Introduzione.

BMcCauley | 2/26/2007 8:45 pm | Cinematerial

Hello. This is my first entry with Post, and I'm using it as an opportunity to make myself and my intentions known.

I am an irreverent young-blood named Brendan McCauley. I am 20 years old. I come from Lincoln, Nebraska, by way of Portland, Oregon, where I spent last year at Lewis and Clark College, studying beer and napping. I am now a student at the UW, majoring in none other than film.

The cinema has been a passion of mine since seeing the 400 Blows when I was 16. Some of my other favorite films are Bergman's Winter Light, Cassavettes' Killing of a Chinese Bookie, and Woody Allen's Deconstructing Harry. I have dreams of making a film of my own one day.

For now, however, I'll only be writing about film - particularly film events on the UW campus and in the downtown Madison area. I'll be reporting on all the excellent films shown at the Cinematheque, the Orpheum, the Union and anywhere else where great cinema is taking place, and informing everyone of upcoming film events.

I'm a huge fan of the UW Cinematheque. Currently the Cinematheque is doing an excellent retrospective of the films of Jacques Rivette, Parisian auteur, film critic for the Cahiers Du Cinema, and one of the more experimental filmmakers to spring from the New Wave. Be sure to check out Saturday night's screening of his 1984 film, Love on the Ground (L'ammour par terre). It starts at 7:30pm. I haven't seen it, but having seen some of Rivette's other work, I can predict that it will be odd, challenging, and playful.

Also at the Cinematheque this weekend is the 1928 silent version of Chicago, directed by Frank Urson. This screening is on Friday at 7:30pm and features live piano accompaniment by Matan Rubinstein. This is part of their Restored Treasures series which has featured some excellent recently restored prints of great American cinema.

Naturally, I'll be checking at least one of these out and letting you know how it goes.

I also must very affirmatively recommend you see Kelly Reichardt's film, Old Joy, playing at the Orpheum Theatre. I saw the premier of this film, at the Portland Film Festival, last year. Shot in and around beautiful Portland, its both quiet and funny. It follows two guys - played by Daniel London and Will Oldham - in their early 30s as they take a trip to a Hot Springs outside of Portland. I can't speak eloquently enough to do this film justice so you best just see it.

I look forward to writing more in the future. I hope you look forward to reading more. Be sure to check out the Cinematheque, Union, and Orpheum websites for information regarding Madison cinema events.

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