Rita as Gilda
This weekend, after a holiday hiatus, is so chockful of good programs at the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, I’ll hardly be able to see all I want to see and am going to recommend a bunch to you. You already may have missed a good one: Gregory Crewdson: Brief Encounters, a remarkable documentary shown at the new Museum of Contemporary Art last night, the first movie ever shown there. See it somewhere else if you can.
It’s a Beatles weekend at the art museum. Scott Freiman is in town to deliver his obsessive, fascinating, enlightening lecture/music/video/ presentations on the Fab Four. Tonight (Friday) at 6:30 he’s “Deconstructing the Early Beatlesâ€â€”tracing their early history and first singles. Saturday afternoon (1:30), he concentrates on one of my favorite albums, “Revolver,†and on Sunday (also 1:30), he takes a “Trip through Strawberry Fields,†with an in-depth look at that song and also “A Day in the Life.†Last year, I saw Freiman’s program on Sgt. Pepper and was fascinated and amazed. See ticket information here.
The Cinematheque offers more music with Searching for Sugar Man, a crazily intriguing account of an American ‘70s folk/rock singer named Rodriguez who abruptly disappeared from view and was thought dead. In South Africa, however, his music has become anthemic. Some investigators decide to hunt him down, and the result is amazing and inspiring. This is a must-see movie, showing on Saturday at 9:40 and Sunday at 6:30. Don’t read too much about it before you see it!
Then there’s the classic Gilda, with the  iconic Rita Hayworth. This begins “Noir Town,†a series of films noirs at the Cinematheque. I’ve never seen this classic and hope to make it on Saturday at 5:15 or Sunday at 8:15. See her put the blame on Mame.
Also, tonight you have another chance to see The Well-Digger’s Daughter at 9:40 pm, which I didn’t recommend the last time John showed it. Those who saw it, however, loved it, and prevailed upon John to bring it back. It shows again on Sunday at 7:25.
Happy viewing. And New Year!