The Academy celebrates the art of the amateur filmmaker. You bring it, they'll screen it! The Cinefamily goes bonkers for bizarro Bollywood horrors, then goes Dracula disco dancing! more ›

Halloween isn't for another month, but it's never too early to binge on good horror movies. John Carpenter's The Thing is one of the best. Elsewhere, a long-lost Hitchcock film sees the light of day. more ›

The Master of Suspense celebrates his would-be birthday today and to honor the prince of psychological thrillers and the granddaddy of twist endings, today's video lunch is a delectable cornucopia of Alfred Hitchcock's legendary cameo appearances. more ›

Film preservationists at the National Film Preservation Foundation at the New Zealand Film Archive have discovered the first half of Alfred Hitchcock's The White Shadow, reports The Associated Press.The first three reels of the six-reel film have been uncovered 88 years after its production in 1923. more ›

Halloween comes a little early this year, as the film that introduced the world to Michael Myers tears through The Egyptian on a double bill with the classic sci-fi/horror hybrid The Thing. It's part of a weekend long tribute to writer/director/producer/composer/probably-leaving-something-out-because-he's-done-everything John Carpenter, that also pairs '80s action funfests They Live (best film starring a wrestler, hands-down) and Big Trouble in Little China, as well as a personal favorite, Escape from New York, and its sequel Escape from L.A.. If that isn't enough to plot your escape, Carpenter himself will be appearing at the Friday show. His latest film, The Ward, just opened at the Toronto International Film Festival, and maybe if a bunch of us ask really nicely he'll talk about it. more ›

One of filmmaking's most chaotic spirits re-emerges this week. Harmony Korine unleashes Trash Humpers upon the Nuart this week. It's a trademark Korine faux-found-footage-freakout tracking a group of deranged rabblerousers... more ›

This week, we welcome a new addition, as expensive as it is adorable. No, not Babies - the Arclight Pasadena! The plucky youngster opens its doors just in time to join siblings Arclight Hollywood and Arclight Sherman Oaks in a one-off screening of Iron Man on Thursday, followed by Iron Man 2 at midnight... more ›

The 39 Steps, which opened at the Ahmanson Theatre earlier this week, is a re-imagining of the Hitchcock classic thriller. And boy, old Alfred’s never been re-imagined quite like this: a high-energy mix of mystery, mayhem and Monty Python-esque humor. more ›

James Nguyen first saw The Birds in junior high. It scared the hell out of him then, and it still does now. He hopes you'll be just as frightened by his new film Birdemic: Shock and Terror, which the writer/director/producer/casting-agent/everything-under-the-sun describes as a "great homage" and "modern take" on Alfred Hitchcock's classic. How great? Nguyen returned to some of the same locations in Northern California, and enlisted friend Tippi Hedren (who also appeared in his previous film Julie & Jack) for a cameo. more ›

This Thanksgiving, classics abound, while the family's in town. The Alex Theatre brings the slapstick with its 12th annual Three Stooges event featuring four Curly titles & 100% pure Shemp, in eye-poking 3D! If that's not rare enough, feast your eyes on the special guests & Stooges memorabilia raffled off at intermission. Nyuck nyuck. The American Cinematheque celebrates 70 years of Gone With The Wind & The Wizard of Oz with lavish screenings & costume contests to win shiny new blu-rays. LACMA thrills the stuffing out of you with two Hitchcock doubles, while Cinefamily showcases the live-action/claymation hybrid Alice in Wonderland. Disney suppressed its theatrical run to avoid competing with their animated adaptation, and considering they've got their own live-action adaptation forthcoming, I wouldn't bank on this seeing the light of day anywhere else soon. more ›

Look to the skies! The flying saucers will always be there! Not even your local cinematheque is safe when evil extraterrestrials & suave spacemen invade Santa Monica. Should our valiant heroes survive these "Far Out" encounters, they must still contend with a Martian militia, led by none other than our governor himself! I heard it through my magick Tesla Coil! more ›

Haven't been to the cemetery in forever? There's two prime opportunities this weekend, courtesy of Cinespia's latest season of "drive-in" (sit-in?) screenings at Hollywood Forever. Saturday brings super-dead superstars Cary Grant & Grace Kelly in Alfred Hitchcock's masterful heist mystery To Catch A Thief. Sunday hosts super-living unsuper-stars Ben Affleck & Matthew McConaughey in Richard Linklater's beloved period piece Dazed and Confused. Keep the drive-in dream alive all weekend - Friday, the all-American classic, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, plays the Steve Allen parking lot, joined by special guest Tobe Hooper (maybe he'll sign my bloody Leatherface doll-erm, "collectible"). If chainsaws & cemeteries are a bit creepy, bask in the cherubic glow of Matthew Broderick & roller derby girls at the Angel City Drive-In's screening of Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Bring your own backseat. more ›

Metallica. Slayer. Megadeth. These local boys gone legends are always worth a good mosh, but it's their lesser-known Canadian counterparts, Anvil, who have grabbed the city's heart by the horns. Continuing their residency at the Landmark, where documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil has rocked audiences for a month and counting, Anvil appears alongside film director Sacha Gervasi for two special Q&A sessions tonight, May 6th, at the 7:50 & 9:55 shows. And the rock doesn't stop there! Renegade punk-a-billy outlet Devil's Night fires up the Angel City Drive-In with Jimmy Stewart, Grace Kelly & derby girls. Yowza! more ›

Viddy well, Long Beach! This weekend, your humble narrator strongly advises you attend Stanley Kubrick's real horrorshow picture A Clockwork Orange, unspooling at the Art Theatre. Dress as one of those dashing droogs and get in for only $5. Bring your own moloko. more ›

Ghettogloss presents a group show by members of the Drawing Club, featuring work by : Ray Caughron, Matthew Gray, Silas Hite, Emily Hillburg, Annie Hsu, Patrick Whitehorn and more. The opening cocktail reception is tonight from 8 pm to midnight. The show runs through Feb. 11. more ›

My first month in Los Angeles, I worked a short stint at Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre, and one of the Mouse's lesser-known secrets is the large number of foreign exchange workers employed at the snack bar. I remember the Thai teens best; they were all sweet kids, and it's in their honor that I recommend the Thai Film Miracles Festival at the Arclight. Well, them and Tony Jaa, who steps behind the camera between bouts for the sequel to his muay-thai masterpiece Ong-Bak. For those with tastes running more regal, Princess Ubolratana makes her dramatic debut in Where The Miracle Happens, and the oldest surviving Thai film, The King Of The White Elephant, makes a rare theatrical appearance. And to seal the deal, each of these screenings are free with RSVP! more ›

When considering the pioneers of fantastic film-making within the thriller genre, there is but one name that undoubtedly comes to mind first: Hitchcock. The name alone conjures up some of the most classic images of horrific suspense ever to hit the silver screen. From shadows on shower curtains to crazed black crows, he was a master in exploring the depths of psychological terror. more ›

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Fall is quickly approaching, but that doesn't mean you have to stay indoors. Descanso Gardens hosts an night tour through its gardens led by docent Jim Jackson. A jacket, flashlight and comfortable shoes are highly encouraged. more ›

FILM: Attention all Hitchcock fans: The New Beverly Cinema screens two of his classics tonight and through the weekend. The spy thriller Notorious with Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant begins at 7:30 pm and it’s followed by Rebecca with Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. more ›

The Guitar Center in Northridge is displaying its “Legends Collection” – famous guitars of rock gods. On display will be Eric Clapton’s “Blackie” and Gibson “335,” Stevie Ray Vaughn’s “Lenny” and the Edge’s custom Les Paul. Replicas of Clapton’s and Vaughn’s guitars will be for sale – but that won’t guarantee you’ll be able to play like them. more ›

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As you can see below it's slim pickins tonight. Last Friday the Wall Street Journal ran an article about all the smoke that the networks are blowing with their overuse of the word "new" as it applies to their programming. ABC's "all new (but partial) season of Lost" and the "all new funny" Carpoolers, which would be a welcome change for that sub par offering. I guess we're supposed to be excited about this and the fact that Victoria's Secret will be running it's first Super Bowl ad since 1999, mark your calendars. more ›

"The Temptation of St. Anthony" (1946) via Wikipedia My apartment manager's LACMA newsletter arrived with my mail a few days ago (he used to live in my unit), and before I redelivered it, I caught sight of something that got me a little excited. Starting Oct. 14th, the museum is featuring Dali: Painting & Film, a special exhibit with the purpose of examining the relationship between Salvador Dali's films and his paintings. Dali is... more ›

1. Disturbia - $23 million - Paramount/Dreamworks 2. Blades of Glory - $14.1 million - Paramount/Dreamworks 3. Meet the Robinsons - $12 million - Disney 4. Perfect Stranger - $11 million - Sony/Columbia 5. Are We Done Yet? - $9.2 million - Sony/Columbia 6. Pathfinder - $4.8 million - Fox 7. Wild Hogs - $4.6 million - Buena Vista 8. The Reaping - $4.5 million - Warner Bros. 9. 300 - $4.3 million -... more ›

One of the most talented, controversial and often brilliant directors of all time (and one of my favorites), Robert Altman, has died. He was 81. In his career, Altman directed some of the best and most popular movies, across many different genres, including M*A*S*H which took place in Korea but was a thinly disguised attack on U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, McCabe and Mrs. Miller, one of the best "revisionist" Westerns of all... more ›

Alfred Hitchcock fans are in seventh heaven this month, thanks to the Egyptian Theatre’s series, “Hitchcockian: The Master & His Disciples.” For the next three weeks, the Egyptian will screen some of Hitch’s most lauded – and some lesser known – films, which will then be paired with other movies that paid homage to, stole from or mocked the master of suspense. more ›

• Tonight at The Echo, New York noisemakers Panthers (featuring former members of Unrest, Orchid and The Red Scare) will be at the helm, plus special guests Lion Fever and Parchment Farm. Doors open at 7:30 PM and tickets are $8. more ›

Janet Leigh, famous for her screaming battle with a knife-wielding madman in Psycho, passed away yesterday in Beverly Hills. She was 77. more ›

Tuesday cover story by Susan Monahan profiles Vendome Liquors on Olympic in Beverly Hills. The literary tone of the article, which Monahan wrote in the second person, reminds us of Bright Lights, Big City. more ›