FilmWeek

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 Mantle is 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.

• “Maxxxine” Wide Release
• “Despicable Me 4” Wide Release
• “Kill” In Select Theaters
• “Escape” CGV Buena Park 8 [Buena Park] + CGV Cinemas LA [Koreatown]
• “June Zero” In Select Theaters
• “The Imaginary” Streaming on Netflix
• “The Secret Art of Human Flight” Laemmle NoHo 7 [North Hollywood]
• “A Man of Reason” Available on VOD [Tuesday] July 9th
• “The Mandela Effect Phenomenon” Available on VOD Platforms [Tuesday] July 9th
• "Blue Lock: Episode Nagi” In Select Theaters
• “Boneyard” Lumiere Cinema at the Music Hall [Beverly Hills]
• “Confessions of a Good Samaritan” Laemmle Royal [West LA] [Wednesday] July 10 | Laemmle NoHo 7 [North Hollywood] [Thursday] July 11th | Expands to Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] July 12th
• “Exposure” VOD [Tuesday] July 9
• “Seven Samurai [4K, 70th Anniversary Re-Release]” One Night Only at The Egyptian [Sunday] July 7th | Expanding to Laemmle Royal [West LA] [next Friday] July 12

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 Mantle premieres 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.