Hippodrome Theatre

Mindgame

2009-10-15T11:28:00.005-04:00

This brilliantly inventive and heart-stoppingly scary thriller is just in time for Halloween.
Mark Styler, a prominent "true crime" novelist enters a secluded mental institution to interview a serial killer. If he could just get past the strange behavior and reluctance of Dr. Farquhar, head of the asylum, he'd be off and running to the next leap in his career.
Soon, nothing can be trusted. Through a series of lies, manipulations and memories, dark secrets are revealed and questions keep surfacing.

Giveaway! Win a Trailer Park Pippi Package!

2009-06-04T09:01:00.007-04:00

ETA: Thanks for all your entries! The contest is now closed!

To celebrate the return of The Great American Trailer Park Musical to The Hippodrome Theatre, we're giving away some great prizes.

In Trailer Park, the mobile home community Armadillo Acres gets its status quo bumped out of shape when Pippi, a stripper on the run, comes between a housewife and her tollbooth collector husband. We're giving you a chance to learn to bump and grind it, too, with a Pippi Prize Pack!

The Pippi Prize Pack includes two tickets to The Great American Trailer Park Musical and two Pole Dancing Lessons from French Addiction Lingerie. This prize pack has a retail value of $100! Guys, you can enter, too... this would make an amazing gift for your wife or girlfriend.

Here's what you need to do: Leave a comment on this blog post. You could tell us what your stripper name would be or why you think you should win the Pippi Prize Pack. Or what show you're most excited about in our 09-10 Season! Winners will be picked next Tuesday! And don't forget to make sure we have a way of contacting you if you're a winner!

The fine print: Contest is open to ages 18 and up. There are no geographic restrictions, but winners are responsible for their own travel. Winners will be picked by a random number generator. There are three prizes available in this giveaway.

Announcing our 2009 - 2010 Season!

2009-05-29T10:15:00.002-04:00

After spending months reading through almost 100 plays, the team of Mary Hausch (Producing Director), Lauren Caldwell (Artistic Director) and Tammy Dygert (Dramaturg) have selected a season that is sure to delight. In the next few weeks, we'll bring you a spotlight on each of these wonderful plays with a personal message from the people that chose them, but for now, here's a taste of what's coming starting this Fall!

Up
by Bridget Carpenter
Since Walter Griffin tied a bunch of weather balloons to a Sears lawn chair and shot 16,000 feet into the sky, life hasn’t been the same. Up is a quirky, bittersweet dramatic comedy about escaping the boundaries of the everyday and dreaming ourselves into a future.
“The incredible and beautiful conclusion leaves the audience thinking, philosophizing and talking all the way home.” - Grants Pass Daily Courier
Sept 4-27; Discount previews Sept 2 & 3

Mindgame
by Anthony Horowitz
This brilliantly inventive and heart-stoppingly scary thriller is just in time for Halloween. A prominent "true crime" novelist enters a secluded mental institution to interview a serial killer.
Mindgame is a riveting hit in London's West End.
"A truly gripping thriller [that] keeps you guessing and marveling from its deceptively normal opening to its fearful climax." - The Stage
Oct 16-Nov 8; Discount previews Oct 14 & 15

A Tuna Christmas *RETURNING FAVORITE*
by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard
Texas-sized laughs light up your holiday season!
November 27-December 20

A Christmas Carol *RETURNING FAVORITE*
adapted by Mary Hausch from the story by Charles Dickens
Share this holiday classic with your entire family.
November 28-December 20

Dead Man's Cell Phone
by Sarah Ruhl
The guy at the next table has croaked and his cell phone won’t stop ringing. Jean answers the call dialing her deeply into the dead man’s mysterious life. Sarah Ruhl (the playwright of last season's beautiful Eurydice) creates a quirky odyssey of coming alive.
"Satire is her oxygen. . . . In her new oddball comedy, Dead Man's Cell Phone, Sarah Ruhl is forever vital in her lyrical and biting takes on how we behave." - The Washington Post
January 8-31; Discount previews 6 & 7

Defiance
by John Patrick Shanley
It’s 1971 and North Carolina's Camp Lejeune is rife with racial unease. Two officers, one black and one white, are on a collision course over race, women and the high cost of doing the right thing.
"Spellbinding. I wouldn't have thought it possible, but John Patrick Shanley has followed up Doubt, the best play of 2004–05, with a play of identical quality." —Wall Street Journal
Feb 26-March 21; Discount previews Feb 24 & 25

Around the World in 80 Days
Adapted by Mark Brown from the novel by Jules Verne
Stampeding elephants! Raging typhoons! Runaway trains! Hold onto your seats for the original amazing race as fearless adventurer Phileas Fogg and his faithful servant race to beat the clock! Danger, romance, and comic surprises abound as five actors portraying 39 characters traverse seven continents in this new adaptation of one of the great adventures of all time.
April 16-May 9; Discount previews April 14 & 15

Summer 2010
Shear Madness
The uproarious whodunit where the audience gets to solve the crime.
or Boeing Boeing
A high-flying, first-class Broadway comedy.
or a toe-tapping new musical!

Season Subscriptions are available now through our Box Office: 352-375-HIPP! Remember to check back for in-depth looks at each of these exciting plays and let us know what you think in the comments!

Trailer Park is a-Brewin'

2009-05-18T14:57:00.001-04:00

"The Great American Trailer Park Musical" is returning to the Hippodrome Theatre this summer and from the sound of this cast, this is a show that you cannot miss. Rehearsals have been going on all weekend and the cast has a well deserved day off today. For a special behind-the-scenes treat, we're going to give you a glimpse at a typical first day of rehearsals here at The Hipp.

The first day of rehearsals will typically begin with a Meet and Greet. The cast, crew and staff are invited to eat and socialize. It's a great chance to see old friends and meet the newcomers to our theatre.

The Hippodrome Theatre is a professional theatre and hires both union and non-union actors. The union for theatrical actors and stage managers is called Actor's Equity Association, or Equity for short. Following the Meet and Greet, the Equity actors in this production gathered together to hold a required meeting. I can't really give you too much of an insight there, but enjoy these pictures of the rest of the cast, crew and staff hanging out and waiting.

The Equity Meeting over with, everyone reconvenes back in the Rehearsal Room to watch the cast read through the script. The actors have been sent scripts (and scores, in the case of a musical) in advance and all are familiar with the dialogue and music. Some actors will have their lines memorized before rehearsals begin. After introductions of the cast, crew and staff, we jump right into it.

Lin, Betty and Pickles sing the opening number (Jorgia McAfee, Kim Mead and Rachel Lomax)

Two of our three returning cast members: Kelly Atkins as Pippi and Mark Chambers as Norbert

Our third returning cast member, Catherine Fries Vaughn as Jeannie.

Newcomer Tim Norton as Duke.

The cast of "The Great American Trailer Park Musical"

After the read through, the cast went straight into rehearsing the opening number. Cast members who weren't in that got their measurements taken and headed home early. They'll be doing plenty of work in the weeks to come.

"The Great American Trailer Park Musical" opens June 5th with Previews on June 3rd and 4th and will be running all summer at The Hipp. For tickets and more information, call our Box Office at 352-374-HIPP or visit our website at thehipp.org

Carson-Gets Awards Presentations Tonight!

2009-05-06T11:44:00.003-04:00

The Hippodrome Theatre's annual presentation of the Carson-Gets Award takes place tonight before the 7pm performance of Shipwrekced!. Below is a special message from Kara Winslow, Theatre Specialist in our Education department.

Back in 1998 when I was a sophomore in high school I had the honor of receiving the Carson-Gets Award for my high school. I was so excited. Being recognized for my work in theatre was amazing and getting tickets to the next season at the Hippodrome was even more exciting. I got to come to every show and bring a friend with me. I felt so important. A couple years later my passion for theatre was still going strong and I went off to college to get my degree in theatre. It’s been over 10 years since I won the award and now it’s my honor to be the one to present it to a new group of high school students who have shown a passion for the theatre arts. This year the recipients will be honored before the performance of Shipwrecked on May 6th, 2009. They will have the chance to stand on the stage of the Hippodrome and be recognized for their hard work and dedication to the theatre arts in front of a Hippodrome audience. Each winner will receive a plaque, 2 flex tickets to next season at the Hippodrome and a copy of Uta Hagen’s Respect for Acting.

This years winners are: Samantha Fundenburg from Buchholz High School, Graham Zinger from Eastside High School, Caitlin Hunter from Gainesville High School, Tashala Carey from Loften High School, Kaylee Parsons from Newberry High School, Connor Harrison from Oak Hall School, Elizabeth Johansson from PK Yonge, and Daniela Castro from St. Francis Catholic High School. Each recipient was nominated by their drama teacher because of their commitment to the theatre arts.

The Carson-Gets award was named after two local actors that have gone on to have successful careers in the entertainment industry. Lisa Nicole Carson, who grew up in Gainesville, performed at the Hippodrome in the HITT (Hippodrome Improvisational Teen Theatre) program, as well as in the main stage production of Little Shop of Horrors. She later went on to appear in the 1990’s hit television shows ER and Ally McBeal. Her film career included movies such as Love Jones and Jason’s Lyric. Malcolm Gets also grew up in Gainesville and starred in Little Shop of Horrors, Amadeus, Cloud Nine, and As Is at the Hippodrome. He went on to be on the 1990’s television series Caroline in the City and As the World Turns. He also appeared in several Broadway and off-Broadway shows, including Amour, in which he was nominated for a Tony Award. He also worked on several films including Adam and Steve and 13 Conversations about One Thing. He most recently appeared in the Sex in the City movie.

The Class @ The Hipp Cinema Apr 24-30

2009-04-23T20:00:00.001-04:00

The Class (Entre les murs)

April 24th - April 30th

Oscar Nomination: Best Foreign Language Film of the Year, Academy Awards, USA
Golden Palm, Cannes Film Festival
Best Foreign Film, Independent Spirit Awards

100% Top Critics rating! — Rottentomatoes.com
a
"This unassuming movie will nail you to your seat." — Slate

"The movie is bursting with life, energy, fears, frustrations and the quick laughter of a classroom hungry for relief." — Roger Ebert

"I would be surprised if this brilliant and touching film didn't become required viewing for teachers all over the United States. Everyone else should see it as well--it's a wonderful movie." — The New Yorker

Based on an autobiographical novel by Francois Begaudeau, a drama that follows the year in the life of a French schoolteacher working at a high-school in a tough neighborhood of Paris. Ethnicities, cultures and attitudes often clash in the classroom. As amusing and inspiring as the teenage students can be, their difficult behavior can still jeopardize any teacher's enthusiasm for the low-paying job. Francois insists on an atmosphere of respect and diligence. Neither stuffy nor severe, his extravagant frankness often takes the students by surprise. But his classroom ethics are put to the test when his students begin to challenge his methods. 2008/ 129mins/ French/ PG13/ subt.
[Watch the trailer]

More Info | Review

Showtimes

Fri (4/24):
6:00 & 8:30pm

Sat (4/25):
4:00, 6:30 & 9:00pm

Sun (4/26):
2:15, 4:45 & 7:15pm

Wed (4/29):
4:30 & 7:00pm

Thu (4/30):
6:00 & 8:30pm

Che: Part 1 @ The Hipp Cinema Apr 17-23

2009-04-16T20:00:00.000-04:00

Che

April 17th - April 23rd

Best Actor, Cannes Film Festival

"A SPECTACULAR ACHIEVEMENT. The best executed and most intriguing work of Steven Soderbergh's career. Benicio Del Toro provides a marvelous physical and emotional performance." — SALON

"A WORK OF GRAND AMBITION. AN EXPERIENCE YOU WON'T FORGET. Benicio Del Toro gives a magnificent performance." — Rolling Stone

Special - Pizza and a Movie. Come see this film after work on Friday, April 17th or Thursday, April 23rd and get a slice of Big Lou's Pizza for only $1.

First come, first served so arrive at 5:30!

Oscar-winner Steven Soderbergh delivers this ambitious and sprawling biopic of one of the 20th century's most influential political figures. In the THE ARGENTINE, we meet Ernesto "Che" Guevara (Benicio Del Toro), a young Argentinean doctor who teams up with Fidel Castro on a dangerous mission: to overthrow the corrupt Cuban dictatorship run by Fulgencio Batista. Che's commitment to the cause impresses everyone around him, and soon he is one of the leaders of this burgeoning guerrilla movement. Against all odds, Castro, Che, and their undermanned forces charge forward, conquering Batista's forces on their way to an expected showdown with the man himself. Soderbergh films this first segment--a battle that everyone knows Che is going to win--with beautiful widescreen photography, like a Hollywood epic from yesteryear. Composer Alberto Iglesias accompanies this imagery with a sweeping orchestral score. Soderbergh intercuts the primary story of the revolution with Che's 1964 appearance at the United Nations in New York City, recreating that event in documentary-like black-and-white. However, as impressive as these technical attributes are, it is Del Toro who steals the show. He inhabits Che in a way that feels like he isn't just acting. THE ARGENTINE is an inspiring tale of a man whose fierce determination and unflinching spirit turned him into a hero to disadvantaged people throughout the world. 2009/ 134mins/ Spanish|English/ NR(UK:15)/ subt
[Watch the trailer]

More Info | Review

Showtimes

Fri (4/17):
6:00 & 8:30pm

Sat (4/18):
4:00, 6:30 & 9:00pm

Sun (4/19):
2:15, 4:45 & 7:15pm

Wed (4/22):
4:30 & 7:00pm

Thu (4/23):
6:00 & 8:30pm

Hippodrome Theatre Video Podcast

2009-04-16T10:35:00.000-04:00

The Hippodrome Theatre Podcast is back with our first Video Podcast. In this update, check out what the Hippodrome's Spring Break-a-Leg campers thought of their exclusive sneak peek at Shipwrecked! running though May 10th!

The Secrets of the Grain @ The Hipp Cinema Apr 10-16

2009-04-09T20:00:00.000-04:00

The Secret of the Grain
(La Graine et le mulet)

April 10th - April 16th

Best Director, Best Film, Best Writing - Original, Most Promising Actress, César Awards, France
FIPRESCI Prize, European Film Awards
Best Foreign Film, French Syndicate of Cinema Critics
Best Director, Most Promising Young Actress, Lumiere Awards, France
Special Jury Prize, Venice Film Festival

"An entire family chronicle, along with four decades of French social and economic history, is recapitulated as a lavish, hectic dinner, complete with music and belly dancing. It will leave you stunned and sated, having savored an intimate and sumptuous epic of elation and defeat, jealousy and tenderness, life and death, grain and fish." — NY Times

"The Secret of the Grain never slows, always engages, may continue too long, but ends too soon. It is made of life itself." — Roger Ebert

"The title embraces the richness of Kechiche's beautiful film, which captures the rhythms of displacement and hardship, the bond of family meals, and even the daily routines of the magnificent women who are part of Slimane's life." — Entertainment Weekly

Special - Pizza and a Movie. Come see this film after work on Friday, April 10th or Thursday, April 16th and get a slice of Big Lou's Pizza for only $1.

First come, first served so arrive at 5:30!

The Secret of the Grain is a touching and resoundingly humanistic story set in the rustic port of Sete in southeastern France. Slimane has worked in the same shipyard job for over 35 years, when his growing dissatisfaction prompts him to try to open his own restaurant. His dream seems unbelievable, but his contagious conviction and persistence work their way into the hearts of his loyal but dispersed family; the four children from his first marriage, his ex-wife, current girlfriend and her bright, outspoken daughter, Rym (played to great acclaim by the stunning newcomer Hafsia Herzi). A grand film about ordinary people, The Secret of the Grain is a deliciously slow-burning drama about fate, food and family. 2008/ 151mins/ French/ NR/ subt
[Watch the trailer]

More Info | Review

Showtimes

Fri (4/10):
6:00 & 8:45pm

Sat (4/11):
3:00, 5:45 & 8:30pm

Sun (4/12):
2:15, 5:00 & 7:45pm

Wed (4/15):
4:30 & 7:15pm

Thu (4/16):
6:00 & 8:4

Wendy and Lucy @ The Hipp Cinema Apr 3-9

2009-04-03T20:00:00.000-04:00

Wendy and Lucy

April 3rd - April 9th

Best Performance, Female, Best Picture, Toronto Film Critics Association Awards
Best Actress, Online Film Critics Society Awards
Russell Smith Award, Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards

"Wendy and Lucy is modest, minimalist. But it nonetheless reverberates like a sonic boom." — Philadelphia Inquirer

"What will happen to her? The strength of this short, simple, perfect story of a young woman and her dog is that this does not seem, by the end, to be an idle or trivial question. What happens to Wendy -- and to Lucy -- matters a lot, which is to say that Wendy and Lucy, for all its modesty, matters a lot too." — NY Times

"An evocative film with a believable and subtly enthralling lead performance that gets deeply under your skin." — USA Today

Wendy Carroll is driving to Ketchikan, Alaska, in hopes of a summer of lucrative work at the Northwestern Fish cannery, and the start of a new life with her dog, Lucy. When her car breaks down in Oregon, however, the thin fabric of her financial situation comes apart, and she confronts a series of increasingly dire economic decisions, with far-ranging repercussions for herself and Lucy. Wendy and Lucy addresses issues of sympathy and generosity at the edges of American life, revealing the limits and depths of people's duty to each other in tough times. 2008/ 80mins/ USA/ R
[Watch the trailer]

More Info | Review

Showtimes

Fri (4/3):
7:00 & 8:45pm

Sat (4/4):
4:30, 7:00 & 8:45pm

Sun (4/5):
2:30, 4:30 & 7:00pm

Wed (4/8):
4:30, 7:00 & 8:45pm

Thu (4/9):
7:00 & 8:45pm

Dalai Lama Renaissance @ The Hipp Cinema Mar 27-Apr 2

2009-03-26T20:00:00.001-04:00

Dalai Lama Renaissance

March 27th - April 2nd

Best Documentary, Peace Award, Monaco International Film Festival
Gold Remi Award, Houston International Film Festival
Audience Award, Best Documentary, Big Bear International Film Festival
People's Choice Award, Frozen River Film Festival
Grand Jury Special Prize, Barbados International Film Festival
Audience Award, Sedona International Film Festival
Best Documentary, Moondance International Film Festival
Best Feature, Canada International Film Festival
Special Prize, Trento Film Festival, Italy
Koshino Miyako Award, Global Peace Festival, Japan

The film is the latest work by Darvich and has shown in over 40 cities world-wide and has won 12 film festival awards where it has consistently has attracted sold-out audiences. Darvich had only 8 weeks to assemble a crew and raise the $1 million dollar budget after being invited to film a 10-day event where over 40 of the West's most innovative thinkers were invited to meet with the Dali Lama of Tibet at his personal residence in the Indian Himalayas to discuss the world's problems and how we can solve them. The conference included some of the most intellectual, spiritual and noted people on Earth, including Quantum Physicists Fred Alan Wolf and Amit Goswami (both featured in the film What the Bleep), Dr. Michael Beckwith (from the film, The Secret), and social scientist Jean Houston to name a few. The film showcases spectacular settings and features exotic dance, music and ceremony. Actor Harrision Ford narrated the film, one of only a handful of films that Ford has narrated during his career. 2008/ 81mins/ Tibet/ NR/ This film is NOT subtitled.
[Watch the trailer]

More Info | Review

Showtimes

Fri (3/27):
7:00 & 8:45pm

Sat (3/28):
2:45, 4:30, 7:00 & 8:45pm

Sun (3/29):
2:30, 4:30 & 7:00pm

Wed (4/1):
4:30, 7:00 & 8:45pm

Thu (4/2):
7:00 & 8:45pm

Waltz with Bashir @ The Hipp Cinema Mar 20-26

2009-03-19T20:00:00.001-04:00

Waltz With Bashir
(Vals Im Bashir)

March 20th - March 26th

Best Foreign Language Film, Golden Globe
Best Foreign Language Film, Oscar Nomination:
Audience Award, Warsaw International Film Festival
Best Director - Grand Jury Prize, Tokyo Experimental Film Festival
Special Jury Prize, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
Golden Tower, Palic Film Festival
Best Animation, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Best Film, Israel Awards
Best Art Direction, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Sound, Awards of the Israeli Film Academy
Best Art Direction, Special Prize of the Young Jury, Gijón International Film Festival
Best Composer, European Film Awards
Best Foreign Language Film, Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
British Independent Film Award, British Independent Film Awards
Best Documentary Screenplay, Writers Guild of America, USA

"The best movie of 2008? The most revealing war film ever made? The greatest animated feature to come out of Israel? All these descriptions could apply to Waltz With Bashir." — SF Chronicle

"A powerhouse film... brought to vital, plausible life in a combination of flash, classic and 3-D animation." — NY IMES

"Waltz With Bashir plays out as one of the most profoundly explosive animated documentaries I have ever seen, and is clearly one of the best pictures of the year." — NY Observer

"An extraordinary achievement, Ari Folman's Waltz With Bashir is a detective story as well as an moral inquiry into the specific horrors of one war, and one man's buried memories of that war." — Chicago Tribune

One night at a bar, an old friend tells director Ari about a recurring nightmare in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs. Every night, the same number of beasts. The two men conclude that there’s a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War of the early eighties. Ari is surprised that he can’t remember a thing anymore about that period of his life. Intrigued by this riddle, he decides to meet and interview old friends and comrades around the world. He needs to discover the truth about that time and about himself. As Ari delves deeper and deeper into the mystery, his memory begins to creep up in surreal images. 2008/ 90mins/ Hebrew|German|English/ R/ subt.
[Watch the trailer]

More Info | Review

Showtimes

Fri (3/20):
7:00 & 8:45pm

Sat (3/21):
4:30, 7:00 & 8:45pm

Sun (3/22):
2:30, 4:30 & 7:00pm

Wed (3/25):
4:30, 7:00 & 8:45pm

Thu (3/26):
7:00 & 8:45pm

Waltz With Bashir
(Vals Im Bashir)

Coming In 3 Weeks

More Info | Review

Showtimes

Fri (3/20):
7:00 & 8:45pm

Sat (3/21):
4:30, 7:00 & 8:45pm

Sun (3/22):
2:30, 4:30 & 7:00pm

Wed (3/25):
4:30, 7:00 & 8:45pm

Thu (3/26):
7:00 & 8:45pm

Black Balloon @The Hipp Cinema Mar 13-19

2009-03-12T20:00:00.000-04:00

The Black Balloon

March 13th - March 19th

Best Film, Best Direction, Best Editing, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Australian Film Institute
Feature Film - Original, Australian Writers' Guild
Generation 14plus - Best Feature Film, Berlin International Film Festival
Distinguished Achievement Award - Female Feature Director, Hamptons International Film Festival
Box Office Achievement, IF Awards
Best Original Song, Best Soundtrack Album, Screen Music Awards, Australia

100% Top Critics rating! — Rottentomatoes.com

"This unblinking family drama packs a visceral punch. Thomas' journey toward acceptance is blessedly free of noble lessons and filled with real people." — LA Times

"Ms. Collette’s Maggie is the film's prime mover. This wonderful Australian actress, who hasn't a shred of vanity, virtually disappears into the complicated characters she plays, and Maggie is one of the strongest." — NY Times

"Young love triumphs in a terrific Australian indie that deals with autism in an authentic, unsentimental way." — Hollywood Reporter

It’s not easy being Thomas. He’s turning sixteen; and moving into a new house, and school. His older brother Charlie announces their arrival to the neighbours by banging a wooden spoon and wailing on the front lawn. Charlie doesn’t speak. He’s autistic and has ADD. He’s also unpredictable, sometimes unmanageable, and often disgusting. Thomas hates his brother but wishes he didn’t. All he wants to do is to fit in, but when his pregnant mother (Toni Collette) has to take things easy, he is put in charge of his autistic older brother, Charlie. Thomas, with the help of his new girlfriend, Jackie, then faces his biggest challenge yet. Charlie's unusual antics take Thomas on an emotional journey that causes pent-up frustrations towards his brother to pour out. 97 min/ 2008-Australia-UK/ PG13
[Watch the trailer]

More Info | Review

Showtimes

Fri (3/13):
6:30 & 8:30pm

Sat (3/14):
4:30, 6:30 & 8:30pm

Sun (3/15):
2:30, 4:30 & 7:00pm

Wed (3/18):
4:30, 6:30 & 8:30pm

Thu (3/19):
6:30 & 8:30pm

Milk @ The Hipp Cinema March 6-12

2009-03-05T20:00:00.001-05:00

Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Oscar
Best Original Screenplay, Writers Guild of America, USA
Best Actor, Best Picture, Best Screenplay (Original), Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, Screen Actors Guild Awards
Best Actor, Best Director, Best Picture, Best Screenplay (Original), San Francisco Film Critics Circle
Best Actor, Palm Springs International Film Festival
Stanley Kramer Award, PGA Awards
Best Actor, Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Supporting Actor, National Board of Review, USA
Best Actor, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Best Actor, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Boston Society of Film Critics Awards
Best Acting Ensemble, Best Actor, Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
Golden Globe Nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama, Golden Globes, USA

"Once in a while, a movie arrives at such a perfect moment, its message and meaning so finely tuned to the current zeitgeist, that it seems less a cinematic event than a cosmic convergence, willed into being by a once-in-a-lifetime alignment of the stars." — Washington Post

"It's a total triumph, brimming with humor, heart, sexual heat, political provocation and a crying need to stir things up, just like Harvey did. If there's a better movie around this year, with more bristling purpose, I sure as hell haven't seen it." — Rolling Stone

Starring Sean Penn, James Franco, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, Victor Garber, and Denis O'Hare, Stephen Spinella. In 1977, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay man to be voted into major public office in America. His victory was not just a victory for gay rights; he forged coalitions across the political spectrum. From senior citizens to union workers, Harvey Milk changed the very nature of what it means to be a fighter for human rights and became, before his untimely death in 1978, a hero for all Americans. 128 min/ 2008/ R
[Watch the trailer]

Showtimes

Fri (3/6):
6:00 & 8:30pm

Sat (3/7):
3:00, 5:30 & 8:00pm

Sun (3/8):
2:15, 4:45 & 7:15pm

Wed (3/11):
4:30 & 7:00pm

Thu (3/12):
6:00 & 8:30pm

More Info | Review

If you ran the NEA...

2009-03-02T12:19:00.002-05:00

Last week, the LA Times ran an article called "If I ran the NEA..." and invited 30 notable people, from actors and directors to writers and senators to share what they would do and change if they ran the NEA.

Some of the most thought-provoking selections:
Tom Hayden, author and former state senator: "With the Congress including $50 million for the arts in the economic stimulus package, the overall annual budget for the NEA will be just short of $200 million for the coming year. By comparison, we spend more on the Iraq War every day, or $341.4 million, according to the website costofwar.com. This is the real obscenity that goes uncensored. Yet funding for the arts is more controversial than funding for war. For decades, arts subsidies have been targeted as frivolous waste by many of the same conservative Republicans willing to budget trillions for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."
John Patrick Shanley, writer-director: "If I ran the NEA, I would commission writers, musicians, photographers and painters to fan out across grass-roots America to answer two questions:
1. What does our country look like?
2. What do we want our country to look like?"
Joel Wachs, President, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts: "Integrate the arts into every department and agency. There isn't a government program or project that couldn't be enhanced by a cultural component."
Debbie Allen, dancer-choreographer: "Civilizations are remembered for their War and Art. We need to balance the footprint we are leaving behind."
Bill Maher, host of "Real Time with Bill Maher:" "The NEA is a perfect example of Mission Creep: The government's job is to protect you, from external enemies and internal criminals, and to maintain roads, schools, and a social safety net. Art is far afield, and in no danger of going away without government money or guidance."
Harvey Weinstein, Co-Founder of Miramax Films and Co-Chairman of The Weinstein Company: "Start a mandatory mentoring initiative for the members. This would be an amazing way to give back to local communities, if they had a member of one of the academies speak at their schools, teach a seminar and be available to be hands on with aspiring artists."
Rachel Maddow, host of "The Rachel Maddow Show:" "I'd double down on this part of the NEA's mission: "to bring the arts to all Americans." If our artists are going to be badasses, we need to tap all our potential pools of artistic talent, we need to cultivate a national expectation of artistic literacy, and artists need jobs doing and teaching art."

Now we turn the question to you... what would YOU do if you ran the NEA?

Let The Right One In @ The Hipp Cinema Feb 27 - Mar 5

2009-02-26T19:00:00.000-05:00

Let the Right One In (aka Låt den rätte komma in)

February 27th - March 5th

Grand Prize of European Fantasy Film in Gold, Catalonian International Film Festival
Audience Award, Woodstock Film Festival
Audience Award, Toronto After Dark Film Festival
Rotten Tomatoes Critical Consensus Award, Edinburgh International Film Festival

"In the basest of terms, a horror flick. But it's also a spectacularly moving and elegant movie, and to dismiss it into genre-hood, to mentally stuff it into the horror pigeonhole, is to overlook a remarkable film." — Washington Post

"The best fairy tales always have so much darkness in them. That's why they resonate so deeply. This is a magnificent film." — Film Threat

"The most violent scene is dreamlike, and more direct killings are often seen at an angle or from a distance. The camera placement is thoughtful and effective, never titillating." — Charlotte Observer

Though LET THE RIGHT ONE IN is ostensibly about a pair of children, this is a horror film for adults. There are plenty of scares, but it remains moving and intelligent, a rare feat for the genre. A well-crafted horror film in the tradition of Guillermo del Toro's THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE, Swedish import LET THE RIGHT ONE IN ably blends genre chills with genuine feeling. Oskar is a 12-year-old outcast who is frequently picked on by his classmates. He dreams of getting his revenge, but he never stands up to the boys. With the arrival of his new next-door neighbor, 12-year-old Eli, Oskar may finally have found a friend, ally, and first love. But Eli is no ordinary girl: she must keep her pale skin out of the sunlight, she can perform inhuman physical feats, and she has thirst for blood. 2008/ 114mins/ Swedish/ R
[Watch the trailer]

Showtimes

Fri (2/27):
7:00, 9:15 & 11:30pm

Sat (2/28):
4:30, 7:00, 9:15 & 11:30pm

Sun (3/1):
2:15, 4:30, 7:00 & 9:15pm

Tue (3/3):
7:00 & 9:15pm

Wed (3/4):
4:30, 7:00 & 9:15pm

Thu (3/5):
7:00 & 9:15pm

The Pope's Toilet @ The Hipp Cinema Feb 13 - 19

2009-02-12T19:00:00.000-05:00

The Pope's Toilet
(aka Baño del Papa, El)

February 13th - February 19th

International Jury Award, São Paulo International Film Festival
Award, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, Critics Prize, Gramado Film Festival

"It’s charming in a proper way, entirely avoiding sentiment and can be counted one of the best films in town." — This is London

"Overall an emotionally rich and tender film, beautifully played, with heart and head in massive abundance." — Time Out

Pope's Toilet is the most prominent Uruguayan film since 2004's Whisky. A moving story that blends the sacred and profane. It’s 1988, and papal fever has gripped the Uruguayan border town of Melo. Speculation is rife that over fifty thousand Brazilians will cross into Melo for John Paul II’s highly anticipated visit. The inhabitants of this impoverished small community believe that his visit will spell both their spiritual and material salvation, as the faithful will be sure to buy all the chorizo sausages and cakes that the townspeople can produce. Beto has another idea. Rather than hawk food and drink, he will build a public washroom so that all those full stomachs can have a place to relieve themselves. Unfortunately, this scheme requires money. His scheme takes flight with help from his friend and neighbour Valvulina – but not without Beto making a deal with patrol officer Meleyo, who has historically thwarted Beto and his friends’ efforts to smuggle goods from Brazil into Uruguay. 2008/ 90mins/ Spanish/ NR
[Watch the trailer]

Showtimes

Fri (2/13):
7:00 & 8:45pm

Sat (2/14):
4:30, 7:00 & 8:45pm

Sun (2/15):
2:30, 4:30, 7:00 & 12:30pm

Wed (2/18):
4:30, 7:00 & 8:45pm

Thu (2/19):
7:00 & 8:45pm

The Secrets @ The Hipp Cinema Feb 6 - 12

2009-02-05T19:00:00.000-05:00

The Secrets
(aka Sodot, Ha-)

February 6th - February 12th

Nominated for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Awards of the Israeli Film Academy
Best Feature, Best Screenwriter, Jackson Hole Film Festival

"3 1/2 stars. A complex gem." — Box Office Magazine

"One of the most remarkable movies of the year... An engrossing mixture of voluptuous spirituality and incisive sensuality." — NY Observer

One of the best Israeli films of recent years. With Fanny Ardant heading an excellent cast, the film is an emotionally overpowering drama that will move audiences wherever it plays. Naomi persuades her father, a stern but loving rabbi, to send her to a seminary for female students in the picturesque town of Safed. Naomi is intelligent but traditional, and her beliefs are put to the test by several of her fellow students, especially the headstrong, irreverent Michelle, and by Anouk (Ardant), a mysterious French woman who has recently been released from prison. Naomi and Michelle agree to bring food to Anouk, who is in failing health, and they try to learn what motivated her to leave her family for an Israeli lover. While discovering something about forbidden passion, they plunge into a dangerous love affair of their own. The film's mix of sensuality and spirituality is arresting, and "Secrets" encompasses sly humor as well as searing tragedy. Both of the young actresses are luminous. Ardant gives one of her strongest performances as a woman overwhelmed with regrets yet unwilling to apologize for the passion that destroyed her. 2008/ 120mins/ English | French | Hebrew/ R
[Watch the trailer]

Showtimes

Fri (2/6):
7:00 & 9:15pm

Sat (2/7):
4:30, 7:00 & 9:15pm

Sun (2/8):
2:15, 4:30 & 7:00pm

Wed (2/11):
4:30, 7:00 & 9:15pm

Thu (2/12):
7:00 & 9:15pm

Moscow, Belgium @ The Hipp Cinema Jan 30 - Feb 5

2009-01-29T19:00:00.000-05:00

Moscow Belgium
(aka Aanrijding in Moscou)

January 30th - February 5th

ACID Award, Grand Golden Rail, Screenwriting Award, Cannes Film Festival
Best Feature Film, Best Film, Denver International Film Festival
New Talent Award, Zurich Film Festival

Although it may not sound like the most exciting place on earth, "Moscow, Belgium" is packed with plenty of drama, laughs and sentimental charm. Accomplished freshman director Christophe van Rompaey features a knockout performance from actress Barbara Sarafian ("8½ Women") as a mother of three caught in a love triangle with two good-natured losers. Working-class dramedy, in the tradition of Mike Leigh's best early efforts. Life is no field day for thick-skinned, forty-something postal worker Matty (Sarafian). Recently dumped by her art-teacher husband Werner for a nympho student, she's all but given up on the male breed. In a supermarket parking lot, she gets into a mild fender-bender with Johnny, a cagey, ex-alcoholic truck driver who's more than 10 years her junior. Immediately hooked by Matty's big mouth and sharp wit, he offers ice cream to her kids, then shows up the next day to help fix her damaged car trunk. Meanwhile, her three sweet but kooky children -- sexually ambiguous Vera, tarot-obsessed Fien and ultra-nerdy Peter -- don't make the daily grind any easier. 2008/ 102mins/ Flemish/ subt/ NR
[Watch the trailer]

Showtimes

Fri (1/30):
6:30 & 8:30pm

Sat (1/31):
4:30, 6:30 & 8:30pm

Sun (2/1):
2:30, 4:30 & 7:00pm

Wed (2/4):
4:30, 6:30 & 8:30pm

Thu (2/5):
6:30 & 8:30pm

A Christmas Tale @ The Hipp Cinema Jan 23 - 29

2009-01-22T19:00:00.000-05:00

A Christmas Tale

(aka Un conte de Noël)

January 23rd - January 29th

Golden Palm Nomination, Cannes Film Festival
Prix d'Excellence Nomination, European Film Awards
Best Actress Nomination, Satellite Awards

"If Ingmar Bergman and Wes Anderson some how collaborated on a movie together, I'd guess their sensibilities would yield something like Arnaud Desplechin's darkly hilarious, brilliantly acted A Christmas Tale." — NY Post

"Roiling with laughter, tears, drunken confessions, revelatory soliloquies, pain, sorrow, hospital visits, and various kinds of love, A Christmas Tale is a smart, sprawling, and sublimely entertaining feast." — Philadephia Inquirer

Masterfully directed and acted, by turns savage, bittersweet, darkly comic and unbearably moving, A Christmas Tale shows internationally acclaimed director Desplechin at the height of his powers. For some, Christmas means the joy of spending time with loved ones. But not for the Vuillard family in this blackly comic film. Instead of egg nog, bile and venom flow at the family get-together when estranged son Henri (Mathieu Amalric, QUANTUM OF SOLACE) returns. His mother, Junon (French legend Catherine Deneuve), has cancer, and Henri may be the bone marrow donor match that could save her life. Oldest daughter Elizabeth is equally unhappy to see her brother; he has been an emotional and financial drain on the family, and she had him legally banished from the family six years ago. But with his return, old wounds are freshly opened as the entire family gathers together for what could be their last holiday. This French film easily moves between the audience between laughter, gasps, and tears. The behavior of the Vuillard famille is atrocious at times, and it goes beyond just the awful--and sometimes awfully funny--things they say to one another. It's not destined to be a feel-good holiday classic à la IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, but A CHRISTMAS TALE may prove a perfect prescription for when viewers' families get to be a little too much. 2008/ 152mins/ French/ subt/ NR
[Watch the trailer]

Showtimes

Fri (1/23):
6:00 & 8:45pm

Sat (1/24):
2:00, 5:00 & 8:00pm

Sun (1/25):
2:15, 5:00 & 8:00pm

Wed (1/28):
4:30, 6:45 & 9:00pm

Thu (1/29):
6:00 & 8:45pm

Dare Not Walk Alone @ The Hipp Cinema Jan 16 - 22

2009-01-15T19:00:00.000-05:00

Dare Not Walk Alone

January 16th - January 22nd

"The greatest civil rights story never told...powerful slice of roiling American history" — LA Times

"Has great potential to do real good in the world" — Boxoffice Magazine

Meet The Producers! Reception 6pm Friday 1/16/08

Dare Not Walk Alone is an award-winning feature-length documentary created by Jeremy Dean. a twenty-something director and former student of Flagler College, St. Augustine, Florida. The film mixes rare news footage from 1964 with present day testimony to document the untold story of a war of wills and ideals waged not in Alabama or Georgia or Mississippi but Florida. Before Disneyworld, the biggest tourist attraction in Florida was St. Augustine (MAKE THIS BOLD), and this is where African-Americans and their allies in the white community put their lives on the line to force the passage of the first civil rights act. Set to a soundtrack that flows from gospel to hip hop, the film places the heroic sacrifices of the past in the context of present day struggles in a community that epitomizes what Senator Barack Obama has called "the gap between the promise of our ideals and the reality of their time." 2008/ 83mins/ NR
[Watch the trailer]

Showtimes

Fri (1/16):
7:00 & 8:45pm

Sat (1/17):
4:30, 7:00 & 8:45pm

Sun (1/18):
2:30, 4:30, 7:00 & 12:30pm

Wed (1/21):
4:30, 7:00 & 8:45pm

Thu (1/22):
7:00 & 8:45pm

Humboldt County @ The Hipp Cinema Jan 9 - 15

2009-01-08T19:00:00.001-05:00

Humboldt County

January 9th - January 15th

"Just the type of small film that, if given a chance to be seen by audiences, could become somewhat of a hit for grownups ala "Sideways" or "The Squid and the Whale." — Film Threat

"A slow starter. But what appears to be the cliched 'uptight nerd liberated by flighty sprite' tale--done better in films from 'Bringing Up Baby' to 'Barefoot in the Park'--evolves into something deeper, darker, more resonant." — Chicago Tribune

"...most people will see the movie poster and think oh, that's just a drug movie. But it's not. It's much more." — NEWSVINE

Directors Danny Jacobs and Darren Grodsky assemble an enviable cast--including Fairuza Balk, Peter Bogdanovich, Frances Conroy, Brad Dourif, and Chris Messina--for their first film. Newcomer Jeremy Strong holds his own with the veteran actors, playing Peter Hadley, a man whose one-night stand with Bogart (Balk) ends with him at her family home. At the edge of the continent and on the margins of society is a region of California known to some as "The Lost Coast." It is there, in Humboldt County, that Peter Hadley, a promising yet disillusioned medical student failed by his professor, stumbles upon a remote community of counterculture marijuana farmers and a warmly embracing, yet eccentric family. Humboldt County is a story of the human soul in search of happiness, and the unexpected places we can sometimes call home.. Welcome to Humboldt County, the intoxicating capital of a radical state of mind. 97mins/ 2008/ USA/ R
[Watch the trailer]

Showtimes

Fri (1/9):
7:00 & 9:00pm

Sat (1/10):
4:30, 7:00 & 9:00pm

Sun (1/11):
2:30, 4:30 & 7:00pm

Wed (1/14):
4:30, 7:00 & 9:00pm

Thu (1/15):
7:00 & 9:00pm

Repo! The Genetic Opera @ The Hipp Cinema Jan 2 - Jan 10

2009-01-02T19:00:00.001-05:00

Repo! The Genetic Opera

January 2nd - January 10th

"As it has evolved from a 10-minute cabaret piece, through a short film Bousman made in Toronto, to the big screen, Repo! The Genetic Opera has gained in both guts and gusto." — Toronto Star

"It's not often you come across a film as unique as this, and while my taste for liver, lights, and sweetbreads isn't what it once was, this is still a fine post-Halloween aperitif, with guts to spare." — Austin Chronicle

Late Night Special!

From November 10th thru November 17th REPO toured 7 cities, some of which were Chicago, Atlanta, and Orlando. At each location with the exception of Chicago, the single showing of the film was sold out 2-3 weeks in advance, and on the day of the showing, standby lines to get in to see the film were wrapped around several city blocks. And that was waiting for just a CHANCE to see the film. In fact, people flew in from Paris to see the Atlanta showing, and someone flew in from Puerto Rico to see the Orlando showing of Repo!. We are showing this film as a LATE NIGHT SPECIAL for several weekends. This is one of those films that fans love and critics don't. See it and decide for yourself!

A worldwide epidemic encourages a biotech company to launch an organ-financing program similar in nature to a standard car loan. The repossession clause is a killer, however. 2008/ 98mins/ USA/ R
[Watch the trailer]

Showtimes

Fri (1/2):
10:45pm

Sat (1/3):
10:45pm

Fri (1/9):
10:45pm

Sat (1/10):
10:45pm

How About You @ The Hipp Cinema Jan 2 - 8

2009-01-01T19:00:00.000-05:00

How About You

January 2nd - January 8th

"... by-the-numbers audience-pleaser." — Hollywood Reporter

"Based on a short story by the great Irish writer Maeve Binchy, the film has structure, resonance and a welcome respect for well-delineated characters, beautifully observed by a distinguished cast." — Rex Reed

Starring Academy Award Winners Vanessa Redgrave and Brenda Fricker, and Academy Award Nominee Imelda Staunton. Based on a short story by Maeve Binchy. Ellie (Hayley Atwell), a free-spirited and headstrong young woman, is left in charge of a residential home, owned and operated by her older sister Kate (Orla Brady), over the Christmas holidays.

‘Hope I die before I get old’, The Who sang in 1965. Paul McCartney wondered if he’d still be loved, ‘when I’m 64’. But today, ageing rock stars and contemporary society are reconsidering their perceptions of Old. A belief that we have choices and potential not just in our early years, but right though life, is at the centre of HOW ABOUT YOU. Adapted from a short story by Maeve Binchy, it has all the hallmarks of Ireland’s most widely read and internationally successful writer of popular fiction. HOW About You is an often funny and deeply human story of growing self-acceptance, where an unlikely group of characters develop relationships which are not only surprising, but transformative. In a film filled with compelling performances and vivid individuals, we discover a story about the rejuvenating power of other people. 2008/ 100mins/ Ireland/ NR
[Watch the trailer]

Showtimes

Fri (1/2):
6:30 & 8:30pm

Sat (1/3):
4:30, 6:30 & 8:30pm

Sun (1/4):
2:30, 4:30 & 7:00pm

Wed (1/7):
4:30, 6:30 & 8:30pm

Thu (1/8):
6:30 & 8:30pm

Brick Lane @ The Hipp Cinema Dec 13 - 21

2008-12-12T19:00:00.000-05:00

Brick Lane

December 13th - December 21st

Best Screenplay, Silver Hitchcock, Dinard British Film Festival

"Small, intimate and achingly modern, Brick Lane is a lovely study involving both one woman's awakening and the inevitability of cross-cultural pollination." — Detroit News

"Monica Ali’s expansive, epic best seller about decades in the life of a sheltered wife from Bangladesh in the titular London neighborhood is transformed into a compact, delicate tale of adultery, extremism, and awakening." — New York Magazine

Nazneen’s life is turned upside down at the tender age of seventeen. Forced into an arranged marriage to an older man, she exchanges her Bangladeshi village home for a block of flats in London’s East End. In this new world, pining for her home and her sister, she struggles to make sense of her existence – and to do her duty to her husband. A man of inflated ideas (and stomach), he sorely tests her compliance. Told from birth that she must not fight her fate, Nazneen submits, devoting her life to raising her family and slapping down her demons of discontent. Until the day that Karim, a hot-headed local man, bursts into her life. Against a background of escalating racial tension, they embark on an affair that finally forces Nazneen to take control of her life. Set in multicultural Britain, Brick Lane is a truly contemporary story of love, cultural difference, and ultimately, the strength of the human spirit. 2008/ 102 min/ UK/ PG-13
[Watch the trailer]

Hippodrome Theatre

Mindgame

Giveaway! Win a Trailer Park Pippi Package!

Announcing our 2009 - 2010 Season!

Trailer Park is a-Brewin'

Carson-Gets Awards Presentations Tonight!

The Class @ The Hipp Cinema Apr 24-30

The Class (Entre les murs)

Che: Part 1 @ The Hipp Cinema Apr 17-23

Che

Hippodrome Theatre Video Podcast

The Secrets of the Grain @ The Hipp Cinema Apr 10-16

The Secret of the Grain(La Graine et le mulet)

Wendy and Lucy @ The Hipp Cinema Apr 3-9

Wendy and Lucy

Dalai Lama Renaissance @ The Hipp Cinema Mar 27-Apr 2

Dalai Lama Renaissance

Waltz with Bashir @ The Hipp Cinema Mar 20-26

Waltz With Bashir(Vals Im Bashir)

Waltz With Bashir(Vals Im Bashir)

Black Balloon @The Hipp Cinema Mar 13-19

The Black Balloon

Milk @ The Hipp Cinema March 6-12

If you ran the NEA...

Let The Right One In @ The Hipp Cinema Feb 27 - Mar 5

Let the Right One In (aka Låt den rätte komma in)

The Pope's Toilet @ The Hipp Cinema Feb 13 - 19

The Pope's Toilet(aka Baño del Papa, El)

The Secrets @ The Hipp Cinema Feb 6 - 12

The Secrets(aka Sodot, Ha-)

Moscow, Belgium @ The Hipp Cinema Jan 30 - Feb 5

Moscow Belgium(aka Aanrijding in Moscou)

A Christmas Tale @ The Hipp Cinema Jan 23 - 29

A Christmas Tale

(aka Un conte de Noël)

Dare Not Walk Alone @ The Hipp Cinema Jan 16 - 22

Dare Not Walk Alone

Humboldt County @ The Hipp Cinema Jan 9 - 15

Humboldt County

Repo! The Genetic Opera @ The Hipp Cinema Jan 2 - Jan 10

Repo! The Genetic Opera

How About You @ The Hipp Cinema Jan 2 - 8

How About You

Brick Lane @ The Hipp Cinema Dec 13 - 21

Brick Lane

The Secret of the Grain
(La Graine et le mulet)

Waltz With Bashir
(Vals Im Bashir)

Waltz With Bashir
(Vals Im Bashir)

The Pope's Toilet
(aka Baño del Papa, El)

The Secrets
(aka Sodot, Ha-)

Moscow Belgium
(aka Aanrijding in Moscou)