FilmWeek

Chrisptopher Nolan is known for his film epics that demand to be seen in theaters on the big screen with their breath-taking visuals and intricate plots. His latest film, Oppenheimer, although Nolan’s first biopic, is no exception. The film is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer” (2005) by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, and tells the story of the scientist who invented the atomic bomb. The film is shot on IMAX® much like his previous works and maintains Nolan’s signature storytelling that plays with time and our perception of it. Joining us on FilmWeek to discuss the new film Oppenheimer and the legacy of the man behind it is the film’s writer and director Christopher Nolan. 

Season 2 of “LA Made” tells the true story of the making and marketing of the most famous doll in the world, Barbie, told by the people who did it. We’ll hear from Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler, who spent years trying to convince her own company to make a teen aged fashion doll.

From LAist Studios, “LA Made: The Barbie Tapes". 

Listen now at https://laist.com/podcasts/la-made  

The “Mission Impossible” franchise has pulled off some of the biggest stunts in cinematic history. On many top ten lists of most dangerous stunts of all time is a scene from “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” (2011) in which Tom Cruise's death-defying Ethan Hunt scales a skyscraper using suction gloves and makes a nerve-wracking jump, which leaves him hanging by one foot. The latest installment, “Mission: Impossible–Dead Reckoning Part One,” is no exception with audiences leaving the theaters mystified at how Cruise drove a motorcycle off a cliff. Stunt coordinator Wade Eastwood has been the stunt coordinator for the last three Mission: Impossible films. Eastwood has been in the industry for nearly 30 years and is credited with stunt work on some of the biggest recent blockbusters like “Interstellar,” “Inception” and “Troy.” Eastwood joins Larry on FilmWeek to discuss some of the biggest stunts he worked on for “Mission: Impossible–Dead Reckoning,” how he prepares actors to do death-defying feats, and whether or not  the Oscars should add a stunt category to the awards. 

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

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

FilmWeek: ‘Mission: Impossible–Dead Reckoning Part One,’ ‘Joy Ride,’ ‘The Lesson’ And More (0:15)

Larry Mantle Interviews Gale Anne Hurd And Alex Winter Of ‘The YouTube Effect’ (31:48)

Social media’s effects on our daily lives is constantly being examined as the technology and pervasive nature of these platforms evolves more quickly than we can process. In the new documentary ‘The YouTube Effect,’ director Alex Winter goes in-depth on the history and influence of one of the largest video sharing platforms in the world, YouTube. Larry Mantle sits down with the documentary’s director, Alex Winter, and its producer, Gale Anne Hurd, to discuss the making of the film and YouTube’s legacy as a platform.  

Social media’s effects on our daily lives is constantly being examined as the technology and pervasive nature of these platforms evolves more quickly than we can process. In the new documentary ‘The YouTube Effect,’ director Alex Winter goes in-depth on the history and influence of one of the largest video sharing platforms in the world, YouTube. Larry Mantle sits down with the documentary’s director, Alex Winter, and its producer, Gale Anne Hurd, to discuss the making of the film and YouTube’s legacy as a platform.  

FilmWeek: ‘Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny,’ ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken,’ ‘Every Body,’ And More (0:15)

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Lael Loewenstein, Christy Lemire and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms.

FilmWeek Feature: The Academy Museum Podcast Preview (31:48)

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and LAist Studios have teamed up for a multi-season audio series that examines the myriad of stories of our cinematic history. Jacqueline Stewart, Director and President of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and a MacArthur Fellow, hosts the series. The second season, entitled “Close Up on Casting: The Hidden Role of Casting in Film History,” explores the immense influence that casting directors can have on the success of a film and the career trajectories of actors. Episodes include revelatory interviews and in-depth conversations with OscarⓇ winners, film artists, industry leaders, activists, journalists, and scholars, as well as archival audio and other exclusive content that will only be accessible through the podcast.

Larry speaks with Jacqueline Stewart about the podcast and this season's focus on the importance of casting directors in the industry. 

Season 2 premiered on June 15th and will drop weekly episodes through July 20th. Episodes 1 through 3 are available now, wherever you get your podcasts. 

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and LAist Studios have teamed up for a multi-season audio series that examines the myriad of stories of our cinematic history. Jacqueline Stewart, Director and President of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and a MacArthur Fellow, hosts the series. The second season, entitled “Close Up on Casting: The Hidden Role of Casting in Film History,” explores the immense influence that casting directors can have on the success of a film and the career trajectories of actors. Episodes include revelatory interviews and in-depth conversations with OscarⓇ winners, film artists, industry leaders, activists, journalists, and scholars, as well as archival audio and other exclusive content that will only be accessible through the podcast.

Larry speaks with Jacqueline Stewart about the podcast and this season's focus on the importance of casting directors in the industry. 

Season 2 premiered on June 15th and will drop weekly episodes through July 20th. Episodes 1 through 3 are available now, wherever you get your podcasts. 

FilmWeek: ‘No Hard Feelings,’ ‘Desperate Souls, Dark City And The Legend Of Midnight Cowboy,’ ‘After Sherman,’ And More (0:15)

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

The Beloved Video Store Vidiots Re-Opens In Eagle Rock (31:48)

Remember Vidiots, the beloved video store in Santa Monica that closed in 2017? Well, after a five-year closure, a pandemic, and a crosstown move — it has reopened in Eagle Rock. In addition to being a rental store with tens of thousands of titles, it also has a state-of-the-art movie theater within the vintage Eagle Theatre as well as a beer and wine bar. Vidiots originally opened in 1985 as a woman-founded video shop and screening space in Santa Monica. With its many movies to rent and classic, hard-to-find titles, it had a devoted clientele of local movie lovers and Hollywood cinephiles. Joining us today on FilmWeek to talk about this big opening is Vidiot’s executive director Maggie Mackay and board member and LAist film critic Claudia Puig. 

Remember VIDIOTS, the beloved video store in Santa Monica that closed in 2017? Well, after a five-year closure, a pandemic, and a crosstown move — it has reopened in Eagle Rock. In addition to being a rental store with tens of thousands of titles, it also has a state-of-the-art movie theater within the vintage Eagle Theatre as well as a beer and wine bar. VIDIOTS originally opened in 1985 as a woman-founded video shop and screening space in Santa Monica. With its many movies to rent and classic, hard-to-find titles, it had a devoted clientele of local movie lovers and Hollywood cinephiles. Joining us today on FilmWeek to talk about this big opening is VIDIOTS' executive director Maggie Mackay and board member and LAist film critic Claudia Puig.