For the cinephiles of Los Angeles, New Beverly Cinema is not just another historic movie theater but a sacred landmark that celebrates everything that is enriching about 35mm projection. The theater building which dates back to 1920 is one of the oldest revival cinemas in the nation and, since 1978, the theater has been showing revival (not first run) double-features all year around in their original 35mm format.
In this eye-opening new documentary, "Out of Print," film aficionado Julia Marchese presents an array of intimate interviews with various patrons and supporters of New Beverly Cinema such as Joe Dante, Kevin Smith, Rian Johnson, Seth Green, Edgar Wright, Mark Romanek and Richard Kelly. As Marchese states in her website, "Theaters like the New Bev are well-loved treasures that need to be preserved right along with the films that they show, but there’s a threat on the horizon… The digital revolution might end revival cinema as we know it."
Yes, the digital film revolution is definitely squeezing 35mm aside, but if you’re looking for that “vs” debate you might be better off checking out Keanu Reeves’ compelling film vs. digital doc “Side By Side.” Perhaps more celebratory than say exploratory, it looks like "Out of Print" is going to be a heartfelt ode to the rapidly disappearing revival movie houses and 35mm film exhibition; if this doesn’t wake the film activist in you, nothing probably will. Watch the trailer below.