FILM & TV:
“Cinemania” and “Bellaria ““ As
Long As We Live” Goethe-Institut Los Angeles July
29
Two documentaries about emotional relationships with the movies
round out the Goethe-Institut’s summer German film series
Tuesday at 7 p.m. Angela Christlieb and Stephen Kijak’s
“Cinemania” is about New Yorkers who love movies to the
point of obsession, and Douglas Wolfsperger’s “Bellaria
““ As Long As We Live” looks at how senior citizens
watch films to recapture their youths. Tickets are $5, available at
the Institut box office at 5750 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 100. Call
(323) 525-3388 or go to www.goethe.de/uk/los/ for more info.
“Beyond the Valley of the Dolls”
Landmark Nuart Theater Aug. 1
Before film critic Roger Ebert wielded his now-powerful thumb in
judgement of other people’s films, he co-wrote the 1970
screenplay for the spoof “Beyond the Valley of the
Dolls” with director Russ Meyer. Think “Josie and the
Pussycats” on crack. Showing Friday, Aug. 1 at midnight. Call
(310) 478-6379 or visit www.landmarktheaters.com.
Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival
The Egyptian Theatre July 18 – August 2
The seventh annual festival closes out this week with bonus
screenings of Miguel Hermosa’s award-winning feature about a
Spanish shepherd, “La Luz Prodigiosa,” screening
Thursday, July 31 at 7 p.m. and Patricia Flynn’s
“Discovering Dominga,” which follows a young American
woman as she travels to the Guatemalan village where she was born,
Saturday, Aug. 2nd, at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $8 per screening.
All-festival student passes are available for $60. Call (323)
469-9066, or go to www.latinofilm.org for info on all the
festival’s films.
“Balls of Fire: Women in the Films of Howard
Hawkes” LACMA Leo S. Bing Theater Aug. 8-23
Legendary director Howard Hawkes brought some of the gutsiest
female characters ever created to the screen. Highlights of the
series include “His Girl Friday,” “To Have and
Have Not,” “Bringing Up Baby,” “Rio
Bravo” and “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” Tickets
are $8 general admission and $6 with student ID. Call (877)
522-6225 to purchase by phone or go to www.lacma.org for more
info.
Fine Cut: A Festival of Student Film KCET Aug.
3-31
Airing on consecutive Sundays throughout the month, Academy and
Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman host
this year’s series, which showcases live-action and animated
short features from film students attending various Southland
colleges and universities. Watch for films by UCLA students Chris
Eska, T. Maloney, Joel Juarez Sanchez, Xochitl Gonzalez and David
Ottenhouse. Check www.kcet.org for programming information.
THEATER & ARTS:
August Wilson’s “Gem of the
Ocean”Mark Taper Forum July 31-Sept. 7
The ninth play in Wilson’s series of works chronicling the
black experience through each decade of the 1900s (including
“Fences” and “The Piano Lesson”),
“Gem of the Ocean” is set in 1904 in Pittsburgh and
stars Phylicia Rashad. Tickets are $31-$45, with $12 public rush
tickets available two hours before curtain. Call (213) 628-2772 or
try www.taperahmanson.com for showtimes and info.
“The Mysteries” The Actors’
Gang July 19- Sept. 28
Brian Kulick directs this adaptation of the 12th and 14th
century Mystery Plays, which are based on epic stories from the Old
and New Testaments. Featuring an ensemble cast from The Gang,
including Tom Fitzpatrick, Angela Berliner, Ken Elliot and Patti
Tippo. Tickets are $20 general admission and $15 with student ID.
Call (323) 465-0566 ext. 15 or go to www.theactorsgang.com for
showtimes and tickets.
Nathanial Minton and Robert Olmstead The Hammer
Museum July 29
Local writer Nathanial Minton joins author of “A Trail of
Heart’s Blood, Wherever We Go” and “Soft
Water” Robert Olmstead for a free reading of their most
recent works. Call (310) 443-7000 or check out www.hammer.ucla.edu
for more info.
Illuminated Manuscripts Aug. 3, 7, 10 The Getty
Center
Artist Sylvia Barrett offers free demonstrations of Medieval
techniques used to make illuminated manuscripts, which ties into
the Getty’s “Illuminating the Renaissance”
exhibit of Flemish manuscript painting. Visit www.getty.edu or call
(310) 440-7300 for reservations.
MUSIC:
John Mellancamp Royce Hall July 29
The veteran roots-rocker comes to campus for a stop on his
“Trouble No More” tour. His latest record shows the
songwriter taking a shot at the blues and folk in a collection of
cover songs. Call the Central Ticket Office at (310) 825-2101 or
visit www.cto.ucla.edu for ticket info.
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists Doug Weston’s
Troubadour July 29
Just a few months after blowing out his voice and being forced
to cancel a tour, Ted Leo is back on the road for another set of
dates. It’ll be his second show at the Troubadour since the
release of his spirited “Hearts of Oak.” Check out
www.tedleo.com for pictures of his injured larynx. Then go to
www.troubadour.com for ticket info.
Dilated Peoples, Rock Steady Crew The Palace
Aug. 2
Legendary hip hop troupe Rock Steady Crew celebrates its 26th
anniversary with its Brisk Flava Styles b-boy/girl Battle. This
2-on-2 invitational is a prime opportunity to see some of hip
hop’s most impressive talents, as well as performances by the
Crew and Dilated Peoples. For tickets go to
www.groovetickets.com.
The Libertines El Rey Theater August 4
These English garage-rockers just finished up a tour in the
United Kingdom without their singer, Peter Doherty due to
unspecified health problems. There’s no word yet on whether
Doherty will join the group for their upcoming set of U.S. dates,
but with or without the original vocals, these guys may still be
able to harness the energy off their debut LP “Up The
Bracket.” Visit www.theelrey.com or www.ticketmaster.com for
ticket availability.