SoCal classic movies, May 8-15: A Gary Oldman retrospective, a ‘Sound of Music’ sing-along 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!
‘Classe tous risques’ A French mobster who’d been hiding out in Italy returns to Paris with a few scores to settle in Claude Sautet’s influential 1960 gangster flick. With Lino Ventura, Jean-Paul Belmondo and Sandra Milo. In French and Italian with English subtitles. Laemmle Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. 1, 4:10 and 7 p.m. Thursday, May 8. $7-$16. laemmle.com
SEE Fest (South and Eastern European Film Festival) Go Continental with this sprawling city-wide showcase that includes full-length features, shorts, documentaries, etc. plus panel discussions, poetry readings and more. Various venues and showtimes thru May 8. $8-$25; some free events. seefilmla.org
VC Film Fest/Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival This multi-venue showcase returns with feature films, documentaries, shorts, etc., plus panel discussions and more. Japanese American Museum, 100 N. Central Ave., and Aratani Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro St., Little Tokyo, downtown L.A. and other area venues. Various showtimes thru May 10. $15, $20.; some free events; tickets available online only. vcmedia.org
‘All That Heaven Allows’ with ‘Magnificent Obsession’ Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman star in this double bill of classic 1950s melodramas directed by Douglas Sirk. Presented in 35mm. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, May 8-9. $13; advance purchase recommended; limited tickets available at the door. thenewbev.com
‘Magnolia’ The lives of disparate San Fernando Valley residents intersect in unexpected ways over the course of a single day in Paul Thomas Anderson’s moody 1999 ensemble drama. With Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly, William H. Macy, et al. The Frida Cinema, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 3 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, May 8-9. $12. thefridacinema.org
‘Eastern Promises’ with ‘A History of Violence’ Viggo Mortensen is not the man with whom to mess in this double bill of gritty crime thrillers from the 2000s, both directed by David Cronenberg. Presented in 35mm. American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. $8, $13. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9. americancinematheque.com
‘Donnie Darko’ Jake Gyllenhaal plays a troubled teen suffering from post-apocalyptic visions in Richard Kelly’s brain-bending 2001 cult classic. With Drew Barrymore and Jena Malone. Presented in 4K digital. Academy Museum, David Geffen Theater, 6067 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 10. $5-$10. academymuseum.org
‘Lawrence of Arabia’ Peter O’Toole stars in David Lean’s Oscar-winning 1962 historical epic. With Omar Sharif, Alec Guinness and Anthony Quinn. Presented in 70mm. Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Blvd., Los Feliz. 12:30 and 6 p.m. Friday-Sunday, 1:30 and 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, May 10-16. $12.50, $15. vistatheaterhollywood.com
‘Mank’ A retrospective of films starring the incomparable Gary Oldman gets underway with the actor’s portrayal of “Citizen Kane” screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz in David Fincher’s black & white 2020 bio-drama. Amanda Seyfried co-stars. American Cinematheque at the Los Feliz 3, 1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. 7 p.m. Friday, May 10. $8, $13. americancinematheque.com
‘Sleeping Beauty’ with ‘Cinderella’ Someday their princes will come in this pairing of Disney’s animated 1950s-era adaptations of those beloved fairytales. Presented in I.B. Technicolor 35mm. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 7 and 8:45 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 6:30 and 8:15 p.m. Sunday, May 10-12. $13; advance purchase recommended; limited tickets available at the door. thenewbev.com
‘The World of Dong Kingman’ with ‘Golden Gate Girls’ This double bill pairs legendary cinematographer James Wong Howe’s 1953 documentary short about a street artist in NYC with S. Louisa Wei’s 2013 doc celebrating groundbreaking queer filmmakers Dorothy Arzner and Esther Eng. Hammer Museum, Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 10. Free; no advance reservations; first come, first served. cinema.ucla.edu
‘African Futurism: The World of Jean-Pierre Bekolo’ The Cameroonian writer-director will take part in a Q&A at a screening of his 2005 horror drama “The Bloodettes” and 2016 sci-fi fable “Naked Reality,” returning the next night for a double bill of his 1990s-era films “Quartier Mozart” and “Aristotle’s Plot.” In French with English subtitles. UCLA Hammer Museum, Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday, May 11-12. Free; no advance reservations; first come, first served. cinema.ucla.edu
‘The Crow’ A slain rocker (Brandon Lee) returns from beyond the grave to seek revenge in Alex Proyas’ atmospheric 1994 supernatural thriller. With Michael Wincott and Ernie Hudson. Brain Dead Studios at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11. $12; advance purchase required. studios.wearebraindead.com
‘Double Indemnity’ Fred MacMurray is warm for Barbara Stanwyck’s form in Billy Wilder’s essential 1944 film noir. Edward G. Robinson co-stars. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11. $9-$12. vidiotsfoundation.org
‘Mamma Mia!’ Cinespia opens its summer season of outdoor screenings with this 2008 adaptation of the hit romantic musical built around the songs of Swedish pop quartet ABBA. With Meryl Streep and the aforementioned Amanda Seyfried. Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1245 N. Spring St., downtown L.A. 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 11. $22. cinespia.org
‘To Catch a Thief’ Cary Grant steals Grace Kelly’s heart in Alfred Hitchcock’s elegant 1955 romantic thriller set on the French Riviera. Film historian Sloan De Forest will be on hand to discuss the film. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 2:30 and 7 p.m Saturday, May 11. $10, $12. (310) 322-2592. oldtownmusichall.org
‘Limelight’ Charlie Chaplin directs and stars as a vaudevillian fallen on hard times in this bittersweet 1952 drama featuring Claire Bloom and fellow silent-era film legend Buster Keaton. Presented in 35mm. American Cinematheque at the Los Feliz 3, 1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. 1 p.m. Sunday, May 12. $8, $13. americancinematheque.com
‘The Sound of Music’ — Sing-Along The hills — and the auditorium — will be alive with it as audience members are invited to lift their voices alongside Julie Andrews and company at this showing of Robert Wise’s Oscar-winning 1965 adaptation of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical set in pre-WWII Austria. Vidiots Eagle Theatre, 4884 Eagle Rock Blvd., Highland Park. 3 p.m. Sunday, May 12. $9-$12. vidiotsfoundation.org
‘Spaceballs’ The sci-fi and space opera genres in general and “Star Wars” in particular come in for a spoofing in Mel Brooks’ gag-filled 1987 comedy starring Bill Pullman, John Candy and Rick Moranis. Fine Arts Theatre, 8556 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. 2 p.m. Sunday. $13, $15. fineartstheatrebh.com
‘Walkabout’ The Frida’s “Arthouse 101” series continues with Nicolas Roeg’s 1971 tale about two white children stranded in the Australian Outback and the young Indigenous lad who comes to their aid. The Frida Cinema, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14. Free with RSVP. thefridacinema.org
‘The Motorcycle Diaries’ A pre-revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara and his best friend undertake an epic road trip around South America in 20th anniversary screenings of Walter Salles’ Oscar-winning 2004 bio-drama. In Spanish and Quechua 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., ClaremontLaemmle Town Center 5, 17200 Ventura Blvd., Encino. 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 15. 12. laemmle.com
‘No Country for Old Men’ Quién es más macho: Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem or Tommy Lee Jones? Find out in the Coen brothers’ Oscar-winning 2007 adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s 2005 novel about a hunter, a hitman and a small town sheriff in 1980s Texas. Brain Dead Studios at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 15. $12. studios.wearebraindead.com