Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Ramis redux

Magic Lantern Spring Film Festival salutes comedic gem

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By JENNIFER LIEBRUM
Express Staff Writer

Some of Harold Ramis’ most famous films included his good friend Bill Murray. Courtesy photo

    The late director, actor and writer Harold Ramis’ film legacy will be revisited in a special festival within a festival at the Magic Lantern Cinemas’ 2014 Spring Film Festival.
     The event will include several exciting and new independent comedies, thrillers, dramas and documentary films.
    “Ramis, probably more than anyone, changed the face of cinematic comedy,” said Rick Kessler, owner of the Magic Lantern Cinemas in Ketchum. “We thought it only appropriate to kick off the festival with ‘National Lampoon’s Animal House,’ followed by a toga party at the Cornerstone,” on Friday, May 2. The film will start at 7 p.m. and the toga party at 9 p.m.
    Ramis’ writing achievements include “Stripes” and “Animal House,” which upon its 1978 release catapulted the film career of John Belushi, with whom Ramis acted at Second City.
    Writing, directing and co-starring in “Ghostbusters,” Ramis also wrote and directed “Caddyshack” and directed “Groundhog Day.” He was the first head writer and a performer on Second City’s groundbreaking television series “SCTV,” and more recently he directed episodes of NBC’s “The Office.”
    The Magic Lantern Film Society is sponsoring this Ramis retrospective at the festival. All seats will be $5.
    “Grab a bunch of friends and laugh yourself silly,” Kessler said. “If you had fun at ‘Blazing Saddles’ or ‘MASH’ or know friends that did, you won’t want to miss out on the fun.”
    The first week of the festival films also include “Le Weekend,” starring Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan. They play a long-married British couple revisiting Paris for the first time since their honeymoon in an attempt to rekindle their relationship.

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“Grab a bunch of friends and laugh yourself silly.”
Magic Lantern Cinemas owner
Rick Kessler

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    Set in India, “Lunchbox,” is a film about a mistaken delivery in Mumbai’s famously efficient lunchbox delivery system, which connects a young housewife to a stranger. They build a fantasy world together through notes in the lunchbox.
    “Dom Hemingway” presents Jude Law as Dom Hemingway, a larger-than-life safecracker with a loose fuse who is funny, profane and dangerous. After 12 years in prison, he sets off with his partner-in-crime Dickie looking to collect what he’s owed.
    “Tim’s Vermeer” is a documentary film featuring the comedy duo Penn and Teller with inventor Tim Jenison, who seeks to understand the painting techniques used by Dutch master Johannes Vermeer. 
    To engage younger audiences in the festival habit, Kessler is offering kids under 10 seats for $4 to “Frozen Sing-a-Long.” Adults pay $5.  Entry to all of Harold Ramis’ films is $5.
    The second week of the festival will begin on Friday, May 9, and will feature “Alan Partridge,” “Gloria,” “Under the Skin,” “Enemy” “Anita,” “The Wind Rises,” “Groundhog Day” and “Caddyshack.”
    For film festival dates, times and trailers, visit http://mlcinemas.com/category/film-festival/.

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