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Film Reviews & Previews

Albert Maysles 1926-2015: “I happily place my fate and faith in reality.” We open his penultimate film, IRIS, on May 1st.

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Prolific, pioneering documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles passed away last month. With his late brother David he made such acclaimed films as Grey Gardens and Gimme Shelter. He described himself this way: “As a documentarian I happily place my fate and faith in reality. It is my caretaker, the provider of subjects, themes, experiences – all endowed with the power of truth and the romance of discovery. And the closer I adhere to reality the more honest and authentic my tales. After all, the knowledge of the real world is exactly what we need to better understand and therefore possibly to love one another. It’s my way of making the world a better place.” Albert Maysles 1926-2015: "I happily place my fate and faith in reality." We open his penultimate film, IRIS, on May 1st.

We are proud to open Mr. Mayles penultimate film IRIS on May 1st at the Royal and Playhouse 7 and May 8th at the Town Center 5 and Claremont 5. The film is a portrait of Iris Apfel, the quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old style maven who has had an out-sized presence on the New York fashion scene for decades. More than a fashion film, the documentary is a story about creativity and how, even at Iris’ advanced age, a soaring free spirit continues to inspire. IRIS portrays a singular woman whose enthusiasm for fashion, art and people are life’s sustenance and reminds us that dressing, and indeed life, is nothing but an experiment. Despite the abundance of glamour in her current life, she continues to embrace the values and work ethic established during a middle-class Queens upbringing during the Great Depression. “I feel lucky to be working. If you’re lucky enough to do something you love, everything else follows.”

The film is widely admired. “Albert Maysles has delivered a gem.” (Graham Fuller, Screen International) “An exuberant portrait” (Manohla Dargis, New York Times). “A joyous celebration of creativity and razor-sharp wit sustained into old age, as evinced by outspoken nonagenarian fashion icon Iris Apfel, IRIS also offers proof of Albert Maysles’ continued vitality as a documentarian.” (Ronnie Schieb, Variety) “A captivating salute.” (David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo8jwJ_2l0c

MATISSE at the Tate: Celebrate the giant of modern art on the big screen.

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This Monday and Tuesday, April 27 and 28, Laemmle’s Culture Vulture series returns to two of the world’s great museums for MATISSE. Hailed as the most successful exhibition in Tate Modern’s history, you can still catch this once-in-a-lifetime Henri Matisse exhibition on a big screen, featuring exclusive new footage from MoMA New York.

Audiences are invited to enjoy an intimate, behind-the-scenes documentary about this once-in-a-lifetime blockbuster exhibition with expert contributions from those that knew Matisse as well as curators, historians, Tate director Nicholas Serota and MoMA director Glenn Lowry. Plus there are breathtaking specially commissioned performances by Royal Ballet principal dancer Zenaida Yanowsky and jazz musician Courtney Pine. Acclaimed British actor Simon Russell Beale brings insight and emotion to the words of Henri Matisse himself, while actor Rupert Young (Merlin) narrates. MATISSE at the Tate: Celebrate the giant of modern art on the big screen.

‘The way the film captured Matisse at work, bringing his artistry to life – including resonant readings from Simon Russell Beale – was genuinely inspiring’ – Apollo Magazine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiTqrWgUdHY

MATISSE at the Tate: Celebrate the giant of modern art on the big screen.

FELIX AND MEIRA Q&A’s Opening Weekend at the Royal and Town Center 5

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FELIX AND MEIRA is a calling card for its young director, Maxime Giroux; a story of an unconventional romance between two people living vastly different realities mere blocks away from one another. Each lost in their everyday lives, Meira (Hadas Yaron), a Hasidic Jewish wife and mother and Félix (Martin Dubreuil), a secular loner mourning the recent death of his estranged father, unexpectedly meet in a local bakery in Montreal’s Mile End district. What starts as an innocent friendship becomes more serious as the two wayward strangers find comfort in one another. As Felix opens Meira’s eyes to the world outside of her tight-knit Orthodox community, her desire for change becomes harder for her to ignore, ultimately forcing her to choose: remain in the life that she knows or give it all up to be with Félix. Giroux’s film is a poignant and touching tale of self-discovery set against the backdrops of Montreal, Brooklyn, and Venice, Italy.

FELIX AND MEIRA co-star Luzer Twersky will participate in Q&A’s after the 7:10 PM screenings at the Royal on Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25 and at the Town Center after the 4:30 PM shows on Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HFbAjkmeYQ

During the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, New Drama ‘1915’ Opens at the Music Hall, Playhouse and Town Center

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This year marks a solemn occasion, the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. There are, of course, many events around town dedicated to remembrance as well as action. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles is planning an ecumenical service at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on April 14. United Armenian Council of Los Angeles is planning a march on April 24 and a commemoration of the 25th. A complete list is here.

This Friday we will open the drama-thriller 1915 at the Music Hall, Playhouse and Town Center. The film follows a man on a mission to bring the ghost of this forgotten tragedy back to life. More than a cutting-edge mystery, 1915 is also an explosive call to action against the silence and denial that have fueled a century of genocide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyo-G3dhMRM

Finally, there is still time to join and/or donate to this Sunday’s Walk to End Genocide at Pan Pacific Park, an extremely good cause supported by the Laemmle Charitable Foundation. Greg and Tish Laemmle will be there.

During the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, New Drama '1915' Opens at the Music Hall, Playhouse and Town Center

 

THE ROAD WITHIN Q&A’s at the NoHo and Music Hall this Weekend

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After the passing of his mother, Vincent (Robert Sheehan), a young man with Tourette syndrome, begins treatment at a center for those dealing with similar psychological disorders. Soon he finds company in Marie (Zoë Kravitz), a young woman at the center for her anorexia, and Alex (Dev Patel), his OCD-stricken roommate. These unlikely companions, with clashing personalities, find themselves on an eventful three-day journey that cements their friendship. With Dr. Rose (Kyra Sedgwick), the head of the center, and Vincent’s father (Robert Patrick) in pursuit, Vincent, Marie and Alex learn they’re perfectly capable of living their lives according to their own rules, while breaking some others in the meantime, in this coming-of-age road comedy.

The ROAD WITHIN filmmakers will be participating in Q&A’s all weekend at the NoHo 7 and Music Hall on the following schedule:

Friday April 17th

  • 7:30 PM Q&A with actor Robert Sheehan & Producer Brent Emery at Music Hall

Saturday April 18th

  • 2:30 PM Q&A with filmmaker Gren Wells at Music Hall
  • 7:30 PM Q&A with filmmaker Gren Wells and producer Michael Helfant at Music Hall
  • 7 PM with actress Ali Hillis and producer Brent Emery at the NoHo

Sunday April 19th

  • 1:40pm Q&A with filmmaker Gren Wells at the NoHo
  • 4:20pm Q&A with filmmaker Gren Wells, actor Robert Sheehan and producer Michael Helfant at the Noho
    2:30pm Q&A with with actress Ali Hillis and producer Brent Emery at the Music Hall

Watch the 2015 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Dinner and Awards + the Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree, Gena Rowlands

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From film critic Chuck Wilson:

“The video of the 2015 L.A. Film Critics Association dinner has been posted. It was a grand night, and of course, a very special one for me, as I was able to help present the Career Achievement Award to Gena Rowlands. If you go to 32:30, you can see Tom Hardy’s charming Best Actor acceptance speech, and that leads into the Gena tribute…among the many gems of the night: a lovely presentation to Leonard Maltin (1:04), and amazing speeches by Ava DuVernay (1:32), Wes Anderson (1:45), and Patricia Arquette (1:50) and Richard Linklater (2:00).”

Watch director Matt Amato‘s video tribute to Ms. Rowlands first:

http://vimeo.com/116102999

And here is the rest of the ceremony in its entirety:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2thN7UrQv4

Cedars Sinai’s Jewish Wisdom & Wellness Screening of THE FAREWELL PARTY April 28 at the Music Hall

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Cedars Sinai's Jewish Wisdom & Wellness Screening of THE FAREWELL PARTY April 28 at the Music HallRight to Die laws were back in the news following the November 1, 2014 death of Brittany Maynard. Maynard was a California resident who moved to Oregon to take advantage of that state’s Death With Dignity law. Since her death, two California State Senators have proposed a similar measure in California.

Serving as an entry point to discussing this issue is the hit Israeli comedy (yes, comedy), THE FAREWELL PARTY.

Together with Cedars Sinai Medical Center, we are pleased to offer an advance screening of THE FAREWELL PARTY on Tuesday, April 28 at 7:30 PM at the Music Hall Theatre in Beverly Hills. The screening is part of the Jewish Wisdom & Wellness program that is being produced by Cedars with events throughout the city.

Following the film, there will be a PANEL DISCUSSION in the theatre. Join Rabbis Susan Laemmle and Jason Weiner, ethicist Dr. Stuart Finder and grief expert Michele Prince, Director of OUR HOUSE Grief Support Center as moderator for a Jewish perspective on issues raised in the movie including aging with dignity, dementia, and end of life care. Although this is a movie, the issues in this movie are ones that many people have to deal with daily. Let’s take dementia for example. Living with a relative with dementia can be tough for many families, which is why some may take it upon themselves to place their elderly relative in a facility like Lakeside Manor Assisted Living, so they can be looked after better. It’s about making choices for the wellbeing of family and friends. The Farewell Party will be a film that many people will be able to relate to.

Tickets are $18 for the general public, but significant discounts are available for those purchasing tickets with their Premiere Cards. We will begin our regular engagements of THE FAREWELL PARTY starting June 5 at the Royal, Playhouse and Town Center, but we encourage you to take advantage of this early screening as the panel screening promises to address this complex issue in a way that will deepen the issues and emotions raised by the film.

ALEX OF VENICE Actor-Director Chris Messina this Friday at the Royal

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ALEX OF VENICE follows workaholic attorney Alex (Elizabeth Winstead) is forced to reinvent her life after her husband (Chris Messina, who also directed th film) suddenly leaves. Now faced with the humdrum and sometimes catastrophic events that permeate the fabric of our lives, Alex discovers both a vulnerability and inner strength she had not yet tapped all while trying to hold together her broken family.

We open ALEX OF VENICE this Friday at the Royal.  Actor-director Chris Messina will participate in a Q&A after the 7:45 PM screening on Friday, April 17.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0_JydvJ9-I