Due to the holidays, film events are a tad slow this week, but there’s still enough special programming to give you an excuse to ditch out on any awkward Christmas parties. Consider this your pass not to wear any ugly reindeer and snowflake sweaters if you don’t feel like it.
And who would want to wear one of those to Ken Russell’s hallucinogenic, bad-trip masterpiece Altered States? You’re liable to drop to your knees and start praying to a pulsating, crimson Rudolph nose while singing “Good King Wenceslas” at the top of your lungs. It’s playing at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway Blvd, on Thursday, Dec. 19. Altered States, starring William Hurt as a professor who gulps down Ayahuasca and discovers physical evidence of devolution, is the second film in the “Loft Staff Selects” series, in which the floor-staff over at the theater curate their favorite movies one night a month. The movie starts at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $6 and $5 for Loft members.
Do you love cats? Who doesn’t, right? You’d think it was ancient Egypt all over again with the amount of cats that take up my Facebook feed on a daily basis. You’re going to love the Internet Cat Festival playing at the Loft on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 7:00 p.m. This 75-minute feature spotlights cats doing what cats do best — being adorable. Make sure to show up early for this one; the Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter will have kitties on hand available for adoption! Tickets are regular admission prices. Go to loftcinema.com or call 795-0844 for more information.
On Friday, Dec. 20, the 1987 cult classic Can’t Buy Me Love is playing at the Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St. at 7:30 p.m. For those that don’t know, this lovable, endearing flick was filmed here in Tucson. Before he was McDreamy, Patrick Dempsey played Ronald Miller, the nerd with a heart of gold and a wad of cash who tries to buy his way in to the in-crowd. Watch as he woos actress Amanda Peterson at the Tucson Mall! Look at the jocks hanging out at Scoops, the old ice-cream joint on Speedway that’s now a Los Betos! Watch the the school bust out Paula Abdul-choreographed moves inside the Tucson High auditorium! Tickets are $7 and $5 for military, students and seniors. The whole shebang is a benefit for the Tucson High Spirit Line. Rah-Rah!
Ok, if you want to wear those Christmas sweaters, you have my permission to wear them when the Fox plays a double feature of A Christmas Story and It’s a Wonderful Life on Sunday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. and on Monday, Dec. 23 at 2 p.m. For admission prices and other info, visit foxtucsontheatre.org or call 547-3040. Happy holiday!
