SoCal classic movies, April 17-24: TCM Classic Film Festival, ‘The Art of the Benshi’ and more
Classic films, film festivals, event screenings, restorations and revivals
Welcome to the latest edition of TV or Not TV’s curated guide to classic movies, events and revivals, film festivals and more screening in LA and OC this week. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the Los Angeles Times’ Calendar.
Roll ’em!
‘Brazil’ A low-level bureaucrat (Jonathan Pryce) ekes out an existence in a dark, dystopian future in Terry Gilliam’s 1985 sci-fi fable. With Robert De Niro, Ian Holm, Bob Hoskins, Jim Broadbent and Michael Palin. Academy Museum, David Geffen Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17. $5-$10. academymuseum.org
The 15th TCM Classic Film Festival “Pulp Fiction,” “Double Indemnity,” “101 Dalmatians,” “Rear Window,” “The Searchers,” “El Cid,” “Chinatown” and “Lawrence of Arabia” are among the myriad films screening in the return of this star-studded, multi-venue, weekend-long affair that also features filmmaker Q&As, panel discussions and much, much more. TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX, 6925 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; other area venues. Various showtimes, Thursday-Saturday, April 18-21. $20, $30; passes: $399 and up. filmfestival.tcm.com
‘The Art of the Benshi’ Classic silent-era films from Japan are presented with traditional live narration and musical accompaniment in this weekend-long showcase co-presented by UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Yanai Initiative for Globalizing Japanese Humanities. United Theater, 929 S. Broadway, downtown L.A. 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 19. $15-$25. Also at the Hammer Museum’s Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20; 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday, April 21. Free; no advance reservations; first come, first served. cinema.ucla.edu
‘The Big Lebowski’ A case of mistaken identity lands a middle-aged slacker (Jeff Bridges) in the middle of a kidnapping plot in the Coen brothers’ off-kilter 1998 mystery comedy. With John Goodman, Sam Elliott, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, John Turturro, Tara Reid and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Rooftop Movies at The Montalbán, 1615 Vine St., Hollywood. 8 p.m. Friday, April 19. Single: $20; loveseat: $50. themontalban.com
‘Parajanov: The Last Spring’ with ‘The Color of Pomegranates’ Acclaimed Armenian filmmaker Sergei Parajanov is remembered in Mikhail Vartanov’s 1992 documentary, followed by a screening of Parajanov’s visually ravishing 1969 exploration of the writings of 18th century poet and troubadour Sayat-Nova. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, David Geffen Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 19. Sold out; standby line available. academymuseum.org
‘Antonio Sánchez: Birdman Live’ The percussionist and composer recreates his Grammy-winning score live-to-picture to accompany a screening of Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Oscar-winning 2014 drama starring Michael Keaton. The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20. $45 and up. (310) 434-3200. broadstage.org
‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ A young girl discovers a magical realm in Guillermo del Toro’s dark 2007 fantasy fable set in Fascist Spain. With Ivana Baquero and Doug Jones. The Landmark Westwood, 1045 Broxton Ave., Westwood. 10:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20. $10. (310) 208-3250 landmarktheatres.com
‘Black Orpheus’ Filmmaker Marcel Camus transposes the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice from ancient Greece to Rio de Janiero during Carnaval in this classic 1959 drama. In Portuguese with English subtitles. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 7 p.m. Sunday, April 21. $9-$12. vidiotsfoundation.org
‘Girl Happy’ A 100th anniversary screening of Harold Lloyd’s madcap 1924 silent-era rom-com is presented with live musical accompaniment by Cliff Retallick. The Frida Cinema, Calle Cuatro Plaza, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 4 p.m. Sunday, April 21. $15. thefridacinema.org
14th Annual LACLA Student Film Festival Aspiring young filmmakers put their best flicks forward in this showcase presented by the Latin American Cinemateca of Los Angeles. Richard A. Grant Theater, Cathedral High School, 1253 Bishops Rd., L.A. 2 p.m. Sunday, April 21. Free; RSVP at eventbrite.com
‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Witness! Revisit George Miller’s bonkers 2015 reboot of his post-apocalyptic action franchise before the prequel “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” roars into theaters next month. Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron star. The Frida Cinema, Calle Cuatro Plaza, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 4 p.m. Sunday, April 21. $15. thefridacinema.org
‘Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters’ The life and times of controversial Japanese author Yukio Mishima are explored in Paul Schrader’s unflinching 1985 bio-drama featuring a hypnotic score by Philip Glass. In Japanese and English with English subtitles. Brain Dead Studios at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. Sunday, April 21. $12. studios.wearebraindead.com
‘Valley Girl’ with ‘Real Genius’ An ongoing salute to Martha Coolidge pairs the filmmaker’s 1983 teen rom-com starring Nicolas Cage and Deborah Foreman with her comedic 1985 techno-thriller starring Val Kilmer. Presented in 35mm. American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. 7 p.m. Sunday, April 21. $8, $13. americancinematheque.com
‘Come and See’ A teenage combatant from Belarus bears witness to the horrors of World War II in Elem Klimov’s powerful 1985 drama. In Belarusian with English subtitles. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 7:30 p.m. April 23. $9-$12. vidiotsfoundation.org
‘The Deer Hunter’ Three friends from small-town Pennsylvania bear witness to the horrors of the Vietnam War in Michael Cimino’s Oscar-winning 1978 epic. With Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and John Savage. Landmark Pasadena, 673 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 23. $10. landmarktheatres.com
‘The Runaways’ with ‘Lords of Dogtown’ A double bill pairs Floria Sigismondi’s 2010 drama about the 1970s-era all-female rock band with Catherine Hardwicke’s 2005 drama about the birth of skateboarding culture in 1970s SoCal. Kirsten Stewart and Dakota Fanning star in the former and Emile Hirsch, Heath Ledger and Johnny Knoxville in the latter. Presented in 35mm. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, April 23-24. $13; advance purchase recommended; limited tickets available at the door. thenewbev.com
‘Chocolat’ A young girl from France comes of age in colonial-era Cameroon in acclaimed filmmaker Claire Denis’ semi-autobiographical 1988 debut feature. In French, English, Arabic and Hausa with English subtitles. Laemmle Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A.; Laemmle Glendale, 207 N. Maryland Ave., Glendale; Laemmle Newhall, 22500 Lyons Ave., Newhall; Laemmle Claremont 5, 450 W. 2nd St., Claremont; Laemmle Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino. 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 24. $10, $13. laemmle.com