Landmark Theatres Film Club Q&A Podcast

Dana Nachman (director/co-writer) and Kurt Kuenne (co-writer) at The Landmark in West Los Angeles. Moderated by film critic Claudia Puig. Film synopsis: One child. One wish. Millions touched. Who would have thought a 5-year-old boy who fought leukemia would transform a city and a nation for a day? Batkid Begins tells the heartwarming story of Miles Scott, the young cancer survivor who captured the world's attention when the Make-A-Wish Foundation granted his request to be his favorite superhero for a day. On November 15, 2013, San Francisco was transformed into Gotham City where tens of thousands of people showed up in person and more than a billion people, including the President, took to social media to cheer on The Batkid.

Jason Schwartzman (actor) at The Landmark in West Los Angeles. Moderated by Ted Mundorff, CEO/President of Landmark Theatres. Film synopsis: Alex, Emily and their son RJ have recently moved to Los Angeles' Eastside from Seattle. Feeling lost in a new city, they are desperate to find their first new friends. After a chance meeting with Kurt at the neighborhood park, they gladly agree to join family pizza night at the home. But as it gets later and the kids go to bed, the family “playdate” becomes increasingly more revealing and bizarre as the couples begin to open up. Writer/director Patrick Brice's painfully funny take on thirty-something sexual frustration and parenthood features memorable lead performances by Taylor Schilling, Adam Scott, Jason Schwartzman and Judith Godrèche. Each actor nimbly balances the script's sudden emotional turns from surprising honestly to complete embarrassment.

Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (director) and Thomas Mann (actor) at The Landmark in West Los Angeles. Moderated by Scott Mantz from Access Hollywood. Film synopsis: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is the uniquely funny, moving story of Greg (Thomas Mann), a high school senior who is trying to blend in as anonymously as possible, avoiding deeper relationships as a survival strategy for navigating the social minefield that is teenage life. He even describes his constant companion Earl (R.J. Cyler), with whom he makes short film parodies of classic movies, as more of a 'co-worker’ than a best friend. But when Greg’s mom (Connie Britton) insists he spend time with Rachel (Olivia Cooke)—a girl in his class who has just been diagnosed with cancer—he slowly discovers how worthwhile the true bonds of friendship can be. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival.

Brian and Melinda Wilson, Bill Pohlad (director) and Claire Rudnick Polstein (producer) at The Landmark in West Los Angeles. Moderated by Scott Mantz from Access Hollywood. Film synopsis: Love & Mercy presents an unconventional portrait of Brian Wilson, the mercurial singer, songwriter and leader of The Beach Boys. Set against the era-defining catalog of Wilson's music, the film intimately examines the personal voyage and ultimate salvation of the icon whose success came at extraordinary personal cost. Starring Paul Dano and John Cusack as the younger and elder Wilson, Love & Mercy also features Elizabeth Banks and Paul Giamatti.

Marah Strauch (writer/director) and Jean Boenish (the world’s first female BASE jumper) at The Landmark in West Los Angeles. Moderated by Kara Werner, entertainment reporter for Vulture, Cosmopolitan, Playboy and Yahoo. Film synopsis: In the freewheeling 1970s, what is now considered an “extreme sport” was considered simply crazy. Jumping off a building or bridge with only a few moments to release your parachute was not only seemingly illegal, it was deemed suicidal, even by many seasoned skydivers. Yet this is not a film about death. It is about the essence of life—of what it feels like, if for only a moment, to truly fly. Carl Boenish, the father of the BASE jumping movement and subject of this heart-racing documentary, had a passion for skydiving that led him to ever more spectacular—and dangerous—feats of foot-launched human flight. Experience his jaw-dropping journey in life and love, to the pinnacle of his achievements when he and wife Jean broke the BASE jumping Guinness World Record in 1984 on the Norwegian Troll Wall mountain range. Incredibly, within days, triumph was followed by disaster. Told through a stunning mix of Carl’s 16mm archive footage, well-crafted re-enactments and state-of-the-art aerial photography, Sunshine Superman will leave you breathless and inspired.

Alex Garland (writer/director) at The Landmark in West Los Angeles. Moderated by film writers Lindsey Bahr from the Associated Press and Kevin Lincoln from Grantland. Film synopsis: Alex Garland, writer of 28 Days Later and Sunshine, makes his directorial debut with the stylish and cerebral thriller Ex Machina. Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson), a programmer at an internet-search giant, wins a competition to spend a week at the private mountain estate of the company’s brilliant and reclusive CEO, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac). Upon his arrival, Caleb learns that Nathan has chosen him to be the human component in a Turing Test—charging him with evaluating the capabilities, and ultimately the consciousness, of Nathan’s latest experiment in artificial intelligence. That experiment is Ava (Alicia Vikander), a breathtaking A.I. whose emotional intelligence proves more sophisticated—and more deceptive—than the two men could have imagined.

Victor Levin (writer/director) and Anton Yelchin and Bérénice Marlohe (actors) at The Landmark in West Los Angeles. Moderated by the film’s producer Julie Lynn. Film synopsis: In this sweet and romantic love story, aspiring novelist Brian (Anton Yelchin, Star Trek, Only Lovers Left Alive) falls in love with Arielle (Bérénice Marlohe, Skyfall), a beautiful older Frenchwoman he meets on a Manhattan street, not knowing that she is married. Their acquaintance blossoms into friendship and attraction, and free-spirited Arielle invites him to have an affair—at the traditional French hours of 5 to 7. Brian is shocked to learn that she is married, and at first he resists out of a sense of morality…but only temporarily. Embarking on the affair he is further shocked to learn that Arielle does not hide it from her diplomat husband Valery (Lambert Wilson, Of Gods and Men), who has a mistress himself (Olivia Thirlby), nor from her two small children, who tell Brian, “We’re glad you’re Mommy’s boyfriend.” When Arielle and Valery invite Brian to family social occasions his discomfort grows, ultimately topped by a hilariously awkward encounter with his traditional Jewish parents (Frank Langella, Glenn Close). Written and directed by Victor Levin.

Noah Baumbach (writer/director) at The Landmark in West Los Angeles. Moderated by film critic Christy Lemire. Film synopsis: The dramatic comedy While We’re Young is writer/director Noah Baumbach’s (Frances Ha, The Squid and the Whale) exploration of aging, ambition and success. Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts star as a middle-aged couple whose career and marriage are overturned when a disarming young couple (Amanda Seyfried, Adam Driver) enters their lives. Also starring Charles Grodin, Maria Dizzia, Adam Horovitz and Ryan Serhant.

Seymour Bernstein (film subject) at The Landmark in West Los Angeles. Moderated by Landmark Theatres’ Dan Gorski. Film synopsis: Meet Seymour Bernstein: a virtuoso pianist, veteran New Yorker and true original who gave up a successful concert career to teach music. In this wonderfully warm, witty and intimate tribute from his friend, director Ethan Hawke, Seymour shares unforgettable stories from his remarkable life and eye-opening words of wisdom, as well as insightful reflections on art, creativity and the search for fulfillment. A “poignant guide to life” (Indiewire) and an engaging exploration on the dedication, perseverance and fortitude essential to creating both art and a rewarding life, Seymour: An Introduction will leave audiences uplifted and inspired.

Robert Kenner (director) at The Landmark in West Los Angeles. Moderated by Landmark Theatres’ Dan Gorski. Film synopsis: Filmmaker Robert Kenner (Food, Inc.) takes audiences on a satirically comedic yet illuminating ride into the heart of conjuring American spin. He lifts the curtain on a secretive group of highly charismatic, silver-tongued pundits-for-hire who present themselves in the media as scientific authorities—yet have the contrary aim of spreading maximum confusion about well-studied public threats ranging from toxic chemicals to pharmaceuticals to climate change. Inspired by the acclaimed book by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway.

Annie Clark and Andrea Pino (film subjects) at The Landmark in West Los Angeles. Moderated by James Gilliam, Deputy Executive Director, ACLU of Southern California. Film synopsis: The Hunting Ground takes audiences straight to the heart of a shocking epidemic of violence and institutional cover-ups sweeping college campuses across America. The team behind the Oscar-nominated The Invisible War presents a scorching exposé of the startling prevalence of sexual assault at bastions of higher learning and of the powerful interests that re-victimize vulnerable students while shielding perpetrators. Using vérité footage, expert insights, first-person testimonies and a bombshell interview sure to make headlines, The Hunting Ground delivers a devastating indictment of campus “rape culture.” Directed by Kirby Dick and produced by Amy Ziering.

Jean-Marc Vallée (director) and Bruna Papandrea (producer) at The Landmark in West Los Angeles. Moderated by HitFix’s Greg Ellwood. Film synopsis: In Wild, director Jean-Marc Vallée (Dallas Buyers Club, The Young Victoria), Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line) and Academy Award nominated screenwriter Nick Hornby (An Education) bring bestselling author Cheryl Strayed’s extraordinary and inspirational adventure to the screen. After years of reckless behavior, a heroin addiction and the destruction of her marriage, Strayed (Witherspoon) makes a rash decision. Haunted by memories of her mother Bobbi (Laura Dern) and with absolutely no experience, she sets out to hike more than a thousand miles on the Pacific Crest Trail all on her own. Wild powerfully reveals her terrors and pleasures—as she forges ahead on a journey that maddens, strengthens and ultimately heals her.

Filmmakers Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi at The Sunshine Theatre in New York. Film synopsis: The creators of HBO’s hit series "Flight of the Conchords," Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, co-write, co-direct and co-star in this hilarious comedy in which an endearingly unhip quartet of vampires squabble over household chores, struggle to keep up with the latest trends, antagonize the local werewolves and deal with the rigors of living on a very, very strict diet. Flatmates Viago, Deacon and Vladislav are just trying to get by in modern society; from paying rent and sticking to the housework roster to trying to get invited into nightclubs, they’re just like anyone else—except they’re immortal and must feast on human blood. When their 8,000-year-old flatmate Petyr turns 20-something human hipster Nick into a vampire, the guys must teach him the ropes and guide him through his new found eternal life. And in return they are forced to learn a thing or two about modern society, fashions, technology and the internet. But it’s the introduction of Nick’s human friend, Stu, that really changes the vampires’ lives and attitudes. When Stu’s life is threatened, the vamps show us that maybe humans are worth fighting for, and that even though your heart may be cold and dead, it doesn’t mean you can’t feel anything.

Director Bennett Miller appeared at The Landmark in West Los Angeles. Moderated by Variety's Jenelle Riley. Film synopsis: Based on true events, Foxcatcher tells the dark and fascinating story of the unlikely and ultimately tragic relationship between an eccentric multi-millionaire and two champion wrestlers. When Olympic Gold Medal-winning wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) is invited by wealthy heir John du Pont (Steve Carell) to move onto the du Pont estate and help form a team to train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics at his new state-of-the-art training facility, Schultz jumps at the opportunity, hoping to focus on his training and finally step out of the shadow of his revered brother, Dave (Mark Ruffalo), also an Olympic Gold Medal winner. Driven by hidden needs, du Pont sees backing Mark's bid for Gold and the chance to "coach" a world-class wrestling team as an opportunity to gain the elusive respect of his peers and, more importantly, his disapproving mother (Vanessa Redgrave). Fueled by du Pont's increasing paranoia and alienation from the brothers, the trio is propelled towards a tragedy no one could have foreseen. Foxcatcher is a rich and moving story of brotherly love, misguided loyalty and the corruption and emotional bankruptcy that can accompany great power and wealth. Academy Award nominee Bennett Miller (Capote, Moneyball) once again explores large themes in society through his complex character portraits of real people. Winner of the Best Director award at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.

Based on true events, Foxcatcher tells the dark and fascinating story of the unlikely and ultimately tragic relationship between an eccentric multi-millionaire and two champion wrestlers. When Olympic Gold Medal-winning wrestler Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) is invited by wealthy heir John du Pont (Steve Carell) to move onto the du Pont estate and help form a team to train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics at his new state-of-the-art training facility, Schultz jumps at the opportunity, hoping to focus on his training and finally step out of the shadow of his revered brother, Dave (Mark Ruffalo), also an Olympic Gold Medal winner. Driven by hidden needs, du Pont sees backing Mark's bid for Gold and the chance to "coach" a world-class wrestling team as an opportunity to gain the elusive respect of his peers and, more importantly, his disapproving mother (Vanessa Redgrave). Fueled by du Pont's increasing paranoia and alienation from the brothers, the trio is propelled towards a tragedy no one could have foreseen. Foxcatcher is a rich and moving story of brotherly love, misguided loyalty and the corruption and emotional bankruptcy that can accompany great power and wealth. Academy Award nominee Bennett Miller (Capote, Moneyball) once again explores large themes in society through his complex character portraits of real people. Winner of the Best Director award at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.