The way films come and go, in and out of theaters, usually it's easier to miss a movie than catch it. That makes planning ahead a must when it comes to moviegoing in the Valley. That's also why we've handpicked five must-see flicks screening this month to add to the ol' planner. Snag some snacks and scope out our picks.
See also: - The Death of Film (Again): A Short History of an Art Form's Long Passing - Movie Violence Has Never Been Better -- or More Reckless - The Comedy Satirizes Hipsters in Ways They'll Likely Enjoy
Barrymore @ Phoenix Art Museum Christopher Plummer stars as John Barrymore, of the dynastic theatrical Barrymores, in William Luce's play about the comedic-turned-Shakespearean actor. In it, Barrymore reflects on his life of fame, excess, and antics. Plummer's performance was recorded and the film is making artsy rounds. It comes to Phoenix Art Museum on December 15 and 16 at 1 and 2 p.m. respectively. General admission is $18. Home Alone @ Studio Movie Grill We are positive that we weren't the only ones who saw flashes of Mac Attack rigging paint cans while watching James Bond boobytrap his childhood home in Skyfall. We are also positive that the connection has left us with a hankering for Home Alone. Our appetite for children saying and doing wildly inappropriate and unlikely (and quite violent) things will be sated after Studio Movie Grill screens the classic on Thursday, December 20, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $1. Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal. This Is 40 Because of Freaks and Geeks, we are forever fans of Judd Apatow's painful, funny, and real portrayals of life. While Knocked Up is our least favorite film in his ouvre (maybe/probably blame Katherine Heigl), we are anxiously awaiting the December 21 release of its "sort-of sequel" This Is 40. The dramedy finds struggling, not-so-happy couple Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) hitting midlife, but lacking the stability they thought would come with it.Life of Brian @ FilmBar Originally deemed blasphemous and banned by humorless Norway (among other downer countries), Monty Python's religious satire Life of Brian looks into the life of Brian Cohen, a man mistaken for the Lord and Savior after being born the same day and just a stone's throw away from actual Messiah, Jesus. Scoot to FilmBar for the sacrilege at 2 and 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 25. The second screening is 21-plus. Tickets to either are $7. Django Unchained In Quentin Tarantino's latest, freed slave Django (Jamie Foxx) embarks on a western adventure with bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz). For helping him hunt down baddies, Schultz promises to aid Django in freeing his wife, Broomhilda, from the clutches of plantation owner Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio). The pre-Civil War drama opens on Tuesday, December 25.
