She Likes to Watch

Film noir, documentaries playing locally this weekend

Murder, surfing and environmental matters are on the movie menu this weekend.

Salisbury Vineyards’ film noir series ends tonight with “The Postman Always Rings Twice.”

Based on James M. Cain’s terse, brilliant novel, “Postman” has all the elements of a classic crime thriller: a rootless drifter, a beautiful femme fatale and a torrid love affair that leads to murder. The 1946 original, starring John Garfield and Lana Turner as the doomed couple, is expertly crafted and superbly executed.

The screening, which starts at 6:30 p.m., includes dinner, dessert and a private wine tasting at the Avila Valley winery. Salisbury Vineyards is located at 6985 Ontario Road in San Luis Obispo.

Admission is $50 for wine club members and $60 for non-members. That price includes a $10 voucher for beverages and a complimentary wine glass. Part of the proceeds benefit the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival.

For reservations, call 595-9463.

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Missed Thursday’s showing of “One Winter Story”? Lucky for you, there’s a second showing tonight.

Directed by filmmakers Elizabeth Pepin and Sally Lundburg, the documentary follows the inspiring story of Cal Poly grad Sarah Gerhardt, who became the first female surfer to tackle Maverick’s in 1999. She’s also a scientist, teacher and mother.

You can check out The Tribune’s profile of Gerhardt here. My fellow blogger, Pat Pemberton, has more details at his blog.

Both Pepin and Gerhardt will attend tonight’s screening, 7 p.m. at La Perla del Mar, 205 Windward Ave. in Shell Beach. The event includes a question-and-answer session.

General admission is $12, with discounts for seniors, students and children under 12.

Call 748-5547 for more details or check out La Perla’s Web site.

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On Saturday, the San Luis Obispo Art Center kicks off its brand-new film series with “The 11th Hour.”

Narrated and produced by Leonardo di Caprio, this documentary examines our planet’s most dire environmental problems — drought, famine, hurricanes, acid rain and record heat — while offering practical solutions. As the tagline proclaims, “11th Hour” aims to “turn mankind’s darkest hour into its finest.”

The movie screening ties into an upcoming art exhibit, “Antarctica: A Global Warning,” which runs Oct. 17 to Nov. 23 in the center’s Gray Wing.

“The 11th Hour” will be shown at 7 p.m. tonight at the San Luis Obispo Art Center, 1010 Broad St. in San Luis Obispo. A $5 donation is suggested for members, $7 for non-members.

The Movie Night series continues with “View From a Grain of Sand” on Nov. 15.

For more information, call 543-8562 or visit www.sloartcenter.org.