Where to see Oscar nominees in the Hudson Valley
4:35 PM By Anne Machalinski
Photo credit: AP | This film image released by 20th Century Fox shows Suraj Sharma in a scene from “Life of Pi.” The film was directed by former Larchmont resident Ang Lee.
The 85th Academy Awards are Sunday, Feb. 24, and if you’ve yet to see many of the nominated films, don’t despair — there’s still plenty of time to get to the theater, watch some of the nominees and make educated picks for your office’s Oscar poll.
From a talk with an “Oscarologist” to two jam-packed days of watching the best-picture contenders and beyond, here are some upcoming Oscar programs at Hudson Valley theaters.
Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville
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Rather than programming only the big-name Oscar nominees, this independent film house and education center is “concentrating on the so-called smaller categories” that are still “hugely important,” said Brian Ackerman, Jacob Burns’ programming director. Case in point, they’re screening the nominated shorts in all three categories — live action, animated and documentary — on separate dates.
From “Asad,” an 18-minute film about a poor Somali boy, to “Henry,” a 21-minute short about an elderly concert pianist searching for his wife, the five live action shorts are first on the docket, with the 115-minute program screening at various times on Feb. 14, 15, 17 and 19. The 50-minute program of five animated shorts runs on Feb. 15, 16, 18 and 20, and the slightly longer 203-minute program of five documentary shorts will screen at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20.
“We’re just excited about being able to do this,” Ackerman said of screening all of the short nominees back to back, a format that imitates the way that Oscar voters are seeing them. He also said that watching the films in this format allows viewers to “see the range that’s possible in that form” and “the sheer sense of variety and diversity. … It’s a real treat.”
In addition to the shorts programs, the center is also screening a number of the best foreign language and documentary feature nominees throughout the week leading up to the awards: “A Royal Affair” screens on Feb. 15, “Searching for Sugar Man” screens Feb. 16 and 21, “How to Survive a Plague” screens Feb. 17, “The Invisible War” screens Feb. 18, “5 Broken Cameras” screens Feb. 19 and “War Witch” screens Feb. 21. Additionally, “Amour,” which is nominated for five Academy Awards including foreign language, best picture, best director (Michael Haneke), actress in a leading role (Emanuelle Riva) and original screenplay (Michael Haneke), is screening at various times from Feb. 14 through Feb. 21.
Rounding out Jacob Burns’ programming is a 90-minute “Oscar Talk” with New York Times film critic Janet Maslin and noted “Oscarologist” and Entertainment Weekly contributor Mark Harris. The talk, $6 for members and $11 for nonmembers, takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20.
Tickets to all films and programs can be purchased at the box office or online. The Jacob Burns Film Center is at 364 Manville Rd. in Pleasantville. Find more info by calling 914-747-5555 or visiting www.burnsfilmcenter.org.
Irvington Town Hall Theater
This Westchester theater is hosting a screening of all the Oscar-nominated animated and live-action shorts, but make sure to grab some popcorn beforehand, since the marathon screening will last about four hours. The screening takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15. Tickets are $9. Info: 85 Main St., Irvington; 914-591-6602; irvingtontheater.com
AMC Theatres in Port Chester and West Nyack
If you haven’t had a chance to see the nine best-picture nominees, AMC Theatres across the country are screening them over the next two Saturdays. On Feb. 16, locations in Port Chester and Nyack are showing “Amour,” “Les Miserables.” “Argo” and “Django Unchained,” and on Feb. 23, moviegoers can watch “Beasts of the Southern WIld,” “Life of Pi,” “Lincoln,” “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Zero Dark Thirty.” Tickets for the Feb. 16 event are $30, and admission to the Feb. 23 screenings are $40. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office. Many of the nominees are also screening from now through the Oscars. Info: AMC Loews Port Chester 14, 40 Westchester Ave., Port Chester, 914-510-1000; AMC Loews Palisades Center 21, 4403 Palisades Center Dr., West Nyack, 845-348-1876; www.amctheatres.com/events/best-picture-showcase
Tags: Pleasantville , Pelham , Irvington , Port Chester , West Nyack , Westchester , Rockland , events , movies , Oscars , Academy Awards
From newyork.newsday.com
