Grand Illusion Cinema Blog

I only got time to drop a quick line about this film, but suffice it to say, this is a NOT TO BE MISSED FILM!

Let me break it down for you, you know how all those VHS events at Grand Illusion (curated by our good friends at Scarecrow Video) have a warmth and vibrancy and immediacy that sucks you right into your overplush velvet seats in the cozy womb of our theatre? Now couple that with the fireside chat of the late Steve Jobs from a rescued VHS tape of an interview that took place shortly before his return to Apple and you have yourself an incredible experience that reminds you why you love every Apple product you own. The reason? The man’s unwavering enthusiasm to building the best products that create the best personal computing experience for the greatest number of people.

Thanks for the 21st century Steve

Normally the lack of edits and often static framing would drive you batty, but you don’t notice as the man’s words and thoughts enrapture and enthrall you. Come on, I know you have at least owned an iPod. This is the best interview with Steve I’ve ever seen, Apple fans and even those just interested in hearing one of the brightest minds of the 20th century be picked for your pleasure will find a lot to take away from this film.

yours truly, blogy-blog-guy, dan

You might think the GI is banging on the same drum of late, but it is a drum that is firmly and purposefully sounded because there is a wealth of wonderful music documentaries that no other movie theatre in town has the cojones to show!

This week we got another doc about a music scene, this time about the new Detroit music scene, kicked off in the 80s by the Gories. You’ll hear a lot of great music in this documentary, most of it not coming from the White Stripes. Of course for legal (and probably financial) reasons, the White Stripes themselves don’t make an appearance in this film, nor does any of their songs that you probably know. But you don’t even notice their absence in the interview chair as the whiz bang pow of talent keeps you rocking and entertained as there is not a single weak band in the whole movie. One of the best “scene” music docs I’ve ever seen.

Jack White's influence is felt all over this film...

And this Saturday night, the film starts off its week-long run with a one-two punch of director Q+A and live music provided by own very own Mike Puljung! His band Hausfrau fits in right along with the balls out garage rock showcased in the film. 7:30, you know you wanna be there!

And of course the return of late night GI classic “Gums,” the movie I’ve consistently missed and will have to miss again as I’m one sick man right now. But please, see it for me and then rub it in my face because I so want to see this moooooovie!’

ps—
I’m stoked that our WordPress formatting is back to normal!

—blogging it again for real style, dan

Sorry to report our blog was hacked with some bogus redirect doodad! I’ll try to bring old posts back eventually. For now, get ready for The Sprocket Society’s show IMPAIRED, this Friday at 8pm. Here’s what they have to say about it:

Poster by Spencer Sundell.

Booze, dope, and a little sex — what’s not to like? Pull up a stool for this thoroughly smashed program of over a dozen short films, a red-eyed trip through 70 years of intoxicated cinema.

Crazy cartoons, silent-era oddities, musical soundies and more have been carefully de-seeded and distilled for your wanton overindulgence. High-lights include Georges Méliès on opium, Douglas Fairbanks on coke, pot-crazed cowboys, lysergic patriotism, bombed Betty Boop, a rare 1920s porno cartoon, and much more!