Don’t miss ..
Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival TIGLFF has always been a fabulous cinematic celebration, but this year’s event marks a particularly meaningful milestone — 25 years. Headlined by an appearance by legendary filmmaker John Waters performing his one-man show This Filthy World: Filthier & Dirtier, this year’s fest will also feature dozens of screenings, gala parties and more. TIGLFF doesn’t officially start until October, but the festivities get underway Sept. 4 with the 25th Anniversary Launch Party at the Tampa Museum of Art, featuring DJs, cocktails and tasty eats from Mise en Place. Oct. 3-11 at Tampa Theatre and other theaters in Tampa.
Blue Ocean Film Festival Now in its fourth year, Blue Ocean is the premier film festival in the world for oceanographers and lovers of movies about the water. The event splits its time between the U.S. and Monaco, and St. Pete’s landing of the event is something of a coup for the Bay area. Blue Ocean promises more than 100 films, including screenings of James Cameron's DeepSea Challenge 3D and Gilsela Kaufman's Shark Girl. You can also expect the usual parties and special even ts, though details are still a bit sketchy at this point. Keep an eye on blueoceanfilmfestival.org for screening locations, dates and prices, which should all be announced in the coming weeks. Nov. 3-9 in St. Petersburg.
Also on the radar ...
Persistence of Vision A documentary about The Thief and the Cobbler, which Persistence calls “the greatest animated movie never made.” It’s an incredible story, and the doc gets a one-night-only screening at [email protected] on Aug. 30.
Dolphin Tale 2 Harry Connick, Jr. and Nathan Gamble star in the sequel to the aquatic kid flick shot in Clearwater about a dolphin with a prosthetic tail. Keep an eye out for the star-studded premiere slated for Sept. 10 at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Sept. 12.
Tusk Director Kevin Smith keeps threatening to retire, something his many critics would relish. I’m glad Smith keeps churning out product, since the guy usually offers a fresh if cluttered take on the latest pop culture doodad. In Tusk, Justin Long stars as a podcaster who goes missing, prompting a search by a radio DJ played by Haley Joel Osment. Sept. 19.
Jimi: All Is By My Side The musical bio-pic train keeps a-rollin’ with this take on the life of Jimi Hendrix. Outkast’s Andre Benjamin definitely looks the part of the original voodoo child, but we’ll have to see how he is at the whole acting thing. Sept. 26.
Gone Girl Every David Fincher production is an event in my world, and Gone Girl is no different. Ben Affleck stars as a man suspected of killing his wife — if she’s even really dead in the first place, that is. Oct. 3.
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The Judge A great cast (Robert Downey Jr., Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, Vincent D’Onofrio) highlight this legal drama about an estranged father and son who come together to keep dad out of the slammer after the old man’s accused of a fatal hit and run. Cue the verbal sparring. Oct. 10.
Whiplash This year’s big winner at Sundance was a tale of competitive jazz drumming (no, really) starring Miles Teller (Divergent) and J.K. Simmons (Juno, Farmer’s Insurance commercials). Word is the musical sequences are incredible. Oct. 10.
Fury Brad Pitt goes to war in the new WWII epic from End of Watch director David Ayer. Oct. 17.
Rosewater Jon Stewart (Death to Smoochy) took time off last summer from his main gig as host of The Daily Show to direct this true story of an Iranian journalist jailed in 2009 after appearing on the Comedy Central show. The terrific Gael Garcia Bernal (No) stars. Nov. 7.
Interstellar Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway star in director Christopher Nolan’s first film since concluding his Dark Knight trilogy. Shrouded in secrecy, Interstellar seems inspired by Kubrick’s 2001, though I’m not exactly sure how. I can’t wait to find out. Nov. 7.
