Tune in Tuesday, November 16th at 7PM (PST) as KXLU Los Angeles proudly presents Center Stage with Mark Gordon featuring special guest Peter Miller (JEWS AND BASEBALL: AN AMERICAN LOVE STORY).
JEWS AND BASEBALL: AN AMERICAN LOVE STORY portrays the contributions of Jewish major leaguers and the special meaning that baseball has had in the lives of American Jews. More than a film about sports, this is a story of immigration, assimilation, bigotry, heroism, the passing on of traditions, and the shattering of stereotypes.
The story is brought to life through Dustin Hoffman's narration, and interviews with dozens of passionate and articulate fans, writers, executives, and especially players including Al Rosen, Kevin Youkilis, Shawn Green, Bob Feller, Yogi Berra, and a rare interview with the Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax. Fans including Ron Howard and Larry King connect the stories of baseball to their own lives, and to the turbulent history of the last century. Their stories are inter-cut with dramatic and never-before-seen film clips and photos of great Jewish players, unforgettable games, and the broad sweep of American history.
PETER MILLER, DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Peter Miller's previous films include A CLASS APART: A MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS STORY, PBS American Experience 2009; the critically acclaimed SACCO AND VANZETTI, released nationally in theaters in 2007; and THE INTERNATIONALE, shown on PBS and screened at over thirty film festivals. He has been a producer on numerous documentaries by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, including the epic PBS series THE WAR and JAZZ, as well as the Peabody Award-winning FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT. Peter has also been a producer on many other acclaimed documentaries, including THE UPRISING OF '34, PASSIN' IT ON (winner of twenty film festival prizes), and the Academy Award-winning AMERICAN DREAM.
Tune in Tuesday, November 9th at 7PM (PST) as KXLU Los Angeles proudly presents Center Stage with Mark Gordon featuring special guests Alex Gibney ( CLIENT 9: THE RISE AND FALL OF ELIOT SPITZER ), Andrei Konchalovsky (THE NUTCRACKER IN 3D ) and Doug Block (THE KIDS GROW UP).
You may think you know the story of Eliot Spitzer's downfall-after all, it was covered ad nauseum when the story broke. But everybody got it wrong. From the black socks to Ashley Dupre, Oscar®-winning documentarian Alex Gibney (TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE, who was also nominated for ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM) debunks the myths and gets to the heart of the story with candid and revealing interviews with Spitzer, his powerful enemies and a wild cast of characters from the Emperors Club.
With his newest film, Gibney tackles one of his favorite subjects, greed and power run amok, by exploring the rapid rise and dramatic fall of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. Nicknamed "The Sheriff of Wall Street," when he was New York's Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer prosecuted crimes by America's largest financial institutions and some of the most powerful executives in the country. After his election as Governor, with the largest margin in the state's history, many believed Spitzer was on his way to becoming the nation's first Jewish President.
Then, shockingly, Spitzer's meteoric rise turned into a precipitous fall when the New York Times revealed that Spitzer - the paragon of rectitude - had been caught seeing prostitutes. As his powerful enemies, particularly the guys on Wall Street, gleefully watched Mr. Clean being taken down, his supporters questioned the timing of it all: as the Sheriff fell, so did the financial markets, in a cataclysm that threatened to unravel the global economy.
With unique access to the escort world as well as friends, colleagues and enemies of the ex-Governor (many of whom have come forward for the first time), CLIENT 9: THE RISE AND FALL OF ELIOT SPITZER explores the hidden contours of this tale of hubris, sex, and power.
Magnolia Pictures will open CLIENT 9: THE RISE AND FALL OF ELIOT SPITZER November 5 in New York and November 12 in Los Angeles with a national roll out to follow.
From the imagination of acclaimed Russian director Andrei Konchalovsky, the cherished story of The Nutcracker will be brought to life in spectacular 3D this holiday season. THE NUTCRACKER IN 3D follows nine-year-old Mary (Elle Fanning) whose dull Viennese Christmas is suddenly filled with excitement and adventure following the arrival of her beloved Uncle Albert (Nathan Lane) and his gift of an enchanted nutcracker.
On Christmas night, Mary's new friend, The Nutcracker (Charlie Rowe) or "NC," comes to life and takes her on a wondrous journey into his magical world of fairies, sugarplums, and other Christmas toys which come to life. Mary soon realizes that this fantastical kingdom is facing danger from the tyrannical rule of the evil Rat King (John Turturro) and his devious mother (Frances de la Tour). When NC is taken hostage, Mary and her newfound toy friends must uncover the secret of the Rat King to rescue NC and his kingdom.
Based on the story that inspired acclaimed Russian composer Piotr Tchaikovsky to create the music for the iconic ballet, the film includes eight exciting new songs penned by Oscar-winning lyricist and librettist Sir Tim Rice (The Lion King, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar).
THE NUTCRACKER IN 3D will open in theatres November 24, 2010
Laemmle Theatres and Shadow Releasing are pleased to present THE KIDS GROW UP, a funny and deeply moving look at father-daughter relationships, modern-day parenting, marriage and a looming empty nest. Documentary filmmaker Doug Block (51 Birch Street) has captured much of his daughter Lucy's life - and their relationship - on camera. Now his only child is 17 and preparing to leave home for college. Lucy's imminent departure is the springboard for THE KIDS GROW UP.
"A profound, and utterly relatable, contemplation of.... parenthood, aging and youth's swift passing." (Anthony Kaufman, indieWIRE)
The exclusive Los Angeles engagement will begin on Friday, November 12th at the Sunset 5 in West Hollywood.
Tune in Tuesday, November 2nd at 7PM (PST) as KXLU Los Angeles proudly presents Center Stage with Mark Gordon featuring special guests Frederick Wiseman (BOXING GYM) Stephin Merritt (STRANGE POWERS: STEPHIN MERRITT AND THE MAGNETIC FIELDS), T Authur Cottam ( 52 TAKES OF THE SAME THING, THEN BOOBS).
Laemmle Theatres and Zipporah Films are pleased to present BOXING GYM, documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman's portrait of a boxing gym in Austin, Texas, dwelling on the discipline of training as people from all walks of life aspire to reach their personal best.
Lord's Gym was founded sixteen years ago by Richard Lord, a former professional boxer. A wide variety of people of all ages, races, ethnicities and social classes train at the gym: men, women, children, doctors, lawyers, judges, business men and women, immigrants, professional boxers and people who want to become professional boxers alongside amateurs who love the sport, in addition to teenagers who are trying to develop strength and assertiveness. The gym is a classic example of the American "melting pot," where people meet, talk, and train.
The exclusive Los Angeles engagements will begin on Friday, November 5th at the Sunset 5, Town Center 5 and Playhouse 7 and Saturday and Sunday, November 13th and 14th at the Claremont 5 and Monica 4-Plex.
Songwriter Stephin Merritt always seems to have a Chihuahua on his lap. Performing with the Magnetic Fields since 1991, he has composed some of his generation's most intellectually incisive, whimsical, witty and acerbic music (Merritt has been compared to Cole Porter for his sophisticated use of language). A dedicated, growing army of admirers flocks to the group's concerts and makes Merritt an odd sort of anti-celebrity, one who is happiest not being recognized, whiling away the hours in gay bars on either coast (his favorite place for writing music) or spending a good part of the day soaking up obscure movie classics.
Ten years in the making, the film follows the famously grumpy Merritt and explores his relationship with Claudia Gonson, his creative collaborator and the band's manager. It paints a portrait of an artist whose music brilliantly holds up a mirror to the fears, joys, and insecurities of his time.
RELEASE DATE: NYC (Film Forum)- Wednesday, October 27 / LA (Laemmle Sunset 5) -Friday, November 5.
