Minneapolis / St. Paul News Blog

​(Tim Allen in the cinematic masterpiece, Jungle 2 Jungle)

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One of the best ways to understand a culture is through the films it produces. The Walker's ongoing film series is the motherlode of Chinese political culture.

If you want to understand the cultural forces shaping China over the past 60 years, "The People's Republic of China: 60 Years of China on Film" will do the trick. Marked with the imprint of Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution and its aftermath, the films are a fascinating look at Chinese ideas and propaganda. The series runs through Nov. 22.

Tonight, the University of Minnesota screens "Red Detachment of Women," a film based on a true story of female Communist fighters in 1931. On Sunday, the Walker screened another version of the story--a ballet that is best known for being watched by President Nixon on his trip to China in 1972.

Alexandra Hayes / Flickr

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Sure, screenwriter Diablo Cody's latest film, Jennifer's Body, has barely hit theaters, but with reviews that are decidedly, uh, mixed, it may not be too soon to think about Cody's next projects. The latest word (via Cinematical) is that Cody was set to meet with Hugh Hefner to discuss working on a long-delayed film about the Playboy founder's life story.

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Michael Moore, the controversial director of Sicko, Bowling for Columbine, and Roger & Me, will be in town tomorrow night for a special preview of his newest film at the Lagoon Cinema. The invitation-only advance screening is for a select group of capitalist lackeys like labor union reps and finance industry mavens. And of course the press.

Photo by El Caganer

Good news for crazed Big Lebowski fans: The well-known Lebowski Fest started in Louisville, Kentucky will pay a visit to Minneapolis sometime this year.

So grab your Jesus Quintana hairnet and prepare to get your dude on. Just don't let your fingers get stuck in your bowling ball.

Jerry Maren has had a big career. Although uncredited in most of his on-screen appearances, the member of the Lollipop Guild that gave Dorothy a lolly in the Wizard of Oz has been in oodles and oodles of films and commercials. He'll be in town this weekend at the Heights Theater for two Oz screenings that benefit the Judy Garland Museum. But, we've all seen Maren in that. Let's look at his other career highlights.