Weekend Chock-a-block With Films, Films, Films

By Vanessa Wolf

This is an image of sunrise at Stonehenge during a winter solstice in the 80s courtesy of Wikipedia, but also looks like it should be a Bob Dylan album cover.

Winter solstice kicks in for Hawaii at 7:11 a.m. Saturday.

This is the shortest day of the year if you are in the northern hemisphere and the longest day of the year for those of you in the southern hemisphere.

That means just under eleven hours of daylight for us, which is probably useful information if you’re into pagan ceremonies, which – by the way – are an undeniable a precursor to our modern celebrations. Seriously. Google it.

In other news, is Christmas over yet?

Raid Your Pantry and Head Upcountry

Courtesy Image (Is that a horse on the sidewalk?)

There is precious little to do tonight, but from 5 to 8 p.m. you can check out third Friday in Makawao.

December’s town party has the theme of “Making Spirits Bright in Makawao” and there is no road closure so all there is to do will occur on sidewalks or in parking lots or stores.

Maui Hands will have DJ Matt Lane and a keiki carnival while the Komoda Bakery parking lot features both musician Abram Barrett and Maui Classic Cruisers.

In addition, if you bring some canned goods for the Maui Food Bank, you will receive discounts at Collections, Holiday & Co, S.Reeve Designs, Maui Master Jewelers and Casanova.

Give Back While You Dance the Night Away

Tonight at Lulu’s Lahaina is Maui’s Un-Silent Night 2.

According to organizer Ryan McGinnis, “People can expect a festival-styled event progressively moving from stand up comedy to live performances. That’s followed by a dance party with an amazing DJ line up and after hours DJs playing electronic dance music (EDM).”

Specific acts include Chino LaForge, Lil J and The Beta, M!CKY G, DJ Big Mike, DJ Kamikaze and DJ Wok.

The event is a benefit for the Maui Food Bank and attendees are asked to bring canned food items and/or cold hard cash.

Things start at 10 p.m. and are limited to those 21 and older.

Get Up Early and Run 

Women Helping Women presents their 5th Annual Purple Christmas Fun Run 5k and 10k tomorrow.

Registration begins at 7 a.m at ReVive Boutique at the Old Kahului Shopping Center and costs $30 for the 5K and $45 for the 10K.

The run starts at 8 a.m. from Hoaloha Park and runs towards the airport along Kanaha Beach.

There are prizes for the men and women’s division as well as for the most pledges raised.

We’re not entirely sure why it’s the “Purple” Christmas fun run (a reference to bruises?), but maybe wear purple?

Sit in a Dark and Air-Conditioned Theater All Day

After you’re done running, head over to the MACC and rest those legs.

Four different films are being shown as part of the First Light Film Festival.

Things start at 2 p.m. with “Renoir.”

It’s the summer of 1915 on the French Riviera. Jean Renoir returns home to convalesce with Andrée, a young woman who rejuvenates, enchants, and inspires everyone she meets. It’s France’s ‘Official Submission’ to the Academy Awards® Best Foreign Language Film category. In French with English subtitles.

At 5 p.m. is “Philomena.”

Judi Dench and Steve Coogan star in this touching and inspiring dramedy about a woman’s search, with the help of a BBC correspondent intrigued by her story, for the long-lost son who was conceived out-of-wedlock and who she was implored to give up for adoption as a young child decades earlier.

At 7 p.m. catch “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

Legendary director Martin Scorsese directs Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey, Jon Favreau, Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner, Jean Dujardin, P.J. Byrne and Kenneth Choi in his newest feature film.

The flick tells the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.

Lastly, “12-12-12” screens at 10 p.m.

It’s an up-close and personal “backstage (and on stage) pass” to enjoy Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Alicia Keys, Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Roger Waters, Eddie Vedder, Eric Clapton, Jon Bon Jovi, The Rolling Stones and The Who’s NYC concert for Hurricane Sandy victims that raised $50 million.

Sit in a Dark and Air-Conditioned Theater All Day… Again

FirstLight continues on Sunday.

At 2 p.m. is “12 Years a Slave,” the remarkably inspiring story of a free black man from New York abducted and sold into slavery in the pre-Civil War US.

On virtually every critic’s ‘Best Films of the Year’ list, the movie stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbinder, Benedict Cumberbatch and Paul Dano.

Then at 7:30 p.m. is “American Hustle.”

At 5 p.m. is “August: Osage County.”

Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Abigail Breslin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Juliette Lewis, Dermot Mulroney and Sam Shepard co-star in director John Wells dark, hilarious and deeply touching story of the strong-willed women of the Weston family and the men in their lives.

Lastly, at 7:30 p.m. David O. Russell reunites with his “Silver Linings Playbook” alumni Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper alongside co-stars Amy Adams, Christian Bale and Jeremy Renner for “American Hustle,” the story of a brilliant con man and his cunning and beautiful partner forced to work for a wild FBI agent.

Tickets are $15 for single screenings while $48 VIP Fast Pass tickets grant priority admission to four films and can be shared among family and friends.

New this year is the Golden Cinema Circle Membership. For $500 enjoy reserved access to the front row seats of the castle theater mezzanine at any and all FirstLight films.

In other news, kids 12 and under are invited to attend any G or PG rated film for free and, as always, there is complimentary admission to most major film industry guild members.