The New Parkway

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Schedule March 15-21, 2013

My apologies to all of you longtime readers who have put up with my overly wordy writing AND my lack of proper web-linking etiquette. Leave it to dedicated reader, Melissa Smith, to straighten me out and teach me how to hyperlink. So now you’ll still get the diarrhea of the keyboard but it will all now have a much cleaner look to it. Thank you, Melissa. I’ve actually been wanting to learn how to do this for a while, so here goes…

In addition to letting you know the highlights for the week, I’m also going to put in a plug for several other March events for which you’ll want to get advance tickets. As for this week, be sure to check out:

•Birdemic Tomorrow—Have you ever seen something that is so phenomenal that words betray it? Birdemic is that thing. Birdemic is that event, the one you don’t want to miss, the one you’ll tell your grandchildren about, when you were here at the New Parkway for the first showing. I’d heard about things being so bad that they’re good, but until seeing this, I was not a believer. This has everything! The writing, the editing, the cinematography, the scantily clad foxy woman, the Bay Area connection. This is the next great thing. Be there!

•The Waiting Room and Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary are back for another week after full houses and guest speakers in week 1.

•Encore screening on Saturday at 4:45 of the very powerful Flag Wars as part of the Brooklyn Reconstructed Series.

•Burlesque on Saturday at midnight. Movies, music, pasties…this is good stuff. Advance tickets here!

•Return of the FREE Appreciating Diversity Film Series on Tuesday night, this month showing Lives Worth Living.

•Quick reminder that we’ve got awesome and mostly free café activities every Monday through Thursday nights. We’re having a great response to our live music on Mondays, 6-9PM (beer tasting could use some more tasters 7:30-9), Trivia Tuesday (7:30-9) was packed, Happy Artsy Wednesday is getting off the ground (Happy Hour 5-7, arts and crafts from 7:30-9), and board games all night on Thursdays. You should check it out. These activities are the new internet, only with real friends, real chatting, and real meet-ups.

And some other not-to-be-missed March events:

•Nerd Nite—The demand for Nerd Nite has been so big that we’ve expanded from one screen to two. So if you’re not celebrating Passover on the 25th, come celebrate your nerdiness or the nerdiness of others with the 6th chapter of Nerd Nite East Bay: Sleep, War of 1812, and Meteorites. Doors at 7, show starts at 8.

•LOTR Movie Marathon--in honor of March 24th being marathon day in Oakland, we're presenting our first-ever movie marathon at the New Parkway. We'll be showing the Lord of the Rings trilogy, one after the other after the other. And we'll be serving up special food and drink to make this an unforgettable morning, afternoon, and evening. So join us for our first hobbitty marathon.

•Easter Brunch + Movies--we're offering a couple of mid-day/early afternoon brunches on Easter Sunday, each with its own bunny movie. We'll start at 12:30 with the family-friendly Hop and then show the 1950 classic, Harvey, at 1:30. For each movie, we'll have family style French-ish food offerings, including sweet and savory crepes and yummy salads. A great way to celebrate Easter no matter your religion.

US vs Mexico Soccer—OK, so maybe it’s not Spain vs. Germany in terms of quality, but it’s a huge game for many Bay Area residents as we look ahead to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil., and we’ll have it on our giant screen. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, March 26th and join us!

Patron Appreciation Day—we might have more than one of these but, as some of you know, March 22nd was the day that the old Parkway went dark—with only three days notice, mind you—which was the event that got this whole New Parkway thing underway. So come out for half-price beers and free popcorn all night long. We love you, New Parkway patrons, and hope you’ll join us on the 22nd to celebrate the Parkway being back in our lives.

Here’s what Adam has to say about this week’s features:

Hi All,

I think it's safe to say that this week has one of the strongest lineups of new movies since the New Parkway opened. Catering for every taste (unless you like Adam Sandler's 'Jack and Jill') this is the VIP film buffet you have been waiting for. If last week was a solid Marriott offering, we are now bumping it up to a Fairmont offering with exceptional quality and variety. I think I have taken this analogy far enough. Or too far probably.

Zero Dark Thirty

Kathryn Bigelow has balls (disclaimer: not literally). Having perfected the dumb, high-octane, awesome thriller genre with Point Break (classic Keanu: what's a 50 year storm?) she made one of the most gripping movies ever made with 'The Hurt Locker' over 2 years ago. She is probably the best action director in Hollywood with the exception of her ex-husband James Cameron.

Zero Dark Thirty details the hunt for Osama Bin Laden. But this movie is so much more. It successfully captures the entire 'War on Terror' and skillfully weaves it throughout the story while never straying too far from Jessica Chastain's character who is the main analyst responsible for finding Bin Laden. Showing both the questionable methods of data extraction in addition to questionable payoffs and wrong leads, this movie is definitely one of the strongest of the year. It also features a strong supporting cast of both Kyle Chandler and James Gandolfini. Combine Tony Soprano with Coach Taylor and you have movie gold, guaranteed. Don't miss this one. The final assault is one of the finest action sequences ever committed to film. Especially considering you already know the ending.

Lincoln

At this point, I am slightly worried about the roles Daniel Day Lewis chooses to take on. Known for this intense method acting as part of his preparation for playing the frontiersman in 'The Last Of The Mohicans', he learned how to build canoes. As the Irish artist Christy Brown in My Left Foot, he spent almost the entire shoot in a wheelchair. Every role he takes on, he invests himself fully into it and the results are usually worth the intensity. Winning his unprecedented third Oscar for Lincoln, there was never a question regarding if he deserved it. Rather you feel sorry for the other actors in years he is nominated.

But his acting would mean nothing without a worthy story to support him. And Tony Kushner's screenplay detailing the push to end slavery constitutionally, is absolutely exceptional. Showing both Lincoln's mastery of politics and his charming personality in addition to other questionable political methods, this movie moves fast but never leaves you behind. It also features Tommy Lee Jones (dignified), and James Spader (hilarious) in great form.

Warm Bodies

Just when you think Zombie movies have been done to death (the trailer for World War Z makes my head hurt- and wonder if Brad Pitt sold his soul to appear young forever), the odd gem pops up (Shaun of the Dead was one of the best zombie movies ever) and Warm Bodies definitely falls into this category. After a zombie epidemic, R (a highly unusual zombie) encounters Julie (a human survivor), and rescues her from a zombie attack and a romance begins.

This movie is funny, unique and definitely has the feel of a cult classic. It is also surprisingly emotional, and thick with irony. If you like the supernatural genre (vampires, werewolves, zombies) and want to get that pungent Twilight taste out of your mouth, this movie is the ticket. Sometimes you don't want to go to a movie and sit on edge (Zero Dark Thirty) or inadvertently learn some history (Lincoln). Sometimes you you just want to soak up a good zombie horror teenage comedy. And this does the job. Very well.

Adam

And now for more information about our repertory and special events programming:

New Parkway Family Classics—this week we’re showing 20 THOUSAND FINGERS OF DR. T, not to be confused with the 20 Thousand Fingers of Mr. T (which would be scary), a movie by Dr. Seuss. So that means it will be kid-friendly and fantabulous. Friday at 4:30 and Saturday at 12:30.

Spectrum Queer Cinema—SPECTRUM Queer Media.com presents SHELTER at 3PM on Sunday. When his college dreams are sidelined by family obligations, a young man finds comfort in surfing with his best friend's brother. "The most realistic gay love story since BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN." - Jeremy Kinser, FRONTIERS

Thrillville— THRILLVILLE THEATER presents 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH (1957)

hosted by VANESSA, QUEEN OF SCREAM (of THE QUEEN'S SLUMBER PARTY)

See stop motion animation god Ray Harryhausen's iconic Venusian beast The Ymir rampage across the big screen in the full color version of this cult classic creature feature, authorized and supervised by Ray himself! Guest hosted by sexy, spooky cinema siren Vanessa, Queen of Scream, producer of The Queen's Slumber Party.

Baby Brigade—This week there’s only one showing, Lincoln at 4:30, since we’ve got a rental after that. Sorry! But we’re now partnering with www.510Families.com to bring you these great family friendly showings, so there might be some added perks for folks who come on out.

Films from Afar—Come see Pedro Almodovar’s All About My Mother as part of our Foreign Cinema Night. 7:30 on Monday. You won’t be disappointed!

Doc Night—It’s a shame to promote a movie that’s already sold out but here goes anyways since we’ll likely add some showings: there’s something that Bay Area people love about midwives. I mean, is there ever a pregnancy that doesn’t involve a discussion of it at some point? And there are a lot of people getting pregnant in the Bay Area. That all being the case, I guess Ina May Gaskin is a big name, or at least she can sell lots of movie tickets. Here’s the info about the movie and stay tuned for word of other showings.

2 for 1 Wednesdays—All day Wednesday, 2 for 1 admission prices with movies starting at 3:30. And now with Happy Hour drinks from 5-7PM followed by arts and crafts projects in the café that you can do with your buzz on.

Parkway Classics— Will the Thrill's PARKWAY CLASSICS presents: FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS (1998). Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro star in director Terry Gilliam's suitably surrealistic and stunningly stylized adaptation of legendary gonzo author Hunter S. Thompson's trailblazing tome; take a hallucinatory cinematic trip unlike any other.

Thanks for your continued and growing support of the New Parkway Theater. We hope to see you soon!

Moses

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Schedule March 8-14, 2013

Dear New Parkway Lover:

While Oakland likes musicals a tad more than it likes Tom Cruise, it was a wee bit miserable for Les Mis. In short, in the battle for New Parkway supremacy, it got its ass handed to it by Django. This week, Django battles the Hobbit in its cage match for all the glory, with a few other features and a chunk of repertory favorites looking on. Here are some the highlights:

· Not one but two directors coming for Q & A’s following their films. Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary director Stephen Vittoria will be in the house both Friday night (http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/349955) and Saturday afternoon (http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/349958), and Waiting Room director, Pete Nicks, will join us on Saturday as well (http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/352122). Tickets for all of these shows with the filmmaker in attendance cost $10. All the other showings without the filmmaker are $6, and the latter are only available through walk-up same day sales through our box office.

· Cult favorite They Live (http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/350179), tomorrow, followed by cult favorite Serenity (http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/352134), Saturday, 11:15PM, followed by cult favorite Hedwig and the Angry Inch (http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/344278), Saturday at 11:55PM. How many cultists do we have out there?

· Feelmore Fresh Friday is back, tomorrow at 10 PM. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/338044

· Oppa Oakland Style is back on Monday night, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/346649

· Brooklyn Reconstructed is back on Tuesday night, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/352085

· And last but not least, soccer on the big screen, next Wednesday at lunchtime, Barcelona v. AC Milan, 11:45AM. Free!

Come for the movies, stay for the food, drink, couches, and now the Monday-Thursday evening activities (including live music, beer tasting, team trivia, happy hour, arts and crafts, board games, and funky wigs). Find us at 474 24^th Street (with free parking a half block away) and online at www.thenewparkway.com.

And is if that were not enough, here’s what Adam has to say about this week’s features:

Hi All:

This week we have a perfect blend of fun popcorn flicks and gripping documentaries. Well actually, documentaries usually only depress me so my perfect blend would be mainly popcorn. But the Parkway's core demographic is way more socially progressive and probably feel guilty when they don't contribute to PBS or NPR. Or they are the few that do contribute when NPR's multiple sales techniques break through. And documentaries are right down their alley. So for most on this email list, this is a perfect blend of movies. For those who switch to their favorite music station during pledge week, not so much.

Django Unchained

Usually politics come into play and odd movies get Best Picture Oscars that are thoroughly undeserved (I am looking at you 'Chicago'). But the Best Original Screenplay Award is usually the movie that is the best of the year. Past winners include Almost Famous, Fargo, The Usual Suspects and Ghost (eh- 1990 was a really weak year for movies). And this year Quentin Tarantino got his second Oscar for writing.

Tarantino is one of the few directors with very few blemishes on his record. There was that dubious decision to split Kill Bill into two movies when it could have been a 3 hour masterpiece. Every genre he tries (well, revenge is his only genre) he succeeds in. Django Unchained is no exception. It is violent, funny, and original in equal parts. With another great role for Christopher Waltz (with another Oscar to boot). Let's enjoy Tarantino on the big screen while we can.

The Hobbit

Speaking of questionable decisions to split up movies into multiple segments to maximize dollars, the Hobbit comes fairly high on the list to debate. After sticking with Frodo through thick and thin, the Return of the King finished with roughly 12 endings and caused many a numb butt. When the decision was made to adapt a child's book into a trilogy, I was fully expecting the stretching of boring, irrelevant material into huge segments. I was delighted to discover this wasn't the case. Yes, it is 3 hours long. And the pace isn't as quick as Lord of the Rings. But the story is just fun and in a weird way nostalgic.

If you have not seen any of the Lord of the Rings movie, you obviously had a specific reason a decade ago. The Hobbit has a very familiar feel (characters, atmosphere, tone) so if you hated the Lord of the Rings, you will hate the Hobbit. If you loved it, you will probably really like the Hobbit. Martin Freeman is perfectly cast. Gollum is wonderful. Lots of great things to see here. If you had any reservations when this first came out at Xmas, now is your time to see it on the big screen. It's a worthwhile trip that you won't regret.

The Waiting Room

This one hits close to home. Literally. I live about 50 feet from Highland Hospital. This documentary goes behind the doors of an Oakland public hospital struggling to care for a community of largely uninsured patients. Dealing with all aspects of the hospital including patients, doctors, administrators, it looks into how each cope with disease, bureaucracy and hard choices.It details a day in the life of an ER ward. But crazily enough, there are no George Clooney lookalikes spouting witty dialogue throughout the day.

The Waiting Room successfully captures the current state of the American medical system. And some of the results can be very alarming. It also stands as a very powerful rebuke of Romney's conception of emergency rooms as a reasonable option for the uninsured.

Mumia: Long-Distance Revolutionary

Before he was convicted of murdering a policeman in 1981 and sentenced to die, Mumia Abu-Jamal was a gifted journalist and brilliant writer. Since being on Death Row he has written several books and commentaries. This documentary avoids discussing the crime for which Abu-Jamal spent 29 years in solitary confinement on death row, instead tracing the path of a brilliant journalist whose message cannot be silenced.

And now for more information about our repertory and special events programming:

Feelmore Fresh Friday—Have you been wanting to feel more fresh on Fridays? Well, you’re in luck as tomorrow marks the second installment of our night of erotica, often followed by discussion/Q and A. This week, Feelmore Fresh is showing Sexing the Transman, a great documentary by Buck Angel. Here’s the blurb: Sexing the Transman is a groundbreaking mainstream documentary about FTM sexualities. Buck Angel elicits intimate, in-depth conversations with transmen and those who love them-about how their bodies, sexualities, and identities are affected by the medical and social processes of gender transition. Advance tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/338044.

Late Night Movies—We’ve got them on both Friday and Saturday nights, Friday with They Live, which I’ve been told is one of the greatest cult classics ever. We’ll see! As for Saturday night, we’ve got the stranger than strange Hedwig and the Angry Inch showing at 11:55 and Serenity at 11:15, both which could sell out. With all of these late night movies, we’re seeing which ones will make it into our regular rotation, so come on out to support the ones that you love. All advance tickets available at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/profile/226669

New Parkway Family Classics—this week we’re showing Babe, and what’s not to like about a talking pig. Fun for the whole family, especially the youngins. Babe shows tomorrow at 4:30 and Saturday at 12:30.

Spectrum Queer Cinema—SPECTRUM Queer Media.com presents Twirl: A Celebration of Queer Partnered Dance! The 3PM event will feature film shorts, instruction and live demonstrations of the following: queer salsa, tango, Chicago style stepping and country line dance! More info at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/SPECTRUM-Queer-Media/530576980288790?fref=ts.

Thrillville—THRILLVILLE THEATER presents THE PSYCHOTRONIC FILM FESTIVAL on Sunday at 6PM. Sci-Fi Bob Ekman personally projects rare 16mm gems from his own awesome film archives for the debut of his legendary PSYCHOTRONIC FILM FESTIVAL at the New Parkway, featuring midcentury music shorts and scopitones, classic drive-in movie trailers and snack ads, incredibly strange industrial films, memorable TV commercials, kooky cartoons and much more from the vintage vaults of outré cinema! Advance tickets link will be up soon on Facebook and the website!

Baby Brigade—Every Monday at 4:30 and 6:30, we’ve got baby-friendly showings or, better stated, babies are welcome to attend showings. This week we’ve got The Waiting Room and for the early showing and The Hobbit after that. And we’re now partnering with www.510Families.com to bring you these great family friendly showings, so there might be some added perks for folks who come on out.

Films from Afar—After a great debut last week to our international film night, we’ll be at it again this week with Oakland Oppa Style’s showing of Memories of Murder. Murder + Korean Cinema = You Got to See This!. Advance tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/346649

Doc Night—This Tuesday brings us the third installment of the Brooklyn Reconstructed series looking at gentrification and its connection to Oakland. Tuesday we’ll be showing Flag Wars about race, class, and orientation in Ohio. Good stuff! You can read more about it at http://www.pbs.org/pov/flagwars/#.UTjgWetAQso, and you can buy advance tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/352085.

Parkway Classics—Will the Thrill's PARKWAY CLASSICS presents AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY (1997). Mike Myers plays the ultimate secret agent - as well as his arch nemesis, Dr. Evil - cryogenically frozen in the swingin' 60s but thawed out for the naughty 90s in the original shagadelic spy spoof.

Mailing List Removal—if you’ve had enough of this and want to be removed from the list, please do so at: http://thenewparkway.com/unsubscribe.php

Thanks for your continued and growing support of the New Parkway Theater. We think we’re building a pretty cool community space, adding new things each month, and it’s all thanks to you!

Moses

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Schedule March 1-7, 2013

Hi New Parkway Lovers:

Django Unchained and the Academy Awards party got us back on our feet and now we’re ready to race into March with a full head of steam. We’ve got a couple new movies, some new theme nights, fun rep stuff, and all new café and bar hours. You can find it all at 474 24^th Street and also online at www.thenewparkway.com, with free parking, good food, lots of beer choices, and cozy couches. Here are the highlights of this all too long newsletter:

First Friday/Art Murmur—Tomorrow night is art murmur and we’ve got lots of great stuff for you. We’ll have food, music, and two theaters with local filmmakers. If you’re a regular Art Murmur goer, you know that we’ll be the cozy alternative from the Telegraph Avenue chaos, and that we’ve got the most toilets on the strip. And you’ll want to know that we’ve got a special 24^th Street attraction where if you visit five places along 24^th Street and get a stamp at each, you’ll be rewarded with a whole bunch of goodies, including free movie passes to the New Parkway. So come see us for more information or visit one of the other participating groups: Sweet Bar Bakery, Ink Well Tattoos, Kitchener Oakland, and/or Creative Growth. Please note that our super duper free parking lot is NOT available on First Fridays, but it is open every single other night and all weekends.

Sing Alongs—In addition to the regular showings of Les Mis—and we’ve got those—we’re going to do two special shows where we encourage you to come and belt out the songs, or at least where it’s OK to do so. There won’t be a bouncing ball and no singing is required, but it will be a chance for you to take your singing outside of the shower. Sing along shows on Friday late night at 11:30PM and Sunday evening at 7:45. Come dream a dream with us!

Midnight Showings—In addition to Friday’s sing along, we’ll also have the outstanding Blazing Saddles as our midnight show on both Friday and Saturday, as well as The Wiz on Saturday night. Which brings us to…

Michael Jackson Lives On!—Michael Jackson is back on the silver screen—actually three times this week—for The Wiz. We’ll be showing it twice for our New Parkway Family Classics, 4PM on Friday and 12:30PM on Saturday, as well as a more adult-focused version at 11:55PM. The movie is still G rated when you see it at night, but Diana Ross will be oh so much sexier. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

Café and Bar—Starting tomorrow evening, the New Parkway’s café/bar will be open to the public on weeknights and weekends. So you can come by for food and/or drink at any time. We’ve got great food, very reasonable prices, good selection, and the soon to be famous $7 Mystery Meal. Check our website for our café hours or just come by before, after or instead of a show. You also might like…

Weeknight Café Activities—Starting on March 4^th, not only will there be food and drink in the café, but we’ll have activities running Monday through Thursday evenings:

· Music Monday: we’ll have live music and beer tasting on Mondays on the mezzanine. So come hang out with our beer expert and try the 7-9 beers that we’ve got on tap, all for $5. Beer tasting starts at 7:30 and repeats every half an hour or so, as long as there are drinkers in the house.

· Trivia Tuesday: we’ll have team trivia happening each Tuesday night from 7:30 to 9. Come alone or come with a group, and we’ll have a couple rounds of pub trivia with prizes at the end for the winning team.

· Happy Artsy Wednesday: since we open a bit earlier on Wednesday and it’s 2 for 1 day, we’ll have a 5-7PM Happy Hour with special champagne cocktails followed by arts and crafts from 7:30 to 9. Not quite sure what’s on the docket for each week but certainly some hands-on art activity for all.

· Retro Thursday: Thursday is Parkway Classics night, honoring decades gone by, so we’re going to go retro that night with classic board games, older music, and maybe our staff will even dress up. Or maybe you will!

Foreign Cinema Night—I’m excited to announce that we’re starting a new theme night dedicated to foreign cinema on Mondays in prime time. We’ve had a pretty phenomenal response to our Tuesday Documentary Night—to our great surprise if we’re being honest—so we’re continuing to be bold with films from afar (hey, that sounds good…maybe that will be the name of the series). We’ll open on Monday with the City of Lost Children (or whatever that is in French), and then we’ll have the second installment of Oppa Oakland Style with the Korean hit, Memories of Murder.

Soccer—It’s time to call in sick or somehow take a day off of work. We’ve got Real Madrid and Manchester United going at it for all of the marbles (at least for this stage) at 11:45 on Tuesday. Doors will open at 11:15 for lunch and high quality Euro on Euro action. Free admission.

And now here’s what Adam’s got to say about our features:

Hi All,

After a weekend of obnoxious celebrity self-celebration, the 'Award Season' has officially drawn to a close. It was a bit of a mixed bag this year. Ben Affleck must be sitting in his lounger with a wide shit-eating grin on his face. After being ignored for even a Best Director nomination, Affleck has spent the last month collecting award after award for 'Argo' while watching the 'illustrious' Academy freak out that they made a major mistake. And what better way to remedy that error than giving the Best Picture to a movie that apparently was directed by Casper the friendly ghost.

Elsewhere, Quentin Tarantino deservedly scooped his first solo Oscar (he had to share Pulp Fiction credit) for the wonderful 'Django Unchained' that you still have the opportunity to experience on the big screen thanks to the Parkway. You can also see Anne Hathaway in a very sorry state in 'Les Miserables' while drinking multiple beers (I find it necessary to watch musicals drunk with the exception of Bugsy Malone). Read on for more info.

Django Unchained

Let's face it. If you are not a Tarantino fan, this is not going to be the movie that changes your mind. With Tarantino you can usually expect certain things. Revenge theme. Over-the-top cartoon violence. Witty screenplay. Good story. Fun acting. The violence can be a kicker for some people. But for those who can handle it, this movie is a real delight.

Christopher Waltz continues his great form from 'Inglorious Basterds' as a bounty hunter who uses and trains Django (an excellent Jamie Foxx) and helps him find his wife. But Leonardo Di Caprio steals the show as the 'intellectual' slave owner Calvin Candie. He is worth the price of admission alone. But this is epic stuff and one you won't want to miss on the big screen. Westerns like this don't come along every year so enjoy it while you can.

56 Up

The Up Series is a series of documentary films that have followed the lives of fourteen British children since 1964, when they were seven years old. The documentary has had eight episodes spanning 49 years (one episode every seven years). It is almost like time lapse photography but applied to humans. And it makes for absolutely fascinating viewing. It does not move like a normal movie. Rather, it just shows the effects of time on normal people and allows you to reflect on your own life.

Capturing the human development of 14 people over the last five decades is a monumental achievement and one that is truly worth seeing. Examining the progression of their lives, we see insights and changes that have affected them. Another worthy documentary hitting 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, this is excellent and well worth your time.

Les Miserables

Warning: If musicals are not your 'thing' this might not be for you. If musicals are your thing you probably have seen this a few times already. If musicals could be your thing, you are the perfect audience for this write-up. Les Mis is probably the most popular musical ever made. It has been made into countless (well, six) film adaptations. This has been widely thought of as the best film adaption ever made of Les Mis (in fairness, it had a 16% chance). The best reason to see this? Normally when filming a musical the actors mime like they are Beyonce and then sit back in their Malibu mansion and record the vocals later that week. This time, Tom Hooper (The King's Speech) mixed things up and recorded everyone singing live.

So now you can see Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Maximus (Russell Crowe), and Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) hit some high notes with full knowledge that it happened live. Personally I think I just described a way more fun movie than Les Mis. I am picturing Wolverine and Catwoman helping Maximus in the Coliseum against tigers. Sounds gripping. But this version of Les Mis is pretty good too.

John Dies in the End

Based on the popular comic horror novel, this movie is unique in a lot of ways. It is difficult to compare it to other movies because nothing before has really captured this offbeat, funny, and visually interesting world. 'A drug (Soy sauce) promises an out-of-body experience with each hit. Users drift across time and dimensions. But some who come back are no longer human. Suddenly a silent invasion is underway, and mankind needs someone to step up.

This movie is absurd in a fun way. With interesting comic book visuals, and a quirky story this is definitely one movie you can watch to get over the mind-numbing blandness of 'Battleship' that I had the misfortune of seeing last week. It was like I was stuck in 'A Clockwork Orange' and wasn't allowed to change the channel.

Adam

And now for the other cool things at the theater…

New Parkway Family Classics—this week we’re showing the Wiz but we’re also switching the Saturday start time moving forward. So instead of the movies starting at 11, they’ll now start at 12:30. Doors will open at noon, at which time the full kitchen will be open, so you’ll be able to come in for family-friendly movies and family-friendly food. Yum yum all around. So to recap, the first showing is Friday at 4 (pizza and concessions only) and the second one is Saturday at 12:30. Join us!

Spectrum Queer Cinema—We’re excited to have Spectrum Queer Cinema back on Sunday at 3PM for its presentation of Pageant. This multi-award winning film presents a behind-the-scenes look at the 34th Miss Gay America contest where fifty-two ordinary gentlemen go to extraordinary lengths to be crowned as winner. PAGEANT follows five of the most talented and beautiful female impersonators as they prepare to dominate in this underground competition. Featuring stunning musical numbers, this movie dives into the heart and soul of this make-believe world: the men behind the make up. Hear from the contestants themselves and those who accompany them on this quest: husbands, mothers, sons, and little brothers. Advance tickets at: http://spectrumfilm032013.eventbrite.com/

Thrillville-- JOHNNY LEGEND personally presents his classic compilation TV IN ACIDLAND, a two-part, 3 hour hodgepodge of the strangest moments from the hidden history of the boob tube, featuring a wide variety of famous faces exhibiting bizarre behavior. This the first of Johnny's monthly guest host gigs in Thrillville. 6PM on Sunday. Advance tix at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/318415.

Baby Brigade—Every Monday at 4:30 and 6:30, we’ve got baby-friendly showings, those this week’s offerings are likely too long to have the baby sleep through the entire show. 56 Up at 4:30 and Les Mis at 6:30. Hopefully the kids won’t be Mis, and hopefully getting you to the movies will make you a little less Mis too!

Doc Night—Tuesday Night’s Doc Night brings us West of Memphis, a critical examination of the criminal justice system in the US. So good that it got a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, so come on out to see a great movie that will teach you something while entertaining you (lots of those at the New Parkway, we’re happy to report). Advance tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/342787.

2 for 1 Wednesdays—All day Wednesday, 2 for 1 admission prices with movies starting at 3:30.

Parkway Classics—Will the Thrill's PARKWAY CLASSICS presents that masterpiece of musical rebellion QUADROPHENIA (1979), based on The Who's legendary 1973 rock opera, about Mods vs. Rockers in swingin' mid-60s Britain. Fire up the Vespas... Thursday, 9:30PM. Advance tickets coming soon!

Thanks for your continued and growing support of the New Parkway Theater. We think we’re building a pretty cool community space, adding new things each month, and it’s all thanks to you!

Moses

_____

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Schedule February 22-28, 2013

Dear New Parkway Lover:

It’s the last week of the shortest month of the year and we’ve got a host of what we hope will be enticing options to go along with free parking, a full bar/café, and comfy couches (find us at 474 24^th Street in Oakland and online at www.thenewparkway.com). Some of the highlights are…

•Sunday will be our first Academy Awards party, and we’ll have the big show, yummy food, special drinks, a photo booth, and some live entertainment. Doors open at 4 for the 5PM show. More info and advance tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/319346.

•We’re thrilled to present 56 Up for our Tuesday night documentary night. These Brits certainly aren’t as cute as they were at age 7. You’ll want to see for yourself at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/338099.

•The Wall is back. After some technical difficulties forced the cancelation of a previous showing, Pink Floyd is back late night on Saturday and we expect a packed concert hall. More info at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/342188.

•We’ve got horror and more horror: first, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, which perhaps means two-fisted chainsaw murder this time around (http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/339174), and then, of course, John Dies in the End. Not sure if he dies from a double Texan-style chainsaw death squad, but you’ll want to be sure to have a couple of beers and a hot meat sandwich on hand, just to be ready for all eventualities. And please note that we’ll have some special Friday and Saturday night double feature pricing, so inquire at the box office about this.

•Speaking of horror, why not come check out the creepiest movie I’ve ever seen, as Blue Velvet is the week’s Parkway classic. Should teach you not to sniff glue. But if you dare, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/342653.

•And we’ve got our first real big feature film, or so it seems to me, as we open Django Unchained. The nature of second-run theaters is that there’s lots that we want but we often have to wait much longer than we’d like to get them. Django is one that we’ve been waiting on, so come join us for this Tarantino hit.

Here’s what Adam has to say about Django and our other features (with a guest appearance from Will Viharo):

Hi All,

We have another great week of movies to indulge in this week. Just in time for the Oscars, we have Quentin Tarantino's western 'Django Unchained' to unleash on the screen. And to counter-balance it, we have John Dies in the End for those who like movies that don't involve terrifying dogs and slavery…well at least slavery. We also have two great holdovers in the form of 'The Master' and 'Wreck-It-Ralph' so all tastes are accounted for.

Django Unchained

John Dies in the End

Based on the epic serialized novel by Jason Pagin (writing as David Wong), this instant cult classic from famed filmmaker Don Coscarelli - the strange but great man who gave the world "Phantasm" and "Bubba Ho-Tep" - concerns a street drug that sends its users across dimensions and back - although they are returning far less less human than when they left. It's the ultimate stoner movie - especially while sitting on a couch drinking beer, surrounding by laughing strangers! The New Parkway exists for movies like this, and vice versa. The cast of this hilarious hallucinogenic hit includes Paul Giamatti, Chase Williamson, Clancy Brown and Rob Mayes. Drug fu, monster fu, Angus Scrumm fu. Five stars.

The Master

The title could almost be a description of the director, PT Anderson. Let's face it. He is the only director that looks capable of replacing Stanley Kubrick. From 'Boogie Nights' (depressing in a highly entertaining way) to 'There Will Be Blood' (gripping from start to finish) he combines incredible acting, technical brilliance along with an amazing soundtrack to make every film he makes, a joy to behold.

Criminally ignored by the Academy for Best Picture (although it was nominated in 3 of the acting categories), this opus takes you through the creation of a new religious movement. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is exhilarating in the title role. Joaquin Phoenix is wonderful in his acting return. Drink it in, like a fine wine (available in the lobby also) and relish it.

Wreck it Ralph

After a golden era in the 90's (Lion King, Beauty & The Beast, Little Mermaid, Aladdin), Disney Animated Classics went through a rough patch when they were anything but. But Wreck-It-Ralph is a wonderful return to form. When a video-game villain gets tired of being evil, he seeks out new opportunities. It is a rare movie that can appeal to nearly everyone that watches it. But it is so good-natured and funny, that even video-game haters will find something to enjoy.

But if you like playing games, it shifts into must-see territory with tons of visual sight gags, hidden references and fun innuendos. Rich Moore, the director, is a veteran animator and writer on the Simpsons (classic episodes) and Futurama and his level of skill and creativity really shine through. If you have kids it is almost neglectful not to take them.

Adam (with some help from Will)

And as for the non-feature other stuff, here are a couple things (also from Adam and Will)…

Doc Night-- following the lives of fourteen British children since 1964, when they were seven years old, 56 UP has had eight episodes spanning 49 years (one episode every seven years). It is almost like time lapse photography but applied to humans. And it makes for absolutely fascinating viewing. It does not move like a normal movie. Rather, it just shows the effects of time on normal people and allows you to reflect on your own life. Another worthy documentary hitting 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, this is excellent and well worth your time.

Parkway Classics-- Will the Thrill's PARKWAY CLASSICS presents BLUE VELVET (1986). David Lynch's neurotic, nightmarish neo-noir is an erotic exploration of a seemingly sleepy town's dirtiest, darkest secrets - hypnotically hip and stylishly surreal. Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rosselini, Laura Dern, and in one of his most memorable roles, Dennis Hopper. Even better with beer, though no Heineken or Pabst Blue Ribbon will be served. "NEXT!"

Baby Brigade—Monday at 4:30 and 6:30PM. Don’t let your babies come alone to the New Parkway. Go along for the ride and have yourself some beer.

2 for 1 Wednesdays—as if $6 was not cheap enough, load up the minivan and bring the whole frickin’ family for under $20.

Hope to see you at the New Parkway for this big, big week.

Moses

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Schedule February 14-21, 2013

Dear New Parkway Lover:

We learned this past week that Oakland hates Tom Cruise, as Jack Reacher turned out to be the biggest bomb so far at the New Parkway (and I don’t mean “da bomb”). Is it because of his Scientology? Let’s hope not because we’ve got The Master this week. Is it because he jumps up and down on couches? Because Wreck It Ralph jumps up and down, very similar to Cruise on Oprah. Is it because he’s been married and divorced so many times? Hopefully not since many of the musicians featured in Sound City have Cruise beat on that front many times over. Maybe it’s just because he’s so much prettier on the outside than he is on the inside, and Oakland is much more about grittiness and personality. Towards that end, here are some of the highlights of the upcoming week (and you can find all of the info at www.thenewparkway.com):

•Valentine’s Dinner Tonight—we had some last-minute cancelations so we’ve got a couple of $50/couple dinner + movie combos for a 6PM dinner and 7:15PM showing of Roman Holiday. Email me if you’re interested. We also have general admission Roman Holiday tickets (advance at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/337018 and also at the door) and two showings of the lovable Harold and Maude at 9 and 9:45.

•Euro Football—two big lunchtime soccer games next Tuesday and Wednesday, the first featuring Bayern Munich at Arsenal, and the second one Barcelona v. Milan. Free admission, food and drink for sale.

•International LGBT Film Festival, our first film festival at the new theater, runs Friday through Sunday featuring a handful of programs on one of our screens. Opening night info at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/331446

•Encore showing of The Zipper from the Brooklyn Reconstructed series on Saturday afternoon

•Three new features, none of which feature Tom Cruise

•Burlesque on Saturday night at 11:30 with only sequins to cover up the privates, all for $10.

•Point Break on both Friday and Saturday late nights. Come on out, surfers!

And we also have our big Academy Awards bash coming up on the 24^th. Viewing party on the big screen, one auditorium emceed with fun games, finger food until you’re blue in the face, and lot of other extras, all for $20 (drinks are not included). Advance tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/319346

So please come hang out at the New Parkway, and maybe try to be the first person to watch a movie from every couch (or every seat). Lots of great stuff to choose from. Here’s what Adam has to say about our features:

Hi All,

It's a brand new week and we have a couple of doozies for you. Forget what I said about a February being a wasteland of movies where the garbage gets dumped every year. Or maybe February is that bad, but as a second-run theater, we won't get the garbage until March. So let's rejoice that we still have some great January movies to enjoy. Each one of these three movies cater to a different audience. There may be some overlap but I doubt it (I always felt like Doubting Thomas got a bad rap- Jesus acted as if coming back from the dead was a common occurrence. Give Thomas a break!).

The Master

Wreck it Ralph

Sound City

Very, very few movies get 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. Typically a miffed critic who didn't get invited to the premiere gets upset and gives a great movie a mediocre review just so he can gain some pathetic reputation as a harsh critic. Or they are going through a divorce/life event and not in a good place. But 'Sound City' is the exception where everyone loves it.

Sound City is the greatest unsung recording studio that housed a one-of-a-kind console, and as its legend grew, top bands and artists all came out to make use of the legendary studio. Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) has accomplished something great with this debut documentary. Featuring interviews and performances from the iconic musicians who recorded some of rock’s greatest albums at the studio, Sound City gathers some of rock's biggest artists to collaborate on a new album.

Adam

And here are some other things coming up:

Parkway Family Classics—this week, we’re showing Stuart Little on Friday at 4PM and Saturday at 11AM. Fun for the whole family.

Midnight Specials—check the calendar for info about Burlesque on Saturday night and Point Break on Friday and Saturday nights.

Spectrum Queer Cinema—On Sunday at 3PM, SQC presents their quarterly LGBTQ short film festival program, America’s Most Unwanted and sQm shorts.

Thrillville—THRILLVILLE THEATER presents THE VAMPIRE LOVERS (1970) with your guest hostess, MISERY ANN MAYHEM! Don't miss this sexy, sanguinary lesbian vampire classic from legendary Hammer Studios that offers bloody adult fun - no timid "Twilight" teens in sight. Ingrid Pitt rules! Sunday at 6:30PM.

Baby Brigade—Monday at 4:30 and 6:30PM. Don’t let your babies come alone to the New Parkway. Go along for the ride and have yourself some beer.

2 for 1 Wednesdays—as if $6 was not cheap enough, load up the minivan and bring the whole frickin’ family for under $20.

Parkway Classics— Will the Thrill's PARKWAY CLASSICS presents VALLEY GIRL (1983)

OMG, remember when Nicolas Cage was like totally bitchin'? This all-time 80s classic co-starring Deborah Foreman will remind you - it's the ultimate urban street punker-suburban mall princess romance, with a killer New Wave soundtrack highlighted by "Melt With You" by Modern English.

And we’ve got free car parking, free bike parking, free smiles, and more! Find all of the info at http://www.thenewparkway.com.

See you at the movies!

Moses

Friday, February 8, 2013

Schedule February 8-14, 2013

Dear New Parkway Lover:

Big week at the New Parkway with 14 different movies over forty some-odd showtimes. If you’ve not made it out to the theater, this is your chance. We’ve got classic, weird, award-winning, political, horror, adventurous, and musical offerings, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here are some of the highlights:

Tomorrow is the start of SF Beer Week and we’re featuring four special Speakeasy beers and showing The Public Enemy. Tickets available at the door and online at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/330903.

At midnight tomorrow and Saturday, we’re partnering with the Spinning Platters to present Stop Making Sense. http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/330946

We’re kicking off our monthly Korean film series, Oppa Oakland Style, on Sunday with both a showing of The Host and a pre-film party (http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/325650). The Host shows again on Monday night.

A handful of showings of the stunning and important 5 Broken Cameras.

Another installment of the ever-popular Brooklyn Reconstructed documentary series, this time presenting Zipper: http://bkoak2.eventbrite.com/

A new copy of Searching for Sugar Man, so we won’t have the skipping and sound problems that some showings had last week. Sorry! Come back to see it again!

And lastly, we’ve got a special Valentine’s Day dinner and showing of Roman Holiday (http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/332894). For those more interested in quirky love stories, we’ll also be showing Harold and Maude that night.

Here’s what Adam has to say about our features:

Hi All,

I told you it was the final week for 'Life of Pi' and I wasn't lying. We have three succulent new movies for you to devour this week (Weight Watchers forces you to think of everything in food metaphors). What better way to get over the 49ers soul crushing defeat than to see a movie and move on with your life (of Pi). Or if you are a Raiders fan, what better way to celebrate the 49ers soul-crushing defeat than to see a movie, eat some popcorn and have some celebration beers. Or if you hate football, it's the best time of the year for you now so time to celebrate.

Jack Reacher

Many, many people have issues with Tom Cruise. Yes, he jumped on Oprah's couch like a pygmy on mushrooms. Yes, he shoved Scientology down our throats and kept Katie Holmes in captivity for a number of years. But dammit, it's Tom Cruise. The man has talent and usually picks his action roles extremely well. 'Collateral' was masterful. 'War of the Worlds' and 'Minority Report' were thoroughly entertaining. Even 'Top Gun' and some of the Mission Impossible movies (the second was laughable) were a lot of fun.

He is back in the debut movie of the very popular 'Jack Reacher' novel series. It is directed by the writer of 'The Usual Suspects’. I have a feeling Christopher McQuarrie will be able to coast on that for a long time. So if you are looking for a smart, fun action movie, this is probably going to be it until the summer. This won't change your life (unless you are bewitched by Cruise's dazzling smile and join Scientology) but it is fun. What more do you need?

Promised Land

The long awaited return of the director (Gus Van Sant) and star (Matt Damon) of 'Good Will Hunting'. Not sure who was waiting for it but they are a talented pair and they made a movie together. Written by Damon and John Krasinski (Jim from 'The Office'), this tightly written drama focuses on the issue of 'fracking' and its impact on a local town. Despite wide rumors, fracking isn't sneaky cursing by adding an 'f' before verbs. Frunning and the likes. It is a new type of method to drill for oil and gas.

Does it cause local damage? If so, does the benefit to the local economy make it worth it? All will be revealed when you go and see 'Promised Land'. As an added bonus, Frances McDormand co-stars. Fortunately for you, California Prop 98A states that if Frances McDormand stars in a movie, you are obligated to see it. These propositions are getting out of control but this is one I quite like. Along with the one that gave chickens enough space to turn their heads. That felt like a good move on our part.

Beware of Mr. Baker

Hands up. Anyone know who Ginger Baker is? I didn't. Anyone know the band 'Cream' (if you were born after 1980 I have my doubts)? Ginger Baker was the legendary drummer of the rock group 'Cream' in the late 60's. This no-holds-barred account lets the man himself tell his own story. Suffering from a decades long heroin habit, it is no surprise that he is not welcome in certain quarters of the music industry.

Do you long for a time when rock music was king (Simon Cowell was probably being beaten up in an English playground), rock stars were actually edgy (not sure what Lady Gaga was going for but she got boring fast) and rock parties were actually fun? You can re-live it through this excellent documentary (97% on Rotten Tomatoes). So turn off 'American Idol' and go and watch a time when music actually changed the world (texting in your 'American Idol' winner comes close though).

Searching for Sugar Man

Not sure if you know who Rodriguez is. You may be more up to date on music than I am. Rodriguez is a folk musician who is largely unknown in the US but extremely popular in South Africa. And it's not like the weird obsession with David Hasselhoff in Germany. His fame is actually deserved. When he was mistakenly reported to have committed suicide in South Africa, two fans went in search of the truth. Nominated for Best Documentary this year, this is widely regarded (96% Rotten Tomatoes) to be one of the best movies of the year. But Beware Mr Baker has 1% extra on Rotten Tomatoes so it wins if you are conflicted.

Adam

In addition to all of this, we’ve got…

Parkway Family Classics—this week, we’re showing Chicken Run on Friday at 4PM and Saturday at 11AM. Fun for the whole family.

Spectrum Queer Cinema—On Sunday at 3PM, SQC presentes "Two Spirits" (2011) AND Digital Shorts from the Native American Health Center’s Digital Storytelling Project. Two Spirits interweaves the tragic story of a mother’s loss of her son with a revealing look at a time when the world wasn’t simply divided into male and female and many Native American cultures held places of honor for people of integrated genders. Advance tickets at: http://spectrumfilm022013.eventbrite.com/

Thrillville is Back—after a one week break for the Super Bowl, Thrillville is back with the Bride of Frankenstein. Local horror host Lord Blood-Rah of Nerve -Wrackin' Theater presents this Universal horror classic starring Boris Karloff and Elsa Lancaster, along with a special B movie trailer reel, trivia, prizes and more! Don't miss this classic creature feature, old school style!' Sunday at 6PM.

Baby Brigade—Monday at 4:30 and 6:30PM. Don’t let your babies come alone to the New Parkway. Go along for the ride and have yourself some beer.

2 for 1 Wednesdays—as if $6 was not cheap enough, load up the minivan and bring the whole frickin’ family for under $20.

Parkway Classics—Harold and Maude. Need we say more? Will the Thrill's PARKWAY CLASSICS presents HAROLD AND MAUDE (1971) on Thursday night. Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort are the winter-spring lovers in Hal Ashby's timeless, touching, twisted tale of true romance - one of the funniest black comedies ever made. Happy Valentine's Day!

And we’ve got free car parking, free bike parking, free smiles, and more! Find all of the info at http://www.thenewparkway.com.

See you at the movies!

Moses

Friday, February 1, 2013

Schedule February 1-7, 2013

Dear New Parkway Lover:

Tomorrow we enter February, a month for Super Bowls, Academy Awards, and a day for lovers. Perhaps a month for lovers…of football, movies, and those special someones in our lives. At the New Parkway, we’re celebrating all of these and more, and here’s are some of the highlights of the first week:

· Art Murmur tomorrow night, Friday, featuring a free showing of the recently sold-out “A Lovely Day” as well as the first installment of our erotica series, Feelmore Fresh, at 11:59PM.

· Our Super Bowl Extravaganza—already totally sold out—where we’ll have the big game on the big screen.

· Several big Oscar contenders including Life of Pi and Beasts of the Southern Wild and great documentaries including Brooklyn Castle, Searching for Sugar Man, and a free showing of A Loving Story.

· Late night showings of Groundhog Day and Pink Floyd’s The Wall

· A bunch of Oompa Loompas doing what Oompa Loompas do

You can learn all about our offerings at www.thenewparkway.com. And, when you come, you can also enjoy our free bike parking, our free car parking (except on First Fridays), and our food and drink offerings that are so good and so cheap that they might seem like they’re free.

Here’s what Adam has to say about our week of features:

Hi All,

It's Super Bowl Sunday time. And what better way to celebrate the awesomeness of America than eating nacho cheese in gallon tubs, super extra large pizzas ( the Dominoes ad is playing on repeat in my brain, ANY PIZZA, ANY SIZE, ANY TOPPINGS FOR ONLY $10!!!!) and enough cholesterol to choke a barren of mules. Well, you can make a great weekend into a great week by visiting the Parkway for a movie (in addition to our Super Bowl party). So let's not hesitate and dive right in to this week's selection of masterpieces (I promise I will stop referring to every lineup as masterpieces once we show the new Die Hard movie).

Life Of Pi

It's back for a final week. We keep trying to get rid of it but the word of mouth keeps spreading and more people want to experience one of the best movies of the year on the big screen. You don't want to be sitting there like a tool on Oscars night not having anything intelligent to say to your kids (if applicable) when they ask you with innocent, Bambi-like eyes if Life of Pi deserved to get screwed by Lincoln. So do the right thing.

Beasts of the Southern Wild

This is THE movie. Ever since the Academy made 5 Best Picture nominees into 10 a few years ago, the movies that were nominated for Best Director were essentially ruled to be the actual best five movies of the year. And this year 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' came out of nowhere to claim nominations for Best Picture, Director and Actress (youngest nominee ever- she was 6 when shooting). So if you have seen 'Zero Dark Thirty' or 'Argo', and really liked them, this is the movie that screwed them out of the Best Picture Oscar. It must be good.

Searching for Sugar Man

Not sure if you know who Rodriguez is. You may be more up to date on music than I am (the last band I heard break-through were the Strokes in 2001). Rodriguez is a folk musician who is largely unknown in the US but extremely popular in South Africa. And it's not like the weird obsession with David Hasselhoff in Germany. His fame is actually deserved. When he was mistakenly reported to have committed suicide in South Africa, two fans went in search of the truth. Nominated for Best Documentary this year, this is widely regarded (96% Rotten Tomatoes) to be one of the best movies of the year (I know- there are a lot).

Luv

The description reads: An 11-year-old boy gets a crash course in what it means to be a man when he spends a day with the uncle he idolizes. It was nominated for the Grand Jury prize at Sundance. It is in extremely limited release so you get to see it before anyone else does. It has made $143,116 at the box office to date. That has literally exhausted all my knowledge of this movie. This could take the 'role-model' genre in a whole new direction after the Paul Rudd movie 'Role Models' got it off to a shaky start. Someone needs to go and see this and tell me how it is. Because if this holds over for another week, I have nothing to write.

Adam

As for the non-features, we’ve got the following:

Super Bowl Extravaganza—Both theaters, 270 fans, and the 49ers doing their thing. This event is totally sold out. Kickoff at 3:30, doors at 2PM.

Baby Brigade—The babies are back this Monday, two times, at 4:30 and 6:30, to entertain their parents by letting them go to the movies. Yay, babies.

Doc Night—six times a year, we’ll be partnering with the Appreciating Diversity Film Series to show a free film followed by a community discussion. The first Tuesday in February will be our first offering, and we’re showing A Loving Story. Some come on out for a wonderful movie and some wonderful community. 7:15 on Tuesday.

Parkway Classics—on Thursday, February 7^th, we’re showing Swingers. Will the Thrill's Parkway Classics presents the most "money" movie of all time, as Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn (in their first, and best, movie team-up) inexpertly navigate the stylish swing scene of mid-'90s L.A., looking for love in all the wrong places. "Vegas, baby, Vegas!"

And there’s more. Check it all out online at www.thenewparkway.com.

Moses