the BEAT of the week: "Battle Royale" at the Cinefamily

Cinefamily -- the nonprofit organization running the Silent Movie Theater on Fairfax -- has been killing it as of late. Not only did they just finish the crazy feat of a 24-hour telethon complete with entertainment from none other than Spike Jonze, Stephen Merritt of the Magnetic Fields, Jonathan Gold, No Age, Michael Cera and more, but they've also managed to book some great films lately. Just finished was the first official L.A. run of a great -- and completely intense -- movie called We Need to Talk About Kevin, starring the always mesmerizing Tilda Swinton.

And now coming up beginning this weekend, Cinefamily is set to screen the controversial Japanese cult film Battle Royale in its first North American run ever. Ever! And Cinefamily got it for one whole week. If you don't know, the premise of the film revolves around a society where the government sends whole classes of 9th grade students to a remote island where they're forced to fight each other off to the death, one by one. And from the looks of it, the film doesn't shy away from being bloody and gory but altogether thrilling. Surely an inventive -- if not gruesomely fun -- way to spend the holidays in the winter wasteland known as L.A. in December.

And, since we're all in the giving spirit these days, why not extend that further to the Cinefamily? Members get to go to nearly every screening and event for free, and judging by what they've been able to book for the last month alone, 2012 is only yet to get better. A good gift for a friend, family member or yourself! Plus, you can get it written off in your taxes! Sad as it is, indie films are finding it more and more difficult to find places to screen out here in L.A. (of all cities!), so let's support one of the best places that still does. Become a member or donate here.

Cinefamily programs the Silent Movie Theater, located at 611 N. Fairfax Ave. in Mid-City. Check out the schedule of screenings here.

-- Chau Tu

Do It. Wernerfest!

There's no denying that German filmmaker Werner Horzog is a strange, strange man. But his arresting personality has lent itself to intriguing filmmaking that's unlike anyone else's. From documentaries to dramas to action films, Herzog can do it all -- even 3D, as Leslie saw back in April.

Herzog's work is quite extensive, and surely even most fans haven't watched a great majority of his work. But novice or expert fan, Wernerfest is the best excuse to dive right on in. The 12-hour film marathon takes place this Saturday, Oct. 8, from noon to midnight and features 13 of Herzog's early and classic works. There's his 1978 Nosferatu, his debut short Herakles, and even yes, Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe. Stay the whole time or just watch a block -- it's only $10! And Herzog himself might be making an appearance too -- surely don't want to miss out on that.

Wernerfest! A Marathon of Werner Herzog Discoveries takes place this Saturday from noon to midnight at Goethe-Institut Los Angeles, 5750 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 100 in Miracle Mile.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Courtesy of the Goethe-Institut Los Angeles

Do It. Quentin Tarantino's March programming at the New Beverly.

A little over a year ago Quentin Tarantino made headlines when he purchased the New Beverly Cinema. A true film aficionado in addition to being a brilliant filmmaker, this move made perfect sense. This month, in celebration of Tarantino's March birthday, he's taken on the theater's programming duties.

The New Beverly is a gem of a revival theater, where I've had the pleasure of seeing everything from The Last Picture Show, to The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, to Brazil on the big screen. It's also just a short walk from Milk.

Some highlights: March 15 is Grindhouse Night (Grindhouse at 7:30 p.m., Machete at 11:00 p.m.), Dazed and Confused on March 18 and 19, and Five Minutes to Live (starring Johnny Cash) on March 24. View the full calendar here.

March 27 (which is his birthday) through the 31st, Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair (a combination of volumes 1 and 2, with some differences from the released volume 1) is on the schedule. It's already sold out, any tickets that become available will be sold standby on a first come, first served basis the night of each show. This is the same print that screened at Cannes in 2006. Its running time is 247 minutes.

In other exciting news: On April 1 and 2, there will be midnight screenings of Pulp Fiction.

Happy Birthday, Q.T.!

The New Beverly is located at 7165 Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles. General admission $7. Info: newbevcinema.com, (323) 938-4038

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: fusedfilm.com

Do It. "Fight Club" at the Nuart.

In case you haven't heard, the new Twilight movie is out. Just in time for the 4th of July weekend, and possibly just the right reason to want to avoid the multiplexes tonight. Need another incentive? How about a modern classic at your local one-screen theater?

You're in luck! David Fincher's phenomenal Fight Club, starring, of course, Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, is showing at midnight at the Nuart Theatre in West L.A. Nothing like some gritty man-on-man beatings and twisted mind games to get your mind off of Edward and Jacob and back to some real men, right? (Talk about a contrast!) You're welcome, and happy 4th of July!

The Nuart is located at 11272 Santa Monica Blvd. in West L.A., and you can buy advance tickets online here.

-- Chau Tu

Check It. Best Worst Movie at the Nuart [Guest Post].

There are many films that vie for the title of "Worst Movie of All Time:" Manos: The Hands of Fate, Gigli, The Room, and Paul Haggis' Crash (boo!), to name a few. Yet there are a certain number of these films that develop cult followings (I'm looking at you, Battlefield Earth) and raise their status from "leave it in the VCR that you're taking to Goodwill" to "get wasted and watch with friends on low-key Saturday nights." One such film is Troll 2, and the documentary Best Worst Movie is a hilarious and sometimes troubling look at the cult surrounding this unbelievably bad film.

Best Worst Movie is directed by the child star of Troll 2, Michael Stephenson, and documents the film's journey back into popular culture after its straight-to-video release in 1990. Starting with a screening at Upright Citizen Brigade's New York theater in 2004, Stephenson follows some of the stars of Troll 2 as they take the film on the road to sold out theater after sold out theater (including our very own Nuart!).

At the center of the film is one-time actor and full-time dentist George Hardy. The father in Troll 2, George now lives in a small southern town, splitting his time between his daughter and his protein shakes. George is a kind, ever-smiling guy who is impossible not to like, laughing his way through Q&As (where he recreates his awful performance on stage for his adoring fans) and proudly boasting to his patients and friends that he was in the "worst movie of all time."

But as the film progresses, you begin to see George fall under the spell of his "celebrity." He even hosts a hometown screening of the film, making the receptionists in his office cold-call patients to ask them to attend. The visits made to some of Troll 2's cast are often sad and always utterly bizarre, and when the Italian director (who still makes films in Italy) and his wife who wrote Troll 2 show up to join in the festivities, things get seriously awkward (and funny!).

But for the most part, the film is hilarious and thoughtful. Though it never fully comprehends why Troll 2 has become such a favorite in the so-bad-it's-good line of filmmaking, the clips that they show sure make it look like a helluva good time.

Judge for yourself at tonight's Nuart midnight screening of Troll 2. Hardy and Stephenson will be there, as well as at the Friday and Saturday screenings of Best Worst Movie. I'd recommend watching Troll 2 before Best Worst Movie, or just check out the excellent "Best of Troll 2" youtube collection below.

Best Worst Movie is showing at the Nuart Theatre, located at 11272 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Los Angeles, for one week starting tonight.

-- Daren Sprawls
Daren is currently unemployed, and available for birthdays and bar mitzvahs.