<< December 2 - 6, 2006 >>>

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Stephen Frears was born in 1941 in Leicester, England and worked as an assistant director for a number of years on such films as Lindsay Anderson’s IF… and Karel Reisz’ MORGAN! before graduating to full-fledged directing. His feature directorial debut came in 1971 with the bittersweet crime comedy drama, GUMSHOE, starring Albert Finney. Although a fine film, it didn’t catch fire at the box office, and Frears toiled away for quite a few more years helming British television shows before making another feature in 1979 with BLOODY KIDS. It wasn’t until 1984 with THE HIT starring John Hurt, Terence Stamp and a very young Tim Roth that he received unanimous critical acclaim and found a cult smash on his hands. More standout cinema followed in quick succession from the mid-1980’s on with MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE, PRICK UP YOUR EARS, SAMMIE AND ROSIE GET LAID, DANGEROUS LIAISONS and THE GRIFTERS. The 1990’s and up to the present have been a mixture of big studio films (HERO, MARY REILLY, HIGH FIDELITY) and smaller, more personal projects (THE SNAPPER, THE VAN, DIRTY PRETTY THINGS). Falling somewhere in between was his collaboration with producer, Martin Scorsese, and writer, Walon Green, the criminally underrated THE HI-LO COUNTRY. The universally-acclaimed THE QUEEN, starring Helen Mirren, is his latest effort. Please join us for this In-Person tribute to a truly great filmmaker.

Saturday, December 2 - 7:30 PM

Double Feature:

THE QUEEN, 2006, Miramax, 97 min. Combining the vicarious rewards of a detailed biopic with the gentler pleasures of an insightful character study, director Stephen Frears puts the monarchy under the microscope in this irreverent comedy-drama. Set in 1997, it details the bond of trust that slowly develops between the 71-year-old Queen Elizabeth – humanized by the Oscar-caliber performance of Helen Mirren in the title role – and prime minister, Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) following the death of Princess Diana. With James Cromwell, Sylvia Syms.

DANGEROUS LIAISONS, 1988, Warner Bros., 119 min. Dir. Stephen Frears. Games of seduction, lust, and manipulation spotlight Glenn Close and John Malkovitch's devilish gambling over innocent Michelle Pfeiffer – games in which even the winner ends up a tragic loser. Before VALMONT and CRUEL INTENTIONS, Frears set a high standard for filming Choderlos de Laclos’s novel (which was one of Marie Antoinette’s favorite books and a guilty pleasure in 1782). Of the many cinematic versions, this still arguably remains the best adaptation. Discussion in between films with director Stephen Frears.

Sunday, December 3 - 7:30 PM

Double Feature:

MY BEAUTIFUL LAUNDRETTE, 1985, MGM Repertory, 97 min. Through a gallery of fine performances and situations, director Stephen Frears draws a subtle relationship between a young Pakistani (Saeed Jaffrey) and his fascist punk lover (Daniel Day-Lewis). A benchmark in queer cinema from the 1980’s, and a major portrait of societal disintegration in a Great Britain rife with racism and a thriving underground economy. Oscar nominated for Best Screenplay by Pakistani Hanif Kureishi.

PRICK UP YOUR EARS, 1987, MGM Repertory, 111 min. Dir. Stephen Frears. A caustically entertaining biopic of the controversial young British playwright, Joe Orton (a volcanic Gary Oldman) who was murdered in 1967 by his lover and early collaborator, Kenneth Halliwell (Alfred Molina). A harrowing portrait of fatal jealousy and an obsessive love gone bad. With Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Walters. Discussion in between films with director Stephen Frears.

THE HI-LO COUNTRY, 1998, Universal, 114 min. Director Stephen Frears, producer Martin Scorsese and screenwriter Walon Green (THE WILD BUNCH) adapted Max Evans novel into this poignantly affecting and underrated saga of the evolving New West in post -WWII New Mexico. Best friends, brawling Big Boy (Woody Harrelson) and introspective war veteran, Pete (Billy Crudup) fall in love with the same girl (Patricia Arquette) who is married to the foreman (John Diehl) of a big rancher (Sam Elliott) gobbling up smaller enterprises. Tensions mount amongst all concerned as the narrative unfolds – we know there will be a calamitous result, but when it fatefully comes, it is from a comparatively unexpected source. Co-starring Penelope Cruz as a Mexican girl carrying a torch for Pete, seemingly in vain. With a mournfully beautiful score by Carter Burwell.
DIRTY PRETTY THINGS, 2001, Miramax, 97 min. This gripping cross-cultural thriller colored with romance and humor is also a portrayal of the harsh life of illegal aliens in modern London. French star Audrey Tautou (AMELIE) is a Turkish maid and Chiewetel Ejiofor (INSIDE MAN) a former Nigerian doctor caught in a criminal web involving organs traffic. Director Stephen Frears shifts style and genre, once more casting his mesmerizing spell on an unsuspecting audience.