Films and Masks

Angelika Film Center reopens one Dallas-area theater in time for big movie premieres

The Angelika Film Center in Dallas will reopen to the public on August 28.

Photo courtesy of UCR

The Angelika Film Center & Cafe in Dallas will reopen to the public on Friday, August 28, joining the growing list of local theaters welcoming moviegoers back after their coronavirus-shutdowns.

No specific date has been set for the Angelika Plano theater — although a release says it, too, will reopen in coming weeks.

Befitting Angelika's goal of showing independent movies as well as mainstream ones, the first films shown include Armando Ianucci's The Personal History of David Copperfield, an interpretation of the Dickens’ classic starring Dev Patel; The Eight Hundred, the war epic by director Guan Huthe; and Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula, the sequel to Train to Busan from director Yeon Sang-ho.

They'll also begin Early Access screenings of the highly anticipated Tenet, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring John David Washington and Robert Pattinson. The film officially opens September 3. The Angelika will present two early screenings each day from August 31-September 2.

To prepare for the release of Tenet, they'll also celebrate the 10th Anniversary re-release of Nolan’s Inception, featuring never-before-seen footage from Tenet, with screenings from August 28-September 2, with a special discounted price of $5 for adults and $3 for children.

Given that they're opening amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Angelika says they will implement extensive sanitization and safety measures.

“The Angelika management has been working hard to develop enhanced protocols and to train our team to ensure the safest environment possible for our guests and staff by following all federal, state, local and industry guidelines,” said Division Manager Scott Rosemann in a statement. “We are delighted to welcome back film lovers to one of Dallas’ most treasured cinemas.”

Among the new measures are a mask requirement for all guests and staff; limited capacity in theaters; assigned seating to maintain social distancing; increased sanitization — especially at high-touch point areas, and more. In addition, guests are encouraged to buy tickets in advance, and only credit, debit, or gift cards will be accepted to limit monetary exchanges. Guests are asked to arrive no earlier than 30 minutes before their showtimes to limit theater capacity and allow for increased sanitation.

Tickets for all showtimes through September 3 are now on sale.

movies

RIP Mark

Colorful Dallas musician and DJ Mark Ridlen passes away at 65

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Mark Ridlen RIP

A bright and colorful light in Dallas' music scene went out: Mark Ridlen, DJ and musician, passed away on November 17, following a bout with cancer; he was 65.

From his appearance in Ron Howard’s 1978 directorial debut, Cotton Candy, to his groups Quad Pi, Lithium X-mas, and a plethora of side projects with scores of DFW musicians, to his full-time job as a professional DJ under the moniker "DJ Mr. Rid," Ridlen had been a steady staple on the local creative scene.

He surfed pretty much every musical wave: from Dallas' epochal dance music scene in the early 80s, to punk rock to his role as one of Dallas' top DJs — the guy you called when you wanted your event to be cool and fun.

Ridlen had been quietly battling kidney and lung cancer for the past three years. Over the summer, he had his second kidney removed, which meant he was on dialysis treatment a couple times a week.

He remained upbeat, but according to friends of the family, two more tumors were recently found in his brain. His family and friends decided to forego further treatment and were by his side when he died.

He remained in demand until his passing. In May, he DJed a party at the Kessler Theater, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Starck Club, the legendary '80s dance music club designed by Philippe Starck, which had a huge influence on Dallas, and which Ridlen was part of.

He was invited to DJ at the Starck Club when it opened in 1984 and remained in that role until the club closed in 1989.

Reid mark ridlen Mark Ridlen (right) with close friend Reid RobiinsonFacebook

From there, he migrated to Expo Park, the underground neighborhood across from Fair Park where art and music ruled. His stints at XPO Lounge, Double Wide, and other neighborhood venues made him a staple in the community.

At the same time, he was a member of Lithium Xmas, a psychedelic art-rock band which he formed with acclaimed musicians Chris Merlick and Greg Synodis.

He was also a pop culture savant with a comprehensive knowledge of music, who balanced a low-key charm with a vibrant sense of style, whether it was a vivid pop-art tunic or a flashy sequinned jacket, he did it all with originality and panache.

In late August, a large circle of musicians and friends rallied to participate in a benefit for Ridlen, to help pay for his medical costs — a sweet indication of the high regard in which he was held.

“I do want people to know that I am not being slowed down by cancer,” Ridlen said at the time. “I'm ready to continue working. I have more-or-less a clean bill of health for the moment, and hopefully that doesn't change.”

Survivors include his mother Nancy and his brother David. A memorial service is in the works with details still to be announced.

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