FilmWeek

FilmWeek: 'Kraven the Hunter,' 'Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl,' 'Nickel Boys,' and More

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Manuel Betancourt, Peter Rainer, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on-demand platforms.

Kraven the Hunter

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

September 5

Nickel Boys

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

Oh, Canada

The Last Showgirl

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes

Carry-On

Endless Summer Syndrome

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Wade Majorand Christy Lemire review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on-demand platforms.

Nightbitch

Y2K

The Order

Day of the Fight

The End

Unstoppable

The Girl with the Needle

Mary

Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary

The Return

Lake George

From 'Jonny Quest' to 'The West Wing' and beyond: Actor Tim Matheson on his decades spent in Hollywood

Actor Tim Matheson has been working in showbiz since he was a young kid. He took up roles in some shows from the 1960s, like Leave it to Beaver and Window on Main Street. In 1964, he became the leading voice for the animated adventure series Jonny Quest. He'd go on to play Eric "Otter" Stratton in one of his best-known roles in the 1978 comedy film Animal House, and he was Emmy-nominated for his role as John Hoynes in The West Wing. For this week’s feature, we re-air an interview Larry recently did with Matheson, tied to his new memoir Damn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Trenches (Hachette Books, 2024)

FilmWeek: 'Moana 2,' 'Queer,' 'Maria,' 'That Christmas,' and More

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

As we enter a major weekend for Hollywood, how successful are Wicked and Gladiator II projected to be?

Although Thanksgiving cooking is a major event on its own, the next two weekends serve as a time when major studios try to cash in on the audience’s free time. The two major releases this weekend, John M. Chu’s Wicked and Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, have bot h heavily campaigned for eyeballs, leaving questions about whether both can find box office success during the first week of their respective domestic releases. Internationally, Gladiator II has been released in some territories and made more than $80 million dollars in the process; Wicked has yet to open up its wide release but is projected to make more than $100 million in its opening weekend. With many referencing Barbenheimer, due to both films’ heavy promotion and different audience demographics, it does beg folks to wonder how each film will ultimately do financially and during awards season. Rebecca Rubin, senior film and media reporter for Variety, joins us to discuss this.

Feature: Critics discuss what’s behind the idea of movies being longer, and how to best prep for them

At a time when rolls of film dominated the land, making a blockbuster was going to be expensive when you had to consider a physical film that had to be distributed across the globe. It’s an issue that made films longer than 120 minutes feel like an occasion. However, in the world of digital cameras, the unique quirks that came with the film were no longer an issue, making it easier to extend the length of a given feature. Auteurs like Christopher Nolan and Martin Scorsese have tried their best to keep viewers’ attention, with recent projects like Oppenheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon, respectively. In the vein of West Side Story (1961) and Lawrence of Arabia, Brady Corbet’s upcoming film The Brutalist uses an intermission to give viewers a break. But ultimately… are Hollywood’s movies longer now? And for viewers interested in watching these long movies– what are ways to fully devote yourself to a film?

FilmWeek: 'Gladiator II,' 'Wicked,' 'Joy,' 'Spellbound,' and More

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Charles Solomon, Amy Nicholson, and Claudia Puig reviewthe latest releases on FilmWeek.

FilmWeek: 'Red One,' 'Elton John: Never Too Late,' 'Daruma,' and More

Larry Mantle and FilmWeek critics Lael Loewenstein, Manuel Betancourt, and Charles Solomon review the latest releases on FilmWeek.

Feature: As Hollywood begins its “Christmas creep,” we talk our favorite holiday movies

The holidays are here… or at least film distributors are under that impression. It’s been two weeks since Halloween has wrapped, and in that time we’ve seen some new Christmas-centric films make their ways to theaters and streamers. This week’s most-promoted theatrical release being the Christmas, action-comedy Red One; the film includes stars like Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, and J.K. Simmons. Last week on the show, we had the chance to discuss Christmas Eve in Miller’s Pointand The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, two films that fit into the rich tradition of comfort movies that you can watch with your family during the holidays. So for this week’s FilmWeek feature, we’ll speak to our critics about the trend itself and hear about their favorite movies centered on the holiday season.

Feature: New book ‘Opening Weekend’ provides insider perspective on film marketing

Although the film industry can be quite lucrative, there are a lot of moving parts to how a film gets to be a “success” or “flop.” As it relates to building up hype for a movie, marketing teams play a huge role in growing excitement and finding ways to resonate with general audiences. A new book, Opening Weekend: An Insider's Look at Marketing Hollywood's Hits and Flops, by longtime film marketing executive Jim Fredrick. Frederick’s career in the business has included working on the marketing team for films like Eyes Wide Shut, The Shawshank Redemption, and even the Harry Potter film franchise. So for this week’s feature, we’ll talk to Frederick about Opening Weekend and get an insider’s understanding of how marketing works within the film industry.

Jim Fredrick, studio marketing executive, and Chapman University film professor; he’s also the author of the new book Opening Weekend: An Insider's Look at Marketing Hollywood's Hits and Flops

FilmWeek: "Heretic," "The Piano Lesson," "Small Things Like These," and more

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Andy Klein review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on-demand platforms.

The upcoming general election has of course been on many peoples’ minds, and what better way to work through the angst than by viewing how generations of artists have tried depicting politics on the big screen? Since early September, Turner Classic Movies has been airing some of the most political films to be released, with some examples being The Great Dictator and JFK. So for today’s feature, Larry and LAist film critics Andy Klein and Christy Lemire talk about their favorite election-related movies, getting into what makes them so topical and worth looking back at following their initial release.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Andy Klein review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on-demand platforms. They also remember actress Teri Garr, who passed away at the age of 79.

Here

Blitz

Emilia Perez

A Real Pain

Juror #2

Endurance

Freedom

The Gutter

Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat

Feature: Larry talks to Sean Baker and Mikey Madison about the work that went into making ‘Anora’

Since his 2012 feature-length film Starlet, critically acclaimed director Sean Baker has made films that bring realism to the lives of sex workers across the United States. Angelenos are likely familiar with the locations of Starlet and Tangerine, with the former taking place in the San Fernando Valley and the latter in Hollywood. Baker would eventually shoot his next films in Florida and Texas, but his latest picture, Anora, brings viewers to Brooklyn, New York. In Anora, Mikey Madison portrays Ani, an exotic dancer who eventually finds herself eloping with the son of a Russian oligarch. The film has garnered positive reviews since being screened at film festivals and was awarded the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival by fellow filmmakers judging the competition. For this week’s feature, we sit down with Anora’s writer-director Sean Baker, and the film’s star, Mikey Madison.

Anora is now in select theaters and will expand on November 1

FilmWeek: 'Venom: The Last Dance,' 'Conclave,' 'Memoir of a Snail,' and More

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Peter Rainer, Wade Major, and Charles Solomon

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Amy Nicholson and Manuel Betancourt review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on-demand platforms.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell, Wade Major, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

Referred to by Vulture as a box office “Mega Flop(olis),” Francis Ford Coppola’s decades-long project didn’t have an ideal opening, making $4,000,000 domestically across 1,854 theaters. Coppola, now 85 years old, hasn’t gotten much love from audiences for the film, although one sequence has become the subject of many online memes. Megalopolis also arrives at a time when advertisements for the 94-year-old Clint Eastwood’s new film, Juror #2, are set to release in November. Both filmmakers have extensive filmographies, including some hits and misses, but are their new projects resonating as much as prior works? How are they faring compared to longtime auteurs like Martin Scorsese and Michael Mann? We talk to FilmWeek critics Tim Cogshell and Wade Major about whether these filmmakers are still resonating with audiences, and what challenges they face with making films in their twilight years.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Lael Loewenstein and Claudia Puig review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

Joker:Folie a DeuxWide Release

The OutrunIn Select Theaters

BlinkIn Select Theaters

Stripped For Parts: American Journalism On The Brink Laemmle Royal [West LA] 

Daytime RevolutionIn Select Theaters One Night Only on October 9th [Wednesday]

The Problem with PeopleLaemmle Royal [Sawtelle]

White Bird In Select Theaters

Guests:

 Daniel Day-Lewis is coming out of retirement, seven years after his last movie, for a film directed by his son Ronan Day-Lewis. The project was announced Tuesday by Focus Features and Plan B, who are partnering on “Anemone.” The film, Ronan Day-Lewis’ directorial debut, will star his father along with Sean Bean and Samantha Morton. The two Day-Lewises co-wrote the film. Earlier Tuesday, Daniel Day-Lewis and Bean were spotted driving a motorbike through Manchester, England, stoking intrigue about his impending return to acting. After making Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2017 film “Phantom Thread,” the 67-year-old said he was quitting acting. Given Day-Lewis’s decades-long filmography, and 3 Academy Awards to his name, we thought it’d be good to look back at his legacy to help contextualize how significant his contributions have been. 

With files from theAssociated Press

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Charles Solomon, Christy Lemire and Andy Klein review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

Megalopolis Wide Release

The Wild RobotWide Release

Saturday NightAMC Burbank 16 + AMC Burbank Town Center 6 | Expands October 11th 

LeeIn Select Theaters 

SleepAlamo Drafthouse [DTLA] + Available on VOD

Amber AlertLaemmle Royal [West LA]

Rez BellStreaming on Netflix

Girls Will Be GirlsLandmark’s Nuart Theatre [West LA] | Expands October 4th to Laemmle Glendale [Glendale] 

All Shall Be WellLaemmle Royal [West LA]

Haunted HeartLaemmle Monica Center [Santa Monica] + Available on VOD

House of SpoilsStreaming on Amazon Prime

Art Dealers Lumiere Music Hall + VOD on Oct. 1

Having done film criticism for decades, it was around the early points of the COVID-19 pandemic that film critic and historian Carrie Rickey decided to take up the task of outlining the life of beloved director, Agnes Varda. In A Complicated Passion: The Life and Work of Agnès Varda, Rickey looks at not just Varda’s filmography, but also how she became such a public-facing individual who embodied the politics she preachedin interviews and on the big screen. Writing about the work that went into making great films like Cleo from 5 to 7, how she became a notable part of France’s feminist movement, and the friendships that made her known as a beloved socialite. So for this week’s FilmWeek feature, we speak to film critic and historian Carrie Rickey about her new book, A Complicated Passion: The Life and Work of Agnès Varda.

Passing the Mantle is a new podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations. In this episode, Larry and Desmond talk about how perceptions of and conversations around interracial relationships have changed since Larry was growing up in the ’60s… for better, and for worse.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Although infrequent movie watchers might be most familiar with filmmaker Brian De Palma’s Scarface and Mission Impossible, his most prolific era actually came between 1972-1981, which is what filmmaker and book author Laurent Bouzereau refers to as “The De Palma Decade” in his new book of the same name. Beginning with De Palma’s 1972 film Sisters, and ending with his 1981 film Blow Out, Bouzereau break down the iconic filmmaker’s themes and thought process when developing each work within this decade. For this week’s FilmWeek feature, we’ll sit down with Laurent Bouzereau, author of the new book “The De Palma Decade: Redefining Cinema with Doubles, Voyeurs, and Psychic Teens,” and get into how this pioneer of New Hollywood cinema made his mark.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Claudia Puig, Tim Cogshell and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

Never Let GoWide Release

A Different Man In Select Theaters

Transformers One Wide Release

The SubstanceIn Select Theaters

Wolfs In Select Theaters | Streaming on Apple TV+ September 27th 

In The SummersLaemmle Royal

All Happy FamiliesLaemmle Royal

Who’s Afraid of Nathan Law Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] | Streaming on PBS Monday, September 23rd

Omni LoopLaemmle Glendale [Glendale]

A Mistake Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] | Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino]

Dan Da Dan: The First Encounter In Select Theaters

Passing the Mantle is a new podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations. In this episode, Larry and Desmond talk about how movies can help teach us about the world, and ourselves… and what makes some more effective than others in getting their messages across.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics  Manuel Betancourt and Wade Major  review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

Speak No EvilWide Release
The Killers GameWide Release
My Old AssIn Select Theaters
Will & Harper In Select Theaters | Streaming on Netflix September 27th 
The CriticLaemmle Town Center 5 [Encino] 
Here After Streaming on Roku
The Mother of All LiesLaemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]
The Goldman CaseLaemmle Royal [Sawtelle] Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino] 
Look Into My EyesIn Select Theaters
Am I A Racist?In Select Theaters 
Studio One ForeverLandmark Sunset [West Hollywood] | Available on VOD October 3rd 

Early cinema, despite a lack of conventional sound, has always been engaging as an experience since it’s typically been paired with live scores to match a specific film’s tone. Screening with live scores can still be found today, but Austin’s Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In founder Josh Frank decided to put an interesting spin on the classic concept; Frank decided to change up the experience by pairing silent films with contemporary live performances by bands like Radiohead and R.E.M.. For its first installment of screenings, played in art theaters and drive-ins across the country, they’ll be pairing the 1922 horror film Nosferatu with Radiohead’s albums Kid A and Amnesiac. So today on FilmWeek, we talk to Josh Frank about his latest venture and the thought process behind it.

The biggest film festival in North America, the Toronto International Film Festival, has commenced with a lineup that’s showcasing an array of notable films in a relatively lackluster year following the SAG/WGA strikes. Some major releases include Edward Berger’s star-studded film Conclave, the gender-affirming pop musical Emilia Perez, and the Jason Reitman historical comedy Saturday Night. So Today on FilmWeek, Larry will check in withLAist film critic Peter Rainer, to hear what films have stood out to him at the festival and are worth keeping an eye on once they’re theatrically released. 

Passing the Mantle is a new podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations. In this episode, Larry and Desmond dive into how our relationship to religion has changed since the 50s… and how the overall decline of religious faith has led Americans to hold tighter to their political views and philosophical beliefs about right and wrong.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics  Amy Nicholson and Lael Loewenstein review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice  Wide Release

Rebel RidgeStreaming on Netflix

I’ll Be Right ThereLaemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] | Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino]

His Three DaughtersIn Select Theaters | Streaming on Netflix September 20th

The Cowboy and The QueenLaemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]

Red RoomsLaemmle NoHo 7 [North Hollywood]

Paradise is BurningLaemmle Glendale | Laemmle Royal [Sawtelle]

HoardIn Select Theaters

The ParagonAlamo Drafthouse DTLA 

Earlier this year, a study was published that found that sex in movies has started to drop off, at least in several films that depicted them. So it did come as a bit of a surprise when film festival season highlights out of the Venice Film Festival included the Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson-led erotic drama Babygirl, as well Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, starring Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey. Stateside we also saw Sean Baker’s Anora, a story about a New York exotic dancer’s relationship with a Russian oligarch, screen at the Telluride Film Festival following its success at the Cannes Film Festival. 

So for this week’s FilmWeek feature, we thought it’d be worth getting into how these films were received by those in the film community, and get into how it might translate with general audiences. We continue with FilmWeek critics Lael Loewenstein and Amy Nicholson, as well as Variety executive editor Brent Lang.

Passing the Mantle is a new podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations. In this episode, Larry and Desmond talk about how LA’s food culture has changed since Larry was a kid, bringing more authentic, wide-ranging, and inventive cuisine to the city.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics  Wade Major and Claudia Puig review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

ReaganWide Release

1992Wide Release 

Merchant IvoryLaemmle Royal | Laemmle Town Center 5 | Landmark Pasadena September 6th

Tokyo CowboyIn Select Theaters

Hinckley: I Shot The President Available on VOD

Slingshot In Select Theaters

The Deliverance Streaming on Netflix 

Close Your EyesLandmark Nuart Theater 

Take My HeadIn Select Theaters 

Untold: Hope Solo vs. U.S. Soccer Streaming on Netflix Tuesday, September 3rd

The Hays Code, developed by Will H. Hays but most notably supervised by Joseph Breen, had profound impact on the world of American cinema through it’s elimination of any concepts that didn’t match the moral standards of those heading the department. A fascinating outcome in this era, from 1934 to 1968, was the few films that were able to filmmaking trickery to get past these sensors, with many of these moments being outlined in film historian Nat Segaloff’s new book The Naughty Bits: What The Censors Wouldn’t Let You See in Hollywood’s Most Famous Movies. Filmmakers like Howard Hawks and Billy Wilder were able to find methods of pushing boundaries with risque language and visual euphemisms. So for this week’s FilmWeek Feature, Larry sits down with Nat to discuss this time of censorship, and how some moments in American cinema at the time were able to make it through the censors undetected.

Passing the Mantleis a new podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations. In this episode, Larry and Desmond talk about what’s making young men so lonely these days... and how their feelings of isolation can lead to even bigger problems.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Andy Klein and Tim Cogshell review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

Blink TwiceWide Release

The Crow Wide Release

The Killer Streaming on Peacock

Between the TemplesIn Select Theaters

Strange DarlingIn Select Theaters

Red IslandLaemmle Royal

Greedy PeopleIn Select Theaters

Rear Window(70th Anniversary) In Select Theaters 

The Secret Art of Human FlightAvailable on VOD

The Other Laurens Available on VOD

IncomingStreaming on Netflix 

1960’s exploitation films did so much for the industry, as they created a general roadmap for how to make a commercially successful film. The following decade would bring further proof in the form of “blaxploitation,” a ethnic subgenre that saw Black filmmakers and creatives take center stage in stories that were meant to entertain audiences while also serve as representation in the industry. Although still quite controversial within the community for their explicit storylines, the heros many times were Black protagonists that tried to stick it to the man or shut down criminal enterprises. Given the subgenre’s long history, Boston Globe film critic Odie Henderson looked to chronicle it in his book Black Caesars and Foxy Cleopatras: A History of Blaxploitation Cinema. So for our FilmWeek feature, Larry sits down with Odie to discuss the themes and success this subgenre found with audiences and why its impact can still be felt today.

Passing the Mantle is a new podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations. In this episode, Larry and Desmond talk about how swearing has changed over the years... becoming more common, less taboo, and moving the dial on what it means to be vulgar today.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

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

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

“Alien: Romulus” Wide Release

“My Penguin Friend” Wide Release

“Jackpot!”  Streaming on Amazon Prime

“Close to You” Laemmle Royal | Monica Film Center | Laemmle NoHo 7 | Laemmle Glendale

“Skincare” In Select Theaters

“Sugarcane”Laemmle Royal 

“Rob Peace” Monica Film Center | Town Center 5 | NoHo 7 

“Untold: The Murder of Air McNair” Streaming on Netflix

“The Union” Streaming on Netflix 

“I live my life a quarter mile at a time.” In Los Angeles, many drivers can relate to that famous quote from “The Fast and the Furious,” said by character Dominic Toretto, played by Vin Diesel. The original film brings together a host of references that many Southern California could probably point out. From scenes taking places in areas like Dodgers Stadium, to what is now the San Bernardino Airport, the film has a host of references that locals will get a kick out of seeing on the big screen. Not just that, but it’s fast-paced action sequences and focus on family is why the film has garnered such universal interest. 

So LAist thought it’d be great to bring the film to big screen for our most recent FilmWeek screening, this time in partnership with The Frida Cinema in Santa Ana. Following the screening, Larry spoke to film critics Amy Nicholson and Christy Lemire about the film to discuss its significance in our culture. They were also joined the film’s racing consultant, Craig Lieberman, and 2nd unit director Mic Rodgers, to understand all the effort that went into making this movie a high octane blockbuster.

Passing the Mantle is a new podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations. From free love to STDs, Larry and Desmond unpack how attitudes toward sex have shifted over the years as young people express more reluctance to get involved than the generations before them.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

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

“Cuckoo” Wide Release

“Borderlands” Wide Release

“Good One” Landmark Sunset

“War Game” Landmark Nuart

“Daughters”In Select Theaters | Streaming on Netflix August 14

“The Long Walk of Carlos Guerrero”Laemmle Noho 7

“It Ends With Us” Wide Release

“The Conversation (50th Anniversary” Laemmle Royal | Laemmle Glendale | Laemmle Town Center 5

In prior interviews with documentary filmmaker Jesse Moss on FilmWeek, we’ve spoken to him about what it’s like following kids simulating our branches of government— but in “War Game,” him and co-director Tony Gerber get into a much heavier look at American democracy. The documentary follows former and current public officials, as well as national security personnel, as they try to manage a military coup attempt. With army veterans as the knowledgeable opposition in this simulation, the documentary has viewers questioning what might be the best course of action in an environment that holds so many consequences. Joining us to get into the film is “War Game” co-directors Tony Gerber and Jesse Moss.

Passing the Mantle is a new podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations. In this episode, Desmond and Larry talk about being homegrown Angelenos and how the city has shaped them over the years.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Manuel Betancourt, Andy Klein, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

“Trap” Wide Release

“Kneecap” In Select Theaters

“The Instigators'' In Select Theaters | Streaming on Apple TV+ August 9th 

“Harold and the Purple Crayon”Wide Release

“Sebastian”Landmark Sunset

“COUP!”In Select Theaters

“Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes”Streaming on HBO Max

“Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie”Streaming on Netflix 

“Getting It Back: The Story of Cymande” Laemmle Santa Monica on Wednesday August 7th | Laemmle NoHo on Thursday August 8th 

Written and directed by Richard Pappiatt, ‘Kneecap’ tells the fictionalized origin story of Belfast rap trio Kneecap, with the rappers playing themselves in their feature film debut. Through drugs, rap music, and a whole lot of trouble the trio fight to save the Irish language in a place with less than 80,000 native speakers. The film made a splash at Sundance earlier this year as the first Irish language film and first non-us film to win a Next Audience Award.  Today on FilmWeek, Austin chats with Mo Chara, Moglaí Bap, and DJ Provaí of Kneecap alongside director Richard Pappiatt. 

Passing the Mantleis a new podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations. In this episode, Larry and Desmond discuss how common it is for people today to attach their jobs to their identities, whether that has changed from a few decades ago — and why.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Amy Nicholson and Claudia Puig review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

“Deadpool & Wolverine” Wide Release

“Dìdi (弟弟)” In Select Theaters

“The Fabulous Four” Laemmle Newhall | Laemmle Town Center 5 | Laemmle Claremont 5

“Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa” In Select Theaters | Streaming on Netflix July 31

“Great Absence” Laemmle Glendale | Laemmle Monica Film Center

“Made In England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger” Landmark Nuart Theater | Laemmle NoHo 7 | Laemmle Glendale | Laemmle Town Center 5

“The Last Breath”In Select Theaters  | Available on VOD 

“Starve Acre”  Available on VOD 

It’s certainly a challenge to hit all the right notes for a coming-of-the-age film, but new films certainly have had issues in the past with folding in our new virtual-savvy lives; however Sean Wang’s feature directorial debut “Dìdi (弟弟)” manages this through inventive visuals and a great performance from the film’s teenage lead Izaac Wang. Set in the Bay Area during the late aughts, “Dìdi” follows its teenage protagonist, Chris, as he works through his growing pains as a child of immigrant parents. Joining us to discuss this seemingly personal story, and the production that went into developing it, is writer-director Sean Wang and the film’s star, Izaac Wang.

Passing the Mantleis a new podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations. In this episode, Larry and Desmond talk about their own mental health journeys and how the openness to which people talk about their experiences has evolved since Larry was coming of age.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Manuel Betancourt and Peter Rainer  review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

“Twisters” Wide Release

“Crossing” In Select Theaters | Streaming on MUBI August 30th

“Faye” Streaming on HBO

“Mother, Couch”Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] | Laemmle Glendale 

“Sisi and I” Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] | Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino]

“The Abandon” In Select Theaters | Available on VOD July 31st 

“Oddity” In Select Theaters 

“Widow Clicquot” In Select Theaters 

Serving as an unconventional addition to the action-comedy genre, Josh Margolin’s “Thelma” is a unique film that uses our understanding of age to create a heightened sense of action for tasks that many people may consider mundane. The film follows June Squibb as the titular character, who seeks retribution after being scammed out of $10,000 by a phone scammer. Using Los Angeles’s beautiful scenery, the film sees Thelma searching for the person who wronged her, all the while freaking her family out as they search for an older relative. These common issues bring an uncommon story to the screen, so joining us to talk about it for this week’s FilmWeek feature  is writer-director Josh Margolin and star June Squibb.

Passing the Mantleis a podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations. In this episode, Larry Mantle and his son Desmond, 23, go back to their teen years to talk high school and how the norms of what’s accepted — and not accepted — in the classroom have changed from the 1970s to now.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

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

“Longlegs”Wide Release

“Sing Sing” In Select Theaters | Expands to Wide Release August 2nd 

“Fly Me to the Moon”Wide Release

“Beverly Hills Cops: Axel F” Streaming on Netflix

“Touch” In Select Theaters

“Sorry Not Sorry” Available on VOD

“Majority Rules” Laemmle Glendale

“Dandelion” Laemmle Monica Film Center | Expands to Select Theaters July 19th 

“National Anthem” In Select Theaters

In a year where actor Colman Domingo was honored for his work in “Rustin,” playing its titular character, he brings viewers another dynamic performance in “Sing Sing.” The film takes place in New York’s Sing Sing Correctional Facility, following a group of inmates looking to stage their own production. Alongside Domingo, the film has a fellow Academy Award nominee in Paul Raci, but also former alums of the program like Sean San José and Clarence "Divine Eye" Maclin. The film’s unique approach of casting formerly incarcerated folks is also paired with the fact that the entire cast was paid the same rate, all in service to the “community-based” approach the film’s production took on. To discuss what went into the making of the film, and his role as “Divine G” in the film, is actor Colman Domingo.

“Sing Sing” is out now in Select Theaters and in Wide Release on August 2.

Passing the Mantle is a new podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations. In this first episode, Larry Mantle and his son, Desmond, 23, talk about their wide-ranging interests and shared drive to understand why things are the way they are, and discuss whether today's generation is as intellectually curious as Larry's peers in the 1970s.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Amy Nicholson, Charles Solomon, Andy Klein, and Lael Loewenstein review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

One of the most prolific and exceptional filmmakers who ever lived, Akira Kurosawa has an anniversary for his best works. His 1954 film “Seven Samurai” has now hit its 70th anniversary this year, and its 4k restoration is soon to be in select theaters. It’s a film that was voted the 20th best film of all time by prominent members of the film industry who took part in BFI’s Top 225 list back in 2022. ‘Seven Samurai’ followed hits in Kurosawa’s filmography like “Rashomon” and “Yojimbo’... but what’s led to that common sentiment? For this week’s FilmWeek Feature, we reprise our retrospective for the film with LAist film critics Peter Rainer, Tim Cogshell, and Andy Klein about why Seven Samurai is essential viewing for cinephiles and all moviegoers.

Passing the Mantle is a new podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations.

It's co-hosted by Larry Mantle, host of LAist 89.3’s AirTalk, the longest-running daily talk show in Southern California, and his son Desmond Mantle. Even though Desmond is in law school pursuing a different career, he shares his dad’s fascination with the world and drive to understand why things are the way they are.

Diving into topics like gender dynamics, mental health, religion and sex, Larry and Desmond will discuss shifting societal values, the life experiences that have shaped their perspectives and stories that neither of them have shared before... gaining a new understanding of the world, and each other, in each episode.

Passing the Mantlepremieres July 8th.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Griffin Dunne grew up in the lap of luxury as the child of Hollywood producer turned investigative journalist Dominick Dunne. In his new memoir “Friday Afternoon Club,” the younger Dunne recounts stories about growing up alongside the rich and famous while also navigating the troubled waters of a family burdened by trauma, mental illness and the murder of Dunne’s sister. For this week’s FilmWeek feature, we reprise Larry’s conversation with actor and author Griffin Dunne about his memoir.

Julia Paskin and LAist film critics Lael Loewenstein and Peter Rainer review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

“A Quiet Place: Day One”  Wide Release

“Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1”Wide Release

“Janet Planet” Wide Release

“Green Border” Laemmle Royal [Sawtelle]

“Daddio” In Select Theaters

“A Family Affair”Streaming on Netflix

“Shoeshine (1946) 4k Restoration” Laemmle Royal [Sawtelle]

In a surprise announcement following the success of his film “Poor Things,” which received 11 nominations at this year’s Academy Awards and was awarded 4, director Yorgos Lanthimos took no time to announce his new film “Kind of Kindness.” The film is an anthology, telling 3 distinct stories about love, through the dry and dark humor that many have associated with Lanthimos’s screenplays. So what compelled Lanthimos to partner back up with his longtime screenwriting collaborator, Efthimis Filippou, for this new project? Joining us to discuss his latest film is Yorgos Lanthimos, director and co-screenwriter of “Kind of Kindness.”

“Kinds of Kindness” is out now in select Los Angeles and New York theaters; the film is out in Wide Release in June 28.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Andy Klein and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

“Kinds of Kindness,” In Select Los Angeles and New York Theaters; in Wide Release next week
“The Bikeriders” Wide Release
“Thelma” In Select Theaters
“Fancy Dance” Laemmle Noho 7 [North Hollywood] | Streaming on Apple TV+ June 28
“The Exorcism” In Select Theaters | Available on VOD Platforms
“Summer Solstice” Laemmle Glendale [Glendale]
“Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person” Landmark Nuart Theater | Expands to Lumiere Theater June 28th
“Federer: Twelve Final Days” Amazon Prime Video
“Tiger Stripes” Streaming on Netflix

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Claudia Puig and Wade Major review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

“Inside Out” Wide Release

“Brats”Streaming on Hulu

“The Grab” Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] | Available on VOD Platforms

“Firebrand” In Select Theaters

“Fresh Kills”In Select Theaters

“Tuesday”Wide Release

“Just The Two Of Us” Laemmle Glendale

“Ghostlight” Landmark Theaters Sunset | In Select Theaters June 21st 

“I Used To Be Funny” Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] | Town Center 5 [Encino] 

“Ultraman: Rising” Streaming On Netflix

“Treasure”In Select Theaters 

In the new film ‘Firebrand,’ viewers are transported to a more than 500-year-old story, at a time when King Henry VIII ruled England and kept that authoritative approach to his marriages as well. In the case of ‘Firebrand’ we find an older King Henry VIII in his marriage to his sixth wife, Katherine Parr; Parr endures the loss of a friend at the hands of Henry VIII and fights to have control in her relationship. Given the tyrannical nature of King Henry VII, it meant that actor Jude Law had a lot to consider when portraying the royal on the silver screen. So today on FilmWeek, guest host Austin Cross talks to Law about what went into the transformation.

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

“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” Wide Release

“Robot Dreams” In Select Theaters 

“Am I Ok?” Streaming On Max

“Flipside”Laemmle Glendale [Glendale] |Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] 

“The Watchers” In Select Theaters 

“Maestra”Laemmle Royal [Sawtelle]

“Rowdy Girl” Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] 

“Someday We’ll Tell Each other Everything”Laemmle Royal [Sawtelle]

“Longing” Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino]|Galaxy Theatres Mission Grove

“Run Lola Run (1999)” In Select Theaters

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Amy Nicholson and Andy Klein review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

“Summer Camp” Wide Release

“Jim Henson: Idea Man” Streaming on Disney+

“In A Violent Nature” Wide Release

“The Dead Don’t Hurt” In Select Theaters

“Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara” Landmark Pasadena Playhouse [Pasadena] , Laemmle Royal [Sawtelle],  Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino]

“Backspot” Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA]| Available On VOD Platforms

“Ezra” In Select Theaters

“The Young Wife” Available On VOD

“What You Wish For” In Select Theaters | Available On VOD

From his puppeteering days to viewers of a local D.C. TV station to global audiences theatrically, if you weren’t able to remember Jim Henson’s face you certainly recognized his zany muppets. A new documentary from Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard, titled “Jim Henson: Idea Man,” chronologically goes through Henson’s life’s work and how closely tied his loved ones were to projects like “Sesame Street” and his 1986 feature “Labyrinth.” For this week’s FilmWeek feature, Larry talks to Howard about his new documentary and how he looked to capture Henson’s life by talking to those closest to him still living.

‘Jim Henson: Idea Man’ is now available to stream on Disney+.

Revival House says goodbye for now with a look at one of the biggest programming groups in town, the American Cinematheque. 

Celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, screening 1500 movies a year in three iconic theaters across Los Angeles, the American Cinematheque has a movie for everybody, every night of the week. In this episode, How To LA producer Victoria Alejandro jumps into the history of these movie theaters and this programming group to shine a light on a little L.A. moviegoing history and spotlight the future of the American Cinematheque in this city.

Check out our deep dive into the Egyptian Theatre's history and reopening here:  https://omny.fm/shows/howtola/revival-house-the-egyptian-theater-redux

Guests: Professor and historian Ross Melnick, American Cinematheque artistic director Grant Moninger, Programmers Imani Davis and Cindy Flores, Senior Film Programmer Chris Lemaire

A new book by film historians James Ursini and Alain Silver titled “From the Moment They Met It Was Murder: Double Indemnity and the Rise of Film Noir” gets into one of Hollywood’s most influential works, the true crime drama “Double Indemnity.” Ursini and Silver helped chronicle the film’s origins, from the 1927 “crime of the century” it's based on and the motifs that would eventually inspire generations. What better way to reboot our FilmWeek screening series than to talk about this iconic Hollywood throwback with authors who understand and one of our beloved critics? For this week’s feature, Larry returns with our live screening series, joined by LAist film critic Claudia Puig and book authors Ursini and Silver.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Wade Major, Tim Cogshell, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” Wide Release

“The Garfield Movie” Wide Release

“Hit Man”  Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] | Laemmle Glendale [Glendale] | Streaming on Netflix June 7

“Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle”Wide Release

“The Beach Boys” Streaming on Disney+

“Queen of the Deuce” Streaming on Amazon and Apple TV+

“Atlas” Streaming on Netflix

“Taking Venice” Laemmle Royal [Sawtelle] | Laemmle Town Center [Encino]

“Sight” Wide Release 

Roger Corman, the “King of the Bs” who helped turn out such low-budget classics as “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Attack of the Crab Monsters” and gave many of Hollywood’s most famous actors and directors early breaks, has died. He was 98. Corman died Thursday at his home in Santa Monica, California, according to a statement released Saturday by his wife and daughters. This follows a life that started with many B-horror movies, such as the 1960 film “Little Shop of Horrors,” and helping kickstart the careers of Martin Scorsese and Jack Nicholson. Some of Corman’s work, including interviews with these film legends associated with Corman, was displayed in the 2011 documentary “Corman’s World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel.”

For this week’s FilmWeek feature, we talk to filmmakerAlex Stapleton, director of “Corman’s World” and LAist film criticWade Major, about Corman’s legacy and why his loss meant so much to the film community.

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

“If” Wide Release

“Babes” Wide Release

“Back To Black” Wide Release

“Gasoline Rainbow” Laemmle Glendale [Glendale] | Streaming on MUBI May 31

“Thelma the Unicorn” Streaming on Netflix 

“The Tuba Thieves” Premieres on PBS May 20th

“The Blue Angels” In IMAX | Streaming on Amazon Prime May 23

Go back to the movies with us!

It's heating up in the city, so Revival House continues with a classic of spring and summertime in L.A. — a film at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Run by Cinespia, you can picnic and catch a revival film on the iconic grassy knoll. What keeps people coming back year after year? What's the history of it all? Listen along to find out.

Learn more about the cemetery tour here: https://www.cemeterytour.com/

Find more about Cinespia here: https://cinespia.org/

Guests: Cemetery tour guide Karie Bible, Cinespia founder John Wyatt.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Claudia Puig and Andy Klein review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.

“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” Wide Release

“Poolman” In Select Theaters

“Summer Qamp” Laemmle Glendale [Glendale]

“Power”  Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]| Streaming On Netflix May 17 

“The Last Stop in Yuma County” In Select Theaters

“Living With Leopards” Streaming On Netflix

“The Roundup Punishment” Wide Release

“Force Of Nature: The Dry 2” In Select Theaters

“The Image of You” VOD

“Lazareth”VOD

“Mother of the Bride” Streaming on Netflix

Saturday Night Live over the decades has served as a building block for comedians, using that platform as a way to get your name out there and eventually spin their popularity into other ventures. One of the earliest, and most iconic cases, being the American Classic that SNL alums Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi created with “The Blues Brothers.” A new book, by writer and journalist Daniel de Visé, gets into how Aykroyd and Belushi’s kinetic, comedic energy was spun into a just as entertaining production process. Along with the film’s influence on pop culture humor, it also shares how the film’s appreciate of blues music is best encapsulated by its soundtrack and appearances by Aretha Franklin and James Brown.

For this week’s FilmWeek feature, we talk to Daniel de Visé, author of “The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the making of an American Film Classic” about what he was able to uncover from revisiting this film the captured a special moment in American film and comedy.

“I Saw The TV Glow,” the new film by second-time director Jane Schoenbrun, is a story they consider their most personal. The story follows the character Owen, over multiple decades of their own life, re-visiting their identity through the help of an old friend named Maddy. The film brings together elements of childhood nostalgia and horror in this fictional story of one kid who feels different from everyone else in this small town.

Today on FilmWeek, Larry sits down with the film's lead actor, Justice Smith, and its director Jane Schoenbrun, getting into the film’s exploration of identity and dysphoria.

‘I Saw The TV Glow’ is now in theaters, check your local listings.

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

“The Fall Guy”Wide Release

“Unfrosted” Streaming on Netflix

“I Saw The TV Glow” Wide Release

“Wildcat”AMC Century City 15 [Century City] | Vidiots [Eagle Rock] May 4th 

“Blood in Blood Out (1993)” Streaming on Hulu

“Nowhere Special” Landmark Pasadena Playhouse [Pasadena] | Laemmle Royal [Sawtelle] | Laemmle Glendale [Glendale] | Regency Agoura Hills Stadium [Agoura Hills] | Laemmle Claremont [Claremont] 

“The Idea of You” Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

“Evil Does Not Exist” Wide Release

“Who is Stan Smith?” Landmark Nuart Theater [Sawtelle] | Expands to Laemmle Town Center [Encino] | Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] | Laemmle Glendale [Glendale] May 10

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Andy Klein review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms:

“Challengers” Wide Release 

“Boy Kills World” Wide Release 

“Egoist” Wide Release

“Bad Faith” VOD 

“Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story”Laemmle Glendale [Glendale] April 26th | Streaming on PBS May 13

“Uncropped” Laemmle Royal [Sawtelle] on April

“Little Empty Boxes”Laemmle Monica [Santa Monica] April 26 | Laemmle Royal [Sawtelle] April 28

“Humane” The Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA] April 26th

“ALAM” VOD

“Infested” Streaming on Shudder 

One of the most prolific and exceptional filmmakers who ever lived, Akira Kurosawa has an anniversary for his best works. His 1954 film “Seven Samurai” has now hit its 70th anniversary, released on April 26. It’s a film that was voted the 20th best film of all time by prominent members of the film industry who took part in BFI’s Top 225 list back in 2022. ‘Seven Samurai’ followed hits in Kurosawa’s filmography like “Rashomon” and “Yojimbo’... but what’s led to that common sentiment?

For this week’s FilmWeek Feature, we talk to LAist film critics Peter Rainer, Tim Cogshell, and Andy Klein about why Seven Samurai is essential viewing for cinephiles and all moviegoers.

Go back to the movies with us!

We're still profiling LA's repertory theaters in Revival House cause there are SO MANY to check out! In this episode, we explore a cool space with some deep, messy history.

Fashion label Brain Dead has taken over a site that some would consider....a little cursed. Originally opened in the 1940s as The Silent Movie Theater on Fairfax, the venue was home to premieres and parties. Until a theft and murder shut the theater down.

In the 2000s, it was taken over by Cinefamily, which programmed in that space until allegations of abuse came to light in 2017.

But today, Brain Dead Studios is keeping the lights on for nerds, artists, and skate punks in Los Angeles -- aiming to create an eclectic community space to inspire creatives and show good movies. Take a listen as we explain the history and present of this theater.

Guests: Professor and historian Ross Melnick, Brain Dead founder Kyle Ng  

David and Nathan Zellners’ latest feature, ‘Sasquatch Sunset,’ is an unconventional story about a family of sasquatches living their lives in the woods of California’s Humboldt County. The film’s presentation has qualities not much different than popular live nature cams you’ll find today, making for a narrative that’s less to do with structure and more focused on a “day in the life” of a fictional creature.

Today on FilmWeek, we hear about the process of filming “Sasquatch Sunset” with David and Nathan Zellner.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire, Wade Major, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms:

“The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare”Wide Release 

“Abigail” Wide Release 

“Spy x Family Code: White” Wide Release 

“We Grown Now” Cinemark Baldwin Hills [Crenshaw] & XD, AMC Century City 15 [Century City]

“Tiger” Streaming on Disney + 

“Kung Fu Panda 4”Wide Release & VOD

“Dusk for a Hitman” VOD

“The People’s Joker” Vidiots April 19 & 20 | The Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA]  19-25 | The Frida Cinema [Santa Ana] April 19-25

“City Hunter” Streaming on Netflix April 25th 

“Hard Miles” Wide Release

We're back with another episode of Revival House, but this time we're not heading to a 100 year old theater...

The David Geffen and Ted Mann theaters at the Academy Museum of Motion Arts and Pictures are a new addition to L.A's revival programming. In this episode, we explore what the theaters, which only opened in 2021, have to offer our city's moviegoing landscape. And hopefully, we demystify what seeing a movie here is actually like! (Did you know that tickets are only $10? And no, they don't just show Oscar winners.)

In this episode, How To LA producer Victoria Alejandro sits in the red velvet seats of the David Geffen theater with Academy Museum Director of Programming, K.J. Relth-Miller, to talk community access, screening trends, and the power of movie theaters.

If you're curious about the Academy Museum, you can check out our other LAist Studios series, The Academy Museum Podcast here.

Guests: Academy Museum Director of Programming K.J. Relth-Miller 

‘Civil War’ sees director Alex Garland’s imagined universe of what a second civil war would look like in the United States. Audiences are guided through the film by its main protagonists, a quartet of journalists played by Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, and Stephen McKinley Henderson. Shows the lengths to which these journalists are willing to go, to not only document history but also try and live past it. Today on FilmWeek, we welcome ‘Civil War’ stars Wagner Moura and Cailee Spaeny, to discuss their time working with Garland and developing their characters.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Lael Loewenstein and Tim Cogshell review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms:

“Civil War” Wide Release

“The Old Oak” Leammle Royal April 12th [West LA]

“Coup de Chance” Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] & VOD

“Sasquatch Sunset” Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA] April 12th | Expands April 19th 

“Arcadian” Wide Release 

“Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus” The Egyptian Theater [Hollywood] April 14 | Laemmle Claremont [Claremont],  Laemmle Glendale [Glendale], and Laemmle Monica [Santa Monica]  April 15 and 16 | The Frida [Santa Ana] April 17 and 18

“Chicken For Linda”  Laemmle Royal [West-LA] April 12 + Select Theaters April 15

“Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead”Wide Release 

“Lost Angel: The Genius of Judee Sill”Wide Release 

Revival House is breaking format for this episode, and we’re saying goodbye to a historic first-run movie theater.

The Highland Theatre in Highland Park was one of the only movie theaters in Northeast LA. A designated historic cultural monument, the exterior will remain intact, but its future is uncertain. 

In this episode, How To LA producer Victoria Alejandro chats with host Brian De Los Santos about community memories, the history of the theater, and what might be next…

Links we mentioned in this episode:

Eastsider LA

Los Angeles Theatres

Guests: Highland Park Independent Film Festival co-founder and executive director, Marita De La Torre; historian and film professor Ross Melnick, and local employee Denise Hernandez

A new documentary, directed by Emmy-award-winning directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss, looks into the decision-making of 500 civically engaged teen girls in Missouri who go through the process of electing their peers to different branches of government. This follows the 2020 documentary “Boys State,” which won them their Primetime Emmy, following teen boys in Texas building their democratically-elected government. For this week’s FilmWeek feature, we talk to Amanda McBaineand Jesse Moss about their second look into teen-led governments and the takeaways they got from their subjects in ‘Girls State.’

“Girls State” releases on Apple TV+ on Friday, April 5.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Peter Rainer and Manuel Betancourt review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms:

“The First Omen” Wide Release
“Monkey Man” Wide Release
“The Beast” AMC Burbank 16 [Burbank] + Landmark Sunset [Hollywood]
“The Greatest Hits” AMC Burbank Town Center 8 April 5th | Streaming on HULU April 12th
“Girls State” Streaming on Apple TV+
“Farewell, Mister Haffmann” Laemmle Royal [West LA] + Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino]
“Housekeeping for Beginners” AMC Century City + The Grove [Mid City]
“Scoop” Streaming on Netflix
“Le Samourai (4K Re-Release)” Laemmle Royal + Laemmle Glendale [Glendale]
“Música” Streaming on Amazon Prime
“Kim’s Video” Alamo Drafthouse DTLA [DTLA] + Vidiots [Eagle Rock]

As we continue our series "Revival House," How To LA producer Victoria Alejandro is taking us to the South Bay of LA. We're checking out the Gardena Cinema, which pivoted to revival screenings relatively recently. 

The theater has been owned by the Kim family since 1976, and is now a non-profit run by Judy Kim and a team of 40 volunteers. Kim has saved the cinema from closures a handful of times now, and has also built up an incredible community of folks dedicated to keeping the cinema running. 

Join us as we explore this theater's past and future. 

Guests: Theater owner Judy Kim and volunteers Adela Tobon, Bill DeFrance, Cifen, and Conor Holt.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Amy Nicholsonand Tim Cogshell review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms:

“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” Wide Release
“Wicked Little Letters” AMC The Grove 14 + AMC Century City 15|Expands April 4th [Next Thursday]
“Californie” Available to stream on Film Movement Plus
“Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in Two Pieces” Streaming on Apple TV+ 
“The Beautiful Game” Streaming on Netflix
“DogMan” In Select Theaters
“Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told” Streaming on HULU
“Asphalt City” In Select Theaters
“In The Land of Saints and Sinners” In Select Theaters
“Lousy Carter” Alamo Drafthouse DTLA [DTLA]  + Available on VOD Platforms
“The Lie: The Murder of Grace Millane“ Available on VOD Platforms
“The Listener” Available on VOD platforms
“Femme” AMC The Grove [Beverly Hills]

From the film noir classics “Double Indemnity” and “The Lost Weekend,” to the comedies of “Sunset Boulevard” and “Some Like It Hot,” Billy Wilder’s nearly five-decade film career dove into the milieu of then-contemporary American life through character-driven stories which garnered the filmmaker seven Academy Awards and 22 nominations. His work often pushed beyond the boundaries of mainstream culture, particularly during Hollywood’s Hays Code era — a period of self-censorship within the film industry —, and helped to usher in new ways for filmmakers to approach controversial subject matters. Today Larry chats with author Joseph McBride about his new book “Billy Wilder: Dancing on the Edge.''

Neon! Mullets! Video stores! Relive the 80s with us...

As we continue our series "Revival House," How to LAproducer Victoria Alejandro is taking us to Eagle Rock to check out Vidiots. The iconic video store opened in Santa Monica in the 80s, and closed its doors in 2017. But, Vidiots reopened last year in the historic Eagle theater. And yes, all of its 60,000 DVDs made the move too.

Vidiots has made renting a movie cool again – and you can check out any DVD in their massive catalog for just $3.

And, the renovated theater will be hosting screenings as part of the new Los Angeles Festival of Movies this coming April. 

Check out the past and present of Vidiots and the Eagle theater with us.

Guests: Executive director Maggie Mckay, founding member and filmmaker Noah Segan, programmer Saila Reyes, and film professor and theater historian Ross Melnick.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Peter Rainerand Christy Lemire review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms:

“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” In Select Theaters

“Immaculate” In Select Theaters

“Road House”Streaming on Amazon Prime

“Limbo” Laemmle Monica Film [Santa Monica]

“Shirley” Streaming on Neflix

“Remembering Gene Wilder” Laemmle Royal [West LA] + Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino]

“Do Not Expect Too Much From The End Of The World”  Laemmle Royal [West LA]

“Late Night with the Devil” In Select Theaters

“Free Time” The Landmark Westwood [Westwood]

PROBLEMISTA is a new A24 comedy about an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador struggling to bring his unusual ideas to life. As time runs out on his work visa, Alejandro attempts to get his erratic art-world outcast boss, played by Tilda Swinton, to be that cosigner. She becomes his only hope to stay in the country. The film premiered at SXSW in 2023 where it was nominated for the Audience Award. It stars Julio Torres, Tilda Swinton, RZA, and Isabella Rosselini narrates the film. 

As we continue our series "Revival House," How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro is taking us to The New Beverly Cinema over in Fairfax, where movies are always on film.

The theater, owned by Quentin Tarantino, has a long history as complex as LA's. Join us as we explore the building's history and discover what makes it a special place to catch a double feature today. 

Guests: Theater and operations manager Jules McLean, projectionist Danielle Wakin, and film professor and theater historian Ross Melnick. 

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Wade Major, Charles Solomon, and Andy Klein review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms:

“Knox Goes Away” In Select Theaters 

“American Dreamer” Laemmle’s Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] + Town Center 5 [Encino]|Available on VOD Platforms

“Demon Slayer: To The Hashira Training” In Select Theaters

“Irish Wish” Streaming on Netflix

“The Animal Kingdom” The Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA]|Available on VOD Platforms

“Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (Re-Release)” In Select Theaters For Two Days Only On March 17th & March 20th

“French Girl” Regal Long Beach [Long Beach] | Available on VOD Platforms March 19th

“The Prank” In Select Theaters

“Snack Shack” In Select Theaters

“Exhuma” In Select Theaters

“Hundreds of Beavers” Laemmle Royal [West LA] + Laemmle Glendale [Glendale]

Chrisptopher Nolan is known for his film epics that demand to be seen in theaters on the big screen with their breath-taking visuals and intricate plots. His latest film, Oppenheimer, although Nolan’s first biopic, is no exception. The film is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer” (2005) by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, and tells the story of the scientist who invented the atomic bomb. The film is shot on IMAX® much like his previous works and maintains Nolan’s signature storytelling that plays with time and our perception of it. Joining us on FilmWeek to discuss the new film Oppenheimer and the legacy of the man behind it is the film’s writer and director Christopher Nolan.

NOTE: This interview originally aired on July 21, 2023