Our first Volunteer Of The Month pick is from Preston, who has chosen the pitch-black Martin McDonagh comedy In Bruges!
A darkly hilarious meditation on guilt, redemption, and very bad timing, In Bruges is a foul-mouthed fairy tale for sinners. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are two hitmen hiding out in a postcard-perfect Belgian city, waiting for orders and wrestling with their consciences.
McDonagh’s feature debut balances razor-sharp dialogue, brutal violence, and unexpected heart—walking the tightrope between tragedy and comedy with bloody precision. Beautiful, profane, and weirdly poignant.
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Frida Cinema Film Club Members are invited to join us for a special 40th anniversary screening of Albert Brooks’ Lost In America!
David and Linda Howard are successful yuppies from LA. When he gets a job disappointment, David convinces Linda that they should quit their jobs, liquidate their assets, and emulate the movie Easy Rider, spending the rest of their lives traveling around America…in a Winnebago.
Not a member yet? Sign up here at: https://thefridacinema.org/memberships/
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Anchor Bay is bringing more independent cinema to The Frida as they present a special screening Amanda and Michael A. Drexton’s new film Sour Party! And stick around after the film for a discussion with the filmmakers themselves!
Sour Party follows Gwen and James, two broke, flailing 30-somethings on a quest to scrounge money from a collection of checkered characters from their past in an attempt to show up to a baby shower with a proper gift.
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Celebrate the endlessly quotable Clue as it marks its 40th anniversary with a special three night limited engagement at The Frida Cinema!
Based on the classic board game, Clue follows six colorful characters—each with their own dark secrets—who gather at the eerie mansion of Mr. Boddy. When he turns up dead, it’s up to the guests (and the audience) to figure out who did it, with what weapon, and in which room. Directed by Jonathan Lynn and starring an all-star cast including Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, and Michael McKean, Clue combines slapstick humor, clever dialogue, and a plethora of twists and turns that keep audiences guessing and laughing from start to finish.
Though initially a box office disappointment, Clue has since become a cult classic, praised for its rapid-fire comedy, outrageous performances, and multiple endings that let viewers experience the mystery from different angles. Which ending will you get?
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Our official Santa Ana Pride afterparty this year is the hilarious early-aughts satire on the superficiality of the music industry: Josie and the Pussycats!
The film follows Josie (Rachael Leigh Cook), Melody (Tara Reid), and Valerie (Rosario Dawson), three small-town girls who form a rock band and get swept up in the glitzy world of fame, where they discover the dark undercurrents of the music industry. As they rise to stardom, they find themselves being manipulated by an all-powerful corporation that’s using their music to influence the minds of consumers. Oh, and did we mention the villain is played by none other than Miss Parker Posey? And who doesn’t love Alan Cumming!?
Though initially dismissed as a bubblegum teen comedy, Josie and the Pussycats has since gone on to become a cult classic, still electrifying audiences over two decades since its release!
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Our 21st Century Cult series takes a walk on the sardonic side with Ghost World, a sharp, offbeat coming-of-age comedy that perfectly captures the awkwardness and disillusionment of post-high school life.
The film follows Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson), two cynical teenagers who, after graduating from high school, struggle to find their place in a world they no longer feel a part of. As they drift apart, Enid forms an unlikely friendship with Seymour (Steve Buscemi), a lonely, middle-aged record collector whose life is as offbeat and awkward as hers. As the film explores their evolving relationships, it paints a poignant portrait of the tension between the comfort of nostalgia and the uncertainty of moving forward.
Based on the graphic novel by Daniel Clowes, Ghost World is a witty and deeply introspective film that resonates with anyone who’s ever felt out of sync with the world around them.
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Our 4/20 Weekend takes a colorful turn as we presented the oft-maligned 2003 live-action version of The Cat In The Hat!
During a rainy day, and while their mother is out, Conrad and Sally, and their pet fish, are visited by the mischievous Cat in the Hat. Fun soon turns to mayhem, and the siblings must figure out how to rid themselves of the maniacal Cat.
Directed by Bo Welch (Production Designer on Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands) and shot by Emmanuel Lubezki (Children Of Men, Gravity, The Revenant, The Tree Of Life, Birdman), The Cat In The Hat was largely panned by critics upon its release despite its all-star cast, with many criticizing the film for not capturing the magic and whimsy of Dr. Seuss’s original story. But as we all know, cats have nine lives, and we’re willing to try to give it one more!
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Continue celebrating our 4/20 Weekend at The Frida with David Byrne’s True Stories from 1986!
A small but growing Texas town, filled with strange and musical characters, celebrates its sesquicentennial and converge on a local parade and talent show.
Directed by and starring David Byrne of Talking Heads, True Stories is a borderline-experimental film that has gradually gained recognition as a cult classic over the years. Its reputation, while not as widely known as some major mainstream films of the era, has steadily grown, particularly for its quirky blend of humor and social commentary. Oh…and did we mention it has an amazing soundtrack?
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Our 4/20 Weekend keeps on groovin with Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2021 coming-of-age dramedy Licorice Pizza!
The story follows Gary Valentine and Alana Kane, two young people growing up, running around, and going through the treacherous navigation of first love in the San Fernando Valley in 1973.
Licorice Pizza was hailed as one of the best films of 2021. It earned a number of nominations and awards, including three Academy Award nominations (Best Picture, Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson, and Best Original Screenplay). Critics praised its direction, screenplay, and the performances of its leads, Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman. The film’s blend of humor, charm, awesome soundtrack, and tender moments stood out and was exactly what film fans wanted post-Pandemic lockdown.
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Celebrate 30 years of F Gary Gray’s comedy classic Friday, the opening film of our 4/20 Weekend!
The film follows Craig and Smokey, two guys in Los Angeles hanging out on their porch on a Friday afternoon, smoking and drinking, looking for something to do. That’s it. That’s the plot!
Friday has become a beloved cult film and certified Frida Cinema favorite, known for its specific portrayal of life in South Central Los Angeles, and mixing humor with social commentary. The film’s dialogue and characters, especially the laid-back protagonist Craig (played by Ice Cube) and the eccentric Smokey (played by Chris Tucker), have left a lasting impact on pop culture, with memorable quotes that are often repeated in everyday conversations. Bye Felicia!
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