The San Francisco Bay Area is the cool movie capital of the world.

There. I said it. Go ahead, try and dispute me. You will find you are wrong.

Los Angeles? Palm trees are pretty, and so are people with tan skin, but looks are only skin deep. New York City? Too uptight and cold in the winter. All of the coolest movies have been made in and around San Francisco, mostly because the Bay Area happens to have the most beautiful and dramatic natural landscape.

But aside from that, the attitude of the area is so laid back, a local would have to work hard to not be so cool. “Bullitt,” “Escape from Alcatraz,” “Dirty Harry,” “Harold and Maude,” and “Vertigo”–all of which exude coolness, were all filmed in the Bay Area. So, it almost goes without saying that Bay Area residents love their cool movies. This week’s “$10 or Less” is a mini tribute to two local establishments that keep it real and cool.

One such establishment is GreenCine. GreenCine is San Francisco’s version of Netflix, but 1,000 times cooler. Looking for “The Brother From Another Planet”? No problem. Having trouble finding “Dark Days”? GreenCine’s got it. Offering three levels of affordable payment/viewing options, the service is catching on quickly. Heck, it’s so cheap and efficient, Le Video (the cinephile’s video store) may get a run for its money. The cheapest subscription costs $9.95 per month. Since my friend is the one with the account, I got off scot free this time. Next time, I’ll probably have to pay.

Now, for those of us who aren’t glued to our couches, there’s the Naz 8 in Fremont. Think the Century or AMC chains, but for Hindi films. Where else can you get your Bollywood fix along with popcorn, soda, and samosas with chutney sauce? Not at the Metreon, that’s for sure. You can bring the whole family for a fun night out. Looking for a cheap night out with your sweetie and don’t mind a nice drive? Go on $5 Tuesdays and grab a bit to eat at the take-out place next door. Not in Fremont? Not a problem. There is another Naz 8 in Sunnyvale.

Place: Naz 8 Cinemas, 39160 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont
Movies: 1
Cost: $8
Days per film: 1
Place: GreenCine, San Francisco
Movies: 1
Cost: FREE!
Days per film: 7 (at the $9.95 rate)
Total cost: $8

“Wisconsin Death Trip” (1999) – A very, very, very interesting documentary (if you can call it that). Between 1890 and 1900, the community in and around the small northern town of Black River Falls, Wisconsin saw an alarming amount of death, violence, and hysteria. Using articles published in the town paper, actual photographs, and dramatizations of incidents, James Marsh paints a very bleak picture of turn-of-the-century, rural living in the midwest. Serial arson, religious madness, suicides, cold-blooded murders, a diptheria epidemic…you name it, they had it. The most interesting story, however, is of Mary Sweeney, “The Window Smasher of Wisconsin,” who provides an unexpected comic relief. An ex-school teacher, mother of two, and frequent cocaine user, Sweeny abandoned her family and took to smashing windows for reasons she never fully explained. Juxtaposed with the darkness, scenes of the present-day town are mixed in for good measure. This film is perfect for your death-obsessed friends and for people who think that things were better in the “old days.”

“Paheli” (2005) – Ah, Shahrukh Khan. How do we love you? Let us count the ways.
1) You are as charming, witty, and gentlemanly as Cary Grant. Hot!
2) You are man enough to cry in 99.9 percent of your films.
2a) When you cry in your films, your lower lip quivers. Double hot!
3) Some people just look better wet, and in 99.9 percent of your films, you end up drenched (shirt optional). Triple hot!

Ladies and gentlemen, if you have not seen at least one Shahrukh movie up to this point, you are missing out on one of the greatest actors of all time. Take this opportunity to see Khan’s latest film “Paheli,” and you will not be disappointed.

Also starring the lovely Rani Mukherjee, “Paheli” is the folk tale of the bride Lachchi, abandoned by her business-minded husband Kishen (Khan) the day after her wedding. Lucky for her, a ghost who had fallen madly in love with her during a chance encounter finds out the husband will be gone for five years. Taking on the form of her husband, the ghost swoops on the chance to love and cherish Lachchi. With the new Kishen, everyone is happy…that is until the real Kishen shows up. Look for a hilarious cameo by the one and only Amitabh Bachchan, and an all-too-brief appearance of Suniel Shetty.

If for some reason, you happen to miss “Paheli,” fear not. SRK’s next film should be out in December.