Naturally we’re all a little preoccupied with SIFF these days, but it’s worth noting that even outside the festival there are still some great films playing in Seattle.

Over at the Grand Illusion, seriously one of the best places in Seattle to see a film, they’re offering the Seattle premiere of Woman on the Beach, director Hong Sang-Soo’s 2006 romantic comedy that gives the genre a fresh spin with a strong flavoring of sardonic humor. Filmmaker Joong-rae decides to fight his writer’s block by taking a trip to the beach with his buddy and his buddy’s girlfriend. A secret fling sends Joong-rae into an agony of indecision which he attempts to resolve with a second fling with a new woman who looks an awful lot like the first. During the ensuing mayhem, he manages to find the inspiration to continue his film. Daily from Friday, May 30 through Thursday, June 5.

Late night at the Grand Illusion this weekend check out The Being, a horror film from the 80’s with a who’s who of 70s B, C and Z listers including Marianne Gordon, Jose Ferrer, Ruth Buzzi, and The Unknown Comic, plus a co-starring slot for Martin Landau. Mark your calendar now for next weekend’s showing of He-Man & She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword.

Central Cinema gives you Modesty Blaise, a campy satire of the James Bond school of spy films, based on the comic series of the same title that is rather humorous, both intentionally and not.

Silent Movie Mondays return to the Paramount Theater with a Douglas Fairbanks Festival that starts June 2 at 7:00 pm with 1919’s When the Clouds Roll By. Fairbanks’ swashbuckling on-screen persona stands the test of time–his adventure films are still exciting and fun to watch. If you’ve never seen a film at the Paramount, you’re missing a real treat. The Paramount is absolutely one of the best places in town to see a film and Dennis James on the Wurlitzer organ is an experience not to be missed. I especially recommend Silent Movie Mondays for families with kids who are capable of sitting quietly through a film; kids are impressed to learn that movies that are even older than their grandparents are still really fun to watch.

Related posts:

1. Weekend Film Agenda: the non-SIFF edition
2. Weekend Film Agenda
3. Weekend Film Agenda
4. Weekend Film Agenda plus
5. Weekend Film Agenda