Do It. "Pretty in Pink" at L.A. Live.

Former Two and a Half Men star Jon Cryer may be out of a job these days, but let's not forget where he first got his start -- and one of my favorite film characters of all time -- Duckie in the '80s classic Pretty in Pink.

Did you forget about Duckie's awesome style and amazing dance moves? I'll forgive you, but only because it's been 25 years. And don't you know it -- in honor of that 25th anniversary, the always-great Los Angeles Film Festival is screening Pretty in Pink for free tonight at L.A. Live. So time to refresh your memory -- and hey, Jon Cryer is even going to show up with a Q&A with director Howard Deutch. And if you show up in '80s attire, you'll even get two vouchers for the L.A. Film Fest! Just, uh, try to avoid remaking Annie's diasater of a dress?

I'm off like a dirty shirt!

Pretty in Pink screens tonight at 7pm at Nokia Plaza at L.A. Live, located at 777 Chick Hearn Court in downtown. There'll also be a pink beer and wine garden opening at 5pm.

-- Chau Tu

Check It. ReALIze at L.A. Live.

This very cool architectural art piece of Muhammad Ali is currently just outside the Staples Center at L.A. Live. It is an aluminum structure, with 1,300 custom boxing speed bags making up Ali's image, and miles of stainless steel cables. After two years and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent, it's finished--and on display to the public first in Los Angeles, then onto New York, Miami, Asia, and Europe.

After reading about it in American Airlines' AmericanWay magazine last month, we made our way downtown on a blustery Saturday afternoon to see it. The human eye doesn't quite piece it all together the way a camera lens does, which is pretty interesting.

It was such a smart and appropriate idea for artist Michael Kalish to use speed bags. I imagine Yolanda Ali (who commissioned the piece along with her husband, "The Greatest") was impressed too.

reALIze is on display until April 9. Free to the public. Nokia Plaza, L.A. Live.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Check It. "A Family."

In today's media-drenched society, it can be difficult to be surprised about new releases. But that's where the fun in film festivals lies--amongst all the galas and world premieres and flashy stars (trying to retain their cred in indies), there are those smaller films that are finally getting their chance to shine, and deservedly so. I took in a screening at the L.A. Film Festival sort of on a whim this past Saturday, and ended up seeing one of the best dramas of the year.

Denmark's En Familie (A Family) follows the Rheinwalds, a storied history of whom is told in a charming prologue with cute titles and photographs. They're a baking brood, to understate it; carrying the family's deep responsibilities as official purveyors of bread to Danish royalty, and (in a running gag) as the offspring of the great-grandfather who created the bakery after walking from Germany to Denmark with just a sack of grain over his shoulder.

It's an emotional pressure that comes all too harshly in the present world upon Ditte Rheinwald, the oldest and most adored daughter in the family, the one hand-picked to take over the Rheinwald Bakery. The weakening of her father's health comes all too coincidentally with her big chances in her career and life, and it's not for the better.

With notes of Ingmar Bergman's stark beauty and Noah Baumbach's and Jonathan Demme's familial turmoils, A Family is a gripping and emotional tale. As with any family, there are the highs and lows, the sacrifices and the responsibilities, and this film tunnels you through them all. But with wonderful acting and beautiful cinematography, you can't help but get wrapped up in it. Let this one take you by surprise.

A Family is screening as part of the prestigious Narrative Competition at the LAFF. The next and last showing will be tomorrow, Wed. June 22nd at 4:45pm at the Regal Cinemas at L.A. Live. The LAFF continues until June 27th.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: L.A. Film Festival

Advance Notice. Ricky Gervais.

Ricky Gervais is seriously hilarious. I don't know how many times I've watched him on BBC's The Office and rewinded the DVDs to catch snippets of his genius humor again (and again). His films and HBO comedy special have been great post-Office treats, and now he's hosting the 2010 Golden Globes on Sunday night, and will be at L.A. Live for two nights in May--the 15th and 16th.

Tickets go on sale on ticketmaster.com next Friday (January 22) at 10:00 a.m. for Gervais' Los Angeles shows.

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: www.digitaljournal.com

Do It. Ice skating in the city.

Why yes, ice skating does exist in this tundra of a city, and guess what? It's actually quite festive too. Get into the winter spirit by hitting these special and uniquely-L.A. skating spots:

Pershing Square in downtown, open now until Jan. 18, $6 + $2 for skate rental.
This probably goes without saying, but there's simply nothing like skating your freezing heart out right in the middle of downtown Los Angeles. Surrounded by downtown landmarks like the Eastern Columbia building and the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, this rink is downright charming. It's a little on the small side, but there are free concerts on most nights (Wednesdays are sponsored by Spaceland, and Dramarama showed up last Thursday!). This weekend is the family-friendly Winter Holiday Special, complete with sledding.

Holiday on Ice at L.A. Live, open now until Dec. 31, $10 (includes skate rental).
You sure can't miss all the lights and madness known as L.A. Live if you're anywhere near downtown, so get right in the middle of the action by skating at this L.A. Kings-sponsored rink. While skating, you can bask in the neon brightness of the center's infamous holiday tree, and afterward, you can take a breather with a fancy dinner at Katsuya (you know, that one restaurant). Does it get any more "L.A." than that?

ICE at Santa Monica, open now until Jan. 31, $10 (includes skate rental).
Need to make all your ice-shoveling, non-Californian friends jealous? Tell them about that time you went ice skating right next to the beach. The rink is two blocks down from the 3rd Street Promenade, so you can basically smell that brisk salty air as you breeze down the ice. Oh, not so much of a breezer on the ice? ICE offers skating lessons for everyone and anyone on Sat. mornings. Then you can tell your friends how you went ice skating right next to the beach and how you were actually kind of good at it.

-- Chau Tu

Photo credit: Pershing Square