On screen this weekend
"Towelhead"
This edgy, coming-of-age drama, directed by "American Beauty" writer Alan Ball, sports a perfectly pitched performance by Peter Macdissi as a materialistic Christian Lebanese father of a pubescent girl named Jasira (Summer Bishil in a touching, nuanced role). Trapped in an antiseptic Houston suburb, Jasira is abused by her predatory neighbor (Aaron Eckhart), lusted after by classmates, ignored by her narcissistic mom (Maria Bello) and finally protected by a pregnant neighbor (Toni Collette). If he doesn't yet possess the directing chops of a Sam Mendes, Ball still creates a brave, disturbingly ambiguous work that feels chillingly realistic, and redeemed by Jasira's growing sense of sexual power. Rated R (sexual situations, language). 116 minutes. . . .
At the Century Centre in Chicago and the Century Evanston 12
"Hounddog"
Another dark coming-of-age drama stars the amazing Dakota Fanning, whose wide-eyed, wounded-bird performance highlights an otherwise dreary collection of backwoods, Southern gothic film clichés. She plays a rural 1950s girl who escapes her white trash world by performing Elvis songs until we want to toss our gumbo. The film includes a noble black guy, a religious nutjob granny and more serpents than in "Snakes on a Plane." Fanning's infamous rape is handled with surprising restraint. Rated R (sexual situations) 93 minutes.
At the Pipers Alley in Chicago.
'Man on Wire'
The After Hours Film Society presents a doc about a man who walked a high wire between the World Trade Center towers in 1974. Check out afterhoursfilmsociety.com or call (630) 534-452. $9 admission.
7:30 p.m. Monday at the Tivoli Theater, Downers Grove