SoCal classic movies, Sept. 18-25: ‘The Matrix,’ ‘Purple Rain,’ Hola Mexico Film Festival and more
SoCal classic movies, Sept. 18-25: ‘The Matrix,’ ‘Purple Rain,’ Hola Mexico Film Festival 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!
‘The Matrix’ It’s mankind versus the machines — but we’ve got Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss on our side — in 25th anniversary screenings of the Wachowskis’ brain-bending 1999 sci-fi action thriller. Hugo Weaving and Joe Pantaliano also star. Fathom Events, various theaters (see website). 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19; 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. $18 and up. fathomevents.com
‘The Exorcist: The Director’s Cut’ The Devil’s in the details in an expanded edition of William Friedkin’s still terrifying 1973 supernatural thriller based on the William Peter Blatty bestseller. With Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair and Max von Sydow. Presented in 35mm. Vista Theatre, 4473 Sunset Blvd., Los Feliz. 11:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Sept. 20-21. $13.50, $16. vistatheaterhollywood.com
16th Annual Hola Mexico Film Festival This showcase for flicks from our neighbor to the south returns with a full slate of dramas, comedies, horror movies, documentaries, etc. The Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Also at Regal Cinemas LA Live, 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., L.A.; and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 N. Main St., L.A. Various days, dates and times, Friday-thru next Friday, Sept. 20-27. $17.75 and up; passes: $199, $259. holamexicoff.com
‘The Jerk’ Steve Martin goes from rags to riches and back again in Carl Reiner’s goofy 1979 comedy. Bernadette Peters also stars. The Art Theatre of Long Beach, 2025 E. 4th St., Long Beach. 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20. $9-$13.50. (562) 438-5435. arttheatrelongbeach.org
‘Leonard Maltin Presents’ The veteran movie critic and film historian will be on hand, schedule permitting, to introduce a trio of double features of rarely-screened Universal flicks from the 1930s-40s. New Beverly Cinema, 7165 Beverly Blvd., L.A. 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Friday, 6:30 and 8:10 p.m. Saturday, 6:30 and 8:45 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20-22. $14.25; advance purchase recommended; limited tickets available at the door. thenewbev.com
‘Nosferatu x Radiohead’ The music of artsy British rockers Radiohead serves as the soundtrack as Silents Synced presents F.W. Murnau’s 1929 vampire thriller not so loosely-based on Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” American Cinematheque at the Los Feliz 3, 1822 N. Vermont Ave., Los Feliz. $8, $13. 10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday and Tuesday-next Thursday, Sept. 21-22 & 24-26. americancinematheque.com
Also at Gardena Cinema, 14948 Crenshaw Blvd., Gardena. 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25. $17.85. eventbrite.com
‘Silent Comedy All-Stars’ The Playhouse teams up with Retroformat Silent Films for a program of classic comedies featuring Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and “Fatty” Arbuckle. Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20. $20. sierramadreplayhouse.org/
‘Whiplash’ Miles Teller plays an aspiring jazz drummer and Oscar winner J.K. Simmons is the band instructor from Hell in 10th anniversary screenings of Damien Chazelle’s compelling 2014 drama. Various theaters, showtimes and prices, Friday thru next Thursday, Sept. 20-26. fandango.com
‘Belle du Jour’ Catherine Deneuve is on the menu in Luis Buñuel’s twisted 1967 fable about a bored young housewife who gets a side gig as a sex worker. In French with English subtitles. Brain Dead Studios at the Silent Movie Theater, 611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21. $12. studios.wearebraindead.com
‘Purple Rain’ Prince reigns supreme in a special 40th anniversary outdoor screening of this semi-autobiographical 1984 musical drama about a Prince-like rocker making a name for himself on the Minneapolis nightclub scene. Cinespia at the Rose Bowl Stadium, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. Doors, 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21; movie, 7:45 p.m. $23. cinespia.org
‘Safety Last’ Harold Lloyd’s stunt-filled 1923 silent comedy in presented with live organ accompaniment by Randy Woltz. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 2:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21. $10, $12. (310) 322-2592. oldtownmusichall.org
‘Selena’ Jennifer Lopez lights up the screen as the beloved but ill-fated Tejano singer in this 1997 bio-drama written and directed by Gregory Nava. Edward James Olmos, Constance Marie and Lupe Ontiveros also star. Grand Hope Park, 919 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Doors, 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sep.t 21; band, 6:45 p.m.; movie, 8 p.m. $10-$27. streetfoodcinema.com
‘The Wizard of Oz’ Judy Garland is Dorothy, a simple Kansas farm girl swept up by a twister and deposited in a magical land, in Victor Fleming’s beloved 1939 musical fantasy based on the writings of L. Frank Baum. Presented in 35mm in a rare screening of a 1998 1.37 dye transfer print. American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. $10, $15. americancinematheque.com
‘The Sword of Granada’ “Batman’s” Cesar Romero wields it in a special 3D presentation of this 1953 swashbuckler set in medieval Spain and co-directed by Edward Dein and Carlos Véjar hijo. In Spanish language with English subtitles. Gardena Cinema, 14948 Crenshaw Blvd., Gardena. 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. $17.85. eventbrite.com
‘The Lord of the Rings’ Return with us now to Middle-earth — and Mordor — in legendary animator Ralph Bakshi’s 1978 adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy trilogy about the little Hobbit who could … with a little help from his friends, that is. The Frida Cinema, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana. 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. $13. thefridacinema.org
‘Throne of Blood’ Something wicked this way comes in Akira Kurosawa’s black-and-white, samurai-themed 1957 adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” Toshiro Mifune stars. In Japanese with English subtitles. Presented in 35mm. American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. $8, $13. americancinematheque.com