Quentin Tarantino has long been a vocal advocate for director Tony Scott, and this month, his New Beverly Cinema will pay tribute to Scott’s work with one of his most frequent collaborators, Denzel Washington.
From “Crimson Tide” (which benefited from an uncredited Tarantino rewrite after Scott directed “True Romance” from an early Tarantino screenplay) in 1995 to “Unstoppable” in 2010, Scott and Washington partnered on five movies, all of which will screen in 35mm throughout May at the New Bev.
The series kicks off on May 1 with a double feature of “Unstoppable” and Scott’s 2009 remake of “The Taking of Pelham 123, the last two films the director helmed before his death in 2012. Both movies are typically kinetic Scott spectacles, non-stop chases that showcase the filmmaker’s gifts for visceral action. “Unstoppable” stars Washington as an engineer helping young conductor Chris Pine stop a runaway train packed with toxic chemicals; “Pelham 123” pits Washington’s subway dispatcher against hijacker John Travolta, who gleefully tears into his role as a righteous villain.
(On Saturday, May 2, the original version of “The Taking of Pelham 123” will screen in 35mm at the Academy Museum, meaning if you’re in L.A. on that day, you can see both versions of the story on the big screen back to back.)
Later in the month, the New Beverly will screen Scott’s 2004 thriller “Man on Fire,” which stars Washington as a bodyguard who unleashes vengeful fury on everyone in his path after the girl he’s been hired to protect (Dakota Fanning) is kidnapped. “Man on Fire” is one of Scott’s most visually stunning and revolutionary films, packed with bold color, composition, and editing choices as Scott and cinematographer Paul Cameron push their film stocks to the limit. It’s a wildly experimental studio film best seen on the big screen, which makes the New Bev’s revival a must-see.
The Washington-Scott series concludes at the end of the month with a double feature of “Crimson Tide” and the 2004 “Déjà Vu.” “Crimson Tide” is one of the great American action films of the 1990s, a Jerry Bruckheimer-produced submarine flick in which Washington and commander Gene Hackman clash over control of their sub in a conflict that could start World War III if handled incorrectly. “Déjà Vu” is another Bruckheimer collaboration, a twisty suspense film with Washington as a time-traveling federal agent that’s, as usual for Scott, both gorgeous and riveting.
In addition to the Tony Scott-Denzel Washington tribute, the New Beverly’s May calendar features its usual blend of fan favorites, obscurities, exploitation gems, and family matinees. There’s a retrospective of rarely screened films starring George Peppard, some Hong Kong favorites starring Sally Yeh, and Greta Garbo silent classics. The monthly cartoon club will feature “An American Tail: Fievel Goes West,” with other all-ages programs including an IB Technicolor print of Disney’s “Cinderella” and the 2006 drama “Akeelah and the Bee.”
There are also matinees featuring classic vehicles for two legendary action heroes: the New Bev will screen “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” and the Sean Connery James Bond film “Diamonds Are Forever.” And of course, there are the midnight movies: the essential exploitation powerhouse “Savage Streets” (one of the best revenge movies ever), John Landis’ raucous sketch comedy film “Kentucky Fried Movie,” and Tarantino’s own “Django Unchained” among them. No matter what kind of theatrical experience you’re looking for, you’ll find it at the New Beverly this month.
To see the entire May schedule, visit the New Beverly’s website.
