- Now that winter has winted, spring has sprung. I know this because Film Streams has two spring events for their Science on Screen series, or as the Trump administration calls it “Fiction on Film.” On Tuesday, May 9 at 7 pm, catch a screening of Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams. Well, it’s a movie he made called Dreams, not his actual dreams. We don’t have the technology to record those yet, and if we do, I do not volunteer to go first. Dr. Sanjay Singh, chair of the Department of Neurology at Creighton University School of Medicine, will participate in a discussion after the screening. If someone wants to ask him what it means that I keep having lucid dreams about David S. Pumpkins, I’d appreciate it. Then, on May 30 at 7 pm, The Man Who Fell to Earth will screen thanks to a team-up with The Nature Conservancy Nebraska and Aqua-Africa. The postshow discussion will include Mace Hack, State Director of the Nature Conservatory, and Buey Ray Tut, founder of Aqua-Africa. That latter organization has drilled numerous wells in Africa, saving thousands from disease and death. Also, it’s a Bowie movie! Bowie + Buey = Badass.
- Just to confuse you, that last bit was about spring sprung but The Alamo Drafthouse has summer sums or at least some something for summer. Their Summer Kids Camp is returning once again! With films hand-picked by the programming team, tickets are just $1, $5, or $10 will all proceeds benefitting local nonprofits, including Project Harmony. From June through August, the family-friendly flicks are screened during matinee times almost every day, and offerings this year include baller choices like Zathura: A Space Adventure, The Iron Giant, Song of the Sea, Speed Racer and, most importantly, Muppets From Space. This may be a kids camp, but the chance to donate to a nonprofit and watch Muppets has been this grown-ass man’s dream for a long time. Giving and Gonzo should really go together more often.
- I’m not the world’s biggest fan of Logan. I realize that box office returns and the frothy-mouthed kisses that fanfolks are still slurping all over Cryin’ While Stabbin’: We’ll Miss You, Tall Wolverine puts me in the minority. So chances are, you’ll be excited to hear that Alamo Drafthouse is also hosting a one-night-only screening of Logan in black and white. It’s called Logan Noir because if there’s one thing that screams “tough guy neo-Western,” it’s using the French language. On May 16, you can head to the Alamo for your only shot to see Hugh Jackman cry several times without color and stay for a live-streamed Q&A with the director James Mangold. Somebody make sure he answers whether or not the movie Shane was an influence.
- On Wednesday, May 24 at 7 pm, Film Streams and ONE Omaha are holding a screening of Citizen Jane: Battle for the City. It’s a documentary about Jane Jacobs, who took on traditional views of city planning. Not that a movie about urban redevelopment, civil rights and communities trying to rise up and speak against monolithic establishment powers has anything to do with life in America today. There’s a panel discussion afterward, during which I hope somebody reveals how to stop everything from being total garbage.
- On Friday, May 26, Bruce Crawford is back at it again! This time, he’s hosting a screening of the comedy classic Airplane! And don’t call me Shirley! Did I do that right? Robert Hays, who played Ted Striker in the film, will be in attendance, and tickets are available at local Hy-Vee stores, with proceeds going to the Nebraska Kidney Association. We all need a good laugh right now, especially for a good cause, as it certainly feels like we all picked the wrong decade to stop sniffing glue.
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.