THE CONTENDERS PRESENTS THE YEAR’S BEST MOVIES AS SELECTED BY MoMA’S DEPARTMENT OF FILM Special Appearances include Tilda Swinton, Steve McQueen, Kristen Wiig, Jean Dujardin, Liza Johnson, and Alexander Payne The Contenders November 8, 2011–January 30, 2012 The Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters NEW YORK, November 2, 2011—The Museum of Modern Art announces the 2011 lineup for The Contenders, the annual end-of-the-year series that offers filmgoers the opportunity to see a wide spectrum of influential and innovative films made within the last 12 months. Selected from major studio releases and top film festivals by curators in the Museum’s Department of Film, the films represent the best of mainstream movies, independents, foreign-language films, documentaries, and art-house sensations. The Contenders is presented from November 8, 2011 through January 30, 2012, in The Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters. It is organized by Rajendra Roy, The Celeste Bartos Chief Curator, and Sean Egan, Producer, The Department of Film, The Museum of Modern Art. Several screenings will feature appearances by directors and actors. These include Jean Dujardin, lead actor of The Artist, who will participate in a post-screening Q&A on November 16, and Kristen Wiig, lead actress and co-writer of Bridesmaids, who will be present for a film discussion following the screening on November 21. Alexander Payne, director of The Descendents, will be in attendance for a Q&A on November 27. Gore Verbinski, the director of the animated film Rango, will be in attendance on December 9, and director Liza Johnson will be participating in a Q&A after the screening of Return on January 30. The exhibition opens with Clint Eastwood’s J. Edgar on November 8 at 8:00 p.m. The film, seen through the eyes of Hoover himself, explores the personal and public life and relationships of a man who could distort the truth as easily as he upheld it during a life devoted to his own idea of justice. Additional popular releases include Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life, an impressionistic story of a Midwestern family in the 1950s; Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive, an atmospheric thriller about a heist gone wrong; Tomas Alfredson’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, a new adaptation of the John Le Carre spy novel; Woody Allen’s romantic comedy Midnight in Paris; and Bennett Miller’s Moneyball, an adaptation of Michael Lewis' non-fiction best seller. Also featured are David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method, exploring the intense relationship between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung and his mentor Sigmund Freud; Lars Von Trier’s Melancholia, a sciencefiction drama following the story of two sisters who find their already strained relationship challenged as a mysterious new planet threatens to collide into the Earth; Martin Scorsese’s first
3-D film Hugo, based on Brian Selznick’s award-winning best-seller The Invention of Hugo Cabret; and Simon Curtis’ My Week with Marilyn, recounting 23 year-old Colin Clark’s week on the set of a Marilyn Monroe film that introduced the famed actress to the pleasures of British life. Documentaries include Pina, Wim Wenders’ 3-D tribute to choreographer Pina Bausch; Lynn Hershman-Leeson’s !Women Art Revolution, the filmmaker’s personal collection of hundreds of hours of interviews with visionary artists, historians, curators, and critics who shaped the Feminist Art Movement; and Werner Herzog’s Into the Abyss, an examination of why people kill explored through conversations with death row inmate Michael Perry and those affected by his crime. Acclaimed foreign films include Aki Kaurismäki’s Le Havre, Finland’s official submission to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the 84th Academy Awards; Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation, Iran’s official submission in the Best Foreign Language category, is the story of a couple who must decide whether to flee Iran for the sake of their son or stay behind to care for an ailing parent; Karim Ainouz’s The Silver Cliff (O Abismo Prateado), inspired by a song by Brazilian musician Chico Buarque, which examines the impossibility of love and forgiveness; and Jeanne Crépeau’s La Fille de Montreal, the filmmaker’s love letter to her beloved city. Three films that were featured in the 2011 New Directors/New Films festival, co-organized by MoMA and the Film Society of Lincoln Center, will return to the Titus Theaters for The Contenders: J.C. Chandor’s financial thriller Margin Call and Anne Sewitsky’s feature debut Happy, Happy (also Norway’s official Oscar submission) and Dee Rees’ Pariah. Special PopRally Screening: MoMA’s PopRally presents a special screening of Lynne Ramsay’s We Need to Talk About Kevin, on November 30, 2011 at 8:00 p.m., followed by a post-film discussion with actress Tilda Swinton and Sally Berger, MoMA’s Assistant Curator of Film. A reception featuring a DJ set by HuggyBear will follow. Tickets will be available for purchase at http://MoMA.org/PopRally. Special MoMA Film Plus and MoMA Member Screenings: A special MoMA Film Plus screening of Steve McQueen’s Shame, on November 29 will be featured as part of The Contenders. Director Steve McQueen will introduce the screening and will participate in a post-screening discussion. The screening of Shame is for MoMA Film Plus members only. A special MoMA members-only screening of Roman Polanski’s Carnage will be on December 7. The screening of Carnage is for MoMA members only. MoMA Membership and Film Plus information is available at www.moma.org/membership. Sponsorship: The exhibition is supported by BNP Paribas. Complete list of film selections: A Dangerous Method. 2011. Canada/Germany/United Kingdom/Switzerland. Directed by David Cronenberg. A Separation. 2011. Iran. Directed Asghar Farhadi. Albert Nobbs. 2011. United Kingdom/Ireland. Directed by Rodrigo García. Anonymous. 2011. United Kingdom/Germany. Directed by Roland Emmerich. Bridesmaids. 2011. USA. Directed by Paul Feig. Carnage. 2011. France/Germany/Poland. Directed by Roman Polanski. (Special MoMA members Screening).
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Drive. 2011. USA. Directed by Nicholas Wending Refn. Happy, Happy. 2010. Norway. Directed by Anne Sewitsky. Hugo. 2011. USA. Directed by Martin Scorsese. Into the Abyss. 2011. Germany/Canada. Directed by Werner Herzog. J. Edgar. 2011. USA. Directed by Clint Eastwood. La Fille de Montreal. 2010. Canada. Directed by Jeanne Crépeau. Le Havre. 2011. Finland/France/Germany. Directed by Aki Kaurismäki. Margin Call. 2011. USA. Directed by J.C. Chandor. Melancholia. 2011. Denmark/Sweden/France/Germany. Directed by Lars von Trier. Midnight in Paris. 2011. Spain/USA. Directed by Woody Allen. Moneyball. 2011. USA. Directed by Bennett Miller. My Week with Marilyn. 2011. United Kingdom. Directed by Simon Curtis. Pariah. 2011. USA. Directed by Dee Rees. Print courtesy of Focus Features. Pina. 2011. Germany/France/United Kingdom. Directed by Wim Wenders. Rango. 2011. USA. Directed by Gore Verbinski. Return. 2011. USA. Directed by Liza Johnson. Shame. 2011. United Kingdom. Directed by Steve McQueen. (Special MoMA Film Plus Screening). The Artist. 2011. France. Directed by Michel Hazanavicius. The Descendants. 2011. USA. Directed by Alexander Payne. The Help. 2011. USA. Directed by Tate Taylor. The Muppets. 2011. USA. Directed by James Bobin. The Rise of the Planet of the Apes. 2011. USA. Directed by Rupert Wyatt. The Silver Cliff (O Abismo Prateado). 2011. Brazil. Directed by Karim Ainouz. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. 2011. France/United Kingdom/Germany. Directed by Tomas Alfredson. The Tree of Life. 2011. USA. Directed by Terrence Malick. Two Years at Sea. 2011. United Kingdom. Directed by Ben Rivers. We Need to Talk About Kevin. 2011. United Kingdom/USA. Directed by Lynne Ramsay. (Special MoMA PopRally Screening). !Women Art Revolution. 2010. USA. Directed by Lynn Hershman-Leeson. No. 67 Press Contact:
Sarah Jarvis, 212-708-9757,
[email protected] Margaret Doyle, 212-408-6400,
[email protected]
For downloadable high-resolution images, register at the MoMA Press Image Center. Hours:
Films are screened Wednesday-Monday. For screening schedules, please visit our Film Exhibitions.
Film Admission as of September 1: $12 adults; $10 seniors, 65 years and over with I.D. $8 full-time students with current I.D. (for admittance to film programs only.) The price of a film ticket may be applied toward the price of a Museum admission ticket when a film ticket stub is presented at the Lobby Information Desk within 30 days of the date on the stub (does not apply during Target Free Friday Nights, 4:00–8:00 p.m.). Admission is free for Museum members and for Museum ticketholders. ************************* Public Information: The Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53 Street, New York, NY 10019, (212) 708-9400 MoMA.org InsideOut, A MoMA/MoMA PS1 Blog MoMA on Facebook MoMA on Twitter MoMA on YouTube MoMA on Flickr Hours: Wednesday through Monday: 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Friday: 10:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.
A full screening schedule with complete film descriptions is available at www.moma.org
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Screening Schedule The Contenders More films to be added in December and January. Check http://MoMA.org/film for the latest updates Tuesday, November 8 8:00
J. Edgar. 2011. USA. Directed by Clint Eastwood. Print courtesy of Warner Bros.
Wednesday, November 9 7:00
My Week with Marilyn. 2011. Great Britain. Directed by Simon Curtis. Print courtesy of The Weinstein Company.
Wednesday, November 16 8:30
The Artist. 2011. France. Directed by Michel Hazanavicius. Print courtesy of The Weinstein Company. Post-screening discussion with Jean Dujardin.
Monday, November 21 7:00
Bridesmaids. 2011. USA. Directed by Paul Feig. Print courtesy of Universal Pictures. Post-screening discussion with Kristen Wiig.
Wednesday, November 23 7:00
The Tree of Life. 2011. USA. Directed by Terrence Malick. Print courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Friday, November 25 7:00
Anonymous. 2011. United Kingdom/Germany. Directed by Roland Emmerich. Print courtesy of Sony Pictures.
Saturday, November 26 8:00
Drive. 2011. USA. Directed by Nicholas Wending Refn. Print courtesy of Film District.
Sunday, November 27 2:00
Midnight in Paris. 2011. Spain/USA. Directed by Woody Allen. Print courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
5:30
The Descendants. 2011. USA. Directed by Alexander Payne. Print courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures. Post-screening discussion with Alexander Payne.
Monday, November 28 8:00
Moneyball. 2011. USA. Directed by Bennett Miller. Print courtesy of Sony Pictures.
Friday, December 2 8:00
A Dangerous Method. 2011. Canada/Germany/UK/Switzerland. Directed by David Cronenberg. Print courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
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Saturday, December 3 8:00
The Rise of the Planet of the Apes. 2011. USA. Directed by Rupert Wyatt. Print courtesy of 20th Century Fox.
Sunday, December 4 4:00
Hugo. 2011. USA. Directed by Martin Scorsese. Print courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Monday, December 5 7:00
The Silver Cliff (O Abismo Prateado). 2011. Brazil. Directed by Karim Ainouz. Print courtesy of RT Features.
Tuesday, December 6 7:00
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. 2011. France/UK/Germany. Directed by Tomas Alfredson. Print courtesy of Focus Features.
Friday, December 9 5:00
Rango. 2011. USA. Directed by Gore Verbinski. Print courtesy of Paramount Pictures. Post-screening discussion with Gore Verbinski.
Saturday, December 17 7:30
The Help. 2011. USA. Directed by Tate Taylor. Print courtesy of DreamWorks.
Sunday, December 18 4:30
!Women Art Revolution. 2010. USA. Directed by Lynn Hershman-Leeson.
Wednesday, December 21 7:00
A Separation. 2011. Iran. Directed Asghar Farhadi. Print courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
Monday, December 26 7:00
!Women Art Revolution. 2010. USA. Directed by Lynn Hershman-Leeson.
Wednesday, December 28 4:30
The Muppets. 2011. USA. Directed by James Bobin. Print courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.
8:00
La Fille de Montreal. 2010. Canada. Directed by Jeanne Crépeau.
Thursday, December 29 8:00
Melancholia. 2011. Denmark/Sweden/France/Germany. Directed by Lars von Trier. Print courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
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Friday, December 30 8:00
Margin Call. 2011. USA. Directed by J.C. Chandor. Print courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
Saturday, December 31 2:00
Happy, Happy. 2010. Norway. Directed by Anne Sewitsky. Print courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
Wednesday, January 4 8:00
Pariah. 2011. USA. Directed by Dee Rees. Print courtesy of Focus Features.
Thursday, January 5 8:00
Albert Nobbs. 2011. UK/Ireland. Directed by Rodrigo García. Print courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
Thursday, January 19 8:00
Into the Abyss. 2011. Germany/Canada. Directed by Werner Herzog. Print courtesy of IFC Films.
Saturday, January 21 8:00
Two Years at Sea. 2011. UK. Directed by Ben Rivers.
Thursday, January 26 8:00
Pina. 2011. Germany/France/UK. Directed by Wim Wenders. Print courtesy of IFC Films.
Monday, January 30 7:30
Return. 2011. USA. Directed by Liza Johnson. Print courtesy of Required Viewing. Post-screening discussion with Liza Johnson.
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