Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts and Entertainment

Must See Friedkin Film Weekend at the Aero

exorcist.jpg
()

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

This weekend the American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica offers a well-deserved tribute to one of the hardest working directors in the industry, William Friedkin. Both Saturday and Sunday nights will feature talkbacks with Friedkin, moderated by journalist F.X. Feeney and screenwriter Josh Olson respectively.

The French Connection, which shows Saturday night, enjoys its 40th anniversary this year. The movie that won Friedkin an Oscar still stands out as a trademark of the crime genre. It is paired with To Live & Die in LA, an equally exciting detective film never accorded the praise it deserved. Sunday night promises scarier fare with horror classic The Exorcist followed by a freshly minted print of Sorcerer, which according to Cinematheque programmer Grant Moninger, "was unfairly overlooked upon its release." The story of four oilmen piloting trucks filled with explosives across the South American jungle is a study in suspense.

This is Friedkin's first event with the Cinematheque in over 11 years--it's not often that you'll be able to witness The Exorcist in the company of the director and then ask him questions. Just please leave the pea soup at home.

Strangle-Hold: The Gripping Films of William Friedkin, American Cinematheque at the Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, Jan. 22-23 at 7:30 pm, General Admission tickets: $11

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist