Preview: Cannon Films Canon Retrospective at Film Society of Lincoln Center

Starting today, Film Society of Lincoln Center outdoes itself. Israeli production company Cannon films flavored the 1980s with some of the best genre pics of the decade. Producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus worked with filmmakers like Woody Allen (acting only), John Frankenheimer, Nicolas Roeg, Jean-Luc Godard, John Cassavetes, Jerry Schatzberg, Barbet Schroeder and even Norman Mailer, all of whom will be on display in this retrospective. Actors like Mickey Rourke, Christopher Reeve, Dennis Hopper, Morgan Freeman, Roy Scheider, Jon Voight, Gena Rowlands, Oliver Reed, and yes, people, the peerless Rebecca DeMornay.

Highlights include opener Street Smart (which also screens on November 24th with Schatzberg in person), King Lear, Love Streams, Barfly and especially 52 Pick-Up.

52 Pick-Up is one of those great, underrated thrillers. For some reason Paul Schrader’s Hardcore, a colorless, thin narrative exercise which relies upon its exploration of a world previously unseen, gets much more credit in this sub-genre. 52 Pick-Up is constantly tense. The protagonist is as flawed as the antagonists, all that separates them is luck really. Roy Scheider and Ann-Margaret are good, but supporting roles from John Glover, Clarence Williams III and even Vanity steal the show. A must see on the big screen.

Catch in person appearances from Golan and Globus at multiple screenings, Barbet Schroeder, Richard Brody, Tom Luddy, Stephan Morrow and Schatzberg. There is a party and event surrounding Saturday’s late-night The Apple screening. Keep an eye out for surprise speakers though, and I guarantee you will spot some stars in the audience at King Lear and Love Streams screenings especially.