Timothy Spall. Helen Mirren. Ryan Reynolds. Dustin Hoffman. Kathy Bates. These larger than life public figures have one thing in common.
Their films launch the Reel Mondays 2015 fall series being screened from September to November at the Arden Theatre.
Mr. Turner kick-starts the three-part series on Sept. 14 followed by Woman in Gold on Oct. 5. Completing the triptych is Boychoir on Nov. 2.
For the past 11 years, the Friends of St. Albert Public Library has hosted the movie series as a fundraiser. In the past few years, the Friends have directed funds to the library’s St. Albert Readers Festival (STARFest).
“We always try to have a series that is non-violent, has good stories and keeps you in your seats. We always look for the new and interesting films and we look for tie-ins to books,” said Kathie Konarzewski, volunteer for the Friends of St. Albert Public Library.
Mr. Turner explores the last quarter century of the renowned, but eccentric British painter J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851). Directed by Mike Leigh and starring Timothy Spall, it is a period film of the famed landscape painter who was more comfortable with paint than with social events.
Turner was single-minded about his career, dismissed the mother of his two children, preyed on his housekeeper yet ultimately found a comforting relationship in his later years.
“We are always looking for something different and interesting. Mr. Turner is more vintage, slightly historical. It’s a film about an interesting man and very good painter.”
Woman in Gold, starring Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds, is the true story of an elderly Jewish refugee living in Los Angeles who sets out to reclaim a stolen family painting.
Together with her lawyer Randy Schoenberg, they fight the Austrian government for almost 10 years to reclaim Gustav Klimt’s iconic painting, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer. The portrait was of the Jewish refugee’s aunt and was stolen from a relative’s home by Nazis.
The closer, Boychoir pulls together a stellar cast headed by Dustin Hoffman and Kathy Bates to tell the story of Stet, a rebellious 12-year-old boy with a remarkable gift for singing.
After his single mother dies, he is sent to a boy choir school and is instantly at odds with the choir master, a man who recognizes a unique talent and pushes Stet to discover his creative heart and soul.
“This one is a more family movie. We’ve never done this before. We’ve always had adult audiences, but this is a story about a sensitive boy and it stays within our niche. It’s also getting close to Christmas and this is appropriate for both adults and children. I think it’s going to be fun.”
Traditionally, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was the movie provider. This year the society switched to the Criterion, a company with a massive collection from major contributors such as Warner, Twentieth Century Fox and Lionsgate Films to name a few.
“We loved working with TIFF, however their technology and our technology no longer fit.”
Since Reel Mondays moved to the Arden Theatre from its previous site at the now-defunct Grandin Theatres, there are more seats to fill.
Grandin Theatres were a sellout at 200 seats. The Arden’s banked seating is more than doubled at 500.
“We would love to fill as many seats as possible. Our prices are fair and they support the library. Every penny goes to the library after costs.”
Reel Monday films start at 7 p.m. The three-part subscription series is pegged at $35. Individual adult tickets are $15. The only exception is Boychoir. Ticket prices for children 10 to 17 are $8. All tickets are available at the St. Albert Public Library customer service desk or by phoning 780-459-1530.
