Only in Theaters

This depressing documentary charts the struggle to keep the lights on at the beloved Laemmle Theatres, an 84-year-old chain of arthouse cinemas in Los Angeles run by the 3rd generation of descendants of Universal Pictures founder Carl Laemmle). The family's mission has been to serve their community and support the art of film, but streaming, COVID-19, and myriad other challenges are making that impossible. Even for someone like me, who feels the pain of loss whenever a great moviehouse goes out of business, this documentary feels like it was made for the participants in the film rather than for film viewers. It's almost like one of those videos they play at the funeral of a great showman. It's probably telling that I watched this movie on a plane.