Monday, August 24, 2009

Bill Murray rarity!

Back in 1984, Tom Schiller made Nothing Lasts Forever, his one and only feature film, an oddball sci-fi flick about an alternate NYC taken over by the Port Authority, and a young artist forced to work in the Holland Tunnel after failing an art test, with Bill Murray as the driver of an interstellar bus line carrying the elderly to space. Schiller was one of the original writers for Saturday Night Live, and directed a number of the short films that appeared on the show in its early years. Dan Aykroyd also co-stars, and Bill Murray has, I'm told, stated from time to time that this is his favorite film that he was ever in.

Sadly, the film all but vanished. Wikipedia is a little conflicted on whether it was ever released or not, with the entry on the film stating it had a very limited release, and the entry for Schiller stating that it was never released at all. Either way, it's safe to say that few, if any, people ever saw a public screening of it in the 80s, and a handful of folks have been lucky enough to see it in special museum/retrospective screenings here and there over the years, usually in New York. It has never been released on home video in any form.

Is it that much of a stretch, then, to wonder if Wednesday night might be the first semi-public screening in the District of Columbia in 25 years, if not ever? Are you really going to let yourself miss that? I didn't think so. We'll see you on Wednesday night.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Rooftop Movie Club: Demented and Sad, But Social

Unfortunately, circumstances have conspired to make yet another tribute to the departed necessary, with the passing of that master chronicler of 80s teen angst, Mr. John Hughes.

And no film of his demonstrates that more perfectly than the story of the brain, the athlete, the basket case, the princess and the criminal. Keep your fingers crossed that this week's thunderstorms take a break for a few hours Wednesday night (unfortunately, Thursday isn't an option for us, otherwise we'd do it after the cold front moves through), and come join us for The Breakfast Club.

Bring beer, munchies, and, if you're feeling so inclined, a Cap'n Crunch & Pixie Stix sandwich.

EDIT: Current weather.com forecast puts the chance of rain at 15% or less between now and midnight, so we're going for it. See you on the roof!