The Frida Cinema’s In Defense Of… series for March circles all the way back to our Executive Director, Logan Crow, as he selects the 1992 Brad Pitt live action/cartoon hybrid Cool World!
A bizarre accident lands Frank Harris in Cool World, a realm of cartoons. Years later, cartoonist Jack Deebs, who’s been drawing Cool World, crosses over as well. He sets his lustful sights on animated femme fatale Holli Would, but she’s got plans of her own to become real, and it’s up to Frank to stop her.
Directed by legendary animator Ralph Bakshi, the film’s poor reception, coupled with its confusing narrative and mismatched tone, contributed to it being a major dud in the box office. While it has since gained a cult following (Logan included), general audiences still continue to reject it…until now!
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At Long Last Longworth continues with a very rare screening the 1993 film Arizona Dream!
Johnny Depp plays Axel Blackwell, a young man from New York City who is sent to Arizona to attend the wedding of his uncle Leo (Jerry Lewis), a car salesman who lives in the desert. While there, Axel finds himself tangled up in the eccentric lives of the people around him, including a passionate, somewhat unstable woman named Elaine (Faye Dunaway) and her stepdaughter, Grace (Lili Taylor), who has an unusual obsession with the idea of flying. Axel’s journey becomes a surreal exploration of freedom, longing, and the bizarre connections that people form in their lives.
Directed by Emir Kusturica and featuring an evocative soundtrack by Goran Bregović, the film strikes the perfect tone between a whimsical detachment and an almost-otherworldly feel. Set against the stark, colorful backdrop of the Arizona desert, it’s a perfect choice for those who enjoy a mix of whimsical fantasy and deep, introspective character studies.
At Long Last Longworth is a week-long guest programming takeover by author, critic, podcaster, and certified Frida Cinema favorite Karina Longworth. We gave her a promt for four different films: one of her “all-timers” (Trouble In Paradise), her favorite flop (At Long Last Love), a movie she thinks needs to be re-examined (Arizona Dream), and a movie she loves from her childhood (The Wizard Of Oz). Before each screening, there will be an exclusive introduction pre-recorded by Ms Longworth, with the exception of At Long Last Love, which will have an in-person conversation after the screening!
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At Long Last Longworth continues with the iconic Technicolor wonder of the original 1939 American masterpiece The Wizard Of Oz!
Young Dorothy finds herself in a magical world where she makes friends with a lion, a scarecrow and a tin man as they make their way along the yellow brick road to talk with the Wizard and ask for the things they miss most in their lives. The Wicked Witch of the West is the only thing that could stop them.
At Long Last Longworth is a week-long guest programming takeover by author, critic, podcaster, and certified Frida Cinema favorite Karina Longworth. We gave her a promt for four different films: one of her “all-timers” (Trouble In Paradise), her favorite flop (At Long Last Love), a movie she thinks needs to be re-examined (Arizona Dream), and a movie she loves from her childhood (The Wizard Of Oz). Before each screening, there will be an exclusive introduction pre-recorded by Ms Longworth, with the exception of At Long Last Love, which will have an in-person conversation after the screening!
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Jump into the fantastical world of time travel with original The Time Machine (1960), followed by the documentary The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal, following the life and times of its director! Stick around for the intermission as we discuss both films with the producer/director of the documentary, Mr Arnold Leibovit!
Experience the groundbreaking special effects and visionary storytelling of George Pal, one of the most innovative filmmakers of his time. The Time Machine — a thrilling adaptation of H.G. Wells’ timeless novel — takes you on an unforgettable adventure through time, where a daring inventor (Rod Taylor) uses his fantastic creation to travel into the far-flung future. Witness an incredible journey that bridges centuries in vivid Technicolor, and marvel at Pal’s imaginative world-building, which set the standard for future sci-fi cinema.
Then, go behind the scenes with The Fantasy Film World of George Pal, a documentary celebrating the creative genius behind such classics as War of the Worlds and The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao. Before E.T. and Star Wars, there was George Pal. The documentary covers the five-decades life and career of the Academy Award-winning producer-director whose vision and groundbreaking works continue to inspire the filmmakers of today. Presented are interviews with the stars and filmmakers whose lives he touched, along with famous movie scenes, rare footage, and original artist’s renderings.
Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind double feature that brings both the magic of the past and the fantasy of the future together in a way only George Pal can deliver!
This screening is a exclusive arrangement with Warner Brothers Motion Pictures. Thank you to them for making it possible!
Doors – 2:00PM
The Time Machine – 3:00PM
Intermission + Q&A – 5:00PM
The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal – 5:30PM
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Get ready for one of the wildest cinematic experiences of your life as The Frida Cinema and Mood Posion team up to present Nobuhiko Obayashi’s 1977 surrealist masterpiece Hausu (aka House). And as an added bonus, everybody in attendance will receive a custom Hausu Mood Poison magnet!
The story follows a group of schoolgirls headed to a haunted house for summer vacation, only for things to go from weird to…weirder. From floating pianos to killer stuffed animals, the film is an explosion of colors and chaos.
So join us for this Japanese cult classic (and certified Frida Cinema Favorite) that has become legendary for its bizarre special effects, haunting visuals, and wacky storytelling. It needs to be seen (on the big screen) to be believed.
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Winner of the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature and now Oscar Nominee for Best Animated Feature and Best International Feature, The Frida Cinema is proud to present the wondrous animated film Flow for an extended run and matinees and early evening screenings!
A wondrous journey, through realms natural and mystical, Flow follows a courageous cat after his home is devastated by a great flood. Teaming up with a capybara, a lemur, a bird, and a dog to navigate a boat in search of dry land, they must rely on trust, courage, and wits to survive the perils of a newly aquatic planet. From the boundless imagination of the award-winning Gints Zilbalodis (Away) comes a thrilling animated spectacle as well as a profound meditation on the fragility of the environment and the spirit of friendship and community. Steeped in the soaring possibilities of visual storytelling, Flow is a feast for the senses and a treasure for the heart.
Upon premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, the film has received critical acclaim and won numerous film and animation awards, including Best Animated Film at the European Film Awards, the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, the National Board of Review Awards, and many more! The film is selected as the Latvian entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards!
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See It On 16mm starts the new year off with Tim Burton’s original 1988 horror comedy Beetlejuice!
The story follows a recently deceased couple, Adam and Barbara Maitland (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis), who find themselves stuck haunting their beloved home when an eccentric and obnoxious family moves in. Desperate to reclaim their house, the Maitlands unwittingly summon Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), a mischievous and unpredictable “bio-exorcist” from the netherworld, to scare away the new occupants. Chaos ensues as Beetlejuice’s antics spiral out of control, leading to an alliance with the couple’s unexpected ally, the quirky and goth-spirited Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder).
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Our In Defense of… series returns with Tank Girl, Rachel Talalay’s post apocalyptic sci-fi film and our Director of Volunteers and Interns Jill Georgieff’s pick!
After a comet disrupts the rain cycle of Earth, the planet has become a desolate, barren desert by the year 2033. With resources scarce, Kesslee — head of the powerful and evil Water & Power Corporation, the de facto government — has taken control of the water supply. Unwilling to cower under Kesslee’s tyrannical rule, a pair of outlaws known as Tank Girl and Jet Girl rise up, joining the mysterious rebel Rippers to destroy the corrupt system.
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Join us at The Frida Cinema as we continue to celebrate the work of legendary filmmaker David Lynch, presenting his final directorial feature: INLAND EMPIRE.
Nikki (Laura Dern), an actress, takes on a role in a new film, and because her husband (Peter J. Lucas) is very jealous, her co-star Devon (Justin Theroux) gets a warning not to make any romantic overtures — especially since the characters they play are having an affair. Both actors learn that the project is a remake of an unfinished film in which the stars were murdered.
Regarded by many as the most cryptic film of Lynch’s extensive oeuvre, INLAND EMPIRE was named the second best film of 2007 by Cahiers du cinema.
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Our 80s Sword and Sorcery series winds down with The Dark Crystal, Jim Henson and Frank Oz’s groundbreaking fantasy epic!
Set in the mystical world of Thra, the story follows Jen (voiced by Stephen Garlick), the last of the peaceful Gelfling race, who embarks on a quest to heal the titular Dark Crystal, a powerful artifact corrupted by the malevolent Skeksis. Guided by ancient prophecies, Jen must locate the missing shard of the Crystal and reunite it before a great conjunction of Thra’s three suns, which would grant the Skeksis eternal dominion. Along the way, Jen is joined by Kira (voiced by Lisa Maxwell), another surviving Gelfling, and her animal companion Fizzgig, as they face trials of courage and self-discovery.
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