This month, the Flint Institute of Arts presents multiple films that look at the funny side of life. But are they “funny” as in ha-ha, or “funny” as in weird?
The viewer may have to decide, especially in the case of Tickled, a documentary coming to the museum’s Friends of Modern Art film series on October 14-16. This 92-minute, R-rated movie stands as a cautionary tale about the potentially destructive nature of the Internet as it exposes a very … to put it mildly, unusual subculture.
In the film, a journalist from New Zealand goes online to learn about people who partake in “competitive endurance tickling,” then, as he digs deeper, finds his curiosity is highly unwelcome. This thought-provoking entry was an award nominee at the Sundance Film Festival.
More strangeness abounds in another documentary, Weiner, coming to the FIA on October 28-30. It examines the catastrophically unsuccessful New York mayoral campaign of disgraced former congressman, Anthony Weiner, in a contentious American political landscape. Weiner continues to make news for his odd behavior, so maybe the time is right for this movie (96 min., rated R).
Genius, playing at the museum October 7-9, is a fictionalization (104 min., PG-13) of a true-life story. Oscar-winner Colin Firth portrays legendary book editor Max Perkins, who collaborated with some of America’s brightest literary lights, among them Thomas Wolfe, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. Also in the impressive cast are Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Dominic West and Laura Linney.
The month’s other core FOMA entry is Little Men (85 min., PG), a family-oriented indie drama coming to the series on October 21-23. Jennifer Ehle, Alfred Molina and Greg Kinnear head the adult cast in a heartfelt story about a pair of young best friends whose bond is tested as their parents battle over a business matter.
FOMA films are shown at 7:30pm Fridays and Saturdays and 2pm Sundays at the FIA, 1120 E. Kearsley St. Tickets, available at the door, are $6 for non-members, $5 for FIA members, and $4 for FOMA members.
In addition to the regular FOMA series lineup above, the museum is presenting the next installment in a monthly film series spotlighting American music greats. Don Cheadle stars as mercurial jazz great Miles Davis in the biopic Miles Ahead (100 minutes, rated R). Showtimes are 7:30pm October 20, 2pm October 22 and 4pm October 23. Admission is $2 on October 20, $4-$6 for the other dates.
For more info, visit FlintArts.org or call 810.234.1695.
