Tonight (Friday) at the Lucas Theatre at 8 p.m., come see The Fall (2008).
View some of the stunning images below -- or visit THE FALL online.

Award-winning music video, commercial and film director Tarsem Singh (The Cell) creates a moving and seamless blending of mundane life in 1915 Los Angeles hospital with a visually sumptuous fantasy world of exotic bandits, evil tyrants, dream-like palaces, and breathtaking landscapes. Shot in 18 countries around the world, The Fall stars nominated actor Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies, Infamous, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day) and Justine Waddell (Mansfield Park, Chaos) and features a breakthrough performance by first-time Romanian child actress Catinca Untaru.

Languishing in a hospital, Roy Walker (Lee Pace) is a broken man in more ways than one: Unable to walk after a fall from a horse in a movie stunt gone wrong, his heart is also broken after his girlfriend ran off with the movie's leading man. Roy befriends five-year-old fellow patient Alexandria (Catinca Untaru) and launches into a story that fuses patients, staff and others at the hospital with imagined personas and exotic lands.

Roger Ebert gave "The Fall" 5 of 5 stars and says Tarsem "has made a movie that you might want to see for no other reason than because it exists. There will never be another like it."

117 minutes. Rated R for some violent images.

(Ebert notes: The movie's R rating should not dissuade bright teenagers from this celebration of the imagination.)

View the stunning trailer at the official site: www.thefallthemovie.com

Tickets are $8 general public, $6 seniors/military and $4 SCAD ID and available soon by calling 912-525-5050 or by clicking here.

Classic films in classy rooms

The Lucas and Trustees Theaters welcomeThe Savannah Film Society's Summer Series

By Jim Reed

THERE WAS A TIME when going to the picture show was quite an excursion.

Whole families got gussied up for those outings, anxiously anticipating seeing the stars of their day shining brightly on the silver screen. Popcorn, soda pop and hard candy was de rigueur, and for many in the South (especially those with lower incomes), the air conditioning in these movie houses made for a welcome respite from the summer heat and humidity.

These days, DVD technology, home theater systems and cookie cutter multiplexes have eroded most traces of the old-school cinematic experience, but over the past few years, the Savannah Film Society, based out of the historic Lucas Theatre, has strived to turn back the clock and revive that glorious tradition not only for those able to remember it firsthand, but those for whom it's a completely new experience.

Helmed by the Lucas' Managing Director Meaghan Walsh, the Savannah Film Society has just launched its third annual Summer Film Series, which finds a wide assortment of older and more recent features (plus one brand-new release) being shown on weekend nights though July at both the Lucas (opened in 1921) and around the corner at Trustees Theater (formerly the Weis Theater, opened in 1946).

According to Walsh, the management of both venues —each of which regularly presents live music, theater, dance and comedy acts— collaborated on this lineup of classics and critically-acclaimed sleepers in an effort to provide local residents with a unique entertainment option.

"Summertime is when the Lucas has the most open dates," she says. "But we try to maintain a year-round film presence. Our Summer Series focuses on revivals of classics, because people are in vacation mode and those go better with 'family time'."

The 2008 Series' first feature, the 1954 Audrey Hepburn vehicle Sabrina, was a great success, drawing over 320 people.

And although she was already familiar with the film, Walsh says watching it in a large, balconied theater as it was intended to be seen gave her a much greater appreciation for the movie.

"We try to choose classic films people have probably already seen on TV or video — they might even be old favorites. What's different is seeing it on a screen 25 feet tall and 40 feet wide. And, while inviting ten friends to your house for movie night is certainly fun, with several hundred people in a room, there's an extra element of magic."

Those who know the Lucas only as a concert hall may be surprised at how marvelous a venue it is for watching films. Walsh says that's intentional.

"It was built originally as a grand movie house, and designed around elegance and comfort. That tradition really comes alive when we show an old movie. It's like taking a trip back in time, and you can easily imagine what it was like back in its heyday. We have ushers, and a big curtain that comes down and up to signal the start of the film. It's very theatrical! (laughs)"

She encourages the public to keep tabs on upcoming SFS films online.

"They can check online (myspace.com/savfilmsociety) for schedule updates, and are more than welcome to suggest movies they think would make a good addition to our series. I'll check to see if they're right for the Lucas, or even available to us."

Schedule: The Savannah Film Society's 2008 Summer Film Series:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy (2005) - June 20, Lucas Theatre
Road to Morocco (1945) - June 21, Lucas Theatre
(David Mamet's) Redbelt (2008) - June 27, Lucas Theatre
The Pink Panther (1964) - June 28, Lucas Theatre
Ghostbusters (1984) - July 5, Trustees Theater
Cradle Will Rock (1999) - July 11, Lucas Theatre
Bob Roberts (1992) - July 12, Lucas Theatre
Young Frankenstein (1974) - July 19, Trustees Theater
(Alfred Hitchcock's) The Birds (1963, USA) - July 25, Trustees Theater
Times: All films begin at 7 pm
Cost: $8 for gen. public, $6 for seniors & military, and $4 w/SCAD ID at 525-5050, lucastheatre.com or the venue 

It was a tie!  So, we're giving away two sets of tickets and popcorn to CHAD and ATMOSPHERE SALON.  They got the correct answer - The Sprinkler Sprinkled, by the Lumiere Brothers.  They win 2 tickets and free popcorn to see SLEUTH on January 11, 8pm at the Lucas. Congrats to them, and see you at the movies!

Hey everyone-
We've just booked the new film SLEUTH, with Jude Law and Michael Caine to screen at the Lucas Theatre on January 11 at 8 p.m.  We're really excited about this one!  It was in the running for the Golden Lion at the Venice FIlm Festival in September. 
It was directed by Kenneth Branagh and the screenplay was written by Harold Pinter (based on a play).

Hope to see you there!
***

Here is what people are saying:

Branagh and Greenaway on the shortlist for Venice's prestigious 'Golden Lion' By Arifa Akbar, The Independent. Published: 27 July 2007

Branagh's shortlisted film, which is a remake of the 1972 classic Sleuth, stars Jude Law and Michael Caine, the latter of whom featured in the original film opposite Laurence Olivier. In the film, Caine adopts Olivier's role while Jude Law, who is also co-producing the remake, plays Caine's original character. The film's screenplay was written by Harold Pinter.
______________

By Roger Ebert
"When "Sleuth" premiered last month at the Toronto Film Festival, a great many critics (including me), writing in advance about it sight unseen, described it as a "remake" of the 1972 film based on Anthony Shaffer's stage play. The festival program was more accurate, describing it as "a fascinating transformation." So it is. Do not make the mistake of thinking that if you've seen the earlier play or film, you've got this one covered. Yes, one of the plot gimmicks is the same, but be honest: If you saw the original, you'd already heard about the gimmick, anyway, hadn't you? Only the London opening night audience possibly experienced it as a surprise. The story isn't about the gimmick, anyway. It's about the vicious verbal duel that two men perform one edgy night. Andrew Wyke (Michael Caine), a millionaire thriller novelist, receives a very late visitor: Milo Tindle (Jude Law), who is having an affair with Wyke's wife. The weathered country house exterior of his country estate is belied by the interior, an alarming display of metal, glass, crystal, modernist sculpture and an advanced spy-cam security system. This is not a house to be lived in, but to be shown through."

Thank you to everyone who came to one (or all!) of our fall movies.  We had a very successful series, and each film brought more people than the last.  We really appreciate it.
We are working on the winter line-up now, so let us know if there is something out there you'd like to see.  We can't always get everything since studios and distribution companies have their agendas too, but when it works, it's a blast!  But give us some ideas, and we'll check 'em out. 
In the meantime, enjoy the film festival.  They've got some cool stuff coming - and don't forget to tell Milos Forman when you see him, SFS brought you Goya's Ghosts!
Until then,
See you at the movies.

Thanks, everyone, who came out for Funny Face -- and all our movies. We've had steadily increasing numbers for our fall series, hooray!
This Friday at 8pm at the beautiful Lucas Theatre, we are showing THE TEN, a dark comedy based on people breaking the Ten Commandments is various amusing ways. It stars Jessica Alba, Paul Rudd, Adam Brody, Liev Schreiber, Kerry Kenney-Silver (Reno! 911), Rob Corrdry (Daily Show), Winona Ryder (she plays a thief - irony!), Grethen Mol (310 to Yuma), and many more.
See you at the movies!

There are a ton of great movie choices this weekend.  Make sure you vote with your feet and make sure offerings like this only increase in Savannah!

THURSDAY AT 7PN - SENTIENT BEAN
Savannah Peace Festival brings "Romero"

FRIDAY AT 7PM - TRUSTEES THEATER
Sharkwater, part of the Gray's Reef Ocean Film Festival
Go here to view all their offerings: www.graysreefoceanfilmfestival.com

SATURDAY AT 8PM - Come to the Lucas to see The Wailin' Jennys.  They wont be anywhere else in GA or the region!! www.lucastheatre.com

SUNDAY AT 7PM - LUCAS THEATRE
Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire in FUNNY FACE.
(This is a Savannah Film Society offering)

WEDNESDAY AT 7PM - SENTIENT BEAN
A marvellous rip-off of James Bond, with a midget - For Your Height Only.
Go here to see what other crazy things he brings: www.myspace.com/psychotronicfilms

And this isn't all of it!

See you at the movies!

Thanks to everyone who came out for ANGEL-A. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did! It was imaginative, sweet, funny and beautifully photographed.
Don't forget, tmrw is the screening on GOYA'S GHOSTS with Stellan Skarsgard, Natalie Portman, and Javier Bardem.
MILOS FOREMAN (who directly Amadeus and Closely Watched Trains) will be here for the film festival next month so now is your chance to see his latest effort! You can even sound really smart at the Q&A, having seen it!

Thanks again, and please attend as often as possible. When you come and support us, it allows us to keep bringing great films to Savannah.

See you at the movies!

Hi all-
Reminder about the two movies we have this weekend. They haven't been to Savannah and you can't get them on netflix just yet. So come as see them on the big screen. Don't forget: SCAD ID GETS YOU HALF PRICE TIX!

ANGEL-A
SATURDAY AT 7PM


Presented by the Savannah Film Society


A Film by Luc Besson
The director of The Fifth Element, The Professional, The Transporter and District B-13


A man meets a woman in Paris...


This comedy features Andre (Jamel Debbouze, 2006 Cannes Film Festival Best Actor award - male ensemble), and he is in trouble. He has just returned to Paris in hope of making some easy money, give up his life of petty crime and start his life over as an honest man in America. In Paris for only a few hours, Andre suddenly finds himself dangling high over the edge of the Eiffel Tower, begging for his life from a man he hoped never to see again. With his underworld dealing catching up with him, Andre is given 24 hours to find 20,000 Euros to pay his debts and save his life. Andre is left with nowhere to turn and with his deadline fast approaching, he desparingly climbs onto the ledge of a bridge and gathers the resolve to jump into the river. But, he is not alone. Beside him, a beautiful and mysterious woman is a moment away from throwing herself into Le Seine. From that moment, their lives become entertwined, as Andre tries to unravel her secret.


Rated R. Runtime: 91 min.


Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and military and $4 with SCAD ID, available by calling 912-525-5050 or online at lucastheatre.com


This, and all Savannah Film Society screenings, are free for Blue Star families.
Please bring your card to the box office for tickets.



GOYA'S GHOSTS
SUNDAY at 7PM

A Film by Academy-Award winning director Milos Foreman
See it before Milos Foreman comes to the Savannah Film Festival!!


In 1792 in Spain, amidst the turmoil of the French Revolution, renowned painter Francisco Goya (Stellan Skarsgard) becomes embroiled in the Spanish Inquisition after his beautiful muse Ines is accused of being a heretic and put on trial. Goya must beg for her life to be spared through his old friend Lorenzo (Javier Bardem), a power-hungry monk who is spearheading the revival of the Inquisition. Ines (Natalie Portman) is imprisoned, tortured, and left to perish in the dungeons, while Lorenzo is eventually banished from the Spanish church. Some twenty years pass, and Goya is at the height of his creativity, but he has become deaf and somewhat insane. The three meet again after the French abolish the Inquisition and set the prisoners free, and Lorenzo becomes Napoleon's chief prosecutor against his former Spanish allies.


Rated R. Runtime: 113 min.


Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and military, $4 with SCAD ID, available by calling 912-525-5050 or online at lucastheatre.com


This, and all Savannah Film Society screenings, are free for Blue Star families.
Please bring your card to the box office for tickets.