By Daily Press staff
The historic Aero Theater on Montana Avenue has recently opened after more than two years of being closed for rennovation. The American Cinematheque has these events planned through the middle of January: Thursday, Jan. 6: 7:30 p.m. One night with Dennis Quaid IN GOOD COMPANY, 2005, Universal, 109 min. The latest from Paul Weitz, the director of ABOUT A BOY, is an insightful comedy about the relationship between a 50-year-old businessman and his new 26-year-old boss. Dan Foreman (Dennis Quaid) is demoted from head of ad sales for a major magazine when the company he works for is acquired in a corporate takeover. His new boss, Carter Duryea (Topher Grace), is a business school prodigy half his age, and Dan and Carter’s uneasy new relationship is thrown into jeopardy when Carter falls for Dan’s daughter Alex (Scarlett Johansson). A humorous and tender examination of life’s ironies and coincidences. Discussion following with actor Dennis Quaid.
Friday, Jan. 7: 7:30 p.m. Jeremy Irons Tribute Double feature: THE MISSION, 1986, Warner Bros., 125 min. Dir. Roland Joffe. Visually and dramatically magnificent 18th century epic of a Jesuit missionary (Jeremy Irons) who first clashes, then bonds with a murderous former slave-trader (Robert De Niro) to try to save a remote religious outpost in the Brazilian jungle. Superb script by Robert Bolt (LAWRENCE OF ARABIA), with one of composer Ennio Morricone’s finest scores.
DEAD RINGERS, 1988, Morgan Creek, 115 min. Jeremy Irons turns in a stupendous pair of performances as twin gynecologists sinking in a swirling miasma of fraternal sexual jealousy, prescription drugs and junk food, in one of director David Cronenberg’s most disturbingly twisted and sharply executed thrillers. Astoundingly enough, another daring picture based on fact. With Genevieve Bujold. Discussion between films with actor Jeremy Irons.
Sunday, Jan. 9: 5 p.m. Annette Bening Tribute Annette Bening shows great versatility in both comic and dramatic roles, whether it be on screen or on stage. With her first starring role she portrayed the manipulative, seductive Marquise de Merteuil in Milos Forman’s VALMONT, excelled as a ditsy wanna-be actress in Mike Nichols’ POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE and delivered a brilliant portrayal as the treacherous con-artist Myra Langtry in Stephen Frears’ THE GRIFTERS, for which she earned an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress. She gained further acclaim in movies such as REGARDING HENRY, GUILTY BY SUSPICION, BUGSY and the highly acclaimed AMER- ICAN BEAUTY, for which she won a Screen Actor’s Guild Award and an Academy Award nomination Her most recent screen appearance prior to BEING JULIA was in the western OPEN RANGE opposite Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall. In the spring of 2005, she will be seen in the HBO film MRS. HARRIS.
Double Feature: BEING JULIA, 2004, Sony Pictures Classics, 105 min. Based on W. Somerset Maugham’s “Theatre,” director Istvan Szabo’s intoxicating combination of wicked comedy and smart drama. In London in 1938, beautiful and beguiling actress Julia Lambert (Annette Bening) is at her peak, physically and professionally, but her successful theatrical career and her marriage to handsome impresario Michael Gosselyn (Jeremy Irons) have become stale and unfulfilling. Longing for novelty and excitement, Julia embarks on a passionate affair with younger Tom Fennell (Shaun Evans). 70 mm print. VALMONT, 1989, MGM/UA, 137 min. Director Milos Forman’s stingingly sharp and tragically poignant adaptation of the 18th century classic novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Annette Bening is a standout as the too-cynical-and-coldhearted-for-her-own-good Marquise de Merteuil and Colin Firth superb as the Vicomte de Valmont, a worldly decadent shattered when he realizes he actually has a heart capable of breaking. Meg Tilly is touchingly memorable as vulnerable Madame de Tourvel, the young woman they inadvertently destroy. Discussion between films with actress Annette Bening.
Tuesday, Jan. 11: 7:30 p.m. A night with Thomas Haden Church Best known for his role as Lowell Mather on the popular series “Wings” and as Ned Dorsey in the series “Ned and Stacy,” Thomas Haden Church starred-in, among other films, the blockbuster hit GEORGE OF THE JUN- GLE, and 3,000 MILES TO GRACELAND, with Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner. Last year, Church made his directorial debut on ROLLING KANSAS, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
SIDEWAYS, 2004, Fox Searchlight Pictures, 123 min. Writer-director Alexander Payne’s fourth feature film (following CITIZEN RUTH, ELECTION and ABOUT SCHMIDT) starts with two old friends setting off on a wine-tasting road trip... only to veer dizzily SIDEWAYS into a wry, comedic exploration of the crazy vicissitudes of love and friendship, the damnable persistence of loneliness and dreams and the enduring war between Pinot and Cabernet. Thomas Haden Church plays Jack, a womanizer who is about to be married.
Discussion following with actor Thomas Haden Church.
Jan. 12-15 Discover the best of new foreign films with the five foreign language nominees for the Golden Globe Award. The filmmakers will be present for discussions at the Aero and a round-table seminar at the Egyptian Theatre on Saturday, Jan. 15. The nominees will be announced on Dec. 13.
Wednesday, Jan. 12: 7: 30 p.m. Golden Globe Foreign Language Nominee Film No. 1 Filmmaker to introduce screening. Thursday, Jan. 13: 7:30 p.m. Golden Globe Foreign Language Nominee Film No. 2 and film No. 3 Filmmakers to introduce screenings. Friday, Jan. 14: 7:30 p.m. Golden Globe Foreign Language Nominee Film No. 4 and film No. 5 Filmmakers to introduce screenings.
Sunday, Jan. 16 Ray Harryhausen Tribute Two-day visit for the first time to the Aero Theatre from one of the Egyptian Theatre favorite guests, visual F/X legend Ray Harryhausen, featuring two of his classic films, plus more rarities from the Harryhausen archives. 4 p.m.: Ray Harryhausen in person.
Children matinee, double feature: “The Mysterious Island, 1961.” 1961, Columbia, 101 min. Based on Jules Verne’s sequel to “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea,” “Mysterious Island” follows a group of Confederate prisoners during the Civil War who escape using an enemy balloon, only to find themselves blown off course to a remote island, populated by monstrous creatures and the enigmatic Captain Nemo (Herbert Lom) himself. Directed by Cy Endfield (“Zulu,” “Try and Get Me”) in a rare fantasy outing, with a score by maestro Bernard Herrmann. With Michael Craig, Joan Greenwood, Michael Callan, Gary Merrill.
“Jason and the Argonauts.” 1963, Columbia, 104 min. Directed by Don Chaffey. Hercules, harpies, the bronze giant Talos and an army of living skeletons. Heroic Greek warrior Jason (Todd Armstrong) travels to the farthest ends of the earth in search of the legendary Golden Fleece, in this glorious adventure featuring some of Ray Harryhausen’s most memorable visual effects, along with music by Bernard Herrmann. Co-starring Nancy Kovack, Laurence Naismith, Nigel Green. Discussion between films with visual F/X legend Ray Harryhausen and actor Michael Callan.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 7, 2005. Read the original PDF.