Episode 1 (Aired March 16, 2009): The Inaugural Show Hosts: Dave Poinsett and Beth Milligan Guests: Award-winning filmmaker John Walter (“Theater of War,” “How to Draw a Bunny”) and local film critic Tracy Kurtz (92.9 FM The Breeze) Films/Topics Covered: “Frost/Nixon,” “Jacquot de Nantes,” “A Day at the Races,” “An American Tail,” “Witness to War,” [...]

We are excited to announce that beginning this week, a new program will be appearing on Up North 2: the State Theatre Show. Hosted by myself and State superstar Dave Poinsett, the hour-long weekly show will feature news, reviews and interviews from the State Theatre and Traverse City Film Festival. The first episode is now [...]

TCFF gear is fairly ubiquitous around TC, especially during film fest. But thanks to the thousands of supporters who visit from outside the area, our name is getting out not just here, but around the world. Grammy-nominated DJ The Scumfrog (Jesse Houk), who hosts his own show on Sirius Radio and has worked with everyone [...]

I just got done watching the live announcement of the 2009 Oscar nominees. Wow. On the one hand – I love Richard Jenkins and Melissa Leo’s nominations for Best Leading Actor/Actress, and Robert Downey Jr’s nod for Best Supporting Actor. On the other hand – “Frost/Nixon” over “Dark Knight” for Best Picture? Seriously? I think [...]

The crowd-pleasing, award-sweeping, feel-good-movie of the year is getting an extended run at the State. “Slumdog Millionaire” – which took home Golden Globes last Sunday for Best Director, Best Picture, Best Original Score and Best Screenplay – will play through January 29, thanks to popular demand. If you haven’t had an opportunity to see this [...]

Today is the last day in our annual marathon of holiday films. Before you bundle up and head out to family gatherings and church services tonight, bring the relatives out for a special screening of “It’s a Wonderful Life” (at 1:00 p.m.) or “White Christmas” (at 3:30 p.m.). Seeing these classics on the big screen [...]

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced its list of 2008 Golden Globe nominees this morning. Leading the pack in nominations: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Doubt” and “Frost/Nixon” with five nominations and “The Reader,” “Revolutionary Road,” “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” and “Slumdog Millionaire” with four noms. TCFF goers will remember “Vicky,” Woody Allen’s latest, as [...]

The cynic in me hates to admit it, but if I have to choose between optimism and pessimism, I go for the glass that’s half-full every time. Life’s too beautiful and short to entertain prolonged doom-and-gloom about our pithy existence on this planet. However, a few decades around other humans can give almost anyone pause [...]

Congratulations to the St. Francis Warriors, who won their Division 7 state championship football game against the Ubly Bearcats this morning. Thanks to a great offense by the Warriors and a number of critical errors by the Bearcats, St. Francis handily won the title, 41-13. The game was broadcast live to a standing room-only crowd [...]

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Traverse City Record-Eagle, the State Theatre is showing five of the best newspaper-themed films of all time this week. It’s a stellar lineup, including a number of films with personal significance to me and a few can’t miss-events for film lovers, starting with the granddaddy of cinema itself. 1. “Citizen Kane” [...]