This Week In Film (In L.A.): 12/15-12/21

'Tis the season for Christmas films everywhere. The Aero & Egyptian Theatres sport traditional fare White Christmas & It's A Wonderful Life, while both branches of the Arclight host newer Christmas comedies Elf & A Christmas Story. But if you're sick of Santa, the New Beverly's got your back. Tuesday, the Grindhouse Film Festival hosts their annual holiday program, pairing proto-slasher Black Christmas with Silent Night Bloody Night (not to be confused with Silent Night Deadly Night or the forthcoming Silent Night Zombie Night). Saturday, Amoeba Music & New Beverly Midnights remind us how noel can be a nightmare with Jingle All The Way, starring our governor!

For the agnostic & apathetic, Monday brings an early no-Christmas-present: a preview of The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button with film critic Stephen Farber & special guests at the Wadsworth Theatre. If you find yourself with 4 and a half hours to kill, the full "road show" version of Stephen Soderbergh's Che runs through Thursday at The Landmark; see it now before distributors play Solomon & cut it down the middle. If you find yourself awake at noon on a Tuesday, LACMA has a matinee of John Sturges' classic Western The Law & Jack Wade.

Speaking of classics, the Hollywood legends are out in droves this week. Charlie Chaplin (Monsieur Verdoux), Laurel & Hardy (March Of The Wooden Soldiers), Jimmy Stewart (Bell, Book & Candle, The Shop Around The Corner) & Bruce Campbell (Army Of Darkness) all appear on screen this week. George Cukor's original version of The Women has a rare showing in town, and for the more daring, two of Canadian auteur Guy Maddin's unique silent-film, modern-sensibility dramedies play mid-week.

Full list & my picks appear below. See you at the movies!

Monday
$9.99 (2008) (Laemmle's Music Hall 3) (limited engagement thru Thursday)
Animal House (1978) / Strange Brew (1983) (New Beverly Cinema)
Bell, Book & Candle (1958) (The Bay Theatre)
Che (2008) (The Landmark) (exclusive engagement thru Thursday)
The Conformist (1970) (Laemmle's Royal Theatre)
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (2008) (Wadsworth Theatre) (Reel Talk preview w/ special guests)
Dragon Hunters (2008) (Laemmle's Grande 4-Plex) (limited engagement through Thursday)
Elf (2003) (Arclight Hollywood)
Hania (2007) (Laemmle's Music Hall 3) (limited engagement through Thursday)
Monsieur Verdoux (1947) (Nuart Theatre) (limited engagement through Thursday)
Timecrimes (Los Crinocrimenes) (2007) (Laemmle's Sunset 5) (limited engagement through Thursday)
Were The World Mine (2008) (Laemmle's Sunset 5) (limited engagement through Thursday)

Where I'll Be:

The Conformist (1970) (Laemmle's Royal Theatre)
Amidst all the seasonal chaos, Laemmle quietly celebrates their 70th birthday with a killer world cinema series at the Royal in West L.A. Tonight's film, Bernardo Bertolucci's The Conformist, is a nightmarish thriller that perfectly encapsulates the political upheaval, paranoia & cynicism of the decade.

Tuesday
$9.99 (2008) (Laemmle's Music Hall 3) (limited engagement thru Thursday)
Black Christmas (1974) / Silent Night, Bloody Night (1974) (New Beverly Cinema)
Che (2008) (The Landmark) (exclusive engagement thru Thursday)
Dragon Hunters (2008) (Laemmle's Grande 4-Plex) (limited engagement through Thursday)
Elf (2003) (Arclight Sherman Oaks)
Fanny & Alexander (1982) (Laemmle's Royal Theatre)
Hania (2007) (Laemmle's Music Hall 3) (limited engagement through Thursday)
Helvetica (2007) (Aero Theatre)
The Law & Jack Wade (1958) (LACMA) (matinee)
Monsieur Verdoux (1947) (Nuart Theatre) (limited engagement through Thursday)
Timecrimes (Los Crinocrimenes) (2007) (Laemmle's Sunset 5) (limited engagement through Thursday)
Were The World Mine (2008) (Laemmle's Sunset 5) (limited engagement through Thursday)


Where I'll Be:

Black Christmas (1974) / Silent Night, Bloody Night (1974) (New Beverly Cinema)
I'm an unabashed grindhouse fan, but it helps when the film's a stone-cold classic. Black Christmas along with Halloween, laid the groundwork and displayed the true suspenseful, gory potential of the much-maligned slasher flick. Silent Night, Bloody Night offers even more reasons why answering the phone when you're all alone in a big, spooky house just isn't a good idea.

Wednesday
$9.99 (2008) (Laemmle's Music Hall 3) (limited engagement thru Thursday)
Auntie Mame (1958) (The Egyptian Theatre)
Bell, Book & Candle (1958) (The Bay Theatre)
Che (2008) (The Landmark) (exclusive engagement thru Thursday)
A Christmas Story (1983) (Aero Theatre)
Dragon Hunters (2008) (Laemmle's Grande 4-Plex) (limited engagement through Thursday)
Hania (2007) (Laemmle's Music Hall 3) (limited engagement through Thursday)
Monsieur Verdoux (1947) (Nuart Theatre) (limited engagement through Thursday)
My Winnipeg (2007) / The Saddest Music In The World (2003) (New Beverly Cinema)
Timecrimes (Los Crinocrimenes) (2007) (Laemmle's Sunset 5) (limited engagement through Thursday)
Were The World Mine (2008) (Laemmle's Sunset 5) (limited engagement through Thursday)
Women On The Nerve Of A Nervous Breakdown (1988) (Laemmle's Royal Theatre)

Where I'll Be:

Che (2008) (The Landmark)
In the golden days of yore, epics like Laurence of Arabia & Gone With The Wind toured the country as road shows. Masses flocked, knowing it would be their only chance to see such a spectacle in its entirety. Then, home video & decreased attention spans came and obliterated these events. They don't make 'em or show 'em like this any more, and unless 4 hour Spanish-language films become trendy, they likely won't ever again.

Thursday
$9.99 (2008) (Laemmle's Music Hall 3) (limited engagement)
Che (2008) (The Landmark) (exclusive engagement)
Dragon Hunters (2008) (Laemmle's Grande 4-Plex) (limited engagement)
Fiddler On The Roof (1971) (The Egyptian Theatre)
Hania (2007) (Laemmle's Music Hall 3) (limited engagement through Thursday)
Monsieur Verdoux (1947) (Nuart Theatre) (limited engagement through Thursday)
My Winnipeg (2007) / The Saddest Music In The World (2003) (New Beverly Cinema) (New Beverly Cinema)
Timecrimes (Los Crinocrimenes) (2007) (Laemmle's Sunset 5) (limited engagement through Thursday)
Were The World Mine (2008) (Laemmle's Sunset 5) (limited engagement through Thursday)
White Christmas (1954) (Aero Theatre)
Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001) (Laemmle's Royal Theatre)

Where I'll Be:

Timecrimes (Los Crinocrimenes) (2007) (Laemmle's Sunset 5)
I love time-travel films, but there's always something missing. Primer doesn't have any comprehensible dialogue. Back To The Future doesn't have any murder. Donnie Darko doesn't have any likable characters. Spanish techno-thriller Timecrimes promises all this and, according to the advance press, it delivers.


Friday
Army Of Darkness (1992) (midnight movie) (Regency Fairfax)
The Class (2008) (exclusive engagement) (The Landmark)
Cult Cinema Club: TBA Japanese Horror (The Egyptian Theatre)
The Killing (1956) / Paths Of Glory (1957) (New Beverly Cinema)
March Of The Wooden Soldiers (1934) (Old Time Music Hall)
My Name Is Bruce (2007) (w/ special guest Bruce Campbell!) (Nuart Theatre)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) (Aero Theatre)
Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982) (Laemmle's Royal Theatre)
Remains Of The Day (1993) (Laemmle's Royal Theatre)
The Shop Around The Corner (1940) (The Egyptian Theatre)
Tommy (1975) (Laemmle's Royal Theatre)
Trainspotting (1996) (The Bay Theatre)

Where I'll Be:

My Name Is Bruce (2007) (w/ special guest Bruce Campbell!) (Nuart Theatre)
Anyone who's read Bruce Campbell's autobiography If Chins Could Kill or seen any of his movies knows the man has mastered the arts of self-deprecation, quick-wit & slapstick. In My Name Is Bruce, Bruce Campbell utilizes all in the role he was born to play: Bruce Campbell, a jerk, who must rise to the task and become Bruce Campbell, b-movie star. Because there's an evil Chinese spirit running around Oregonian backwoods beheading everyone. Confused? Maybe Bruce Campbell can explain it to you - he's hosting a Q&A on all things Bruce Campbell after the film.

And in case that isn't enough Bruce Campbell for you, you can catch a midnight showing of Army Of Darkness at the Regency Fairfax right afterward.

Saturday
The Abyss (1989) (Laemmle's Royal Theatre)
Aliens (1986) (Laemmle's Royal Theatre)
Fiddler On The Roof (1971) (Aero Theatre)
Jingle All The Way (1996) (midnight show) (New Beverly Cinema)
The Killing (1956) / Paths Of Glory (1957) (New Beverly Cinema)
March Of The Wooden Soldiers (1934) (Old Time Music Hall)
My Name Is Bruce (2007) (w/ special guest Bruce Campbell!) (Nuart Theatre)
Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) (midnight show) (Nuart Theatre)
Scrooge (1970) (free screening) (The Egyptian Theatre)
The Man Who Came To Dinner (1942) / Holiday Affair (1949) (The Egyptian Theatre)
Titanic (1997) (Laemmle's Royal Theatre)

Where I'll Be:

Fiddler On The Roof (1971) (Aero Theatre)
As much as I'd love to check out The Royal's 70mm series screenings of The Abyss & Aliens, my sister's in town for Chanukah, and Fiddler's the only Chanukah-esque movie I know of. If anyone can recommend a better Chanukah flick, I'm all ears (but if you say Eight Crazy Nights, I'm defriending you).

Sunday
A Christmas Story (1983) (Arclight Sherman Oaks)
Gremlins (1984) (Laemmle's Royal Theatre)
Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade (1989) (Laemmle's Royal Theatre)
March Of The Wooden Soldiers (1934) (Old Time Music Hall)
My Name Is Bruce (2007) (w/ special guest Bruce Campbell!) (Nuart Theatre)
Top Gun (1986) (Laemmle's Royal Theatre)
Total Recall (1990) / Starship Troopers (1997) (New Beverly Cinema)
Trainspotting (1996) (The Bay Theatre)
The Untouchables (1987) (Laemmle's Royal Theatre)
White Christmas (1954) (The Egyptian Theatre)
The Women (1939) (Starlight Studio)

Where I'll Be:

Total Recall (1990) / Starship Troopers (1997) (New Beverly Cinema)
Everyone loves to jump on Showgirls, but truth is Paul Verhoeven has an incredible talent for sneaking subversive satire in-between mutants & explosions. While these films are no Robocop, nay-sayers should be ready for a surprise.

That's this week in film. Love it or Netflix it.