| A salute to Hollywood’s most handsome anti-hero – Paul Newman. Join host Walter Chaw for five superlative films and group discussion on an all-American movie legend. Check out Walter Chaw’s film criticism at filmfreakcentral.net.
Please note the new 6 p.m. starting time for this series. |
|
The Hustler
Tuesday, February 3, 6-9 p.m.
Central Library, Level B2 Conference Center
1961. Directed by Robert Rossen. Starring Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie.
“Paul Newman, in one of his most ferocious performances, plays "Fast" Eddie Felson, a small-time pool shark who meets his match in the smooth, implacable Minnesota Fats (a splendidly reserved, coolly arrogant Jackie Gleason). It's both Eddie's good and bad luck that Fats' manager, an oily George C. Scott, takes an interest in him – Eddie gets all the success he ever wanted, but nearly loses himself in the process.” – uncredited, Philadelphia City Paper. 134 minutes. Unrated. |
|
Sweet Bird of Youth
Tuesday, February 10, 6-9 p.m.
Central Library, Level B2 Conference Center
1962. Directed by Richard Brooks. Starring Paul Newman, Geraldine Page.
“Tennessee Williams is up to his usual tricks in Sweet Bird of Youth, a nasty little film about an aspiring (yet hopeless) actor (Paul Newman), who returns to his hometown with a head full of schemes and trouble. But it's Geraldine Page, as a Gloria Swanson-esque has-been actress tagging along with him, who steals the show. Page was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar and Ed Begley, as the town politico, won for Best Supporting Actor.” – Christopher Null, filmcritic.com. 120 minutes. Unrated.
|
|
Hud
Tuesday, February 17, 6-9 p.m.
Central Library, Level B2 Conference Center
1963. Directed by Martin Ritt. Starring Paul Newman, Melvyn Douglas, Patricia Neal.
“Hud, adapted from a novel by Larry McMurtry, tells a tale of the modern American West, of its evolution from the land of pioneer ethics, of simple human gratifications unmotivated by greed, to the rangy real estate of shallow, mercenary creatures who have inherited the rugged individualism of the early settlers, but not their souls, their morals or their principles.” – uncredited, variety.com. 112 minutes. Unrated.
|
|
Cool Hand Luke
Tuesday, February 24, 6-9 p.m.
Central Library, Level B2 Conference Center
1967. Directed by Stuart Rosenberg. Starring Paul Newman, George Kennedy.
“Few actors have portrayed petulant rebels better than blue-eyed Newman, whose Cool Hand Luke remains one of the best-known in cinematic history. For those who dream of ‘sticking it to the man’, Luke embodies our deepest wish fulfillment: he refuses to give up or give in, and justifiably earns the intense respect and admiration of his fellow inmates on a chain gang in the circa 1940s South. Indeed, Luke (though all too human in some ways) comes across as an almost Christ-like avatar - an allegorical transference which is far from subtle, but somehow works in this fable-like story.” – uncredited, FilmFanatic.org. 126 minutes. Rated PG.
|
|
The Hudsucker Proxy
Tuesday, March 3, 6-9 p.m.
Central Library, Level B2 Conference Center
1994. Directed by Joel Coen. Starring Tim Robbins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Paul Newman.
“Tim Robbins stars as a mailroom clerk who finds himself thrust into the presidency of the giant Hudsucker Corporation. Paul Newman is the gray eminence behind the scenes, who engineers Robbins' ascendancy because he believes the kid is hopelessly incompetent, and will drive the stock price down - just what Newman desires. And Jennifer Jason Leigh has been studying Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday, and has the part down perfect: The hard-bitten, fast-talking girl reporter who sits on your desk, lights a cigarette, and lays down the law.” – Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times. 111 minutes. Rated PG.
|
