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Around Town: Foreign films and Spencer Tracy

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The Aero’s Golden Globe Foreign-Language Nominee Series 2012 continues Thursday evening with the French drama “The Kid With a Bike.” On tap for Friday evening is Zhang Yimou’s “The Flowers of War” with Christian Bale as an American missionary in China.

The day before the Golden Globes’ ceremony Sunday evening, the Egyptian and the Hollywood Foreign Press are co-presenting a Golden Globe Foreign-Language Nominee Panel Discussion featuring Zhang Yimou, Angelina Jolie (“In the Land of Blood and Honey”), Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne (“The Kid With a Bike”), Asghar Farhadi (“A Separation”) and Pedro Almodovar (“The Skin I Live In”). The Saturday afternoon event is free but on a first-come first serve basis. http://www.americancinematheque.com

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Film Independent at LACMA presents Cassavetes’ Shadow: Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominee Discussion and Screening on Thursday at the Leo S. Bing Theatre. The evening will feature the nominees for the 2012 John Cassavetes Award, which is given to a filmmaker who has made a film for less than $500,000. After the talk, Cassavetes’ low-budget first project as a filmmaker, 1959’s “Shadows,” will screen.

And the Tuesday matinee presentation is Blake Edwards’ effective 1962 thriller, “Experiment in Terror,” with Glenn Ford, Lee Remick, Stefanie Powers and Ross Martin. http://www.lacma.org The First Annual Wayne Federman International Film Festival -- Federman is a comedian who has appeared in such films as “Legally Blonde” and “Step Brothers” -- kicks off Thursday evening at the Cinefamily at the Silent Movie Theatre. Federman has invited several well-known comedians to introduce the films, perform and do a Q&A. On Thursday, Garry Shandling will introduce Martin Scorsese’s 1983 dark comedy, “The King of Comedy.”

Later that evening Margaret Cho will present John Schlesinger’s 1965 drama “Darling,” for which Julie Christie won a best actress Oscar. Scheduled for Friday evening is Mike Leigh’s award-winning 1989 “Topsy-Turvey, ‘introduced by Paul F. Tompkins, followed by a special Doug Benson “Movie Interruption” of the 1988 Tom Cruise flick “Cocktail.” And Saturday evening, Kevin Pollak will show the 1979 original version of “The In-Laws,” directed by Arthur Hiller, followed by Albert Brooks’ 1981 romantic comedy “Modern Romance,” introduced by Andy Kindler. http://www.cinefamily.org

The first Irvine International Film Festival commences Thursday and continues through Monday at the Edwards Westpark 8 Theater. More than 740 films were submitted with 90 set to be screened, including international films, documentaries, live-action shorts and animated films. The festival will also highlight films made by local students. http://www.irvinefilmfest.com

UCLA Film & Television Archive’s “Spencer Tracy: That Natural Thing” continues Friday evening at the Billy Wilder Theater with the 1933 comedy “Face in the Sky” and 1932’s melodrama “She Wanted a Millionaire.” On tap for Saturday are 1934’s “Bottoms Up” and the 1933 pre-Code classic “A Man’s Castle,” which costars Loretta Young, with whom he had a very public affair during the production. Wednesday’s double bill is 1931’s ‘Quick Millions’ and 1934’s ‘Now I’ll Tell.’

The Archive Documentary Spotlight features the 2010 documentary from Uganda, “Where Are You Taking Me?” Wednesday’s lineup at the Million Dollar Theatre is a Sam Fuller double bill: 1963’s “Shock Corridor” and 1964’s “The Naked Kiss.” http://www.cinema.ucla.edu

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Though it wasn’t a big hit upon release back in 1987, Fred Dekker’s family-friendly “The Monster Squad” has enjoyed cult status. Dekker will be on hand to talk about the horror film for its 25th anniversary Friday at the Egyptian Theatre. Also screening is the 1987 horror flick “The Gate” with Stephen Dorff.

Set for Saturday at the Egyptian is the 25th anniversary of the sci-fi thriller “Predator,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the 1990 sequel, “Predator 2,” with Danny Glover. On Sunday, the Egyptian celebrates the 50th anniversary of Judy Garland earning the Cecil B. DeMille Golden Globe with a screening of the restored print of her 1954 musical classic “A Star is Born,” which garnered Garland her only best actress Oscar nomination. The Australian Short Film Program titled Mudfest visits the Egyptian on Tuesday. Among the shorts screening are “Ray,” “Beyond” and “Mavis.” The Cinematheque’s “The Best of Recent Belgian Cinema” presents its first film of 2012 on Wednesday -- the 2011 road trip comedy “Hasta La Vista.”

Director Joe Carnahan will appear in person Saturday at the Aero with a sneak of his latest thriller, “The Grey,” starring Liam Neeson and his 2002 police thriller, “Narc,” with Ray Liotta. “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” the cult 1971 musical version of Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” starring Gene Wilder, screens Sunday afternoon at the Aero.

Then on Wednesday, filmmaker Henry Jaglom is stopping by the Aero for a screening of his 1980 comedy “Sitting Ducks,” with Michael Emil and Zack Norman. http://www.americancinematheque.com

Director Mark Romanek, schedule permitting, will be in attendance at the New Beverly Cinema on Thursday for a screening of his 2010 film, “Never Let Me Go,” and Francois Truffaut’s only English-language film, 1966’s “Fahrenheit 451.”

Friday and Saturday’s offerings are two film noirs based on novels by Cornell Woolrich: 1944’s “Phantom Lady” directed by Robert Siodmak and 1946’s “Black Angel” directed by Roy William Neill. Quentin Tarantino selected Saturday’s midnight movie at the theater -- 1989’s “Lady Terminator.”

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On tap for Sunday through Tuesday are 1934’s “Viva Villa!” with Wallace Berry and Fay Wray and 1939’s “Juarez,” starring Bette Davis, Paul Muni, John Garfield and Brian Aherne in his Oscar-nominated performance. Set for Wednesday is a Isabelle Huppert double bill: 1980’s “Every Man For Himself,” directed by Jean-Luc Godard, and Michael Haneke’s 2001 “The Piano Teacher.” http://www.newbevcinema.com

Cinefamily and Los Angeles FilmForum present “Industry Town: The Avant-Garde & Hollywood” early Saturday evening. Among the films screening are Slavko Vorkapich and Gregg Toland’s 1928 silent, “The Life and Death of 9413: A Hollywood Extra,” and George Lucas’ 1967 “6-18-67.” Set for Wednesday is “Psychedelic Visions & Expanded Consciousness” with filmmakers Pat O’Neill, Peter Mays and Beth Block in attendance, schedule permitting. http://www.lafilmforum.org

Related:

‘Is Angelina Jolie done with directing now?’

-- Susan King

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