PFS Interview - Nick Robinson of KINGS OF SUMMER
Posted Tue, 18 Jun 2013 by Alex Gibson

BY Ben Silverio

Last month, Philadelphia Film Society members were treated to a sneak peek at the new indie coming of age movie, The Kings of Summer, which was attended by the films three stars Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, and Moises Arias.

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And You Call Yourself a Film Buff?! - ALIEN
Posted Thu, 06 Jun 2013 by Alex Gibson

Sometimes the Scariest Things Come from Within

Among iconic, memorable film moments, a baby alien bursting from John Hurt’s chest is close to the top of the list. And yet, yesterday morning, I hadn’t seen anything before or after that scene. Why would someone do that to such an acclaimed British actor? I would wonder. Did they put it in his food? Does that make him a father? Mazel tov, John Hurt! Last night, I decided the ignorance had to stop. As a film buff, I had to watch this classic sci-fi that has garnered so many fans and remakes.

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Opening This Weekend: Jason Blum's THE PURGE
Posted Mon, 03 Jun 2013 by Alex Gibson

In the year 2022, there is 1% unemployment in the United States, almost no crime, and the economy is flourishing. There is no need for people to commit senseless acts of violence over money, nor do people feel the impulse to hurt others out of rage or passion. This is because once a year, all American citizens are allowed to unleash their aggression indiscriminately. For twelve hours, once a year, law enforcement cannot be called, emergency care ceases, and all crime – including murder – becomes legal.

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So Bad It's Good - SPICE WORLD
Posted Thu, 23 May 2013 by Alex Gibson

SPICE UP YOUR LIFE

The 90s gave the world a lot of amazing things – snap bracelets, butterfly clips, Tamagotchis, Boy Meets World… One of the 90s’ best contributions to the world was the Spice Girls. And, in 1997, preteen girls worldwide rejoiced because Spice World came out. As the Spice Girls will go down as one of the best musical groups of all time, Spice World will be remembered as one of the most horrific, most enjoyable movies ever made.

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And You Call Yourself a Film Buff?! - CHINATOWN
Posted Thu, 16 May 2013 by Alex Gibson

It’s not that I avoided watching Chinatown, as I have with other ‘Film Buff’ fodder like Lawrence of Arabia or Doctor Zhivago. I just never got around to it, but last week, I finally bit the bullet. I didn’t really know what to expect -- some people had told me it was awesome; others had said it was good, but disturbing. So, I pressed play apprehensively. As it turns out, that was the perfect attitude, as I remained impressed and nervous for the next 130 minutes.

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PFS Sneak Peek - THE KINGS OF SUMMER
Posted Tue, 07 May 2013 by Alex Gibson

Last week, PFS Members got a chance to see indie hit The Kings of Summer. The film, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, revolves around three teenage boys who have had enough of overbearing, unappreciative parents and decide to take to the woods. Reminiscent of the classic Stand By Me, the boys move to the forest, where they build a makeshift cabin and live off the land.

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He Said/She Said: PFS at Tribeca
Posted Mon, 06 May 2013 by Alex Gibson

Last month the Tribeca Film Festival celebrated its 13th year and was well attended by PFS staff. Of course, Michael and Andrew were there for programming purposes, but PFS Marketing Coordinator Mariah and PFS Blogger Ben also traveled to NY for their first Tribeca experiences as a Tribeca press volunteer (Mariah) and a visiting member of the press (Ben). Since they were working different angles of the same department, we thought it’d be fun to do a Q&A to compare their experiences. Hope you enjoy!

[u][b]Did you get to see any films at Tribeca? What was your favorite?

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And You Call Yourself a Film Buff?! - RUSHMORE
Posted Fri, 03 May 2013 by Alex Gibson

All's fair when love is war.

I have always been a Wes Anderson fan. Ever since I was exposed to his stunning cinematography and beyond-quirky characters in The Royal Tennebaums, I have been on the Wes Anderson bandwagon. However, there have been and still are some notable gaps in my knowledge. Although I have seen and very much enjoyed Moonrise Kingdom, The Darjeerling Limited, and, my personal favorite, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, I have yet to see Bottle Rocket or Steve Zissou.

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So Bad It's Good - THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BONZAI
Posted Fri, 26 Apr 2013 by Alex Gibson

This week’s ‘So Bad It’s Good’ is a film so very awful, its awesome: The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. If you are not familiar with this gem, please allow me to illuminate you.

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And You Call Yourself a Film Buff?! - DR. STRANGELOVE
Posted Thu, 18 Apr 2013 by Alex Gibson

Watching Dr. Strangelove was a big step for me. Never having seen Lolita or 2001, I am way behind on my Kubrick. Not only that, but I must also confess that this was my very first Peter Sellers film! Never had I experienced his Inspector Clouseau, his 007, his slapstick-y outrageous character creations – until now.

Of course, I have heard nothing but great things about Peter Sellers. My film-buff friends recall The Pink Panther as among their favorite movies and Dr. Strangelove as pure genius.

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