C&P Film Fest

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[Happy Hour is Back!  4pm at Charley's ]
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COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY FILM FESTIVAL TO HIT TOWN SOON
By E. Stroop Task

ANN ARBOR - The public's longstanding fascination with cognitive psychology
does not appear to be waning.  It has been estimated that the cognitive
psychology entertainment industry will rake in nearly $500 million this
year alone, and analysts expect that amount to grow to nearly $4 billion by
the year 2000.  From national best-sellers such as the novel "SOA" by Hal
Pashler to public access talk shows like "Reaction Time with Dave Meyer,"
Cognitive Psychology, or CogPsych to those in the know, has enjoyed an
unparallelled popularity among people from all walks of life.

"My favorite is Posner's spotlight model," says local housewife Sarah
Purcell  waiting on line at "The Brain Store" at a local mall.  Purcell,
along with approximately 150 other mothers and fathers is of course trying
to purchase this holiday season's most popular gift, "Left Hemispatial
Neglect Ernie" for her children.  "Some kids are into that newfangled
connectionism stuff, that's what worries me," reports store manager Shane
T. "Myelin" Mueller, "but this Ernie character restores my hope in the
younger generation."

As if the wide array of CogPsych toys, clothing, food products, and
commemorative plates weren't enough, Hollywood is getting ready to release
a dozen new films devoted to the field.  "It's what the people want," says
director Heuristic P. Speilberg of the latest offerings.  Speilberg was, of
course, the director of the box office smash, "The Last Temptation of SOAR."  

To celebrate the release of these films, a gala film festival is planned
for this Friday at 4pm at Goodtime Charley's.  The CogPsych elite will be
out and about, as will starwatchers straining to get autographs of these
hotshots.  Although the screenings are invitation only, our own crack staff
has compiled synopses of many of these films.

3 Men and a Geon
Starring Tom Selleck, Irv Biederman, and Steve Guttenberg.  With Suzanne
Sommers as the Geon.

*** and 1/2 *

This film is the much awaited sequel to last year's "3 Men and a Visual
Feature."  It's a non-stop comedic romp that the whole family will enjoy.
The film begins with the men losing their geon in a crowded department
store the day before Christmas.  The movie revolves around the madcap
adventures of the guys as they search for their missing geon - which of
course can be literally anywhere in their visual field.  The heartwarming
final scenes where the geon is finally found are utterly exquisite.  And
that Suzanne Sommers has some great non-accidental features.

The Hippocampi of the Serengheti
Documentary

****

This wonderful film captures the hippocampus in its natural habitat in the
Serengheti plains.  The cinematography makes this a masterpiece.  The
inspiring aerial shots of herds of these majestic beasts in all their
medial temporal glory are truly spectacular.  The film also includes some
incredibly rare footage of the hippocampus mating ritual.  The film's
overarching message about the dwindling numbers of these creatures
highlights their plight.  One of the best documentary films in recent years.

Thanks for the Working Memories
Meg Ryan, John Jonides and Dave Meyer

**

This remake of the sappy 1964 film "Thanks for the Short Term Memories"
tries  too hard.  The film stars Ryan and Jonides as a pair of star-crossed
psychologists and Meyer as the greedy NSF policy maker intent on keeping
the two apart.  Although believable performances were given, the attempts
by the script's author, Alan Baddeley, to update it fail miserably.  This
is most evident in Meyer's 12 minute tirade about the evils of immutable
structural bottlenecks.  Audiences will enjoy the interesting choice
reaction time scenes between Jonides and Ryan, but will be left wanting for
a plot.

EPIC vs. Godzilla
Starring EPIC and Godzilla

****

This film explores the age old question of whether a boundless working
memory is any match against the ability to breathe fire.  From the
tradition of Cognitive model vs. giant monster films such as "ACT* vs. the
Space Monsters," "ACT-R vs. Mothra," and the ill-fated "HAM Saves
Humanity," comes a tale of suspense and intrigue.  EPIC does a masterful
job using its two left hands to defend Tokyo from a deranged Godzilla.  A
definite Oscar nominee.

See you at the opening!  4pm at Charley's.

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