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A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY Q&A’s June 12 at the NoHo and June 14 at the Monica Film Center.

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June 12, 7:30 P.M. at the Laemmle NoHo:
This screening of A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY is co-presented by Video Consortium with a Q&A to follow featuring filmmaker Rachel Elizabeth Seed, co-writer/editor Christopher Stoudt, and special guest, moderated by Video Consortium organizer Lauren Mahoney.
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June 14, 10:00 A.M. at the Laemmle Monica Film Center:
 
This screening of A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY is co-presented by From the Heart Productions and Authentic Global Film Awards, with a Q&A to follow moderated by Variety film critic Carlos Aguilar, featuring director Rachel Elizabeth Seed in conversation with producer Ana Lydia Monaco and additional special guest. In this discussion, they will pull back the curtain on the visionary production of A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY‘s recreation sequences, produced by Monaco in Los Angeles.
June 16, 7:00 P.M. at the Laemmle Monica Film Center:
Q&A with director Rachel Elizabeth Seed + Gallerist Peter Fetterman to follow this screening. Co-presented by Peter Fetterman Gallery.

1970s New York City on the brink ~ DROP DEAD CITY opens tomorrow.

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Named after the famous New York Daily News headline “Ford to City: Drop Dead,” Drop Dead City is the first documentary to focus on the New York City fiscal crisis of 1975, an overlooked episode in urban American history that saw that city of eight million people come face to face with bankruptcy.

The film is an immersive ticking-clock drama built entirely from archival 16mm footage interspersed with present eyewitness interviews, and propelled by a great soundtrack drawn from 1970s radio as it follows a year in the life and near death of this iconic city. Laemmle Theatres opens the film May 22 at the NoHo and May 23 at the Monica Film Center and Town Center.

The film captures N.Y.C. at a moment of contrast, gritty and down on its luck, but also vibrant and alive. The basic underlying questions of governance, community and economic priorities are of immediate relevance to Los Angeles and so many other American cities.

These are unprecedented times for Americans, and for our public institutions. The systematic dismantling of the administrative state, as well as the demonizing of public servants, is something we are watching happen every day. The playbook of today’s right-wing government bashing has it’s roots in the rightward swing of the Republican Party in the 1970’s. NYC’s near-bankruptcy was a critical event in this transformation. Drop Dead City addresses these themes and ideologies, and examines the origins of NYC’s problems with an even hand. Was it the banks, the unions, the poor who were arriving, or the rich who were leaving? Was it the recession? Was it cynicism in the White House or incompetence in City Hall?

“Our goal as filmmakers was to honor the story and the people in it – the men and women who stepped up to deal with this challenge as well as the so-called ordinary New Yorkers who dealt with this uncertainty as a fact of life during this tumultuous period,” said directors Peter Yost and Michael Rohatyn. “While the film often feels like a wild time machine ride to New York in its good-old bad days, we also hope it inspires conversations on how urban centers can fairly cope with the enormous challenges we face today.”

“The film raises striking parallels with the present…a visual delight for anyone who enjoys footage of vintage New York City…Set to a funk and soul soundtrack that would make Tarantino’s music supervisor bow in respect.” – WNYC / Gothamist

100% Rotten Tomatoes rating!

Drop Dead City is produced and directed by Peter Yost and Michael Rohatyn. Executive produced by Karoline Durr. The archival producer is Frauke Levin. Cinematography by Jerry Risius. Edited by Don Kleszy and Anna Auster. The film’s running time is 108 minutes.

“Joel Potrykus, the undisputed maestro of ‘metal slackerism,’ again serves up a singular experience by taking a simple idea to its logical conclusion, and then a lot further.” VULCANIZADORA opens May 9.

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Filmmaker Joel Petrykus on his acclaimed, sui generis fifth feature film, Vulcanizadora, opening May 9 at the Laemmle Monica Film Center and NoHo: “One of my biggest concerns about fatherhood is that I’d soften up and start telling stories of hope and inspiration. Five years after the birth of my one and only son, and I’m mostly consumed with fears of inadequacy, abandonment, and mortality; going to prison by accident, falling off a cliff by accident, jumping off a cliff by accident. Vulcanizadora is my most heartfelt and personal, but not in a good way. It’s my most sincere and emotional, but also my bleakest and most haunting.”

“There is no film you’ll ever see like it.” – Collider

“A darkly funny heavy metal comedy that deftly shifts into a poignant existential drama. Potrykus helms with edgy style, but it’s his and Burge’s transformative performances that carry this unconventional gem.” -Meagan Navarro, Bloody Disgusting

“A fascinating film. What I admire most about the truly strange Vulcanizadora is that I haven’t seen anything like it. Joshua Burge is phenomenal.” -Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com

“Unexpectedly poignant. Potrykus’ most accessible film to date. A sincere rumination on mortality and enduring relationships.” -Stephen Saito, Moveable Fest

“Joel Potrykus, the undisputed maestro of ‘metal slackerism,” again serves up a singular experience by taking a simple idea to its logical conclusion, and then a lot further.” -David Ehrlich, IndieWire

“Mind-bending. Nothing can really prepare viewers for where Vulcanizadora ends up going.” -Carla Hay, Culture Mix

WORDS OF WAR ~ In-Person Q&A’s with Sean Penn, Jason Isaacs and Rep. Eric Swalwell.

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Words of War Q&A’s at the Monica Film Center: Sean Penn and Jason Isaacs will participate in Q&A’s following the 7:00 P.M. screening on Friday, May 2; the 4:00 P.M. & 7:00 P.M. screenings on Saturday, May 3; and the 4:00 P.M. screening on Sunday, May 4. U.S. Congressional Rep. Eric Swalwell will join them for the 4:00 P.M. screening on Sunday.

GHOST 35th anniversary screening with director Jerry Zucker in person May 21 at the Royal!

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Laemmle Theatres and the Anniversary Classics Series present a special screening of one of the best loved movies of the 20th century, Jerry Zucker’s smash hit supernatural fantasy, ‘Ghost.’ When the movie opened in the summer of 1990, it quickly captivated audiences and eventually became the highest grossing movie of the year, earning $505 million on a budget of just $23 million. When the movie hit home video in 1991, it also became the highest grossing film in the rental market for that year. The movie was nominated for five Oscars in 1990, including Best Picture, and it won awards for Bruce Joel Rubin’s original screenplay and Whoopi Goldberg’s riotous supporting performance.

Rubin’s screenplay marked a fresh contribution to the fantasy genre, following in the tradition of such classics as ‘Here Comes Mr. Jordan,’ Warren Beatty’s remake ‘Heaven Can Wait,’ ‘The Ghost and Mrs. Muir,’ ‘Blithe Spirit,’ and the comic blockbuster, ‘Ghostbusters.’ But it was a very original piece of storytelling that mixed romance, humor, and suspense, with plenty of surprise twists, as a murder victim tries to save his girlfriend’s life from beyond the grave. Patrick Swayze plays a banker in love with an artist played by Demi Moore. Tony Goldwyn plays a colleague of Swayze’s, and Goldberg plays a fake psychic who somehow manages to have a connection with spirits from the afterlife.

The technical crew behind the movie was also outstanding. Walter Murch (an Oscar winner for ‘Apocalypse Now’ and ‘The English Patient’) was the editor and earned a nomination for his work. Maurice Jarre (a multiple Oscar winner—for David Lean’s ‘Lawrence of Arabia,’ ‘Doctor Zhivago,’ and ‘A Passage to India’) also earned a nomination for his score, which famously included the hit song from 1955, “Unchained Melody” (a kind of anthem for the movie). Visual effects supervisor Richard Edlund was also an Oscar winner for ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark.’

The romantic pottery casting scene between Swayze and Moore was later cited as one of the most iconic scenes of ’90s movies, though it attracted its share of parodies as well—a sign of the film’s enduring place in pop culture.

Reviews of this smash hit movie were actually mixed, but many of the most perceptive critics praised it. Newsweek’s David Ansen called ‘Ghost‘ “a zippy pastiche that somehow manages to seem fresh.” Entertainment Weekly’s Owen Gleiberman agreed that the movie was “a dazzlingly enjoyable pop thriller.” Peter Bradshaw of the Guardian wrote that “Rubin’s script is a lethally effective fantasy.” The cast also earned high praise. Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune said, “Moore has never been more fetching.” The New York Times’ Janet Maslin added, “This is one of those rare occasions on which the uncategorizable Ms. Goldberg has found a film that really suits her, and she makes the most of it.”

Time Out summarized the positive reviews by praising the filmmakers: “The real credit…rests on an excellent script by Bruce Joel Rubin, and on the surprisingly sure direction of Jerry Zucker.”

Before making this movie, Zucker had worked with his brother David Zucker and Jim Abrahams on comedy hits ‘Airplane!,’ ‘Top Secret!,’ ‘Ruthless People,’ and ‘The Naked Gun.’ ‘Ghost‘ marked his first solo effort as director and also his first dramatic film. He went on to direct ‘First Knight,’ ‘Rat Race,’ and also helped to produce such films as ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding,’ ‘Fair Game, and ‘Friends with Benefits.’

Upcoming Reel Talk screenings with film critic Stephen Farber and special guests: THE TROUBLE WITH JESSICA; LILLY; and V13.

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Since 2022 Laemmle Theatres has been the proud host of veteran film critic Stephen Farber’s popular REEL TALK WITH STEPHEN FARBER screening series at the LAEMMLE ROYAL! See a variety of outstanding films from the U.S. and around the world, including many top awards contenders. Then meet the filmmakers for provocative and revealing discussions led by Stephen.

Recent guests and titles have included Josh Margolin, writer-director of THELMA; Keith Kupferer, Katherine Mallen Kupferer, Tara Mallen, Kelly O’Sullivan & Alex Thompson, stars and filmmakers of GHOSTLIGHT; Eric Bana and Robert Connolly, star and writer-director of FORCE OF NATURE: THE DRY 2; Ian McShane, star and producer of AMERICAN STAR; Matteo Garrone, Seydou Sarr, and Moustapha Fall, director and stars of the Oscar-nominated IO CAPITANO; Maggie Contreras, director of MAESTRA.

Upcoming screenings:

THE TROUBLE WITH JESSICA on April 21: A couple facing serious financial trouble finally finds a buyer for their stylish London home. At their final dinner party, they are thrown into an outrageous and darkly comic situation with the shocking behavior of an uninvited guest. Knives are out and best-kept secrets are revealed in this laugh-out-loud black comedy featuring a starry ensemble cast of phenomenal U.K. talent. Q&A with co-writer James Handel.

LILLY on April 28: Starring Patricia Clarkson, John Benjamin Hickey and Thomas Sadoski and directed by Rachel Feldman, Lilly is based on the remarkable story of Lilly Ledbetter, whose fight against pay discrimination in an Alabama tire factory took her all the way to the Supreme Court, all while facing powerful opposition. Following the transformation of an ordinary citizen into the face of an issue, Lilly illuminates the impact a single courageous person can have. Q&A with director Rachel Feldman.

V13 on May 5: In Vienna in 1913, when Europe is on the brink of WWI, two young men from different backgrounds, Hugo and Adolf, become friends. One, a musician from a privileged background, chooses to undergo psychoanalysis with Sigmund Freud (Alan Cumming), while the other, a struggling artist, takes up the cause of German nationalism. Q&A with director/co-writer Richard Ledes.

The bio-documentary JANIS IAN: BREAKING SILENCE opens tomorrow.

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Tomorrow we’ll be opening Janis Ian: Breaking Silence, the new documentary about the singer-songwriter. Filmmaker Varda Bar-Kar will participate in Q&A’s after the 7:00 o’clock shows on Thursday, April 3 at the Laemmle NoHo and April 4 and 5 at the Monica Film Center, as well as after the 1:00 o’clock show at the Laemmle Glendale on April 5.  Ms. Ian will join her for the NoHo and Santa Monica screenings. The filmmaker is also featured on the latest episode of Raphael Sbarge and Greg Laemmle’s video podcast Inside the Arthouse.

Director’s Statement: “The pandemic began when I finished my music documentary Fandango at the Wall (HBO/MAX), about a transformative musical convergence at the border between the United States and Mexico. Before Fandango, I had made another music documentary called Big Voice (Netflix) about a high school choir director and his most advanced ensemble. I love experimenting with the alchemy of combining film with music and wanted to continue working in that genre.

“Conversations about identity and how we identify were buzzing at that time. I considered my own identity. How do I identify? Do I feel represented in mainstream media? I resist defining my identity since definitions mainly serve to box us in. I am a free thinker, a bisexual woman, born Jewish, now with a Buddhist bent, and an artist. Like all artists, I am an outsider. I am capable, a roll-up-your-sleeves can-do-it kind of person, and I am an optimist. I don’t see many women like me represented in the media.

“I sat with the question, ‘If I made a film about a female artist with whom I closely identify, who would she be?’ Janis Ian popped into my mind. Her name hit me like a lightning strike. Yet I knew nothing about her outside of a lingering high school memory of listening to her masterful album Between the Lines and crying because her music penetrated my isolation, making me feel seen and heard. Her music assured me that I was not alone. Her music meant the world to me at that time.

“Through research, I discovered that Janis Ian has a significant body of work spanning 60 years. I compiled lengthy playlists of my favorite of her songs – many I had never heard before. I discovered she had written a riveting autobiography called Society’s Child. I could not put the
book down. I learned that not only has Janis made significant contributions to the music world, but she is also a social justice champion and an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. She has endured tremendous hardships and overcome them one after another. Her story of commitment to
artistry and incredible resilience inspired me.

“How could it be that a film had not yet been made about her? This might sound crazy, and maybe it is, but I felt it was my destiny to make a film about Janis.

“I am forever grateful that Janis entrusted me with her magnificent musical story, and I am excited to share it with the world. I am also thankful to my unstoppable producing team and creative collaborators for working with me to overcome a myriad of obstacles and challenges to bring Janis Ian’s story to the screen so that today’s audiences can feel seen and heard just as I did when I listened to Between the Line so many years ago.”

Alan Rudolph’s CHOOSE ME: Special Restoration Screening Tribute to Bob Laemmle with Keith Carradine, Lesley Ann Warren, and more April 3

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Alan Rudolph’s ‘Choose Me‘ Special 4K Restoration Screening Tribute to Bob Laemmle with costars Keith Carradine, Lesley Ann Warren, and producer David Blocker in person April 3.

Laemmle Theatres and the Anniversary Classics Series present a special 4K restoration screening of writer-director Alan Rudolph’s 1984 comedy-drama fable ‘Choose Me‘ as a tribute to the late Bob Laemmle, owner of Laemmle Theatres, who died in January. The film screens Thursday, April 3 at the historic Royal Theatre in West Los Angeles at 7:00 P.M. Costars Keith Carradine and Lesley Ann Warren will appear in person for a Q&A, joined by producer David Blocker. Bob Laemmle was a long-time supporter of Alan Rudolph and ‘Choose Me’ notably had a lengthy run of several months at the Royal in 1984 and 1985.

Alan Rudolph has been in the forefront of the American indie movement since his breakout arthouse hit ‘Welcome to L.A.’ in 1976. As a protégé of Robert Altman, he specializes in romanticism and fantasy with quirky characters. Set mostly in a nocturnal Los Angeles, ‘Choose Me‘ is essentially a lyrical roundelay among five characters: Nancy (Genevieve Bujold), a radio psychologist who goes by the nom de radio “Dr. Love” and dispenses advice to the lovelorn but is maladjusted herself; Eve (Lesley Ann Warren), a former sex worker who owns a bar in a seedy neighborhood; Mickey (Keith Carradine), a released mental patient who may still be quite mad; Pearl (Rae Dawn Chong), an alcoholic aspiring poet; and her wayward husband Zack (Patrick Bauchau). Working on a low-budget, Rudolph achieves high style collaborating with cinematographer Jan Kiesser and production designer Steven Legler and a soundtrack of soulful late-night jazz for the noirish atmospherics.

Critics embraced the film, with Vincent Canby in the New York Times noting how Rudolph features Los Angeles “as much of fairy-tale town as the Emerald City. It’s this quality that makes ‘Choose Me‘ an adult fable of expressive charm.” Janet Maslin, also in the Times, called the characters “garrulous, love-starved loners,” and praised the film “as free-flowing meditation on love, commitment, jealousy, radio call-in shows and just about anything that comes to mind.” Roger Ebert called it “an audaciously intriguing movie…about the endless surprise of human nature.” The Washington Post cited it as “a movie of manners leavened with sophisticated farce…locates the searching quality of contemporary sexual attitudes as well as any this year.” Pauline Kael noted the comedy-fantasy quality, calling it “crazy bananas,” and “in a magical, pseudo-sultry way — it seems to be set in a poet’s dream of a red-light district.”

Our guests have all enjoyed lengthy show business careers, and among their highlights are Academy Award recognition for both Keith Carradine (Best Song Oscar, “I’m Easy” from 1975’s Nashville) and Lesley Anne Warren (Best Supporting Actress nomination, 1982’s ‘Victor, Victoria’). Warren has had an extensive career on stage, screen, and television, including TV’s ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Desperate Housewives’; memorable movie performances in ‘Clue’ and ‘Life Stinks’; and she gave a Golden Globe-nominated performance (among multiple Globe nominations and one win through the years) in Alan Rudolph’s ‘Songwriter’ in 1984.

Carradine has enjoyed a more than five decades career since his debut in Robert Altman’s ‘McCabe & Mrs. Miller’ in 1971, appeared memorably on Broadway in ‘Will Roger’s Follies,’ and collaborated with Rudolph several times, including ‘Welcome to L.A.,’ ‘The Moderns,’ and ‘Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle.’ Notably, both Warren and Carradine are still active in entertainment with numerous projects.

David Blocker has produced several Rudolph films: ‘Choose Me,’ ‘Trouble in Mind,’ ‘The Moderns’ (those three with co-producer Carolyn Pfeiffer), ‘Made in Heaven,’ and ‘Equinox.’ His numerous works in television garnered an Emmy for the TV movie ‘Don King: Only in America’ (1997).