FilmWeek

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 preached in 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 Go Wide Release

A Different Man In Select Theaters

Transformers One Wide Release

The Substance In Select Theaters

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

In The Summers Laemmle Royal

All Happy Families Laemmle Royal

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

Omni Loop Laemmle 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 Evil Wide Release
The Killers Game Wide Release
My Old Ass In Select Theaters
Will & Harper  In Select Theaters | Streaming on Netflix September 27th 
The Critic Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino] 
Here After  Streaming on Roku
The Mother of All Lies Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]
The Goldman Case Laemmle Royal [Sawtelle] Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino] 
Look Into My Eyes In Select Theaters
Am I A Racist? In Select Theaters 
Studio One Forever Landmark 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 with LAist 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 Ridge Streaming on Netflix

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

His Three Daughters In Select Theaters | Streaming on Netflix September 20th

The Cowboy and The Queen Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]

Red Rooms Laemmle NoHo 7 [North Hollywood]

Paradise is Burning Laemmle Glendale | Laemmle Royal [Sawtelle]

Hoard In Select Theaters

The Paragon Alamo Drafthouse DTLA