Leonard Maltin\, one of the world&rsquo\;s most respected film critics and historians\, will reflect on our featured film\, Hal and Minter\, as part of the ReelAbilities Film Festival Clevel and @ Akron. Maltin will also share his personal Hollywood story as a writ er and TV personality and his journey living and thriving with Parkinson&r squo\;s disease.
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Now an annual Akron event\, ReelAb ilities Film Festival: Cleveland @ Akron promotes awareness and apprec iation of the lives\, stories\, and artistic expressions of people with di fferent abilities through film and community.
\nIn this evening's fi lm\, Hal and Minter\, poet Hal Sirowitz has been living with Parkinson&rsq uo\;s disease for almost twenty-years\, but he continues to be vibrant and creative. He was one of the most popular poets in the United States in th e 1990s and a regular on MTV and one of the original performers at the Nuy orican Poets&rsquo\; Cafe. Hal and his partner -- the writer Minter Krotze r -- have become advocates for people and families struggling with Parkins on&rsquo\;s disease. They regularly share their experiences and creative w ork through blog posts and articles. *24 min *Mature language and subject matter
\nOne of the world&rsquo\;s most r espected film critics and historians\, Leonard Maltin is best known for his widely-used referenc e work Leonard Maltin&rsquo\;s Movie Guide\, its companion volume Leonard Maltin&rsquo\;s Classic Movie Guide and 30 years as film critic on Entertainment Tonight. In 2015\, he was diagnosed with P arkinson&rsquo\;s disease. Inspired by actor Alan Alda&rsquo\;s announceme nt of his Parkinson&rsquo\;s diagnosis\, Maltin publicly shared his own di agnosis in 2018. Speaking out about the disease that has affected Michael J. Fox\, Neil Diamond\, Linda Ronstadt and others in public life\, includi ng the late Robin Williams\, Johnny Cash\, Pope John Paul II and Muhammed Ali\, Maltin declared that "it&rsquo\;s not a death sentence\, not anywher e even close to that."
\nA prolific autho r and movie historian\, his books include The 151 Best Movies You&rsquo\;ve Nev er Seen\, Maltin has been the recipient of awards from the American So ciety of Cinematographers\, Anthology Film Archives\, and San Diego&rsquo\ ;s Comic-Con International. Perhaps the pinnacle of his career was his app earance in a now-classic episode of South Park.
\nSharing his encyclopedic knowledge of films and movie history\, M altin will reflect on RAFF featured film Hal and Minter in addition to liv ing &mdash\; and thriving &mdash\; with Parkinson&rsquo\;s disease. Join u s for a candid discussion that provides the perspective of the individual living with a progressive disease.
\nCheck out Leonards new book Sta rstruck: My Unlikely Road to Hollywood. \; Release date October 12th&n bsp\;
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The Friends of Main Library will be set u p in the Atrium with Leonard's 2018\, Hooked on Hollywood: Discoveries from a Lifetime o f Film Fandom and bookplates.
\nRegistration is requested\, but not required. \; For questions or additional information you can reach the Culture &\; AV desk at 330.643.9015 or cadiv@akronlibrary.org .
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