The KiMo Theatre is honoring the work of Japanese cinematic master Akira Kurosawa with a seven-film tribute. The chronological retrospective begins this Thursday, June 14, with the 1949 crime drama Stray Dog . In it, the legendary Toshiro Mifune plays a rookie detective whose gun gets stolen during a sweltering Tokyo heat wave. Things continue on June 21 with the film that brought Kurosawa his first international acclaim, 1950’s award-winning Rashomon . That historical drama will be followed by 1954’s action-packed Seven Samurai (June 28), 1958’s Hidden Fortress (July 12), 1961’s Yojimbo (July 26), 1963’s High and Low (Aug. 2) and 1985’s Ran (Aug. 9). Films start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $7 adults, $5 students and seniors.
Reel World: Shot Here, Shown Here Shot Here, Shown Here
The Centennial New Mexico Film Series continues at KiMo on Wednesday, June 20, with the 1962 classic Lonely Are the Brave . This iconic neo-Western is based on the book by Edward Abbey and was written by blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. It stars Kirk Douglas as an iconoclastic cowboy who gets locked up in jail in order to escape with an old pal. The film was shot in and around Albuquerque and has long been cited as Douglas’ favorite film. The screening starts at 7 p.m. and is free to the public.
Reel World: Walk-In Movies Walk-In Movies
The Santa Fe Railyard has been getting into the spirit of the season by hosting a Railyard Park Summer Movie Series. The biweekly free film series continues this Friday, June 15, just after sunset (around 8:15 p.m.). This week’s offering is the 1991 Billy Crystal comedy City Slickers . Much of the film was shot here in New Mexico, around Abiquiú, Nambé Pueblo and Santa Fe’s Garson Studios. Lawn chairs and alcohol are not allowed at the event, but blankets and picnic baskets are encouraged. Future screenings include Babe (June 29), The Last Waltz (July 13), The Princess Bride (July 27), The Bad News Bears (Aug. 10), Austin Powers (Aug. 24).
Reel World: Dark Details Dark Details
The newly minted Dark Matters Film Festival is fired up and ready to roll in the first quarter of 2013. The festival is slated to be a three-day, blood-soaked orgy of horror, dark fantasy and science-fiction films right here in Albuquerque. But 2013 is a long way away. So, on Saturday, June 30, organizers will be treating audiences to “Horror Bites,” a sneak-preview fundraiser at Guild Cinema in Nob Hill. Thirty short films culled from around the world will be screened in four thematically linked blocks. The lineup of films for this event just went live, so take a peek (if you dare). All-day passes are on sale now at the Guild box office for a mere $15.
