See 2001 “Big” this Summer at MoMI
Copywright Museum of the Moving Image
Attention NYC area sci-fi fans and cinephiles! Our beloved Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) will be showing a 70-millimeter version of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) as part of their upcoming See it Big: 70mm series. This annual summer tradition includes screenings of select films in glorious 70mm, allowing for a significantly larger theatrical frame, vivid detail, and a generally spectacular cinematic experience. Simply put, 2001 and 70mm are a match made in movie heaven!
Directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on the work of legendary sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke, 2001 is the story of two astronauts who investigate a mysterious black rectangular column (a.k.a. “The Monolith”) that has inexplicably appeared on the surface of the moon. Their mission takes them deep into space as they attempt to learn the monolith’s origins. Meanwhile, the seemingly sentient supercomputer HAL 9000, meant to aid our astronauts in their mission, goes very rogue—talk about a cautionary tale of AI!
2001 is not exactly known for brevity and tight pacing. Instead, this sprawling space epic presents the audience with an array of images and ideas that are awe-inspiring, haunting, and even disorienting at times; this is a pure cinematic experience. The film leaves ample room for interpretation, though at its heart is a suggestion that the alien monolith is the genesis of all life and the catalyst of its ongoing evolution, including our own. Needless to say, HAL, the monolith, and the rotating wheel-shaped space station have become cinematic iconography and synonymous with classic science fiction.
While some are turned off by film’s presumed pretentions, leisurely pace, and inscrutability, I for one adore this movie. Enigmatic as it may be, it immerses the viewer in mind-bending imagery, provocative ideas, stunning practical effects, striking futuristic production design, and a resonant, impactful score. I won’t say more as I am reserving the opportunity to take a much deeper dive into 2001 for a later date.
In the meantime, if you are in the area (which happens to be our vibrant neighborhood of Astoria, Queens) do yourself a favor and visit MoMI to see 2001, which is being screened in its beautiful Redstone Theater. To further sweeten the deal, the theater was recently upgraded to Dolby Atmos sound and 4k laser projection. The schedule is below:
Thursday, July 31st at 6:30pm
Friday, August 1st at 6:30pm
Saturday, August 2nd at 6:30pm
Sunday, August 3rd at 5:30pm
Sunday, August 10th at 5:30pm
Sunday, August 17th at 5:30pm
Sunday, August 24th at 5:30pm
The movie runs 149 minutes, plus an intermission. Visit MoMI to learn more about the series and to purchase tickets.
The Redstone Theater
See It Big also includes two action-packed Tom Cruise vehicles, Top Gun (1986) and Days of Thunder (1990), which straddle a separate series: Tom Cruise Above and Beyond. The series, which runs through August 17, boasts a large slate of Cruise movies including genre efforts like Interview with a Vampire (1994), Minority Report (2002), Collateral (2004), War of the Worlds (2005), and Edge of Tomorrow (2014).
And let us not overlook the 70mm screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s crackerjack suspense thriller North by Northwest (1959), starring Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, and Martin Landau.
If you are unfamiliar with MoMI and are in the New York area, we suggest taking the trek out to Astoria to explore its wonderful pieces of film and television history, interactive exhibits, eclectic set of curated retrospectives, and much, much more.
Membership?
We have been members of MoMI for many years now and find it a great way to support the museum and its great work. If you live in or near New York consider a MoMI membership, which comes with many excellent benefits, including complimentary admission to the museum, free and reduced-price tickets to screenings, select series, and special events, 15% discount at the MoMI Shop, and much more. Visit the MoMI membership page to learn more.
