Surprisingly, there will be a new Paul Thomas Anderson film in theaters from October 16th to October 22nd. That's this month. If you are as baffled as I was when I opened the e-mail, let me assure you that you did not accidentally black out and forget an entire announced project.
Instead, this is a new video called “Divers,” built around the song by Joanna Newsom and the artwork of Kim Keever, and it's being released exclusively to theaters to count down to the release of Newsom's new album, also called “Divers.” Newsom appeared in Anderson's most recent film, “Inherent Vice,” playing a role that spurred some fascinating conversations with other fans of the film, and she's a remarkable vocalist as well. Anderson directed the first video from her album, “Sapokanikan,” and I've watched it four or five times now. It's a challenging song, and Newsom's performance is so vulnerable and raw that it's hard to look away.
In general, I really like Anderson's music video work. He hasn't done a ton of it, but he has a real knack for putting the emphasis on the performer. His work with Fiona Apple is tremendous, and the musical sequences in “Magnolia” are all effectively emotional. If you're in one of the cities where “Divers” is going to play theatrically, I envy you. That's a really cool bonus to get before a movie, and I wish we'd see more special theatrical programming like this. One of the reasons the Alamo Drafthouse is my favorite theater on Earth is because they do the pre-show just right. They find amazing material and they cut together some great packages that are themed directly to the films they're showing. It's a reminder that the entire experience of filmgoing can be fun, and not just an excuse for marketers to bludgeon us with the blunt-force trauma that is the standard theater chain pre-show.
Here's the remarkable “Sapokanikan” video…
…. and here's a full list of the theaters where you'll be able to see “Divers.”
New York, NY @ IFC Center
Yonkers, NY@ Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers
Huntington, NY@ Cinema Arts Centre
Los Angeles, CA @ The Cinefamily
Los Angeles, CA @ Ahrya Fine Arts
Pasadena, CA @ Laemmie Playouse 7
San Jose, CA @ Camera Cinemas
San Francisco, CA @ Castro Theatre
San Luis Obispo, CA @ Palm Theatre
Grass Valley, CA @ Sutton Cinema
Grass Valley, CA @ Sierra Cinemas
Grass Valley, CA @ Del Oro Theatre
Nevada City, CA @ Magic Theatre
Tucson, AZ @ Loft Cinema
Denver, CO @ Alamo Drafthouse Littleton
Boulder, CO @ International Film Series, UC Boulder
Miami, FL @ O-Cinema
Boston, MA @ Coolidge Corner
Seattle, WA @ SIFF – Egyptian Theater
Bellingham, WA @ Pickford Film Center
Portland, OR @ Cinema 21
Eugene, OR @ Bijou Cinemas
Pittsburgh, PA @ Regency Square Theater
Ashburn, VA @ Alamo Drafthouse One Loudon
Winchester, VA @ Alamo Drafthouse Winchester
Austin, TX@ Alamo Drafthouse Ritz
Austin, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline
Austin, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Village
Austin, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane
Austin, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
Dallas, TX @ Texas Theatre
Dallas, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Richardson
Houston, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Mason Park
Houston, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Vintage Park
Laredo, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Laredo
Lubbock, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Lubbock
New Braunfels, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Marketplace
San Antonio, TX@ Alamo Drafthouse Westlakes
San Antonio, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Park North
San Antonio, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Stone Oak
Kansas City, MO @ Alamo Drafthouse Mainstreet
Ann Arbor, MI @ Michigan Theater
Kalamazoo, MI @Alamo Drafthouse Kalamazoo
Columbia, SC @Nickelodeon Theatre
Nashville, TN @ Belcourt Theatre
Salt Lake City, UT @Salt Lake Film Society
Tulsa, OK @ Circle Cinema
Scottsbluff, NE @ Midwest Theater
Raleigh, NC @ Colony Theater
Winston-Salem, NC @ a/perture Cinema
Columbus, OH @ Gateway Film Center
Chicago, IL @ Music Box Theatre
Champaign, IL @ Art Theatre Co-Op
Paducah, KY @ Maiden Alley Cinema
Arhus, Denmark @ Øst For Paradis
London, UK @ Rio Cinema
Munich, Germany @ Monopol
Joanna Newsom “Divers” Theatrical Screenings October 27th:
London, UK @ Clapham Picturehouse
London, UK @ East Dulwich Picturehouse and Cafe
London, UK @Greenwich Picturehouse
London, UK @ Hackney Picturehouse
London, UK @ Picturehouse Central
London, UK @ Ritzy Brixton
London, UK @ Stratford East Picturehouse
Bath, UK @ The Little Theatre Cinema
Bradford, UK @ Picturehouse at National Media Museum
Brighton, UK @ Duke's at Komedia
Edinburgh, UK @ Cameo
Exeter, UK @ Exeter Picturehouse
Henley, UK @ Regal Picturehouse
Norwich, UK @ Cinema City
Liverpool, UK @ Picturehouse at FACT
Oxford, UK @ Phoenix Picturehouse
Southampton, UK @ Harbour Lights Picturehouse
Stratford-upon-Avon, UK @ Stratford-Upon-Avon Picturehouse
York, UK @ City Screen