You may still be compiling your list of the best in film and television of this year, but the American Film Institute has just released their selection of what they're hailing as the 10 best movies and television programs of 2011. more ›

Writer/director/transcendental meditator David Lynch emerges for a screening of cult classic Eraserhead on Saturday afternoon at the Egyptian. The cryptic auteur appears as the first Guest Artistic Director of AFI's Annual Film Festival, and will answer three questions drawn from tweets directed @AFIFEST. Lynch's other selections for the festival include classics Sunset Boulevard, Rear Window, Mon Oncle, Lolita & The Hour of The Wolf. Of course, AFI has programmed plenty of new films as well. Werner Herzog's Cave of Forgotten Dreams uses the latest 3D technology to capture humanity's oldest known works of art. John Cameron Mitchell (of Hedwig inch-famy) follows Nicole Kidman & Aaron Eckhart down Rabbit Hole, while Aaron Sorkin and Halle Berry appear in lengthy conversation. Lesser known (but higher concept) films include Carancho, an Argentine noir thriller about an ambulance chaser, and Rubber, a killer tire movie. For full line-up and additional ticket sales, visit AFIFest.com. more ›

The AFI Film Festival starts this Friday and while there are many excellent films to choose from, we highly recommend The Messenger. The film stars Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster as U.S. Army officers assigned to the Army's Casualty Notification service whose duty is to deliver notification of death to the next-of-kin of fallen soldiers. We went to the New York City premiere of the film at the CMJ Film Festival and shot the video of Woody Harrelson and the film's director, Oren Moverman, answering questions from the audience about the film and their preparation for it. more ›

LA-based American Film Institute (AFI) released their annual official selections for the top ten movies and television programs of 2008. According to the Huffington Post, these "top 10 lists were chosen by two 13-member panels, one each for movies and television. Members included writer Mark Harris, filmmaker Robert Towne, and critics Leonard Maltin, Elvis Mitchell and Richard Schickel." more ›

Tonight Social Distortion (LAist Review) front man Mike Ness will be concluding an extensive sojourn at the El Rey Theatre. The Hotel Café is hosting the second night of a three-date "ho-ho-tel" holiday extravaganza, featuring singer-songwriter types like Rocco Deluca (LAist Review). Pehrspace will be throwing the first Pehr Spacecraft Faire, which integrates great pop music and fun crafts. And to further substantiate the claim that KROQ is suspended in the late 90s, the Offspring (LAist Review), Stone Temple Pilots and AFI will be headlining Almost Acoustic Christmas (LAist Review, #2) at the Gibson Amphitheatre. But no one in their right mind would pass up the Second Annual Christmas Sweater Festival at the Echoplex. This year the impressive bill features local indie favorites like the Deadly Syndrome (LAist Review, #2, #3, #4) the Happy Hollows (LAist Review, #2), the Pity Party (LAist Review, #2, #3), Castledoor (LAist Review, #2) and Amnion (LAist Review). It's almost too good to be true. more ›

When the sign reads ‘Alt Cinema’, you have to step into the theatre knowing that whatever you’re about to see is gonna be a real crapshoot. Often times without the shooting. But every once in a while, mixed in with the kabuki juggling animated dragon silent films and anything by Uwe Bolle, you start to realize that Alternative Cinema doesn’t have to be a bad thing. more ›

NBC is in the news big time this week. First off, NBC's ratings for its Wimbledon Men's Final broadcast was phenomenal - the best in 8 years and the best for a finale without a contending American since '91. more ›

You can’t escape Sex and the City. It just happens – even at LACMA. The museum's “Costume Council” is hosting and lecture and reception with SATC’s costume designer Patricia Field. Her other big and small screen work can be seen in The Devil Wears Prada and Ugly Betty. Tonight she’ll be interviewed by LA Times Fashion Critic Booth Moore, followed by a cosmopolitan cocktail reception and hors d’ oeuvres. The ticket price is considered a donation to the museum. more ›

Quick! If you can make it over to Amoeba Records tonight between 6-9pm, grab a free wristband for a very special evening at the Vista Theater with Sigur Rós, presented by Myspace Secret Shows. Not only will you get to see them perform a three song set, but you'll get to see a "Black Curtain Screening" of their forthcoming documentary "Heima". In support of the documentary, Sigur Rós have planned a flurry of LA-based... more ›

Though my allegiance has switched over to the Landmark, many film lovers in Los Angeles regard the Arclight as the best multiplex in town. It programs studio pictures right alongside esoteric indies, it offers great concessions, its screenings are commercial-free and it schedules cool events with celebrated films and filmmakers. This Wednesday, tickets go on sale for one of those very events. In fact, this one may be the coolest in awhile. To celebrate... more ›

That film the Beastie Boys adoringly spoofed for this video is the campy 1968 Euro spy movie Danger Diabolik, and it's playing at The New Beverly tonight and tomorrow. Danger Diabolik - If being a super villain really was all about dashing around the globe in the coolest mod clothes and sleekest sports cars while staging elaborate jewel heists before returning to your posh, super-secret lair to shag your blonde accomplice, this movie is... more ›

AFI @ Bren Events Center Chris Elliott & Alan Zweibel @ Skirball James Ellroy @ Barnes & Noble, Santa Monica The Black Keys @ Amoeba The Nightwatchman, Aztlan Underground @ Roxy Army Navy, Ima Robot @ Safari Sam's The Like Young, The Good Listeners @ Silverlake Lounge Nitzer Ebb, Babyland @ The Avalon Silver Jews @ Henry Fonda False Witness, Kings of Spain @ Whisky White Whale, Laura Viers, Karl Blau @ Spaceland photo... more ›