Thursday: If you're in an adventurous mood and like short-form movies, the Twin Cities independent film company Marty Doogin Arts presents the theatrical premiere of "El Gran Pistolero" and "Bookman." They belong to the category of indie films inspired by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, in which young men carry large handguns, glower at one another and spit clipped, existential dialogue. "Pistolero," which runs 22 minutes, is a modern day western in which three young gunslingers face off against a strange drifter who calls himself the Coyote Kid.
There is no attempt to disguise the fact it was shot in small-town Minnesota; the church signboards and minivans cruising by in the background give the macho staredowns a weird dissonance. Chris Cummings, who plays the trigger-happy enigma, is evidently a big Lee Van Cleef fan. He also plays the title character in "Bookman," a 20-minute sketch about a spiritual bounty hunter collecting souls for Lucifer in present-day New York. His final assignment should satisfy his contract, but like they say, the Devil is in the details. The films are more assured in terms of editing and visual design than narrative, but it's interesting to see beginning filmmakers spread their wings and take a couple of wobbly trial flights. Besides, if we don't support them at the early stages of their careers, how will those careers flourish? (7:30 p.m. Thu., Oak Street Cinema, 309 SE. Oak St., Mpls. $5.)