September 'Nick's Pix': "Shoot the Moon"

Coming up next for my monthly Nick's Pix series is the 1982 American drama "Shoot the Moon," directed by Alan Parker and starring Diane Keaton and Albert Finney. This one-night-only screening scheduled for Wed, Sept 11th at the Lake Theater in Oak Park is one of the most devastating movies about marriage and divorce ever made; it's also one of my favorite films of all time.

The opening title of one of my favorite movies of all time.

I was 16 years old when I first saw Alan Parker's "Shoot the Moon" and it changed my life.

I was already a weird cinephile kid who already preferred stuff like "Prince of the City" over "Superman 2;" "Blow Out" over "For Your Eyes Only," and "Reds" over "Cannonball Run."

At that time, popular trends in movies (especially those aimed at teenagers) involved either lots of T&A and peekaboo teen sex, faceless slashers chopping up horny teens, or Cheech and Chong selling and smoking pot.

Now, don't get me wrong, I saw all those films (ALL of them), and I liked many of them (especially Cheech and Chong), but at the end of the day, I steered toward more challenging and less commercial work.

I was diving into cinema at that time, reading voraciously about movies and watching anything made by auteurs of cinema. I was discovering - and LOVING - the work of filmmakers like Bresson, Kurosawa, Tarkovsky, Antonioni, Herzog, Bunuel, Fellini, Bergman, Kubrick, Welles, Godard, and more. My world was dominated by art films, foreign pictures, and stuff that many considered weird for a 16-year-old.

I preferred cool camerawork and quiet introspection to droids with lightsabers and archeologists with bullwhips. I was a pretentious little dork, yeah, but I knew what I liked, and I still do.

"Shoot the Moon" opened when everyone my age was talking about (and rewatching) movies like "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "On Golden Pond," and "Arthur," so when I told (INSISTED) all of my friends go see this dark, sad, devastating film about divorce, they got concerned. Is Nick OK? Why is he obsessed with this downbeat movie where a family falls apart? Should we get him some medication? All valid questions.

I just responded to this movie in a powerful way, intellectually and emotionally. After my first viewing, alone, on a cold Saturday afternoon in early 1982 at the beautiful Esquire Theater in downtown Chicago, I couldn't move from my seat. I was overwhelmed and spent. I was choked up and teary-eyed. I went back the very next day to see it again.

I had never been that blown away by a movie. It came at a time when my mind, brain, and soul were starving for great cinema, and "Shoot the Moon" more than satisfied that hunger.

Albert Finney at the top of his game in the extraordinary "Shoot the Moon."

There wasn't a better actress on the planet back in 1982 than Diane Keaton.

The timing of "Shoot the Moon"'s release couldn't have been more perfect.

I had become a huge fan of director Alan Parker (who directed "Midnight Express," "Bugsy Malone," and, the previous year, "Fame"), screenwriter Bo Goldman (who won an Oscar for adapting "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," and wrote "Melvin and Howard"), and actors Albert Finney ("Scrooge," "Murder on the Orient Express," "Wolfen," and "Looker") and Karen Allen (who was also in "Raiders"). And I was IN LOVE with Diane Keaton, who was then in theaters in Warren Beatty's masterpiece "Reds" and who was also the best actress working at that time.

"Shoot the Moon" is the story of the disintegration of a marriage between an affluent couple, George (Finney) and Faith (Keaton) Dunlap, and how it affects their four daughters, especially their eldest (the late, great Dana Hill).

The movie covers the period after George's infidelity is exposed, through the couple's separation, preparation for divorce, and their respective affairs with younger lovers (Allen and Peter Weller), all the while deeply exploring the powerful connections and emotions that are damaged when a family falls apart.

Peter Weller plays a contractor who begins a relationship with a recently separated woman in "Shoot the Moon."

Karen Allen is outstanding as the lover of Albert Finney in "Shoot the Moon."

This is big, bold material written and performed with massively high stakes that Parker directs with a sledgehammer intensity. It is an overwhelming experience presented with unapologetic force and a raw honesty that most filmmakers wouldn't dare attempt for fear of losing their audience.

This is some of the bravest work that any of these artists have ever done, and it remains a film of monumental power and painful truth.

There isn't a single scene in the film that doesn't ring true, and many stand up today as some of the best ever filmed.

Diane Keaton, smoking a joint in a bathtub while singing "If I Fell" by The Beatles as she falls apart remembering what she has lost.

Albert Finney smashing his way into the house to give his angry daughter a birthday gift, which turns into a confrontation of heartbreaking power.

Dana Hill confessing to her mother (Keaton) that she hates her father (Finney) and will never feel hope ever again.

The quiet looks and exchanges say volumes about hidden emotion and forbidden outbursts that lurk just below the surface. Proper behavior may disappear, and primal anger may explode at any time. And when it does (and boy, does it) the results are shocking, painful and unlike any divorce drama you've ever seen.

Comparing inferior films like "Kramer Vs. Kramer" (which, by the way, is a terrible, wildly misogynistic, kind of evil film), "An Unmarried Woman," "Blume in Love," "The Divorce," or even "Scenes from a Marriage" to "Shoot the Moon" is pretty pointless, because NONE of those films even come close to the quality, intelligence of sheer bravery of Parker's masterpiece.

The moments of trouble, conflict, fights, death (Faith's ailing father passes away while her marriage is crumbling—a powerhouse scene, by the way), misunderstandings, pain, lessons learned, and compromises reached build to a final scene of such explosive power and emotion that it must be seen to be believed. The film ends with a final freeze-frame image so simple yet so complex that you're left stunned.

So, I should probably reveal something about me: I really feel things strongly. I mean STRONGLY. Those of you who know me (or have listened to me on the radio or on my podcasts) know that when I feel something, I feel it in a BIG way. If I love something, I love it. If I hate something, I hate it. I am an intense feeler—seriously, and I've been like that my whole life.

"Shoot the Moon" speaks to me on that level because this film feels, and FEELS STRONGLY. It might be a tough go for some, but even if you don't share the intensity of emotion on display, you can't deny the movie's quality and brilliance.

This is filmmaking of the highest order, one of the Best American Films of All Time, and certainly the best movie ever made about divorce.

I can NOT wait to share "Shoot the Moon" with you at Classic Cinema's Lake Theater in Oak Park, on Wednesday, September 11th at 7pm. GET YOUR TICKETS (only $9!) HERE!

I will do a brief introduction, we will watch the film together (digitally remastered on the big screen, a rare occurrence), and I will lead a discussion afterwards.

There will also be some trivia and prizes given away.

Please come, but if you can't make it in person, the film is available for streaming as well as DVD, Blu-ray and HD.

Thanks, and please SUBSCRIBE to my weekly NEWSLETTER, and consider joining me on Patreon as a paid subscriber to help keep this thing going. Thanks again!

"The China Syndrome," a Seminal and Important Movie of My Life....and More.

The next movie in my "Nick's Pix' series is the terrific 1979 thriller "The China Syndrome"

This Wednesday, August 14th, I am unbelievably proud and excited to be hosting James Bridges' "The China Syndrome" for my next 'Nick's Pix' screening at Classic Cinemas' Lake Theater, a beautiful movie palace located in the heart of downtown Oak Park.

"The China Syndrome" is one of the very best films of the 1970's. It features Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas, and a myriad of other terrific character actors.

I LOVE this movie, and vividly remember first seeing it at the Norridge Theater on the northwest side of Chicago the weekend it opened.

I was 13 going on 14 at the time, and I had just started to deep dive into cinema, learning as much as I could about movie history, filmmaking, and the art form in general.

I was absorbing so much film-related stuff, so quickly, that my head was spinning, and this movie was one of the first that I analyzed to death (from the making of the film, to the behind-the-scenes stories, to the marketing & distribution, and more).

What It's About

The plot involves a small news team who witness an "accident" at a local California nuclear power plant and become entangled with a conspiracy that the company wants to cover up.

A supervisor at the plant, who wants to speak the truth, becomes concerned for his safety and his life, and the whole thing builds to a terrifying climax.

On the simplest of levels, it is a terrific, intelligent thriller that fits nicely into the wonderful era of great conspiracy thrillers of the 70's, the most paranoid decade of them all.

Director James Bridges keeps his focus razor sharp, and shoots with documentary-like precision, building the tension exponentially until the devastating and thoroughly satisfying ending.

The cast is uniformly terrific with Fonda, Douglas, and, especially, Lemmon (who was nominated for an Oscar for his great performance in the movie) doing some of the very finest work of their careers.

Jane Fonda giving an outstanding performance in "The China Syndrome."

The movie is also a biting indictment of television news, especially in its portrayal of female reporters at a time when sexism and discrimination were rampant in the business.

These ladies were considered to be nothing but pretty faces, existing to do fluff pieces about birthday parties for animals, store openings, etc.

Fonda (who was never shy about her politics and beliefs) is extraordinarily effective in the film, balancing the acceptance of her position and her battle to be taken more seriously as this huge and important story falls into her lap.

Michael Douglas in "The China Syndrome."

Douglas has never been so appealing, sharp and wickedly effective as the rebellious cameraman determined to get the truth to the public whose lives are put in danger.

But, this is really Lemmon's show, and his brilliant performance is the heart of the entire movie.

The wonderful hangdog quality and every man charm he brings to the character add immeasurably to the emotional effectiveness of the film. It's one of his very best performances...and he has given A LOT of great performances.

The brilliant Jack Lemmon, never better than in "The China Syndrome."

Overall, this is a true nail biter, a thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat and also make you think.

The 1970s: What an Era

"The China Syndrome" is also a sterling example of why the 1970's was the best decade for film ever.

This movie came out at the tail-end of that grand decade, becoming a lovely bookend for thrillers like "The French Connection," "The Conversation," and "Three Days of the Condor."

Now, real life events surrounding the release of this movie are just as compelling as the film itself.

"The China Syndrome" was released on March 16th, 1979, with solid reviews, but little fanfare, and very slow box office.

Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island Power Plant, where an accident took place, that actually helped the box office of "The China Syndrome."

Then, on March 28th (less than two weeks after the film's release), a REAL nuclear power plant incident occurred at the Three Mile Island Power Plant in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The reactor malfunction released radioactive gases and radioactive iodine into the environment, making it the worst accident at a U.S. commercial nuclear power plant in history.

The accident resulted in heightened safety concerns among the public, hundreds of protests around the country, and many new regulations for the nuclear industry. It also scared the hell out of everyone.

And...."The China Syndrome" became a huge hit. Fate intervened and saved Columbia Pictures from having a box office disaster.

Nick's Pix!

I am honored to partner with the wonderful people at Classic Cinemas to host "The China Syndrome" as part of my monthly 'Nick's Pix" series.

The beautiful Lake Theater in Oak Park, the home of my 'Nick's Pix' film series.

At each event, we hang out beforehand and then I introduce each film. Afterwards, I share more about the movie, do some trivia, and giveaway some cool prizes.

These get-togethers are a blast and a terrific way to meet each other, and watch a great movie on the big screen!

So, come out and see this amazing thriller on the big screen (it is rarely seen in movie theaters)!

I'll share more details about this wild true story and many more little known facts about this outstanding film.

See you all on Wednesday, August 14th at 7pm, at the Lake Theater in Oak Park!

Thanks, and please SUBSCRIBE to my weekly NEWSLETTER. Consider also joining me on Patreon as a paid subscriber to help keep this thing going. Thanks again!

Nick's Pix: "THE CHINA SYNDROME"

The beautiful Lake Theater in downtown Oak Park. Home of the Classic Cinemas 'Nick's Pix' Film Series.

Every second Wednesday of the month, I am honored to host a fun movie screening at the beautiful Lake Theater in Oak Park.

We call it Classic Cinemas 'Nick's Pix' Film Series, and each month I show a movie that I love, and have chosen to share with my fans and movie freaks alike. Each movie is introduced by me, and followed by an informative and fun talk, loaded with behind-the-scenes stories and facts about the movie, and some trivia with great prizes given away.

It's a terrific night out, a great way to meet and hang out, and a cool opportunity to see an outstanding movie on the big screen in a gorgeous & legendary movie palace!

Check out this video interview I did with the cool guys from #oakparkill, previewing my entire season.

I am so excited about my next 'Nick's Pix' film THE CHINA SYNDROME, one of the best thrillers of the 70's.

It's directed by James Bridges, and stars Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas (who also produced), and Wilford Brimley. It follows a television reporter and her cameraman who discover safety coverups at a nuclear power plant.

"China syndrome" is a fanciful term that describes a fictional result of a nuclear meltdown, where reactor components melt through their containment structures and into the underlying earth, "all the way to China."

THE CHINA SYNDROME premiered at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or while Lemmon received the Best Actor Prize.

It was theatrically released on March 16, 1979, twelve days before the Three Mile Island nuclear accident in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, which gave the film's subject matter an unexpected prescience, leading it to become a critical and commercial success.

The film received four nominations at the 52nd Academy Awards: Best Actor (for Lemmon), Best Actress (for Fonda), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Art Direction.

A great film that is rarely shown on the big screen! Get your tickets NOW at classiccinemas.com/nick

Thanks, and please SUBSCRIBE to my weekly NEWSLETTER, and consider joining me on Patreon as a paid subscriber to help keep this thing going. Thanks again!

That's me in the lobby of the Lake Theater next to the poster featuring the first 4 films in my 'Nick's Pix' Film Series. Hope you can make it out!