The Stranger

If you saw the mediocre Outsourced at SIFF and were saddened by the apparent want of imagination on the part of Seattle filmmakers, be prepared to be knocked out by this film. Documenting a harebrained pilgrimage from Seattle to Werner Herzog's house in L.A., Walking to Werner becomes a meditation on the varieties of spiritual experience on America's left coast. Best of all is the found narration, hilariously repurposed from the commentary tracks on Herzog's DVDs. (Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, 267-5380. 7 and 9:15 pm, $8.50.) by Annie Wagner

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Between Seattle and San Francisco, there is a lot of open road and a lot of bands that travel it. Trainwreck Riders roll up and down that West Coast highway, guitars jangling, tambourines shaking, fiddles fiddling, singing of loves left at roadhouses and found under starry skies. They play with a worn-in conviction that comes from putting on almost as many shows as miles. (Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave NW, 784-4880. 10 pm, $8, 21+.) by Jonathan Zwickel

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Ratatouille is the first great Hollywood film of the year, and may end up being the only great Hollywood film of the year. The premise: a Parisian rat that has a taste for fine foods, that worships a famous chef, that becomes a cook in that famous chef's restaurant, and is so talented that he melts the iciest of food critics into a warm puddle. It's just too much. You will be overwhelmed by a laughter as ridiculous as the movie's premise. (See Movie Times for details.) by Charles Mudede

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For a brief moment, Band of Horses were a well-loved Seattle secret known as simply Horses. Now, the band is neither Seattle's—they've relocated to singer Ben Bridwell's native South Carolina—nor are they anybody's secret: Tonight's homecoming at the Showbox is sold out. For those with tickets, or willing to buy some from a scalper, this concert could be a rare preview of the band's new album, which they've been in town mixing. See an interview here. (Showbox, 1426 First Ave, 628-3151. 8 pm, $15, 21+.) by Eric Grandy

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Compared to its gooey 1982 remake, 1951's The Thing from Another World is a quaint relic. But even as the original, rumored to have been ghost-directed by the great Howard Hawks, has lost punch over the years, it remains required viewing for anyone interested in the sci-fi genre. As for John Carpenter's remake of The Thing, I need only offer a single name: Kurt Russell. For a double feature, this one's a no-brainer. (Grand Illusion, 1403 NE 50th St, 523-3935. See Movie Times for show times.) by Bradley Steinbacher

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Willie Nelson and weed—their uplifting influence drifts across demographics, appealing equally to bikers, bankers, boomers, hipsters, and hippies. There's no more appropriate day than America's birthday (except maybe April 20) for Nelson to gather his bong-huffin', beer-guzzlin' flock at the Gorge and celebrate with the alt-country bands who worship him: Drive-By Truckers, Old 97's, Son Volt, and Amos Lee. (The Gorge, 754 Silica Road NW, George, 628-0888. 4:30 pm, $35-$79, all ages.) by Jonathan Zwickel

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