Paramount summer films Continue with Coen Brothers Salute

Media Contact:

Kristen Gleason
Director of Marketing
The Paramount Theater
215 East Main Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
434.979.1922 ext. 103
kristen@theparamount.net

For Immediate Release

June 30, 2008

As the mercury rises, Charlottesville’s Paramount Theater invites the public to keep cool with another weekend of movies in the 2008 Summer Film Series. The series continues with a Salute to the Coen Brothers on July 11, 12, and 13. These four-time Oscar winning filmmakers with a wacky view of the world have produced everything from screwball comedies to film noir, often blurring genres in the process. The duo’s work will be represented at The Paramount by the films The Big Lebowski, Blood Simple, and Raising Arizona.

In addition to offering popcorn and soft drinks to enjoy with the movie, The Paramount will invite audiences to partake of fun-themed concessions, such as White Russians and sarsaparilla at the showing of The Big Lebowski. Free popcorn will be given to anyone wearing a bowling shirt to a showing of The Big Lebowski, or bringing diapers/new baby supplies (which The Paramount will donate to local shelters) to a screening of Raising Arizona.

Starring Jeff Bridges and John Goodman, The Big Lebowski tells the story of “Dude” Lebowski (Bridges), candidate for world’s laziest man. When “Dude” is mistaken for another Lebowski -- a millionaire whose wife unfortunately owes a lot of money to some nasty people -- “Dude” winds up as the liaison between the millionaire and his wife’s kidnappers in a typically atypical Coen Brothers twist.

The Coen Brothers’ first feature film, Blood Simple stars Frances McDormand, John Getz, and Dan Hedaya in a twisted and intense tale of love, vengeance, and deceit. Saloon owner Julian Marty (Hedaya) discovers his wife (McDormand) is involved with his bar manager (Getz) and hires a private detective to kill them both. Who actually winds up dead comes as a complete surprise.

Raising Arizona’s unconventional lead couple -- ex-con Hi (Nicolas Cage), and ex-cop Edwina (Holly Hunter) -- discover they are unable to have children, and simply make off with one of the local quintuplets to solve the problem. Needless to say, the child’s father is unhappy about this and hires a hit man to track down his missing heir. Typical Coen-esque chaos ensues as Hi and Ed try to elude their pursuer.

The Big Lebowski will show on Friday, July 11 at 7 and 9:30 pm. The first fifty people to arrive at each showing will receive a free Lebowski bumper sticker! Blood Simple screenings are Saturday, July 12 at 4 and 7 pm. Raising Arizona will be presented on Sunday, July 13 at 1 and 4 pm.Addditional films this summer include a weekend of Political Intrigue movies on August 9 and 10. Titles and dates are subject to change.

Admission for all movies is $6, with a Youth/Child price of $4 applying to those 12 and younger. Those wishing to view all films in this Coen Brothers mini-festival may save on admission by purchasing a $15 movie weekend package. Special pricing applies to advance purchase only, which must be done through The Paramount’s box office at 434.979.1333.

Individual tickets, as well as the latest information on movies at The Paramount Theater, are also available online.