Guest Programmer: Vanya Garraway

Tune in to Hollywood Suite Tuesday, September 26 at 9pm ET for an evening of films curated by Revue Cinema programmer Vanya Garraway.

I’m excited to present to you a series of films that are strong representations of each decade. There is a quirkiness that could only have happened in those times and haven’t really been recaptured in the same way ever again. I’ve devoted two of the decades to Sports on Film and September Soundtracks, being highlighted on Hollywood Suite this month. I’m uniquely qualified to curate sport films, as I have a program at Revue Cinema here in Toronto called “Paid in Sweat,” which specializes in the sports genre, competition, and the celebration of sweat in cinema. The sports genre is rarely about the sport itself; what it’s most often about is love, and some of the best come from the 70s (not surprising, as Rocky set the stage for that concept). So, in an homage to love and sport (in particular boxing), I present:

“Paid in Sweat: Compete + Commit” – Three films with the sport of boxing as the backdrop, or just a distant memory coupled with a love theme. The Champ to start the night for families. A bit syrupy at times, but the sweetness is definitely worth the cavities. It’s caring and kind and the acting is top notch. That’s followed by Main Event, a silly and sexy farce reunion of the What’s Up Doc? duo Streisand and O’Neal. It’s fun and daring and stylish. Finally, On the Waterfront: pre-Rocky, but Brando’s Malloy is a very influential archetype for Stallone’s Balboa. Also, the love story with Edie is reminiscent of Adrian and Rocky. These characters are fighting to keep love in their lives, in and out of the ring, be it for a lover or family or both.

Pump up the volume on your televisions for “September Soundtracks.” The marrying of score and song, if done well, can be magic. The thoughtful curation of existing music that represents a story is a task that demands taste, and an understanding of storytelling through music. It’s the creation of a union of plot and character with notes. The 80s set a tone for what is possible when cinema meets the radio:

Soundtracks/Ensembles: These films not only have excellent soundtracks with incredible groups of musicians attached, but they are also films with ensembles that don’t have one standout lead. The stories lean on the ensemble to get the plot driven forward, and develop character on a deeper level., These soundtracks do a lot of heavy lifting, and can create a connection between characters quickly, like in The Breakfast Club how the voiceover of each character’s high school designation is forever wrapped up with Simple Minds’ “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”. In The Big Chill the characters mentally time travel to simpler times and dance as they cook together and listen to The Temptations “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” For the late-night crowd, kick back and watch Fast Times at Ridgemont High as The Cars’ “Moving in Stereo” plays during Brad’s fantasy of a pool-drenched Phobe Cates walking towards the camera in the most iconic red bikini in cinema history

In the 90s there was a visceral awareness of police corruption and gang violence in real life, and, as cinema often does, it mirrors real life. Though cruel and despicable, it was (as the wise TLC expressed it) crazy, sexy, cool times—and the crime dramas embodied that.

Cop Thrillers: Arrested & Offended – Coming near the end of the century we have Snake Eyes. De Palma takes all his artist signatures (including splashes of his main influence Hitchcock), plus his years of cop dramas in several iterations, throws in Nicolas Cage and a little mystery and deceit, and begs you to try and top him.

Next up: if the 90s is the epitome of cool, New Jack City is one of the reasons. We have another wink at September Soundtracks with a searing hip hop/R&B soundtrack; a young and powerful cast and director with Ice T and Mario Van Peebles, and the hottest actor of the time playing a character you love to hate: Wesley Snipes. Why turn down the heat when such delectable and devious things are coming out of the kitchen?

We continue to protect and serve with the buttoned-down-yet-hot Andy Garcia and the very naughty and unscrupulous Richard Gere in Internal Affairs. This lineup brings a kind of bad only the 90s can deliver.

The turn of the century was unpredictable and hard to define. In cinema directors seemed less cohesive and more individualistic. Each attempted to carve out what they believe the time needed. Unsure about what was to come with their industry, they took aim at the darkness with big swings. Language and opinion once reserved for film experts the likes of Siskel and Ebert were now being expressed with gusto, online, by the layman.

Aughties Vibes: Baby’s First Auteur – Suddenly every director who was loved enough by any individual was being referred to as an auteur. The newer guard of director leaned into their titles with all their weight and earned it quicker than some people who had been around for decades. With yet another British invasion, Edgar Wright showed that he didn’t need to have a period piece under his belt, or a cockney crime flick or a rom com, to define him. He would tell an urban Canadian story that defined a generation of gamers with Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. He shows that he was ahead of the nerd culture takeover with his stylistic and high-energy adaptation of a graphic novel. If risk was an identity marker of the art form at this time, Sofia Coppola was the woman to define it with her hyper-opulent modern-twisted Marie Antoinette. She carved out her legacy with decadence, and a fervour that marked her as master. Symmetrical storyteller Wes Anderson added a layer of grief (something he always had, but this time more pointedly as the plot surrounds a passing)) in The Darjeeling Limited, plus a sexiness and sleaze that gives a little grit to his filmography. This trio of directors with these works showed promise for their longevity we are enjoying today.

Ps. There is a Coppola easter egg that you can follow between channels if you’re a flipper. Hope you enjoy the evening!

VANYA’S PICKS

Click on titles below for more info and additional playtimes

Hollywood Suite 70s Movies

The Champ (1979)
Sep 26 at 9pm ET
Available on demand in September

Main Event (1979)
Sep 26 at 11:05pm ET
Available on demand in September

On the Waterfront (1954)
Sep 27 at 1am ET
Available on demand in September

Hollywood Suite 80s Movies

The Breakfast Club (1985)
Sep 26 at 9pm ET
Available on demand in September

The Big Chill (1983)
Sep 26 at 10:40pm ET
Available on demand in September

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Sep 27 at 12:30am ET

Hollywood Suite 90s Movies

Snake Eyes (1998)
Sep 26 at 9pm ET

New Jack City (1991)
Sep 26 at 10:40pm ET
Available on demand in September

Internal Affairs (1990)
Sep 27 at 12:25am ET

Hollywood Suite 2000s Movies

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)
Sep 26 at 9pm ET
Available on demand in September

Marie Antoinette (2006)
Sep 26 at 10:55pm ET
Available on demand in September

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
Sep 27 at 1am ET