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Greg Laemmle’s Top Ten Movies of 2023.

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What were your favorite films of 2023, an excellent movie year? Click here to tell us and we’ll enter you in a raffle to win Laemmle gift cards! Here’s Greg Laemmle on the year just past and his top ten films:
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While we are still in the process of getting all the numbers together, early projections are that we finally got back into the black in 2023. I know that this post isn’t supposed to be about the economic state of things, but let’s at least take a moment to express thanks that the financial picture for the exhibition business is looking better after three years of less-than-stellar ticket sales.
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Leaving aside the numbers, the following are the films that I found to be the most memorable of 2023. A few are still playing in theatres, so I encourage you to check them out while you can.
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#1 – AFIRE – This summer release from director Christian Petzold may have suffered commercially because it was so hard to define. Was it a drama? Or a comedy? And a comedy from Germany? Whoever heard of such a thing. But while it may be hard to pigeonhole this picture, it should be easy to enjoy and appreciate the complete command the filmmaker has working with a superb cast of actors.
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#2 – ANATOMY OF A FALL – This October release is still playing in theatres. And if there is any justice, it will be recognized on Tuesday with Oscar nominations for writer director Justine Triet, lead performer Sandra Huller, and that rarest of things, a nomination for a foreign language film as Best Picture.
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#3 – SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE – While I appreciated the daring animation style of the preceding film SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE, I was truly wowed by what this film delivered both in terms of further stylistic daring, and a real emotional pull in the storytelling. I believe the film is being brought back this week so if you can, go see it.
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#4 – THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE – Another terrific film from Germany. And this one is the German entry for the Best International Feature category at the Oscars. Look for it to receive a nomination on Tuesday, and make sure to see it when it goes into wider release following the nominations.
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#5 – PAST LIVES – A word-of-mouth hit that played all summer, this wistful romance is a terrific debut for filmmaker Celine Song, and a superb showcase for actress Greta Lee.
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#6 – THE HOLDOVERS – Writer-director Alexander Payne and actor Paul Giamatti re-team nearly 20 years after their success with SIDEWAYS, and the result is a film of deep maturity and thoughtfulness. With a story and visual style (and soundtrack) that beautifully evokes some of now-classic films and filmmakers of the early ’70s, this is one to see.
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#7 – THE TASTE OF THINGS – The pacing in Tran Anh Hung’s film is deliberate. But also perfectly matched to a time period where the world was not in such a rush. So relax and enjoy the exquisite scenes of food preparation, not to mention the pleasure of seeing the luminous Juliette Binoche.
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#8 – THE ZONE OF INTEREST – A monster movie. But a monster movie where the monsters have spouses, children, pressure at work, and all the other things that we can relate to in our everyday lives. Director Jonathan Glazer takes Hannah Arendt’s idea of “the banality of evil” and it is both terrifying and serene.
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#9 – BOBI WINE: THE PEOPLE’S PRESIDENT – I didn’t see as many of this year’s documentaries as I would like. But of the one’s I did see, this is the best.
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#10 – AIR – I love it when Hollywood makes a thoughtful movie for adults. And I especially love it when it makes such a movie without overly stressing the “importance” of the movie. While the Oscar nominations may end up going to other pictures, for my money, this is the best put-together studio film of the year. Kudos to director Ben Affleck, screenwriter Alex Convery, star Matt Damon, and the always fabulous Viola Davis for their work here. Please, Hollywood, send us lots more like this one in the years to come.
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The business is still in the process of recovering from the pandemic closure. But it is recovering. So another request Please keep coming out to see stuff in theatres, and be a part of rebuilding a vibrant moviegoing scene that has something for everyone.

Contest! Submit your Top Ten Films of 2023 for a chance to win gift cards.

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Have you caught up on all the 2023 movies you wanted to see? Regardless, it’s time to submit your Top Ten lists! Tell us which films you liked best here and you’ll be entered into a raffle for one of three $25 Laemmle gift cards. If you need inspiration, here’s my highly subjective alphabetical list. (Greg Laemmle will announce his list when we announce the winners of this contest, at which point he should have caught up to May December, Anatomy of a Fall and a couple others.)

Anatomy of a Fall: Sandra Hüller, formidable in court and dominating one of the gnarliest, most riveting marital arguments in cinema history.

Asteroid City: Wes Anderson gives us another melancholy, gorgeous, sui generis movie. “The notion of a perfect movie is absurd, but some movies attain an ideal synthesis of the director’s body of work. Wes Anderson’s latest, Asteroid City, is one such film.” ~ Richard Brody, The New Yorker

Fallen Leaves: Like Asteroid City, it’s a melancholy but funny and silver-lined one-of-a-kind work from a one-of-a-kind filmmaker.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: A wise man (U.C. Berkeley English Professor Stephen Booth) told his students: never be ashamed of what you like. This movie made me laugh out loud, it was so entertaining. Pass the popcorn!

Oppenheimer: Chilling, masterfully done, and awesome, in the original sense of the word.

Past Lives: Celine Song and Greta Lee! Deeply romantic and moving.

Showing Up: Kelly Reichardt and Michelle Williams! “A serene, pulse-lowering charmer.” ~ Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

You Hurt My Feelings: Nicole Holofcener and Julia Louis-Dreyfus! “Warm-hearted and rueful and hilarious in all the best ways.” ~ Alissa Wilkinson, Vox

The Zone of Interest: The terrifying banality of evil. Sandra Hüller again, this time paired with an equally scary Christian Friedel as Rudolf Höss, as the Macbeth and Lady Macbeth of Auschwitz.

One caveat: I still haven’t seen Barbie, All of Us Strangers, Poor Things or Afire and based one what others have said about them, my list might look different had I seen them. I did see Killers of the Flower Moon with two people who adored it and maybe I caught it on a bad night because, you know what? — I kept checking my watch.

The 2023 Laemmle Oscar Contest results are in.

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It’s the day after Pi Day, but check out these cool pie charts to see who won our Umpteenth Annual Oscar Contest (the winner got 21 correct; the final question about the running time proved to be a tiebreaker between the second and third place winners, who both got 19 correct) and confirm that Laemmle moviegoers are crazy savvy about predicting how the Academy will vote. Of the 23 categories, the Laemmle hive mind accurately guessed all but four categories:

Best Supporting Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis/Everyone Everywhere All at Once bested Angela Bassett/Black Panther: Wakanda Forever);

Best Makeup & Hairstyling (The Whale swallowed Elvis);

Best Score (All Quiet on the Western Front defeated Babylon);

Best Production Design (All Quiet topped Babylon again)
Thanks for playing and get excited for the the next Oscar race by reading this round-up of early favorites to be nominated, which includes new films by Scorsese, Michael Mann, Wes Anderson, Ari Aster, Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott and more!

Moviegoers, enter the Umpteenth Annual Laemmle Oscar Contest before time runs out.

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The Oscar race is in the final stretch. Almost all of the major guilds have spoken (the WGA awards are this Sunday) and Everything Everywhere All at Once is looking unbeatable. However…every year there are two or three surprises and doubtless 2023 won’t be an exception. The question is, do you think you can divine the surprises? Cate Blanchett instead of Michelle Yeoh for Best Actress? Spielberg instead of the Daniels for Best Director? Bill Nighy or Austin Butler instead of Brendan Fraser for Best Actor? There are so many possible ways this can go, you should weigh in! I mean, the stakes could not possibly be lower!

If you, dear moviegoer, can accurately predict how the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences will vote in all 23 categories, (or close to it), you will win movie passes good at all Laemmle venues! The 95th Academy Awards take place on Sunday, March 12 and we’ll announce the winners soon afterwards. Good luck!

Moviegoers, start your guesses: The Umpteenth Annual Laemmle Oscar Contest has begun.

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The Oscar nominations are out, and in spite of the fact that Hallelujah, Nope, RRR and Decision to Leave, Dolly De Leon, Viola Davis, Paul Dano, and Danielle Deadwyler were inexplicably excluded, at least Brian Tyree Henry and Judd Hirsch were honored. Anyway, it’s time for our Umpteenth Annual Laemmle Oscar Contest! If you, dear moviegoer, can accurately predict how the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences will vote in all 23 categories, (or close to it), you will win movie passes good at all Laemmle venues! The 95th Academy Awards take place on Sunday, March 12 and we’ll announce the winners soon afterwards. Good luck!

The Top Ten Films of 2022 contest results are in!

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And the Top Ten Customer-Chosen films of 2022, in order from 1 to 10, are [drum roll]:

  1. Everything Everywhere All at Once
  2. The Banshees of Inisherin
  3. TÁR
  4. The Fabelmans
  5. RRR
  6. Top Gun: Maverick
  7. Nope
  8. Aftersun
  9. Triangle of Sadness
  10. Decision to Leave

It’s a terrific list, arguably better than the one AMPAS announced this week, which excluded RRR, Nope, Aftersun and Decision to Leave. Films 2-4 and 9, hyperlinked for your convenience, are still in theaters!

Randomly chosen winners for free Laemmle movie passes are:
1) Jodi Siegner
2) Drew McAnany
3) Jacob Berman
Thanks to everyone who played!

Top Ten Films of 2022 contest ends Sunday: Tell us your favorites for a chance to win free movie passes!

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Keep those Top Ten contest entries coming. You have until this Sunday, January 22 to give it some thought and enter here. So far, unsurprisingly, it looks like many Laemmle moviegoers are kvelling about Everything Everywhere All at Once, Top Gun: Maverick, and RRR. We’ll have final results next week. You can read Greg Laemmle’s list and leading American film critics’ lists if you need inspiration. Personally, my favorite is Jordan Peele’s spectacular Nope. No doubt my reaction was influenced by the fact that I saw it in a packed, sold-out theater on opening night, because movies are better in theaters!

Contest! Submit your Top Ten Films of 2022 for a chance to win gift cards & read Greg Laemmle on TÁR, RRR, HALLELUJAH and the seven other films on his 2022 Top Ten.

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Have you caught up on the 2022 movies you wanted to see? Regardless, it’s time to submit your Top Ten lists. Tell us which films you liked best here and you’ll be entered into a raffle for free Laemmle gift cards! If you need inspiration, here’s Greg Laemmle on the state of arthouse moviegoing and his favorite features of the last year, with some thoughts about each:

“At some level, the best that can be said is that at least we were open for all twelve months of the year. And after 2020 and 2021, that was a positive. But given that the year both started and ended with Omicron surges, the movie exhibition sector is still not in a post-Covid environment.

“For those of us who have returned to communal moviegoing, there were some memorable movies to see. But overall, we are still dealing with fewer movies in release, less review coverage in the local press of theatrically released films, and distributor marketing campaigns for critically driven films that are still adjusting to the new landscape. There are hopeful signs. But we are still not out of the woods.
“But enough about the business. How about the films! Following is my Top 10. Like all lists, this is a work in progress, given that there are a number of films which I have not yet had a chance to watch. So if you are wondering why something is not included, it may just be that I haven’t gotten around to seeing it…yet!”
#1 – TÁR – I will admit that there is something emotionally unsatisfying about this film. But not every story can be tied up in a neat bow at the end, and such is the case here. The complex character at the center of this tale is a mass of contradictions, and to its credit, the film does not try to smooth out the rough edges. Built around Cate Blanchett’s masterful performance, Todd Field’s film is one that grows richer with each viewing.
#2 – RRR – If my top film is one that requires rigorous viewing, this #2 title is perhaps the polar opposite. But director S. S. Rajamouli is equally in control of his canvas, and the resulting film is again something that provides pleasure after repeated viewing.
#3 – HALLELUJAH: LEONARD COHEN, A JOURNEY, A SONG – There have been a number of worthwhile Leonard Cohen documentaries. But in focussing on the lengthy process involved with the creation of his most famous (and most covered) song, this film reveals something about the spiritual quest that each of us go through, and becomes something more than a film about a famous work of art. It is a revelation about the universal search for meaning.
#4 – HOLY SPIDER – Another spiritual journey. But this time, a cautionary tale about how the desire to do God’s work in the world can be corrupted. And all that is wrapped up in a taut thriller that features two great performances.
#5 – LIVING – I’m not a fan of remakes. And given that Akira Kurosawa’s IKIRU is a favorite, there was every reason to dislike this film. And yet, it gets so much right, being both respectful of the original film and understanding the need to bring the tale into a new and different setting. No film delivered as much emotionally in 2022, aided no doubt by Bill Nighy’s tremendous lead performance.
#6 – CORSAGE – Another film that benefits from a masterful lead performance. Vicky Krieps is terrific in this beautifully made costume drama. But as much as we focus on the corsets and gowns from a different era, we are really drawn into the inner life of this complex historical figure. Kudos to director Maria Kreutzer for for the complete film that supports and enhances the lead performance, creating a whole that is so much more than the sum of its parts.
#7 – CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH – Too few people saw this terrific American indie film, the sophomore effort from actor-writer-director Cooper Raiff. That’s a real shame as I found it to be one of the year’s more interesting efforts. You can find it on Apple TV, and hopefully the interplay between Raiff, the emotionally raw Dakota Johnson, and the newcomer Vanessa Burghardt delivers the same punch. I look forward with great anticipation to filmmaker Raiff’s next picture.
#8 – THE BATMAN – Yes, it’s long. Yes, it’s dark. Yes, it is a commercial film. But it is also a work that represents the singular vision of director Matt Reeves, marshalling all the talents both in front of and behind the camera to present his spin on this oft-told tale. I’m an indie guy. But I also believe that Hollywood should be given its due when it gets things right. And with this film (also TOP GUN: MAVERICK and – in a different way – ELVIS), the raw power of studio filmmaking is clear.
#9 – THE NORTHMAN – Director Robert Eggers (THE LIGHTHOUSE) was given a huge budget to make this Nordic tale. That may not have made the most financial sense, but the film itself delivers. Look for big screen revival showings.
#10 – ONLY IN THEATERS – Is it fair to include this on my list? Probably not. But is it fair to exclude it? Director Raphael Sparge’s documentary about the history of Laemmle Theaters, and our struggles over the past few years as we weathered bad box office and then the pandemic is 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, so critics agree that it is a worthy effort. And so many people have approached me at the theatres to say how much they enjoyed the film as well. As we work in the coming year to rebuild our business, this film reminds us how powerful and worthwhile the experience is of seeing a movie with an audience in a movie theatre. And isn’t that something to be thankful for?
Happy New Year and Happy Moviegoing,
Greg Laemmle