FilmWeek

A Los Angeles native, Anna May Wong began acting in silent films when she was a teenager, but she didn’t reach mainstream notoriety until her role in the film “Daughter Of The Dragon” where she played the daughter of Warner Oland’s Fu Manchu. Wong went on to star in numerous films becoming the first Chinese American movie star. Yet, despite her success, Wong faced much criticism. Although she was often celebrated for her part in furthering Asian representation, she was equally condemned for furthering harmful Asian stereotypes in her roles. Today on FilmWeek, Larry speaks with Yunte Huang, professor of English at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Guggenheim Fellow, and author of the new book “Daughter of the Dragon: Anna May Wong’s Rendezvous with American History.” Huang shares the long journey Wong took to become a prominent actress in the United States and the barriers she faced in both her career and personal life working under a Hays Code Hollywood. 

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

• “Blue Beetle” Wide Release
• “Strays” Wide Release
• “Aurora’s Sunrise” Laemmle Glendale
• “The Eternal Memory” Laemmle Royal [West LA] & Laemmle Town Center [Encino]
• “Dead Shot” Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]
• “The Monkey King” Streaming on Netflix
• “Madeleine Collins” Laemmle Royal [West LA] & Laemmle Town Center [Encino]
• “Landscape With Invisible Hand” In Select Theaters
• “Grave Of The Fireflies” American Cinematheque [Los Feliz]
• “The Adults” In Select Theaters

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting millions across the world. In the new documentary “The Eternal Memory,” director Maite Alberdi explores the disease intimately, following former Chilean journalist Augusto Góngora and his wife, Paulina Urrutia, as they navigate their 25 plus year relationship alongside Góngora’s deteriorating memory. “The Eternal Memory” is the follow up to Alberdi’s Academy Award nominated documentary “The Mole Agent.” Her new film won the Grand Jury Prize in the World Cinema Documentary Competition at Sundance. Today on FilmWeek, Larry speaks with Chilean film producer, director, documentarian, screenwriter, and film critic, Maite Alberdi, about her new film “The Eternal Memory” and the process of capturing the intimate moments of Góngora’s Alzheimer’s and Góngora and Urruria’s relationship. 

Austin Cross and LAist film critics Wade Major and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms. They also take the time to remember director William Friedkin, who passed away this week at the age of 87.

• “The Last Voyage Of The Demeter” Wide Release
• “Heart Of Stone” Bay Theater [Pacific Palisades] & Streaming on Netflix
• “Red, White & Royal Blue” Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
• “Jules” In Select Theaters
• “Between Two Worlds” Laemmle Royal [West LA]
• “Splice Here: A Projected Odyssey” Laemmle NoHo 7 [North Hollywood]
• “Aporia” Landmark Westwood Theatre
• “Walid” Laemmle Glendale
• “Medusa Deluxe” In Select Theaters
• “Billion Dollar Heist” Available on Demand & VOD August 14
• “Underdog” Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]

Christopher Nolan’s three-hour epic about the United States atomic bomb program features a huge cast of notable Hollywood character actors playing real larger-than-life figures. No one knows the value of a strong actor with a familiar face better than the man tasked with matching the actor to the role, casting director John Papsidera.

A veteran at the job, Papsidera has filled out the room of programs like “Yellowstone” and “The Offer” (about the making of “The Godfather”), as well as a frequent collaborator of “Oppenheimer” director Christopher Nolan. With all those characters how do you even begin to start casting? According to Papsidera, “You start with the big pieces – the tentpole characters – and then build around them”. Today on FilmWeek, John speaks with Austin Cross about what it took to reanimate characters from the past with modern Hollywood actors.

Austin Cross and LAist film critics Claudia Puig and Tim Cogshell review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms. They also revisit the box-office hit "Barbie" as it goes into its second weekend in theaters still dominating ticket-sales. 

• “The Meg 2: The Trench” Wide Release
• “Brother” Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]
• “Shortcomings” In Select Theaters
• “A Compassionate Spy” Laemmle Royal [West LA]
• “Lola” Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]
• “The Beasts” Laemmle Royal [West LA]
• “Kokomo City” Laemmle Glendale & Alamo Drafthouse Cinema [DTLA]
• “Princess Mononoke” In Select Theaters August 5 through August 9 for Studio Ghibli Fest
• “Dreamin’ Wild” In Select Theaters
• “Mob Land” In Select Theaters
• “Corner Office” Lumiere Cinema Music Hall [Beverly Hills] & Available on Digital and On Demand
• “What Comes Around” Laemmle NoNo [North Hollywood]

Ghibli Fest 2023, a yearly re-screening of Studio Ghibli films, may have kicked off back in March but it’s upcoming re-release has historical significance. That being the 1997 film “Princess Mononoke,” a film that was renowned filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s first, global box office hit, making close $200 million. It’s domestic and global success at the time was unmatched… up until the 2001 film “Spirited Away.”

Fans revisiting these features comes at a time where Miyazaki reaches the next chapter in his storytelling, with his final film “The Boy and the Heron” having released in Japan in July. No official release date globally has been announced, but North America will be blessed with a screening as the Toronto International Film Festival opens its festivities with Miyazaki’s last film as a director.

Today on AirTalk, we talk about Studio Ghibli’s growth in the global box office, Hayao Miyazaki’s role in that, and the legendary filmmaker’s legacy. Joining guest host Austin Cross is LAist & Animation Scoop film critic Charles Solomon, and Steve Alpert, former overseas promotion manager for Studio Ghibli.

It’s been called the scariest movie of all time and it just turned 50 years old. William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist” came out in 1973 and has since inspired sequels, prequels, and TV series. In his latest book “The Exorcist Legacy: 50 Years of Fear,” writer and film historian Nat Segaloff brings his insights to a film that has embedded itself in our collective psyche and its place in the zeitgeist. Nat joins Larry on FilmWeek to talk about the history of “The Exorcist” and why it has had such staying power in horror and film culture. 

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Lael Loewenstein, Manuel Betancourt and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms. They also revisit the box-office hit "Barbie" as it goes into its second weekend in theaters still dominating ticket-sales. 

• “Haunted Mansion” Wide Release
• “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” Wide Release
• “War Pony” Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] & Available on Demand
• “The Unknown Country” Landmark’s Nuart Theater [West LA]
• “The First Slam Dunk” In Select Theaters 
• “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” Laemmle Royal[West LA]
• “Justice League: Warworld” Available on DVD and Digital
• “The Mistress” Laemmle Glendale & Available on VOD
• “Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir The Movie” Bay Theater [Pacific Palisades] & Streaming on Netflix 
• “Barbie” Wide Release

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Peter Rainer and Andy Klein review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms.

• “Oppenheimer” Wide Release
• “Barbie” Wide Release
• “The Beanie Bubble” IPIC Theater [Westwood];Expands to Select Theaters & Streaming on Apple TV+ July 28
• “20 Days In Mariupol” Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]
• “Mad Heidi” Available on Digital & VOD
• “Lakota Nation Vs. United States” Laemmle Royal [West LA]
• “Cobweb” In Select Theaters
• “Fear The Night” Lumiere Music Hall [Beverly Hills] & Available on Demand and Digital
• “They Cloned Tyrone” In Select Theaters 7 Streaming on Netflix
• “Have You Got It Yet? The Story Of Syd Barrett And Pink Floyd” Laemmle NoHo [North Hollywood] & Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]