Hudson Valley Crucial Viewing July 2-July 17

Happy July to all you cinephiles out there. As usual we’ve got some great repertory cinema coming your way from across the Hudson Valley, as well as three films from us to kick off the month. I wanna say a quick thanks to everyone who came out to support our many screenings last month. June was the busiest program we’ve had since the organization began, and it means the world to see people coming out to see what we’ve got going on. As always, if you can’t make it out to the movies we appreciate any and all support, and there are always volunteer opportunities. We couldn’t do it without you. Now, on to the movies.

Mike Judge’s IDIOCRACY
Soy, Rosendale – Sunday, July 6th, 7pm

The older I get the more I think that Mike Judge is probably one of the defining comedic voices of the 21st century. His entire career has managed to synthesize the problems, history, and assumptions of our culture and make them palatable without sacrificing intelligence. Idiocracy has definitely been a part of the conversation since the beginning of Trump’s second term. If your social media feed looks anything like mine, it’s probably hard to go a week without seeing someone bring the film up in reference to its feelings of relevancy during this administration. I definitely see the connections. More than that, though, I think it’s a testament to Judge’s vision, and though there are parts of the film that don’t necessarily resonate as much with me anymore (in the same way parts of his previous film Office Space don’t) overall coming back to this film for the first time in the better part of a decade this week was worthwhile. It’s a romp, and one that has a lot to say about things that haven’t changed much in the last 20 years. Plus, you can watch it at Soy, one of my favorite hole-in-the-wall joints in the Hudson Valley. (2006, 84min)

Spike Lee’s DO THE RIGHT THING
Story Screen, Hudson – Monday, July 7th, 8pm

It’s been a few weeks since we’ve formally featured some of Story Screen’s excellent programming on the list and I’m glad we’ve got them back for this installment. The Hudson theater is doing a really fun series this month of “Hot Movies” to keep us cool during the inevitable heatwaves this summer. They’re kicking it off with a true seasonal classic, Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing. What can you even say about this movie that hasn’t been said before? I often worry I don’t necessarily do certain films justice in this newsletter, and I can say for sure that’s definitely a feeling with this film. What I will say is this is another on the growing list of films we recommend that feel as relevant (if not more) today than they did when they premiered. Lee uses the rising temperatures, literally and figuratively, to craft a nuanced critique of racial politics and inter-neighborhood relationships that feels increasingly true. In the midst of a landmark NYC mayoral election, not to mention everything else going on in the world, if you haven’t watched this in a while, I’d strongly recommend revisiting it. (1989, 120min)

Rob Reiner’s THE PRINCESS BRIDE
Rough Draft, Kingston – Monday, July 7th, 8pm

Now for something a little lighter. We’re back at Rough Draft this coming Monday with the first of two throwback childhood classics for the summer months. Rob Reiner’s The Princess Bride is a film I have seen more times than I can count. My brothers and I quoted it, reenacted it, and rewatched it for most of our childhood. Watching it now brings back all of the same feelings of joy from back then, plus some new ones to boot. Something I love about “children’s films” from the 80s is that they do feel crafted in a way that makes them feel accessible to all-ages. Maybe it’s just nostalgia talking, but I don’t think this film needs the tongue-in-cheek “that line’s for the adults in the audience” style writing that’s become common in modern children’s content. It relies on its charm, its heart, and its story to keep you engaged. I won’t lie, the cast does some heavy lifting too. We’re really hoping to pack the bar out for this one, so if you can make it please do. This is a movie best enjoyed with others, and I can’t wait to share it with you all. (1987, 98min)

Federico Fellini’s 8½
Starr Cinema, Rhinebeck – opens Friday, July 11th

If you’ve followed this newsletter from the very beginning you probably know how much everyone here at KFF loves movies about movies. 8½ might be the crowning jewel in that excellent, mimetic subgenre. Fellini’s film is surrealistic, lush, and entertaining. It’s a true masterclass in Italian cinematic style, shot by the legend Gianni Di Venanzo who worked closely with Fellini, as well as Michelangelo Antonioni and Francesco Rosi over the course of his career. It’s a film about writer’s block, about fantasy, about the creative process, and (in some ways more than anything) about Rome. I often think about movies about places, or movies that allow their setting to be a character, and 8½’s incredible cinematography gives its version of Rome so much life. If you’ve never given 20th century Italian cinema a chance this is really one of the best starting places. And if you have and just haven’t sat with it in a while, why not come back to it. (1963, 138min)

Nathan Juran’s ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN & Roger Vadim’s BARBARELLA
Hi-Way Drive-In, Coxsackie – opens Friday, July 11th

It almost feels wrong that we didn’t throw this double-feature up in time for the end of pride month. When we were programming the Sci-Way series, it felt important to me to have at least one week where we leaned fully into the campy, schlocky side of the science fiction genre. The fact that we get to do it with these two films makes me so happy. This one’s for the dolls, in my humble opinion. We get the classic 50s “monster” flick in Attack, one that synthesizes all sorts of chaotic, complicated politics about women. In essence, it’s a revenge film taken to its extreme, with some fetishistic angles to boot. Barbarella, meanwhile, is more spectacle than it is plot. I can’t say I watch that movie for the story, but I do watch it for the visuals, its surprising sense of humor, and Jane Fonda’s iconic costumes (Carrie Bradshaw could never, but she would try). I can’t even lie to you, this is my indulgent pick of the whole series, and I hope you turn out for it. (1958, 66min; 1968, 98min)