Films this week 1/21 – to – 1/22/2023
by Gary Palmucci | 19th January 2023 | Gary's Corner
New Plaza Cinema’s founder Norma Levy said in conversation this past weekend, “In the last three weeks, our cinema has been completely transformed.” She was right, and one man is responsible for that.
His name is Bill Nighy.
Bill’s beautifully understated performance in Living — and that film’s uplifting spirit — have drawn hundreds of new visitors to our Macaulay Honors College screen since its December 23 premiere, with many sold out shows and resounding waves of applause when the credits roll. The Oscar nominations will be announced next Tuesday and Bill Nighy is well-positioned to receive his first, long-overdue nod.
We’re grateful to distributor Sony Pictures Classics, especially executive VP Tom Prassis, for having faith in us. They’re also releasing Turn Every Page- the Adventures of Robert Caro and Robert Gottlieb, which we “sneak previewed” last Sunday with director Lizzie Gottlieb on hand. The film will be back for another show on January 22nd. Get your tickets now! And many more to come.
We’re also grateful to our partners at Macaulay Honors College who have worked diligently to ensure that we have an operating elevator. We are now fully accessible and excited to welcome our patrons who have been patiently waiting.
For those patrons who’ve asked us if we’ll continue to program new films alongside the continuing “boffo” engagements of Living and Turn Every Page, please note these two documentaries — One premiering this coming weekend, another on the next.
- Only In Theatres – Third generation Los Angeles arthouse exhibitor Greg Laemmle has truly embodied Tom Paine’s immortal line “These are the times that try men’s souls,” what with the pandemic and the rapidly shifting currents in how Americans receive their entertainment. This new documentary deftly chronicles the history and especially the last several turbulent years of the Laemmle Theatre circuit, comparable to our late, lamented Lincoln Plaza in its impeccable programming and influence on the life of a great city. Greg Laemmle himself, whom I count as both a valued professional colleague and friend over the past three decades, will join us for a discussion along with actor/director Austin Pendleton after Saturday’s 5:00 pm show, and director Raphael Sbarge and I will chat after Sunday’s 7:10 pm screening.
- Honoring Eric Bentley – a documentary tribute, in both testimony and song, to one of the heroes of 20th century American theatre, playwright, singer, translator and often pungently perceptive critic Eric Bentley, with appearances by a stellar cast of his admirers, including Tony Kushner, Philip Lopate, Karyn Levitt, and Austin Pendleton, who’ll return to host our screening on January 28. Tickets are now on sale, and check out the exuberant trailer on YouTube.
Gary Palmucci, Film Curator
New Plaza Cinema