Chinatown. The Chinatown experience in a nutshell: you see the film for the first time, and it seems muddled and slow, hardly deserving of its reputation as a classic. Still, something about it sticks with you—maybe John Huston's truly malignant turn as a smiling old devil or director Roman Polanski's scene-stealing cameo as a hired thug who does something extremely nasty to Jack Nicholson's nose. Eventually you're drawn back for another look. That's when you just begin to appreciate this enormously complex and subtle film. Every visit to Chinatown yields fresh rewards. Bay Theatre, 340 Main St., Seal Beach, (562) 431-9988. Sun., 6 p.m.; Mon., 8 p.m.; Wed., 6 p.m. $5-$8.
Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story. Dakota Fanning and Kurt Russell star in this docudrama about a little girl who rehabilitates a racehorse with a broken leg. This is an outdoor, evening screening, so be sure to dress warm and bring some chairs. Newport Dunes Resort, 1131 Back Bay Dr., Newport Beach, (949) 729-DUNE. Sat., dusk. Free; parking, $10.
Endless Summer. Bruce Brown's 1966 documentary about hodads searching for the perfect wave. UCI Humanities Instruction Building, Room 100, Campus N W. Peltason drs., Irvine, (949) 824-5493. Thurs., Aug. 31, 6:30 p.m. Free.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Did not like this '80s John Hughes teen comedy. Hated every single second of it, actually. Especially that part where Ben Stein keeps saying, “Bueller . . . Bueller . . . ” God, I hear that voice in my nightmares. But I know: you loved it. Everybody in the world loved it. Except me. So go, enjoy this rare, big-screen outing of the horrible, horrible movie that you all love so much. I won't be there, and we'll both be happier that way. Pierside Surfcity, 300 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, (714) 969-3151. Wed., 7 p.m. $5.
Ice Age. Ray Romano, John Leguizamo and Denis Leary lend their voices to this 2002, CGI blockbuster about a sabertooth tiger, a sloth and a wooly mammoth who struggle to return a human infant to her tribe. Proof that you don't need Disney-cute animation to have a hit because God damn, these are some ugly cartoon animals. The kid's kinda freaky-looking, too. This is an outdoor, evening screening, so bring some chairs and blankets. Newport Dunes Resort, 1131 Back Bay Dr., Newport Beach, (949) 729-DUNE. Sat., dusk. Free; parking, $10.
Loose Change 2.0. As the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches, the First Friday Films series presents a documentary that the press release declares has become “a magnet for those who have come to believe the worst about their government.” Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, 117 N. Sycamore, Santa Ana, (714) 667-1517. Fri., 8 p.m. Free.
Pinoy Visions. This week sees the fourth edition of the Pinoy Visons festival in Los Angeles, showcasing over four days the work of up-and-coming Filipino American filmmakers. For full lineup, venues, times and prices, call (213) 680-4462, ext.25, or visit www.vcoline.org.
Mail your press releases (and a videotape, if available) to Special Screenings,OC Weekly, 1666 N. Main St., Ste. 500, Santa Ana, CA 92701-7417. Or send e-mail to
gr*******@ea*******.net
. All materials must be received at least two weeks before the screening.
