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My wife and I love the Academy Awards. Unfortunately last year’s ceremonies were just awful. How could you watch and not wonder what James Franco was on? Anne Hathaway is a cute young lady but not really a good host. I’m also having trouble picturing her as Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises but I would not have believed that Heath Ledger would have made a better Joker than Jack Nicholson. Still we mostly watch the Oscars for the red carpet and this year is no exception – especially as we’ve seen only a handful of the nominees.

Billy Crystal is a nice safe host and I’m sure this Sunday’s proceedings will go fine. My favorite recent host was Hugh Jackman and I’d really like to see him reprise his role. Barring that I would love to see Neil Patrick Harris suit up as host.

This year Carolina Cinemas is having a wonderful Academy Awards marathon in their cinema lounge – all FREE FREE FREE! My wife has graciously agreed to join me for this butt-numb-a-thon. There is also no need to leave during the day as Carolina Cinemas has a full lineup of sandwiches, pizza, and other munchies as well as beer and wine for those so inclined.

12:30 – Midnight in Paris (nominated for Best Picture, Best Director – Woody Allen, Best Writing – Woody Allen and Best Achievement in Art Direction)

2 – Moneyball (nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor – Brad Pitt, Best Supporting Actor – Jonah Hill, Best Writing, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound Mixing

4 – The King’s Speech (last year’s Best Picture winner)

630 – Red Carpet Interviews

7 – The Oscars

I have to confess that it is a good thing that we’ll be seeing Moneyball and Midnight in Paris as I’ve seen almost none of the nominees this year. For that matter I have to confess to not having seen The King’s Speech yet. I did get to see Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and my wife saw The Help aka Rich White People Solve Racism.

It’s only mid-February but Carolina Cinemas has announced their March line-up.

First up: Advance tickets have gone on sale for ActionFest 2012. They are $75.

“Priority entry to ActionFest screenings, panels, and parties, as well as the Awards Ceremony and the Stunt Show. Admission is on a first come, first serve basis until venue reaches full capacity. Badge holders will be seated before single ticket holders.”

ActionFest 2012 will be held April 12-15 at Carolina Cinemas. None of the films have been announced yet. The fabulous Gina (Haywire, American Gladiator) Carano will be receiving an award for Best Female Action Star.

The Thursday Horror Picture Show continues going strong in the Carolina Cinemas lounge. It is FREE and the main feature starts at 8 with a serial starting at 730. This week starts episode 1 of The Lost City (1935). Arrive early for good seating but not too early as I’m particular about where I sit.

2/16 – Mr. Vampire (1985) – I have never even heard of this film by Ricku Lau but judging from the year and that it is from Hong Kong, my guess is that it will be a mix of martial arts, slapstick, and general weirdness.

2/23 – The Invisible Man Returns (1940) – Definitely not one of his best films but I’m always down for watching Vincent Price (or in this case listening to him).

3/1 – Dracula’s Daughter (1936)

3/8 – The Last Circus (2011)

3/15 – Bride of Chucky (1998)

3/22 – Q, The Winged Serpent (1982)

3/29 – The Cat and the Canary (1927)

The Asheville Film Society shows FREE films every Tuesday night in the Carolina Cinemas lounge.

2/21 – The Seventh Seal (1957)

2/28 – The Docks of New York (1928)

3/6 – Hair (1979)

3/13 – The Good Fairy (1935)

3/20 – The Boys in the Band (1970)

3/27 – Charlie Chan at the Race Track (1936)

The Asheville Film Society is also putting on a showing of Academy Award nominee Bullhead on 2/22 at 730. This showing is FREE for members and membership is only $10 for a year. Membership gets you FREE popcorn refills at Carolina Cinemas, special showings like this one and a dollar off ticket prices at Carolina Cinemas.

Well time again for my monthly pitch for Carolina Cinemas. I’ve always wanted to go to the famous Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas but my favorite Asheville movie theater is no slouch when it comes to special screenings.

Every Thursday night at 8 is the Thursday Horror Picture Show in the cinema lounge. Arrive early though as the serial starts at 740 (currently finishing up Flash Gordon’s Trip to Mars – not sure what the new one will be). Admission is FREE though it’s certainly appreciated if you pick up some snacks or even a meal at concessions. My wife adores the Blue Cheese Chips – fresh fried potato chips covered in bacon, chives, tomatoes, and blue cheese dressing. They’ve just announced February’s line-up.

1/26 Scanners (1981) – Timed to celebrate Cronenberg’s latest release A Dangerous Method. Ironically I will be missing Scanners which I love in favor of seeing a screening of A Dangerous Method for Asheville Film Society Members.

2/2 Murders in the Zoo (1933) – with Lionel Atwill and Randolph Scott. I’ve never seen this one so I’m looking forward to it.

2/9 Phantom of the Paradise (1974) – This camp classic from Brian De Palma was played last year – I’m not sure why Ken and Justin are bringing it back.

2/16 Mr. Vampire (1985) – I have never even heard of this film by Ricku Lau but judging from the year and that it is from Hong Kong, my guess is that it will be a mix of martial arts, slapstick, and general weirdness.

2/23 The Invisible Man Returns (1940) – Definitely not one of his best films but I’m always down for watching Vincent Price (or in this case listening to him).

The Asheville Film Society is certainly one of the best bargains in the Asheville area. Membership is only $10 for a year and you get $1 off all admissions at Carolina Cinemas Asheville as well as FREE popcorn refills of any size. They also have a number of other perks with several partners – $1 off any pizza at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company, $5 off a subscription plan at Orbit DVD, and 10% off used vinyl, CDs and DVDs at Harvest Records.

A Dangerous Method (2011) – Rated R for sexual content and brief language.

“In this David Cronenberg-helmed biopic, Viggo Mortensen stars as Sigmund Freud, whose relationship with fellow psychology luminary Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender) is tested when Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), one of the first female psychoanalysts, enters their lives. This World War I-set drama also stars Vincent Cassel as Otto Gross, a disciple of Freud, and Sarah Gadon, who plays Jung’s psychoanalyst wife.”

The Asheville Film Society is presenting a FREE showing of A Dangerous Method for MEMBERS ONLY Wednesday 1/25 at 7:30. So for just a single quarter more than the price of an evening ticket, you can get a yearly membership and go see A Dangerous Method for free before it opens in Asheville this weekend.

The Asheville Film Society also presents a FREE movie every Tuesday night at 8 in the Carolina Cinema Lounge. The Tuesday movie is FREE for all – you do not need a membership to see it. They just announced their February line-up:

1/24 Tommy (1975, Ken Russell)

1/31 Lisztomania (1975, Ken Russell)

2/7 Excalibur (1981, John Boorman)

2/14 History is Made at Night (1937, Frank Borzage)

2/21 The Seventh Seal (1957, Ingmar Bergman)

2/28 The Docks of New York (1928, Josef von Sternberg)

This is yet still another shoutout for my favorite theater, Carolina Cinemas of Asheville. They have a great cinema lounge upstairs with FREE showings. Every Thursday night is FREE horror movie night and every Tuesday is Asheville Film Society showings (also FREE). Ken Hanke and Justin Souther have dedicated January’s Tuesday showings to Ken Russell who passed away recently.

1/3 Isadora Duncan & Song of Summer (double feature)

1/10 Dante’s Inferno & Always on Sunday (also double feature)

1/17  The Boyfriend

1/24 Tommy

1/31 Lisztomania

Thursday Horror Picture Shows for January are:

1/5 Altered States (Ken Russell)

1/12 The Changeling

1/19 House of Frankenstein and House of Dracula (the double feature I’ve been waiting for woohoo!)

1/26 Scanners (David Cronenberg)

Well I’m as tired as my adorable granddaughter (above). I spent a wonderful three-day weekend in a non-stop orgy of horror movies, Krispy Kreme donuts, and Domino’s pizza – all thanks to my wonderful wife and daughter.

I’ll end horror movie month with another plug for our wonderful local cinema, The Carolina. The new month of  the FREE Thursday Horror Picture Show starts umm on Thursday. If you go try the fresh hot potato chips  piled high with housemade bleu cheese dressing, crumbled bacon, tomatoes, and scallions.

11/3 Boris Karloff double feature – The Man They Could Not Hang (1939) and The Boogeyman will Get You (1942)

11/10 The Stuff (1985) – An amusing film by Larry Cohen

11/17 The Bat Whispers (1930)

11/24 The hysterical The Giant Claw (1957)