Movie Night

Tuesday, June 2 8:00 PM (FREE)
Francis Bacon (1988) / Mingus: Charlie Mingus 1968 (1968)

Francis Bacon himself was perhaps even more fascinating than his paintings...or at very least he was an amazing presence and a great raconteur. He gets progressively more drunk as the principal interview proceeds; a man who was already brutally honest reaches inspired levels of candor befitting the very finest of Irish alcoholics. This is interpolated with many deftly executed segments of a more purely art critical nature. Highly recommended to anyone wanting more of Bacon and his art.


Tom Reichman's 1968 portrait of bass virtuoso and jazz composer Charles Mingus, which ends in Mingus' arrest by NYC cops, interweaves footage from various club gigs punctuated by Mingus reading his own poetry, discussing his views on life, America and music and playing with his 4 year old daughter during the final moments before they are evicted from the dilapidated Manhattan studio where Mingus had hoped to build a music school. Yes, Charles is upset, he is drinking, and has a gun. Best quote: "I hope the commies blow all ya'll people up, you dig? 'Cause that's where I'm at."