Friday, March 29, 2024

Today's Events

Film Show Times
  • Wed 7PM - Reel Oddities
  • Thu - Sun 4PM & 7PM
  • Sun 1PM - Kids Club Free for 12 under
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  • Olympia, WA 98501
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Programming Particulars

8/13/19 

Earlier in Keanu Reeves’s storied career, the actor was known for being carbonated and aloof. He then tried his hand at literary adaptations (remember when he attempted to pronounce “Budapest” in Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula? Great). The cultural icon is now barreling through broken windows and delivering Street Fighter-like uppercuts in action films. For Keanu Fest, we cherry picked two compelling and indelible performances. The dichotomy is fascinating: Sometimes his humor is dunked in hot oil and sometimes he creates intensely personal moments of sadness. With The Matrix and My Own Private Idaho, we see Keanu as both an art house actor and then mainstream star. We’re proud to screen both films, once more, this Saturday, August 17. If you get a chance to see River Phoenix’s impeccable hair on the big screen, well, that’s an added bonus. See you at the theater!


7/3/19 – Binoche, Booksmart, and a Big Concert Film

This week, we begin screening Non-Fiction, a romantic farce from the celebrated director Olivier Assayas (Personal Shopper, Clouds of Sils Maria). The film features a whip-smart Juliette Binoche performance. Completely removed of her mad scientist scrawl in Claire Denis’s High Life, Binoche provides a masterclass in levity. Honestly, all Binoche performances are wonders (even the one in 2014’s much maligned Godzilla). Playing opposite of Non-Fiction is the incredibly well-received Booksmart. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone called the film “outrageously entertaining and quietly revolutionary at the same time.” Meanwhile, on Thursday, July 11th we’ll be showing The Cure’s 1978 – 2018 anniversary concert. A nationally screened one-time only event, this is not to be missed. Finally, we’re proud to present Return to Mount Kennedy, an intensely engaging mountain climbing tale sponsored by the Olympia Mountaineers. See you at the Capitol Theater! – RP

 


6/19/19 -MAGGIE CHEUNG, PRIDE, AND LIVE CONCERTS!

This week we’re thrilled to bring the globally discussed and critically adored Rafiki to the Capitol Theater. Director Wanuri Kahiu’s film was originally banned in Kenya for its uncompromising and joyous celebration of queer relationships. With bursts of color and crackling energy, Rafiki has been compared to the early work of Spike Lee. We are also extending dates for the universally heralded and wildly popular The Biggest Little Farm. You can now catch encore screenings of John Chester’s film on both June 26 and 27. Meanwhile, we’re proud to present a 35mm limited engagement of Olivier Assayas’ Irma Vep (1996). The French director paired with global superstar Maggie Cheung to create a wan fever-dream. Our cinema technician, Joaquin de la Puenta, described the classic as having “dizzying cinematography [that] captures the restless, centuries-old obsession we have with power, crime, creation and skintight cat suits.” In a jam packed week of programming, the Olympia Film Society is hosting two live concerts: The Messthetics roar away on stage this Saturday, June 22 while Ceremony and Sheer Mag lead their inimitable energy to the Capitol Theater on June 25. We’re ecstatic to see everyone at our upcoming events!

 


6/12/19  – UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS

Beginning this week, one of the most beloved documentaries of the year, The Biggest Little Farm, will be screening at the Capitol Theater. John Chester’s moving film currently maintains one of the best audience ratings on Rotten Tomatoes (96%). Playing opposite of The Biggest Little Farm is Ron Mann’s Carmine Street Guitars, one of the most frequently requested documentaries of 2019. Focusing on the importance of local business, a universal love of craftsmanship, and the deeply fascinating history of music, this spellbinding film captures the heart of what it means to support your community. We’re also particularly ecstatic to bring a special engagement of Princess Mononoke to the Capitol Theater on Friday, June 21. Guest programmed by the inimitable Mary Kobayashi of [adult swim], the musician and comedian will provide an introduction to the celebrated Studio Ghibli film. See you at the movies!


6/4/19 – A WEEK OF ASIAN CINEMA

You may notice more Asian cinema at the Capitol Theater as of late. This week we have the beguiling, narratively innovative, and dizzying noir film LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT. One of the biggest box-office draws in China’s history, the electrifying movie, directed by the celebrated Bi Gan, employed three cinematographers to create one of the most dazzling and dream-like cinematic experiences ever put to film. Critics have lauded the feature for its daring and unconventional structure. We’re thrilled to bring the title to the Capitol Theater, where Olympia will have the opportunity to watch and discuss one of the most talked about genre-benders of the year. On the flipside of Bi Gan’s wondrous and disorienting masterpiece, we have Japan’s ASAKO I & II. Light, ephemeral, and often times funny, director Ryūsuke Hamaguchi’s romantic tilt-a-whirl takes a look at love through the eyes of a magnificent Erika Karata performance. Tonally, it’s the complete opposite of LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT. With its warm embraces, misplaced affection, and shots of slinking house cats, ASAKO I & II is both fireworks and familiarity. These two very different films represent the exciting art being produced by filmmakers outside of America. We’re ecstatic to hear what you think! – Rob Patrick, Programming Director


3/30/18 – UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS

It would be a misnomer to say I wasn’t ecstatic about On the Beach at Night Alone, especially since Kim Min-hee won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival. Playing opposite of the celebrated Hong Sang-soo film is Cory Finley’s Thoroughbreds. This film, studded with gallows humor and sardonic bite, has been talked about for its fearlessness (particularly for a directorial debut). Beginning on the second week of April, we also have Errol Morris’s enthralling A Brief History of Time and Gary Oldman’s Oscar-winning performance in Darkest Hour. Make sure to catch Car Seat Headrest, live on April 14th, as they are becoming one of music’s most beloved acts. At just 23-years-old, we also have indie rock legend Greta Kline coming to the Capitol Theater under her band’s moniker, Frankie Cosmos. We love content, and April is packed with content. Don’t forget to tag, type, and ‘gram along with us all month. See you at the theater!


2/1/18 – UPCOMING FILM HIGHLIGHTS

This weekend we screen Akira Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood on 35mm. In one of Toshiro Mifune’s greatest roles — and there are many — the legendary actor seethes, avoids volleys of arrows, and fights a rolling brume of madness. You can catch the film at 6:30pm on Saturday 2/3, 5:00pm on Sunday 2/4, or 7:00pm on Thursday 2/7. That’s three chances to see one of the most breathtaking and visceral adaptations of Macbeth ever put to celluloid. We also have The Final Year and Roman J. Israel, Esq. opening this Friday. For you Oscar completists, make sure to check out Denzel’s Academy Award-nominated performance in the aforementioned film. We also have the Oscar nominated shorts in all three categories (animation, documentary, and live action) coming to the Capitol Theater this February. On an entirely different note, make sure to vote on our Janus ballot! My selection was Purple Noon (who doesn’t want to see Alain Delon in 35mm?). Thanks as always for supporting independent film! See you at the theater!


1/25/18 –  UPCOMING FILM HIGHLIGHTS

Cold open: The Oscars were announced, and not one single, solitary award for Florence Pugh or Jessica Chastain (how do we come to terms with these egregious errors?). Feigned outrage! Remember when Katherine Waterston delivered one of the most uncompromising, teeth-gnashing performances of the year in Alien: Covenant? Don’t worry: Neither did the Academy. Still, our beloved Agnes Varda was nominated for Faces Places. And Get Out for best picture, director and actor. There’s still joy! If you’re planning on watching the Oscars, we’re extremely thrilled to be screening them live from the Capitol Theater on March 4th. We have two celebrated Seattle musicians hosting the event — Lisa Prank and Tacocat’s Bree McKenna — so we promise you’ll be in good hands. There will also be prizes, at least seven questions about Kristen Stewart, and possibly a bumper sticker that simply says “But What About Armie Hammer?” I’m also excited about the many interesting films we have coming up. We’re screening Throne of Blood on 35mm (the film’s practical effects are so textured and haunting that they will stay with you for days). We also have contemporary classics such as Reality Bites and the ever-celebrated Mean Girls. New releases include thrilling psychological features such as The Killing of a Sacred Deer and the slice-of-strife comedy Mr. Roosevelt. Enjoy, feel free to share your thoughts with us, and I’m sure I’ll bump into you in the lobby. Forever yay —- Rob


1/18/18 – END OF THE YEAR FAVORITES 

Rob Patrick, Program Director
It was difficult to find a single performance that I adored above all others, but Loane Balthasar’s uncompromising, tear-flecked, and incisor flashing turn as an unrestrained force of power in Sarah Plays a Werewolf was the most complete acting of 2017. Coming in close second was Garance Marillier’s live wire of a performance in Raw — Marillier buckled, writhed, and quite literally carved out a position for herself this year with one of the most devil may care renditions of meat-cute in recent memory. There’s no way that I can leave out Rhys Fehrenbacher in They; Nastya Shevtzoda in Polina; Robert Pattinson in both Good Time and The Lost City of Z; Florence Pugh in Lady MacBeth; and Sophia Mitri Schloss in Lane 1974. Speaking of the aforementioned Lane 1974, no film came moved me quite like director SJ Chiro’s nuanced opus about family, survival, and processed sugar. The much-hated dystopia of The Bad Batch won me over with its pithy popgun full of streamers and loose trash, while The World Is Mine reinvented the structure of documentaries.

Narrative: Lane 1974
Documentary: The World Is Mine
Short: Maiden
Performance: Loane Balthasar, Sarah Plays a Werewolf
Most underutilized: Sarah Paulson, The Post

I ambushed our staff over the holidays and asked them for their favorite films and performances of 2017. Using our super specific (yet varied) template, what are yours?

Audrey Henley, Executive Director
Narrative: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, and Get Out (please don’t make me pick just one-eeesh!)
Documentary: Chasing Coral
Performance: Sophia Mitri Schloss, Lane 1974

Noraa Danielle, Volunteer Coordinator
Narrative: Get Out
Documentary: Whose Streets and The World Is Mine
Performance: Seo-Hyun Ahn, Okja
Most underutilized: Elizabeth Marvel, The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)

Joaquin de la Puente lll, Cinema Technician
Narrative: Axolotl Overkill
Comedy: The Little Hours
Documentary: The War Show and The Challenge
Experimental: Saint Bethan’s Repetitions
Suspense / Horror: Personal Shopper and Raw
Animated short: Squirrel Island
Performance: Kristen Stewart, Personal Shopper

Aimee Hughes,  Office Manager
Best film hands down:  The Lost City of Z


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