She Likes to Watch

Hollywood was right: The future is now

America has a black president.

Our economy is in shambles. Our security is compromised. Our troops are fighting overseas. The entire nation is locked in a culture war, battling over such “moral majority” issues as gay marriage, the environment and home loans.

Welcome to the not-so-distant future.

That proverbial time period has aways been a popular setting for Hollywood. Sometimes “the future” is a cheerful, hopeful utopia. More often, it’s a seemingly perfect solution with one fatal flaw, or a crumbling dystopia with all our current problems magnified and run amuck.

Few films are more future-y than “Southland Tales.”

Written and directed by Richard Kelly, the guy behind cult classic “Donnie Darko,” “Southland Tales” is an odd blend of ensemble comedy, drama, science fiction flick and apocalyptic cautionary tale — complete with musical numbers. Oh yeah. And it stars The Rock.

When a nuclear attack wipes out part of Texas in 2005, America becomes a virtual police state with a nationwide surveillance system keeping tabs on citizens’ every move. A new alternative energy source — generators powered by ocean currents — threatens to slow the Earth’s rotation. Meanwhile, violent extremists in Los Angeles plot to overthrow the federal government.

In the midst of all this madness are Boxer Santaros (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), an amnesiac actor movie star seeking a new project; Krysta Now (Sarah Michelle Gellar), a porn star turned TV pundit; and twin brothers Roland and Ronald Taverner (both played by Seann William Scott) — a Hermosa Beach police officer and a neo-Marxist revolutionary.

Justin Timberlake and Kevin Smith appear as Iraq War veterans, surrounded by a supporting cast that ranges from international stars (Bai Ling) to “Saturday Night Live” sketch comics (Cheri Oteri, Amy Poehler, Jon Lovitz and Janeane Garofalo).

I haven’t seen “Southland Tales” but I have friends who love the 144-minute film (for its wild creativity) and hate it (for its muddled and sprawling story) in equal measure. Draw your own conclusions.

“Southland Tales” plays at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. tonight at the Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $7.50.

Also playing at the Palm Theatre this month:

• “Mad Max” and “The Road Warrior” (Nov. 12)
• “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” (Nov. 19)
• “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (Nov. 26)

“Donnie Darko” is, well, dark

You might describe “Donnie Darko” as an anthem for the maladjusted.

Like the goths, punks and emo kids who love the movie, Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal in a star-making role) is a teenager battling real and imaginary demons — including a giant bunny named Frank.

In school, he argues with his teachers and alienates his fellow students with his weird behavior. At home, his violent schizophrenia comes out in fights with his parents and sisters and talks with his therapist. But Donnie’s imagination is an even more frightening place.

Mixing teen angst with musings about time travel and fate, “Donnie Darko” is a disturbing, fascinating psychological thriller that blurs fantasy and reality. No wonder it’s become a cult favorite.

Watch “Donnie Darko” tonight at The Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. Showtimes are 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.; tickets are $7.50.

***

The popular Palm Wednesday series continues next month with:

• Sept. 3: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” 
• Sept. 10: “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”
• Sept. 17: “The Warriors”
• Sept. 24: “Total Recall” 

Photo courtesy of MovieWeb.com.