BRATTLEBORO-On the heels of the film, One Battle After Another, nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture, Latchis Arts presents a series about its director, entitled “The Modern Master: A Paul Thomas Anderson Retrospective.”
This weekly series will feature a selection of films spanning Anderson’s 30-plus year career, curated by Ian Moran and Teddy Martin. The series opens on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 4 p.m., and then continues on four Sundays at 4 p.m.
Anderson’s filmography “is especially notable for its tonal and stylistic range,” wrote organizers in a news release, noting Anderson has been lauded in equal measure for his talents as a storyteller and cinematic technician.
Over the years, PTA (as he is known by fans) has delivered “energetic ensemble pieces and cryptic chamber dramas, films both humorous and humane, entertaining yet transgressive.”
The L.A. native made his first feature film at the age of 25.
This series will provide both established fans and newcomers a rare opportunity to see some of PTA’s works on the big screen, and Moran and Martin will host informal post-screening discussions after each film.
The screenings and discussions include:
• Saturday, Feb. 7: Boogie Nights. A groundbreaking 1997 film for PTA and star Mark Wahlberg. Set in the San Fernando Valley in 1977, teenage busboy Eddie Adams (Wahlberg) is discovered by porn director Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds), who transforms him into adult film star Dirk Diggler. Supported by a circle of friends, Dirk rides the wave of success, but the excesses of success threaten to bring him down. Rated R; Running time: 2 hours and 32 minutes.
• Sunday, Feb. 15: Magnolia. The ensemble, featuring Jason Robards, Julianne Moore, Tom Cruise, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, propels this 1999 drama. On a day like any other day, the storylines of an intriguing cast of lost souls become marvelously intertwined in one story. Rated R. Running time 3 hours and 8 minutes.
• Sunday, Feb. 22: The Master. Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) is a troubled, boozy drifter struggling with the trauma of World War II and many other inner demons. On a fateful night in 1950, he boards a boat and meets Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman), the charismatic leader of a religious movement. Freddie tries hard to adhere to Dodd’s weird teachings and forms a close bond with his mentor, even as other members of Dodd’s inner circle see him as a threat. An intense, thoughtful and complex study of power and personality, The Master was released in 2012. Rated R. Running time: 2 hours and 16 minutes.
• Sunday, March 1: Licorice Pizza. A treacherous navigation of first love, this film tells the story of Alana Kane (Alana Haim) and Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) growing up, running around, and falling in love in the San Fernando Valley, 1973. Praised as “nostalgic, heartfelt, funny and wise,” it is ranked among PTA’s best work. Rated R. Running time: 2 hours and 13 minutes.
A suggested donation of $10 would be appreciated for admission. For more information on the series, visit latchis.com.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.