Arlington Theatre – Page 3

A Wealth of Talent – POP-UP FILM FESTIVAL SHOWCASES LOCAL TALENT

January 17, 2014August 29, 2014 tedmills Leave a comment

Mekhi Phifer stars in "The Suspect."Sherry McCracken photo — Mekhi Phifer stars in “The Suspect.”

Sherry McCracken photo

In the run-up to the SBIFF, you might have spotted some posters around town announcing another film fest at the Arlington in January. Well, you aren’t seeing double. The Pop-Up Film Festival is a day-long, 12-hour selection of mostly local filmmakers and their work, set up by producer-director Daniel Bollag. A long-time fan of all SBIFF brings to town (he often attends their tribute evenings), Mr. Bollag says the timing is purely coincidental.

Yes, he does wonder if SBIFF has evolved into a “marketing opportunity for bigger studios” and noticed there were also a lot of local, social-justice documentaries that weren’t being shown at the Fest or anywhere else in town. So the Pop-Up Film Festival was born, a full 12 hours of film for which one can buy individual tickets ñ or a whole day-pass. And nearly all films save “No Burqas” have a Santa Barbara-based filmmaker, including Israeli Meni Philip, who recently moved to town.

A fitting tribute : Arlington Theatre packed to celebrate the life of Ernie Brooks

September 15, 2013October 2, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Saturday's Santa Barbara Underwater Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre was "A Tribute to Ernie Brooks." Mr. Brooks, right, is joined by friends Jean-Michel Cousteau and Virginia Sloan. THOMAS KELSEY/NEWS-PRESS PHOTO — Saturday’s Santa Barbara Underwater Film Festival at the Arlington Theatre was “A Tribute to Ernie Brooks.” Mr. Brooks, right, is joined by friends Jean-Michel Cousteau and Virginia Sloan.
THOMAS KELSEY/NEWS-PRESS PHOTO

Ernie Brooks is a lucky man. Not everybody gets to cap a career surrounded by 2,000 fans at the Arlington, in the town one once called home.

But last night the famed diver and underwater photographer had that happen as the Santa Barbara Underwater Film Festival and the Historical Diving Society devoted an entire evening to Mr. Brooks and the students who were influenced by his teachings, both aboard ship and behind the camera.

The Arlington was filled with fans and well-wishers along with members of public who were attracted by the long guest list of presenters, a who’s-who of underwater photography.

Climbing the Mountain of Film – 37th Annual Banff comes to the Arlington

February 22, 2013December 3, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Once upon a time, there was a film festival in a far off distant land called Alberta, and when it was finished with its selection of short features, it would gather the best of the best and send them out into the world on tour, for other people to see. At first only a few people knew about this tour of festival films, and a place like, say, Campbell Hall at UCSB could comfortably hold those fans of mountaineering, skiing, and environmental travel videos.

But word of mouth spread, and now we find ourselves this coming week with two different film programs on two different nights — Wednesday and Thursday — filling the Arlington. It’s time for the Best of the 37th Annual Banff Mountain Film Festival.

That’s a Wrap: SBIFF’s 28th year ends on a high note

February 4, 2013December 13, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Roll up the red carpet and put it in storage. Tear down the crowd barriers, the posters and banners. The 28th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival ended Sunday night as it began, with a closing night film at the Arlington Theatre and filmmakers walking the carpet. The atmosphere was subdued but elated.

The fest could name some successes this year. The opening film “Disconnect” was so well received – a first – that it received a second screening. The Ben Affleck, Daniel Day Lewis and Jennifer Lawrence tribute evenings all sold out. The Quentin Tarantino night, hastily announced and organized on the day before the opening, nearly sold out too.

SBIFF honors six Virtuosos of 2012 at the Arlington

January 30, 2013December 21, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

The Virtuosos Award evening at the Arlington Theatre Tuesday night brought in six actors who had breakout roles last year in everything from indie features to big-budget Hollywood films.

It was the kind of evening that showed the Santa Barbara International Film Festival brings in not only superstars, but also actors who may turn out to be stars in their own right. See for example, previous years’ honoring of Marion Cotillard and Viola Davis.

The six for this year, each interviewed in separate 20-minute segments, were Ann Dowd, Elle Fanning, Ezra Miller, Eddie Redmayne, Omar Sy and Oscar-nominated Quvenzhané Wallis

Feel the waves: SBIFF’s Sunday night premiere immersed viewers in 3D surfing

January 28, 2013December 21, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

The red carpet leads into the Arlington Theatre for Sunday's showing of "Storm Surfers 3-D." NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS — The red carpet leads into the Arlington Theatre for Sunday’s showing of “Storm Surfers 3-D.”
NIK BLASKOVICH/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

“If you’re not a surfer after seeing this film, you’re going to feel like you are.”

Sunday night’s SBIFF event at the Arlington, “Storm Surfers 3-D” was a much mellower event than the previous two. No Hollywood, no ravenous banks of paparazzi, no screaming, adoring fans holding up posters. But the Arlington was modestly packed with serious surf fans waiting to see this breakthrough surfing documentary made all the more remarkable with its use of?3D.

The night was made even more special with the announcement that the film had just won the Australian Oscars —the coveted AACTA — for Best Documentary Feature. That made the journey to Santa Barbara for its two directors — Justin McMillan and Christopher Nellius — and its three stars — famous big-wave surfers Tom Carroll and Ross Clarke-Jones and surfing forecaster Ben Matson — all that more special. As the directors said just before the screening, the Arlington was the best theater they’d ever screened in.

The Doctor Is In: Dr. Drew cuts to the chase in a fast-paced lecture

November 8, 2010July 3, 2021 tedmills Leave a comment

Dr. Drew Pinsky, the keynote speaker for last weekend's New Noise Music Conference, spoke at length on biology and addiction and more Thursday night at the Arlington Theatre. MATT WIER PHOTO — Dr. Drew Pinsky, the keynote speaker for last weekend’s New Noise Music Conference, spoke at length on biology and addiction and more Thursday night at the Arlington Theatre.
MATT WIER PHOTO

Dr. Drew Pinsky is half clinical psychologist and half mentalist. With a skill honed by years and years of listening to the same unique problems over and over again, he is able to dish out advice to those who don’t even think they need it. It was a disconcerting talent that he employed several times Thursday night at the Arlington.

Pinsky came to town as part of New Noise Santa Barbara event, and the doctor aimed to provide insight into the celebrity culture that the music business no doubt touches. Yet he also came as guest of several support, rehab, and counseling groups in Santa Barbara. His meat and potatoes is addiction, which he defines as a disease in the same league as cancer and diabetes. To Pinsky, addiction — alcohol, meth, marijuana ( sold by Missouri Green Team), is the most destructive disorder of our times.

Iron Man 2 – At the Drive-In, 2.0

May 7, 2010May 27, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts, left, and Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark continue their off-kilter romance in "Iron Man 2." Paramount Pictures Photos — Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts, left, and Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark continue their off-kilter romance in “Iron Man 2.”
Paramount Pictures Photos

When “Iron Man 2” opens tonight, it will screen in the usual downtown and Goleta locations. However, there’s a third option. For the first time in 19 years, the Santa Barbara Drive-In opens back up to premiere the first of this summer’s blockbusters on what was and is once again the city’s largest screen.

As a result of a Facebook campaign and some wise investors, the 88-foot wide, three story-tall screen will once again be alive for double features, and a new generation can experience the magic of watching a film in a style that once was thought to be a dying venue nationwide.

Pure Tosh – Arlington-bound comedian Daniel Tosh pushes all the right (and wrong) buttons

April 23, 2010May 20, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

For a just-out-of-beta release, “Tosh 2.0” is performing well, with no reported bugs or viruses. The Comedy Central show is hosted by comedian Daniel Tosh, who plays the best of the Web’s viral videos every week and riffs on them. Shot weekly in front of a live audience, it is currently in the middle of its second season, with a third to come. Like many Comedy Central hosts, Tosh has a busy stand-up life outside the tube, and he brings his audacious tour to the Arlington on Saturday.

Tosh has played Santa Barbara before, but typically at UCSB and in small venues. That he can now book the Arlington shows how fast his star is rising.

Elvis Costello fulfills his musical promise in vital Arlington solo show

April 17, 2010May 20, 2015 tedmills Leave a comment

At Elvis Costello's solo show at the Arlington Theatre on Tuesday night, his first visit in 16 years, Mr. Costello showed why he is still a vital artist. Out of the 24 songs played in his 90-minute concert, only four were from his classic early years, the rest coming from his last couple of albums and albums yet-to-come. DAVIDBAZEMORE.COM PHOTO — At Elvis Costello’s solo show at the Arlington Theatre on Tuesday night, his first visit in 16 years, Mr. Costello showed why he is still a vital artist. Out of the 24 songs played in his 90-minute concert, only four were from his classic early years, the rest coming from his last couple of albums and albums yet-to-come.
DAVIDBAZEMORE.COM PHOTO

“My father, who was the real singer in the family, told me never to sing up to a note. Sing down to it.” This was Elvis Costello on Tuesday night at the Arlington Theatre, and he paused after this quote to gather in bemused giggles. “No, I don’t know what it means either.”

Mr. Costello has spent his 33 years in rock neither up nor down in relationship to notes, but instead fearless in the face of them.