SMART LIST
Tweens will talk about: “Spectacular”
Nolan Gerard Funk (yes, Funk) is coming after you, Zac. In Nickelodeon’s original movie musical, the soon-to-be heartthrob plays a too-cool rocker who gets kicked out of his band only to be approached to join the school’s show choir. His teardown of jazz hands ensues. Nick wants the cool kids. Disney can have Vanessa Hudgens. (Monday)
--
Waiting for “Project Runway” to come back? You can talk about: “Eleven Minutes”
The feature documentary follows Jay McCarroll, the eccentric winner of the first season of “Project Runway,” as he scrambles to produce a collection for New York’s spring 2007 Fashion Week. Dated, but I still love my bright McCarroll bowling-bag-style purse and his story should tide you over until the show’s sixth season premieres. (Friday)
--
Maybe you’ll talk about: M. Ward
More goods from the indie folk singer-songwriter, now best known for She & Him, his collaboration with Zooey Deschanel. The “She” guest stars on his latest disc, “Hold On,” along with Lucinda Williams and the Decemberists’ Rachel Blumberg. The music dude who sits next to me likens Ward to a lost AM radio: “timeless folk pop.” If you agree that’s a good thing, get excited.(Tuesday)
--
We can’t help but talk about: “Changeling” on DVD
Is it Clint Eastwood’s best film? Not by a long shot. But the true story of a mother (played in the film by Angelina Jolie) in 1928 Los Angeles whose son goes missing is a tale so sad and twisted it’s difficult to remember that it’s not the product of some screenwriter’s imagination. (Tuesday)
--
Chances are, you want to talk about: “The Neverending Story”
Because you probably missed seeing Atreyu ride Falkor, the flying luck dragon, on the big screen. You probably watched Bastian and the Childlike Empress battle the Nothing on a dinky 14-inch. Now, finally, you can watch Wolfgang Petersen’s at-times bizarre 1984 fantasy about the looming end of fairy tales. Be at Santa Monica’s Aero Theatre at 4 p.m. with $9 in hand. (Today)
-- Denise Martin
