SoCal new movies, Dec. 13-20: ‘Wonka,’ ‘Monster,’ ‘The Zone of Interest’ and more
SoCal new movies, Dec. 13-20: ‘Wonka,’ ‘Monster,’ ‘The Zone of Interest’ and more
An iconoclastic French filmmaker is remembered, while an acclaimed Japanese director tells tales out of school. And maybe you can’t, but the candy man can!
Welcome to the latest edition of TV or Not TV’s curated guide to new and current releases screening in LA and OC this week. I’m Matt Cooper, former listings coordinator for the Los Angeles Times’ Calendar.
(And if you are looking for the classic movies roundup, it is now its own separate newsletter, but will still post Wednesday mornings)
Lights, camera and … action!
New Releases
• Opening Thursday, Dec. 14
‘Beyond Bars’ Former San Francisco district attorney Chesa Boudin, the offspring of two incarcerated members of the radical 1960-70s group the Weather Underground, shares his story in Robert Greenwald’s 2023 documentary. 98 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com
‘SOMM: Cup of Salvation’ The origin of wine and its importance to cultures both ancient and modern are explored in Jason Wise’s 2023 documentary. 90 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com
• Opening Friday, Dec. 15
‘American Fiction’ A frustrated Black novelist (Jeffrey Wright) achieves commercial and literary success for all the wrong reasons in this satirical 2023 tale from writer-director Cord Jefferson. With Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae and Sterling K. Brown. 117 mins. Rated R. AMC Theaters
‘Angel Baby’ Things take an even darker turn after a couple dealing with an unimaginable loss move to a remote cabin in the woods in Douglas Tait’s 2023 horror drama. With Isabel Cueva and Rebecca DeMornay. 100 mins. Not Rated. lumierecinemala.com
‘Anselm’ Veteran filmmaker Wim Wenders explores the life and work of acclaimed painter and sculptor Anselm Kiefer in this 2023 documentary shot in 3D and 6K-resolution. In German and English with English subtitles. 93 mins. Not Rated. amctheatres.com, laemmle.com
‘Concrete Utopia’ Residents of the only apartment building left standing in Seoul after a devastating earthquake band together to fend off outsiders in this 2023 disaster drama directed by Tae-hwa Eom. In Korean with English subtitles. 130 mins. Not Rated. amctheatres.com, laemmle.com
‘The Face of the Faceless’ Rani Maria, a Catholic activist and social worker in India who dedicated her life to helping the most marginalized members of society, is remembered in this 2023 bio-drama directed by Shaison P. Ouseph. In Hindi with English subtitles. 136 mins. Not Rated. laemmle.com
‘Godard Cinema’ The late filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard, one of the pillars of the French New Wave movement of the 1960s, is saluted in this 2022 documentary directed by Cyril Leuthy. In French with English subtitles. 100 mins. Not Rated. Screening as a double feature with “Trailer of the Film That Will Never Exist: Phony Wars,” which includes footage from Godard’s final unfinished project. 20 mins. laemmle.com
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