- Nobody tell Omaha’s Alamo Drafthouse (drafthouse.com/omaha) that Halloween ended in October. I mean it: If the holidays get to ignore all laws of time and seasonality, spooky-time is over the 32nd of Never. To this end, on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 7 pm, you can see The Shining in the theater. A few years ago, I had the chance to do just that before engaging in a spirited debate about whether the book or movie was better for the Animus event, which is an annual fundraiser for the 1877 Society. I lost. Bad. But I did get a chance to publicly declare Stephen King overrated to a bunch of his fans, none of whom Misery-ed me, thank God. Anyway, this is maybe the best horror movie ever, and I love that it’s showing in November, when Thanksgiving arrives, as that is truly the most terrifying holiday.
- To make your plans on Nov. 7 at 7 pm even more complicated, Film Streams (filmstreams.org) is screening The Missing Piece, a documentary by Tim Guthrie that will coincide with an exhibition of Guthrie’s photography at Gallery 72 (gallery72.com/). If you’re trying to decide between this screening, which will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker and friends, and The Shining at the Alamo, you should decide how sad you want to be. Because unlike Jack Nicholson freezing to death (spoiler?), The Missing Piece is Guthrie’s tribute to the memory of his wife, Beth, who died unexpectedly. He went around to various places with her picture and tokens of Beth, so it’s kind of like the feeling you got from Up for the entire running time. Bring a hankie or seven.
- In weirder, sillier news, Harmony Korine, who has made a ton of stuff I hate and one of my favorite movies (Spring Breakers) wants you to smell his next movie. Yes, for his upcoming stoner comedy, The Beach Bum, starring Matthew McConaughey and Snoop Dogg, he wants to do a Smell-O-Vision type thing. Listen, nobody wants to smell Matthew McConaughey. Nobody. I sometimes feel like I smell him just watching him and it makes me angry. He smells like a sweaty beer pong paddle, subpar weed and alfredo sauce. On behalf of the nasally capable: No.
- A quick follow-up to my digital piece from last month, Netflix announced that they would have more original movies in 2018. Just a couple more though, bringing their total to 80. I’ve checked with Neil deGrasse Tyson, and that is scientifically classified as a buttload. Given the fact that many Netflix originals lately have featured the work of creators from diverse backgrounds who may not otherwise have found funding or distribution, I’m 200% in favor of this. I realize that there are those who mourn the once expansive back catalogue that Netflix used to have of classic movies. But there are other places to find those, and original stuff is hella better than old stuff. I dare them to do 160 in 2019.
Cutting Room provides breaking local and national movie news … complete with added sarcasm. Send any relevant information to film@thereader.com. Check out Ryan on Movieha!, a weekly podcast, catch him on the radio on CD 105.9 on Fridays at around 7:40 a.m. and on KVNO 90.7 on Wednesdays and follow him on Twitter.