The Beatles: Eight Days a Week–The Touring Years. Director Ron Howard explores how John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr came together, made creative decisions and built their collective career. Opie focuses on the band's early days, starting in Liverpool's Cavern Club through to their last concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco in 1966. Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St., Long Beach, (562) 438-5435. Thurs., Sept. 15, 2, 5 & 8 p.m. $8-$11.
Sonic Sea. Presented by EarthShare California, the documentary posits that oceans are a sonic symphony and their sounds are essential to the survival and prosperity of marine life. But as the footage shows, man-made ocean noise threatens this fragile world. Produced by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Imaginary Forces, in association with the International Fund for Animal Welfare and Diamond Docs, the film is narrated by actress Rachel McAdams, features music by Sting, and includes as talking heads Dr. Sylvia Earle, Dr. Paul Spong, Dr. Christopher Clark and Jean-Michel Cousteau. The Guidance Center Long Beach, 1301 Pine Ave., Long Beach, (562) 595-1159; www.sonicsea.org. Thurs., Sept. 15, 6 p.m. $10.
Digimon Adventure tri-Chapter 1: Reunion. Fathom Events presents the U.S. premiere of the English-dubbed anime, as well as an extended sneak peek of the English-subbed third chapter and bonus content for viewers. It has been six years since that summer adventure when Tai (now in high school) and the rest of the “DigiDestined” crossed over to the Digital World, nearly three years since the frenzied final battles between warring factions. With the gate to the Digital World closed, time continues to pass until the adventure “digi-volves” once again. AMC Downtown Disney, 1565 Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, (714) 776-2355; also at AMC Orange 30, 20 City Blvd. W., Orange, (714) 769-4288; AMC Tustin Legacy at the District, 2457 Park Ave., Tustin, (714) 258-7036; Cinemark Century 20 Huntington Beach, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, (714) 373-4573; Century Stadium 25, 1701 W. Katella Ave., Orange, (714) 532-9558; Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, 26701 Aliso Creek Rd., Aliso Viejo, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21, 65 Fortune Dr., Irvine, (844) 462-7342; and Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26, 7501 E. Carson, Long Beach, (844) 462-7342. Thurs., Sept. 15, 7 p.m. $15.
Sold. Based on the international best-selling novel by Patricia McCormick and inspired by true accounts, the film tells the story of a 13-year-old girl who is trafficked from her peaceful, rural village in Nepal to work in a brothel called Happiness House in Kolkata, India. Sold is a call to action, as you'll discover from members of the production team, advocates from the International Justice Mission, A21, Spiritual and Religious Alliance for Hope, and others who will participate in an audience Q&A. Regency South Coast Village, 1561 Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 557-5701. Thurs., Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m. $9.
Showgirls. This week's Friday Night Freakout is director Paul Verhoeven's 1995 take on the notorious Joe Eszterhas screenplay about a shapely young woman (Elizabeth Berkley) who arrives in Las Vegas with dreams of becoming a top showgirl but first lands a job at a seedy strip club. This is one of those movies that went from god-awful bomb to kitschy curio to camp classic. The Frida Cinema, 305 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana; thefridacinema.org. Fri., 11 p.m. $8-$10.
To Begin the World Over Again: The Life of Thomas Paine. Americans United for Separation of Church and State's Orange County chapter presents the filmed version of Ian Ruskin's play, in which he stars as the radical credited with igniting the American Revolution, defining the French Revolution and championing the Age of Reason. He died largely ignored and disdained, but his ideas about democracy, equality, religion, health care and pensions, among other topics, get fresh looks today. Ruskin leads a discussion following the screening. The venue wants readers to know it only books the room and does not endorse the ideas spouted inside it by renters. Irvine Ranch Water District, 15600 Sand Canyon Ave., Irvine; www.au-oc.org. Sat., 1:30 p.m. Free.
McFarland, USA. Hey, I remember the trailer to this week's Calle Cuatro Sunday matinee! Newly arrived (and aptly named) track coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) learns about his predominantly Latino high school team members, and they learn about him. An incredible work ethic and commitment to team turns the novice runners from California's Central Valley into—spoiler alert!—champions. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Sun., 11 a.m. $1-$5.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Last week's Stanley Kubrick lovin' carries over to this week with his hilarious and influential twisting of the Cold War knife into the psyches of cinema lovers. Can a knife be twisted into a psyche? That's not important; what is is Fathom Events and Turner Classic Movies present this 1964 political satire black comedy, loosely based on Peter George's thriller novel Red Alert, about an unhinged U.S. Air Force general (George C. Scott Sterling Hayden) ordering the first nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. (George C. Scott was the unhinged U.S. Air Force general in the War Room, as Martin Grayson kindly reminds me.) The President of the United States (Peter Sellers), his advisers, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a Royal Air Force officer (also Sellers) try to recall the bombers to prevent a nuclear apocalypse. Great comic performances are also turned in by Slim Pickens, as the leader of a B-52 bomber trying to deliver its payload, and Sellers (again!) as the title character. In 1989, the United States Library of Congress included Strangelove in the first group of films selected for preservation in the National Film Registry, and it was No. 3 on AFI's 100 Years . . . 100 Laughs list. AMC Orange 30, (714) 769-4288; also at Cinemark Century 20 Huntington Beach, (714) 373-4573; Century Stadium 25 Orange, (714) 532-9558; Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21, (844) 462-7342; and Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26, (844) 462-7342. Sun. & Wed., 2 & 7 p.m. $12.50.
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Mio Fratello é Figlio Unico (My Brother Is an Only Child). Bowers Museum's latest Cinema Italiano presentation (in Italian with English subtitles) follows two working-class brothers in Italy in the 1960s. The older sibling is drawn into left-wing politics, while his hotheaded younger brother is taken under the wing of a market trader and the influence of the Fascist Party. The 2007 film won four David di Donatello awards. Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, Kershaw Auditorium, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, (714) 567-3600. Sun., 5:30 p.m. $12; with dinner, $45-$60; members, free.
Sully. Mommy Movie Mondays allows parents to see the latest films with convenient stroller check-in, reduced sound levels, dimmed lights (for optimal diaper-bag visibility), changing stations in every restroom and, best of all, early-bird prices. This week, it's Clint Eastwood's examination of the Jan. 15, 2009, “Miracle on the Hudson,” in which Captain “Sully” Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) glided his disabled plane onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard. Krikorian San Clemente Cinema 6, 641 B Camino de los Mares, San Clemente, (949) 661-SHOW. Mon., 10 a.m. Call for ticket prices.
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. See one of the late, great Gene Wilder's best performances, as the recluse who gives five lucky people a chance to win a lifetime supply of Wonka candy, tour his chocolate factory and learn his secrets. Check back to this column for double feature of Wilder comedies coming to the Frida Cinema. Directors Cut Cinema at Regency Rancho Niguel, 25471 Rancho Niguel Rd., Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-0446. Tues. Call for show time. $8.
North By Northwest. Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller has Cary Grant chased all over the country by baddies thanks to mistaken identity, and more impressive than the Mt. Rushmore set, luscious Eva Marie Saint and the famous crop-duster scene is how Grant's Roger Thornhill does it all in the same suit that only requires one quick press. Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Laguna Niguel, 32401 Golden Lantern St., Laguna Niguel, (949) 373-7900; also at Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Rancho Santa Margarita, 30632 Santa Margarita Pkwy., Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 835-1888. Tues., 7 p.m. $14-$16.
The Fault In Our Stars. Teen Book to Movie Club presents screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber's adaptation of John Green's 2012 novel whose title is inspired by the line in Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar in which nobleman Cassius says to Brutus, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, /But in ourselves, that we are underlings.” In director Josh Boone's 2014 rom-dram, Shailene Woodley plays Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old cancer patient who is forced by her parents to attend a support group, where she subsequently meets and falls in love with Augustus Waters, another cancer patient, played by Ansel Elgort. Fullerton Main Library, Teen Area, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, (714) 738-6334. Wed., 4 p.m. Free.
2016 Leo Freedman Foundation First Cut Screening. Chapman University's Dodge College film school presents these annual Hollywood screenings of the top films from the previous school year, as determined by a panel of distinguished alumni and industry representatives. All are welcome to rub shoulders with college admission representatives, industry and faculty guests, alumni, and current and prospective students. Directors Guild of America Theater Complex, 7920 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles; www.chapman.edu/firstcut. Wed., 7 p.m. Free, but RSVP required.
Tommy. Let me say up front I have been a Who fan for decades, consider one of their Fabulous Forum stops among the best concerts I have ever attended and loved the Tommy album. That would be their fourth studio album, which came out in 1969, and not the soundtrack to Ken Russell's train wreck of a movie that came out six years later. Roger Daltrey stars as the psychosomatically deaf, dumb and blind kid who sure plays a mean pinball and eventually becomes the object of a religious cult. The cast also includes Oliver Reed, Ann-Margret, Jack Nicholson, Tina Turner, Elton John, and, of course, Keith Moon, John Entwistle and composer Pete Townshend. Regency South Coast Village, (714) 557-5701. Wed., 7:30 p.m. $9.
