The BSR September 2023 repertory movie roundup

The highlights

They Live: 35th anniversary
Sunday, September 3
Wednesday, September 6
Various times and theaters

John Carpenter’s 1988 cult classic stars pro wrestling legend Roddy “Rowdy” Piper as the one guy who, thanks to a special pair of glasses, can see that the vast majority of Reagan-era yuppies are, in fact, thinly disguised space aliens. The film—which also features Piper and Keith David engaged in perhaps the most drawn-out fight in cinema history—is getting a 35th anniversary re-release through Fathom Events. If you go, make sure you’re not all out of bubble gum.

Rain Man
Sunday, September 17
Wednesday, September 20
Various times and theaters

Also getting a 30th anniversary re-release through Fathom Events in September is Rain Man, 1988’s Best Picture Oscar winner with Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman, and plenty of references to Judge Wapner.

The Last Days of Disco
Thursday, September 14, 7:15pm
Bryn Mawr Film Institute, 824 Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the last of director Whit Stillman’s groundbreaking ensemble comedy-dramas from the 1990s. The Last Days of Disco starred Chloe Sevigny, Kate Beckinsale, and Chris Eigeman as a group of young Manhattanites against the backdrop of those titular last days in 1979. Stillman returns to BMFI for the screening after he was in attendance when the theater showed his film Metropolitan last year.

Be sure to stay for one of the most joyful credits scenes ever:

Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Saturday, September 16, 6pm
Sunday, September 17, 5pm
Philadelphia Film Center, 1412 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia

The Film Society’s countdown of the Sight and Sound 100 enters its final third in September, including Céline Sciamma’s 2019 Portrait, which is the most recently released film to qualify for the Sight and Sound list. This astonishingly beautiful French film, which played that year’s Philadelphia Film Festival in the same theater, stars Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel as a pair of women who form an unlikely bond.

Other highlights of the countdown in September include Psycho, Fellini’s 8 /12 (in 4K), Taxi Driver (also in 4K), and The Night of the Hunter.

Amateur Night at City Hall: The Story of Frank L. Rizzo
Friday, September 22, 7pm
Lightbox Film Center, 401 South Broad Street, Philadelphia

The legacy of former Mayor Frank Rizzo is debated like few other topics in Philadelphia, and the Lightbox is offering a rare local showing of director Robert Mugge's 1979 documentary, which told the story of Rizzo while he was still mayor. The film premiered locally in 1978 before airing nationally on PBS the following year, and Rizzo was reportedly so angry about it that he threatened to scuttle a deal with WHYY for their new headquarters. Mugge, the director, will be on hand for the showing.

More cinema screenings

Labyrinth
September 1-3
Colonial Theatre

Clueless
Monday, September 4
Bryn Mawr Film Institute

The Favourite
Thursday, September 7
Philadelphia Film Center

Christine
Sunday, September 10
Wednesday, September 13
Various theaters

A Night at the Opera
Sunday, September 10
Colonial Theatre

Jules and Jim (Jules et Jim)
Tuesday, September 12
Thursday, September 21
Bryn Mawr Film Institute

Boiling Point
Wednesday, September 13
PhilaMOCA

Enter the Dragon
Thursday, September 14
Ambler Theater

That Thing You Do!
Thursday, September 14
Philadelphia Film Center

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Friday, September 15
Ritz Five

Fight Club
Friday, September 15
Saturday, September 16
Ritz Five

RRR
Saturday, September 16
Philadelphia Film Center

September 22-24
Ritz Five

The Lobster
Wednesday, September 20
Philadelphia Film Center - Greenfield

GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords
Saturday, September 23
PhilaMOCA

12 Monkeys
Wednesday, September 27
Ambler Theater

Laurel and Hardy: Four Early Films
Friday, September 29
Lightbox Film Center

At top: Portrait of a Lady on Fire is the youngest film on the Sight and Sound 100 list. (Image courtesy of NEON.)