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Andrzej, (Leon Niemczyk) a prosperous sportswriter with a midlife crisis oozing from his every pore, is out for a drive with his much younger, sexpot wife Krystyna (Jolanta Umecka) when they almost run down a college-age hitchhiker (Zygmunt Malanowicz, although director Roman Polanski dubs his voice) who has rudely tossed himself in their path. At first, Andrzej berates the kid, but then on a lark, he invites the hitchhiker along on a daylong boat ride the couple were planning. The hitchhiker accepts, and the three set out for a long, incredibly tense voyage. Andrzej gets some sadistic kicks by endlessly lording his seamanship over the kid, who is in a particularly precarious situation because he can't swim. But just when Andrzej has shown himself to be such a prick that our sympathies are firmly with the hitchhiker, the kid casually whips out a knife. . . .
A 27-year-old Polanski (Chinatown, The Pianist), fresh out of film school, hit it big with this 1962 thriller; it was the first Polish film to be nominated for a foreign-language Oscar, and it landed Polanski on the cover of Timemagazine. Unfortunately, it also got Polanski exiled from his native Poland (he would go on to make being exiled something of a hobby). UC Irvine's Department of Film and Media Studies presents this ultra-rare chance to catch a big-screen showing of one of those little masterpieces you've never heard of. Refreshments provided by Kochee Kabob are served at 6:30 p.m. UC Irvine Humanities Instruction Building, Room 100, Campus & W. Peltason drs., Irvine, (949) 824-5493; clubs.uci.edu/calendar/detail.php?postid=1747. Thurs., July 13, 6:30 p.m. Free.
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Billy Madison. Edwards South Coast Village presents this 1995 Adam Sandler hit—and no, this is not Adam Sandler the critically acclaimed, sensitive actor of Punch Drunk Love or Spanglish; this is Adam Sandler of the fart jokes and the hoobie boobie doobies. This movie spawned an ardent cult following, although you may exit the screening agreeing with a judge in the film who proclaims, "Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. . . . Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul." Edwards Rancho Santa Margarita, 30632 Santa Margarita Pkwy., Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 888-3340. Tues., 9 p.m. $6; Edwards South Coast Village, 1561 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 540-0594. Wed., 9 p.m. $6.
Brief Encounter. Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard co-star in David Lean's 1945 film version of the Noel Coward play about two people, married to others and with children of their own, who fight their growing attraction to each other. Short subjects, cartoons and other goodies are also on the bill. Long Beach School for Adults Auditorium, 3701 E. Willow St., Long Beach, (562) 997-8000, ext. 7198. Fri., 7 p.m. $1 materials fee.
Junebug. UC Irvine's Department of Film and Media Studies presents this 2005, Oscar-nominated comic drama about a tense meeting between an art dealer and her husband's Southern family. It's the debut film in the college's Summer Senses series. There will be a prize drawing, and refreshments provided by Kochee Kabob are served at 6:30 p.m. UCI Humanities Instruction Building, Room 100, Campus & W. Peltason drs., Irvine, (949) 824-5493; clubs.uci.edu/calendar/detail.php?postid=1746. Thurs., July 6, 6:30 p.m. Free.
Madagascar. Ben Stiller and Chris Rock lend their voices to this 2005 CGI family comedy blockbuster about zoo animals on the loose in the big city. This is an outdoor, beachside screening, so do be sure to dress warm and bring some comfortable chairs. Newport Dunes Resort, 1131 Back Bay Dr., Newport Dunes, (949) 729-DUNE. Fri., dusk. Free; parking, $10.
National Treasure. One of those movies that Nicolas Cage makes when he's not being the Nicolas Cage who stars in interesting, cheap, little movies, but is instead being the Nicolas Cage who stars in dullish, expensive, big movies like this. This is that thing where he finds clues to some treasure's location by looking on the back of a $100 bill or some shit. Remember the commercials? They're making a sequel, it says here. Be sure to dress warm and bring chairs. Newport Dunes Resort, 1131 Back Bay Dr., Newport Dunes, (949) 729-DUNE. Sat., dusk. Free; parking, $10.
North Shore. Movie from 1987 starring Matt Adler as former OC Weekly music editor-turned-IE Weekly managing editor Rich Kane, who goes to . . . uh, scratch that: Adler plays RICK Kane, a surfer who learns from Gregory Harrison and Nia Peeples how to survive on and off his board in Hawaii. With John Philbin as "Turtle." Pierside Surf City 6, 300 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, (714) 969-3151. Wed., 7 p.m. $7.
The Shining. Although the critics were originally unimpressed with Stanley Kubrick's film version of the Stephen King book—King himself called it a film by a man who "thinks too much and feels too little"—today, The Shining is almost universally regarded as one of the most chilling films ever made. Don't miss the appropriately sinister lobby art by theater manager and acclaimed artiste Eddie Allen, featuring a series of sepia-toned, photographic portraits of prim, proper old folks who magically turn into ghastly monsters as you walk by. Just what you need after all that "Here's Johnny" stuff. Bay Theatre, 340 Main St., Seal Beach, (562) 431-9988. Fri., 10:30 p.m.; Sun., 6 p.m.; Mon., 8 p.m. $5-$8.
