 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BALBOA THEATER NEWSLETTER | |||||||||
|
General Admission: $9.00, Senior (60+) or Child (11-): $6.50 WHAT’S IN THE NEWS: Showtimes, Dear Friends, Robin Hood, Babies, Remembering Playland at the Beach, Now Playing at the Vogue, Discount for Balboa Fans and a Chance to Win Tickets to "In the Wake", San Francisco State University Film Finals, Theater Information. | |||||||||
SHOWTIMES - through Thursday, May 13, 2010 |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
THEATRE #1 |
THEATRE #2 |
||||||||
REMEMBERING PLAYLAND AT THE BEACH (NR) (separate admission) |
BABIES (PG) |
||||||||
SHOWTIMES - Friday, May 14 - Thursday, May 20, 2010 |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
THEATRE #1 |
THEATRE #2 |
||||||||
Robin Hood (PG-13) in Dolby Stereo |
REMEMBERING PLAYLAND AT THE BEACH (NR) (separate admission) |
||||||||
COMING SOONOpens Thursday, May 27: SEX AND THE CITY 2 |
|||||||||
The official launch of the Balboa’s new Dolby sound system featuring an array of very special speakers provided by Berkeley’s Meyer Sound (www.meyersound.com -not related) takes place Friday with the Premiere of ROBIN HOOD. We hope you will join us for the adventure and romance of Ridley Scott’s re-imagined version of the legendary story.
CANNES FILM FESTIVAL LAUNCHES
On Wednesday night, the Grand Theatre Lumiere will fill with 3000 people, the men in tuxedos and the women vying for media attention with a range of high fashion. Opening night at the Cannes Film Festival is an international event opening this year with Ridley Scott’s ROBIN HOOD starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett. A few other big budget movies with star power will be sprinkled throughout the twelve day event: Oliver Stone’s WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS (Michael Douglas, Shia LaBeouf, Josh Brolin, Carey Mulligan), FAIR GAME (Naomi Watts, Sean Penn) from Doug Liman, and Woody Allen’s YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER (Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts, Antonio Banderas, Freida Pinto). But most of the line-up will be dominated by art films from internationally heralded directors including the 101 year-old Manoel Olivera, Abbas Kiarostami (with his first English language film), Takeshi Kitano (returning to his early roots with a Yakuza drama), Mike Leigh, Nikita Mikhalkov, Bertrand Tavernier, Patricio Guzman, Gregg Araki, Jia Zhangke, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Stephen Frears, Otar Iosseliani, Lee Chang-dong, Olivier Assayas, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Rachid Bouchareb, and Julie Bertuccelli among others. And hopeful discoveries from new and sophomore directors. Documentaries are rare in the main festival so it is a wonderful surprise that San Francisco’s own Charles Ferguson brings his INSIDE JOB to the Croisette.
Before leaving I am always asked what excites me at the festival but many years of attendance have taught me not to get my hopes high. I will take each day as it comes, screening at least five features, and more if something is so bad I must walk out mid-film. Filmmakers with previous winners can fail horribly and there are surprise comebacks.
Jean-Luc Godard led protests in Cannes in 1968, and then came to show many of his films over the years. This year he returns with FILM SOCIALISME. The trailer presents the entire feature speeded up so it can fit into two minutes, signaling Godard’s feeling that today’s audiences don’t have the time to go to festivals and want instant gratification. His work is certain to stimulate conversation about the future of the art and how it will be experienced by audiences.
Stay tuned.
ONLY AT THE BALBOA- Win Great Prizes
We have t-shirts, posters, pins, coffee mugs, mouse pads, mini posters, and full-size posters for Robin Hood, plus t-shirts and mini posters for Babies! Posters will be available in our lobby while supplies last, and check your ticket stub to see if you won other great prizes.
VOTE FOR THE BALBOA ON BAYLIST
Voting has closed with San Francisco Magazine, but is still going at Baylist and we want to thank all of you who have voted for the Balboa. We currently stand at #1. If you haven't done it yet, please go to: http://baylist.sfgate.com/balboa-theater/biz/13806
Sincerely,
Gary
Oscar winner Russell Crowe stars as the legendary figure known by generations as Robin Hood, whose exploits have endured in popular mythology and ignited the imagination of those who share his spirit of adventure and righteousness. In 13th century England, Robin and his band of marauders confront corruption in a local village and lead an uprising against the crown that will forever alter the balance of world power. And whether thief or hero, one man from humble beginnings will become an eternal symbol of freedom for his people. Robin Hood chronicles the life of an expert archer, previously interested only in self-preservation, from his service in King Richards army against the French. Upon Richards death, Robin travels to Nottingham, a town suffering from the corruption of a despotic sheriff and crippling taxation, where he falls for the spirited widow Lady Marian (Oscar winner Cate Blanchett), a woman skeptical of the identity and motivations of this crusader from the forest. Hoping to earn the hand of Maid Marian and salvage the village, Robin assembles a gang whose lethal mercenary skills are matched only by its appetite for life. Together, they begin preying on the indulgent upper class to correct injustices under the sheriff. With their country weakened from decades of war, embattled from the ineffective rule of the new king and vulnerable to insurgencies from within and threats from afar, Robin and his men heed a call to ever greater adventure. This unlikeliest of heroes and his allies set off to protect their country from slipping into bloody civil war and return glory to England once more. "Scott's grounding of the piece in real events and intelligible human behavior is never over-solemn, and from beginning to end it's a lot of fun. There are few classier directors than Scott at creating action movies on a truly epic scale." "The entire cast is superb. Crowe's an ideal Robin Hood-born to play the role-he's fully in command but human to the core. He owns it." "A seriously stylish re-telling of the Robin Hood legend... Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett make a great pair of heroes." "Fascinates us with the historic elements, while simultaneously weaving into the fabric, a vibrant, human story that makes us relate and care for the characters. Every minute of the long running time holds; I didn't want the adventure to end." Read article about the film and its director Ridley Scott. |
Filmmaker Thomas Balmes offers an adorable glimpse at the first phase of life in this film following four newborn babies through their first year of life. Ponijao, Bayar, Mari, and Hattie were born in Namibia, Mongolia, Japan, and California, respectively. By capturing their earliest stage of development on camera, Balmes reveals just how much we all have in common, despite being born to different parents and raised in different cultures. "The photography is stunning, and Bruno Coulais' music adds just the right soundtrack to this intriguing visual diary." "A movie called 'Adolescents' or, heaven knows, 'Grownups,' would hardly be as charming as 'Babies.' But 'Babies' just might restore your faith in our perplexing, peculiar and stubbornly lovable species." "Even though these are beautiful babies, there is an art to creating images that are both provocative and powerful, and in that the director is skilled." "Babies' most impressive feat is the way it toes the line between cute and cloying, using bouncy music and funny montages but never pushing the audience to realize how cute these babies are; Hattie, Mari, Bayard and Ponijao are capable of making us realize that on their own." Read Interview with Director Thomas Balmes and Producer Alain Chabat. - Focus Features Read article about the film. - Mercury News Read article about the San Francisco baby featured in the film. — SF Gate |
The full length documentary tells the history of San Francisco's famous 10-acre seaside amusement park, Playland at the Beach. Located next to Ocean Beach, it was torn down in 1972 to make way for a condominium development. Gone now for more than 3 decades, it remains one of the city's lost treasures. Go back in time to see Laffing Sal, the Fun House, the Carousel, the Big Dipper, the Diving Bell, Dark Mystery, Limbo, Fun-tier Town, and much, much more, all through the eyes of the people who were there. The first and only documentary ever made about Playland, it features 12 interviews, 20 minutes of archival footage, 187 photographs and original music. The film was written and directed by Tom Wyrsch.
The famous ice cream sandwiches created at Playland, IT’S IT, will be for sale at the Balboa snack bar. Hockey Haven across the street from the Balboa will be serving Playland drink specials after the show where fans will gather to remember their own experiences at Playland. |
"Wyrsch’s film lovingly re-creates some of the spectacle of this 365-day-a-year carnival with old pictures and film footage plus lots of interviews, many of them with members of a group dedicated to maintaining a museum of Playland relics." "The film is a giddy nostalgia trip for those who remember the place and a pop history lesson for others." "The Playland documentary was better than one could have hoped for. Thank you to all that helped make those memories live forever." "Allows everyone to experience Playland for themselves, if only vicariously. Go back in time to see Laffing Sal, the Fun House, the Carousel, the Big Dipper, the Diving Bell, Dark Mystery, Limbo, Fun-tier Town, and much, much more, all through the eyes of the people that were there." "Wyrsch has turned Playland at the Beach into a twilight zone all its own by unearthing historic film footage and photos that vividly re-create the unique look and feel of the seaside attraction." "Conjures the joys of summers past through a season’s pass worth of archival footage and photographs, abetted by a slew of choice interviews." "For those of us who loved Playland, this superb film brings to life again an unforgettable part of our lives. If you never experienced Playland, this wonder-filled look at a vanished part of San Francisco will give you a taste of what was and what must never be forgotten."
Take a look at the first sneak preview’s crowd. Read an interview with George K. Whitney about his family’s operation of Playland. Other articles and home movies on the Western Neighborhoods Site Playland-Not-At-The-Beach is a wonderful museum of fun dedicated to the real thing. WE URGE YOU TO VISIT IT IN PERSON. It is the perfect site for a party unlike any you’ve ever attended. |
Rated PG-13 for for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some language. Daily: 1:30, 4:15, 7:00, 9:35 The world is aware that billionaire inventor Tony Stark is the armored Super Hero Iron Man. Under pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military, Tony is unwilling to divulge the secrets behind the Iron Man armor because he fears the information will slip into the wrong hands. With Pepper Potts, and James "Rhodey" Rhodes at his side, Tony forges new alliances and confronts powerful new forces. |
|
Balboa Fans get 20% off (50% off if you’re under 30) to "In the Wake" at Berkeley Rep for the following performances:
Thursday, May 20th at 8pm
Friday, May 21st at 8pm
Saturday, May 22nd at 8pm
Sunday, May 23rd at 7pm
Go to https://www.berkeleyrep.org/ticketing//account/login.aspx to create your account and enter promo code 5403 to get your discount. Read more about the show here.
ENTER TO WIN TICKETS TO SEE "IN THE WAKE" FRIDAY MAY 21 OR SATURDAY MAY 22 @ 8PM AT BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE
We have 1 pair to give away for each night.
To qualify for our random drawing, send an email to balboafans (at) yahoo.com (change (at) to @, we are trying to avoid spam) no later than Sunday May 16 @ noon
You must include:
1. Your full name as it appears on a photo I.D.
2. Your email address in the body of the email.
3. Clever comments always appreciated but they won’t sway the random drawing.
4. The Subject Line must state WAKE.
5. Your preference for which night you would like to attend.
Please do not enter if you cannot attend. You may only enter once. If we see duplicates, each entry will be disqualified. Winners of Balboa prizes in the past three months do not qualify.
The next wave of cinema begins here. Scores of innovative independent filmmakers and future Academy Award winners work nonstop to get their work accepted to this annual juried screening. Be the first to see these emerging filmmakers at the Bay Area’s premier college cinema event. The San Francisco Bay Guardian writes: "A night of film at its scrappy, heartfelt essence."
Guest speakers: Jonas Rivera, SF State alum and Academy Award-nominated producer of Pixar’s Up, and Walter Murch, Academy Award-winning editor of Apocalypse Now and The English Patient.
3630 Balboa Street (between 37th and 38th Avenues)
San Francisco 94121
(415) 221-8184
www.BalboaMovies.com
Bike Rack in front of the Balboa
Muni Bus #31 Balboa or #18 46th Ave stop at Balboa & 37th.
Also #5 Fulton and all 38 Geary Street buses stop two (long) blocks from Balboa.
Relatively easy Parking
San Francisco's Favorite Neighborhood Theatre
Voted by the Bay Guardian, SF Weekly, SF Gate's A List
and San Francisco Magazine
General Admission: $9.00
Seniors (60+) and Children (11-) $6.50
Bargain Matinees: All seats $6.50 for shows in ( )
SCHOOL NIGHT - Mondays are School Days and Nights. With proof of being a student, faculty, or staff member, your admission is only $6.50 on Mondays.
On Your Birthday, You Are Our Guest. That’s right. You get in free with proof of your birth date.
And at all other times you can get the “I’d Rather Be At the Balboa” Discount Card. What a deal! 5 tickets to the Balboa for $32.50. That is only $6.50 per show. Good every day and night. And two people can use the card at once. You can go on a date even when you are low on cash with your Balboa Card. A savings of up to $12.50! Makes a perfect gift as well. And every Discount Card comes with a FREE POPCORN!
The Balboa is Wheelchair and Handicapped Accessible.
One of the strengths of the Balboa is our neighborhood. Other than the bank, all the businesses are family owned and operated. The restaurants are especially wonderful. On the outer Balboa strip there are 24 eating establishments by my count. You can eat Chinese, Japanese, Egyptian, Italian, American, Mexican, Seafood and Vietnamese cuisines. The foods are fresh, distinctive and all reasonably priced. The media food critics have only discovered a few of them but the locals know a good thing. We encourage you to enjoy a meal at one of these fine eateries while visiting the Balboa. All are within easy walking distance. And please send us reviews and recommendations we can share with our other guests. Send reviews to balboafans (at) yahoo.com . (Change (at) to @. We are trying to avoid spam.)
We love it when you send us a review of a neighborhood restaurant you've enjoyed. We encourage you all to write about your culinary adventures in the Outer Richmond. Check out the Menu Book in our lobby and our COMPLETE RESTAURANT LIST.
Rated PG-13 for violence including intense sequences of warfare, and some sexual content. 2 hours 20 minutes.
Rated PG for cultural and maternal nudity throughout.
82 minutes.
A large lobby display of Playland at the Beach photographs, posters, articles, and other memorabilia will be on exhibit during the engagement. Also on display will be original Playland items, like a "Dark Mystery" ride car, Playland tickets, signs, and a few surprises. The perfect addition for seeing the movie and going back to Playland again! This will be the final week to see our fantastic lobby display!
"I laughed at the varied reactions each patron had to the different rides. Wyrsch treats each major attraction with fragile respect, as if their memories might break if we rushed through. As someone who wasn’t even alive when it was open, I found myself nostalgic for something I’d never know…I suspected most of the audience did know. As they featured each ride, collective gasps and chuckles of familiarity took over the theater."
Our friends at the Vogue Theatre, on Sacramento St., are playing IRON MAN 2 starring Robert Downey Jr.
Berkeley Rep and Center Theatre Group present a powerful world premiere from the creators of Broadway’s Well. After an idyllic Thanksgiving filled with food, football, family and friends, a woman discovers how one passionate act can affect everything—her faith in love, her faith in country, her faith in herself. This tale of heartache and hope unfolds amidst the turmoil of American politics in the 21st century. Obie Award-winners Lisa Kron and Leigh Silverman reunite for a searing show which questions whether we as Americans appreciate our freedom.