Movie Theater News

Why the Alamo Drafthouse was such a treasure for Dallas' movie scene

So long, Alamo Drafthouse - we hope to see you again soon.

Photo by Alex Bentley

The morning of June 6 brought horrible news for movie lovers in Dallas-Fort Worth, as Two is One, One is None, LLC, the local franchisee of Alamo Drafthouse, announced that it would be closing all five area theater locations. A follow-up statement from Alamo Drafthouse corporate headquarters says those theaters will possibly reopen, and I sure hope that's the case.

When the first local Alamo location in Richardson opened in 2013, it was a breath of fresh air in the Dallas-Fort Worth movie scene. It wasn't so much the amenities it had to offer, as in-theater dining already existed with Studio Movie Grill and its video and audio setups were merely on par with other theaters. But, as anyone who had been to Alamo Drafthouse in Austin already knew, the theater and its staff exuded an infectious love for movies that felt truly personal, one that matched the people who would flock there to see the films.

Whether it was the giant hand of the robot from The Iron Giant emerging from the lobby wall, the unobtrusive service with servers barely interrupting the view of the audience, or the pre-movie message that "This theater is now a quiet zone," urging everyone to put away their cell phones and stop talking, the theater was a haven for movie lovers, and seemed to be an antidote to some of the issues moviegoers faced at regular theater chains.

And that's not even counting the amazing popcorn, served in metal bowls with unlimited refills; the pre-show programs that drew from arcane and weird videos related (or semi-related) to the movie about to be shown; the themed menus for big releases; and the repertory films they would show alongside new releases, showing a dedication to the history of film, and not just the latest Marvel movie.

Five more area locations would open in the decade following the Richardson debut, including one in North Richland Hills that opened in 2019 only to close in 2022 after the pandemic took its toll. A seventh location in Grand Prairie that CultureMap reported on in 2020 has yet to see the light of day. (UPDATE: According to an Alamo Drafthouse spokesperson, "Our franchisee in Grand Prairie, Alamo Grand Prairie Bardin, LLC, is not affiliated with Two is One, One is None, LLC. The Alamo Drafthouse Grand Prairie is set to announce a groundbreak sometime in 2024.")

Things weren't all great at the Alamo theaters, though. The seats at some locations started to become worn; the Richardson and Cedars locations both recently received new seats and other upgrades. And a Facebook commenter on CultureMap's story about the theater closures noted that "the food and service went downhill in the past few years, but we always hoped they would bounce back."

As the release about the closures noted, the pandemic and the writers and actors strikes in 2023 both played a role in the decline of moviegoers in recent years. That's not to mention the rise of streamers like Netflix and Hulu during the pandemic, which gave movie lovers the (cheaper) option of waiting to watch a movie at home.

But as the Barbenheimer phenomenon of 2023 demonstrated, there is nothing like being in a packed movie theater when a great blockbuster, horror movie, or even a tearjerker is playing. Alamo Drafthouse provided a communal feel to moviegoing that was rarely matched at other more impersonal theaters.

Alamo lovers can hope that someone will find a way to reopen the Dallas-area locations in the near future (the news of the Alamo closures came directly on the heels of the news that Angelika Film Center in Plano had closed on June 3, making it seem as if this is truly movie theater armageddon in the Dallas area). Despite some faults, there really is no other theater like them, and their absence would be a tragic loss for all local movie lovers.

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Movie Review

The life of an actor is far from rosy in dramedy Misty Green

Photo courtesy of A24

Rosalind Eleazar in Misty Green.

For every well-known/successful actor in Hollywood, there are thousands of others whose lives are more tenuous as they struggle to find work. The new film Misty Green is about one such actor who, after a period in the limelight, now finds herself on the outskirts of the industry, just hoping to find her way back in.

Misty (Rosalind Eleazar) won an Emmy for a 2000s-era TV show that still gets her recognition, but not much work. Still living in the apartment of a recently-deceased man with whom she was having an affair, Misty spends her days sleeping in and her nights getting blitzed on alcohol and drugs. She seems to be heading nowhere fast until a few things coincide to break up her routine.

The man’s wife (Amy Landecker) shows up and tells her she has seven days to vacate the apartment; Misty’s brother, Jay (Daniel Kaluuya) — who is bipolar — arrives after being kicked out of his facility for non-payment; and Jordan (Chris Rock), a former colleague with whom she had a falling-out, reappears in her life, offering a possible chance to rehabilitate her image.

Written and directed by Rock (his first feature since 2014’s Top Five), the film is a funny and excruciating look at how the entertainment industry might actually work. Misty is her own worst enemy thanks to late nights fraternizing with unsavory characters like Zach (Adam Driver), who deals in drugs and women in equal measure, but her frustration proves warranted when her agent, Randy (Topher Grace), and casting directors like Rhonda (Tracie Thoms) hardly give her the time of day.

Misty tries her best to stay positive, but when jobs like singing in a bar are the best she can do, the mountain seems insurmountable. Rock does an effective job of demonstrating the elements that are within and without Misty’s control that affect her ability to regain her position in the industry. The chip on her shoulder is almost as big as the bias some have against her, and other negative circumstances don’t help matters much.

There are many small touches that Rock and his crew put in the film to give it an air of authenticity. Filming in Los Angeles (a rarity these days), Rock uses both subtle and overt shots of homeless people in the city, suggesting that the line between the haves and have-nots is a fine one, especially with Misty on the verge of not having a place to live. He also has cameos from a few of his funny friends, including a bit of meta-casting of Anthony Anderson (who has faded a bit after starring in Black-ish) in a bit part as a cop.

Eleazar, a British actor best known for appearing on the Apple TV show Slow Horses, is a magnetic presence as Misty. The character herself is somewhat cringey in her decision-making, and Eleazar sells every bit of her righteous indignation and self-defeating actions. The supporting cast is great across the board, including Rock, Driver, Kaluuya, Thoms, Grace, Anna Kendrick, and Rich Sommer.

Misty Green makes you rage against the Hollywood machine, laugh at the various ways different people deal with its maddening quirks, and hide behind your fingers as Misty chooses options that don’t help, either voluntarily or because her back is against the wall. It’s a powerhouse of acting that gives a unique angle on the inner workings of Hollywood, one that ironically might be competing for awards at year’s end.

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Misty Green is now playing in theaters.

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