“In America”
Ackerman Grand Ballroom
Today and Friday, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Though Samantha Morton and Djimon
Hounsou were nominated for acting Oscars this year, the real star
of the movie is Jim Sheridan’s screenplay, written with the
help of his daughters Naomi and Kirsten. It’s a tough family
story of loss and coping so personal that you can’t help but
feel for everyone on the screen. Sure, it’s thinly veiled
therapy for the Sheridan family, but that doesn’t mean we
can’t learn anything by watching it. Log on to
www.campusevents.ucla.edu for more information. Tickets are $2 at
the door.
“Coffee and Cigarettes”
James Bridges Theater
Today, 7:30 p.m. Ahhh, Jim Jarmusch, why are you so indie? After
filming together a series of vignettes for five years with some of
the best actors and musicians around, Jarmusch finally cut them all
together to make a movie about life, coffee and, well, cigarettes.
Check it out before everyone else does at this sneak preview, and
also be sure to check out Justin Scott’s review of the film
in the very magazine you’re holding, page 5. Oh, and check
out gsa.asucla.ucla.edu/~melnitz for more information about the
screening.
“Godzilla”
Landmark Nuart Theater
Friday to May 27 Believe it or not the original, uncut version of
this Japanese classic has never been released in the United States
“¦ until now. Much darker in tone than the U.S. release,
“Gojira,” as it was originally titled (a mix of the
Japanese words for “gorilla” and “whale”),
is in large part a cry for nuclear disarmament. Log on to
www.landmarktheaters.com for more information and specific show
times.
“BAADASSSSS!”
James Bridges Theater
May 18, 7:30 p.m. In 1971 Melvin Van Peebles invented the
blaxsploitation genre with “Sweet Sweetback’s
Baadasssss Song,” presenting the first poor black hero in
American film history. Now Van Peebles’ son, Mario, has made
a documentary recounting his father’s film and the ways in
which people still remember it today. Following the free preview
screening, both Melvin and Mario will be present for a Q&A.
Somewhere Richard Roundtree smiles in approval. Visit
gsa.asucla.ucla.edu/~melnitz for more information.