FilmWeek

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.

Reagan Wide Release

1992 Wide Release 

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

Tokyo Cowboy In Select Theaters

Hinckley: I Shot The President Available on VOD

Slingshot In Select Theaters

The Deliverance  Streaming on Netflix 

Close Your Eyes Landmark Nuart Theater 

Take My Head In 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 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 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 Twice Wide Release

The Crow  Wide Release

The Killer  Streaming on Peacock

Between the Temples In Select Theaters

Strange Darling In Select Theaters

Red Island Laemmle Royal

Greedy People In Select Theaters

Rear Window (70th Anniversary) In Select Theaters 

The Secret Art of Human Flight Available on VOD

The Other Laurens Available on VOD

Incoming Streaming 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.