Shakespeare, Mad Max and Mount Everest
November 11, 2008 action movie, documentary, romance 
This week’s screenings include romance, action and documentaries
It’s a busy week for cinephiles here on the Central Coast.
We get off to a thoughtful start tonight with “Zeitgeist: Addendum.”
Directed by Peter Joseph, the documentary attempts to find the root causes of humanity’s “social corruption” while offering solutions. It’s a sequel to 2007’s “Zeitgeist: The Movie,” the controversial film that drew links between religion, the Federal Reserve and the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
“Zeitgeist Addendum” will be screened at 7 p.m. tonight at the San Luis Obispo City-County Library, 995 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. A $5 donation is suggested; the screening is sponsored by HopeDance Magazine.
***
Theater lovers and romantic-minded moviegoers will want to watch “Shakespeare in Love” Wednesday in Cambria.
Joseph Fiennes stars as William Shakespeare, a promising young playwright who’s battling writer’s block and the throes of romantic love. When he meets Lady Viola (Gwyneth Paltrow), he finds the inspiration for his greatest work, “Romeo and Juliet.”
The 1998 film won seven Academy Awards, including best picture, best screenplay, best score and best actress for Paltrow. Dame Judi Dench, who plays Queen Elizabeth I, snagged a supporting actress statuette.
Wednesday’s screening is sponsored by a new group known as The Cambria Shakespeare Lovers. It starts at 7 p.m. at the Theatre at the Old Grammar School, 1350 Main St. in Cambria.
Tickets are $4, with proceeds benefiting the Allied Arts Association. Call 927-1053 for more information.
***
Another HopeDance film on Wednesday is aimed at foodies and folks interested in green living.
“Establishing a Food Forest” uses forests as a model for sustainable farming. In this documentary, created by the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia, managing director Geoff Lawton talks about the basics of “keep(ing) your forest productive” — including legumes, fungi, chickens and weed and pest control.
Watch “Establishing a Food Forest” at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Dancing Deer, 2975 Vineyard Dr. in Templeton.
***
Also on Wednesday is one hell of a double feature: “Mad Max” and “The Road Warrior.”
Set in the apocalyptic wastelands of Australia, both films follow a leather-clad cop (Mel Gibson) who becomes an outlaw when members of a vicious road gang kill his wife and child and torch his best friend. With his shotgun and his dog at his side, Max wreaks his violent vengeance on a world gone mad.
The fun starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday at The Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $10.
(While you’re in the Mad Max mood, check out these awesome posters over at Mondotees.com. “Mad Max” (seen above) is by Billy Perkins while the incredibly detailed “Road Warrior” poster is by Tyler Stout. I think they capture the film perfectly.)
***
We wind the week up with yet another double feature.
Hearst Castle’s National Geographic Theater offers moviegoers “the big picture” Friday and Saturday.
The IMAX-style theater will show two large-format favorites on its massive screen, “The Living Sea” and Everest.” Each documentary features stunning visuals and never-before-seen treasures — “from the bottom of the ocean to the top of the world.”
The double feature will be screened at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Hearst Castle is located off Highway 1 just north of San Simeon.
Tickets for the special screening, presented by the Cambria Education Foundation, are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Call 924-1500 for more information.
3 Comments
