TODAY AT AFI FESTIVAL

F ollowing are The Times’ recommendations for today’s 18 schedule of the American Film Institute Los Angeles International Film Festival, with commentary by the film reviewing staff. Information: (213) 466-1767.

Recommended:

“DEATH IN BRUNSWICK”(Australia; John Ruane; Nuart, 6 p.m.). This very dark comedy might be worth it just to watch Sam Neill play so wonderfully against type, as an aging Australian short-order cook dominated by his rich, chain-smoking mother. It has other pluses: a raunchy bar milieu, implied social comment and the performance of Zoe Carides as a barely-out-of-high-school sexpot.