Spike Jonze's Personal Documentarian and Matthew Lillard as a Director: Your Weekly Movie To-Do List

Planet of the Apes

Our weekly list of special event movies to check out this week:

Friday, Sept. 7

Filmmaker Lance Bangs has documented everything from the making of Spike Jonze's films Being John Malkovich and Where the Wild Things Are to Brad and Jen's wedding. For the past 20 years, he has also worked with bands like LCD Soundsystem, Sonic Youth and Belle & Sebastian. How did he land what could possibly be the coolest job in the world? Find out tonight at 8 p.m. from the man himself at Cinefamily's Lance Bangs -- Immortal Volume 1990-2012. Expect a guided tour of his career, as well as a showcase of his short films, concert footage, an excerpt from his forthcoming doc about legendary Kentucky band Slint and a mystery live-music performance.

Sunday, Sept. 9

The film that launched four sequels, a remake and a reboot of a remake, Planet of the Apes tells the story of a time-traveling astronaut who finds himself in a strange planet run by apes. Tonight at 7 p.m., the 1968 classic screens at UCLA's Billy Wilder Theater along with Suspense: Nightmare at Ground Zero, an intriguing 1953 TV drama about an artist who concocts a sinister yet creative way of getting rid of his shrewish wife.

Tuesday, Sept. 11

Tragic stories about orphans are less depressing when told via a musical. Try not to cry into your gruel and enjoy Oliver! at LACMA's Bing Theater. For $4, you get to see the 1968 musical version of the Dickens classic and make English teachers everywhere proud.

If one trip to the Cinefamily this week just doesn't satisfy, attend its free sneak preview of Fat Kid Rules The World tonight at 7:30 p.m. After his tender performance in last year's Sundance hit Terri, Jacob Wysocki is back as an obese misfit who joins a punk band. First-time director Matthew Lillard will do a post-show Q&A. Make sure to register for your free ticket at cinefamily.org.

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