Film Series

Peter Bogdanovich's masterpiece is a poignant and at times devastating look at life in a small Texas town in the early 1950s. No amount of superlatives can do this brilliant film justice; it's arguably the best film ever made in (and about) Texas.

Peter Bogdanovich's masterpiece is a poignant and at times devastating look at life in a small Texas town in the early 1950s. No amount of superlatives can do this brilliant film justice; it's arguably the best film ever made in (and about) Texas.

A sprawling epic about a Texas cattle ranch during the state's transition to an oil-based economy, Giant (1956) holds up remarkably well as a study of power, racism and a long-lost way of life. Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean give terrific performances, and director George Stevens won a Best Director Oscar.

A sprawling epic about a Texas cattle ranch during the state's transition to an oil-based economy, Giant (1956) holds up remarkably well as a study of power, racism and a long-lost way of life. Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean give terrific performances, and director George Stevens won a Best Director Oscar.

Enjoy the 1998 Michael Bay film Armageddon as part of Alamo's Action Pack series. They promise live explosions!

This week's entry in the AFS Essential Cinema series "A Summer of Restoration: Selections from Milestone Films" is the 1937 film The Edge of the World, directed by Michael Powell. Admission is free for AFS members and $6 for everyone else.

This week's Terror Tuesday selection is the 1988 film Dead Heat. Sometimes I think I like programmer Zack Carlson's descriptions more than I'd enjoy the films:

'Marginally tough tough guys Treat Williams and Joe Piscopo are Roger Mortis (ouch) and Doug Bigelow, two reckless LA cops suddenly embroiled in a white-collar zombie manufacturing scheme. When Roger is killed, he returns looking for answers ... and vengeance! Armed to the teeth and rotting to pieces, he unleashes a fully automatic deathwave on the parties responsible. Possibly the most unreasonable action premise of the '80s, and DEAD HEAT delivers. Late greats Vincent Price and Darren McGavin add their solid gold to the mix, along with mutated bikers, mad scientists, endless explosions, decomposing flesh and a reanimated Asian meat market packed with decapitated chickens and gyrating sausages! You heard me."

Admission is $1 -- a whopping $2 if you buy online.

I have no idea why Adventures in Babysitting would be a "Girlie Night" selection -- most of the movie's fans that I know are guys, who loooove Elisabeth Shue. My husband has a special place in his heart for this 1987 film by Chris Columbus, mainly because musician Albert Collins is in one scene. As for me ... if you know me, you know how I feel about Chris Columbus movies. But Girlie Night programmer Sarah Pitre has an entirely different opinion of the film, which I'll quote below:

"To be honest with you, I think I learned more vital life lessons from ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING than I did from three years of junior high school. What's the best song to listen to while preparing for a hot date? And Then He Kissed Me. Should I accept help from a trucker with a claw hand? Absolutely! Is it a good idea to date guys with a license plate that reads 'So Cool'? Definitely not. Should I ever venture into a New York City bus station? HELL NO. Is it creepy for a college guy to hit on a high school girl? Not in a movie! And the greatest lesson of all? Say it with me now: Don't f*ck with the babysitter!!! Seriously, you have no idea how much this film raised my expectations of babysitting. Chris Parker gets to sing at a blues club, fight off a gang AND meet a hot car thief (does anyone else wish she'd ended up with Joe?). Meanwhile the craziest thing that happened to me while watching kids was The Case Of The Missing Land Before Time DVD. Sigh. So if you need a refresher on important life lessons, or if you're just craving some adventure, I hope you'll join me for Girlie Night, where we can collectively roll our eyes at Brad, drool over Thor (Vincent D'Onofrio what?!!) and pump our fists when Daryl kicks Mike McDouchebag straight into a table. SO COOL!"

The Paramount offers a delightful double-feature of classic Audrey Hepburn films: Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) and Roman Holiday (1953). Here's what the Paramount site has to say about Roman Holiday: "Hepburn copped the Best Actress Oscar for her first major screen role as a bored young princess, yearning for a normal life, who escapes from her 'keepers' while in Rome and meets up with reporter [Gregory] Peck.  Adventure and romance ensue -- along with more charm than the law allows.  Simply delightful."

The Paramount offers a delightful double-feature of classic Audrey Hepburn films: Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) and Roman Holiday (1953). Here's what the Paramount site has to say about Roman Holiday: "Hepburn copped the Best Actress Oscar for her first major screen role as a bored young princess, yearning for a normal life, who escapes from her 'keepers' while in Rome and meets up with reporter [Gregory] Peck. Adventure and romance ensue -- along with more charm than the law allows. Simply delightful."