<< December 7 - 8, 2006 >>>

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In a career as celebrated as it is accomplished, director and producer, Irwin Winkler, commands a distinguished reputation in the motion picture industry as one of its most progressive and honored filmmakers. Winkler's films have garnered four Academy Award Best Picture nominations including ROCKY, RAGING BULL, THE RIGHT STUFF and GOODFELLAS. ROCKY walked away with the Best Picture Oscar in l976. In total, Winkler's filmography has amassed 12 Academy Awards and 45 nominations. Most recently he added the Golden Globe and Grammy nominated DE-LOVELY about the life of Cole Porter and starring Kevin Kline.

After a highly successful and celebrated career as a screen producer, Winkler decided to conquer new worlds. He made his directorial debut in l989 with an original screenplay he wrote about the Hollywood blacklisting era, GUILTY BY SUSPICION starring Robert DeNiro and Annette Bening, which became the official United States entry that year at the Cannes Film Festival. He followed by directing and producing such films as NIGHT AND THE CITY with DeNiro and Jessica Lange, THE NET starring Sandra Bullock, AT FIRST SIGHT with Val Kilmer and Mira Sorvino, the critically acclaimed Kevin Kline starrer LIFE AS A HOUSE and DE-LOVELY. In 2004 the Cannes Film Festival feted DE-LOVELY as the closing night gala event. No newcomer to Cannes Film Festival honors, Winkler and then partner Robert Chartoff, had three of their films entered in l970 with LEO THE LAST winning Best Director for John Boorman, STRAWBERRY STATEMENT receiving the Jury Award, and THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY garnering the closing night honors. Winkler also produced such great films as Richard Fleischer's THE NEW CENTURIONS, Karel Reisz' THE GAMBLER, Martin Scorsese's NEW YORK, NEW YORK, Bertrand Tavernier's 'ROUND MIDNIGHT and Costa-Gavras' THE MUSIC BOX. His latest directorial effort is the much-anticipated HOME OF THE BRAVE. Please join us for this In-Person tribute to an outstanding filmmaker.

Thursday, December 7 - 7:30 PM

Sneak Preview! Irwin Winkler In-Person!

HOME OF THE BRAVE, 2006, MGM, 105 min. Dir. Irwin Winkler. From Academy Award winner Irwin Winkler comes the story of four American soldiers nearing the end of their tours of duty in Iraq. Shortly after learning their unit will soon return home, they are sent on one final humanitarian mission to bring medical supplies to a remote Iraqi village. The unit is ambushed and takes heavy losses. The surviving troops suffer both physical and psychological injuries. Now, as they return to the United States, the four soldiers must face memories of the past as they return to civilian life and look towards the future. With Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Biel, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and Brian Presley. Discussion following with director Irwin Winkler.

Friday, December 8 - 7:30 PM

Double Feature:

GOODFELLAS, 1990, Warner Bros., 145 min. Irwin Winkler produced this quintessential mob epic directed by Martin Scorsese and based on Nicholas Pileggi’s Wiseguy. Ray Liotta stars as Henry Hill, a real life mobster, whose captivating narration rivals that of previous Scorsese anti-hero, Travis Bickle. Joe Pesci won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor as charismatic sociopath, Tommy DeVito, and Robert DeNiro shines as the brutal Jimmy Conway. Filled with memorable characters, a wealth of atmosphere, beautiful tracking shots (cinematographer Michael Bauhaus), and, as always, an amazing Scorsese soundtrack. The all star cast also includes Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino, Frank Vincent and even a young Michael Imperioli ("The Sopranos") in the short, but memorable, role of Spider.

THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY? 1969, Disney, 120 min. Based on the hardboiled novel by Horace McCoy, director Sydney Pollack’s horrifying character study takes place during a claustrophobic, depression era dance marathon. Michael Sarrazin and Jane Fonda are the tragic couple determined to make it into the home stretch to win the much-needed prize money. With an Academy Award-winning performance by Gig Young as the marathon emcee. Co-starring Susannah York, Red Buttons, Bruce Dern, Severn Dardin, and Al Lewis. Discussion in between films with producer Irwin Winkler.