In the mood to watch a movie, but not in the mood to get out of the pool? No problem. There's two "dive-in" events in the area this week, which is two more than I ever would have expected. Tucson is a great place. Also on deck are the acting talents of Stephen King, Cary Grant and the entire Stiller family in an array of movies being shown for your viewing pleasure. Get to the theater, or to the pool, or to the outdoor venue that suits you best.
The Loft
New Film. This month marked three years since Michael Brown was shot and killed by Officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. The unrest that the shooting, Darren Wilson not being indicted and the anniversary of the shooting caused are the subject of Whose Streets? Showing Friday, Aug. 25 at 7:30 p.m. It follows the rage, fear and suffering of a community that bleeds into an entire nation. But it also documents the way that individuals from all over the country came together to be a part of a new resistance, a part of a crusade for justice and a part of the insistence that, without exception or negotiation, Black Lives Matter.
Cult Classic. Join George A. Romero as director and Stephen King as both screenwriter and extraterrestrial vegetation-infested actor in Creepshow, showing at 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25 and Saturday, Aug. 26. King's son, Joe, also makes an appearance in the film, as do severed heads, a mysterious crate creature, voodoo dolls and thousands of cockroaches. It's scary, it's fun, and it sort of has a comic book feel to it? It was cutting edge when it came out in '82, and if you haven't seen it yet, now's your chance.
Mondo Monday. You might feel like you've already experienced Highway to Hell if you've driven I-10 to El Paso, or if you've ever listened to AC/DC, but you truly haven't until you've seen the movie, which was robbed of its rightful 1992 Academy Award for Best Picture by some movie called Silence of the Lambs. Featuring Ben Stiller as Attila the Hun, his sister Amy as Cleopatra, and even their parents, this movie is a veritable diStillery. Follow the escapades of Charlie Sykes, as he tries to rescue his girlfriend, who has been kidnapped by a real, undead zombie Hell Cop who is taking her to marry Satan.
4th Fridays at MOCA. Pollock, a biographical film about the famous impressionist painter, is showing at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25. Ed Harris both directs and stars in this passion project which depicts the life of an artist which was just as chaotic as his paintings. Follow Jackson Pollock through a rocky marriage, an alcohol problem, a psychological disorder, an abandoned dog, a Time magazine cover and, of course, a whole lot of paint.
70mm Print. With both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for best picture, Academy awards for best director, best cinematography and best original score, and preserved in the Library of Congress National Film Registry, there's almost nothing a mere cinema columnist can add in praise of Lawrence of Arabia, showing Sunday, Aug. 27. In 70mm, the panoramic views of Spain, the cast of more than 1,000 people and Freddie Young's cinematography are more of an experience than a film.
Tucson Birthday Month Screening. In honor of our beloved Tucson's birthday, it's about to get meta. A screening of Can't Buy Me Love at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29 features Patrick Dempsey, a classically absurd '80s high school movie plot, and our favorite birthday city, Tucson itself. Drive down Speedway Boulevard to get to The Loft, then watch a movie that features Speedway Boulevard and The Loft's marquee. And root for a nerdy little pre-hunk Patrick Dempsey as he tries to get with the most popular girl in school.
Blood Road. The Sonoran Desert Mountain Bicyclists present a screening of Blood Road at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30. Follow ultra-endurance mountain bikers Rebecca Rusch and Huyen Nguyen as they pedal 1,200 miles through Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Their mission is to find the site where Rusch's father's plane was shut down during his service in the U.S. Air Force so that she can see his final resting place. Check out loftcinema.org for further details.
Dive-ins
Dive in with Moana. Have an immersive experience, in more ways than one, at this UA Campus Rec screening of Moana while you hang out in the pool at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26. There are water games (starting at 7 p.m.), there's free popcorn and eegees, and there's the line where the sky meets the sea, and NO ONE KNOOOOOWS HOW FAR IT GOOOOOOOES. See the Facebook event page for more information.
Guardians of the Galaxy Dive-In. You may have seen Guardians of the Galaxy 2 at last week's UA screening, but sometimes you just need to head back to square one, and sometimes you need to do it in the pool. The Oro Valley Youth Advisory Council is screening the film at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, as a part of their Teen Dive In Movie Night program. Be there, be in your swimsuit, and be ready to sing along with the groovy soundtrack. See orovalleyaz.gov for more information.
Sensory Friendly Films
The Autism Society and AMC Theaters are presenting The Nut Job 2 at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, in order to provide a movie setting that is more comfortable for children on the spectrum and their families. The theater will be a just a little bit brighter and a little bit quieter, and moviegoers are encouraged to bring gluten and casein-free snacks in order to be accommodating and supportive of everyone's dietary needs. Each group in attendance will be given up to four tickets, and additional tickets can be purchased at the box office for only $4.23.
Cox Communications' Movies in the Park
Cox continue its series at the Reid Park, Demeester Performing Arts Pavilion at 7:30 Friday, Sept. 1, with Finding Dory. This movie has everything you didn't know you wanted, from Sigourney Weaver to a sweet baby fish to a scene where some fish and a squid honest-to-God drive a semi-truck down a beachside highway. Not to mention the lovable cast of characters from the original Finding Nemo, supplemented by some fun new faces. Popcorn, soda, bounce castles, balloon artists and arts and crafts exhibits will abound. See saaca.org/moviespark for more details.
Cinema La Placita
The outdoor movie theater will be playing the 1968 film Night of the Living Dead on Thursday, Aug. 31. George A. Romero (who also directed this week's Cult Classic pick at The Loft) orchestrates this gory zombie fest that had kids (who saw the movie at its Saturday matinee premiere before the MPAA had a rating system) so afraid that they cried, or did that thing where you're so scared you don't make a single sound and just hope that the thing that's scaring you goes away. Visit cinemalaplacita.com for more information.
Harkins Theatres
An Affair to Remember is next up on the docket for Harkins Theatres' Tuesday night Classics Series, showing at 7 p.m. on (you guessed it!) Tuesday, Aug. 29. Watch Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr set heart-wrenchingly beautiful, achingly romantic, and completely unrealistic relationship standards as they fall in love at sea, miss their planned fairy-tale connection atop the Empire State, and then have a (different but equally, and probably even more so) touching romantic reunion at the end anyway. See harkinstheatres.com to learn more.
