Today's Top Stop: Short Attention Span Theater

Map It:  Metro Center 

EVERY MAGAZINE has a Summer Film Preview issue, but none of them begin by bellowing the words, "In a world" in your ear. That's where the Coming Attractions Trailer Night steps in. The summer 2006 edition of D.C. Film Society's semi-annual trailerama features teases from much-anticipated upcoming flicks as "The DaVinci Code," "The Devil Wears Prada," "X-Men III," "The Omen," "A Prairie Home Companion," "Nacho Libre" (that's star Jack Black at right), "Over the Hedge," "Clean" and lots more.

"It's a nice mix of the sort of Hollywood films and the smaller art-house films," said Film Society director Michael Kyrioglou.

The great thing about trailers is all you see are the good parts, none of those boring bits with romance and conversation and other get-more-popcorn moments. Also, trailers’ biggest weakness is the most valuable asset for Coming Attractions -- they tell you the whole dang story. But the CA audience is as up for the bad as they are the bad.

"We always have a lively, no-holds barred discussion where people are praiseful where warranted and critical and biting about what they're watching and booing," said Kyrioglou. It's an interactive affair. "We group them by theme -- not just the obvious ones like comedy or action, but also there can be a bird theme, and a movie with flying in it. Also, we hand out scorecards and people can rate the trailers; then we post them on our Web site.

Local film critics Joe Barber and Bill Henry of dcmovieguys.com once again shoulder hosting duties. "Basically, they try to find two yahoos to interrupt the trailers and yammer on," Henry said. Well, not really. "We try to move things along and give people a chance to voice their opinions about the trailers in question. It's really more about them enjoying it."

For $8, you save a whole season's worth of $20 nights on the town. There will also be film giveaways, movie posters, five-buck snack combos and other fun stuff. Tickets are available at the door beginning at 6 p.m.; get there early because a whole lot of other people want to be the first to make fun of Tom Hanks' weird "DaVinci Code" hair.
Landmark E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW; 7-9 p.m., $8 (Metro Center)

This post was written by Express' Arion Berger
Image courtesy Paramount Pictures

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