Do It. Gainsbourg And His Girls at the Silent Movie Theatre.

A couple years ago, I read what a fan Beck is of Serge Gainsbourg's Historie de Melody Nelson, and high-tailed it to Amoeba to get a copy.

This past weekend, there was a Serge Gainsbourg Tribute concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Performers included Beck, Zola Jesus, Victoria Legrand of Beach House, Sean Lennon, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, among others.

These days, it seems more Americans may know who Charlotte Gainsbourg (21 Grams, I'm Not There., Antichrist) is than her late famous French father, but a new documentary is in town to change that. Many of his numerous muses are featured in the film--Jane Birkin, Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, Françoise Hardy, and Vanessa Paradis.

The Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre is screening Gainsbourg And His Girls tonight through Friday.

611 North Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles. Tickets $10. Info: cinefamily.org, (323) 655-2510

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: France 3 + Morgane Productions

Check It. François Ozon's Potiche.

If you're not up for seeing The Lincoln Lawyer, Sucker Punch, or Battle: Los Angeles this weekend, Potiche (translation: trophy wife) may be more your speed.

Director François Ozon is perhaps best known for his 2003 film Swimming Pool. His latest release, an adaptation of the hit play with the same name, stars Catherine Deneuve and Gérard Depardieu in a 103-minute comedy set in 1977 bourgeois France. That red Adidas track suit is great, and there's a breakfast table (complete with French press, naturally) I wouldn't mind having a seat at. The costumes and set design are bound to be captivating throughout--not to mention the acting.

Potiche is playing at West L.A.'s Landmark Theatre.

Info and showtimes: landmarktheatres.com, (310) 281-8233

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: movieever.com

Do It. Le beau Serge at LACMA.

French new wave director Claude Chabrol's 1958 directorial debut is playing at LACMA this Saturday evening. What a great idea for a date. Even better if followed by dinner at Comme Ça or the Chateau Marmont restaurant--or a Crêpe Suzette at the Farmers Market's French Crêpe Co.

Chabrol more recently made 2007's The Girl Cut in Two starring Ludivine Sagnier, before passing away last fall.

January 29 at 5:00 p.m. Admission is $5.

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is located at 5905 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. Info: lacma.org, (323) 857-6000

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: segalcentre.org

Check It. A Prophet.

A Prophet--the film that swept (won nine of 13) France's equivalent of the Academy Awards, the Cesar Awards, Saturday night in Paris, is an Academy Award contender for Best Foreign Film ... and is definitely worth seeing.

An IMDb user review simply says "Best. Movie. Ever."

I don't want to create too much hype, but from someone who usually gets quite frustrated with films that have a running time much over two hours, each minute of the the two hours and forty minutes of A Prophet was enthralling and necessary.

Tahar Rahim, the 28-year-old French star of the film, was really amazing. His transformation from start to finish definitely put him in award territory. Writer/director Jacques Audiard (The Beat That My Heart Skipped) has something to be really proud of here--a film about prison, crime, race, and inmate hierarchy that's as moving as it is intriguing.

A Prophet is playing at the Landmark (West L.A.), the ArcLight (Hollywood) and Laemmle Theatres in Encino and Pasadena.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: www.enjoyfrance.com

Do It. Panique au village (A Town Called Panic) at the Nuart.

What's better than a lazy Sunday afternoon? Spending a lazy Sunday afternoon happening upon a totally awesome movie. The Sunday: mine, just past; the movie: Panique au village (A Town Called Panic), an animated French film currently having a one-week engagement at the Nuart.

A cowboy. An Indian (ahem, Native American). A (talking) horse. Put them together in a big yellow house and you get...A Town Called Panic. ?

It's not that easy to explain. Here's a trailer to help me out.



So..this movie's a little crazy. But in the most delightful, incredible way. There isn't really a discernible plotline, but basically Cowboy, Indian (a dim-witted but lovable pair) and (the mature, lovesick) Horse live together in a small rural town, and through a random, insane chain of events, they encounter sea creature thieves, unintelligible scientists and a giant robot penguin. There's also a super fun punk rock soundtrack (the French are just the best at soundtracking!).

All I can really say is that it's a smart comedy at its simplest (because can you get more simple than Claymation?), with the ability to laugh at itself and a desire to give the audience a no holds barred ride. I absolutely loved it. I can't even begin to try to explain what you can expect (because you won't be able to expect it, believe me), but that's okay. Sometimes, it's just nice to be lazy and watch a great movie.

Panique au village will be playing at the Nuart until this Thursday, showings at 5:20, 7:30 & 9:40.

-- Chau Tu

Do it. Pierrot le fou at LACMA.

Tonight at 7:30 p.m., LACMA is screening Godard's 1965 stylish crime/drama/romance Pierrot le fou. Last night, the actor Jean-Paul Belmondo (perhaps best known as Michel from Breathless), introduced Truffaut's Mississippi Mermaid (in which he stars with Catherine Denuve). It has not been announced if he'll make a second appearance on the miracle mile tonight, but I wouldn't be surprised, as he's also the co-star of Pierrot le fou and they are showing it as part of a two-night "Spotlight on Jean-Paul Belmondo" series.

LACMA is located at 5905 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles. Tickets are $10.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: Janus Films