Repertory Series

Great Adaptations
Wednesdays, July 18 through August 29, 2007

Presented With Harvard Book Store

Film Descriptions, Dates & Showtimes

Wednesday 7/18 at 4:30, 7:00

Dangerous Liaisons
(1988) dir Stephen Frears w/Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Michelle Pfeiffer, Keanu Reeves, Uma Thurman, Swoosie Kurtz; Novel by Choderlos de Lachlos [119 min]
A talented director, a superb cast, a deliciously scandalous story, and a gorgeous period setting all combine to make DANGEROUS LIAISONS a textbook adaptation. Close and Malkovich co-star as so-rich-they're-bored French aristocrats who manipulate people – and each other – for their own amusement. Inevitably, their games become disastrously and tragically real. Nominated for 7 Oscars and winner of 3, including Best Adapted Screenplay, DANGEROUS LIAISONS is a sumptuous and emotionally charged literary romp.

Thursday 7/26 at 9:30

Special Event! Preview Screening!
Special Addition to the "Great Adaptations" series!
Stardust
(2007) dir Matthew Vaughn w/Charlie Cox, Claire Danes, Robert De Niro, Sienna Miller, Michelle Pfeiffer, Peter O'Toole, Rupert Everett, Ricky Gervais [120 min]
This high-flying fantasy adventure is the first big budget adaptation of the work of acclaimed fantasy and comic book author Neil Gaiman. The advance buzz is very good and hopes are high among fantasy fans that STARDUST will capture Gaiman's unique attempt to create a wholly new but classically styled fairy tale. The tale follows Tristan (Cox) as he embarks on a journey to capture a fallen star to please his beloved (Miller). As it turns out, the star has taken human form and is now the lovely Yvaine (Danes). As Tristan ventures farther into a forbidden magical land, he discovers that he is not the only one pursuing Yvaine – wtiches, ghosts, pirates and kings are also on the same quest, each with their own particular motives. This combination of fantasy, comedy and romance is already being favorably compared to a similar classic – The Princess Bride! Don't miss this chance to be one of the first on your block to see what could be one of this summer's unexpected gems!

This is a free screening but tickets are required. Passes will be available at the Brattle and Harvard Book Store beginning on Tuesday, July 17. Please note that more passes will be distributed than there are seats available. We suggest that you arrive early to ensure seating.

Wednesday 8/1 at 3:30, 7:30

Apocalypse Now Redux
(1979) dir Francis Ford Coppola w/Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Dennis Hopper, Lawrence Fishburne, Frederic Forrest; Novel by Joseph Conrad [202 min]
Francis Ford Coppola’s extended riff on Joseph Conrad’s Heart Of Darkness transposes the classic novel from 19th century Africa to the Nung River during the Vietnam War. Sheen is a stressed-tobreaking officer sent into the jungle to eliminate (‘with extreme prejudice’) a rogue Green Beret colonel (Brando) who has, not surprisingly it turns out, gone insane and set himself up as a ‘kind-of god’ amongst the locals. Gorgeous, terrifying, and surreal, this extended version restores a number of scenes that Coppola was forced to remove from the initial release.

Wednesday 8/8 at 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00

Return To Oz
(1985) dir Walter Murch w/Fairuza Balk, Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie; Novels by L. Frank [113 min]
Based primarily on L. Frank Baum's The Marvelous Land of Oz and Ozma of Oz (the second and third books in the series of fourteen), Disney's 1985 movie is much darker, creepier, and truer to the Baum books than the Judy Garland song-and-dance film. This is the only film ever directed by Coppola/Lucas collaborator and Academy Award-winning mixer/editor Walter Murch. I've only ever seen it on a little screen on a rented VHS tape; I look forward to seeing it big. – Alex Meriwether, Harvard Book Store

Wednesday 8/15 at 4:30, 7:00

Naked Lunch
(1991) dir David Cronenberg w/Peter Weller, Judy Davis, Ian Holm; Novel by William S. Burroughs [115 min]
Deftly interweaving elements of the classic Beat novel with actual facts from William S. Burroughs equally strange life, Cronenberg proves that even the most “unfimable” text can be brought to the screen – when in the hands of a talented artist. Exterminator author Bill Lee begins to have some disturbing experiences when he becomes hooked on the bug poison he uses at his job – not the least of which is a living typewriter that is also a giant talking bug. Indescribably weird and wonderful. The 9:30pm is co-presented with new queer cinema champions CineMental and will include short films and a discussion.

Wednesday 8/15 at 9:30

Cinemental and the Brattle Present
Naked Lunch
Tonight's 9:30 show is co-presented with new queer cinema champions CineMental and will include short films and a discussion.
» CineMental Info

Wednesday 8/22 at 2:30, 7:15

Double Feature w/CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND
Adaptation
(2002) dir Spike Jonze w/Nicholas Cage, Nicholas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper; Book by Susan Orlean [114 min]
ADAPTATION reminds us that there should be more to bringing a book to the screen than simply turning pages into frames of film. While exploring Susan Orlean's The Orchid Thief's themes of passion and obsession, screenwriter Charlie Kaufman has crafted an original story about insecurity, existential angst, and choosing to live life. The film is touching, bizarre and hilarious. It's a good muffin. – Mike Campbell, Harvard Book Store

Wednesday 8/22 at 5:00, 9:45

Double Feature w/ADAPTATION
Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind
(2002) dir George Clooney w/Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, George Clooney; Book by Chuck Barris [113 min]
Based on a ‘true’ story, CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND covers the frenzied life of game show mastermind Chuck Barris and delves into the murky waters of his round-the-globe adventures as a CIA hitman. Whether or not you willingly accept the logic that the creator of the Newlywed Game was perfectly suited to offing spies in East Germany doesn't matter; it's the wacky absurdity of it all that drives the movie, and keeps you guessing. – Ben Newcomer, Harvard Book Store

Wednesday 8/29 at 3:15, 7:30

Double Feature w/PERSUASION
Clueless
(1995) dir Amy Heckerling w/Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy; Novel by Jane Austen [97 min]
Think the Brattle’s too good to show CLUELESS? … As if! It is, hands down, one of our favorite literary adaptations – and teen movies for that matter. Director/writer Amy Heckerling transposes Jane Austen’s classic novel Emma to Beverly Hills, keeping all of its charm, wit and passion while making it appealing to a whole new generation. Popular girl Cher (Silverstone) is the queen of her school and spends her time doing ‘good deeds’ like making-over the new girl, Tai (Murphy), and playing matchmaker for her unhappy teachers. But when Tai acts as a none-too-flattering mirror for the shallow and materialistic teen, Cher finally finds that there’s more to life than just shopping and being popular. Silverstone embodies the impossibly perky Cher so well that her performance alone is worth the price of admission.

Wednesday 8/29 at 5:15, 9:30

Double Feature w/CLUELESS
Persuasion
(1995) dir Roger Michell w/Amanda Root, Ciaran Hinds; Novel by Jane Austen [107 min]
As much as I love the BBC Pride & Prejudice miniseries with Colin Firth (be still my heart), this small, quiet film of Jane Austen's last novel is, by far, my favorite adaptation. Amanda Root is the perfect Anne Elliot – meek and overlooked at the start, she grows steadily stronger and more luminous throughout the film. Everyone knows an Austen tale will end happily, but there’s joy in feeling again and again that you’re not quite sure it’ll turn out the way you want. Will Anne Elliot recapture the love of Captain Wentworth? Will Louisa’s youth and beauty steal his heart? Will Anne’s family ever appreciate her? Will the Captain come to the card party?! I know all the answers, yet, without fail, I get goosebumps at the climatic point, in both the novel and the film. – Amanda D., Harvard Book Store