Find films easily for FRIDAY FEB 5 through THURSDAY FEB 11.

Okay, so last week's Reel Forecast was ugly - hideous even. I'm having some issues with how best to include as much information as possible with as little clutter. So first things first: I have reformatted the mass of screenings in order to make it easier on the eyes. Any suggestions or comments are welcome. Next: if you care about your planet, your survival and your children, you should probably head over to Cinema du Parc. Collapse premieres tonight and runs all week. Narrated by Michael Ruppert, it's a film that deals in what he calls "conspiracy fact", in which he uses known facts (such as we are past peak oil and demand is rising while supply is diminishing) in an attempt to project the future conflicts that arise from these facts. The results are horrifying, even if it is all (educated) guesswork.

Really obscure films for FRIDAY JAN 29 through THURSDAY FEB 4.

Alfred Hitchcock leaves town this week (figuratively). You have until February 7th to check out the video installation at the Cinémathèque québécoise. Entitled "Looking for Alfred" and presented by Johan Grimonprez, the presentation explores the idea of the double-take, mixing in footage of the filmmaker's brief appearances in his own films, as well as others interpreting the director. Two films are also being screened as part of this exhibition: Dial H-I-S-T-O-R-Y and Double Take. Speaking of double takes: the key word this week is free. Oftentimes people complain about big prices for movie tickets, but if you look carefully at this (and every) week's listings, there are plenty of options for folks trying to save a few pennies.

(Attn: Spoilers)

Saturday, a pal and I shambled our frozen little selves this way and that around St. Henri, eventually ending up at the Centre St-Ambroise to see an 8:30 p.m. screening of The Room. We discovered that the best way to conquer the cold of Montreal's winter nights (aside from a steaming heap of poutine, of course) is by laughing uncontrollably (read: obnoxiously) and hurling a rather shameful amount of plastic spoons at a projection screen.

Veg with quality film screenings for FRIDAY JAN 22 through THURSDAY JAN 28.

Less is more this week. The volume of screenings available for Montréalers (edit: citizens of the urban community of Montréal) may be low, but is more than made up for by a good mix of old classics and modern-day international hits. Oldies include Jean-Luc Godard's À bout de souffle, Milos Forman's Loves of a Blonde and John Ford's Fort Apache. Foreign contemporaries include Haneke's The White Ribbon, and the Israeli animated comedy $9.99 (pictured above). If this mainstream celluloid is too much for you elitists then check out the Glauber Rocha retrospective starting this Friday at the Cinémathèque québecoise. This wide array of films deals primarily with issues of politics and religion in Brazil.

A cat's supper of film screenings for FRIDAY JAN 15 through THURSDAY JAN 21.

However did you find film screenings last week without me? Surely you didn't skip the usual suspects of repertory cinema houses in lieu of Leap Year (the by-the-books romcom with blue/green-screen Irish scenery... location shooting is so last decade). Start off the week with the Maria de Medeiros film retrospective at Cinémathèque québécoise. She starred alongside Uma Thurman in the steamy Henry and June, they were then reunited (though in divergent storylines) in Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. Both films will be screened this week, as will Maddin's The Saddest Music in the World, Capitaines d'Avril, Babel, and L'homme de ma vie. Those unfamiliar with the Portugese actress may want to Google her over a plate of hot blueberry pancakes.

A new year of film screenings for FRIDAY JAN 1 through THURSDAY JAN 7.

2009 saw the passing of two very influential Québecois directors: Gilles Carles, and the more controversial Pierre Falardeau. Falardeau, a solid backer of the separatist movement in the province, transferred his culture and politics to film. His Elvis Gratton persona is a cult favourite and spawned three full-length films. His other directorial efforts such as Octobre and 15 février 1839 found more recognition in film circles as potent anti-Federalist historical documents. The Cinémathèque québécoise will be running a retrospective of Falardeau's films. Ironically, 2009 marks his last television appearance on the "Les Boys" series, the same year that Xavier Dolan marked his first appearance as actor and director with the Cannes hit I Killed My Mother. The film is once again screening at Cinema du Parc, but this time with a limited time 2-for-1 ticket offer. This week allows a rare opportunity to catch a personality from the past and likely future of Québecois film.

Slim film pickings for FRIDAY DEC 18 through THURSDAY DEC 24

The repertoire cinemas in Montréal ease up on their offerings, with literally nothing of note playing after this weekend (sort of makes me glad to be away). On the brightside, filmgoers with little to do during this period can catch up on what are being touted as the best films of the year by awards ceremonies and film critics. I've prepared a quick-and-dirty list for where you can see the 'best picture' hopefuls. There will be no post next week, but check back on New Year's Day.

Escape the cold: our film picks for FRIDAY DEC 11 through THURSDAY DEC 17

Two weeks ago on November 28th, Québecois filmmaker Gilles Carle passed away. He was 80 years old. The director of internationally reknowned hits such as La Vie heureuse de Léopold Z (1965) and La Vraie Nature de Bernadette (1972) is the subject of the latest tribute series at Cinéma du Parc. Alongisde the aforementioned films are three other Carle classics to be enjoyed on the big screen. Runs from Saturday to Thursday.

Premiering at the AMC this Friday are two films making waves for the upcoming awards seasons. Up in the Air by Jason Reitman (Juno) stars George Clooney as a corporate hatchet man facing his own medicine. Invictus is Clint Eastwood's latest and stars Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela. It retells the true story of how the triumph of the South African rugby team helped mend racial divides.

Film oases for FRIDAY DEC 4 through THURSDAY DEC 10

FRIDAY (Premiere) / H2OIL (dir. Shannon Walsh, 2009) / 76 min.
You owe it to yourself to check out Shannon Walsh's latest flick opening tonight at Cinema Parallele (once known as Ex-Centris). It's a rude awakening to all Canadians who believe we are among the most environmentally progressive countries out there. The truth hurts. While the film does not mention it, we emit (per capita) the most greenhouse gas emissions of any developed nation, and the tar sands projects are one of the major contributors. H2Oil asks the important question: whether the unfettered development needed to extract oil is worth more than the gallons of fresh water such an undertaking consumes. More on this film in the coming days. Cinema Parallele / 3536 boul. St. Laurent / 2:45, 6:00 Starts Friday / $8-11 More info

What if I told you $10 could get a film, a music performance, free condoms and a $6 threesome? No? Okay - what if I told you all proceeds would go to Head & Hands for HIV/AIDS awareness? Ah, now you're listening. Cinema l'Amour is celebrating forty years of selling $1 kleenexes to its clientele. To mark the occasion and to attract a new generation of sexploitation film fans, it's having a 9pm-midnight party this Wednesday. So begins a new dawn for one of Montreal's oldest theatres.

Off-the-beaten-path films for FRIDAY NOV 27 through THURSDAY DEC 3

FRIDAY / L'ATLANTIDE (dir. Jacques Feyder, 1921) / 180 min.
The story of two military officers who get lost in the Saharan desert and find the lost city of Atlantis. Projected on screen in 35mm, this silent film will be accompanied live by pianist Roman Zavada, as was done in days of old. This fantasy epic is known for being one of the first shot entirely on location. Director Feyder spent 8 months in Algeria and in the desert. Cinematheque Quebecoise / 335 De Maisonneuve East / 4pm / $6-7 More info

FRIDAY-SATURDAY / ROMANCE (dir. Guel Arraes, 2008) / 100 min.
Part of the 3rd annual Brazil Film Festival (Nov. 27th-Dec. 3rd). Not to be confused with Catherine Breillat's 1999 snore-fest of the same name, this Brazilian film seems to be a more tame story about sex and love. A couple sharing a passionate romance playing Tristan+Isolde on stage do not seem to be able to replicate the same passion for each other off-stage. Jealousy and fun film sex ensues. Cinema du Parc / 3575 Parc Ave. / 9pm / $5-10 More info

If a movie can be best remembered or summed up by its final words, director Roland Emmerich's 2012 literally alludes to itself as being a piece of dung. This is not the beginning of a beautiful friendship, nor is it the stuff that dreams are made of. What it is: a great evening of comedy entertainment, and perhaps fodder for your own Mystery Science Theater 3000. Like a night out at the circus, or watching any combination of reality shows at primetime, do not expect the 2012 experience to enrich you in any way. It is pure spectacle - spectacle that will be obsolete by 2013, whether the world comes to an end or not.