'Joker' weekend

This sign greeted moviegoers this weekend at the City Cinemas Village East on Second Avenue at 12th Street.

"Downton Abbey" fans who wanted to wear Lord Grantham or Lady Mary masks were out of luck. "Downton Abbey," which has been criticized for normalizing dinner parties, is currently playing here.

The sign arrived here ahead of screenings Thursday night for "Joker."



Theaters across the country were reported to be on high alert for the opening weekend of Todd Phillips' film starring Joaquin Phoenix as the title character. Village East had a lot more employees working the front door than usual, though I didn't see any police presence. The film is also playing at the Loews Village 7 on Third Avenue and 11th Street and the Regal Union Square.

The Associated Press reported the following: "Extra layers of security, intense on-screen action and a frightening incident inside a New York theater combined to create an unsettling experience for some moviegoers who went to see 'Joker' on its opening weekend."

Security had to remove a patron from the AMC Empire 25 on 42nd Street on Friday after he clapped and cheered for a good minute during an especially intense scene.

As for the Village East, "Joker" is playing on two screens, including in 70mm in the Jaffe Art Theatre...

Hitchcocktober is back

It's Hitchcocktober again at the City Cinemas Village East on Second Avenue at 12th Street.



On Thursday evenings throughout October, the theater is showing an Alfred Hitchcock classic, culminating with a Halloween-night screening of "Psycho."

Here's the schedule until then...

• "Dial M for Murder" in 3D — Oct. 3

• "North by Northwest" — Oct. 10

• "The Birds" — Oct. 17

• "The Lady Vanishes" — Oct. 24

• "Psycho" — Oct. 31

Find advance ticket info at this link. The films start at 7:30 p.m.

The Village East screening Quentin Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time ... In Hollywood' in 70mm

When Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time ... In Hollywood" opens tomorrow (July 25) at City Cinemas Village East, it will be just one of five theaters in the country to show the film in 70mm.

Tarantino's well-reviewed ode to 1960s Los Angeles and the movie industry stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt and Al Pacino, among others... and it continues the filmmaker's commitment to celluloid. (Here's a 70mm explainer.)

His last film, "The Hateful Eight," also played here in 70mm in the Village East's Jaffe Art Theatre. ("The Master," Dunkirk" and "2001: A Space Odyssey" are other films to screen here in recent years in 70mm.)

You can find ticket info for the theater, Second Avenue at 12th Street, at this link.

Heat advisory: 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' screens Monday night at City Cinemas Village East

City Cinemas Village East is screening "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" tomorrow (Monday) night as part of its ongoing classic 35mm series.

The cut-n-paste synopsis:

Based on the famous Tennesee Williams play, this absorbing drama and six-time Oscar nominee centers on a wealthy southern family where the family members lust over the fortune of their dying patriarch. Truly a classic masterpiece, this film teases audiences by unravelling layers and layers of secrets through phenomenal writing and spectacular performances from Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman and Burl Ives.

The film starts tomorrow (July 22) at 7:30 p.m. The theater is on Second Avenue at 12th Street. Ticket info at this link.

A night like this: See the Cure's 40th anniversary show Thursday at these East Village theaters

The Cure's 40th anniversary show is in theaters for a one-night-only event later this week ...



You can see "The Cure – Anniversary 1978-2018 Live in Hyde Park London" Thursday night at City Cinemas Village East, Second Avenue at 12th Street ... and the Regal Union Square on Broadway and 13th Street. Show time is 7 p.m. at both theaters.

Now enjoy this flashback to July 2, 1981, when the Cure played the Rock Werchter Festival. They were told to stop their set early to make way for Robert Palmer. So they ended with this 9-minute version of "A Forest"...

The Tribeca Film Festival arrives in the East Village

The Village East on Second Avenue and 12th Street is serving as a venue for the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, which starts today and runs through May 5.

As such, the theater is only screening films from the Festival. Village East will return to its usual programming on May 7.

In the meantime, you can always check out the Anthology Film Archives on Second Street and Second Avenue or the Metrograph down on Ludlow or the Quad Cinema on 13th Street... not to mention the Film Forum, IFC Center, the Angelika Film Center or Cinema Village.

Previously on OMG EV Grieve:
The fellow who was terrorized by old people during the Tribeca Film Festival

Village East presents 'The Searchers' in 35mm tomorrow (Monday!) night

The monthly Monday night 35mm series continues over at City Cinemas Village East, Second Avenue and 12th Street.

Tomorrow (Monday!) night, the theater is screening John Ford's classic Western "The Searchers" with John Wayne, Vera Miles, Jeffrey Hunter and Natalie Wood.

Upcoming Monday night 35mm films include "Enter the Dragon" in May and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" in June. Details here.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, there's a 40th anniversary screening of "Life of Brian" at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the 'Other Music' documentary screening at Village East go on sale today

The "Other Music" documentary makes its world premiere at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.

And tickets for screenings at the Village East, Second Avenue at 12th Street, and Regal Cinemas Battery Park, go on sale this morning at 11 via this link.

Here are the dates and times for the various screenings:

• April 26, 9 p.m. — Village East
• April 27, 8:45 p.m. — Regal Cinemas Battery Park
• April 28, 12:15 p.m. — Regal Cinemas Battery Park
• May 5, 8:45 p.m. — Village East

The film chronicles the 20-year history and legacy of Other Music, 15 E. Fourth St. between Lafayette and Broadway, its influence on music in New York City and its closure in June 2016.



Other Music's owners cited rising rents and the growing hardship of selling music out of a physical store as reasons behind the closure.

'Heeere's Kubrick' returns to the City Cinemas Village East

[Oh hi HAL]

Once again this spring, City Cinemas Village East on Second Avenue and 12th Street is celebrating the work of director Stanley Kubrick on the next few Wednesday evenings... starting tomorrow night at 7 with "2001: A Space Odyssey" in 70mm (and in the big auditorium).



... and the rest of the lineup...

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A post shared by Village East Cinema (@villageeastcinema) on Mar 19, 2019 at 12:15pm PDT

Find ticket info at this link.

Sunday's parting shots

Marquee letter spotting at the Village East Cinema on Second Avenue at 12th Street ...

Holiday on ice: 'It's a Wonderful Life' on the big screen at City Cinemas Village East

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Your holiday season definitely won't be complete without a viewing of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, and you can see it with us on 35mm film!! 12/19, 7pm, #VillageEastCinema! #movie #Movies #movienight #villageeastin35mm #classics #classicfilm #cinema #film #cinephile #35mm #35mmfilm #itsawonderfullife #christmas #holidays #holidayseason #blackandwhite #winter #december

A post shared by City Cinemas NYC (@citycinemasnyc) on Dec 17, 2018 at 8:35am PST

If you're looking for a little holiday cheer... "It's a Wonderful Life" is screening in 35mm on Wednesday night (7 and 10:10) over at City Cinemas Village East on Second Avenue at 12th Street.

Find advance ticket info here.

Now, Zuzu's Petals!

Hitchcocktober movie of the week — 'The 39 Steps'

The Hitchcocktober movie of the week is... "The 39 Steps" tonight at 8... at City Cinemas Village East on Second Avenue at 12th Street.

The plot of the 1935 thriller via IMDB:

A man in London tries to help a counterespionage agent. But when the agent is killed and the man stands accused, he must go on the run to save himself and stop a spy ring which is trying to steal top secret information.

... and an (updated) trailer...



Hitchcocktober wraps up on with a Halloween-night screening of "Psycho."

Find advance ticket info here.

Hitchcocktober movie of the week — 'Strangers on a Train'

The Hitchcocktober movie of the week is... "Strangers on a Train" tomorrow (Thursday!) night at 8... at City Cinemas Village East on Second Avenue at 12th Street.

The plot, per Google:

In Alfred Hitchcock's adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's thriller, tennis star Guy Haines (Farley Granger) is enraged by his trampy [Ed. Note: Oh Google!] wife's refusal to finalize their divorce so he can wed senator's daughter Anne (Ruth Roman). He strikes up a conversation with a stranger, Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker), and unwittingly sets in motion a deadly chain of events.

And the last two (sob) Hitchcocktober dates:

Oct. 25 — "The 39 Steps"

Halloween night — "Psycho"

Find advance ticket info here.

Hitchcocktober movie of the week — 'Shadow of a Doubt'

The Hitchcocktober movie of the week is... "Shadow of a Doubt" tonight at 8... at City Cinemas Village East on Second Avenue at 12th Street.

From 1943, Joseph Cotton stars as Uncle Charlie, a calculating and charming killer who hides out in his relatives' small hometown. There, he befriends his favorite niece and namesake, Young Charlie (Teresa Wright). But she begins to suspect he may be the famed Merry Widow murderer!



Is good ol' creepy Uncle Charlie really the famed Merry Widow murderer??!?!?!??!?! Is Young Charlie really old enough to be in a bar?!?!?!!?!?!?!?

And the remaining Hitchcocktober slate:

Oct. 18 — "Strangers on a Train"

Oct. 25 — "The 39 Steps"

Halloween night — "Psycho"

Find advance ticket info here.

It's October, which also means it's Hitchcocktober

The City Cinemas Village East on Second Avenue at 12th Street is once again playing host to Hitchcocktober.

This month the theater screens five Alfred Hitchcock classics, starting with "Rear Window" Thursday night at 8.



The rest of the lineup:

Oct. 11 — "Shadow of a Doubt"

Oct. 18 — "Strangers on a Train"

Oct. 25 — "The 39 Steps"

Halloween night — "Psycho"

Find advance ticket info here.

The big chill: John Carpenter's version of 'The Thing' screens Wednesday at the Village East

John Carpenter's suitably tense version of "The Thing" from 1982 with Kurt Russell screens in 35mm on Wednesday evening at 7 as part of the Village East's SciFest.

Here's a look at the horror-science-fi combo set in Antarctica...



And the legendary Ennio Morricone scored the theme...



Advance tix are available here. The Village East is on Second Avenue at 12th Street.

Coming soon to the Village East: 'Female Trouble,' 'Body Snatchers,' more!

[Photo from Sunday]

A few highlights to note at the City Cinemas Village East on Second Avenue at 12th Street:

• Hedda Lettuce is hosting an interactive screening of "Female Trouble," the John Waters classic from 1974, tomorrow (Wednesday!) night at 7:30. Details here.

• The original 1956 version of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" screens in 35mm on July 25. Details here.

Also, two movies earning positive reviews, "Leave No Trace" and "Sorry to Bother You," start here later this week. (An alternative to going to the Angelika.)

And movies are $8 every day here before noon.

Reel classics: '2001' arrives at City Cinemas Village East

[Photo from April 26 by @BethPapaleo]

Stanley Kubrick's Academy Award-winning "2001: A Space Odyssey" returns to theaters for its 50th anniversary ... it plays on 70mm at the City Cinemas Village East starting on May 18.

Dave on 7th notes that the reels arrived today at the theater on Second Avenue and 12th Street...





The film will be playing in the Jaffe Art Theater. Advance tickets are on sale here.

Heeere's the Kubrick film of the week at City Cinemas Village East

As a reminder... City Cinemas Village East is celebrating the work of director Stanley Kubrick on Wednesday evenings in April.

Tomorrow night's "Heeere's Kubrick" feature — "A Clockwork Orange" from 1971.



The theater is on Second Avenue at 12th Street. Find more details here. The films start at 7:30 p.m.

And next week: "Full Metal Jacket" starring the late R. Lee Ermey.

Previously on EV Grieve:
'Heeere's Kubrick' at the City Cinemas Village East

'Heeere's Kubrick' at the City Cinemas Village East

On Wednesday evenings in April, City Cinemas Village East is celebrating the work of director Stanley Kubrick starting this week with "Dr. Strangelove."



The theater is on Second Avenue at 12th Street. Find more details here. The films start at 7:30 p.m.

And upcoming...