SoCal classic movies, Dec. 13-20: ‘Run Lola Run,’ ‘Lone Star,’ ’King Kong vs. Godzilla’ and more
SoCal classic movies, Dec. 13-20: ‘Run Lola Run,’ ‘Lone Star,’ ’King Kong vs. Godzilla’ and more
Plus film festivals, event screenings, restorations, revivals and more
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!
‘A Christmas Story’ 40th anniversary screenings of the nostalgic 1983 holiday comedy based on the writings of Jean Sheppard. With Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin. Various theaters, prices. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13. fathomevents.com
‘Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas’ This 2017 documentary salutes the Jewish songwriters behind such holiday classics as “White Christmas” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13. $10. skirball.org
‘Fanny & Alexander’ A young boy and his sister in early 20th century Sweden find their lives upended when their father dies and their mother remarries in Ingmar Bergman’s Oscar-winning semi-autobiographical 1982 fable. In Swedish with English subtitles. 188 mins. Rated R. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13. $13. laemmle.com
‘John Wick-a-thon’ Watch Keanu Reeves go ballistic in the 2014 action-franchise opener — and its 2017, 2019 and 2023 sequels! — in this butt-numbing four-film marathon that includes a Q&A with director Chad Stahelski. American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. Noon, 1:50, 4 and 6:20 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, with brief 5-10 intermissions between each film. Free; RSVP required (does not guarantee a seat; first come, first served). americancinematheque.com
‘Lone Star’ Filmmaker John Sayles will be on hand for a Q&A at the premiere of a new 4K restoration of his acclaimed 1996 mystery drama about a sheriff (Chris Cooper) in a small town in present-day Texas trying to solve the decades-old murder of one of his predecessors. Kris Kristofferson, Matthew McConaughey and Elizabeth Peña co-star. American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. $10, $15. americancinematheque.com
‘Zoot Suit’ Edward James Olmos is dressed to the nines in playwright Luis Valdez’s 1981 adaptation of his fact-based 1979 drama about the infamous Sleepy Lagoon murder trial and subsequent Zoot Suit Riots in 1940s Los Angeles. Presented in 70mm. 103 mins. Rated R. Academy Museum, David Geffen Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. $5-$10. academymuseum.org
‘Battle Royale’ Trouble-making ninth graders are shipped off to a remote island where they are forced to fight to the death in Kinji Fukasak’s controversial 2000 cult classic. In Japanese with English subtitles. 122 mins. Not Rated. The Frida Cinema, Calle Cuatro Plaza, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 15-16. $12. thefridacinema.org
‘Run Lola Run’ “The Bourne Identity’s” Franka Potente stars in Tom Tykwer’s pulse-pounding 1998 thriller about a young woman who has just 20 minutes to come up with 100,000 Deutschmarks to save the life of her hoodlum boyfriend; in German with English subtitles. Presented in 35mm. 81 min. Rated R. Hammer Museum’s Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15. Free; no reservations required. cinema.ucla.edu
‘King Kong vs. Godzilla’ Let them fight! The overgrown ape faces off against the atomic-powered mega-reptile — advantage, reptile — in this charmingly cheesy 1962 movie monster meetup; presented in 35mm and dubbed in English. Million Dollar Theater, 307 S. Broadway, downtown L.A. 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. $12-$16. secretmovieclub.com
‘Rod Serling’s Nuclear Nightmare: Carol for Another Christmas’ Dickens’ classic fable is repurposed as an Atomic Age cautionary tale in this 1964 teleplay written by “Twilight Zone” creator Serling and directed by “All About Eve’s” Joseph L. Mankiewicz. With Peter Sellers, Sterling Hayden and Eva Marie Saint. Presented in 35mm. Serling’s daughter Anne Serling will introduce the film and take part in a post-show discussion. Hammer Museum’s Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. Free; no reservations required. cinema.ucla.edu
‘Under the Skin’ Scarlett Johansson plays a strange visitor from another world with, shall we say, strange taste in men, in Jonathan Glazer’s unnerving 2013 sci-fi fable. American Cinematheque at the Los Feliz 3, 1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15. $8, $13. americancinematheque.com
Also at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, David Geffen Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20. $5-$10. academymuseum.org
‘Children of Men’ with ‘Snowpiercer’ A double bill pairs Alfonso Cuarón’s moving 2006 post-apocalyptic fable starring Clive Owen and Julianne Moore with Bong Joon Ho’s Gilliam-esque 2013 post-apocalyptic action thriller starring Chris Evans, John Hurt and Tilda Swinton. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 7:30 and 9:50 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 18-19. $10; advance purchase recommended. thenewbev.com