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Author, Author!

April 14, 2014 at 1:17 pm
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We have a couple of really exciting author events scheduled for next week at the Jean Cocteau.

 On Monday, April 21, we will be welcoming the  Pulitzer-Prize-winning novelist JUNOT DIAZ, author of THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE HER and THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO, and other titles.

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The evening will start at 7:00 pm with a 90-minute interview of Junot, conducted by Doctors Shante Paradigm Smalls and Santiago Vaquera-Vasquez of the University of New Mexico.  Dr. Smalls is a scholar and artist who works at the intersection of popular culture and critical theory.  She is a professor at UNM in American Studies.  Santiago Vaquera-Vasquez is "an unrepentant border crosser, ex-dj, writer, painter, and academic," and a professor at UNM in the department of Spanish and Portuguese.   After the interview, we will adjoin to the lobby and bar, where Junot will sign copies of his books.

A few days later, on Thursday April 24, the bestselling mystery writer and historical novelist ANNE PERRY will arrive in Santa Fe, and the Cocteau will have the privilige of hosting her as well.  Ms. Perry's awe-inspiring bibligraphy includes 19 volumes in her William Monk series, 28 in the Thomas Pitt series, as well as fantasies, YA novels, stand-alones, and Christmas books.   Anne is on tour, promoting her lastest, DEATH ON BLACKHEATH.

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The event will start at 7:00 with an interview and dialogue, as usual.  This time I'll be doing the interview myself.  That will be followed by an audience Q&A and a booksigning, and we expect to have a WIDE selection of Anne's novels on hand.

Admission to both events is FREE with the purchase of a hardcover book, $5 with the purchase of a paperback, $10 without a book purchase.  Most of our past author events have been sold out, so if you'd like to hear Junot Diaz or Anne Perry, call the Cocteau at 444-5528 and reserve your place now.

Movies are the heart and soul of the Jean Cocteau Cinema… but we love books too, and our author evenings have been hugely popular and will continue to be an important part of our schedule.   In the months to come, we will be hosting MELINDA M. SNODGRASS, comic book stars CULLEN BUNN and BRIAN HURTT of SIXTH GUN fame, mystery/ horror/ SF star JOE R. LANSDALE and his daughter KASEY, author, editor, and country-signing sensation, DANIEL ABRAHAM (who is also half of JAMES S.A. COREY), Hugo-winning novelist JO WALTON, CHERIE PRIEST, JOE ABERCROMBIE, DENNIS LEHANE, and NEIL GAIMAN & AMANDA PALMER.   If you'd like to know the dates and details,  go to our website at http://www.jeancocteaucinema.com/ and sign up for our email newsletter, to keep abreast of what's coming up on Montezuma Street.  All of these events are first come, first seated, and we do tend to fill up quickly.

See you at the booksignings.

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Coming Soon at the Cocteau

April 8, 2014 at 5:26 pm
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ROBBIE THE ROBOT will be returning to the Jean Cocteau Cinema this weekend, to help us present one of the classic SF films of all time… no, not FORBIDDEN PLANET, we showed that one already (and will be showing it again this summer) — WAR OF THE WORLDS, the great 1953 George Pal version.

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We also have a new British comedy coming up: ALAN PARTRIDGE: ALPHA PAPA.  "The Comedy of the Year," somebody said.

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ALAN PARTRIDGE opens on April 18, WAR OF THE WORLDS on April 11.

See you at the movies.

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April Authors

April 7, 2014 at 3:35 pm
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We have an amazing lineup of author events at the Jean Cocteau this month.

Tonight, we're playing host to CONNIE WILLIS, SFWA Grand Master, past worldcon Guest of Honor, author of BLACKOUT, ALL CLEAR, DOMESDAY BOOK, PASSAGE, REPLAY, "The Secret of Santa Titicaca," and many classic short stories, and winner of more Hugo and Nebula awards than any other author, male or female, living or dead.

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A few weeks down the road, on Monday, April 21, we will be welcoming the  Pulitzer-Prize-winning novelist JUNOT DIAZ, author of THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE HER and THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO.  The last time Junot was in Santa Fe, he filled the Lensic Theatre with its 850 seats.  The Cocteau has only 125, so if you'd like to hear him talk and get a book signed, call the theatre and reserve your place NOW.

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A few days after Junot, on Thursday April 24, another megastar will be in town: bestselling mystery writer and historical novelist ANNE PERRY, whose bibliography includes 19 volumes in her William Monk series, 28 in the Thomas Pitt series, as well as fantasies, YA novels, stand-alones, and Christmas books.  I intend to ask her how in the world she can possibly be so prolific.  Maybe some of it will rub off on me.

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Our author events at the Cocteau usually include an interview or dialogue with me or another host, a Q&A with the audience, sometimes a reading, always a booksigning.  Admission is FREE with the purchase of a hardcover, $5 with the purchase of a paperback, $10 without a book purchase.

Most of our past author events have been sold out, so if you'd like to hear Connie, Junot Diaz, or Anne Perry, call the Cocteau at 444-5528 and reserve your book, and your place, now.

See you at the booksigning.

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Comedy at the Cocteau

April 6, 2014 at 11:25 pm
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Movies are not the only thing we offer at the Jean Cocteau.  Since reopening in August, we've had live music, magic, vaudeville, costume contests, some amazing author events and booksignings, birthday parties, Skype interviews, lectures, meetings… and now for the first time we are going to bring some great stand-up comedy to Santa Fe.

Author and comedian JOHN HODGMAN will be coming to the Cocteau on June 2 to perform his stand-up show, "I Stole Your Dad," presenting new observations on subjects including how to dress like a young and relevant person, fax machines and other obsolete technology, marihuana and Downton Abbey, the state songs of Tennessee, the film criticism of Ayn Rand, and how to spend your time when the world did not end like you were certain it would on December 21st of last year.

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John Hodgman is an author and performer best known as the “Resident Expert” on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, his COMPLETE WORLD KNOWLEDGE trilogy, and for his podcast and New York Times Magazine column, Judge John Hodgman.

This event is still two months off and hasn't even been officially announced in our newsletter or put up on our website yet, and yet as of this afternoon we had already sold more than 80 tickets.  The Cocteau has only 125 seats, but if you'd like to come and hear John, do head over to our website and get your tickets now, before they're all gone.

http://www.jeancocteaucinema.com/

See you at the show.

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Cool Stuff at the Cocteau

April 3, 2014 at 11:29 pm
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The VERONICA MARS movie, famously funded by fans of the TV show via Kickstarter, will make its Santa Fe debut at the Jean Cocteau tomorrow.

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The Cocteau bar will be introducing a special cocktail in honor of Ms. Mars — the Marshmellow Hootch.

And on Monday evening, the latest in our series of author events — CONNIE WILLIS will be coming to the Cocteau for an evening of conversation and booksigning.   Fans of SF and fantasy need no introduction to Connie, I trust.  She has won more Hugo and Nebula awards than any other author, living and dead, been a worldcon Guest of Honor, a worldcon Toastmaster and Hugo Emcee, and was recently named a Grandmaster by the SFWA.

See you at the movies.

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Big Day Tomorrow

March 28, 2014 at 10:17 pm
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GAME OF THRONES, season four, comes to Santa Fe tomorrow.

We will have three showings.  A Spanish-language screening in the morning, an English screening in the afternoon, a private invitation-only show in the evening.  Meanwhile, the Iron Throne has already been set up in Sanbusco mall, and will be there all morning and afternoon, till 5 pm, for fans to see, sit in, and take pictures of.  No charge for that.  No charge for any of that.

The two public showings are first come, first seated.  But get there early.  There's already a line half a block long as I type.

Our marathon screenings of seasons one to three concluded on Monday with the showing of "The Rains of Castamere" and "Mhysa," and a costume contest.  We had some amazing costumes turn up.

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See you tomorrow… back in Westeros.

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For Three Days Only…

March 25, 2014 at 7:28 pm
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… Doc Brown and his time machine are back at the Jean Cocteau.

Tuesday (that's today), Wednesday, and Thursday we're screening BACK TO THE FUTURE, PART 2, and Doc had to come check it out.

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So come check it out for yourself at 418 Montezuma Street.  We not only have Doc and DeLorean, but also the best popcorn in town.

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 On Friday, alas, Doc will be taking his machine back to 1985, or maybe 1955, or perhaps the Old West.

But never mind.  This weekend, we'll have something else just as cool to sit in.

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The Bar Is Open!

March 8, 2014 at 6:41 pm
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Hey, you guys missed the fun.

Our bar opening at the Jean Cocteau was a huge success.  In no small part thanks to Ernie Cline (author of the wonderful READY PLAYER ONE), who turned up with his time machine… ah.. customized DeLorean.  And our own Doc Brown… ah… Jules.

Take a look.  (Photos by Tara Gibbens)

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Miss it?  Don't worry.   Doc Brown will be bringing his DeLorean back in a few weeks… for BACK TO THE FUTURE 2.

(Oh, and our Flux Capacitor Cocktail was a big hit too).

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Grand Opening

February 27, 2014 at 11:24 pm
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The bar at the Jean Cocteau has been serving beer and wine and a few mixed drinks for most of the past month, but all the while construction was still going on during the days, as the last few finishing touches were done.  But now the work is finished, and next week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we are having our official

                                                                                GRAND OPENING

We'll be having free movies all three days, from opening to close.  The Tuesday matinee will be CHARADE, with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn.  On Wednesday, it's ONE-EYED JACKS with Marlon Brando.  On Thursday, Abbott & Costello in JACK AND THE BEANSTALK.  We're running late shows all three days as well, starting at 11:00 pm:  SPIDER BABY on Tuesday, PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE on Wednesday, and THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN'T DIE on Thursday.  And in between, all three days, we'll be screening BACK TO THE FUTURE at 6:10 and 8:30.

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Oh, we'll be showing assorted cartoons and short subjects as well.  (And of course, lots of trailers).  And we will be offering a special drink, the Flux Capacitor, along with four kinds of draft beer, wine, beer, the best popcorn in New Mexico, pizza, candy, all the usual.

And that's not even the coolest part.  The coolest part is that we will have Doc Brown's TIME MACHINE with us as well!  Yes, complete with the real flux capacitor, though as I recall this one doesn't have a Mr. Fusion yet.  It will be tooling around Santa Fe starting on Tuesday morning, and during show times you will find it right in front of the theatre (assuming our parking permit comes through).  Oh, and we'll have our own Doc Brown to explain its workings to you.

And on Wednesday (ONE DAY ONLY) we will have the DeLorean's owner, Ernie Cline, on hand as well… showing off the car, and signing copies of his novel READY PLAYER ONE.

The DeLorean will be hard to top, admittedly… but we hope our new bar will be a star attraction as well.  Even if you don't have time for a movie, drop by and see it, we hope you'll think it is as cool as we do.  Remember, no charge for admission.  For those three days only, all movies are FREE.

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Magic & Mystery

February 19, 2014 at 1:17 am
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Everyone needs a little magic in his life.

So come join us at the Jean Cocteau next week, for MAGIC & MYSTERY WEEK.  Starting this Friday, the whole week will devoted to wizards, sorcerers, illusionists, and practitioners of the dark arts (like screenwriting).

For starts, we have three movies opening.

DESPERATE ACTS OF MAGIC is a delightful new romantic comedy about magicians.

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THE PRESTIGE… well, what can I say?  Based on the novel by Christopher Priest, this tale of a bitter feud between two rival magicians is becoming a classic, and may well be the best film about the world of magic ever made.  Directed by Christopher Nolan, adapted from the novel by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, it stars Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johanssen, and Michael Caine.

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And, for our midnight shows, we have THE RAVEN, Edgar Allen Poe by way of Roger Corman, starring Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, and Boris Karloff.  (Yes, and Jack Nicholson, believe it or not).

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The movies are just part of Magic and Mystery Week, however.

We also thrilled to present the first live-in-person magic ever offered at the Jean Cocteau: three performances by the Amazing MISTY LEE, straight from LA's famed Magic Castle.   Misty will be performing three shows only, so be sure to catch them if you're in the area.

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And last, but certainly not least, on Sunday February 23, we will be joined at the Cocteau by JONATHAN NOLAN, screenwriter on THE PRESTIGE and MEMENTO, showrunner on PERSON OF INTEREST, and all around terrific talent.  Jonathan will be introducing THE PRESTIGE and answering questions about the film… and he and I will also be doing a dialogue about scriptwriting and adaptation on Sunday afternoon.  Should be fun.

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Advance tickets to the movies, the magic shows, and the dialogue are all available on the Cocteau website.

So come join the fun.  We promise not to saw you in half.

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