The crux of The Dilemma is that Vince Vaughn can't tell best bud Kevin James that the best things he has going for him may not be all that great. The same caring, cautious approach should be taken towards The Green Hornet. more ›

When you think of Islam, you probably don't picture mohawks and leather jackets. That may change after viewing The Taqwacores, a new film about a motley crew of New Yorkers that bring the music to Muhammad and crank it past 12. more ›

Tonight as part of the latest Flux film and music series at the Hammer Museum, there will be a world premiere screening of Mia Doi Todd’s new video “Open Your Heart”, directed by Michel Gondry (who'll be in attendance). The evening also includes videos for Grizzly Bear, Charlotte Gainsbourg & Beck, and Ramona Falls among others. Filmmakers Michel Gondry, Keith Schofield, Allison Schulnik and Stefan Nadelman will be in attendance. Stay for the post-screening reception, too, which will feature a live performance by Mia Doi Todd. The event begins at 8 pm, and the after-party starts at 10. The Hammer Cafe and Bar will be open all evening. Free, but RSVP required. more ›

If you're anything like me, your Fridays are packed with dead bodies. No? Make some time this week to rectify that situation. The Warner Grand's deadly double of The Giant Gila Monster & The Giant Spider Invasion features radiation, rock & roll, and most importantly, a raffle for a dead body at intermission. Once you've won, high-tail it to the Nuart, where the midnight premiere of controversial coming-of-age-zombie-rape-melodrama Deadgirl will teach you what to do and what not to do with your new friend. If you still have questions, leads Noah Segan, Shiloh Fernandez & writer Trent Haaga will be on hand and happy to help! more ›

See for yourself if the film(s) Tokyo! is worth the hype. It opens tonight in two SoCal Theatres: the Nuart and the Westpark 8. It’s a surreal triptych set in modern Tokyo with segments directed by Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), Léos Carax (The Lovers on the Bridge), and Bong Joon-ho (The Host). As a bonus, Gondry and Ayako Fujitani, the lead actress in Gondry's "Interior Design" film, will appear in person to introduce the 7:15 pm show at the Nuart. more ›

Japanophiles unite! This week marks not one, but two free previews of Tokyo!, a new anthology work featuring contributions from Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind), Bong Joon-ho (monster-masterpiece The Host) & Leos Carax (The Lovers On The Bridge). Opening later this month at the Nuart, use these screenings to get the jump on your otaku buddies & save a few bucks along the way. For the purists, perplexed by the lack of a single Japanese name amidst that trio, take heart in LACMA's premiere of Tokyo Sonata, featuring the writer-director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (no relation to Akira) as special guest, or any of a number of programs featuring experimental video artist Takahiko Iimura. more ›

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OK so the Oscars are this weekend. Even though the writers' strike is over, the prediction is that this will be a ho-hum (excuse me?) Oscars. First of all, the majority of the films presented for consideration are real downers, secondly, because of the strike, many potential presenters thought that the awards ceremony would be canceled or drastically cut back so they made other plans and are now not available to present at the show. I'm sure they will have enough presenters but perhaps there won't be as many "mega-stars", thus leaving room for more indie-types. more ›

If you think you know what is a film about filmmaking and, more specifically, it's a film about the tight communities that form around the making of a film. It's a daffy ode to the hard work, compromise and wild invention that making a movie inevitably requires. Anyone who's ever made a low-budget film will love it. more ›

Let's face it, 2007 was a mediocre year for movies. Although there are still a couple months left for 2007 to prove it's cinema value, overall it was a disappointing year. Sure Hollywood gave us "300", "Zodiac", and "Once", but we also got "The Number 23", "Norbit", and "Code Name: The Cleaner". So I have my eyes set on 2008, which seems to have a wonderful slate of features for us to see at... more ›

Every day people attempt and succeed at suicide. Some of those people are very bad and we're better for it, but most should be given reasons to stick around one more day, because things WILL improve. Hopefully. Maybe. Probably. No it will get better. Relax. It will. What's keeping us alive is knowing that Jack Black has teamed up with Michel Gondry, kickass director of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Mos Def,... more ›

Recommended After Innocence - Jessica Sanders directs this documentary detailing the stories of seven men who were wrongfully imprisoned for decades (some of them on death row) before finally being exonerated by DNA evidence. The Amazing Screw-On Head - This animated 30-minute pilot (I can only hope there will be more episodes) based on the comic book by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola is full of awesome animation (it closely mimics Mignola's style), witty dialogue,... more ›

Ah, summer is here — summer, and the news that the earth's surface temperature is the highest it's been in 2,000 years. Tra la. Not relishing the idea of a monster utility bill, our thoughts turn to finding a public place where the AC is always set to Meat Locker — the movie theater. So, we trundle on down to the local MegaMechaMoviePlex to see what's playing. Click. The Lake House. Garfield 2. Feh. more ›

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LAist and our friends at RES Magazine would like to send you and a guest to this month's screening at the Egyptian Theatre on Tuesday, December 13th at 8 PM. more ›