Commentary by Gregg Rickman (greggr1@mindspring.com). Times compiled from information available Tuesday; it's always advisable to call for confirmation. Price given is standard adult admission; discounts often apply for students, seniors, and members.
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142 THROCKMORTON
142 Throckmorton (at Miller Ave.), Mill Valley, 383-9600, www.142throckmortontheatre.com/events. This Marin meeting place hosts occasional film programs along with many other events.
WEDNESDAY (Aug. 24): The 9th International Latino Film Festival screens José Sánchez-Montes' documentary about beloved musician Bola de Nieve (Cuba, 2003). See www.latinofilmfestival.org. for more. $10 7 p.m.
FRIDAY (Aug. 26): "The definitive explanation of the UFO phenomenon," Out of the Blue (James Fox and Boris Zubov) is narrated by Peter Coyote, who as Keys in E.T. was in a good position to suss out the truth. Filmmakers in person. $10 7:30 p.m.
ACT I & II2128 Center (at Shattuck), Berkeley, (510) 464-5980, www.landmarktheatres.com. $9.25 save as noted. One of this venue's two screens is a "calendar house" for Landmark Theatres. For additional screenings, see our Showtimes page.
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: A revival screening of Elevator to the Gallows (Louis Malle, France, 1958). Call for times.
FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY (Aug. 26-Sept. 1): A revival screening of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (Park Chanwook, Korea, 2002). Call for times.
ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE
345 Bush (at Polk), 775-7755, www.afsf.com. French-language films shown on projected video. $5 donation.
WEDNESDAY (Aug. 24): Danielle Darrieux is at En Haut des Marches (The Top of the Stairs, Paul Vecchiali, France, 1983), a film about conflicting memories of the Occupation 6 p.m.
ARTISTS' TELEVISION ACCESS992 Valencia (at 21st Street), 824-3890, www.atasite.org. $5 save as noted. This venue offers all manner of strange and unusual video and film.
THURSDAY (Aug. 25): ATA's monthly "Open Screening" of your film epics, with advance submissions recommended. E-mail openscreening@atasite.org for submission info. $3, free for exhibitors 8 p.m.
FRIDAY (Aug. 26): Death by Tealight III, a program of experimental videos including work by Catherine Czacki, Minna Suoniemi, Curtis Muenze and others. Live music at 8 p.m., video 9 p.m.
SATURDAY (Aug. 27): Vladmasters and the Apt Ensemble present a View-Master Performance with live musical accompaniment. All audience members receive a View-Master viewer with discs prepared by Portland's Vladimir to click through that tell three different stories: Lucifugia Thigmotaxis ("the misadventures of a cockroach"), The Public Life of Jeremiah Barnes and Actaeon at Home 8 p.m.
BALBOA3630 Balboa (at 38th Avenue), 221-8484, www.balboamovies.com. $8.50 save as noted. This great neighborhood house shows films of all sorts. See our Showtimes page for additional listings.
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY: A Louis Malle series concludes with the bourgeoisie observing the May '68 rebellion from afar in May Fools (1989; 12:45, 4:50, 8:55 p.m.), screening with the comedy Zazie Dans le Metro (1960; 2:55, 7 p.m.). On the Balboa's other screen, a double bill of two multi-character films, the comedy Happy Endings (Don Roos, 2005; 12:10, 4:35, 9:05 p.m.) and drama Crash (Paul Haggis, 2005; 2:30, 7 p.m.).
FRIDAY THROUGH THURSDAY (Aug. 26-Sept. 1): Intimate Stories (Carlos Sorin, Argentina, 2002). See Opening for review 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 p.m.).
CASTRO429 Castro (near Market), 621-6120, www.thecastrotheatre.com. $8 save as noted. Short-run rep in a spectacular 1922 Greco-Roman-themed palace designed by Timothy L. Pflueger. Evening intermissions feature David Hegarty on the Mighty Wurlitzer.
WEDNESDAY: A Harold Lloyd series continues with the good talkie comedy Movie Crazy (Clyde Bruckman, 1932; noon, 3:10, 7 p.m.) and a program of five of Lloyd's inventive short films (circa 1918-20) at 1:15, 5, 8:55 p.m.
THURSDAY: The Lloyd series concludes with his last really successful sound film, Leo McCarey's boxing comedy The Milky Way (1936; 7 p.m.) and the excellent short feature that put him over as a major film star, Grandma's Boy (Fred Newmeyer, 1922; 8:45 p.m.).
FRIDAY: A two-day Ultramania program offers several productions made over 40 years starring a silver and red-clad Japanese superhero. Today, episode 1 of the TV series Ultraman Maxx 7 p.m. The Bay Area premiere of the latest Ultraman feature, Ultraman: The Next (Kazuya Konaka, 2005; 7:40 p.m.). A "Special Surprise Classic" from the vaults 9:30 p.m.
SATURDAY: Ultramania continues with Ultraman Zearth (Shinya Nakajima, 1996) 1 p.m. Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey (2000) 2 p.m. Another "Special Surprise Classic" 3:40 p.m. A live-on-stage "Ultraman Stunt Show" 7 p.m. Ultraman Maxx Episode 2 7:30 p.m. Ultraman: The Next 8 p.m. The third and final "Special Surprise Classic" 9:40 p.m.
SUNDAY: The Three Stooges 71st Annivoisary Collection screens six shorts by the sometime bargain basement dwellers of slapstick (who in comparison with Johnny Knoxville et al are clearly touched with genius) noon, 3:45, 7:30 p.m.
STARTS MONDAY: The drip drip drop of a limited fuel supply powers The Oil Factor: Behind the War on Terror (Gerard Ungerman and Audrey Brohy, 2004), screening through Sept. 4. See Opening for review 7, 9:15 p.m.; also Wed, Sat, Sun 1, 3, 5 p.m.
FOREIGN CINEMA
2534 Mission (between 21st and 22nd streets), 648-7600, www.foreigncinema.com. Free with meal. This restaurant screens foreign films, usually in 35mm, on the back wall of its outdoor patio, with drive-in speakers available for the tables of those who want to watch while they dine.
DAILY (Closed Mondays): Jewish refugees from Germany find themselves Nowhere in Africa (Caroline Link, Germany, 2001), screening through Sept. 4. "Starts at dusk."
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