Remembering Gene Hackman

Frida Cinema members are invited to exclusive 50th anniversary screenings of the Gene Hackman neo-noir thriller Night Moves! Now in a brand new 4K restoration, the movie remains one of the underseen and underrated gems of the 1970s, wildly seen as the best decade in American cinema.  Private detective and former football player Harry Moseby gets hired on to what seems a standard missing person case, as a former Hollywood actress whose only major roles came thanks to being married to a studio mogul wants Moseby to find and return her daughter. Harry travels to Florida to find her, but he begins to see a connection between the runaway girl, the world of Hollywood stuntmen, and a suspicious mechanic when an unsolved murder comes to light. Not a member yet? Sign up here at: https://thefridacinema.org/memberships/

We continue to celebrate the legendary work of actor Gene Hackman, with Wes Anderson’s offbeat portrait of a particularly dysfunctional family, The Royal Tenenbaums, as her film programming pick. The Tenenbaum siblings - Chas (Ben Stiller), Richie (Luke Wilson), and Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) - are all former child prodigies whose lives have unraveled into disappointment and dysfunction. Their estranged father, Royal Tenenbaum (the late, great Gene Hackman), a charming but deeply flawed man, announces he has a terminal illness in a desperate bid to reconnect with his family, forcing the Tenenbaums to reckon with their shared past and unresolved wounds under the same roof. Nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards, the film remains one of Anderson’s most beloved works; a richly detailed tragicomedy that captures the beauty and absurdity of lost potential, and another iconic performance by two-time Oscar-winner Gene Hackman.

Join us for a limited engagement run of Unforgiven, one of the most iconic Westerns ever made, as part of our Gene Hackman tribute! This Oscar-winning film, directed by Clint Eastwood, continues to captivate audiences with its gritty portrayal of morality, redemption, and the cost of violence.  Set in the unforgiving landscape of the American West, Unforgiven follows William Munny (Clint Eastwood), a retired outlaw who is pulled back into a life of violence when a group of prostitutes offers a bounty to avenge a brutal attack on one of their own. As Munny teams up with his old partner Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) and a young gunslinger (Jaimz Woolvett), they embark on a journey that challenges their beliefs about right and wrong. Gene Hackman plays the memorable role of Little Bill Daggett, a morally complex sheriff determined to maintain order in a lawless town, no matter the cost. Hackman’s portrayal earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, bringing a ruthless yet nuanced character to life that remains one of his finest performances.

Don’t miss Scarecrow as part of our ongoing Gene Hackman tribute! This lesser-known gem, directed by Jerry Schatzberg, is a raw, emotional road drama that explores the unlikely friendship between two drifters searching for meaning in their lives. In Scarecrow, Gene Hackman stars as Max, a tough but tender ex-convict, who teams up with Francis (Al Pacino), a free-spirited, idealistic man just out of prison. Together, they embark on a cross-country journey in hopes of rebuilding their lives, but their partnership is complicated by their personal demons and the harsh realities they face along the way. The film delves deep into themes of loneliness, redemption, and the search for identity, offering a powerful portrayal of two men caught between their pasts and their hopes for a better future. Hackman and Pacino’s performances are nothing short of stunning, each bringing vulnerability and authenticity to their roles. Hackman’s portrayal of Max is a brilliant mixture of toughness and sensitivity, a role that is often overshadowed by his more famous performances but remains one of his finest.

Celebrate the thrilling tension of Crimson Tide on its 30th anniversary, screening at The Frida Cinema as part of our Gene Hackman tribute! And as an added bonus, there will be an introduction and post-screening book signing by Jason Bailey, author of the new biography Gandolfini: Jim, Tony, and the Life of a Legend out on 4/29 via Abrams Press! The film takes place aboard the USS Alabama, a nuclear submarine during a tense international crisis. When the captain (Gene Hackman) and his executive officer (Denzel Washington) clash over the proper response to a potentially catastrophic situation, the battle for control of the ship escalates into a gripping psychological duel. With the fate of the world at stake, each decision becomes a matter of life or death. This high-stakes submarine drama, directed by the amazing Tony Scott, remains one of the most riveting military thrillers of all time.