The Pitch (Dec. 3 – 10)

December 1, 2015
Alex Magnin
Events, Pitch

The wonderful wizard of Rogen. Seth x 2 this week at The Civic.

Vancouver-born Seth Aaron Rogen plays Steve Wozniak, the wonderful Wizard of Woz, in Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs (rated PG). 84% on the Tomatometre, this version of Job’s biography, penned by Aaron Sorkin (writer of Social Network) will certainly be a palate cleanser after the Ashton Kutcher stinker last year. Steve Jobs (Michael Fassbender) takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution, to paint a portrait of the man at its epicenter. The story unfolds backstage at three iconic product launches, ending in 1998 with the unveiling of the iMac.

Seth Aaron Rogen also plays Issac, who, along with childhood friends, Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) has enjoyed a decade of an annual Christmas Eve night of debauchery and hilarity. Now that they’re entering adulthood, the tradition is coming to an end, and to make it as memorable as possible, they set out to find the Nutcracka Ball – the Holy Grail of Christmas parties. The Night Before (rated 14A), splits over the weekend and Tuesday with Steve Jobs.

Could you imagine Seth Rogen as Jack Torrence? (“Here’s Johnny!”) Nah, me neither. So this is where we step off the Seth train to bring you the perfect Member Monday pairing for the deep freeze we’re in. Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, more than any other of his films, has inspired countless efforts to find the meaning behind the film, even though (or perhaps especially because) Kubrick was reluctant to discuss possible interpretations of his films. He was insistent that the viewer be left to make up his or her own mind. (Just watch the documentary Room 237 for a dip into the mystery behind this film.) If you have never seen it before, I demand you don’t miss this opportunity to see it for the first time on the big screen; I’ll be very jealous of your experience.

Not satisfied with only one cult classic? Well then you are in luck. Kootenay Coop Radio brings Nigel Tufnil and the boys from Spinal Tap to perform on the Civic Screen, Wednesday, Dec. 9. Come dance with the little people of Stonehenge and support community radio.

Thursday fans, get your butts out to Truth (rated PG) on Dec. 10th. Be sure you get a last stab at a great Thursday film before the Force takes over The Civic until mid-January. The film recounts the story of The Killian Documents controversy (a.k.a. “Rathergate”) in the days leading up to the 2004 presidential election. When veteran newscaster Dan Rather (Robert Redford) and CBS News head Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett) choose to air a segment on 60 Minutes exposing how President Bush avoided being drafted to Vietnam through his father’s political advantages. The resulting fallout ultimately costs them their jobs and reputations.

Coming next: Creed hopefully on the split with Spotlight, and Royal Ballet – Viscera / Afternoon of a Faun / Tchaikovsky Pas de deux / Carmen.

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