A Man's A Man by Bertold Brecht

Odyssey Theater, West Los Angeles, Calif.

The Tale of Despereaux (2008)

Cinemark at the Pike, Long Beach, Calif.
The story meanders and drags, only eventually coming together; there's bit of "Ratatouille," a dollop of "Shrek," and a pinch of "The Secret of NIMH," but at least it's amazing to look at.

A Christmas Story (1983)

Aero Theater, Santa Monica, Calif.
Narrated and based on short stories by the great radio man Jean Shepherd.

Newspapers R.I.P.

Sam Zell has bankrupted the Tribune Co., the Christian Science Monitor is literally stopping the presses, going online only, and the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News are likely to do the same.