Yes, movie fans, the Garde Arts Center IS doing its winter film series, and it is showcasing an array of big-budget releases along with smaller productions that haven't played around here yet. Almost all of them have been nominated for some awards, as we await the announcement of Oscar noms on Feb. 8.

The Garde kickoff this weekend, for instance, starts with Steven Spielberg's reimagining of the classic musical "West Side Story" on Friday. Paul Thomas Anderson's 1970s teen romance "Licorice Pizza" plays Saturday.

Then comes a movie that hasn't played big screens in this area yet. "Being the Ricardos," with Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem portraying Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, is the Saturday matinee.

Sunday boasts "Respect," the biopic about the great Aretha Franklin, starring Jennifer Hudson.

Garde movie series so far

The screenings are at 7:30 p.m., except where noted, at the Garde, 325 State St., New London.

Friday: "West Side Story"

Saturday: "Being the Ricardos," 3 p.m.; "Licorice Pizza"

Sunday: "Respect," 3 p.m.

Feb. 10: "King Richard"

Feb. 11: "Belfast"

Feb. 12: "Power of the Dog"

Feb. 24: "Those People"

Feb. 25: "The French Dispatch"

Feb. 26: "Hand of God," 3 p.m.; "Nightmare Alley"

Feb. 27: Oscar shorts, 3 p.m.

March 3: "The Tragedy of Macbeth"

March 4: "House of Gucci"

March 12: "Dune"

March 24: "Don't Look Up"

March 26: "tick, tick ... BOOM!"

March 27: "Cyrano," 3 p.m.

April 2: "Spider-Man: No Way Home"

A series pass is on sale for $59. Individual screenings are $12. To buy a pass or tickets or to view updates to the schedule, visit gardearts.org.