Go to two mainstream movie theaters on opposite sides of the United States, and chances are that they are both playing modern releases like The Drama or The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. While those movies may be desirable to some, more often than not, audiences can feel stuck choosing between one poorly rated modern release and another. What if there were a theater where all of the movies were classic? What if there was a place where an intentional team hand-picked wonderful films that you could always count on for a good watch? Look no further than Cornell Cinema, our resident year-long film festival. Located under the busy hub of Willard Straight Hall, Cornell Cinema hums with the sound of manually operated projectors and offers a wide range of documentaries, animated films, Oscar-nominated features and new discoveries. So, grab a seat and get yourself some popcorn as we look at some of Cornell Cinema’s best showings this semester.
The Godfather Part II
Part of Cornell Cinema’s “Worth a Watch” series, The Godfather Part II was screened in 35mm in memory of Diane Keaton. A sprawling epic that follows the Corleone crime family across Italy and the U.S., The Godfather Part II surpasses the grandeur of the first installment. It is both a sequel and a prequel, showing us Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) as the new big boss in 1958 and Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) struggling to establish his family in 1920s New York City. Just like the first film, The Godfather Part II is a stunning movie with a hair-lifting score that is sure to transport you into the mafia’s endless cycles of revenge. However, in my opinion, The Godfather Part II runs past its predecessor (and definitely its successor) to give audiences an experience they won’t forget.
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
One of the greatest parts of Cornell Cinema is its annual French Film Festival. This movie, shown as one of the selections for this year’s celebration, is a charming animated feature that follows a young French girl’s stay in Japan. Amélie (Emmylou Homs and Loïse Charpentier) quickly becomes attached to her family’s housekeeper, Nishio-san (Victoria Grosbois), who teaches Amélie about war, peace, Japanese culture, family and curiosity. The colors and animation style of this movie are calm, yet full of life, and you will find yourself being sucked into a beautiful world in no time. Moving and adorable, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain will capture your heart and maybe just give you that spark of childlike joy again.
Mad Max: Fury Road
However, not all the movies at Cornell Cinema are sunshine and rainbows. Mad Max: Fury Road is an explosive and heart-pounding addition to Cornell Cinema’s schedule. Projected for the cinema’s “Human Resources” series — which explores the way human bodies are exploited in film — Mad Max: Fury Road builds upon the earlier stories of our favorite apocalyptic-world-roaming hero, this time portrayed by Tom Hardy. For his latest adventure, Mad Max is pitted against the warlord Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) as he attempts to rescue, albeit unwillingly, the women held inside a fortress called the Citadel. He’s aided by the determined Furiosa (Charlize Theron), an Immortan Joe ally turned rogue. It’s loud, it’s intense and it’s Australian. What more do you need?
Us
Jordan Peele’s horror masterpiece was given new life at Cornell Cinema with a special discussion by Michael Abels, the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer behind Peele’s other films like Get Out and Nope, in addition to Us. Gaining insight into the way music is crafted for horror films was the perfect precursor to Peele’s dark story of doppelgangers and the fight between the haves and the have-nots. Starring the immensely talented Lupita Nyong’o as protagonist Adelaide Wilson and antagonist Red, this horror film explores the concept of “the Tethered,” doubles of real people who have been forced underground into a horribly gruesome life not of their choosing, while those above enjoy the luxuries of light and love. With a shocking plot twist, countless eerie moments and complex characters, Us is one of the only modern horror movies that isn’t just jump scares. Though, of course, there might still be a few …
Jurassic Park
Speaking of jump scares, what movie does them better than the dinosaur-packed original Jurassic Park? As an added bonus, Cornell Cinema showed this 1993 classic in 3D! That T-Rex just got bigger. Based on Michael Crichton’s genetic engineering science-fiction novel, Jurassic Park is a franchise that has only grown in popularity since its birth, with seven movies released in total. However, none of them can match the first. Action-packed yet also completely endearing, Jurassic Park has stood the test of time for a reason, unlike how those dinosaurs didn’t (until John Hammond brought them back for entertainment).
Now, what do The Godfather Part II, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, Mad Max: Fury Road, Us and Jurassic Park have in common? Well, besides being amazing films, I hope you’ve realized by now that they all were shown at our own movie theater, Cornell Cinema. Next time you’re free on a Friday night and don’t know what to do, consider taking the steps down to the bottom of Willard Straight and catching a flick at a place infinitely better (and cheaper) than any movie theater chain. I hope to see you there.
‘Are You Still Watching?’ is a column spotlighting what the Cornell community has been streaming. It runs every Wednesday.
Jane Locke is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a staff writer for the Arts & Culture department and can be reached at jlocke@cornellsun.com.
