I missed LACMA's showing last year of The Clock (bad timing, I suppose), but it won't happen again this year.  In case you haven't heard of Christian Marclay's brilliant project, I've included a clip from Youtube, below. In short, he has taken fragments from thousands of films and television shows and bridged them in such a way that at any given second, whatever time being shown in the film clip on screen is the actual time that you're viewing it: real-time viewing. It will be shown in the Bing Theatre from Noon this coming Saturday, September 22nd until Noon on Sunday, September 23rd; a 24-hour movie-clip marathon. The only drawback I can anticipate in seeing something like this, will be the illumination of cell phone screens as people check their devices - trying to ensure the film's accuracy. Other than that...

LACMA
Bing Theatre
5905 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA  90036

It's hard to believe that it's been six months since the passing of Whitney Houston, (which I wrote about here), but thankfully, before her untimely passing, she was able to finish her last project, Sparkle.  The original 1976 film, which starred Irene Cara, Lonette McKee and Philip Michael Tomas, had been one of her favorites while growing up in New Jersey and a project that she had been wanting to have remade for more than a decade. With more than one interruption, (the singer Aaliyah was slated to play the title role before she was killed in a plane crash in the Bahamas in 2001), this Friday, will finally see her pet-project make it to the big screen.

Sparkle is the story of three sisters, being raised by a single mother, Emma (played by Whitney), who, because of their vocal talents go on to form a very successful girl-group, in the style of 1960's Motown. With a cast headed by Whitney, former American Idol alum, Jordin Sparks, actor Derek Luke and comedian Mike Epps, it should be a remake worth watching. Viewing the trailer, the only disappointment I've noticed, may be the remake of the song, "Something He Can Feel" which Aretha Franklin sang like no other for the original soundtrack and which was later remade by 90's girl-group, En Vogue. I'm also really looking forward to hearing Whitney sing the inspirational song, "His Eye Is On The Sparrow." It'll be good to see her do what she did best, one more time.        (All images by Alicia Gbur)

The Original Movie Poster...

While some say that August Wilson was the leading African-American playwright of our time, there’s also the school of thought that he was the best American playwright PERIOD! Jitney, is but one of 10 plays, which chronicles, decade-by-decade, the experiences of Blacks in America; 1900-1990. Jitney takes us inside a gypsy cab company in Pittsburgh, PA in the fall of 1977, and like any job there’s plenty of drama that unfolds over the course of a work day; various contretemps between co-workers and lovers ensue. This Pasadena Playhouse production of Jitney, directed by Ron OJ Parsons, ends on Sunday, July 15th, which also marks the end of the 2011-2012 season and believe me when I tell you that the quality of this production stands up to any of Wilson’s plays that I’ve seen at larger venues. 

PASADENA PLAYHOUSE
39 South El Molino Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
626.356.7529

What better way to watch a movie this summer than alfresco; watching movie stars under the night’s stars. My friend, Kenar, invited me to go with her last night to see the 1972 film Chinatown (which starred Faye Dunaway and Jack Nicholson) at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Yep, a cemetery! I’d heard of movie nights here, but couldn't wrap my head around the idea of sitting amongst the dearly departed to see a movie. Well, it was definitely worth it. We popped some popcorn, dusted off her lawn chairs and off we went. Were I not afraid of possibly seeing a spirit, I would have been tempted to bring along some spirits. (pun NOT intended!) FYI... Hollywood Forever will show their last screening of the summer on September 22nd of... wait for it... The Exorcist!

Some other hot spots to see a movie outdoors is the American at Brand in Glendale and The W Hotel in Westwood, to name a few. My favorite outdoor film festival, though, is the one starting on July 5th, at One Colorado in Old Towne Pasadena. This year they'll have everything from High Noon and The Miracle Worker to Poltergeist and Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? with Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. If you've never experienced a movie like this, it definitely offers a new spin on the classic, but jaded, date-night at your local cinema; guaranteed to win you brownie points. Just remember to bring a jacket and something to sit on.

What better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than to head down to Olvera Street near downtown Los Angeles? Not only can you soak up some local culture, but also stop in at one of the cantinas for some tequila shots or a few margaritas to celebrate. Since I’ll be at my cousin’s wedding on the 5th, here are some pictures of my last trip down the one-block strip of Mexican history. 

OLVERA STREET
845 N. Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

HOURS:
(Hours may vary from store to store)
Mon - Fri: 10:00 - 6-8:00
Sat & Sun: 10:00 - 8-10:00