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Oddballs, Events, & Rep

The Animation Show SEE THE WIRE, WEDNESDAY (NR)

Busting Out Directors Francine Strickwerda, who lost her mother to breast cancer at a young age, and Laurel Spellman Smith explore the history and politics of breast obsession in the U.S. in this 2005 documentary. Keystone Church, 5019 Keystone Place N., www.meaningfulmovies.org. Free. 7 p.m. Fri. Jan. 19.

Deathstalker This Conan the Barbarian rip-off from 1983 follows the title character on his mission to save a princess and kick ass in a warrior tournament. Grand Illusion, 1403 N.E. 50th St., 523-3935. $2.50-$5. 11 p.m. Fri. Jan. 19-Sat. Jan. 20.

Drugstore Cowboy Gus Van Sant’s druggy, larky 1989 criminal picaresque is like Bonnie and Clyde on Quaaludes. Here, the Bonnie figure is the fabulous Kelly Lynch, and man does she fill Faye Dunaway’s shoes! “You won’t fuck me, and I always have to drive,” she protests to her apathetic addict boyfriend (Matt Dillon, no Warren Beatty, but give him credit for not trying). Their early-’70s Northwest gang of petty thieves and losers is rounded out by James Le Gros and a young Heather Graham (before she became Heather Graham). A craven, ghostly William S. Burroughs appears at the end to caution our hero that there’s only one way the story can end. Yet Cowboy refuses to turn tragic, as Van Sant’s deadpan comedy and trippy skies make the film a funny, melancholy elegy for an era when drug abuse almost seemed innocent and fun. (NR) BRIAN MILLER Egyptian, 801 E. Pine St., 206-781-5755. $6-$9.25. Midnight. Fri. Jan. 19-Sat. Jan. 20.

A Foreign Affair SAM’s salute to Billy Wilder continues in Montlake with this sterling postwar satire of American do-good intentions crumbling in the rubble of Berlin. Jean Arthur stars as a naïve congresswoman who falls for a soldier (John Lund) involved with various underground activities. Chief among them, of course, is the ex-Nazi café singer played by Marlene Dietrich. In addition to using old background footage from the film, Steven Soderbergh’s The Good German borrows more than a few themes from Wilder, though less artfully arranged. Note: Advance tickets also at Scarecrow Video; some day-of-show tickets may also be available at the door. Owing to inclement weather, last week’s screening of Double Indemnity was cancelled. The make-up screening will be at MoHaI 7:30 p.m. Tues. Jan. 23. (NR) BRIAN MILLER Museum of History and Industry, 2700 24th Ave. E, 654-3121, www.seattleartmuseum.org. $58-65 (series), Call for individual price. 7:30 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 18.

Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes This documentary’s Seattle premiere is part of the Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas’ series “Outside the Hype: Exploring the Representations of Black Males in Society.” It takes a look at rap’s development—and the conceptions of manhood, sexism, and homophobia in its culture—through the eyes of an active fan. A panel discussion and performances from Melissa Green, Rajnii Eddins, and Gabriel Teodros follow the film. Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., 206-267-5380. Free, but RSVP to rsvp@communitycinemaseattle.org or 1-800-930-6060. 4 p.m. Sat. Jan. 20.

Paradise Now This 2005 film is guaranteed to make viewers very uncomfortable, regardless about how they feel about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which side is more aggrieved by the other, and whether a likable pair of slackers—an Arabic Mutt and Jeff—should be taken seriously in their political convictions. Their decision to clean up and don suicide vests (hidden by Reservoir Dog-ish suits) is a shock: We never see the decision; it was evidently a promise made long ago. Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad (Rana’s Wedding) isn’t endorsing suicide bombers, of course, and there’s no requirement that he criticize the logic (or lack thereof) behind their actions. He normalizes it, however, makes it inseparable from his own political sentiments. Says one bomber, “A life without dignity is worthless.” But so is a life spent killing innocents on a bus. He makes his point and refutes it at the same instant he presses the detonator. (NR) BRIAN MILLER West Seattle Public Library, Admiral Branch, 2306 42nd Ave. S.W., 938-0224. Free. 2:30 p.m. Sun. Jan. 21.

Search and Rescue Search and Rescue is an ongoing project to present discarded archives of 16mm films, from political propaganda to educational reels and everything in between. They’ve teamed up with the American Library Association Video Round Table for tonight’s discussion and show. Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., 206-267-5380. $8-$10. 8 p.m. Sat. Jan. 21.

To Sleep So As To Dream Kaizo Hayashi’s 1986 homage to Japanese silent cinema has seldom been screened for Western audiences, and isn’t available on DVD or video in the U.S. (not even at Scarecrow!), making this weekend’s presentation a rare opportunity. Sleep‘s mysterious, noir-ish storyline is related through a live score and sound effects by the Aono Jikken Ensemble, along with a benshi (silent film narrator). The benshi’s non-stop vocalization of dialogue and interpretation of content, which developed from traditional Japanese theater, is performed by actor Naho Shioya. Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., 206-267-5380. $8-$10. 7 p.m. Sat. Jan. 20.

VJ Night: Spyscience Every third Thursday, 911 dedicates an evening to talented up-and-coming VJs whose work is shown most regularly in the nightclub scene. Tonight, Spyscience (Tim Weeks) combines stock film and his own footage in live projections, with musical direction by Hyasynth. 911 Media Arts Center, 402 Ninth Ave. N., 682-6552. www.911media.org. 7 p.m. Thurs. Jan. 18.

What the Hell Did I Just Watch Oh The Humanity Productions (“the worst movies on earth!”) presents this comedy video anti-film festival that values laugh factor way over production values. Rendezvous Jewel Box Theatre, 2320 Second Ave., 441-5823. $10. 7 & 8:30 p.m. Sat. Jan. 20.

West Side Story Maria! Maria! Maria! This 1961 take on Romeo and Juliet picked up 10 Oscars and remains a high-water mark for postwar American movie musicals. With a knockout book and score by Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein, the film boasts choreography by Jerome Robbins and a script by Ernest Lehman. We’ll admit that Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer don’t make the most dynamic or believable couple, but with the Sharks and Jets dancing madly around them—who cares? (NR) BRIAN MILLER Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave., 328-3230. $5. 7 p.m. Wed. Jan. 17-Sun. Jan. 21.