toronto films

This Week in Rep Cinema: Do the Right Thing, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Bad Posture, Racing Dreams, and Demolition Man

This Week in Rep Cinema features second-run and classic film selections from cinemas such as the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, The Fox, The Revue, The Royal, Toronto Underground Cinema, the Projection Booth, TIFF Bell Lightbox, and more.

August is upon us. TIFF announcements have been made, but we still have a summer of cinema left before the behemoth of filmic offerings takes over the theatres in early September. Breathe a sigh of relief and take advantage of free summer screenings while you can--this week we list three such films, two outdoor, one in a bar-environment. It'll give you an opportunity to save up those pennies for all those TIFF tickets.

On another sombre note, director Chris Marker passed away recently. If you were like me, you probably didn't realize the man was still alive (he was 91 after all) but it appears he spent his twilight years like the rest of his life--mysterious and outside of the spotlight.

TUESDAY JULY 31 / DO THE RIGHT THING / YONGE & DUNDAS SQUARE / 8:30PM
It's been a sticky, hot summer full of violence and unrest in Toronto. What better movie to juxtapose it against than Spike Lee's portrait of a neighbourhood on the verge of chaos? It's the hottest day of the year in Bed-Stuy and a collection of characters bristle against each other, with disagreements that range from racial tension, disenfranchisement and poverty, to music. After an unexpected instance of violence against one of their own, the neighbourhood rises up and their anger threatens to burn the city down. The screening is free but bringing a seat is recommended.

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 1 / MR. & MRS. SMITH / TIFF IN THE PARK / 9PM
Do NOT think that this is the Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt vehicle that drove them both into each other's arms--instead this is Alfred Hitchcock's only pure comedy, starring the delightful Carole Lombard. The story is still similar; a seemingly happy married couple discover that their marriage is invalid and after a series of uncomfortable conversations, decide to keep it that way. Obviously both parties try to get back together with the other at inopportune times, leading to some classic screw-ball missteps along the way. Free but BYOPB (bring your own picnic blanket.)

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 1 / BAD POSTURE / DOUBLE DOUBLE LAND / 9PM
The Refocus film screenings are a series of free events that highlight curious cinematic diamonds that programmer Jeffrey Wright takes the time to uncover from the rough. Last time I recommended a Refocus screening was in May when director Joe Swanberg took over Innis Town Hall with his awesome Full Moon trilogy. This month, Wright brings us Bad Posture, a coming of age story set in Albequerque about a group of awkward criminals-in-training (or at least shit-disturbers-in-training), as they go about their lives, with some AK-47's and petty robberies peppered along the way.

FRIDAY AUGUST 3 / RACING DREAMS / BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA / 4PM
Recently we've seen kids practice for spelling competitions in Spellbound, ballet prominence in First Position and football championships in Undefeated, but I've yet to see a documentary about kids and cars. Enter Racing Dreams, a doc that follows a group of three young up-and-coming karters with dreams of Nascar. As the pre-teens struggle with their ambitions, and the reality of adolescence, they discover how hard it can be to achieve their dreams. Tickets are $11 and can be purchased at the cinema.

SATURDAY AUGUST 4 / DEMOLITION MAN / TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX / 8PM
Ryerson-Alumnus Marco Brambilla's beefcake action film Demolition Man finally gets a day in the sun this weekend, with a retrospective screening at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. The 'Demolition Man' is a cryogenically frozen police officer (Sylvester Stallone) who wakes 70 years after his wrongful 'term' to apprehend the criminal who put him in this position in the first place. Except now he's entered a world where police officers mediate with words, not guns, and Taco Bell is a high-class dining establishment. He's not in Kansas anymore. Tickets are $11 and can be purchased at the cinema or online.

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