Special Screenings

Featuring one of the most famous car-chase sequences in film history, this classic San Francisco cop film features Steve McQueen in one of his iconic tough-guy roles. Also featuring Robert Vaughn, Jacqueline Bisset, Robert Duvall and Three's Company's Norman Fell. Along with The French Connection, Bullitt stands as a golden example of the gritty cop action film that presaged films like the Dirty Harry series. It's a film students and fans of American cinema should see, regardless of the genre's perceived limitations. Edwards University Town Center, 4245 Campus Dr., Irvine, (949) 854-8818. Tues., 9 p.m. $6.

Other Screenings:

Arabs and Terrorism. This documentary project critically examines the dominant discourse in the West, particularly in the United States, about the supposed relationship between Arabs and terrorism. The project is divided into three miniseries filmed across the globe. It includes 95 distinguished interviewees in 10 countries and dozens of street interviews. Chapman University, Irvine Lecture Hall, Hashinger Science Center, Room 105, 1 University Dr., Orange. Thurs., April 12, 7 p.m. Free.

Chapman University Graduate Films. Senior projects and thesis films from both undergraduate and graduate students graduating from Chapman's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts this spring are shown every other Friday night through May 11. This Friday's showing features The Pardoner's Tale, directed by Daniel Olson; Negotiations, directed by Ethan Cushing; Call Back, directed by Tim Kashani; and Simon, directed by Nebojsa Vukobradovic. Best of luck, all. Marion Knott Studios, Paul and Daranne Folino Theater, 283 N. Cypress, Orange, (714) 628-7271. Fri., 7 p.m. Free.

How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It). This award-winning film, directed by Joe Angio—with archival footage and unforgettable stories from Spike Lee, Mario Van Peebles and Gil Scott-Heron—tells how filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles made a controversial movie that sparked the "Blaxploitation" era in Hollywood. Orange County Museum of Art, 850 San Clemente Dr., Newport Beach, (949) 759-1122; www.ocma.net. Thurs., April 12, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Perpetual Motion. Four successful, intellectual women in their 40s meet in an old courtyard house on the night before Chinese New Year to celebrate and play mah-jong. The hostess' husband is away, so it's the perfect opportunity for her to figure out which of her three friends sent him the erotic e-mail that she discovered while looking through his desk. The result is a darkly comic, sometimes poignant evening of confession and memory set against a backdrop of feasts, evening fireworks and kitschy holiday TV specials. UCI, Humanities Instructional Building 100, Irvine, (949) 824-7418; www.filmandvideocenter.com. Fri., 7 p.m. $3-$5.

Rocky Horror Picture Show. Some do Pilates, some do "The Time Warp." It's okay, boys, put on some makeup and look fabulous—a lot of girls are into ambiguous sexuality. Well, at least they were in Santa Cruz. Queen Mary, Royal Theater, 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, (562) 684-4411; www.qmxroyal.com. Sat., midnight. $8.

Mail your press releases (and a videotape or disc, if available) to Special Screenings, OC Weekly, 1666 N. Main St., Ste. 500, Santa Ana, CA 92701-7417. Or send e-mail to tchild@ocweekly.com. All materials must be received at least two weeks before the screening.