New movies, Oct. 23-30: ‘Venom: Last Dance,’ ‘Conclave,’ My Name is Alfred Hitchcock’ and more
Major new releases, indie flicks, foreign films and art-house fare
Welcome to the latest edition of TV or Not TV’s curated guide to new movies screening in LA and OC this week. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for arts & entertainment at the Los Angeles Times.
New this week
• Opening Wednesday, Oct. 23
‘Whitney Houston: The Concert for a New South Africa’ The late, great singer is captured in a live post-apartheid performance in 1994 in this 2024 documentary. 115 mins. Not Rated. whitneysouthafrica.com
• Opening Thursday, Oct. 24
‘Desire Lines’ An Iranian American trans man seeks out the stories of other trans men in this LGBTQ-themed 2024 mix of sci-fi, fantasy and documentary. 84 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com
• Opening Friday, Oct. 25
‘American Cats: The Good, the Bad, and the Cuddly’ Comedian Amy Hoggart examines the controversial practice of cat declawing in this 2024 documentary. 88 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com
‘Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid’ Veteran Democratic political strategist James “The Ragin’ Cajun” Carville is profiled in the 2024 documentary. 98 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com
‘Conclave’ The Vatican begins the process of selecting a new leader for the Roman Catholic Church following the death of the sitting pope in this 2024 drama. Ralph Fiennes, John Lithgow, Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini co-star. 120 mins. Rated PG. fandango.com
‘Following Harry’ Legendary singer, actor and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte is celebrated in this 2024 documentary. 94 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com
‘Frank Miller: American Genius’ The influential comic book artist and writer is profiled in this 2021 documentary. 110 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com
‘From Embers’ A widow with an autistic son probes her husband’s untimely demise in this 2024 thriller. With Kara Wang, Kathryn Morris and “Glee’s” Matthew Morrison. 99 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com
‘High Tide’ A immigrant from Brazil finds himself in limbo after his American boyfriend dumps him in this 2024 romantic drama; in English and Portuguese with English subtitles. 101 mins. Rated R. laemmle.com
‘The Line’ A scholarship student learns about the dark side of fraternity life in this 2024 thriller. With Alex Wolff and Halle Bailey. 100 mins. Not Rated. fandango.com
‘The Man You Don’t Know’ Former President Donald Trump is profiled in testimonials from family, friends and followers in this 2024 documentary. 89 mins. Not Rated. fandango.com
‘Magpie’ A married couple find their lives upended when their young daughter is cast in a movie alongside a famous star in this 2024 thriller. With “Star Wars’” Daisy Ridley. 90 mins. Rated R. fandango.com
‘Memoir of a Snail’ A young bookworm finds her life upended following her twin brother’s mysterious disappearance in this dark 2024 animated fable. With the voices of Sarah Snook and Eric Bana. 94 mins. Rated R. fandango.com
‘The Mermaid’ A family finds their lives upended when the take in a mysterious young woman rescued from the sea in this 2024 horror tale. 105 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com
‘My Name is Alfred Hitchcock’ The influential British filmmaker known as the Master of Suspense discusses some of his most iconic works in rare archival recordings in this 2024 documentary. 120 mins. Not Rated. landmarktheatres.com
‘New Wave’ Filmmaker Elizabeth Ai explores the appeal of the musical genre to Vietnamese American teens in the 1980s in this 2024 documentary. In English and Vietnamese with English subtitles. 92 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com
‘Nocturnes’ Two filmmakers journey to forests of the Eastern Himalayas to learn about moths in this 2024 nature documentary. In English and Hindi with English subtitles. 83 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com
‘1 Million Followers’ An aspiring social media influencer learns about the dark side of internet fame in this 2024 thriller. 101 mins. Not Rated. fandango.com
‘Sultana’s Dream’ A Spanish artist journeys around India seeking a fabled female-led utopia in this animated 2023 tale. In English, Spanish, Italian, Basque, Hindi and Bengali with English subtitles. 86 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com
‘Union’ Employees at an Amazon distribution center in Staten Island, N.Y. attempt to unionize in this 2024 documentary. 104 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com
‘Venom: The Last Dance’ Tom Hardy reprises his dual role as reporter Eddie Brock and the bloodthirsty extraterrestrial parasite with whom he shares his body in this concluding 2024 installment of the sci-fi action trilogy. With Chiwetel Ejiofor and Juno Temple. 110 mins. Rated PG-13. venom.movie
‘Your Monster’ A jilted young actress makes a love connection with a beastly creature in this 2024 horror/rom-com mashup. With Melissa Barrera. 98 mins. Rated R. yourmonstermovie.com
‘Zurawski v Texas’ Women denied their reproductive rights under Texas’ strict abortion bans share their struggles in this 2024 documentary. 98 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com
• Opening Tuesday, Oct. 29
‘Our Church Thinks We’re Dating’ A pastor’s daughter and her longtime friend pretend to be a couple in this faith-based 2024 rom-com. 102 mins. Not Rated. ourchurchthinksweredating.com
• Opening Wednesday, Oct. 30
‘Luther: Never Too Much’ Grammy-winning R&B vocalist Luther Vandross is remembered by friends, family and fellow artists in this 2024 documentary. 101 mins. Not Rated. luther.film
For comprehensive listings of new releases plus noteworthy films currently in theaters, click here….