On Friday, June 6, the IMA will start its 33rd season of the Summer Nights Film Series. For more than 3 decades the IMA’s outdoor film series has been a fan favorite. Every Friday night from June through August, crowds have brought picnic blankets and coolers and filled the IMA’s outdoor terrace to see classic movies like Casablanca and The Wizard of Oz, modern hits like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and The Princess Bride, and offbeat cult films like Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Shaft.
The tradition continues in 2008 with one twist. This summer we want your help in choosing the films. 3 of the 13 films screened for Summer Nights will be selected based on an audience vote.* That’s right, we’re doing this American Idol style, and we need your help…
Below are four categories of films with 5 choices each. Vote for your favorite film in each of the categories. Vote once, vote daily, vote hourly, it’s up to you. In the IMA’s version of American Idol, not only do you get to vote, but you also get to be Simon, Paula or Randy (but not William Hung). Feeling like you can diss it Simon Cowell style? Leave a response to this blog entry. Tell us what film you voted for and why. (If you need to learn more about the films listed below, I suggest visiting my favorite online film resource imdb.com.)
Oh, and to make this even more official, the polls will close at midnight eastern standard time on February 8. You’ve got 10 days to make your voice heard.
America, the choice is yours! Liffick out.
VOTING IS NOW CLOSED. RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE END OF FEBRUARY. STAY TUNED!
*Licensing fees and restrictions may prohibit certain selections from being screened. However, the IMA will do all that is possible to secure and show all winning films.
January 30th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
We may potentially show BORAT?!
January 30th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
It’s for America to decide.
January 30th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Turn it up to 11 (one lowda)! Go Spinal Tap!
January 30th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Ghostbusters was made in 1984? You’ve got to be kidding me!
January 30th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Let’s go Spinal Tap!
January 30th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Come on Strangers on a Train!
January 30th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
I love all of these,,there’s not a stinker among them!
January 30th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Doesn’t “independence” have all e’s???
January 30th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Thanks for the vote, but I never heard of IndepenDANCE day – I hope Usher is in it
January 30th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Please check the spelling of “Independence…”
January 30th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Only one vote for Notorious so far? Who would not want to see Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant on the big screen in an Alfred Hitchcock classic?
I’ll be voting more than once for this one!
January 30th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Notorious is very good and has Cary
Grant!!
January 30th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
The choices on Stylish Danger all look good, but maybe for some future ideas take a look at what is going on at the Detroit Art Institute and the film series that Eliot Wilhelm runs.
http://www.dia.org/dft/schedule.asp
January 30th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
We need to broaden some horizons… some are so run of the mill. I know we have to cater to all, but Borat??? really???
January 30th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Independence is spelled incorrectly. Thanks for pointing that out. We’ve fixed the problem, but more importantly we now have a great idea for a new Nugget Factory production. Does anyone know who Usher’s agent is?
January 30th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Will “Star Wars” be the original theatrical cut, or the remastered “special edition”?
January 30th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Don’t invoke my FURY over the BIG SLEEPy movies offered! As BORAT would say, “I need a DELICATESSAN on INDEPENDENCE DAY. No BULWORTH for me. Or else I will be in SHADOWS & FOG with STRANGERS ON A TRAIN. I need to find GLORY in NEW HOPE.” okay, okay — back to the Soduku puzzles….
January 30th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Too bad that none of your selections are classic or modern European films.
Perhaps you’re becoming xenophobic?
The whole world of cinema doesn’t revolve around Hollywood – thank heaven!
January 30th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
How about some fun for Independence Day? Sit down, John, sit down! 1776 has some great tunes, folks!
January 30th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Love the comments! Keep in mind that these are just some of the movies that will be selected for this summer’s series. We’ll be announcing the rest of the schedule in February.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Keep it up….we have been going to this series for over 30 years…Top Hat was the first film we saw.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Hey Meg. long time reader, first time poster. I have only this to say: The Royal Tenenbaums! Hooray!
January 30th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
The best movies are the Old Classics e.g., Street Car Named Desire, The Man That Knew too much, Vertigo – Hitchcock is a legend. Need I say more!!! We also need movies that we can do food themes too. e.g., Street Car was Cajun / Creole.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I would like to see some classic Hitchcock and Woody Allen films and imagine they would be popular with others.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
You guys would not know history if it hit you, How those brave solders broke free from slavery, and brought glory to the north. And how dare you forget that poor boy, whos dad took over the universe, and then choped off his hand, poor Luke.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
And don”t forget to visit my kool-aid stand
January 30th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
I think the all the selections will be great! One thing I do miss on the terrace is the music nights. I hope that IMA will consider having some of the great musical artist back!!!!!
January 31st, 2008 at 6:05 am
why not show rushmore over the tenenbaums?
January 31st, 2008 at 6:07 am
why not rushmore over the tenenbaums?
January 31st, 2008 at 8:00 am
I LOVE Delicatessen. Great choice. It’s a sleeper and more people need to see it.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:01 am
Donnie Darko and Royal Tenembaums rock!
January 31st, 2008 at 9:04 am
Great selection and to make it even better ~ why not add some more fantasy.
I’m wondering where are The Lord of the Rings movies ??
In most cities (U.S. and around the world ) you can find a least one theater a year
where one is not all three LoTR films are shown. It turns into a real event.
The some can be said for Star Trek the original TV series recently re-mastered
into HD. These movies are really beautiful and TOO MUCH FUN.
Thanks for letting us put in our 2 cents.
Paula
January 31st, 2008 at 10:57 am
For 2009: Enter the Dragon or The Muppets Movie.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:05 am
Who can resist a Patricia Highsmith story?
January 31st, 2008 at 11:06 am
the IMA is paying someone to do this? what a waste of time & electrons. how much does the blog-o-sphere bring in new people, as opposed to distracting staff and family that should be working? what did Cuba Gooding say? “Show me the metrics!!”
January 31st, 2008 at 11:32 am
Have you thought of showing the movie on Friday and Sat. nights -
January 31st, 2008 at 11:38 am
Thanks for the comment j. It’s a perspective that I know many people share. I know my colleague Despi has already responded in her own blog, so I’ll quote her reply as I share her point of view. “Actually, we produce online content not only for those who visit the museum, but largely for those who never will. Creating a vast network beyond our walls extends the reach of our content and mission, gives an international voice to the works of art we are charged with conserving and sharing as well as giving individuals like yourself something to read and rant about in the blogosphere.”
January 31st, 2008 at 1:47 pm
What you should have is “Yankee Doodle Dandy”. The other films in that category just aren’t very good. Cagney as Cohan is wonderful.
January 31st, 2008 at 3:08 pm
first, wes anderson started with a mediocre film in “rushmore” and then it was downhill from there. please no royal tennenbaums.
second, notorious is the superior hitchcock film, strangers on a train is kind of hammy and obvious and a bit too steeped in freud.
third, not sure any of the stars and stripes movies are worthy. how about just “stripes.”?
January 31st, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Oh.. Dex.. Dex Dex.. they’re poisoning me…
Ingrid, Cary, Claud, Alfred- none better! Vote “Notorious”
and often
January 31st, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I voted for movies that I haven’t seen yet. I also second showing the movies on Friday and Saturday.
February 1st, 2008 at 7:13 am
Royal Tenenbaums is a great film! Borat….please tell me no?!?
February 1st, 2008 at 10:36 am
They showed YANKEE DOODLE DANDY in 2005…maybe it’s too soon to show it again. STRIPES…a good idea.
Re: STRANGERS ON A TRAIN: the Freudianism is the best (& spookiest) part!
February 1st, 2008 at 11:42 am
I would like to see the ratings of the choices!
February 1st, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Borat? I thought the IMA was a promoter of broadening ones intellect. Borat doesnt deserve mention, how ignorant. Another example of America dumbing down our minds.
February 1st, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Royal Tennenbaums sucks. Can anyone really sit through that crap twice? I think people say they love that for the same reason they say they love Breaking Benjamin. Cause they think other people think it’s cool.
Stripes was a total no-brainer. We should have a write-in. Every guy over 30 can quote the whole thing line by line.
WHY do we have Star Wars up there? And why do we INSIST on calling it “A New Hope?” It sucked in the 70’s, it sucked in the 80’s, it sucked in the 90’s. Giving it a new name will NOT make it better in this decade.
Feel the love!
February 3rd, 2008 at 8:54 am
this is a reply to what David wrote about w. anderson. his first movie was the wonderful Bottlerocket, which would be a good choice as well.
February 4th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Please do not show Borat. That movie is repulsive and the museum should be above it.
February 4th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I don’t want to be a member of any art museum that considers itself “above” one piece of art or another. It’s clear that the movie Borat was intended to as a SATIRE of American attitudes. This ballot will decide whether it succeeded or not, but I applaud the curators of the Summer Nights series for offering us a choice.
Who wants to go to an art museum simply to be told “This is good” and “What you don’t see here is no good?” Attitudes like that are what make Borat a timely character to begin with!!
February 4th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Hey Meg, For one of the other movies, not chosen “Idol” style, why not “Raiders of the Lost Ark”? You know, with Harrison Ford coming out with the 4th in this series in May, it should be a great one to show!
February 4th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
You can never go wrong with old school movies!
February 5th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Will you show any children’s movies this year? We would love that! We also agree with showing Indiana Jones movies!
February 5th, 2008 at 9:43 am
PLEASE vote for Ghostbusters!! My four year daughter is in love with that movie! She was even a Ghostbuster for Halloween this year! That would be so much fun for her!
February 5th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
YES, I, TOO, THINK YOU SHOULD SHOW SOME KIDS’ MOVIES. WHAT WOULD IT HURT?
February 6th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
I AGREE WITH TERRI ABOUT THE BLK/BLK CLASSICS..COMCAST 62.98 AND WE WATCH 50-60 YR OLD FLICKS
February 7th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Part of the fun is watching/sharing the ‘old’ movies, the more cliche/corny the better. Of course, so many of the old movies are such good acting and stories. Take Double Indemnity, for example. Tyrone Power is so good in that, along with Charles Laughton, etc, etc. One of the best times we’ve ever had was when you showed some old cartoons, ie, Tom and Jerry, Donald Duck, etc, etc. What a hoot! Everybody was laughing. It was a delight.
February 7th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Oops…got my movies mixed up…was thinking of “Witness for the Prosecution”…both good movies.
February 7th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Several people in Indianapolis now offer 35mm outdoor film projection for events at a reasonable price. (Fountain Square uses them for their outdoor movies.) Your film series is so “amateur” when you continue to use 16mm and or mickey mouse DVD video projection. The IMA is a first class operation and that quality should be also reflected in their Summer Film Series by using the theatrical standard of 35mm as your selected films were originally presented when they were first run. More information on 35mm projection services can be obtained from Mark Vedder, 317-862-3002.
February 7th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Hey all,
Thanks for all the feed back. I wanted to respond to a couple of things.
1. Daylight Savings Time has greatly impacted the make up of our audience. In summers past, we typically had several movies suitable for all ages. However, because it doesn’t get dark until well after 9 pm, the number of families attending Summer Nights has dramatically lowered. This summer we will have a range of movies that will have ratings between PG and R. However, because of the lack of family participation, we have chosen to not show a G-rated film.
2. Lyman makes a valid argument for 35 mm films to be shown at Summer Nights. I completely understand that quality is important to a movie-going experience. However, Summer Nights is as much about the atmosphere and the event as it is about the film. Last summer we upgraded to digital and this summer we will once again upgrade to Hi-Definition. We hope that these improvements enhance the Summer Nights experience for everyone.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Oldies are goodies!
February 7th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
how’s about some Idiocracy? I could go for a half-priced latte or two. And money. I like money.
February 8th, 2008 at 7:28 am
Independence Day has aliens in it cmon vote for it
February 11th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
daylight saving should be taken away movies does start to late i like any movie almost
February 18th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
neal, you were right. bottlerocket, completely forgot about that one. i’ll give you that this was his best film but very very minor and one-dimensional as all his work. he comes up with some clever moments and aspects of a few characters and then goes straight to shooting. no thought to fully fleshing out anything. this attitude has been mistaken as “cool” by the film going public when it is really not film-making, not directing. i’d not be so hard on him were not some of his films – especially rushmore and tennenbaums – so revered.
so are we doing a write-in for stripes?
and to 3snake3: i like spellbound for the over freudian overtones.
March 14th, 2008 at 9:36 am
is it too late to REQ Style Wars? It’s art reppin’ 2 da fullest. Hotter than tha 3rd Rail, yo. B-sides, I love looking @ all uv tha nice burners that I will eventually ruin by tagging for no apparent reason. Get up!
April 20th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Chocolat!!!
April 20th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
or breakfast club
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