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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!

“One of the most visually ravishing pictures of all time,” THE CONFORMIST opens February 3 at the Royal, February 10 at the Laemmle Glendale.

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Never has The Conformist been more timely. The new restoration of Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1970 masterpiece about a repressed Italian who becomes a fascist hitman is inspiring a lot of thoughtful journalism. “It’s not the ideology that attracts people to fascism,” writes Eric Alterman in the American Prospect. “It’s the permission it offers to ordinary people to behave like thugs.” In his recent New York Magazine/Vulture review, headlined “It’s Time to See The Conformist Again,” critic Bilge Ebiri describes the film as “one of the most visually ravishing pictures of all time.” Ebiri’s piece is well worth excerpting at some length:

“All great films, at some point, ask the question: Who am I? The greatest films go beyond asking this on a narrative level; through their very form, they embody the question of identity. And what makes Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Conformist (1970) the very greatest of movies isn’t just its staggering, legendary beauty, but its maze-like journey into its protagonist’s — and, by extension, its creator’s — mind.

“The Conformist has just been rereleased in a lovely new 4K restoration, which is certainly cause for celebration given that it’s one of the most visually ravishing pictures of all time. (It’s currently playing New York’s Film Forum, and will soon travel around the country.) There’s no real debate over Bertolucci’s achievement; this is one of those canonical titles whose place in history is a given at this point. You can see its influence in The Godfather series, in Taxi Driver, in movies as varied as Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, Dick Tracy, Call Me by Your Name, and Clueless — and yet, it remains as startling and revolutionary as it was upon original release, in part because few filmmakers nowadays are willing to embrace the sensuous and the monstrous at the same time. You never quite know what you’re supposed to feel at any given moment of The Conformist, because it asks you to feel everything.”

  

Some praise from past years:

“Bertolucci’s boldest and most expressive film.” – Calum Marsh, Village Voice

“It’s easy to overlook how stark The Conformist‘s political and allegorical message is because it’s just so damn beautiful.” – Aja Romano, Vox

“One of the greatest-looking movies ever made.” – Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader

“Bernardo Bertolucci is a master of turning harsh realities into free-flowing dreams and fantasies of sex and power into bracing, often uncomfortable moments of truth…The Conformist is perhaps his richest and most beautiful work.” – Max O’Connell, IndieWire

We are proud to open The Conformist at the Royal on February 3 and the Laemmle Glendale on February 10.

“If watching a Jafar Panahi film is something of a political act, then it is also a soul-nourishing one.” NO BEARS opens Friday at the Royal, January 20 at the Claremont, Glendale and Town Center.

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A statement from Jafar Panahi, unjustly imprisoned since July 2022 by the fascist theocrats in Tehran:

“We are filmmakers. We are part of Iranian independent cinema. For us, to live is to create. We create works that are not commissioned. Therefore, those in power see us as criminals. Independent cinema reflects its own times. It draws inspiration from society. And cannot be indifferent to it.

“The history of Iranian cinema witnesses the constant and active presence of independent directors who have struggled to push back censorship and to ensure the survival of this art. While on this path, some were banned from making films, others were forced into exile or reduced to isolation. And yet, the hope of creating again is a reason for existence. No matter where, when, or under what circumstances, an independent filmmaker is either creating or thinking about creation. We are filmmakers, independent ones.”

Some of the copious praise for No Bears, the film he finished just before being arrested:

“If watching a Jafar Panahi film is something of a political act, then it is also a soul-nourishing one.” ~ Barry Hertz, Globe and Mail

“[Panahi’s] work has not astonished like this in some time.” ~ Glenn Kenny, RogerEbert.com
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“There’s an urgency and a currency to No Bears that is evident even if you didn’t know Panahi is currently serving a six-year sentence for “producing anti-government propaganda,” both of which add a sting to its final act. You leave feeling like you’ve just seen a truly extraordinary late work produced by one of the era’s greatest working auteurs, quickly followed by the sense of experiencing a sucker punch when you remember that the man driving away from the scene of the crime onscreen isn’t able to go anywhere once that screen fades to black.” ~ David Fear, Rolling Stone
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“Panahi, whose courage and honesty are beyond doubt, has made a movie that calls those very qualities into question, a movie about its own ethical limits and aesthetic contradictions.” ~ A.O. Scott, New York Times
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“It’s a fierce critique of small-town traditionalism and religious dogma. But while this is an angry and ultimately devastating movie, it’s also a surprisingly playful and inventive one.” ~ Justin Chang, NPR’s Fresh Air
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“There’s no way to watch this film without feeling mournful, or fearing for the man who made it.” ~ Stephanie Zacharek, TIME Magazine

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

The 2023 Oscar Shortlisted Documentary Features.

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Since the 2009 Oscars, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has nominated ten feature films per year for Best Picture, the only category to honor more than five titles. The advance notice of the shortlist for the feature documentaries comes close to that kind of inclusivity and we’re happy to shine a projector bulb light on ten of the fifteen of them this month. We currently have a daily engagement of ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED in Glendale and are adding another this Friday in Claremont. We’ll screen CHILDREN OF THE MIST in Glendale, Santa Monica and Claremont as part of our Culture Vulture series. We will screen ten of the remaining fifteen of these brilliant movies this weekend and next at the Laemmle Glendale and at the Monica Film Center:

ALL THAT BREATHES: Amidst the darkening backdrop of Delhi’s terrible air pollution and escalating violence, two brothers devote their lives to protecting Black Kite raptors.
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BAD AXE: An Asian-American family in Trump’s rural America fights to keep their restaurant and American dream alive in the face of a pandemic, neo-Nazis, and generational scars from the Killing Fields.
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FIRE OF LOVE: Intrepid scientists/lovers Katia and Maurice Krafft died in a volcanic explosion doing the very thing that brought them together: studying volcanoes by capturing the most explosive imagery ever recorded.
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HALLELUJAH: LEONARD COHEN, A JOURNEY, A SONG: A focus on one of his masterpieces.
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HIDDEN LETTERS: Two Chinese women try to balance their lives as independent women while confronting the traditional gender roles that define but also oppress them.
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THE JANES: Using code names, blindfolds and safe houses, a clandestine network of woman built an underground service for women seeking safe, affordable, illegal abortions.
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LAST FLIGHT HOME: A stunning verité account of a family confronting the end of an extraordinary life.
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MOONAGE DAYDREAM: A cinematic exploration of Bowie’s genius.
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RETROGRADE: The last months of the war in Afghanistan through the experiences of Green Berets and the Afghan officers they trained.
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THE TERRITORY: A young Indigenous Brazilian leader and his mentor defend the Amazon and an uncontacted group living deep in the forest.

Culture Vulture 2023 starts off strong in Glendale, Newhall and Santa Monica with Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux.

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Happy New Year! We’re welcoming 2023 with five powerful titles in our long-running Culture Vulture series: The Super 8 Years; Children of the Mist; Filmmakers for the Prosecution screening with Nuremberg: Its Lesson for Today; and Geographies of Solitude.

The Super 8 Years, January 23 & 24: One of France’s most respected contemporary writers, 2022 Nobel Prize laureate Annie Ernaux’s intimate and autobiographical body of work captures the inner lives of women alongside societal and cultural changes in France from the 1960s onwards. A natural extension of her literary work in its form and content, The Super 8 Years shows the pastimes, lifestyle and aspirations of a social class in post-1960s France through the lens of the Ernaux family archive. Read Manohla Dargis’ rave review in the New York Times: “The film’s images have faded, but the memories they’ve stirred up are vivid and full of feeling…short, potent, quietly elegiac.”

Children of the Mist, January 30 & 31: In a village hidden in the mist-shrouded Northwest Vietnamese mountains resides an indigenous Hmong community, home to 12-year-old Di, part of the first generation of her people with access to formal education. A free spirit, Di happily recounts her experiences to Vietnamese filmmaker Diễm Hà Lệ, who planted herself within Di’s family over the course of three years to document this unique coming of age. “Diem’s intimate access and sensitive approach, together with editor Swann Dubus’ keen eye for texture and detail, make for a compelling and eye-opening drama.” ~ Nikki Baughan, Screen Daily

Filmmakers for the Prosecution screening with Nuremberg: Its Lesson for Today, February 6 & 7: Filmmakers: Near the end of WWII, filmmaker John Ford, head of the Field Photographic Branch of the OSS, assigns the Schulberg brothers to carry out a special mission: track down German footage and photographs of Nazi atrocities in order to convict the leaders scheduled to stand trial. Nuremberg: One of the greatest courtroom dramas in history, the film shows how prosecutors built their case against Nazi war criminals using their own films and records. “Haunting and vivid. What this documentary shows is how a vital and indispensable principle of humanity was restored.” [on Nuremberg] – A. O. Scott,  New York Times

From ‘Filmmakers for the Prosecution.’

Geographies of Solitude, February 13 & 14: An immersion into the rich ecosystem of Sable Island, a remote sliver of land in the Northwest Atlantic, the film follows Zoe Lucas, a naturalist and environmentalist who has lived there for over 40 years collecting, cleaning and documenting marine litter that persistently washes up on the island’s shores. Shot on 16mm and created using eco-friendly filmmaking techniques, Geographies of Solitude is a playful and reverent collaboration with the natural world filled with arresting images and made with an activist spirit. “A work of art.” – Marc Glassman, POV Magazine “A beguiling and poetic film.” – Wendy Ide, Screen Daily

From ‘Geographies of Solitude.’

Tickets for all the films are now on sale. Couple changes: west side Culture Vulture screenings are now at the Monica Film Center instead of the Royal and the Monday screenings will start at 7 PM instead of 7:30 PM. Also screening at our Glendale and Santa Clarita theaters.

Which are the ten best movies of 2022?

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We all like a good Top Ten list. They’re fun to make, entertaining to read, and amusing to argue over. In 2003 I included Love, Actually on my Top Ten list and an erudite film critic friend practically did a spit take he was so shocked I would put such an admittedly middlebrow entertainment among my other choices, which were more esoteric and in line with his tastes. But, hey! Enjoy the art you enjoy and don’t be ashamed of it.

This is a roundabout way of saying we’ll be collecting your Top Ten lists the first week of 2023. We’ll include the entry form in that week’s newsletter and, assuming he catches up on the buzzy films he hasn’t seen yet, Greg Laemmle’s Top Ten list. By submitting your list you’ll be entered into a raffle for free Laemmle gift cards!

For inspiration, here are some Top Ten lists the nation’s leading film critics have submitted and — good news! — many of the titles — No Bears, One Fine Morning, EO, and Return to Seoul — are either now playing or coming soon so you can see them as they were meant to be seen, theatrically. They are hyperlinked below.

Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times
1. No Bears
2. Aftersun
3. The Eternal Daughter
4. Tár
5. Benediction
6. Decision to Leave
7. Kimi
8. Crimes of the Future
9. One Fine Morning
10. EO
11. Nope

Manohla Dargis, New York Times

1. EO
2. Petite Maman
3. Nope
4. No Bears
5. Kimi
6. The Eternal Daughter
7. Happening
8. Decision to Leave
9. Expedition Content
10. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed

From NO BEARS. Courtesy of Sideshow and Janus Films.

Owen Gleiberman, Variety

  1. Tár
  2. The Fabelmans
  3. The Batman
  4. Bros
  5. Navalny
  6. Holy Spider
  7. Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody
  8. Vengeance
  9. Turn Every Page: The Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb
  10. 13: The Musical

Peter Debruge, Variety

  1. Tár
  2. Saint Omer
  3. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
  4. Playground
  5. The Batman
  6. Corsage
  7. Happening
  8. After Yang
  9. The Whale
  10. You Won’t Be Alone

Alissa Wilkinson, Vox

1. Tár
2. Aftersun
3. No Bears
4. Return to Seoul
5. Riotsville, USA
6. We Met in Virtual Reality
7. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed
8. Emily the Criminal
9. The Cathedral
10. Top Gun: Maverick

The critics of RogerEbert.com

1. The Banshees of Inisherin
2. The Fabelmans
3. Decision to Leave
4. Tár
5. Aftersun
6. Nope
7. No Bears
8. Everything Everywhere All at Once
9. RRR
10. Babylon