Friday Film Fare
Movie lovers know there’s nothing like a good film to help you unwind after a long week of work, school, and other commitments. And Central aims to please with Friday Film Fare. Jim Silverthorn, our resident cinephile, is your host for films ranging from classics like “Dog Day Afternoon” - to more recent popular hits like “The Banshees of Inisherin.” Plus, he’ll introduce you to lesser known gems that will surprise and delight. Please join us the third Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Admittance is free. Just grab some popcorn and a soda - and make yourself comfortable in the Fireplace Room. Here is what’s playing soon:
Till (2002)
October 13th at 7:30
It wasn’t the crime; it was the response that jolted the nation. We remember today the 1955 murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till not because it was a lynching in Mississippi but because his mother Mamie (an astonishing Danielle Deadwyler) said, “I want them to see what they did to my boy.” Though not sparing us the brutality of the killing, Till focuses on a mother’s love, a mother’s grief, a mother’s courage and most of all, a mother’s determination for justice. Till is both an unforgettable chronicle of an outrage and a portrait of a remarkable woman—Mamie Till-Mobley. [130minutes; color; Rated PG-13]
The Fallen Idol (1948)
November 17th at 7:30
Philippe (incomparable child actor Bobby Henrey), son of the ambassador of an unnamed country, lives in the embassy in London and idolizes the ever-competent butler Baines (Ralph Richardson). But a tragic accident misinterpreted as criminal leads the boy in a misguided attempt to protect his idol—with each lie making the innocent seem increasingly guilty. An utter gem from master director Carol Reed and screenwriter Graham Greene (adapted from a Greene short story), The Fallen Idol blends suspense, whimsy and the-adult-world-seen-through-a-child’s-eyes into an unforgettable tale. [95 minutes; b&w; Not Rated]
The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)
December 15th at 7:30
Impossible to miss, impossible to forget, Tammy Faye Bakker with her idiosyncratic singing, eternally bubbly personality and those eyelashes—especially those eyelashes!—was unique. She and her husband Jim rose from humble beginnings to build the world’s largest religious broadcasting network. And then it all went so terribly wrong, so terribly fast. Jessica Chastain’s Oscar-winning performance defines a woman of simple goodness, far too simple and much too good for her own good. You may sometimes roll your eyes, but you will love Tammy Faye. [126 minutes; color; Rated PG-13]
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
January 19th at 7:30
Sonny (Al Pacino) the brains and Sal (John Cazale) the follower decide to rob a Brooklyn bank one sultry August afternoon—and the result is standoff, chaos, media circus and ultimately disaster. And, oh yes, this farce really happened. Based closely on a real event, director Sidney Lumet, screenwriter Frank Pierson and a stellar cast fashioned this brilliant film, one of the quintessential 1970’s American films. You will find yourself wondering along with Sonny and Sal how things could go so awry when all you wanted to do was just rob a bank, for cryin’ out loud. [125 minutes; color; Rated R]
The Shape of Water (2017)
February 16th at 7:30
Mopping floors and cleaning bathrooms in a highly secret government installation, lonely, mute Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of routine and isolation. When she and her co-worker (Octavia Spencer) encounter the subject of a classified experiment, Elisa is drawn to a creature as lonely, isolated and indeed as mute as herself. And things quickly become— complicated. A dizzying amalgam of Cold War thriller, elaborate fairy tale, beauty-and-beast fable and even 1950’s swamp creature horror film, The Shape of Water is one unique cinema experience from master film magician Guillermo del Toro. To paraphrase Elton John, it's weird and it's wonderful. [123 minutes; color; Rated R]
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
March 15th at 7:30
Padraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson) have been best friends forever, it seems. And then one day Colm wants nothing more to do with Padraic. Why? “You didn’t say anything to me. You didn’t do anything to me. I just don’t like you no more.” And with that simple pronouncement begins a relentless spiral of pain and retribution that engulfs everyone on their tiny island off the coast of Ireland. With its hauntingly beautiful setting and mixing sharp tragedy and wry comedy, The Banshees of Inisherin will baffle, amuse and perhaps just break your heart in its own unique way. [119 minutes; color; Rated R]
Three Identical Strangers (2018)
April 19th at 7:30
In 1980, three young men, total strangers to each other, discovered at the age of 19 that they were identical triplets, separated at birth. Instant celebrity followed as news articles, talk shows, special appearances and eventually a restaurant/nightclub in Manhattan showcased the personable trio and their increasingly lavish lifestyle. And then came the questions. And then came the disturbing discoveries. And then things became very strange indeed. Three Identical Strangers is a riveting and remarkable documentary, recounting a story that will surprise, astonish—and then really pull the rug out from under you. Like the boys themselves, just enjoy the ride and don’t even try to
guess what lies ahead. [98 minutes; color; Rated PG-13]