SoCal movies, Nov. 1-7: 'Priscilla,' 'Pather Panchali,' 'Food and Film' and more
The King's better half gets her very own bio-pic, a masterpiece of Indian cinema screens in Pasadena, and Werner Herzog eats his shoe. You heard me right.
Welcome to another installment of TV or Not TV’s curated guide to new and classic movies, events and revivals, film festivals and more screening in LA and OC this week. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for arts and entertainment at the Los Angeles Times.
Bon appétit!
NEW RELEASES
Opening this week...
‘Four Daughters’ This acclaimed 2023 documentary from Kaouther Ben Hania mixes interviews and dramatic reenactments to tell the story of a Tunisian woman and her children, two of whom became radicalized by the Islamic State terrorist group. In Arabic with English subtitles. Not rated. Opens Thursday, Nov. 2. Laemmle Royal
‘In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50’ The most progressive of all British prog-rock bands and its illustrious leader, guitarist Robert Fripp, are back in the spotlight in Toby Amies’ decades-spanning 2023 documentary. Not Rated. Opens Thursday, Nov. 2. Alamo Drafthouse, Laemmle Noho 7
‘Priscilla’ The life and times of Priscilla Presley, wife of music legend, Elvis Presley, are dramatized in this 2023 biopic written and directed by Sofia Coppola and based on the memoir Elvis and Me. Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi star. Rated R. Opens Thursday, Nov. 2. Various theaters
‘What Happens Later’ David Duchovny and Meg Ryan play former lovers of a certain age who just never quite got over each other in this 2023 rom-com directed by Ryan. Rated R. Opens Thursday, Nov. 2. Various theaters
‘All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt’ Raven Jackson’s 2023 drama follows the struggles and triumphs of a Black woman in Mississippi from childhood into adulthood. With Kaylee Nicole Johnson and Zainab Jah. Rated PG. Opens Friday, Nov. 3. Landmark Sunset
‘Beyond Utopia’ This 2023 documentary from Madeleine Gavin details the desperate measures some are willing to take to escape North Korea’s repressive regime. In Korean with English subtitles. Rated PG-13. Opens Friday, Nov. 3. Laemmle Theaters, Lumiere Cinema
‘Deep Rising’ The environmental devastation wrought by powerful companies attempting to mine the ocean floor for rare metals is illuminated in Matthieu Rytz’s 2023 documentary. “Aquaman’s” Jason Momoa narrates. Not rated. Opens Friday, Nov. 3. Laemmle NoHo 7
‘Helen’s Dead’ And everyone’s a suspect in K. Asher Levin’s 2023 mystery comedy. With Dylan Gelulah and Emile Hirsch. Not rated. Opens Friday, Nov. 3. Laemmle Town Center 5
‘The Marsh King’s Daughter’ Daisy Ridley (“The Force Awakens”) stars as a woman on a mission to confront a notorious criminal who just so happens to be her father in Neil Burger’s 2023 thriller. Ben Mendelssohn also stars. Rated R. Various theaters
‘Rustin’ Emmy winner Colman Domingo portrays the late, great civil-rights activist Bayard Rustin in this star-studded 2023 bio-drama directed by George C. Wolfe. With Chris Rock, CCH Pounder, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Jeffrey Wright and Audra McDonald. Rated PG-13. Opens Friday, Nov. 3. Various theaters
‘Subject’ What’s it like to be the subject of a documentary? That is the subject of this 2023 documentary featuring protagonists from such classic docs as “The Staircase,” “Hoop Dreams” and “Capturing the Friedmans.” Directed by Camilla Hall Jennifer Tiexiera. Not rated. Opens Friday, Nov. 3. Laemmle Glendale
‘Twice Colonized’ Inuit lawyer Aaju Peter fights the powers that be on behalf of Indigenous peoples in Greenland, the Canadian Arctic and elsewhere in this 2023 documentary directed by Lin Alluna. In English, Greenlandic, Danish, Inuktitut with English subtitles. Not rated. Opens Friday, Nov. 3. Laemmle Town Center 5
Continuing…
‘After Death’ Survivors of near-death experiences share their stories in this faith-based 2023 documentary. Rated PG-13. Various theaters
‘The Creator’ A former special-forces soldier (John David Washington) is tasked with hunting down the mysterious developer of an advanced artificial intelligence in “Rogue One” filmmaker Gareth Edwards’ atmospheric 2023 sci-fi fable. With Ken Watanabe, Allison Janney and Gemma Chan. Various theaters. Rated R.
‘The Delinquents’ A bank employee in Buenos Aires hatches a scheme to feather his retirement nest in Rodrigo Moreno’s acclaimed 2023 comedy-drama. In Spanish with English subtitles. Not rated. Laemmle Royal
‘The Exorcist: Believer’ The devil’s in the details in David Gordon Green’s 2023 sequel to William Friedkin’s blockbuster 1973 supernatural thriller based on the William Peter Blatty novel. With Leslie Odom Jr. and original “Exorcist” co-star Ellen Burstyn. Rated R. Various theaters
‘Fingernails’ Oscar nominee Jessie Buckley (“The Lost Daughter”) stars in Christos Nikou’s 2023 sci-fi fable about an institute dedicated to helping people find the perfect mate. Riz Amed and “The Bear’s” Jeremy Allen White also star. Rated R. Various theaters
‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ A pizza parlor’s ursine mascot and his animatronic pals go haywire in this 2023 horror comedy based on the video game series. Various theaters. Rated PG-13. Various theaters
‘Freelance’ A former special-forces soldier (John Cena) provides security for a disgraced journalist (“Community’s” Alison Brie) on her way to interview a South American dictator in this 2023 action comedy. Rated R. Various theaters
‘A Haunting in Venice’ Director and star Kenneth Branagh returns as Agatha Christie’s mustachioed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in this 2023 mystery tale. With Tina Fey and Michelle Yeoh. Rated PG-13. Various theaters
‘The Holdovers’ “Sideways” filmmaker Alexander Payne and co-star Paul Giamatti reunite for this 2023 comedy about an instructor at a New England prep school tasked with supervising a motley crew of campus-bound students over the holidays. Rated R. Various theaters
‘The Killer’ Michael Fassbender plays a meticulous and methodical assassin who goes on the lam after a rare screw-up makes him a wanted man in director David Fincher’s globetrotting 2023 action thriller. With Tilda Swinton. Rated R. Various theaters
‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone head the cast of Martin Scorsese’s epic 2023 historical drama about a series of murders of Native Americans in the Osage Nation in 1920s Oklahoma after oil was discovered on tribal lands. Rated R. Various theaters
‘Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie’ Your kids’ favorite canine heroes suit up for this animated 2023 adventure based on the popular TV series. Rated PG. Various theaters
FESTIVALS, EVENTS & REVIVALS
‘8 ½’ Marcello Mastroianni stars as a Fellini-esque filmmaker in 60th anniversary screenings of Frederico Fellini’s Oscar-winning 1963 fable. In Italian with English subtitles. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1. $7-$13. Laemmle Theaters
GuadaLAjara Film Festival This celebration of cinema from across Latin America returns with a mix of in-person screenings, virtual programming, workshops and more. Various locations, downtown L.A. Various showtimes, Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 1-3. In-person: $10, $20; some free events. Tickets, info and schedules at glaff.org
The Los Angeles International Film Festival The annual showcase for edgy independent cinema returns. Laemmle Monica Film Centre, 1332 2nd St., Santa Monica. Various times and prices, Wednesday Nov. 1 through Sunday, Nov. 5. Tickets, info and schedules at laiff.org
‘Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Live in Concert’ A live all-female orchestra and a turntablist perform the hip hop-influenced score live to picture to accompany a screening of this animated 2018 superhero flick. Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Nov. 2-3. (323) 468-1770. $49 and up. broadwayinhollywood.com
‘Food and Film: Amuse Bouche’ Renowned Bay Area chef and restaurateur Alice Waters of Chez Panisse fame appears along with a selection of culinary-themed short films — ranging from Louis Lumière’s minute-long 1895 silent “Repas de bébé” to Les Blank’s 1980 docu-short “Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe” — in this new entry in the UCLA Film & Television Archive‘s quarterly film series. Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3. Free; no advance reservations; first come, first served. cinema.ucla.edu
‘Reservation Dogs’ A screening of two episodes of this hit FX comedy-drama about a group of Indigenous teens in Oklahoma includes a discussion with members of the creative team behind the show. Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. Free; no advance reservations; first come, first served. cinema.ucla.edu
‘Pather Panchali’ Taking place over the next three Saturdays, screenings of Satyajit Ray’s acclaimed “Apu Trilogy” get underway with the master filmmaker’s essential 1955 coming-of-drama about a young boy and his family in rural Bengal. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition “Benevolent Beings: Buddhas and Bodhisattvas from South and Southeast Asia.” In Bengali with English subtitles. Norton Simon Museum, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. Free with museum admission ($15, $18; ages 18 and younger and students with ID, free). nortonsimon.org
‘The Last Waltz’ The Band take the stage once more in 45th anniversary screenings of Martin Scorsese’s top-flight 1978 concert doc about the storied roots-rock group. With Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, et al. 4 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5. $18. AMC and Regal Theaters
The Hollywood Brazilian Film Festival Taking places at venues across L.A., this annual showcase for feature films, documentaries and shorts from Brazil returns for a 15th year. Various showtimes and venues, Monday, Nov. 6 through Saturday, Nov. 11. $10-$13 (opening night, invite only). Tickets, info and schedules at hbrff.org