FilmWeek

The topic:

FilmWeek critics Tim Cogshell and Christy Lemire disagree on the effectiveness of Alejandro Iñárritu’s new filmDiggerstarring Tom Cruise, but they do agree that everyone should see it, if only to partake in the discussion. Also out this week is the drama Atonement that shows the ramifications of the Iraqi war.

The films:  

Digger, Wide Release

Heart of the Beast, Wide Release

Verity, Wide Release

The Scout, Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA] | Expands Oct. 9

Atonement, Landmark Nuart Theatre [West LA] | Expands Oct. 9 

Appofeniacs, AMC Burbank & AMC Orange

The Last First: Winter K2, Laemmle Noho [North Hollywood] | Streaming on Apple TV

Beware Boiúna, In Select Theaters

Rolling Loud: The Movie, In Select Theaters      

The critics:

Christy Lemire, film critic for LAist, and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ YouTube and podcast series  

Tim Cogshell, film critic for LAist, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com 

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic:

Finding humor and fascination in the mundane is John Wilson’s signature. After closing out his acclaimed HBO series How To with John Wilson, the documentarian picks up right where he left off, but this time with a feature film examining one of New York’s most foundational materials: concrete. Wilson joins FilmWeek’s Larry Mantle to talk about his first feature documentary The History of Concrete, his directorial influences, and how he sees the world.

Guest:

John Wilson, documentarian best known for his acclaimed HBO series How To with John Wilson and director of the new documentary The History of Concrete.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic:

Larry Mantle and FilmWeek critics review Primetime, starring Robert Pattinson as NBC Dateline host Chris Hansen, best known for his 2006 series To Catch a Predator. And they talk about the documentaryYou Had to Be There that attempts to capture the magical 1972 Toronto production of Godspell that launched many famous comedians careers. The events are told through animation and interviews with the original cast.    

The films:         

Primetime,Wide Release

Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother,In Select Theaters 

Forgotten Island,Wide Release

The History of Concrete,In Select Theaters

Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!,In Select Theaters 

The Stunt Driver,In Select Theaters

Never After Dark,In Select Theaters

You Had to Be There,In Select Theaters

Unabomber,Streaming on Netflix 

The critics:

Christy Lemire, film critic for LAist, and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ YouTube and podcast series  

Maureen Lee Lenker<like ‘link’>, LAist film critic and freelance journalist (formerly at Entertainment Weekly) who's written for Gold Derby, The Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, and Turner Classic Movies. She is also the author of three novels set in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic: 

It’s the final weekend of the 51st annual Toronto International Film Festival and a handful of movie premieres are already stirring up buzz for this upcoming awards season. We talk to FilmWeek critics Amy Nicholson and Maureen Lee Lenkerabout their favorites from this year’s festival and what movies they think audiences should look out for when they hit theaters. 

Films to watch for:

I Play Rocky

Elsinore

The Debut

Being Heumann

Bucking Fastards

The Julia Set 

Ink 

Fjord 

The critics:

Amy Nicholson, film critic for LAist and the LA Times and host of the podcast ‘Unspooled’ 

Maureen Lee Lenker,LAist film critic and freelance journalist who's written for Gold Derby, The Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, and Turner Classic Movies. She is also the author of three novels set in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic:

The Halloween season begins this week in earnest with the new Shaun the Sheep movie—The Beast of Mossy Bottom—from British stop-motion animation studio Aardman. And director Zach Cregger returns with another horror crowd pleaser, Resident Evil. Our critics also review the dark comedy The Musical about a vengeful teacher out to sabotage the school play. 

The films:         

Resident Evil,Wide Release

Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom,Wide Release

The Weight,Wide Release 

The Musical,In Select Theaters 

Sunny Dancer, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] & AMC Orange

The Oldest Person in the World, In Select Laemmle Theaters

Goody Goody,Streaming on Shudder

Arsa, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]

The critics:

Charles Solomon, film critic for LAist, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine

Tim Cogshell, film critic for LAist, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com

Katie Walsh, film critic for LAist, the Tribune News Service and the L.A. Times

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic:

Larry Mantle is joined by our FilmWeek critics Christy Lemire and Katie Walsh to review this week's biggest film releases, including Practical Magic 2, the sequel to the 1998 cozy-cult classic, starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as sister witches. They’ll also talk about the Watts set drama If I Go Will They Miss Me and the documentary Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger, about the Gallagher brothers’ reunion tour.            

The films: 

Practical Magic 2, Wide Release

Hope, Wide Release 

The Uprising, Wide Release

If I Go Will They Miss Me, AMC Century City | Expands to more theaters Sep. 18

Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger, In Select Theaters

Runner, In Select Theaters

Black Zombie, Landmark Nuart Theatre [West L.A.]

Call My Agent! The Movie, Streaming on Netflix

This is Buzz, Brain Dead Studios [Fairfax District], The Frida Cinema [Santa Ana], & The Arts Theatre Long Beach

The critics:

Christy Lemire, film critic for LAist, and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ YouTube and podcast series

Katie Walsh, film critic at the Tribune News Service and LA Times

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic:

In his new book 50 Movie Nights: Contemporary Stars on Their Favorite Classic Films,Turner Classic Movies host Dave Karger asked 50 actors, filmmakers and stars what their favorite classic films are and the ideal way to watch them. 

What films are included? The book features a wide array of classic cinema, from political dramas like Don Cheadle’s choice, The Battle Of Algiers (1966), to action comedies like Adam Scott’s pick, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). Other movies featured include Wes Anderson’s pick, The Tall Target (1951), Paul Rudd’s selection of Withnail & I(1987), Sterling K. Brown’s pick, Out Of Sight (1998), and Ava DuVernay’s choice, Devil In A Blue Dress(1995).

Event info: TCM host Dave Karger will sign copies of his new book on Friday, Sep. 18 at The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, followed by a conversation with Jason Bateman and a screening of his selected film, Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy (1982). You can get more information about the event here.

Guest:

Dave Karger,TCM host, film expert, and author of the new book ‘50 Movie Nights: Contemporary Stars on Their Favorite Classic Films’

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic:

For our most recent FilmWeek screening, Larry Mantle and critics Tim Cogshell and Claudia Puig traveled down to Santa Ana to the Frida Cinema for Michael Mann’s 2004 neo-noir thriller Collateral. The critics, along with special guest Barry Shabaka Henley, who plays the jazz club owner Daniel in the film, discuss the movie’s impact, its portrayal of Los Angeles, and the great acting by co-leads Jamie Foxx and a rare villainous Tom Cruise.

The panel:

Tim Cogshell, film critic for LAist, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com

Claudia Puig, film critic for LAist and program director for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 

Barry Shabaka Henley, film and television actor who plays the character Daniel in Collateral

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic:

Larry Mantle and film critics Peter Rainer and Manuel Betancourt discuss this week's biggest releases, including the quiet but sweet romantic drama The Sun Never Sets starring Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson set in Anchorage, Alaska, and Mariannne Elliott’s feature directorial debut The Salt Path starring Gillian Anderson.    

The films:         

By Any Means, Wide Release

The Sun Never Sets, Wide Release

Mayday, Apple TV+

Onslaught, Wide Release

Filipiñana, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] & Laemmle Glendale

Boorman and the Devil, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]

Virginia Woolf's Night & Day, In Select Theaters

The Salt Path, In Select Theaters 

The critics:

Peter Rainer, film critic for LAist and the Christian Science Monitor

Manuel Betancourt, film critic for LAist and interim editor of Documentary Magazine

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic: 

Tim Curry, a character actor who created a gallery of delicious, very loony villains for stage and screen, including Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the smug concierge in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, has died. He was 80. Larry Mantle and our FilmWeek critics remember some of Curry’s most iconic roles on the screen and on the stage.

The critics: 

Lael Loewenstein, film critic for LAist

Charles Solomon, film critic for LAist, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine

Katie Walsh, film critic for LAist, the Tribune News Service and L.A. Times

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic:

Larry Mantle and this week’s critics review the long-awaited Coyote vs. Acme, starring Wile E. Coyote and the other Looney Tunes. They’ll also talk about Ridley Scott’s newest sci-fi movie The Dog Stars starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin.

The films:

Coyote vs. Acme,Wide Release

The Dog Stars,Wide Release

Finding Emily,Wide Release

The Last Blossom,In Select Theaters 

The Marching Band,Laemmle Royal [West LA], Laemmle Town Center [Encino], Regency Theaters [Laguna Nigel]

Dreams in Nightmares,Laemmle Glendale & AMC Burbank Town Center

Idiots,In Select Theaters

How to Divorce During the War, In Select Laemmle Theaters

The critics:

Lael Loewenstein, film critic for LAist

Charles Solomon, film critic for LAist, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine

Katie Walsh, film critic for LAist, the Tribune News Service and L.A. Times

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic: 

Summer is over and school is back in session. So we thought we would ask our FilmWeekcritics what some of their favorite school-set films are and what makes them so effective in bringing back those school-day memories.

Our critics' picks:

Cooley High (1975)

To Sir, With Love (1967)

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Fame (1980)

The Last Picture Show (1971)

Carrie (1976)

The 400 Blows (1959)

Election (1999)

Booksmart (2019)

Mr Holland’s Opus (1995)

The critics: 

Peter Rainer, film critic for LAist and the Christian Science Monitor

Tim Cogshell, film critic for LAist, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic:

Larry Mantle and film critics Peter Rainer and Tim Cogshell talk about the latest installment in the Insidious franchise, and yes, they do recommend you see the preceding five films. They also discuss the documentary The Last Picture Shows, about the handful of independent movie theaters across the U.S. that are slowly dying out.

The films: 

Insidious: Out of the Further, Wide Release

It Ends, AMC Burbank & AMC The Grove

Mutiny, Wide Release

Memory of Princess Mumbi, Laemmle Glendale

The Last Picture Shows, Laemmle Royal [West LA]

Franz, Landmark Theater [Pasadena]

The Magic Faraway Tree, Wide Release

Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter, Streaming on Prime Video

Learning to Fly, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]

The critics:

Peter Rainer, film critic for LAist and the Christian Science Monitor

Tim Cogshell, film critic for LAist, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic: 

The two-part documentary Mel Brooks: The 99 Year-Old Man! has garnered 6 primetime Emmy nominations including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program. Co-directors Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio join Larry Mantle on FilmWeek to talk about the legendary filmmaker himself (now 100 years-old) and what it was like to talk to Brooks about his generation-defining comedy.

Mel Brooks: The 99 Year-Old Man! is available to stream on HBOMax.

Guests: 

Judd Apatow, co-director and executive producer of the two-part HBO documentary Mel Brooks: The 99 Year-Old Man!

Michael Bonfiglio, co-director and executive producer of the two-part HBO documentary Mel Brooks: The 99 Year-Old Man!

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic: 

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Maureen Lee Lenker review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

The films:

The End of Oak Street, Wide Release

Don’t Say Good Luck, Streaming on Netflix 

Late Fame, Laemmle Royal [West LA]

The Wrong Girls, Wide Release

If These Walls Could Rock, Available on Digital

Six the Musical Live!, In Select Theaters

Union County, Landmark Nuart Theater [West LA]

The Brink of War, Wide Release

The critics: 

Christy Lemire, film critic for LAist, and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ YouTube and podcast series 

Maureen Lee Lenker,LAist film critic and freelance journalist formerly of Entertainment Weekly who's written for Gold Derby, The Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, and Turner Classic Movies. She's also the author of three novels set in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic: 

In a follow up to her book But Have You Read the Book?, author Kristen Lopez focuses on romance movies that were adapted from or inspired by famous works of literature. From beloved classics like Anna Karenina to modern cult favorites like Bridget Jones’ Diary, But Have You Read the Book? Romance Edition will give you the perfect reading (and corresponding watch) list for the summer.

Guest: 

Kristen Lopez, freelance entertainment journalist and author of the new book But Have You Read the Book? Romance Edition

The topic: 

Larry Mantle and the critics discuss the confusing intricacies at play in the society of One Night Only and the impressive storytelling and meta-commentary behind writer-director Jane Schoenbrun’s latest film Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. Larry also reminisces on his interview with Anthony Bourdain following Kitchen Confidential. That time in Bourdain’s life is portrayed in the new biopic Tony.

The films: 

One Night Only, Wide Release

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, In Select Theaters

Tony, In Select Theaters

Ice Cream Man, Wide Release

Mr. Hero, In Select Theaters

Cookie Queens, In Select Theaters

Olmo, In Select Theaters

The Last House, Streaming on Netflix

Above and Below, Available on VOD Aug 25

The critics: 

Amy Nicholson, film critic for the Los Angeles Times and host of the podcast ‘Unspooled’

Tim Cogshell, film critic at the Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com

The topic:

Don’t understand the 70mm IMAX craze for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey? LAist host Julia Paskin talked to Taylor Umphenour, one of L.A.’s top IMAX projectionists, on FilmWeek to understand why the format is becoming a filmmaker favorite and why audiences are clamoring to theaters to see The Odyssey in the largest format possible. 

Guest:

Taylor Umphenour, IMAX projectionist

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency

The topic:

Julia Paskin and the LAist film critics talk about the fourth installment to the Tom Holland Spider-Man series that takes an introspective look at the superhero, and they applaud Olivia Wilde’s performance as a sexually dominant boss in Gregg Araki’s new film I Want Your Sex.                   

The films: 

Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Wide Release

I Want Your Sex, Wide Release

Wild Inside, In Select Laemmle Theaters

Everybody Calls Me Mike, Available on Indiepix

The Samurai and the Prisoner, Landmark Nuart Theater [West LA]

The Best Pizza is in LA, Available on VOD

Middle Life, Laemmle Glendale

The critics:

Lael Loewenstein, film critic for LAist

Maureen Lee Lenker<like ‘link’>,freelance journalist who's written for Gold Derby, The Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, and Turner Classic Movies. She was previously at Entertainment Weekly for nearly nine years. She's also the author of three novels set in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency 

The topic: 

Julia Paskin and the LAist film critics review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

The films: 

Motor City, In Select Theaters

Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, Streaming on Paramount+

Her Private Hell, Wide Release

Hadestown: The Musical, In Select Theaters

Sheep in the Box, AMC Century City|Expands to more theaters July 31

Nothing to See Here: Watts, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]

American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez, In Select Theaters

Cruel Hands, Laemmle Glendale & Available on VOD

The Kidnapping of Arabella, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] & Laemmle NoHo

The Dink, Streaming on Apple TV+

Lars Shrike Walks the Night, Streaming on Digital

Correction:In the original broadcast for the review for American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez, Lou Diamond Phillips was incorrectly credited for the role of 'El Pachuco' in the 1978 Mark Taper production of 'Zoot Suit'. The character 'El Pachuco' was played by Edward James Olmos.

The critics:

Peter Rainer, film critic for LAist and the Christian Science Monitor

Tim Cogshell, film critic for LAist, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com

Charles Solomon, film critic for LAist, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency 

The topic:

The documentary Nothing to See Here: Watts takes viewers through the lives of community members as they experience violence, decades long gang rivalries, and neglect from city services.

How it was made:Twenty participants were given iPhones to film themselves and their community over three years. The filmmakers included gang members, community activists, students, victims of violence, and police officers. They all later came together to decide what ultimately made the final cut.

The first screening: The first screening of the film was presented to active members of the rival gangs in Watts in an effort to bring about talks of peace. We see the discussions unfold as decades long rivalries come to a halt to protect their collective community. 

Guests:

Cornelius Wills,gang interventionist and mentor with Soledad Enrichment Action and Bounty Hunter Blood gang member

Quiana Williams, mother of Sean Reynolds, a student who was shot in Watts 

Tim Pearce, retired LAPD gang officer who served in Watts and South Central LA

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic: 

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

The films: 

The Odyssey, Wide Release

Reading Lolita in Tehran, Laemmle Royal [West LA]                           

The Floaters, Laemmle Royal [West LA] & Laemmle Town Center [Encino]

Horsegirls, Laemmle NoHo

Remake, Laemmle Royal [West LA]

Sherman’s March, Laemmle Royal [West LA]

Heartstopper Forever, Streaming on Netflix

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic:

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is turning out to be the event of the summer, with screenings selling out at theaters a year in advance. Nolan shares how he adapted the Greek epic for a modern audience.

On what makes a successful adaptation: “If somebody watching the film who read the poem in high school or something, who doesn’t know it that well but knows it pretty well — if that person feels that my additions or my allusions actually were from the poem, then I think I've succeeded.”

The dialogue: “I’m not having the actors speak with mid-Atlantic or some British accents the way Hollywood in the 50s or 60s often did… We want it to be more accessible than that.”

The sound and score: “[Ludwig Göransson] is trying to create a soundscape that is as much a part of the sense of place as the sound effects. So in a way we’re trying to blur the boundaries completely between music and sound effects.”

New technology: “This blimping system, it’s essentially a high-tech box you put the [70MM IMAX] camera in and it silences it. And so for the first time ever, we could do the entire film that way.”

Does the format matter? “They’re all drawn from this massive negative, so they can be as sharp and clear as possible. We’re able to fill the screen with the brightest and clearest image no matter what format you see it in.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic:
Horror movies are having a moment. Two of this year's greatest box office successes are two horror films, each from unknown directors with non-IP scripts and relatively small budgets.

A horror darling: Obsession is the unexpected runaway hit of the summer, having grossed over $400 million worldwide on less than $1 million budget. Now almost two months out from its initial release, it is still playing in theaters nationwide.

Another hit: Backed by the studio A24, Backrooms had a budget of $10 million and has grossed almost $350 million worldwide. Some of its success can be attributed to it being based on a popular 4Chan post that sparked a webseries and several internet games.

Guests:
Amy Nicholson, film critic for LAist, film critic for the Los Angeles Times and host of the podcast ‘Unspooled’ 

Christy Lemire, film critic for LAist, and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ YouTube and podcast series 

Tim Cogshell, film critic for LAist, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com 

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic:
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

The films:     
Evil Dead Burn, Wide Release
Moana, Wide Release
Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass, Wide Release
Mary Oliver: Saved By the Beauty of the World, At Select Laemmle Theaters
Night Nurse, In Select Theaters
The Isolate Thief, In Select Theaters 
Mockbuster, Laemmle Glendale & Available on Digital & VOD
The American Southwest, Available on Digital and VOD
Barrio Triste, Landmark Nuart Theater [West LA] & American Cinematheque’s Los Feliz 3

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic:

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.                   

The films:

Minions & MonstersWide Release

Young WashingtonWide Release                   

RomeríaLaemmle Glendale|Laemmle Royal [West LA]                                       

Enola Holmes 3Streaming on Netflix                 

ReelingAvailable on Digital & VOD Tues. July 7                                       

Drunken Noodles Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]|Laemmle NoHo            

Lockbox In Select Theaters                                                                      

The Get Out Available on Digital & VOD

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency 

The critics:

Charles Solomon, film critic for LAist, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine 

Christy Lemire, film critic for LAist, and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ YouTube and podcast series 

Claudia Puig, film critic for LAist and program director for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival

The topic:

Criterion released two director-approved 4k restorations for John Waters’ 1988 film Hairspray and his 1977 film Desperate Living. The disc releases include exclusive commentary tracks from Waters and some of the actors as well as bonus interviews.

Waters’ trash cinema: Known for his provocative, camp films, Waters is considered one of the formative directors of gay cinema. His ‘trash trilogy’ of Pink Flamingos (1972), Female Trouble (1974) and Desperate Living (1977) showcased taboos and profanity that garnered Waters a cult following. 

Mainstream attempt: But he also brought in a more mainstream audience with his much more tame and accessible film Hairspray (1988) about an overweight teen in Baltimore who dreams of being on a local TV show that features adolescents dancing. And you can’t talk about Waters without talking about his frequent collaborator and drag performer Divine, featured in a majority of Waters’ films. Divine played Tracy’s mother Edna Turnblad in Hairspray. It was his last film role before he died.

Guest:

John Waters, American filmmaker known for his gay, cult classic films that delve into ‘trash’ and taboo

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency 

The topic:

The new documentary Peter Asher: Everywhere Man shines a spotlight on the man behind some of America's most famous singer-songwriters.

The man: Asher started as a performer himself in the 60s pop duo Peter and Gordon. Despite some hit songs, Asher decided to step off the stage and became a producer and manager for acts including James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, and Carole King, just to name a few.

The documentary:The new documentary chronicling Asher's life is directed by Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine. The film includes exclusive interviews with Asher.

You can see Peter Asher: Everywhere Man at the Laemmle Royal in West LA and the Laemmle NoHo in North Hollywood.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency 

The topic:

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.                   

The films:

Supergirl Wide Release

The Invite In Select Theaters|Expands Wide July 10

Jackass: Best and Last Wide Release

Lucky Strike Wide Release

Coroner to the Stars Laemmle Glendale|Available on Digital & VOD July 14

Peter Asher: Everywhere Man Laemmle Royal [West LA]|Laemmle NoHo

Animals in War Available on Digital & VOD|Streaming on Film Movement Plus

Maddie's Secret In Select Theaters

Woody Guthrie and The Ghost of Tom Joad Today Streaming on PBS SoCal  

The critics:

Lael Loewenstein, film critic for LAist, and Peter Rainer, film critic for LAist and the Christian Science Monitor

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency 

The topic:

Austin Cross and LAist film critics Charles Solomon, Manuel Betancourt, and Katie Walsh review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

The films:

Toy Story 5Wide Release                                  

The Death of Robin Hood Wide Release       

Girls Like GirlsWide Release                           

Leviticus In Select Theaters                                      

EnongoStreaming on Indie Pix Unlimited                                               

Rose of Nevada Landmark Nuart [West LA]                      

She's the He Laemmle Glendale|Lumiere Music Hall [West LA]                                         

Burt Available on Digital & VOD                                                           

Color BookLandmark Pasadena Playhouse|Streaming on Netflix    

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency                                    

The topic: 

The new film Burt tells the story of Burt Berger, a 69-year-old musician in LA living with Parkinson's who reconnects with an adult son he never knew he had. The film was shot over seven days in Los Angeles on a micro-budget of $7,000. 

A personal story: Director and co-writer of the film, Joe Burke’s own father is living with Parkinson’s. A portion of the proceeds will go to Parkinson’s Community Los Angeles. 

Where to watch: Burt is available on VOD on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.

Guest:

Joe Burke, co-writer and director of the film Burt

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency 

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Charles Solomon, Christy Lemire, and Maureen Lee Lenker review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

The films:

Disclosure Day, Wide Release

Jinsei, In Select Theaters

The Furious, In Select Theaters

The Little Sister, Laemmle Glendale & Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]

I am Frankelda, Laemmle Glendale & Streaming on Netflix

Stop! That! Train!, Wide Release

Boy George & Culture Club, Available on Digital & VOD

Underland, Laemmle Glendale

This Tempting Madness, Available on Digital & VOD

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency 

The topic:

Documentary Magazine, published by the International Documentary Association (IDA), released a list of what it determined to be the 25 greatest documentaries of the 21st Century.

How the list was made: Documentary polled 300 documentary filmmakers and producers, critics, programmers, and academics, asking them to name three documentaries they deemed the “greatest.” Each documentary had to be released after January 1, 2000.

Notable picks:Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Act of Killing(2012) sits in the number spot, garnering the most votes. Other films that made the list include No Other Land (2024), the most recent release on the list, and The Gleaners and I(2000), the oldest release. 

Guest: Manuel Betancourt, film critic for LAist and assistant editor of Documentary Magazine. He also contributes regularly to Variety and The AV Club

Check out Documentary’s full listhere.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Claudia Puig and Tim Cogshell review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

The films:

Masters of the Universe, Wide Release
Renoir, Laemmle Nuart [West LA]
Scary Movie, Wide Release
Carolina Caroline, In Select Theaters
The Currents, Laemmle Royal [West LA]
Time and Water, Laemmle Royal [West LA] & Laemmle Glendale
Office Romance, Streaming on Netflix
Savage House, Laemmle Royal [West LA]|Laemmle Town Center [Encino]|The Frida Cinema [Santa Ana]
Chum, Laemmle Glendale|Available on VOD

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

The Topic:

Marilyn Monroe’s life and career has been dissected and displayed for almost a century. But for such a pervasive and enduring figure, Monroe’s true internal life remains mysterious: was she forced into her “dumb blonde,” “bimbo” persona, or did she use it to her advantage? Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in-between.

The exhibit: In honor of what would be her 100th birthday, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures attempts to portray Monroe as she was with their exhibition Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon. The exhibition displays Monroe’s most famous costumes and other paraphernalia from her most iconic films as well as personal items that may help reveal the woman behind the camera.

Details: The exhibition opens May 31st and will run through February 28, 2027. You can find more information here.

The guest:Sophia Serrano, associate curator for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures who curated the Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon exhibition.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy LemireandWade Major, along with guest critic William Bibbianireview this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

The films:

Backrooms, Wide Release

Power Ballad, In Select Theaters| Expands wide June 5

Pressure, Wide Release

The Last Viking, Laemmle Royal [West LA]|Available on digital & VOD

Propeller One-Way Night Coach, Streaming on Apple TV+

Ask E. Jean, Landmark Nuart [West LA]

Been Here Stay Here, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]|Laemmle Glendale

Rafa, Streaming on Netflix

The Breadwinner, Wide Release

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire, Lael Loewenstein and Maureen Lee Lenker review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

The Films:

Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu,Wide Release

Tuner,AMC Grove & AMC Century City|Expands May 29                                         

I Love Boosters,Wide Release          

Passenger,Wide Release              

Ladies First, Streaming on Netflix                        

Saccharine,In Select Theaters                        

The Travel Companion,Lumiere Music Hall [Beverly Hills]     

Diamonds,Laemmle Royal [West LA]                           

Magic Hour,Landmark Nuart [West LA]                   

Stolen Kingdom,Laemele Glendale|Available on Digital & VOD Jun 16   

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency      

The Topic:

Larry Mantle speaks with the stars of the new film Tuner, Leo Woodall and Havana Rose Liu.

The plot: Leo Woodall plays Niki, a former music virtuoso now serving as an apprentice to the vivacious but stubborn piano technician Harry Horowitz, played by Dustin Hoffman. Niki suffers from a unique hearing condition that makes him extra sensitive to sound: a useful skill for tuning pianos as well as cracking safes. His condition and secret extracurriculars isolates him from his budding relationship with music composition student Ruthie, played by Havana Rose Liu.

Tuner is playing at the AMC Grove and AMC Century City. It expands to more theaters May 29.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

The topic:

Movies on film are having a resurgence. Just take late year’s biggest movies: One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Marty Supreme. But the craft of screening movies on film is a dying one, with few projectionists experienced enough to handle the delicate prints. 

A film stronghold: In L.A., it's the local repertory theaters that have helped maintain the art of film projection with many offering screenings of old movies on vintage prints. The task may be tedious, but for audiences, it’s a striking viewing experience.

Guests: Spencer Christiano, a senior projectionist at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and Boris Ibañez, technical director of Vidiots, a repertory theater and DVD/video rental store in Eagle Rock.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

Austin Cross and LAist film critics Claudia Puig, Tim Cogshell, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Is God Is, Wide Release

Life Hack, In Select Theaters

The Propagandist, Available on select digital platforms

Decorado, In Select Theaters

Silent Friend, AMC Burbank & Laemmle Royal [West LA]

American Agitators, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]

The Wizard of the Kremlin, In Select Theaters

Marty, Life is Short, Streaming on Netflix

Obsession, Wide Release

The A List: 15 Stories from the Asian and Pacific Diasporas, Streaming on HBO Max

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

The topic:

Last week, the Academy Awards released new rules for the Oscars. Some of the changes include awarding the director rather than the country for Best International Feature and allowing actors to be nominated for multiple films in the same category, such as Best Actor/Actress and Best Supporting Actor/Actress. 

Other changes: Two of the new rule changes included explicit language about acting performances and screenplays being “demonstratively human” and “human-authored” respectively. These new rules come as the Oscars are planning for a change in venue and a new broadcast partner in YouTube starting in 2029.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

Guest host Austin Cross and LAist film critics Claudia Puig and Peter Rainer review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

The Sheep Detectives, Wide Release

Mad Bills to Pay: (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo), Laemmle NoHo, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica], and Vidiots [Eagle Rock]

Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour, Wide Release

W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]|Airs on PBS May 19 at 9 p.m. ET

Couples Weekend, Available on Digital & VOD

Group: The Schopenhauer Effect Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] & Laemmle Royal [West LA]

Mistura, Laemmle Town Center [Encino], Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] & Regal Edwards in South Gate

Broad Trip, Streaming on Roku

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

In order to keep up with the changing film landscape, Canada’s Motion Picture Bureau was re-established as the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). It was helmed by filmmaker John Grierson, known for coining the term ‘documentary.’ Grierson recruited filmmaker and animator Norman McLaren to lead the NFB’s animation division, and under the two of them, the NFB supported pioneering artists pushing Canadian animation and filmmaking forward. This time on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with FilmWeek’s ownCharles Solomon, animation historian and critic, about his new book “Animation for the People: An Illustrated History of the National Film Board of Canada.”

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell, Christy Lemire, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

The Devil Wears Prada 2, Wide Release

Hokum, Wide Release

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea, Wide Release

Two Pianos, Laemmle Royal [West LA]|Expands Wide May 8

Omaha, Landmark Nuart Theater [West LA]|Expands throughout May

Swapped, Laemmle Glendale & Streaming on Netflix

Power to the People, In Select Theaters May 3

The School Duel, Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA] & Lumiere Music Hall [Beverly Hills]

Modern Whore, Available on Digital & VOD

Paying for It, Available on Digital & VOD

Deep Water, Wide Release

One Spoon of Chocolate, In Select Theaters

Casa Grande, In Select Theaters

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

The TCM Classic Film Festival is back! With films including Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Confessions Of A Nazi Spy (1939), Dangerous Liaisons (1988), The Misfits (1961), and a special Opening Night Gala presentation of Barefoot in the Park (1967) introduced by Jane Fonda. This year’s honorees include actresses Glenn Close and Barbara Hershey, and songwriter and composer Paul Williams. This week on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle is joined by TCM’s SVP of Programming, Charles Tabeshand TCM host, Ben Mankiewicz, to talk about the festival and its film line-up. 

The TCM Classic Film Festival is from April 30 to May 3. Festival passes are available atfilmfestival.tcm.com. Tickets for individual screenings are also available.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Beandrea July and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Michael, Wide Release

Over Your Dead Body, Wide Release

Ricky, In Select Theaters

Blue Heron, AMC Burbank & the Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA]

Just Sing, Laemmle NoHo

I Swear, In Select Theaters

Something Casual, Laemmle Royal [West LA] April 25|Laemmle NoHo April 24 & 26

Apex, Landmark Westwood|Streaming on Netflix

Fuze, Wide Release

Kangaroo Island, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

It's a hard job to explain but seems to be a very easy title to get. The mysterious film producer credit used to go to just a couple people who were integral in a movie's pre- and post-production, but after the consequential Best Picture win for 1998'sShakespeare in Love, the credit of film producer became a title given to people in lieu of other forms of compensation, regardless of how much actual work they contributed to the film. This year marks the PGA's Code of Credits 25th anniversary, created in part due to Shakespeare in Love's unprecedented number of producers. While some "underserving" people may still be credited, the PGA Mark only goes to those who fit their arbitration criteria. On FilmWeek, we delve into the allusive title of "film producer" and how the credit has changed over the years with Deadline senior TV and labor reporter Katie Campione. She's the author of the piece "How ‘Shakespeare In Love’s Best Picture Win Inspired The PGA’s 25-Year Effort To Answer One Question: Who Is A Producer?"

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Lael Loewenstein and Peter Rainer review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Mother Mary, In Select Theaters

Balls Up, Streaming on Prime Video

Steal This Story, Please!, Laemmle Glendale, Laemmle Royal & Art Theatre Long Beach

Lorne, Wide Release

Normal, Wide Release

Erupcja, Landmark Nuart Theater [West LA]

Changing Lanes, In Select Laemmle Theaters

Mabel, Available on Digital & VOD

Immigrant Songs: Yiddish Theater and the American Jewish Experience, Streaming on select platforms

A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough, Streaming on Netflix

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

During World War II, Hitler recognized the power that Hollywood held as a tool for propaganda. So much so that he sent Nazi agents to L.A. to infiltrate the studios. In his new book, Hollywood vs. Nazis: How the Movie Studios Took on Nazis Infiltrating Los Angeles, author Michael Benson, tells the story of how one entertainment lawyer spearheaded the defense against Hitler’s pro-Nazi propaganda in Hollywood. Today on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with Benson about his book and this interesting intersection in movie history.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell, Beandrea July, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

You, Me & TuscanyWide Release                                    

Exit 8 In Select Theaters                                                           

The Christophers AMC Century City|Expands to Select Theaters April 17 [Next Fri]                            

HamletIn Select Theaters                                                        

Faces of DeathWide Release                                           

The Stranger In Select Laemmle Theaters                                                        

ChaO In Select Theaters                                                                   

The Blue Trail Lumiere Cinema Hall [West LA] Apr. 10-12                                                      

Birth of the Black UnderworldLaemmle NoHo                  

OutcomeAlamo Drafthouse [DTLA]|IPIC Theaters [Westwood]|Available to Stream on Apple TV+

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire, Beandrea July and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

The Drama Wide Release

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Wide Release

Fantasy Life In Select Theaters

The Addiction of Hope Available on VOD & Digital

Our Hero, Balthazar In Select Theaters

Kontinental ‘25 Laemmle Royal [West LA]

John Lilly and the Earth Coincidence Control Office The Philosophical Research Society & Brain Dead Studios

Palestine ‘36 In Select Theaters

White With Fear Streaming on the PBS app

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

The American Cinematheque, L.A.’s nonprofit film and culture organization, is best known for their curated screenings of cult classic films, filmmaker retrospectives, and festivals like Bleak Week and Beyond Fest. Now, through a new podcast, they are putting actors and filmmakers’ film taste to the test. Every week, artistic director Grant Moninger sits down with a director, actor, or screenwriter and asks them to put together their “perfect” film festival line-up, reflecting on the movies that made an impact on their lives. This week on FilmWeek, Grant Moninger joins Larry to talk about the podcast, his work as AC artistic director, and what programming American Cinematheque has coming up. 

“The American Cinematheque Podcast”releases weekly on Thursdays in both video and audio formats, on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. The first two episodes are out now featuring filmmakers Edgar Wright and Mary Bronstein. 

Guest host Austin Cross and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films: 

They Will Kill YouWide Release

Forbidden FruitsWide Release

Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice Streaming on Hulu

Marc by Sofia In Select Theaters

The AI Doc: Or How I Became An ApocaloptimistIn Select Theaters

AlphaIn Select Theaters

Holy Days In Select Theaters

BTS: The Return Streaming on Netflix

Refuge Available on Digital & VOD

Wardriver Available on Digital & VOD

Project Hail Mary, Ryan Gosling’s new space blockbuster, reached number one at the Box Office last weekend. It’s the second successful book-to-screen adaptation for author Andy Weir, best known for his novel The Martian which also got a movie adaptation in 2015 starring Matt Damon. Weir helped write the screenplays for both films, which could be part of their positive reception. But, turning a book into a well-received film is no small feat, even if you have the author at the helm. Obviously, a two hour movie cannot fit everything included in a 500 plus page book. A while back, LAist host Austin Cross spoke with FilmWeek critic Tim Cogshell on AirTalk about what makes a good book-to-film adaptation. Listeners also called in to share the movies they thought adapted their source material well and the ones that got it all wrong. 

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Beandrea July review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

It’s the annual FilmWeek Oscar Preview! AirTalk host Larry Mantle and the FilmWeek critics will take us through the major races and rundown the likely winners and where we might see some surprises. Grab your popcorn and join us for this annual favorite.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

For a renowned Hollywood icon, there remains a mysteriousness to actress Joan Crawford, which is and always was part of her appeal. But in a new biography, author and film historian Scott Eyman attempts to know the woman behind the screen persona and Hollywood gossip. Through newly discovered archives and interviews with family and friends, Eyman pulls back the layers on one of films’ greatest actresses. On FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with Scott Eyman about his new book Joan Crawford: A Woman’s Face.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

Austin Cross and LAist film critics Lael Loewenstein, Tim Cogshell and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

The Bride!, Wide Release

Hoppers, Wide Release

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, In Select Theaters 

Nawi: Dear Future Me, Laemmle Santa Monica Film Center

Dolly, In Select Theaters

The Pink Pill: Sex, Drugs and Who Has Control, Streaming on Paramount+

War Machine, Streaming on Netflix

Pompei: Below the Clouds, Laemmle Royal [West LA] on March 13

Youngblood, In Select Theaters

The Optimist: The Bravest Act Is Truth, In Select Theaters March 11

Charliebird, Laemmle Glendale    

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency   

A child prodigy, Billy Preston began performing at his local church in Los Angeles, but his talents on the keyboard and singing quickly led him to guest appearances on The Nat King Cole Show, and later touring with Ray Charles. Preston was a popular musician in his own right, known for hits like ‘Will It Go Round in Circles,’ and ‘Nothing From Nothing,’ but he also had a reputation for working behind the scenes with icons like Little Richard and The Beatles. Today on FilmWeek we talk with Paris Barclay, the director behind a new documentary on Billy Preston. 

Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It is in select theaters.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Claudia Puig and Tim Cogshell review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Scream 7, Wide Release

Paul McCartney: Man on the Run, In Select Theaters & Streaming on Amazon Prime

Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It, In Select Theaters March 3

Ghost Elephants, In Select Theaters | Streaming on Hulu & Disney+ March 8

Crazy Old Lady, Streaming on Shudder and AMC+

Space Cowboy, Laemmle Royal [West LA]

The Bluff, Streaming on Amazon Prime

For Worse, Laemmle Royal [West LA]

Undercard, In Select Theaters

Dreams, In Select Theaters

K-Pops!, In Select Theaters 

Brazil has been a rising star in international cinema. The Secret Agent, a political thriller set in 1977 about a researcher trying to escape the country for unknown reasons, is just the latest film from Brazil to gain critical acclaim. Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho and starring Wagner Moura, the film shows the tangible and intangible effects an authoritarian regime imposes on its people. Moura's character Marcelo, spends the film in hiding under an alias as he waits for assistance to get him and his son out of the country. Moura's central performance holds audiences in the precarious situation with him. The film has been nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best International Feature, Best Lead Actor (Wagner Moura), and Best Achievement in Casting. Today on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with actor Wagner Moura about the film and its reception abroad.

The Secret Agent is still playing in select theaters.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

How To Make A Killing, Wide Release

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, In Select IMAX Theaters|Expands February 27

Redux Redux, In Select Theaters       

I Can Only Imagine 2, In Select Theaters     

This Is Not a Test, In Select Theaters          

Threshold, Streaming on Peacock                      

One Mile: Chapter One & Chapter Two, Two films available simultaneously on digital 

Blades of the Guardians, In Select Theaters

The Dreadful, In Select Theaters                            

Diabolic, Available on Digital and On Demand           

A quiet, meditative film about the Pacific Northwest’s logging and railroad industry at the turn of the 20th century is this year’s sleeper hit, accumulating four Oscar nominations including Best Picture. Train Dreams tells the story of Robert Grainier, played by Joel Edgerton, as he helps expand the nation’s railway system, clearing forests alongside nomadic characters. As the film progresses, the audience is transported to the changing landscape of the West, the visuals dreamy like sifting through memories. The film is an adaptation of the novella of the same name written by Denis Johnson. On FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with Train Dreams’ director and co-writer Clint Bentley, who is nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay alongside co-writer Greg Kwedar, and the film’s director of photography, Adolpho Veloso, who is nominated for Best Achievement in Cinematography.

Train Dreams is nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Achievement in Cinematography, and Best Achievement in Music (Original Song).

Train Dreams is available to stream on Netflix.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Lael Loewenstein review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Wuthering Heights, Wide Release       

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, In Select Theaters     

Crime 101, Wide Release                              

Nirvanna: The Band–The Show–The Movie, In Select Theaters                                

Calle Malaga, Laemmle Town Center [Encino] & Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]            

Starman, Laemmle Glendale                               

Cold Storage, In Select Theaters               

Trango, Available on VOD on Documentary+                     

By Design, In Select Theaters                       

Writer-director Joachim Trier makes award-winning films that strike an emotional chord with audiences. Probably best known for his previous film The Worst Person in the World (2021), starring Renate Reinsve and co-written by Eskil Voght, Trier recreates that magic with his latest work Sentimental Value, about two sisters and their relationship with their estranged director father. Trier teamed up with Voght once again to co-write the screenplay and Reinsve plays the lead, marking the third film the director and actress have worked on together. Stellan Skarsgard stars alongside Reinsve as her character's father. Sentimental Value has nine Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best International Feature, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. We speak with writer-director Joachim Trier about the film and why it has resonated so much with audiences.

Sentimental Value is playing in select theaters.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Beandrea July review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. 

Films:

Dracula, In Select Theaters                                               

Sirāt, AMC Burbank & Landmark Nuart Theater [West LA]                                           

Pillion, In Select Theaters                          

Jimpa, In Select Theaters                                

Natchez, Laemmle Glendale                                  

Kokuho, AMC Citywalk [Hollywood]| Expands to select theaters February 20th                               

A Useful Ghost, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]                                    

Queen of Chess, Streaming on Netflix                 

Solo Mio, In Select Theaters                           

The President’s Cake, Laemmle Royal [West LA]                

The Strangers – Chapter 3, In Select Theaters         

The Love That Remains, Laemmle Royal [West LA] & Laemmle Glendale       

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency       

The Hollywood system was never a secret, even in the Golden Age. A young girl would be discovered, plucked from a small town in the Midwest, made over to look “the part” of a movie star, and then wholly become one as one of the major studios “it girl.” Although the idea of what a “star” is has changed over the decades to reflect societal ideals of each decade, the process and effects remain the same. The same is true for the film A Star is Born, which has been adapted four times. The original was released in 1937 starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, and follows the Hollywood machine of making a movie star. Over the subsequent versions, music was introduced, first with the 1954 adaptation where Judy Garland tries to become a leading lady in a Hollywood musical. The 1976 and 2018 versions modernize the commentary by setting it in the music industry with Barbara Streisand and Lady Gaga starring respectively. These differences and what they say about each era of the entertainment industry are explored in the book “A Star is Reborn: The Most Filmed Hollywood Story of Love Found and Lost.” On FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with the author Robert Hofler.

“A Star is Reborn” is on sale now.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Lael Loewenstein review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Also joining us on FilmWeek to talk about the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and some of the films being shown is program director for the festival and LAist film critic, Claudia Puig.

Films:

Send Help, Wide Release

The Moment, In Select Theaters

A Poet, Laemmle Royal [West LA]

Miracle: The Boys of '80, Streaming on Netflix

Pike River, Lumiere Cinema [Beverly Hills]

Islands, In Select Theaters

Shelter, In Select Theaters     

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency     

The LA Times released a list of the best 101 films set in Los Angeles. The number one spot went to the 1974 filmChinatown, directed by Roman Polanski, starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway, with the backdrop of a 1930’s Los Angeles. Second place went to David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive (2001), and some other notable picks include Blade Runner (1982), Her (2013), Tangerine (2015) and Boyz n the Hood (1991). Joining Larry Mantle on FilmWeek to discuss some of the more surprising films included and their personal favorites are LAist film critics Manuel Betancourt, assistant editor of Documentary Magazine, and one of the contributors to the LA Times’ Best LA Movies list, and Wade Major, film critic for CineGods.com and author of the “Hollywood Heretic” Substack.

You can read the LA Times’ 101 Best LA Movies listhere.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Peter Rainer, Tim Cogshell and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. And we remember the beloved animation director Roger Allers, known best for co-directing Disney’s The Lion King, and award-winning actress Joan Plowright.

Films:

Mercy, Wide Release

Mr. Nobody Against Putin, Streaming on the Kino Film Collection

Arco, AMC Burbank & AMC Century City

H is for Hawk, In Select Theaters

Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!, Streaming on HBO Max

Disneyland Handcrafted, Streaming on Disney+

Sound of Falling, Laemmle Royal [West LA]

Cosmic Princess Kaguya, Streaming on Netflix

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency     

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

28 Years Later: the Bone Temple, Wide Release                       

The RIP, Streaming on Netflix                                     

Night Patrol, In Select Theaters                           

The Shadow of the Sun, Laemmle Glendale             

Young Mothers, Laemmle Royal [West LA]                  

A Private Life, Laemmel Royal [West LA], AMC Burbank, & AMC The Grove                        

Sheepdog, In Select Theaters                             

Obex, Laemmle NoHo                                          

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency     

The new film Sheepdog was over a decade in the making. Writer, director, and star, Steven Grayhm, spent 14 years talking to veterans about their mental health struggles after returning home, and families of veterans who have taken their own lives. The film follows combat veteran, Calvin Cole (played by Grayhm), as he goes through court mandated therapy. His therapist, played by Oscar-nominated actor Virginia Madsen, is new to the job, still finishing her schooling. Madsen’s connection to the film is also a personal one. On FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with filmmaker Steven Grayhm and actor Virginia Madsen about the making of Sheepdog and their respective emotional connections to the film.

Sheepdogis playing in select theaters. 

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency     

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Lael Loewenstein and Beandrea July review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. And we remember Hungarian filmmaker Béla Tarr.

Films:

Dead Man's Wire, AMC Burbank & AMC Grove|Expands Jan. 16                                  

Greenland 2: Migration, Wide Release                     

I Was a Stranger, In Select Theaters                                       

All That's Left of You, Laemmle Royal [West LA]                            

The Mother and the Bear, Laemmle Glendale             

Homegrown, Available on VOD                                     

The Forgotten Occupation, Lumiere Cinema [West LA] Jan 10

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency     

South Korean director Park Chan-wook is considered one of living legends working today, known for his dark comedies inspired by film noir like his breakout hit Oldboy. His work also plays with shifting tones, like the paranoia and romance in the 2022 film Decision to Leave. Chan-wook’s newest film No Other Choice continues this pattern, melding the dark tone of a crime thriller with the slap-stick of a comical farce. The film stars Lee Byun-hun as a paper company employee who has just been laid off. Desperate to maintain his identity as a working man, he takes drastic measures to eliminate his competition in the job market. This time on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with director Park Chan-wookabout his new film No Other Choice and how he decides what films to make at this stage in his career. Park Chan-wook is accompanied by his interpreter Jiwoon Lee.

You can see No Other Choice in select theaters.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency     

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Amy Nicholson and Manuel Betancourt review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Marty SupremeWide Release

Song Sung Blue Wide Release

No Other ChoiceIn Select Theaters|Expands January

The Testament of Ann LeeIn Select Theaters|Expands January

AnacondaWide Release

The PlagueAt Select Laemmle Theater locations|Expands Wide Jan 2  

Goodbye JuneStreaming on Netflix

Father Mother Sister Brother Landmark Nuart Theater [West LA]|Expands Jan. 9  

The ChoralAMC Burbank & Laemmle Royal [West LA]|Expands to select theaters Jan. 15

Rental Familyexplores the unique phenomena of Japanese rental family agencies through an underemployed American actor living in Tokyo. Anchored by Brendan Fraser’s empathetic performance, Rental Familyexplores the lyricism of loneliness and the solace we can find in connection. Joining Larry to talk about Rental Family are director and co-writer of the film HIKARIand lead actor Brendan Fraser.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency            .

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell, Peter Rainer, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. 

Films:

Avatar: Fire and Ash, Wide Release

The Housemaid, Wide Release

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, Wide Release

Is This Thing On?, In Select Theaters

The Voice of Hind Rajab, Laemmle Royal [West LA]

David, Wide Release 

Franz, Laemmle Monica [Santa Monica]

All Operators are Currently Unavailable, Laemmle NoHo

Breakdown: 1975, Streaming on Netflix

Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately?, Streaming on HBO Max

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.            .

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Beandrea July review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Pantone as a company is synonymous with our ideas around ‘color.’ They set the standard for what we expect “olive green” or “electric blue” to look like. But what about the man behind the iconic Pantone color square, each with a unique I.D. number? In the new documentary The King of Color, director Patrick Creadon focuses on the man who created Pantone’s Matching System, Lawrence Herbert. Creadon joins FilmWeek host Larry Mantle to discuss the legacy of Herbert and how a documentary about a niche subject like color matching gets off the ground. 

The King of Color is playing at the Regal Paseo theater in Pasadena.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency            .

 Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Claudia Puig and Tim Cogshell review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Five Nights at Freddy's 2, Wide Release

The Secret Agent, AMC Century City

100 Nights of Hero, Wide Release                                    

Fackham Hall, Wide Release                                        

The Chronology of Water, Laemmle Royal [West LA]

Cutting Through Rocks, Laemmle Royal [West LA]; Laemmle Town Center [Encino]                        Zodiac Killer Project, Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA]; Laemmle Glendale

The Tale of Silyan, Laemmle Monica

Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution, Wide Release                       

Man Finds Tape, Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA]; Available on VOD                                        

The New Yorker at 100, Streaming on Netflix 

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency                   

Horror films have been a consistent draw for movie theaters, even in a post-pandemic, streaming world. And one of the most well-known production studios in horror is Blumhouse. The production house came on the scene in 2009 with Paranormal Activity, a low-budget found-footage film that became a smash hit spawning a franchise. Blumhouse would repeat this formula with The Purge and Insidious franchise. Now, Blumhouse is known for its more crowd pleasing scary movies like M3GAN and Five Nights at Freddy’s(with the highly anticipated sequel releasing this week), but the studio has also taken risks on up and coming directors like Jordan Peele and Damien Chazelle. So, how does a horror production house continue to survive and turn a profit in today’s film industry? And why does horror seem to be a safe bet for box office returns. Joining us to discuss the current horror movie landscape is Abhijay Prakash, president of Blumhouse. 

You can read all about Blumhouse’s rise in their new bookHorror’s New Wave: 15 Years of Blumhouse.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency            

For our most recent FilmWeek screening event, where we show quintessential L.A. films across the city, we went to the family-owned Garden Cinema to present the Coen Brothers’ classic The Big Lebowski. The 1998 noir-comedy opened to mixed reviews during its initial release, but has since gained cult status and even mainstream praise. In 2014, it was designated a "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” film and added to the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. After the screening, Larry Mantle spoke with LAist FilmWeek critics Christy Lemire and Wade Major about the impact of the film and their personal love for ‘The Dude.’

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell, Manuel Betancourt and Charles Solomon review the latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery In Select Theaters Nov 26|Streaming on Netflix Dec 12

HamnetIn Select Theaters Nov 26|Expands Dec 5

Zootopia 2 Wide Release Nov 26

Eternity In Select Theaters Nov 26 

A Magnificent Life Laemmle Royal [West LA] Closes Nov 27     

Cactus Pears Laemmle Royal [West LA] Nov 28

OuterlandsAvailable on VOD Nov 26

Angel's Egg Alamo Drafthouse DTLA Nov 26|Egyptian Theater Nov 28

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Claudia Puig and Peter Rainer review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Wicked: For Good,Wide Release

Rental Family, Wide Release

Left-Handed Girl,In Select Theaters|Streaming on Netflix Nov. 28

Rebuilding,AMC Century City|AMC Burbank

Out of Plain Sight,Laemmel NoHo

Auction,Laemmle Town Center [Encino]|Laemmle Royal [West LA]

Manas,Laemmle Glendale

The Making of a Japanese,Available on VOD

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency

Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve earned international recognition for her performance in the Joachim Trier film The Worst Person in the World. After roles in Hollywood in Presumed Innocent and A Different Man, Reinsve and Trier have reunited in their new film Sentimental Value about a theater actress and her estranged film director father in Oslo. Larry Mantle speaks with Renate Reinsve about her approach to acting and her latest film.

You can seeSentimental Valuein select theaters now. It will expand to more theaters Friday. Nov. 28.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency

Actor Cesar Romero is probably best known for his role as The Joker in the 1960s Batman series, a portrayal that would later define the character and cast a large shadow over future screen adaptations. But well before Romero put on the green wig and red lipstick, he had a successful and varied career. He acted alongside the Rat Pack in Ocean’s Eleven and Carmen Miranda in Week-End in Havana. Most of his roles fell into the ‘Latin Lover’ stereotype, a mold he did not fit in his everyday life. Yet, despite on-screen limitations, Romero was still able to imbue each character with a sense of humanity. In the new biographyCesar Romero: The Joker is Wild, author Samuel Garza Bernstein goes in depth about Romero’s life pre-Hollywood, his career pre-Joker, and his 1980s renaissance as an A-list TV actor. On FilmWeek, Larry speaks with Garza Bernstein about Romero’s legacy.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Beandrea July review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Jay KellyIn Select Theaters|Streaming on Netflix Dec 5 

The Running ManWide Release

Come See Me In The Good LightLaemmle NoHo|Streaming on Apple TV+

The Carpenter’s SonIn Select Theaters

Put Your Soul on Your Hand and WalkLaemmle Glendale|Laemmle Monica Film Center

BunnyLumiere Cinema [West LA]|Available on VOD

Selena y Los DinosLaemmle NoHo|Streaming on Netflix Nov 17

Bull RunGalaxy Mission Grove Theatre [Riverside]|Available on VOD & Digital Platforms

Serious PeopleLaemmle Glendale|Available on VOD & Digital Platforms Dec 16

Stationed at HomeAvailable on VOD & Digital Platforms

Being EddieStreaming on Netflix

Trap HouseIn Select Theaters

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Sir Roger Deakins is the award-winning cinematographer behind the films Bladerunner: 2049, 1917, and No Country for Old Men (just to name a few). Although those behind the camera often do not reach the heights of mainstream recognition, Deakins is the rare case of a cinematographer becoming a household name, considered one of the greatest of all time. In his new book Reflections: On Cinematography, Deakins steps into the light, sharing memories from his time in art school and working on music videos, to his longstanding career in film, working alongside directors such as the Coen Brothers and Denis Villeneuve. Larry Mantle speaks with cinematographer Sir Roger Deakins about his memoir and his decades spent behind the camera on some of the most influential films.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Lael Loewenstein review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Predator: Badlands,Wide Release                                    

Sentimental Value,In Select Theaters                                      

Train Dreams,In Select Theaters|Streaming on Netflix Nov. 21                                       

Die My Love,In Select Theaters                                        

Nuremberg,Wide Release                                          

Christy,In Select Theaters                                                           

Lost & Found in Cleveland,In Select Theaters                      

Peter Hujar’s Day,Laemmle Royal [West LA] 

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Despite only lasting four short years from 1930 to 1934, the pre-code era of Hollywood’s Golden Age produced films that pushed the boundaries of cinema and storytelling, even by today’s standards. Hollywood classics including King Kong (1933), Freaks (1932), and Grand Hotel (1932) all came out during this time, just before the enforcement of the Production Code in 1934. Films of the pre-code era explored themes of sexuality, outlaws, racial identity, and class disparity. In a new book released in partnership with Turner Classic Movies, film historians and creators of Pre-Code.com, share their 50 must-see movies from the pre-code era. Joining us on FilmWeek to discuss some of the best films of the early 1930s, is Kim Luperi, film historian and co-author of the book Pre-Code Essentials: Must-See Cinema from Hollywood’s Untamed Era (1930-1934).

Kim Luperi will be at Book Soup in West Hollywood Sunday, November 2 for a book signing event. You can get more information about the eventhere.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Peter Rainer, Tim Cogshell, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Nouvelle VagueIn Select Theaters|Streaming on Netflix Nov 14

Love+WarLaemmle Monica Film Center|Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu Nov. 7 

Ballad of a Small PlayerStreaming on Netflix 

Little Amélie or the Character of RainIn Select Theaters     

Anniversary In Select Theaters     

Stitch HeadIn Select Theaters     

Wisdom of HappinessLaemmle Royal [West LA]    

The White House EffectStreaming on Netflix 

Hallow RoadIn AMC Theaters    

Chainsaw Man–The Movie: Reze ArcIn Select Theaters     

The WreckerAvailable on VOD   

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Manuel Betancourt and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Bugonia, In Select Theaters

Springsteen: Deliver Me from NowhereIn Select Theaters

HeddaThe Culver Theater [Culver City]|Streaming on Prime Video

Köln 75Laemmle Royal [West LA]|Laemmle Glendale|Laemmle Town Center [Encino]

Stiller & Meara: Nothing is LostLaemmle Royal [West LA]| Streaming on Apple TV+

Mr. ScorseseStreaming on Apple TV+

The Hand That Rocks the CradleStreaming on Hulu

Shelby OaksIn Select Theaters

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

The Rocky Horror Picture Show created a blueprint for other initially unsuccessful films to find second lives through fervent fans. Its unapologetic celebration of difference continues to resonate on the 50th anniversary of the film. In the new documentary Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror, director Linus O’Brien delves into the phenomenon of “Rocky Horror” through interviews with major players including director Jim Sharman, actors Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon, and O’Brien’s father, Richard O’Brien, the creator of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. O’Brien joined Larry on AirTalk to discuss his documentary. 

Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror is playing at Vidiots in Eagle Rock now through Oct. 29. You can find showtimeshere.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Bruce Lee’s martial arts work on the silver screen made him a household name in America at a time when those of Asian descent were rarely seen in media. His very presence served as a complicated and nuanced representation for this underseen group. Now, a new book traces the life of Lee and argues his short life had an even greater impact on the world than had been previously considered. Today on AirTalk, Larry speaks with the author of Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America Jeff Chang, about the book and Lee's legacy.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Beandrea July review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire andTim Cogshell review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Tron: Ares, In Select Theaters

Roofman, Wide Release

Kiss of the Spider Woman, In Select Theaters

A House of Dynamite, In Select Theaters

If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, In Select Theaters

After the Hunt, In Select Theaters

Urchin, AMC Burbank & AMC Century City

Orwell: 2+2=5,Landmark Nuart [West LA]

John Candy: I Like Me, Streaming on Amazon Prime

The Alabama Solution, Streaming on HBO Max

The Woman in Cabin 10, Streaming on Netflix

Vicious, Streaming on Paramount+

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

From Scream Queens to Final Girls, women have been at the center of horror cinema since its rise in the late 60s. Violence on screen mirrored the violence real women faced off screen. From the allusions to reproductive control in Rosemary’s Baby, to the undertones of domestic violence in The Shining, horror’s female protagonists cannot be divorced from political and social commentary. In her new book “Scream with Me: Horror Films and the Rise of American Feminism (1968-1980),Eleanor Johnson, professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University, views some of our most popular scary movies through a feminist lens. And once you see the themes of women’s oppression, it’s hard to look at a horror film the same way again. This week on FilmWeek, Larry speaks with Johnson about her new book and reanalyze some horror classics together.

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Manuel Betancourt review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

The Smashing Machine, Wide Release

Anemone, In Select Theaters                                                                               

The Lost Bus, In Select Theaters & Streaming on Apple TV+

Play Dirty, Streaming on Amazon Prime                                                                       

Fairyland, Landmark Sunset [West Hollywood]

The Ice Tower, Laemmle Glendale                                                                

Are We Good?, AMC Americana [Glendale] & Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA]

Viva Verdi, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]                                                           

Coyotes, In Select Theaters

Good Boy, In Select Theaters                                                                        

Norita, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]              

Stripped for Parts, Streaming on PBS.org and PBS app           

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Manuel Betancourt review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

One Battle After AnotherWide Release

Eleanor the GreatIn Select Theaters

All of YouLaemmle NoHo|Streaming on Apple TV+

Dead of WinterIn Select Theaters

PredatorsLaemmle Royal [West LA] & Alamo Drafthouse DTLA

Strange Journey - The Story of Rocky HorrorIn Select Theaters

PlainclothesLandmark Sunset [West Hollywood]

All the Devils Are HereAvailable on VOD

AdulthoodLaemmle Glendale|Available on VOD

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!