With Hollywood’s award season fast approaching and the 23rd annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival right around the corner, there’s no better time than now to grab a friend and head out to the movies. And with alternative organizations like HopeDance and UCSB’s Arts & Lectures bringing us impressive rosters of thoughtful documentaries, and spots like the Ojai Playhouse and I.V.’s Magic Lantern Theater playing host to a slew of theatrical goodies you may have missed the first time around-all for cheaper-than-movie-theater prices-it seems more fitting than ever to encourage our fellow Santa Barbarans to sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
Deep Water
This documentary tells the story of the monumental-and disastrous-first solo, around-the-world yacht race in 1968. The film showcases the nightmarish conditions and psychological demons the competitors faced during what was supposed to be a nine-month journey on the high seas.
Thu., Jan. 10, 7:30pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Call 893-3535 or visit artsandlectures.sa.ucsb.edu.
Meeting Resistance
An inside look into Baghdad’s resistance forces, this documentary follows eight insurgents as they explain their day-to-day lives, goals, and psychological motivations.
Wed., Jan. 16, 7pm. Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara Central Library, 40 E. Anapamu St. Call 544-9663 or visit hopedance.org.
The King of Kong
This documentary explores the competitive relationship between the two contenders for the title of Donkey Kong World Champion, as well as the dynamics of the extreme video game enthusiast’s world.
Sun., Jan. 20, 4:30pm. Ojai Playhouse, 145 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. Visit filmsociety.ojai.net.
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars
The true-life story of a group of men who come together to form a band while living in an African refugee camp during the ongoing civil war proves the unifying power of music.
Tue., Jan. 22, 7:30pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Call 893-3535 or visit artsandlectures.sa.ucsb.edu.
Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony
Interviews with Walter Cronkite and Nelson Mandela are combined with archival footage to tell the story of the struggle against South African apartheid.
Tue., Jan. 22, 9pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Call 893-3535 or visit artsandlectures.sa.ucsb.edu.
Into the Wild
Directed by Sean Penn and based on the true story and bestselling book by Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild tells the tale of Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), who graduates college at the top of his class only to donate his life savings to charity and decide to hitchhike to Alaska.
Wed., Jan 23, 7:30pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Call 893-3535 or visit artsandlectures.sa.ucsb.edu.
Michael Clayton
George Clooney produces and stars in the tale of a high- profile New York lawyer whose family woes and personal problems leave him miserable and disillusioned. When a multimillion-dollar case becomes too much for his fellow attorney to bear, he must find the strength to carry the settlement to conclusion.
Fri., Jan. 25, 7 and 10pm. I.V. Theater, 960 Embarcadero del Norte, Isla Vista. Visit myspace.com/magiclantern.
Velvet Goldmine
Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Christian Bale star in Todd Haynes’s 1998 film exploring gender, sexuality, and changing social norms through the story of a fictional ’70s glam rock superstar named Brian Slade.
Fri., Jan. 25, 2pm. UCSB’s IHC Seminar Room, 6056 HSSB. Visit ihc.csb.edu.
Lust, Caution
Academy Award-winner Ang Lee directs this story of a group of patriotic Chinese students who plot to assassinate a prominent Japanese leader during World War II. Tang Wei plays the beautiful first-year student the group recruits as sexual bait. Based on the short story by Eileen Chang.
Thu., Jan. 31, 7:30pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Call 893-3535 or visit artsandlectures.sa.ucsb.edu.
My Kid Could Paint That
This documentary questions how we value art by examining the real-life story of a four-year-old girl whose paintings have been likened to the great works of Pablo Picasso by art critics around the world.
Sun., Feb. 3, 4:30pm. Ojai Playhouse, 145 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. Visit filmsociety.ojai.net.
American Gangster
When a leading 1970s mob boss dies suddenly, his driver (Denzel Washington) sees it as the perfect opportunity to make his mark on the Manhattan drug trade. Russell Crowe stars as the detective who sets out to stop his well-planned game.
Fri., Feb. 8, 7 and 10pm. I.V. Theater, 960 Embarcadero del Norte, Isla Vista. Visit myspace.com/magiclantern.
Pete Seeger: The Power of Song
Jim Brown’s informative-yet-artsy documentary about the legendary folk musician and the impact he had on society also features interviews with fellow artists Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.
Sun., Feb. 10, 4:30pm. Ojai Playhouse, 145 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai. Visit filmsociety.ojai.net.
What Would Jesus Buy?
Morgan Spurlock’s documentary about the commercialization of Christmas follows Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir as they traverse the country and expose big-box businesses for their use of sweatshops.
Sun., Feb. 17, 4:30pm. Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara Central Library, 40 E. Anapamu St. Call 544-9663 or visit hopedance.org.
Enchanted
Amy Adams stars as the animated princess turned real-life lady who is banished to the mean streets of Manhattan when she upsets her kingdom’s evil queen (Susan Sarandon). Patrick Dempsey also stars.
Fri., Feb. 22, 7 and 10pm. I.V. Theater, 960 Embarcadero del Norte, Isla Vista. Visit myspace.com/magiclantern.
¡Salud!
This fascinating documentary takes a look inside the thriving Cuban health system in an attempt to gain understanding and knowledge about the realities of acquiring universal healthcare.
Mon., Feb. 25, 7:30pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Call 893-3535 or visit artsandlectures.sa.ucsb.edu.
Tocar y Luchar
This documentary focuses on the social and artistic triumphs made possible by Venezuela’s Youth Orchestra System, a network of orchestras that, since its inception, has trained some of the world’s most widely recognized classical musicians.
Mon., Feb. 25, 7pm. Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara Central Library, 40 E. Anapamu St. Call 544-9663 or visit hopedance.org.
No Country for Old Men
The Coen brothers take on Cormac McCarthy’s novel about a hunter (Josh Brolin) who stumbles upon corpses, cash, and a stash of heroin near the Rio Grande.
Fri., Mar. 7, 7 and 10pm. I.V. Theater, 960 Embarcadero del Norte, Isla Vista. Visit myspace.com/magiclantern.