Welcome to Weekend Watchlist, a weekly blog where I’ll share my picks for what to check out each weekend at the movies. Horror fans can check out “Insidious: Chapter 2″ this Friday the 13th, but if you’re looking for lighter fare on Saturday and Sunday, check out some suggestions below.
Populaire
Parisian heartthrob Romain Duris stars in this retro French rom-com about a talented typists named Rose whose charismatic boss trains her to compete in a speed typing competition. Expect great costumes, a dynamic leading-lady and some feel-good romance. This candy-colored nod to American films of the 1950s looks charming and light — the perfect dose of escapism for those in need of a study break.
The French Connection
As part of the series, Dark Matter: The Films of William Friedkin, the Pacific Film Archive is showing “The French Connection” on Saturday night. This gritty cop-drama follows a pair of New York City Police as they chase down evil in the form of a French drug lord. “The French Connection” won the Academy Award in 1972 for Best Picture, Best Actor (Gene Hackman) and Best Director (William Friedkin), among others. It’s also said to have one of cinema’s most memorable car chase scenes.
Cult Classics
If CalSO sparked a deep love in your heart for the ‘Time Warp’ dance, you’re in luck.“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is playing at the Albany Twin on Saturday night. This showing includes a live cast who perform along with the film’s musical numbers, so get ready to get weird.
If you’re more into man-eating plants than Transylvanian transvestites, check out 1986’s musical comedy “Little Shop of Horrors” at the New Parkway Theater in Oakland.
Bonus: One Direction: This Is Us-Extended Fan Cut
“This Is Us” offers a glimpse into life on the road with boyband One Direction. The extended cut of the biographical concert film is a whole 20 minutes longer than the regular version. What happens in these previously unseen moments? Do the boys explain what that mysterious “One Thing” is? Do they finally remember how the song they danced to in “Best Song Ever” actually went? Does Harry Styles confess that he saw a certain Daily Cal writer at the Oakland concert, fell in love and has been trying to track her down ever since?
If you see him looking for me, tell him I’m at the movies.