The Baader-Meinhof Complex Staff Review

The Baader Meinhof Complex is a highly stylized and pretty well-paced film, clocking in at over 2 hours long. The film does not stray far from the facts, yet such a history lesson in late 60’s through the better parts of the 70’s West German socio/political upheaval never disappoints, except maybe in that it is missing some of this man’s favorites in the German acting world. But I do digress. The film starts out with the humble beginnings of what would later become the Red Army Faction, also known as the Baader Meinhof gang.

We see the respected leftist journalist Ulrike Meinhof played by the stunning actress Martina Gedeck coming into her own as a politically active journalist when she takes the side of student demonstrators who, while peaceably protesting the visiting Shah of Iran, were attacked by the Shah’s entourage, then later the German police force. Her compassion for the students' and leftists' views were obviously not stomached well by the establishment’s right-wing eyes. But nonetheless Ulrike strikes a chord with the burgeoning student subversive groups. The political situation at this time in Germany was one of much suspicion towards those in political and economic power on both respective sides of Germany. Former Nazis still managed to find their way back into positions of power in the political and business sectors. And great suspicion of Nazism and/or American Imperialist influence did not sit well with the distrustful younger generation. Enter social unrest, the setting for the rest of our film.

Johanna Wokalek delivers a sexy and substantial breakout performance as Gudrun Ensslin, the other intellectual brain of the early RAF days. She drives the film and the newly born terrorist group like a jockey at the bridle. She also holds the bridle to the movie's other namesake, Andreas Baader, the psychopathic strong-arm of the RAF. Moritz Bleibtreu plays Andreas with a rageaholic’s vigor, both convincingly and fearfully. I cannot truly express the delivery these actors employ in their powerful roles as real life figures. Even after watching the film a second time I can’t with all honestly say I have seen any blatant over-acting, which one could expect from people who have the chance to play idealistic Marxist radicals (the vilified enemy of the Cold War generation) in a movie.

The first half plays like a youthful deviant’s joy ride in a stingray corvette of yesteryear. The last half is still a fever dream-paced ride, but in said stingray with blown struts and grinding gears as our proto-terrorist heroes begin their downward spiral in the same fashion of their fiery rise. Once again the film never strays far from fact; as the grueling trail and prison confinement grates on the souls and sanity of the group's incarcerated founding members, friendship and organizational dynamics take a boot to the head as solitary confinement and hunger strikes work chaos and ravage their respective psyches. The trailer does not lie about the birth of modern terrorism, as these influential but tragically egotistical miscreants help set off a tirade of international events in their wake, even after their capture. Excitement and a damn good history lesson is what one gets from The Baader Meinhof Complex.

Once again my only qualm with the film is that I would have loved Alexandra Maria Lara to have a speaking line and not just be gratuitous eye candy. And a bit more screen time for the ever-brilliant Bruno Ganz. But, none of this diminishes from the film itself. Hollywood should take note of Uli Edel’s direction and learn how one can make a film that is sexy, fast-paced and dripping with style that can somehow still contain substance. In closing, the film is more than worth seeing, not only for educational and entertainment value but also for its relevance to today’s trouble with terrorism and the consequences of free market capitalism. It brings food for thought to anyone who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s seeing the fall of the great enemy of communism and its ideology, and forces you to wonder if both sides took their views too far in one direction. Which in the end was perhaps a loss to both sides. Come watch the film and take from it what you will. Love, D.

The All-Night Scream-o-Rama 2009!

The Loft Cinema's ALL-NITE SCREAM-O-RAMA returns with 12 hours of eye-popping, mind-blowing, stomach-churning horror movie classics, ghoulish guests, trashy trailers, scary shorts and spooky surprises ... it's a Dusk till Dawn nightmare you'll never forget!

Meet legendary Scream Queen BRINKE STEVENS, the sultry star of such clas-sicks as SLAVE GIRLS FROM BEYOND INFINITY, NIGHTMARE SISTERS, SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE, HAUNTING FEAR, TEENAGE EXORCIST and many, many more (hundreds more, to be not-quite-exact)!

Below are trailers for the films with their VERY APPROXIMATE start times. Be there this FRIDAY THE 13TH or be DEAD!

Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-o-Rama with Special Guest Brikne Stevens in Person! 7:00PM:


John Carpenter's The Thing 9:30PM:


Pieces 11:00PM:


Hellraiser 1:00AM:


Fright Night 3:00AM:


City of the Walking Dead AKA Nightmare City 5:00AM:

Grindhouse Movie Trailer Massacre Winners

Congratulations to all of the winners of The Loft's recent Grindhouse Movie Trailer Massacre, a 48 Hour Film Challenge.



BEST FILM: "Freak Mart" by Team A.L. Baer

AUDIENCE AWARD: "Kung Fu Killbots" by Team Grindhouse

BEST ACTING/PERFORMANCE: "Stumpy" in "They Called Her Stumpy" by Greenless Pictures

BEST SCREENPLAY/STORYLINE: "Arbor Day" by Red Productions

BEST EDITING: "Biker Babes from Beyond" by Tall Ship Productions

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: "They Called Her Stumpy" by Greenless Pictures

Bonus Categories:

BEST GORE: "Freak Mart" by Team A.L. Baer

BEST NUDITY: "The Cheerleaders' Bloody Pom Poms" by Ninja Kill Squad

Now strap on your 3-D glasses for "They Called Her Stumpy," which has already been put up on Youtube by its web-savvy director.

Big Fan Gets Big Props

Big Fan's accolades continue to grow. In addition to being called "easily one of the best, and most creative, films of the year" by the Tucson Weekly's James DiGiovanna, Big Fan recently made a splash at the Gotham Independent Film Awards, where it was nominated for Best Feature, as well as serving as the springboard for Robert Siegel's Breakthrough Director and Patton Oswalt's Breakthrough Actor nominations. Catch it at The Loft while you can.

Something to Do When You're Not at The Loft...

Some of our Loft staffers have lives outside The Loft, too! Christian would like to invite you here:



Vicki Ragan, this year's winner of the UA Harold Jones Distinguished Alumni Award, will be giving a lecture at the Center for Creative Photography Auditorium at 5:30. A reception will follow the lecture in the Todd Walker Gallery at 7:30. For more information, please visit uaphotoalum.com.

The Loft at Pride in the Desert

THANKS to all of our fabulous LGBTQ friends and allies who stopped by our booth at Pride in the Desert this past Saturday! We will be announcing the winners of our ENTER TO WIN sweepstakes next week! Look for the winners right here and check your email inbox too!

Member Spotlight: Penelope Starr

Name: Penelope Starr

Hometown: Originally NY. I’ve been in AZ since ‘81 and happily in Tucson for 13 years.

Age: 64

Loft member since: 2007

Livelihood/occupation/background/job: Founder and producer of Odyssey Storytelling, a monthly event at Club Congress where 6 people share 10-minute personal stories based on a changing theme. I also teach storytelling at Pima College Continuing Education. You can see more at www.odysseystorytelling.com.

Favorite genres: Documentaries, classics, independents, foreign films

A few of my favorite films are… Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Women (the original not the horrible remake), Jules and Jim, Before Night Falls, Pricilla Queen of the Desert, Young at Heart, Grey Gardens, Short Bus, I’ve Loved You So Long, The Garden.

I fell in love with films… When I was a young teen and my parents wouldn’t let me see Psycho - so I saw it at least 10 times. I learned how to close my eyes at the scary parts and I didn’t actually watch the shower scene until I was in my 40s.

My favorite Loft memory/anecdote is… The Pricilla/ABBA Sing-a-Long featured my friends Oscar & Mad who got all dressed up - That costume contest was the silliest and most fun event.

My favorite person to go see a film with at The Loft: The Movie Starz, a group of women who have been meeting once a month for five years. We choose an early movie and then go out to dinner and discuss it (and everything else)

My favorite Loft concession/snack bar item/s: A bottle of beer. The added fun is hearing at least one bottle roll on the concrete floor towards the front during the movie.

My favorite thing about the Loft is…. That it’s in Tucson! We’re so lucky to have this amazing resource. I love hearing actors / directors talk about their work, I love the programming variety, I love that the air conditioning works! Plus being a member has so many great benefits, the free popcorn, monthly free movie, free popcorn, discounts at every show, free popcorn, and the knowledge that you’re supporting a Tucson treasure. And did I say free popcorn.

Get in touch with me: Penelope@odysseystorytelling.com

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If you are not a member please consider joining us at: www.loftcinema.org

If you are a member or volunteer of The Loft Cinema & would like to be featured in our “member/volunteer spotlight” column please email Luanne@loftaz.com