Year in review/movies: Blockbusters abound, but local film scene also booms
In 2022, copious quantities of popcorn and innumerable soft drinks were consumed as moviegoers flocked to theaters once again.
“Top Gun: Maverick,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” were among the box office heavy hitters of the past 12 months, but the year in movies goes beyond what was shown at the multiplexes.
Locally owned and operated theaters and film centers throughout Greater Columbus presented countless entertaining and thought-provoking new releases, including “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” “Don’t Worry Darling” and “The Fabelmans.”
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Meanwhile, several long-standing local film events returned or were reimagined, and more than a few filmmakers with local ties saw their names in lights.
Below we offer a summary of notable film events in Greater Columbus during 2022.
The Wexner Center for the Arts’ film/video theater hosted numerous screenings and series, including its annual “Cinema Revival” festival of restored films, highlighting in February independent films by African American filmmakers from different eras. Among those to visit the arts center on the campus of Ohio State University were noted documentarian Sam Green, the subject of a retrospective in September and October; and screen legend Pam Grier, star of “Coffy” and “Jackie Brown,” in November.
The Drexel Theatre in Bexley also rolled out the red carpet for “Jesus Christ Superstar” actor Ted Neeley, who introduced a screening of the Andrew Lloyd Webber-scored rock musical in September.
After several years of shortened versions, the CAPA Summer Movie Series returned to full strength in the Ohio Theatre, which opened with the Robin Williams-Nathan Lane comedy “The Birdcage” in June and concluded with the Frank Sinatra musical “High Society” in August. In between were screenings of classic films ranging from John Ford’s “The Grapes of Wrath” to Peter Bogdanovich’s “What’s Up, Doc?” — plus a silent feature starring Buster Keaton with live organ accompaniment by Clark Wilson.
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The classic film convention Cinevent concluded its multi-decade run in 2021, but the event was reinvented as the Columbus Moving Picture Show, which took place in May at the Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel. In addition to 16mm screenings of cinematic rarities, dealers were on hand to sell classic film memorabilia, posters and books.
Last May saw the opening of the thriller “Private Property,” starring Ashley Benson and written and directed by Chadd Harbold, an Upper Arlington native. Harbold was also a producer of another new movie “Linoleum,” starring Jim Gaffigan and written and directed by another Upper Arlington native, Colin West, and co-produced by a third Upper Arlington native, Chad Simpson.
“Linoleum” was shown at the Cinema Columbus, a new local film festival that was held in late April and early May at numerous area theaters, including the Drexel, the Gateway Film Center and Studio 35 Cinema and Drafthouse.
The Netflix limited series “Devil in Ohio,” starring Emily Deschanel as a psychiatrist who cares for a woman fleeing a satanic cult, was set in the Buckeye state but filmed in Canada. The show debuted in September.
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Yet another Central Ohioan — Beverly D’Angelo, a Columbus native — co-starred in the new Christmas comedy, “Violent Night,” which opened earlier this month. (D’Angelo is, of course, a constant presence on television during the holidays thanks to repeated TV airings of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”)
Yellow Springs documentarian Julia Reichert, who won an Oscar for the film “American Factory,” died from cancer on Dec. 1 at age 76. Reichert, who had a long association with the Wexner Center, was remembered as a friend and mentor to up-and-coming filmmakers in central Ohio.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Year in review: Local filmmakers, movie events successful in 2022
