A portrait of excess, painted in many moods

The Slamdance Film Festival joins with the American Cinematheque in presenting “Rockets Redglare!,” tonight’s Alternative Screen offering at the Egyptian.

When Rockets, born Michael Morra, says “Everything I ever liked I did to excess,” he’s definitely not exaggerating. Emerging as a stand-up comic in the Lower Manhattan club scene of the 1980s, he became an actor and appeared in numerous independent features and the occasional mainstream movie. He had no trouble winning admirers and friends, such as Willem Dafoe, Steve Buscemi and Matt Dillon, director Jim Jarmusch and artist-director Julian Schnabel, or pursuing countless women, but was plagued with an epic eating disorder and equally monumental substance abuse problems.

Rockets comes across as brilliant, funny and outrageous as he is self-destructive. Born to a 15-year-old heroin addict who was murdered by a lover, a brutal junkie ex-boxer, Morra grew up in an abusive atmosphere surrounded by criminals. In his early 20s, Morra was handsome and at normal weight, but soon his passion for wretched excess took over. But as documentarian Luis Fernandez de la Reguera explores Morra’s life, it becomes as obvious to Rockets as to the viewer that he can’t last forever on his seesaw existence. He longs for either peace or oblivion, and doesn’t kid himself that oblivion will be the likely winner.

The unwanted

The Laemmle Theaters’ current Around the World in 60 Days weekend series hits it stride Jacques Doillon’s engaging yet deeply disturbing “Petit Freres.” As edgy a director as ever, Doillon follows feisty 13-year-old Talia Oberfeld (Stephanie Touly) as she leaves home, an apartment in Paris’ Belleville district, to seek refuge with her friend Gerald, who lives in Pantin, a suburb of projects inhabited by poor blacks and Arabs. When it turns out that Gerald has been placed in a foster home, she falls in with a group of his friends who refer to themselves as petit freres, rendered “little fellas” in subtitles, to distinguish themselves from big fellas.

In reality, they are juvenile delinquents whose age restricts them to petty crime. Gerald’s pals have immediate designs on Kim, but the eldest, Ilies (Ilies Sefraoui), is attracted to Talia, which ignites a spark of decency in him.

Doillon somehow managed to gain the trust of these youngsters, who allowed him into their world and gave stunningly unself-conscious portrayals. These youngsters lead a tribal existence in which the notion of right and wrong is for the most part a luxury.

“Petit Freres” is a textbook example of the simple, straightforward power of revelation, for Doillon leaves it entirely to the viewer to ponder the plight of these youngsters.

Newsreel

The American Cinematheque will present a 25th anniversary screening of Philip Noyce’s memorable “Newsfront” on Tuesday at the Egyptian. This wonderful, inspired Australian film pays tribute to the men who risked their lives as newsreel cameramen. Set between 1948 and 1956, when television was about to put the theatrical newsreel out of business, “Newsfront” superbly evokes its era and deftly incorporates vintage newsreel in its fictional drama.

With straightforward sentiment, scope and bravura, “Newsfront” cuts to the bitter core of postwar anti-Communist hysteria and has much to say about the values people live by and the choices they make. Above all, it’s a gallant depiction of people who love their work. Noyce will appear afterward.

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Screenings

“Rockets Redglare!”

Today, 7:30 p.m., Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. (323) 461-FILM.

“Petit Freres”

Saturday and Sunday, Fairfax Cinemas, 7907 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 655-4010; Aug. 23-24 at the Monica 4-Plex, 1332 2nd St., Santa Monica, (310) 394-9741; Aug. 30-31 and Sept. 1, Playhouse 7, 673 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 844-6500; and Sept. 6-7 at the Fallbrook 7, West Hills, (818) 340-8710. All at 11 a.m.

“Newsfront”

Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. (323) 461-FILM. Also: short Australian films, Wednesday, 7:15 p.m.