FilmWeek

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

Final Destination: Bloodlines Wide Release

Hurry Up Tomorrow Wide Release

Deaf President Now! Laemmle Santa Monica|Streaming on Apple TV+

Caught by the Tides Laemmle Royal

Black Tea Laemmle Royal

The RuseWide Release

The Old Woman With The Knife In Select Theaters

The Grotto Laemmle NoHo 7

Untold: The Fall of Favre Streaming on Netflix May 20

Animation has been a major player in Hollywood, with companies like DreamWorks and Disney having made some of their most acclaimed works here in the Golden State. However, a new report has found that recent high-grossing animated films are being made outside of Hollywood. Examples mentioned include Moana, with the original film being made in Hollywood, but its sequel having been made in Vancouver. The study was co-authored by the Animation Guild, BRIC Foundation and Titmouse Foundation in partnership with CVL Economics. 

Today on FilmWeek, we’re joined by CVL Economics founding partner Adam Fowler, the Animation Guild executive board member Jason Mayer, and LAist chief animation critic Charles Solomon.

FilmWeek: ‘Friendship,’ ‘Nonnas,’ ‘Fight or Flight,’ and more!

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

Friendship Wide release

Nonnas Streaming on Netflix

Marcella Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino] | Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] | Laemmle Claremont 5

Fight or Flight In Select Theaters

Most People Die on Sundays Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino] | Laemmle Royal [Sawtelle]

Henry Johnson VOD (not seeing options outside of henryjohnsonmovie.com)

Juliet & Romeo In Select Theaters

Magic Farm Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA]|Expands May 16

Sew Torn In Select Theaters

I Know Catherine, The Log Lady Laemmle Glendale

Clown in a Cornfield In Select Theaters

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

• Thunderbolts* Wide Release
• Rust Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino] | Available On VOD 
• Bonjour Tristesse In Select Theaters
• Havoc Streaming On Netflix 
• Another Simple Favor Streaming On Amazon Prime
•  The Surfer In Select Theaters
• Monty Python and the Holy Grail In Select Theaters Two-Days Only [May 4 & May 7]
• Free for All: The Public Library Streaming on PBS.org and PBS’s YouTube Channel
• Electra Laemmle Glendale 

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The 2005 sci-fi blockbuster Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith celebrated its 20th Anniversary this year with a notable achievement, with its re-release earning $30 million at the domestic box office. Being the biggest money-making example of a re-release this year, it shows why anniversaries for beloved films mean so much to audiences. Although not as much of a moneymaker, the 20th Anniversary re-release of Pride and Prejudice was able to make $3 million close its opening and close to $6 million total. To widen the scope to other decades-old movies, other beloved films like Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Jaws are making their way back to theaters to honor their respective 50th anniversaries. Joining us to get into this wide scope of film anniversaries is our film critics Lael Loewenstein and Manuel Betancourt.

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!

Oscar voters will no longer be able to skip watching some of the nominated films. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on Monday announced that members will from now on be required to watch all nominated films in each category to be eligible to vote in the final round of Oscar voting. Up until now, Oscar voters had only been encouraged to watch the nominees and vote in categories they felt qualified in. But in recent years, what films get watched by academy members has been increasingly seen as a significant factor in what wins. At the same time, the publication of anonymous Oscar ballots has often featured members confessing that they didn’t get around to watching some notable films or not finishing lengthier nominees. 

In other news — many appearances by the faces of the entertainment industry, from filmmakers of all different backgrounds, the Criterion Closet will get an extended appearance in Los Angeles, as a mobile  version of the closet will be available for cinephiles to visit. With more than 1200 films in its official collection of Blu-rays, the Criterion Collection has been one of the leading physical media distributors. So with the closet arriving in Los Angeles, we thought it’d be worth checking in on the physical media industry with Dominic Patten, senior editor & tv critic at Deadline. We’ll also hear from Peter Rainer, who add their insights and discuss their favorite physical media.

With files from the Associated Press

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

• The Accountant 2 Wide Release
• Cheech and Chong’s Last Movie In Select Theaters
• Drop In Select Theaters | VOD April 29
• The Trouble with Jessica Laemmle Royal [West LA]| AMC DINE-IN Ontario Mills 30
• Pink Floyd at Pompeii - MCMLXXII In Select Theaters | Available on IMAX screens Sunday, April 27
• Killer of Sheep (1978) Laemmle NoHo 7
•  April In Select Theaters
• Blue Sun Palace Laemmle Glendale | Laemmle Monica Film Center
• On Swift Horses  In Select Theaters 

*Correction: In the review for Cheech and Chong's Last movie, Peter Rainer accidentally refers to Shelby Chong, Tommy Chong's ex-wife, in the back of the van as "Cheech’s ex-wife."

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Last week, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’s Board of Governors announced it would add a new category to its awards ceremony starting 2028– Achievement in Stunt Design. This serves as a major win for the many stuntmen and stuntwomen who’ve lobbied for such an award, with their line of work having existed since the inception of film. Although stunts from the likes of Buster Keaton won’t ever be able to win such an award, there are plenty of recent films that have drawn crowds for their stunts. Whether it be the Mission Impossible or John Wick films, well-designed action sequences have kept moviegoers’ attention, which makes rewarding their stunt designers a great decision as we inch closer to the 100th annual Academy Awards. For this week’s FilmWeek feature, Larry and this week’s critics discuss this news with filmmaker and longtime stuntman, Chad Stahelski.

 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.

• Sinners Wide Release
• The Wedding Banquet In Select Theaters
• Sneaks Wide Release
• The Legend of Ochi In Select Theaters|Wide Release on April 25
• The President's Wife Laemmle Royal [West LA] | Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino] | Landmark Pasadena 
• The Shrouds In Select Theaters| Wide Release on April 25

• High Art [4K Restoration] Laemmle Noho 7 [North Hollywood]
• The Ugly Stepsister In Select Theaters 
• Colorful Stage! The Movie: A Miku Who Can't Sing 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!

In their second project together, writer-directors Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza’s Warfare strikes a much different tone than last year’s Civil War. Garland’s solo writing and directing project, with Mendoza on as a military supervisor, served as a thematic look at the political divide found in the United States— Warfare, despite using similar thematic elements, takes a much more realist filming approach to the war in Iraq. Warfare follows a platoon of Navy SEALs in 2006 Iraq, going through the process of scouting insurgent territory, and eventually finding themselves in a gunfight with people they often identify as MAMs (military-age males). Told using the memories of those involved in this real event, the film isn’t focused on making a political statement on the war itself as much as it is putting together a chain of events that helps viewers understand one story a part of the greater picture of the war in Iraq. The film takes these stories and uses an ensemble cast of up-and-coming actors to help put together a linear story, with D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai notably portraying Mendoza, who was one of the Navy SEAL team members involved.

Joining us, to discuss their directorial partnership and the work that went into telling this story as truthfully as possible, are Warfare writer-directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland.