fabric for you to stand in line for tickets and talk with your neighbors."
Kessler has programmed another fall film festival at the Magic Lantern, which will begin Friday, Sept. 11, and continue through Thursday, Sept. 24. The festival, in its 21st year, has two documentaries, an Oscar Award-winning film, some dramatic movies, stylish period-piece films, timely films and funny films, as well as one serious sci-fi film.
"I read reviews all the time and keep a running list," Kessler said. "I look for diversity and will hunt down films."
The first week of films, Friday, Sept. 11, through Thursday, Sept. 17, includes "In the Loop" by British director Armando Iannucci, "Easy Virtue" directed by Stephan Elliott, "Summer Hours" by French director Olivier Assayas and the documentary film "Food, Inc." by director Robert Kenner.
The second week of the festival, Friday, Sept. 18, through Thursday, Sept. 24, will feature "Moon" directed by Duncan Jones, "Departures" by Japanese director Yojiro Takita, "Cheri" directed by Stephen Frears and the documentary "The Cove" directed by Louie Psihoyos.
For the first week of the festival, enjoy the British comedy "In the Loop," which takes a humorous approach to the war rooms of the U.S. President and the U.K. Prime Minister. "In the Loop" has witty dialogue and an ensemble cast including Tom Hollander, James Gandolfini, Anna Chlumsky, Steve Coogan, Chris Addison, Peter Capaldi and Paul Higgins.
Indulge in "Easy Virtue," a romantic comedy set in the 1930s. Director Stephan Elliot also directed "The Adventures of Prisilla, Queen of the Desert" and captures all the glitz, glamour and style of upper-crust English society. The film stars Jessica Biel, Ben Barnes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Colin Firth, Kimberley Nixon, Katherine Parkinson, Kris Marshall and Christian Brassington.
"Summer Hours" is a dramatic French film about 40-something siblings brought together when their mother dies. She is the heiress to her uncle's exceptional 19th-century art collection. The cast includes Juliette Binoche, Jérémie Renier, Charles Berling and Edith Scob.
Perhaps the most anticipated documentary in the line-up of festival films, "Food, Inc." is a film that explores the nation's food industry and the "hidden agenda" of the government's regulatory agencies, the USDA and the FDA. The film suggests the U.S. food supply is controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and the environment. Bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds or tomatoes that don't spoil are a product of the current U.S. food production. Meanwhile, the population suffers from new strains of E. coli, widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.
Idaho's Bounty will have an information table in the Magic Lantern lobby Friday, Sept. 11, Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 13, for the screening of "Food, Inc."
The second week of the festival will include the science fiction film "Moon" starring Sam Rockwell, this year's Academy Award-winner for Best Foreign Film, "Departures," "Cheri" starring Michele Pfeiffer and another compelling documentary, "The Cove," an "eco-thriller" exposing a heinous crime against nature in Japan.
For times and more details, visit magiclanterncinemas.com or call 726-4274.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
“Food, Inc.” features Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms, who’s trying to find ways to work inside and outside the system to improve the quality of food.
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