Good Enough for You [Special Screenings, Aug. 18- 25]

White Heat. “Made it, Ma! Top of the world!” is one of the all-time great movie quotes, coming from the mouth of James Cagney as he plays a brutal gang leader who is married to a blond bombshell (Virgina Mayo) but lives for his mother (Margaret Wycherly). A botched train robbery lands him in prison, Ma dies while he's inside, and he busts out with his cellmate (Edmond O'Brien), who is actually a law-enforcement plant. Raoul Walsh directed this 1949 film noir. Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Dr., Laguna Beach, (949) 494-8971. Thurs., Aug. 18, 7 p.m. $5-$7.

Snuff. Jeff's death from AIDS plunges Paul into a despair spiral as he attempts to deal with (or, actually, not deal head-on with) grief. Keith Bennett and Scott Barber turn in effective and sobering performances in this brutal low-budget indie and debut feature film from Rude Guerrilla Theater co-founder and OC Weekly contributor Dave Barton. The Frida Cinema, 305 E. 4th St., Santa Ana; thefridacinema.org. Thurs. Aug. 18, 7:30 p.m. $8-$10.

Kung Fu Panda 3. It takes a village to fight to save kung fu, as Po tells villagers in one of the few Jack Black movies that his kids can watch. Frontier Park, 1400 Mitchell Ave., Tustin, (714) 573-3326. Thurs., Aug. 18, 7:50 p.m. Free.

The Goonies. A group of misfits seek pirate treasure to save their home in Richard Donner's 1985 take on Chris Columbus and Steven Spielberg's script. They are so young that you might not recognize Sean Astin, Josh Brolin and Jeff Cohen, but you will recognize Corey Feldman and Martha Plimpton. Coyote Hills Golf Course, 1440 E. Bastanchury Rd., Fullerton, (714) 672-6800, ext. 5. Fri., 5 p.m. $10-$20 (includes meal ticket).

Back to the Future. Can you believe this flick is more than 30 years old? Here's what I can't believe: Director and co-writer Bob Zemeckis feared he had a flop on his hands, then watched it become the top grossing film of 1985, with a cool $385 million. Grand Park, 6101 City Lights Dr., Aliso Viejo, (949) 243-7750. Fri. Complimentary face painting, 6 p.m.; movie, dusk. Free.

Home. The voices of Jim Parsons, Rihanna and Steve Martin help tell the animated tale of an alien on the run from his own people befriending a girl on a quest to find out why a comedy genius like Martin would dare play Sgt. Bilko. Westmont Park, 8640 El Rancho Ave., Fountain Valley; www.fountainvalley.org/856/Special-Events. Fri., 6 p.m. Free.

The Breakfast Club. Parts will make you wince, especially when the Brat Packers attempt to get deep, but overall this is middling as far as John Hughes flicks go. Hotel Irvine, 17900 Jamboree Rd., Irvine; www.hotelirvine.com/happenings/movienights. Fri., 7 p.m. $5.

The Good Dinosaur. Is there such a thing? Dirty, stinking, rotten dinosaurs—GOOD RIDDANCE! Hurless Barton Park Amphitheater, 4601 Casa Loma Ave., Yorba Linda, (714) 961-7167. Fri., 7:45 p.m. Free.

The Incredibles. Hey, it's a kid flick I've actually seen for a change, although I barely remember anything other than I have the same physique as the dad. Brio Park, 300 S. Euclid St., La Habra, (562) 383-4205. Fri., 7:45 p.m. Free; also at Westminster Branch Library, 8180 13th St., Westminster, (714) 893-5057. Sat., 2 p.m. Free.

Hotel Transylvania 2. Computer 3D animated flick has Dracula (Adam Sandler) worried about his human hotel guests because his half-human grandson is displaying lawyer, I mean, vampire traits. Placentia Champions Sports Complex, 505 N. Jefferson, Placentia, (714) 993-8232. Fri., 8 p.m. Free.

Minions. It's the animated movie about mumble-mouthed former henchmen. Pearson Park Amphitheatre, 401 N. Lemon St., Anaheim, (714) 765-5274. Fri., 8 p.m. Free.

Scanners. Want your mind blown? If you'd walked into an office supply store in 1981, when this David Cronenberg mind blower came out, and told the sales clerk you needed a new scanner for work, s/he would have had no idea what you were talking about. Trust me, I know my fax. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Fri., 11 p.m. $8-$10.

Eat That Question: Frank Zappa In His Own Words. Rare archival footage reveals the provocative 20th century musical genius whose worldview reverberates into the present day and beyond. Remember his take down of Tipper Gore? His Libertarian Party presidential nomination? His guitar when he shut up and played it (Vol. 3)? You'll know why so many of us miss Zappa now that he's gone. Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St., Long Beach, (562) 438-5435. Sat.-Sun., 11 a.m. $8-$11.

Finding Nemo. Before Dory, there was the little tiger fish that got away from a kvetching Albert Brooks. Evening begins with music by the lowercased band reckless. Laurel Park, 10862 Bloomfield, Los Alamitos; cityoflosalamitos.org. Sat., 6:30 p.m. Free.

Lilo & Stitch. Grab your swimsuit, floatie and family and come on down to the pool for a Disney movie. Lifeguards are standing by. William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, 4601 Walnut Ave., Irvine, (949) 724-6717. Sat. Pool opens, 6:30 p.m.; movie, dusk. $2-$4 (recreation swim fee).

[

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Hear experimental ensemble Xiu Xiu play music from Twin Peaks, watch David Lynch's 1992 creepo thriller based on his and Mark Frost's influential ABC show that premiered two years earlier and get psyched about the April 2017 premiere of the Twin Peaks series on Showtime that picks up 25 years after the source material left off. Hope the dancing midget is still around. Lola's Outdoor Retro Cinema at Sunnyside Cemetery, 1095 E. Willow St., Long Beach; www.facebook.com/lbcinematheque. Sat. Gates open, 6:30 p.m.; music, 7:30 p.m.; movie, 8:30 p.m. $15-20; card-carrying members of the Frida Cinema, free. Parking and seating are first-come, first-served.

Endless Summer. The County of Orange and OC Parks present local filmmaker Bruce Brown's iconic surf film that began as a poster from a photograph taken at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. Bring a blanket or beach chair for this screening under the stars that coincides with “The Endless Summer” exhibit OC Parks is hosting in the Old Orange County Courthouse through Oct. 31. Salt Creek Beach Park, 33333 S. Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point; ocparks.com. Sat., 7:30 p.m. Free; free parking after 5 p.m.

Zootopia. Yet another recent toon with funny people voicing animals (or is it vice versa?). Windsor Park, 2915 E. La Verne Ave., Santa Ana. Sat., 8 p.m. Free.

Titanic. I'm really surprised James Cameron's titanic hit is this week's Calle Cuatro Sunday Matinee, which is geared toward getting kids into the theater with their guardians. To me, Titanic skewers older. Then again, I really don't know as I've never seen it. So bring the toddlers! The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Sun., 11 a.m. $1-$5.

Matrimoni e Altri Disastri (Weddings & Other Disasters). The latest Cinema Italiano presentation has 40-year-old Nanà running a small bookstore in Florence where, despite the constant nagging of her well-to-do family, she has no intention of making anything more of her life. Though secretly in love with Bauer, a self-centered novelist who takes advantage of her feelings to obtain small professional favors, she has pretty much given up on finding her Prince Charming and living happily ever after. But after organizing the wedding of her younger sister, Nanà re-assesses. Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, (714) 567-3600. Sun., 2 p.m. $12; members, free.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip. Alvin (Justin Long) and his pals cross the country to stop music manager Dave (Jason Lee) from marrying an emergency room doctor. Thanks Obamacare. Century Stadium 25, 1701 W. Katella Ave., Orange; www.cinemark.com. Tues., 10 a.m. $1; also at Century 20 Huntington Beach, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach; www.cinemark.com. Tues.-Thurs., Aug. 25, 10 a.m. $1.

Rio. Remember the daughter of Michael Caine's best friend in Blame It on Rio? Wow. Uh, this is not that flick, seeing as how it's for kids and includes no nudity—unless animated Amazon macaws shown in nothing but their feathers is considered nudity. Regency Charter Centre Cinemas, 7822 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach, (714) 596-3456. Tues., 10:30 a.m. $2.

The Princess Bride. My favorite Rob Reiner film (this week) has Westley trying to save Buttercup from marrying Sean Penn. Or was it President Underwood? Directors Cut Cinema at Regency Rancho Niguel, 25471 Rancho Niguel Rd., Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-0446. Tues., 7:30 p.m. $9.

Akira. Director Katsuhiro Otomo's 1988 adaptation of his manga series in back at Frida for an encore screening. A bike gang leader tries to save his friend from a government program called Akira in 2019 Neo-Tokyo. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Tues., 8 p.m. $8-$10.

Animal Crackers. A Marx Brothers double feature includes this zany film about a valuable painting that goes missing during a party in honor of famed African explorer Captain Spaulding(Groucho Marx). Also showing is Horse Feathers, in which Quincy Adams Wagstaff (Groucho again), the new president of Huxley University, hires bumblers Baravelli and Pinky (Chico and Harpo Marx) to help his school win the big football game. Regency South Coast Village, 1561 Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 557-5701. Wed., 7:30 p.m. $9.

John Wick. What does it take to bring a legendary assassin played by Keanu Reeves out of retirement? Steal his car and the puppy that was the last gift from his recently deceased wife. Fullerton Main Library, Osborne Auditorium, Room B, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, 714.738.6327. Thurs., Aug. 25, 1 p.m. Free.

Citizen Soldier. It's the Orange County premiere of this feature film about a group of soldiers in the Oklahoma Guards' 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, known since World War II as the “Thunderbirds,” fighting in the most dangerous parts of Afghanistan at the height of the surge. Working Wardrobes, the Orange County nonprofit that collects clothing that the needy can wear to job interviews, donates all ticket proceeds to VetNet, a scholarship program for military veterans. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Thurs., Aug. 25, 6 p.m. $20 (suggested donation).

[

Hairspray. For the second year in a row, the LGBTQ Movie On the Beach heralds the near-arrival of the QFilm Festival in Long Beach. This free screening is John Waters' 1988 musical comedy in which overweight teen Tracy Turnblad (Ricki Lake) becomes the star of a popular teen dance show, and then pushes for more racial integration of the program. Also featured is a sneak peak of QFilms' programming during the Sept. 8-11 run in the Art Theatre. You are encouraged to bring blankets or beach chairs, and food and drink are available for purchase. Alfredo's Beach Club, 5100 Ocean Blvd., Long Beach; www.qfilmslongbeach.com. Thurs., Aug. 25, 7:30 p.m. Free.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *