Fall Arts 2008 / The end of the summer may have brought about a temporary reprieve from men in tights battling it out to save the world, and we all know that the final dregs being shipped to movie houses in these last few weeks are the bottom of the cinematic barrel. The studios are hoping that you just can’t bring yourself to see The Dark Knight for the 19th time, and may be willing to part with some hard-earned cash on something a little more lowbrow. (Bangkok Dangerous though, people? Really?) Until we get into November, when all the Oscar-bait comes around, we’re stuck with offerings like Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Madonna’s directorial debut. We’ve never been more grateful for Netflix…or for art-house theaters. Thankfully, there are still some great films to see, and some great places to see them.

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Doris Duke Theater

900 S. Beretania St., 532-9768

Derek

(U.K., 2008) A cinematic scrapbook of the life of British filmmaker and artist Derek Jarman, featuring the voice of Tilda Swinton. David Hockney, Tennessee Williams and Ken Russell are all here to pay homage to the artist, who died of AIDS-related illness in 1994.

Fri 9/19, Sun 9/21, Tue 9/23 & Wed 9/24, 1 & 7pm

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Fifth Annual Cinema Italiano in Hawai’i Film Festival 2008

A Whole Life Ahead

(Italy, 2008) A light hearted study on the serious subject of attempting to get by with no experience besides a college degree. Director Paolo Virzi and supporting actress Micaela Ramazzotti will present the film and answer questions following.

Thu 9/25, 1 & 8pm

Good Morning, Heartache

(Italy, 2008) A wife and husband, both struggling filmmakers (sense a theme coming from Italy, anyone?), allow their lives, which turn out to be Jerry Springer-worthy, to be documented in Italy’s lone entry into this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The director will be on hand for questions.

Fri 9/26, 1 & 7pm

Days & Clouds

(Italy, 2007) This marital drama (as opposed to a martial one) about a couple whose fortunes take an economic downturn stars Margherita Buy, who won the Italian version of the Oscar for Best Actress for this film.

Sat 9/27, 1 & 8pm

Red Like the Sky

(Italy, 2007) Based on the true story of sound editor Mirco Mencacci (who also worked on this film). Blind since age 10, he discovers his own gifts and encourages his fellow students to discover their own gifts. Suitable for ages 8 and up. Dr. Valeria Wenderoth, professor of Italian at UH, will hold a talk following the 1pm screening.

Sun 9/28, 1 & 7:30pm

Night Bus

(Italy, 2007) Described as a mix of film noir, romantic comedy and pulp thriller, this could almost be thought of as the Italian A Fish Called Wanda, only with real Italian being spoken, instead of that Kevin Kline gibberish. Thieves, liars, blackmail and microchips all play a part in this love story.

Mon 9/29, 7:30pm

Don’t Think About It

(Italy, 2007) A post-punk guitarist decides to go home again, only to discover that his family needs a little guidance.

Thu 9/30, 1 & 7:30pm

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Kings

(Ireland/U.K., 2007) An adaptation of Jimmy Murphy’s play The Kings of Kilburn High Road, it’s a story of six Irish lads who set off for fortunes in England, only to find their dreams deferred for low-level construction work and decades of disappointment.

Wed 10/1–Sun 10/5, 1 & 7:30pm

My Winnipeg

(Canada, 2007) Part documentary, part fantasy and part psychodrama by Guy Madden, set in his hometown.

Tue 10/7–Fri 10/10, 1 & 7:30pm

The Grocers’ Son

(France, 2007) The son in question has grown accustomed to big city life but is forced to return to his small town in France after his father suffers a heart attack.

Sun 10/12, Tue 10/14–Thu 10/16, 1 & 7:30pm

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Asian Adoptee Film Festival

A series of shorts and films hosted by Korean Adoptees of Hawai’i featured in two parts, with shots such as Searching for Go-Hyang, Adopted, the New American Family, Tracing Trades and Annie Ong: Lost and Found. Additional information at [KAHawaii.org].

Sat 10/11, 3–5pm & 7–10pm

Tuya’s Marriage

(China, 2006) A Mongolian desert herder is too busy with kids, a disabled husband and her herd to comply with a new industrialization policy, and so looks for a new husband who can support her entire family. Winner of the Top Prixe at the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival.

Fri 10/17 & Mon 10/20, 1pm, Sun 10/19 & Tue 10/21 1 & 7:30 pm

Divorce Italian Style

(Italy, 1961) Newly-restored print of a classic comedy involving love, sex and death.

Wed 10/22 & Thu 10/23, 1 & 7:30pm, Fri 10/24, 1pm

Viva

(2007) Hawai’i-born and raised Anna Biller draws comparisons to Russ Meyer, John Waters and Luis Buuel, and the film synopsis mentions a storyline of race car driving husbands, nudist colonies, and “the joys of bisexuality.” Sold! Biller will introduce the film at the kickoff of the fall season’s Friends of Film Friday.

Fri 10/24, 7:30pm, Sat 10/25–Sun 10/26, 1 & 7:30pm

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University of Hawai’i–Manoa

Spalding Auditorium, 223-0130

Revolution Green

(2007) Documentary on Bob and Kelly King, the Maui couple who created America’s first sustainable bio-diesel refinery. Narrated by Woody Harrelson.

Thu 9/11, 7pm & Sun 9/14, 5pm

The Power of the Sun

(2006) Another look at the sun as a possible renewable energy source. Produced by Walter Kohn, winner of the Nobel prize in physics, and narrated by John Cleese.

Sun 9/21, 5pm

Escape from Suburbia

(2007) No, it’s not a sequel to the cult classic youth in revolt film by Penelope Spheeris, instead concentrating on three characters who start grass roots movements for more sustainable energy in their small town.

Sun 9/28, 5pm

The Next Industrial Revolution

(2001) See the companies who are transforming themselves to work with nature while enhancing profitability. Narrated by Susan Sarandon.

Thu 10/2, 7pm & Sun 10/5, 5pm

The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil

(2005) After losing half its oil imports after the fall of the Soviet Union, Cuba survived by reorganizing its agricultural system and concentrating on alternate and renewable energy sources. See how it happened.

Thu 10/9, 7pm & Sun 1-/12, 5pm

Out of the Blue: Wind Energy in Denmark

(1997) Denmark gets 75 percent of its energy form windmills, and this 28 minute documentary shows how they did it. Playing with Velocity: Exploring Sustainability through Wind Power (2003) New Belgium Brewerey in Fort Colins, Colo., makes its product with 100 percent wind-powered production plants. They, along with other business are highlighted for their commitment to wind energy.

Thu 10/16, 7pm & Sun 10/19, 5pm

Algae to Oil

Various shorts detailing breakthroughs in doing precisely what the title says. Discussions follow from various scientists in Hawai’i working with this fuel source.

Thu 10/23, 7pm, Sun 10/26, 5 pm

Wave Power: The Potential of Oregon’s Ocean Energy

Let the motion of the ocean set our eco-fears go coasting. Discussion follows.

Thu 10:30, 7pm & Sun 11/2, 5pm

Biomass to Ethanol

A collection of films looking into scientific breakthroughs in utilizing biomass. Discussion follows.

Thu 11/6, 7pm & Sun 11/9, 5pm

Fields of Fuel

Chronicling the domination of the petrochemical industry up to the choice to declare war after 9/11 instead of a concentrated effort to reduce dependence on fossil fuel.

Thu 11/13, 7pm & Sun 11/16, 5pm

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Mainstream films of note

Body of Lies

Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott. Yes, please.

Slated for release 10/10

W.

Oliver Stone takes on another president, and this one is still alive.

Slated for release 10/17

Synecdoche, New York

Charlie Kaufman’s directorial debut. That’s all we need to say.

Slated for release 10/24

Zach and Miri Make a Porno

Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy) with an R-rated romp that even he wasn’t expecting to get an R-rating.

Slated for release 10/31

The Road

Take a bleaker-than-bleak novel by Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men) and release it just before Thanksgiving. What do you get? Oscar bait with Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron.

Slated for release 11/14

Milk

Sean Penn playing the first openly gay man elected to a major political offce, who was gunned down by former City Supervisor Dan White (played by Josh Brolin).

Slated for release 11/26

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Sounding very close to Troy McClure’s (The Simpsons) vanity project, The Contrabulous Fabraption of Professor Horatio Hufnagel, it’s actually a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. We’d guess it might have the same draw as McClure’s project, if it weren’t for director David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club).

Slated for release 12/25

The Spirit

Frank Miller, usually ranked third amongst comic book’s acceptance into the mainstream culture (after Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman), takes a stab at directing what’s bound to be bloody and filled with bombshells. We’re just trying to forgot that his first foray into Hollywood was as the screenwriter for Robocop 2 & 3

Slated for release 12/25