While the Sundance Film Festival still rages in Park City Utah, depriving me of the companionship (not to mention culinary skills) of my imminently more talented girlfriend, there are thankfully a variety of interesting film-related offerings in other places across the country. But before we get to the stuff we think you should see up on the big screen, we would like to remind you to please leave comments and send in emails with any suggestions you may have for events, screenings, or other opportunities film fans may have to share with others in their celebration of the medium. Also, when and if you attend any of the events listed below, please let us know about your experiences, and let the organizers know where you found out about it!
Austin
On January 25, queue up at the Alamo Ritz theatre for a screening of ‘Pretty in Pink,’ which is part of the theater’s “Girly Night Signature Series.” The screening starts at 7:30 PM, but make sure you check out the Alamo Drafthouse website for additional screening information and directions.
Chicago
On January 26, head over to what is fast-becoming one of my favorite Chicago film-centric destinations, Ida Noyes Hall at the Max Palevsky Cinema, for a screening of Martin Scorsese’s “coulda been a contender” classic, ‘Raging Bull.’ The film starts at 7:00 PM and tickets are $5.00, but make sure you check out the Eventful website for additional screening information and directions.
If there’s a screening at the Max Palevsky Cinema to be more excited about than one of ‘Raging Bull,’ it could only be ‘Man From Hong Kong,’ an Australian exploitation movie starring George Lazenby that has never been released on DVD. The screening starts at 9:00 PM and tickets, again, are only $5.00, but make sure you check out the Eventful website for additional screening information and directions.
Dallas
On January 28 and 29, the Inwood Theatre is showing none other than Jim Henson’s weird, wonderful 1986 film ‘Labyrinth‘ on the big screen. There is one showing per night at midnight, but make sure you check out the Inwood Theatre website for additional screening information and directions.
Los Angeles
Edgar Wright’s “Wright Stuff II” programming series wraps up this week at the New Beverly Cinema with a bunch of terrific double features, but the one I’m most highly-anticipating is the January 26 and 27 pairing of ‘Wild at Heart‘ and ‘True Romance.’ As with the rest of he series, Wright plans to be on hand to introduce the films, and has hinted at special guests (such as, say, ‘True Romance’ screenwriter and New Beverly owner Quentin Tarantino, maybe?) who might attend, but make sure you check out the New Beverly website for additional screening information and directions.
Starting on January 28, the Egyptian Theatre is programming a retrospective of films directed by Roman Polanski, starting with ‘Chinatown‘ and ‘The Tenant.’ The first film starts at 7:30 and at press time Polanski inexplicably wasn’t planning to be there, but make sure you check out the Egyptian Theatre website for additional screening information and directions. (Also on January 29, make sure you don’t miss ‘Repulsion’ and ‘Rosemary’s Baby.’)
Of course, if Polanski’s films aren’t your style, scramble over to the Aero Theatre on January 28 to see a double feature of James Dean films, ‘Rebel Without a Cause‘ and ‘East of Eden.’ ‘Rebel’ starts more or less promptly at 7:30 PM, but make sure you check out the Aero Theatre website for additional screening information and directions.
Meanwhile, over at the Silent Movie Theatre on January 30, check out a screening of Whit Stillman’s breakthrough 1990 film ‘Metropolitan,’ complete with Stillman in attendance to introduce the film. Tickets are still available at the Cinefamily website, but make sure you check it out beforehand for additional screening information and directions.
New York
This week, the good folks at Severin Films are releasing a glorious two-disc DVD nationwide for Alejandro Jodorowsky’s cult classic ‘Santa Sangre,’ but if you’re near the reRun Gastropub Theatre tonight around 10:00 PM, stop in for a preview screening of the release on the big screen! Tickets for the event are free but make sure you check out the reRun Gastropub website for additional screening information and directions.
Meanwhile, over at the IFC Center on January 28 and 29, check out one of Alfred Hitchcock’s most famous – and particularly in retrospect, most bizarre films, ‘The Birds.’ Both screenings are at midnight, but make sure you check out the IFC Center website for additional screening information and directions.