Los Angeles - BEESWAX - Director Q&A

Director Andrew Bujalski will be making an appearance following the 7:30pm and 10:00pm showings of BEESWAX on August 21 and 22 at the Nuart.

Tickets will be available here.

Los Angeles - WORLD'S GREATEST DAD - Director Q&A

There will be an advance screening of WORLD'S GREATEST DAD as part of the Hollywood Comedy Showcase at the Arclight Hollywood. The screening will take place on August 18 at 8:00pm and be followed by a Q&A session with director Bobcat Goldthwait and other yet to be announced guests from the film.

Tickets are available here.

Coming Attractions - August 7, 8 and 9

Coming Attractions is posted every Friday and serves to remind you of the events taking place during the weekend. From new releases to Q&As and introductions, there's a lot going on and you've got some time off from work - so why not go see a movie?

RELEASES:

Wide:
A Perfect Getaway
G.I. Joe
Julie & Julia
Shorts

Limited:
Somers Town - LA
By the People: The Election of Barack Obama - LA, NY
Paper Heart - LA, NY
Cold Souls - LA, NY
Beeswax - NY

LOS ANGELES:

FRIDAY
ADAM - Director Q&A
Monica 4-Plex
Friday, August 7 following the 7:20pm show.

SATURDAY:
PAPER HEART - Director/Writer & Actress/Writer Q&A
The Arclight Hollywood
Saturday, August 8 following the 5:15pm show.

MOON - Director Q&A & Introduction
The Arclight Hollywood
Saturday, August 8 following the 7:20pm show (Q&A) and at 10:05pm (introduction)

NEW YORK:

FRIDAY
COLD SOULS - Director Q&A
Landmark Sunshine Cinema
Friday, August 7 following the 7:05pm and 9:30pm shows.

BEESWAX - Director Q&A
Film Forum
Friday, August 7 following the 7:50pm and 10:00pm shows.

SATURDAY
TAKING WOODSTOCK - Advance Screening & Director & Writer Q&A - SOLD OUT
Woodstock, NY
Saturday, August 8 at 3:00pm

BEESWAX - Director Q&A
Film Forum
Saturday, August 8 following the 7:50pm and 10:00pm shows.

SUNDAY
PONYO - Advance Screening
Symphony Space
Sunday, August 9 at 3:00pm.

*For a comprehensive rundown on the best of this week's openings check out For Your Consideration.*

For Your Consideration - Soul Mate Edition

For Your Consideration is a weekly round-up of upcoming indie limited releases. The idea is to either expose you to or remind you of films that can't afford to plaster their posters on the sides of buildings or accompany your Happy Meal in toy form.

Are you feeling lost this week? Looking for a cinematic getaway this weekend that is a little more metaphysical than the latest action movie based around a toyline? Perhaps you're just afraid that you won't be able to afford the new cooking hobby/addiction you'll no doubt pick-up if you see the hulking tidal wave of charm presented by Amy Adams and Meryl Streep's latest pairing? Then perhaps this week's FYC can help. This week's stunningly similar recommendations are both Sundance darlings, both star actors playing themselves, and both involve said actors-turned-subjects traveling great distances to uncover answers about two of life's greatest mysteries - does true love exist and where on Earth is Paul Giamatti's soul?

PAPER HEART

What: The first feature film from Nick Jasenovec, Paper Heart chronicles comedienne Charlyne Yi and a problem that has been nagging her for a while - she doesn't believe in love. She decides to scour the country with her director friend Nick interviewing friends, strangers, experts, bikers, psychics, and couples to learn more about the nebulous nature of love. Things become complicated when she begins falling for Michael Cera shortly after filming commences on their project. Will the invasive chronicling of their interactions as part of her documentary shed light on what it means to be in love or sink their burgeoning relationship before it can find its footing?

Where: LA - The Landmark, Arclight Hollywood, Playhouse 7, NY - AMC Empire 25, AMC Loews Lincoln Square

Why: A documentary mashed together with large chunks of traditional narrative storytelling and fantasy - but not nearly as pretentious as all of that makes it sound - Paper Heart is a refreshingly unique take on the romantic comedy. Paper Heart may seem to have all of the ironic and detached trappings of Hipsterdom attached to it, but it's actually a relentlessly sincere film that revels in spotlighting humanity at its best - a bit of chicken soup for these cynical Bruno times. It's an engaging film that eschews formula and examines not just love, but also the nature of the love story, but be warned, the more cynical among you may walk away annoyed by its preciously upbeat world view.

COLD SOULS

What: The first film from writer/director Sophie Barthes, Cold Souls is a surreal comedy starring Paul Giamatti as an actor named Paul Giamatti. Gripped with existential fear after reading Anton Checkov's Uncle Vanya, he finds himself unable to do anything but sit around and mope all day. Luckily, the New Yorker comes to the rescue with an article detailing a company that will deep-freeze and store your soul until you're ready to deal with it. After experiencing a shift in his personality, Paul goes back to retrieve his soul only to find himself the victim of "soul-trafficking," which sets him off an existential adventure to find who now owns his soul.

Where: LA - The Landmark, Playhouse 7, Arclight Sherman Oaks; NY - Landmark Sunshine Cinema, Lincoln Plaza Cinema

Why: At its Sundance premiere, Cold Souls drew a lot comparisons to the work of Charlie Kaufman - unsurprising considering it is a reflective tale centered around a member of show-business peppered with a large dose of magical realism, but most early reviews show that, despite these superficial similarities, the film manages to stand on its own thematically and structurally, and isn't that what's important? Let us not forget, that many derided Charlie Kaufman as little more than a Woody Allen knock-off early in his career. I could continue defending this film, but derivative-or-not, it looks darn enjoyable.

Everything Else

BEESWAX

BY THE PEOPLE: THE ELECTION OF BARACK OBAMA

No Trailer Available.

Told from the point-of-view of the Obama Campaign, By the People: The Election of Barack Obama is the most in-depth behind-the-scenes documentary on the 2004 presidential race. Spending the first third of the film on the underdog battle to win the Iowa caucus and following through the the battle for the Democratic nomination and ending at the White House, the film is a rare, first-hand look at the rigors of running for the Oval Office.

New York - TAKING WOODSTOCK - Director & Writer Book Signing & Discussion

TAKING WOODSTOCK writer James Schamus and director Ang Lee will sign copies of the script book for Taking Woodstock and discuss the film at the Barnes and Noble in Lincoln Triangle. Priority seating will be given with the purchase of the script book. On August 11 at 7:00pm.

New York - THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE - Advance Screening & Director Discussion

On Tuesday, August 11 at 7:00pm there will be an advanced screening of THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE followed by a discussion with director Robert Schwentke. The event will take place at The Time Warner Center in Manhattan.

Tickets are available here.

Los Angeles - ADAM - Director Q&A

Following the 7:20pm showing of ADAM at the Monica 4-Plex on August 7, director Max Mayer will hold a Q&A session.

Tickets are available here.

New York - EMPIRES OF TIN - Director & Jim Jarmusch Discussion

Following the NY premiere of EMPIRES OF TIN, special guest Jim Jarmusch will lead a discussion with director Jem Cohen. The event will take place on August 11 at 7:30pm at the IFC Center.

Tickets are available here.

Los Angeles - MOON - Director Q&A & Introduction

Director Duncan Jones will hold Q&A sessions following the 7:20pm showing of MOON at the Arclight Hollywood and he will also introduce the 10:05pm screening. On August 8th.

Tickets are available here.

The Week in Preview - 8/3

The Week in Preview is posted every Monday and serves to give you a heads up to events taking place during the week. Be sure to check back on Friday morning for Coming Attractions, a rundown of all the events occurring over the weekend.

LOS ANGELES:

TUESDAY

MY ONE AND ONLY- Advance Screening & George Hamilton Q&A
Arclight Hollywood
Tuesday, August 4 at 8:00pm.

WEDNESDAY

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE - Advance Screening & Filmmaker Q&A
The Paley Center
Wednesday, August 5 at 7:00pm.

THURSDAY
MOON - Director Q&A & Introduction
The Arclight Hollywood
Thursday, August 6 following the 4:25pm and 7:05pm shows (Q&A) and at 9:55pm (introduction)

FRIDAY
ADAM - Director Q&A
Monica 4-Plex
Friday, August 7 following the 7:20pm show.

SATURDAY
PAPER HEART - Director/Writer & Actress/Writer Q&A
The Arclight Hollywood
Saturday, August 8 following the 5:15pm show.

MOON - Director Q&A & Introduction
The Arclight Hollywood
Saturday, August 8 following the 7:20pm show (Q&A) and at 10:05pm (introduction)

NEW YORK:

TUESDAY
JULIE & JULIA - Advance Screening & Introduction - Sold out except closed circuit TV viewing room
The Paley Center, NY
Tuesday, August 4 at 8:00pm.

WEDNESDAY
PAPER HEART - Director/Writer & Actress/Writer & Actor Q&A
AMC 19th Street
Wednesday, August 5 following 8:00pm show.

FRIDAY
COLD SOULS - Director Q&A
Landmark Sunshine Cinema
Friday, August 7 following the 7:05pm and 9:30pm shows.

BEESWAX - Director Q&A
Film Forum
Friday, August 7 following the 7:50pm and 10:00pm shows.

SATURDAY
TAKING WOODSTOCK - Advance Screening & Director & Writer Q&A - SOLD OUT
Woodstock, NY
Saturday, August 8 at 3:00pm

BEESWAX - Director Q&A
Film Forum
Saturday, August 8 following the 7:50pm and 10:00pm shows.

SUNDAY
PONYO - Advance Screening
Symphony Space
Sunday, August 9 at 3:00pm.

New York - COLD SOULS - Director Q&A

Following the 7:05pm and the 9:30pm screenings of COLD SOULS at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema, director Sophie Barthes will hold a Q&A session. On August 7.

Tickets are available here.

Los Angeles - MOON - Director Q&As and Introduction

Director Duncan Jones will hold Q&A sessions following the 4:25pm and 7:05pm showings of MOON at the Arclight Hollywood and he will also introduce the 9:55pm screening. On August 6th.

Tickets are available here.