Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Marc Mohan runs down some of the top films playing this week in Portland

Batman (voiced by Will Arnett) and Robin (Michael Cera) team up in "The Lego Batman Movie."

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'Coffy'

The centerpiece of this year's Portland Black Film Festival is this screening of the 1973 blaxploitation classic about a nurse (Pam Grier) who becomes a ruthless vigilante, targeting dealers and pimps, after her sister gets hooked on drugs. Even better, Grier herself will be on hand for both sold-out screenings. (Saturday, Feb. 11, Hollywood Theatre)

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Oscar-nominated short films

Every year, the short film categories rank among the most reliable tiebreakers in every office Oscar pool. And every year, the truly competitive make their way to one of the theaters showing the nominees in the animated and live-action categories, even though that probably doesn't improve their accuracy much. Fortunately, it's still a worthwhile experience. (For what it's worth, my predictions to win would be Pixar's "Piper" and the French live-action nominee "Ennemis Interieurs.") (Living Room Theaters, Hollywood Theatre)

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'The Lego Batman Movie'

The caped crusader faces his greatest enemy—loneliness—in this attempt to recapture the unexpected magic of "The Lego Movie." Will Arnett brings his dulcet "BoJack Horseman" tones back to voice Batman, with Zach Galifianakis (The Joker), Ralph Fiennes (Alfred) and Arnett's old "Arrested Development" co-star Michael Cera (Robin) along for the fun. (multiple locations)

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'Obit'

The obituary section of The New York Times is home to some of the paper's best writing, and despite its nature often serves as a respite from coverage of the more harrowing events of the day. This thoroughly entertaining documentary, playing as part of the Portland International Film Festival, goes behind the scenes to interview writers and follow one day in the life of those who chronicle death. (Friday, Feb. 10, Cinema 21; Tuesday, Feb. 14, Whitsell Auditorium)

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'The Teacher'

This Czech drama, also playing as part of the Portland International Film Festival, is set in 1983 during Communist rule. The new teacher at an elementary school also happens to be the local party boss, and she immediately sets about using her position to extract favors from her students and their parents in exchange for good grades. This forces the kids and adults to decide whether or not to fight back against her totalitarian ways. (Friday, Feb. 10, Whitsell Auditorium; Monday, Feb. 13, Laurelhurst Theater)

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'Women Who Kill'

This dry, dark comedy, which won the Best Screenplay award at the Tribeca Film Festival, centers on two women, ex-girlfriends, who do a true crime podcast together. When one of them develops a new romance, the other suspects that her rival might be a serial killer. (Wednesday, Feb. 15, Hollywood Theatre)