SoCal movies, Nov. 22-29: ‘Wish,’ ‘Maestro,’ ‘Napoleon,’ Valentino and more
Bradley Cooper conducts, Joaquin Phoenix rules, Rudy Valentino grabs the bull by the horns, and the stars align in a new Disney animated musical
Welcome to the latest edition 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 the Los Angeles Times’ Calendar.
When you wish upon a star …
New Releases
Opening Wednesday, Nov. 22
‘Fallen Leaves’ A woman in a dead-end job makes a connection with a co-worker in Aki Kaurismäki’s award-winning 2023 fable set in Helsinki. In Finnish with English subtitles. 81 mins. Not rated. laemmle.com
‘Maestro’ Bradley Cooper directs and stars in this 2023 biopic about legendary composer-conductor Leonard Bernstein and his longtime love, Felicia Montealegre. With Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke and Sarah Silverman. 129 mins. Rated R. netflix.com
‘Napoleon’ Joaquin Phoenix portrays the French army officer turned military commander turned emperor in director Ridley Scott’s epic 2023 historical drama. With Vanessa Kirby as Empress Joséphine. 257 mins. Rated R. napoleon.movie
‘Saltburn’ A student at Oxford spends the summer with an aristocratic classmate’s eccentric family in Oscar winner Emerald Fennell’s twisted 2023 satire. With Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike and Richard E. Grant. 131 mins. Rated R. laemmle.com
‘Wish’ A young girl and her companions challenge the ruler of a magical kingdom in Disney’s animated 2023 fantasy musical directed by Oscar winner Chris Buck (“Frozen”) and featuring the voices of Ariana DeBose and Chris Pine. Opens Wednesday, Nov. 22. 92 mins. Rated PG. movies.disney.com
Opening Friday, Nov. 24
‘American Symphony’ Filmmaker Matthew Heineman follows Grammy winner Jon Batiste and his wife, journalist Suleika Jaouad, as the couple faces a major health crisis in this 2023 documentary. 104 mins. Rated PG-13. laemmle.com
‘Billion Dollar Babies: The True Story of the Cabbage Patch Kids’ The popular 1980s kids toys that became a media sensation and a global obsession are recalled in Andrew Jenks’ 2023 documentary. Neil Patrick Harris narrates. 100 mins. Not rated. laemmle.com
Continuing…
‘After Death’ Survivors of near-death experiences share their stories in this faith-based 2023 documentary. Rated PG-13. Various theaters
‘Dream Scenario’ Nicolas Cage stars as a college professor who inexplicably starts showing up in the dreams of students, friends, colleagues and others in this 2023 fantasy comedy directed by Kristoffer Borgli. With Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera, Tim Meadows and Dylan Baker. 100 mins. Rated R. Various theaters
‘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
‘Fantastic Machine’ Filmmakers Axel Danielson and Maximilien Van Aertryck take a deep dive into the centuries-old origins of our image-obsessed culture in this 2023 documentary. In Swedish, French, German, Arabic, English with English subtitles. 85 minutes. laemmle.com
‘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
‘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 Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ Return with us now to dystopian society of Panem in this 2023 prequel to the YA-centric franchise based on the Suzanne Collins novels. With Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage and Viola Davis. 157 mins. PG-13. Various theaters
‘Journey to Bethlehem’ Jesus, Mary and Joseph! The story of the Nativity gets a musical makeover in this family-friendly 2023 tale. 98 mins. With Fiona Palomo and Antonio Banderas. 98 mins. Rated PG. 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. 206 mins. Rated R. Various theaters
‘The Marvels’ Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) is back in action — with a little help from her friends — in Nia DaCosta’s 2023 sci-fi sequel set in the MCU. With Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani and Samuel L. Jackson. 105 mins. Rated PG-13. Various theaters
‘May December’ Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore star in Todd Haynes’ darkly comic 2023 fable about an actress researching a role for a film based on the story of a woman who made tabloid headlines two decades earlier for her part in an age-inappropriate relationship. 118 mins. Rated R. Various theaters
‘Next Goal Wins’ A recently canned soccer coach is tasked with whipping the world’s worst national team — American Samoa — into fighting shape in Taika Waititi’s fact-based 2023 sports comedy. With Michael Fassbender, Elisabeth Moss and Will Arnett. 103 mins. Rated PG-13. 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. 95 mins. Rated PG. Various theaters
‘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. 110 mins. Rated R. Various theaters
‘Thanksgiving’ Horror-meister Eli Roth fleshes out his mock trailer from 2007’s “Grindhouse” into a full-length 2023 slasher flick. With Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae and Gina Gershon. 107 mins. Various theaters
‘Trolls Band Together’ Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake reprise their voice roles in this 2023 entry in the tune-filled, kid-friendly animated franchise based on the popular line of toys. 91 mins. Rated PG. Various theaters
Festivals, Events, Restorations & Revivals
‘The Strangler (L’Étrangleur)’ A delusional serial killer and a determined police detective play a game of cat and mouse on the mean streets of Paris in Paul Vecchiali’s little known yet highly influential 1970 thriller. Alamo Drafthouse, 700 W. 7th St., downtown L.A. Various showtimes, Nov. 17 thru 22. $9-$18. drafthouse.com
‘Babette’s Feast’ A French refugee turned housekeeper (Stéphane Audran) spices things up in a dreary village in 19th century Denmark in Gabriel Axel’s Oscar-winning 1987 fable based on a story by “Out of Africa” author Isak Dinesen; in Danish, Swedish, French with English subtitles. Laemmle Theaters. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22. 102 mins. Rated G. laemmle.com
‘Rush to Judgement’ New 4K restoration of Emile de Antonio’s black & white 1966 documentary about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on that dark day in Dallas, November ‘63. Alamo Drafthouse, 700 W. 7th St., downtown L.A. 2:25 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22. $18. drafthouse.com
‘Meet Me in St. Louis’ Clang, clang, clang! goes the trolley as Judy Garland belts out classic tune after classic tune in this glorious 1944 MGM musical directed by Garland’s eventual husband, Vicente Minnelli. Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St., El Segundo. 2:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25. $10, $12. (310) 322-2592. oldtownmusichall.org
‘Blood and Sand’ Retroformat Silent Films screens this 1922 drama starring the legendary Rudolph Valentino as a bullfighter who comes face to face with the dark side of fame. Presented with live musical accompaniment by Cliff Retallick. Lumiere Cinema at the Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26. $15. retroformat.org
‘The Lion in Winter’ Author Jeremy Arnold introduces a screening of the Oscar-winning 1968 historical dramedy starring Peter O’Toole as England’s Henry II and Katharine Hepburn as his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Anthony Hopkins and Timothy Dalton also star. Laemmle Royal, 11523 Santa Monica Blvd., West L.A. 154 mins. Rated PG. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29. $13, $16. laemmle.com
‘Simone: Woman of the Century’ Holocaust Museum LA co-presents a screening of Oliver Dahan’s award-winning 2022 biographical drama about Auschwitz survivor turned activist Simone Veil; in French with English subtitles. A Q&A with lead actress Elsa Zylberstein follows. AMC The Grove 14, 189 The Grove Drive, L.A. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29. Free; RSVP at holocaustmuseumla.org
‘What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears?’ This 2023 doc charts the rise and fall of the 1960s-70s rock band. A discussion with filmmaker John Scheinfeld and founding band member Bobby Columby follows. Grammy Museum, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., downtown L.A. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29. $20. (213) 725-5700. grammymuseum.org
‘The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill’ New 4K restoration of Judy Irving’s 2003 documentary about a Bay Area musician and his fine feathered friends. 83 mins. Rated G. Opens Nov. 29. $7-$13. laemmle.com