Movie Alert - 8/11/2023
Here's all the good shit I highly recommend checking out.
Hot movie summer
There is so much awesome programming going on this summer. It really feels like movies are back, baby.
Secret Movie Club’s Secret Series
Secret Movie Club has been hinting for a few weeks now that they’re going to show Twin Peaks in its entirety at their warehouse district location. I got to go to a Twin Peaks retrospective that was structured in a similar way while I was a student at USC, and it’s a great show to watch with an audience. The full calendar is here, and the series is spread across several weeks this fall. You can get a pass for the entire thing, or tickets for specific dates. I probably won’t go to this as much as I’d like to because I hate the warehouse district location.
What’s the best theater in LA?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the Academy Museum is the best movie theater in LA. Chill audiences, great facilities, ability to show a variety of formats. Both the Geffen (big orb) and Mann (little underground one) have impressed me more than any other theater. A close second for me is probably the Aero.
Old Town Halloween Hits
Old Town Music Hall has unveiled a very fun fall line-up. I’ve mentioned before that this theater is fun for its historic organ, but it only has a digital projector. Still, there are some fun screenings going on in September and October. I’m thinking of going to the Faust screening which will have a live accompanied score on the organ. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and The Phantom of the Opera will also have live scores.
The beauty of a live score
We went to see Flesh and the Devil starring Greta Garbo at the Academy Museum last weekend, which was accompanied by a live piano score. There are very few pianists capable of improvising to a silent film, and the few that can are regulars at these screenings. It’s quite a sight to behold and the live score added so much to the film. If you’ve never seen a silent film projected with a live score, I highly recommend it.
Other random picks
A few screenings I’ve noticed popping up last minute at American Cinematheque that seem great. Dog Day Afternoon feels like it would be extremely fun with a crowd.
Dog Day Afternoon in 35mm at the Aero
David Lynch’s Dune in 35mm at the Aero
Blue Velvet in 35mm at the Los Feliz 3
Falling Down in 35mm at the Los Feliz 3