The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will name its Oscar nominees on January 24th. No, our own critics aren't involved in the nominating process, but that doesn't mean they don't have opinions on which films should receive accolades!
On Friday, critics Steve Walker, Cynthia Haines, and Bob Butler return to Up to Date to share some of their favorites from 2011 on DVD (some of which are likely to get the Oscar nod) and review the latest art, independent, foreign, and documentary films showing on area screens, including The Artist, Being Elmo, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Le Havre, and others.
Have you recently seen a good (or bad) art, independent, foreign, or documentary film in KC? Give us a call at 816 235 2888 or email us at uptodate@kcur.org. You can also post comments on KCUR's Facebook page or Tweet us at @KCURUpToDate.
Our Reviewed Films:
The Artist
Being Elmo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Le Havre
Local Film Events:
Kansas City Library Film Series
Westport Center for the Arts "Mostly Foreign Film Series"
Jan. 8: “Collaborators” from the National Theatre of London 2PM
Jan. 10: Massenet’s “Cendrillon” from the Royal Opera House starring Kansas City native Joyce DiDonato 6:30 PM, and Jan. 16: at 1:30PM
Jan. 26: “Three Superstars in Berlin”: Jinas Kaufman, Anna Netrebko and Erwin Schrot 6:30PM
DVD Suggestions:
Cynthia Haines:
Jayne Eyre, Hanna, Win Win
Steve Walker:
Bill Cunningham’s New York, Crazy Stupid Love, IFC’sPortlandia
Bob Butler:
The Guard, 50/50, The People Vs. George Lucas
Bob Butler is a former Kansas City Star critic and now film blogger of Butlerscinemascene.wordpress.com. He is a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle. His work has appeared in The Arizona Republic, The Contra Costa Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Houston Chronicle, The Kansas City Star, and The Sunday Mail (Australia). Cynthia Haines, a photographer, film critic and scholar, retired as an Associate Professor of Film Studies from the University of Texas at El Paso where she taught for ten years. She has a B.A. degree from Stanford University and an M.A. from U.T. El Paso and attended the Stanford University Broadcast and Film Institute. She is the author/photographer of Literature and Landscape: Writers of the Southwest and Showtime! From Opera Houses to Picture Palaces in El Paso. Steve Walker is a contributing arts reporter at KCUR. In addition, he teaches creative writing classes at the Kansas City Art Institute, and is a consultant and trainer in peer counseling and HIV prevention programs for area high schools. His writing has appeared in The Sondheim Review, The Advocate and Theater Week, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Business Journal, Ingram's, The Pitch and Review.
