LAMORINDA WEEKLY | The Best of 2012


Photo courtesy Touchstone Pictures

Time to ring in 2013 and review 2012! It was a great year for the Lamorinda Theatres with increased attendance of over 20 percent. This was the highest attendance at both Lamorinda theatres since 2003, which was before the Century Theater opened in Walnut Creek. To wrap up 2012, here are my picks for the year's best films:

1) Zero Dark Thirty (opens Jan. 11 at the

Orinda Theatre)

2) Lincoln (now playing at the Rheem Theatre)

3) Bernie

4) Argo

5) Amour

6) Silver Linings Playbook

7) Les Miserables (now playing at the

Orinda Theatre)

8) Beasts of the Southern Wild

9) Django Unchained (now playing at the

Rheem Theatre)

10) Frankenweenie

Many of the films on my best of 2012 list are either currently screening at the Rheem and Orinda or will be returning in the upcoming months before the Oscars. All are worth a second viewing. Do not miss them on the big screen. There is nothing like seeing a quality movie in a classic movie house. We are lucky to have two beautiful movie palaces in our community.

We have many exciting changes in 2013 including new digital projectors and digital sound to be installed during the first quarter of 2013. The three projectors in Orinda will be installed at the end of January and hopefully the main projector at the Rheem will be installed in February. Many exciting events are already planned for the theatres in 2013 including:

Jan. 23 - The 70th Anniversary screening of Casablanca and Q & A with Rosario Tronnolone, renowned expert on Ingrid Bergman.

Orinda Theatre was chosen as one of the few theaters across the country to show Casablanca in 35MM film on the 70th Anniversary of Casablanca's original release date of Jan. 23, 1943.

Feb. 24 - Oscar Party Gala Night at the Rheem Theatre

The evening includes red carpet photo op, live music, dancing, gift bags, souvenir wine glass, wine, champagne dinner provided by Shelby's Restaurant of Orinda, trivia and door prizes. The Rheem Theatre is the place to be on Oscar Night!

March 15-17 - East Bay Jewish Film Festival in Orinda

Sept. 22 - Orinda Classic Car "Speed on the Screen" at Orinda Theatre

Plus don't forget the Moraga Movers' Classic Movie at 4 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month at the Rheem Theatre and The CAIFF/Diablo Magazine Classic Movie Night at 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Orinda.

Nov. 7-10 - California Independent Film Festival at the Rheem and Orinda Theatres

Thank you all for your support to the Lamorinda Theatres during 2012. Happy New Year! See you at the movies!

Derek Zemrak is a Film Critic, Film Producer and Founder of the California Independent Film Festival. You can follow Derek on Twitter @zemrak for the latest Hollywood news.