Location: 600 4th St, West Sacramento (corner of 4th & F in West Sacramento)

http://www.shiny-object.com/screenings/

8/1   7 PM.  Admission: $5.00

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari



We've been meaning to show this 1919 silent expressionist classic for a while now and are finally getting to it!

The story, of course, centers around a sinister hypnotist, Caligari, who travels the carnival circuit along with his exhibit, the somnabulist Cesare.  In one German town, a series of murders occur when Caligari is there.  When the friend of the hero, Francis is killed, he suspects Caligari, but is ignored by the polic, so Francis sets out to uncover Caligari's plot on his own.

From the insane angles (but no right angles), to the lighting (all later utilized in the film noir movement), to one of the first twist endings in film history, "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" still maintains its relevance as an important and influential piece of art, as well as just simply being an amazing visual treat!




8/8   7 PM.  Admission: $5.00

Loren Cass



The year is 1997. Cale (Lewis Brogan aka. Chris Fuller who also wrote and directed), Jason (Travis Maynard), and Nicole (Kayla Tabish) are awake in Saint Petersburg, Florida, a “dirty, dirty town by a dirty, dirty sea.” The city is plagued by uprisings on the city’s south side after a young black motorist is gunned down by a white police officer.

"Loren Cass" is not a coming-of-age movie or a loss of innocence—all innocence is lost from the opening scene. Rather, it’s about what comes next; figuring out what to do when you learn you’re not destined for greatness.  Hypnotic, poetic and violent - yes, an odd combination.

Please note this does contain the infamous and disturbing footage of R. Budd Dwyer's suicide during a press conference in 1987.

Features narration by Keith Morris (Black Flag; The Circle Jerks), Blag Dahlia (The Dwarves), renowned civil rights activist Omali Ye####ela, and the voice of Charles Bukowski.  Also featuring Punk magazine founder, John Holstrom's film debut.  Soundtrack includes Husker Du, Stiff Little Fingers and Billy Bragg.

"Loren Cass" was one of 5 films nominated recently for "Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You" by the editors of Filmmaker Magazine and New York's Museum of Modern Art.

"A starkly radical film debut of uncommon power and artistic principle.  Filmmaking as tough-minded and uncompromising as narrative cinema gets." - Variety

"An impressively surly and uncompromised debut from a confident, promising young filmmaker." - Neil Young's Film Longe

"Brilliant" - Ronna B. Wallace, executive producer of Reservoir Dogs and Bad Lieutenant.




8/15  7 PM.  Admission: $5.00

Frank and Cindy



We've had some requests to show this again, and GJ said (and I quote) "I'm game.  I like it when people see the film."  So make GJ happy.  If you missed it before, make a point of catching it this time.  If you saw it before, well, you pretty much know you ought to see it again...

When Cindy married a rock star, Frank, in 1983 she imagined a life of glamour and Grammys. But the song that propelled Frank to fame, "Whirly Girl," would be the only chart-topper from his short-lived group, OXO. Years later, out of shape and nearly bankrupt after spending his money on "gas, food, dry cleaning and drugs." Frank is not the vision Cindy married.

Now, twenty-three years after appearing on American Bandstand, Frank lives sequestered to the basement where he uses coffee cans as his improvised bathroom.

Both appalled and amused by his parents' behavior, Cindy's filmmaker son, G.J., picks up his video camera and aims it at them. After a year of filming, what began as an attempt to mock his one-hit-wonder step-father, instead becomes a candid portrait of the pursuit of happiness.

Frank & Cindy was the subject of an entire episode of "This American Life" on Showtime in 2007, and in October 2007, Ira Glass hosted a screening at New York's MOMA.




8/22  7 PM.  Admission: $5.00

Unauthorized and Proud Of It: Todd Loren's Rock 'n' Roll Comics



"Unauthorized And Proud Of It" chronicles Todd Loren, the controversial publisher of unauthorized comic book biographies of rock stars. 

A life-long music fan, he founded his comic book company in 1989 with the intention of creating histories of rock and roll performers that were like graphic novels. An enigmatic figure, he was a brilliant businessman and a First Amendment crusader, but he was also known for creating legions of enemies through his insufferable behavior.

Loren went on to publish hundreds of biographies of bands and other celebrities, despite numerous legal challenges from the people he was depicting, often in a scandalous, though accurate fashion. Rock ‘n’ Roll Comics was largely derided by others in the comic book industry and hated by the music business for its “Unauthorized and Proud of It” motto and attitude, yet it was Loren who fought the good fight and won a landmark court case that established First Amendment protections for comics and graphic novels.

At the height of his success, however, Loren was fatally stabbed. His murder remains unsolved 13 years later, though clues point to Andrew Cunanan, the reported serial killer who has been linked to the 1997 slaying of fashion designer Gianni Versace.

Features Alice Cooper, Mojo Nixon, comic book publishers Denis Kitchen and Gary Groth, and graphic artists Mary Fleener, Dennis Worden, Robert Williams, and Steve Crompton, "Unauthorized" provides a compelling and unique look into the worlds of independent comics, the music industry and First Amendment rights.

Please note it is purely coincidental having two films with "Loren" in the title this month.


8/29  7 PM.

TBA