It's a rare work of art that's best appreciated by not seeing it — Gysin's Dreamachine comes to mind, as do any given episodes of Mark Valley's late, lamented TV series Human Target. In that rarefied tradition, tonight L.A. Filmforum screens Andy Warhol's legendary 1963 debut film SLEEP in all its five-hour, 16mm, all-night glory. SLEEP isn't just five hours of one static shot of ur-poet John Giorno snoozing — it's actually Giorno's slumber as shot from different angles and during different times, evidence of which repeats and runs circles around an ordinary cinematic viewing experience, duration notwithstanding. Imagine a cross between Christian Marclay's 24-hour film The Clock and the night sequences of Paranormal Activity and you'll get an idea of what kind of transcendent tedium to expect. The screening ends at 6 a.m., and viewers/sleepers are urged to bring pillows and otherwise get comfortable because, in the immortal words of Lionel Richie, it's all night long. Human Resources, 410 Cottage Home St., Chinatown; Sat., Nov. 16, 11:59 p.m.; $10, $6 students (Filmforum members free). (213) 290-4752, humanresourcesla.com.

Sat., Nov. 16, 2013

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