See also:

*More L.A. Weekly Film Coverage

Friday, May 31

With graduation caps flying on campuses all over town, Downtown Independent joins the celebration with two high school films from the '90s and a drink-along. First up is Can't Hardly Wait, starring then-it girl Jennifer Love Hewitt and frequent low-man-on-the-totem-pole Seth Green. The majority of the film takes place at the graduation party, where everyone makes one last-ditch effort to make their high school dreams come true. Then it's the darker Cruel Intentions, with former golden couple Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe in a romance novel-type story of the bad boy dating the virgin as part of a bet, only to fall for her. The double feature begins at 8 p.m. Presale tickets ($12) include your first drink; $15 at the door. Oh, and there will be Pop-Tarts, too. (You'll understand why after the first movie.)

Saturday, June 1

Returning for its eighth year is the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival, through June 6. Opening night is a gala at the WGA Theater with appetizers from Lenny's Deli starting at 7:30 p.m. The show begins with the Los Angeles premiere of Putzel, “a contemporary fable” about a man who wants to take over his family's fish store. A Q&A with some of the creatives will follow the screening, along with a dessert reception. All this can be yours for $40, or you can watch it without the yummies on Monday at Laemmle's Town Center 5 at 7:30 p.m. (Q&A still included).

The rest of the films in the festival will be at the Laemmle theaters, including documentaries that give an intimate look into the lives of Roman Polanski (Roman Polanski: A Memoir), Johnny Cash and his manager (My Father and the Man in Black) and Jewish-American comedians (When Comedy Went to School).

Monday, June 3

Concluding the American Cinematheque's Shakespeare film series is a sneak preview of Joss Whedon's contemporary version of Much Ado About Nothing at 7:30 p.m. at the Aero Theatre. (See our feature story on Whedon.) Whedon will be in attendance for a post-screening discussion. You must be a member of American Cinematheque to attend this free, special event.

Otherwise, you can see it (also for free) at USC's Ray Stark Family Theater on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Instead of Whedon, it will be co-producer/editor Daniel S. Kaminsky present for a Q&A.

Wednesday, June 5

YouTube or improv theater crowds may recognize the Apple Sisters, a comedy trio who market themselves as “a 1940s radio show with a modern twist.” They sing, they dance and they make people laugh with a combination of live performances and online shorts. At 8 p.m. at the Oh My Ribs! Theater, these ladies host the world premiere of their comedy shorts Ring! Ring! Ring! (with Paul F. Tompkins and Bayne Gibby) and Manhattan Mixup (with Jason Ritter, Eliza Coupe, Rich Sommer and others). Also: live screenings of their other comedy shorts, outtakes and more.

See also:

*More L.A. Weekly Film Coverage

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