FilmWeek

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

FilmWeek: ‘Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania,’ ‘Emily,’ ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ & More (0:15)

Sequels That Are Better Than The Original (30:53)

One of the biggest films of the year is “Top Gun: Maverick,” nominated for six Academy Awards including best picture. It is also the film credited for bringing audiences back to theaters after the low of the pandemic. The film grossed $1.48 billion and is now the eleventh highest grossing movie worldwide. This is even more surprising when you take into account that “Top Gun: Maverick” is a sequel. Sequels and reboots often have a stigma around them as many never quite measure up to their predecessor. But “Top Gun: Maverick” has proven that sequels can be just as good as (and in its case far better than) the original. Larry Mantle sits down with FilmWeek critics Tim Cogshell and Lael Loewenstein to share some of their favorite sequels that outshine the first installment.

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

FilmWeek: ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance,’ ‘Marlowe,’ ‘Sharper’ & More (0:15)

What Does AMC’s New Tiered-Price System Mean For Frequent Moviegoers? (31:48)

On Monday, the nation’s biggest movie theater chain said it is implementing the same kind of ticket pricing. Called Sightline, the program from the financially strapped AMC Theatres chain will offer three different prices based on seat location. AMC is introducing Sightline this week at some of its theaters in New York, Chicago and Kansas City, and said it will expand the tiered pricing plan nationwide by the end of the year.

The price of a standard seat won’t change, but moviegoers will pay less for sitting very close to the screen, and more for the best locations, usually in the middle of the auditorium. Today on AirTalk, Larry sits down with John Horn, host of the LAist Studios podcast "Retake,” to talk about the news surrounding the large chain and what it means for the film industry.

Larry Sits Down With Ayuko Babu To Talk The 31st Pan-African Film Festival (40:50)

Thursday was the first day of the 31st Pan-African Film Festival, an event that screens over 200 films that are either from filmmakers of African descent or center folks in the African diaspora. This year, the event is taking place at the Baldwin Hills.

This week on FilmWeek, we talk to Ayuko Babu, executive director of the Pan-African Film Festival, to discuss the festivities and its artistic significance.

The Pan-African Festival will take place from February 9-20. 

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

FilmWeek: ‘Knock At The Cabin,’ ‘80 For Brady,’ ‘Baby Ruby’ And More (0:15)

Larry Mantle’s Conversation With Author Bruce Davis (31:48)

The Academy Awards never fail to bring spectacle and criticism to the world of film each year. Yet, despite its prestige and near-fanatic attention, the organization behind the awards has never produced a thorough account of its origins and early development. In his new book “The Academy and the Award: The Coming of Age of Oscar and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences” (Brandeis University Press, 2022), Bruce Davis details the Academy’s birth and maturation to become the Hollywood staple we know today. Larry Mantle speaks with Davis, who served as director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for 20 years and as a staff member for 30, to discuss Davis’ book as a critical piece of filmmaking history. 

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Wade Major and Tim Cogshell review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms.

FilmWeek: ‘Close,’ ‘You People,’ ‘Shotgun Wedding,’ ‘Infinity Pool’ And More (0:15)

Larry Mantle Talks To KPCC’s John Horn About SUNDANCE (31:48)

The Sundance Film Festival returned in person this year for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak. The festival is known for its showcase of independent films and diverse filmmakers, many of which struck distribution deals with some of the industry’s largest buyers such as Netflix, Apple TV+ and A24 in the festival's first few days.

KPCC’s John Horn joins Larry today to discuss this year's biggest Sundance premieres and the current landscape of independent filmmaking.

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

FilmWeek: ‘When You Finish Saving The World,’ ‘Missing,’ ‘Beautiful Beings’ And More (0:15)

John Horn’s Interview with filmmakers Guillermo del Toro, Alfonso Cuarón, and Alejandro González Iñárritu at a Netflix event held at The Academy Museum (31:49)

In recent years, Netflix has become a platform known for its foreign films and television series, as streaming platforms allow more opportunities for foreign filmmakers to reach wider audiences. Just this year Mexican filmmakers Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro González Iñárritu partnered with Netflix on the respective projects of “Pinocchio” and “Bardo,” and in 2019 Alfonso Cuarón won an Oscar for his film “Roma” which was also produced by Netflix.

All three filmmakers, who share a friendship spanning their film careers, sat down with KPCC’s John Horn at a Netflix event earlier this month to discuss their various projects in this new age of movie-making.

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Amy Nicholson and Peter Rainer review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms.

FilmWeek: ‘No Bears,’ ‘Saint Omer,’ ‘Plane,’ ‘Skinamarink’ And More (0:15)

John Horn’s Interview with RIAN JOHNSON (31:49)

After the huge success of his first murder mystery Knives Out, writer and director Rian Johnson proves his talent once again for crafting narrative puzzles that test the audience’s perception with his follow up film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Becoming one of Netflix’s most popular films after premiering on the streaming site in December, Glass Onion stars Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc who, like the audience, tries to piece together the layered story Johnson has set up. 

KPCC’s John Horn spoke with Johnson about his new film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story and the process behind creating a film that aims to keep its viewers guessing. 

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Christy Lemire and Wade Major review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms.

FilmWeek: ‘M3GAN,’ ‘January 6th,’ ‘The Invisible Extinction,’ ‘Alcarras’ And More (0:15)

‘But Have You Read The Book?’ Explores The Art Of Faithfully (Or Not) Adapting A Book To Film (31:49)

Studios have adapted novels since the start of film itself, but how closely do the films follow their source material? In But Have You Read the Book? by Kristen Lopez, from Turner Classic Movies & Running Press; on-sale March 7, 2023 but available for pre-order now, film buffs and literature lovers alike are treated to 52 cinema classics and the literary works that served as their inspiration, such as: ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ ‘The Last Picture Show,’ ‘Blade Runner,’ ‘The Princess Bride,’ ‘Goodfellas,’ ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ and so many more.

Joining us today on AirTalk to discuss her new book “But Have You Read The Book? 52 Literary Gems That Inspired Our Favorite Films” is Kristen Lopez, film editor for The Wrap.

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

FilmWeek: ‘Babylon,’ ‘A Man Called Otto,’ ‘Puss In Boots: The Last Wish’ And More (0:15)

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

FilmWeek: ‘Avatar: The Way Of Water,’ ‘Bardo: False Chronicle of A Handful Of Truths,’ ‘The Quiet Girl’ And More (0:15)

Larry Mantle’s Interview about HOLLYWOOD: THE ORAL HISTORY (31:48)

Since 1969, the American Film Institute in Los Angeles has held a series called the Harold Lloyd Master Seminars, where industry professionals would discuss the trade with AFI students. In the new book ‘Hollywood: The Oral History,’ written by film scholar and professor Jeanine Basinger and film historian Sam Wasson, these recordings are put to page. The book contains stories from over 300 industry professionals ranging from make-up artists to cinematographers, from the silent movie era to contemporary blockbusters. Larry speaks with co-writer Sam Wasson about the process of bringing spoken history to paper and the evolution of Hollywood from its conception to present day.

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Claudia Puig and Lael Loewenstein review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms.

FilmWeek: ‘Empire Of Light,’ ‘Emancipation,’ ‘The Whale’ And More (0:15)

John Horn’s Interview with actor Anna Diop from ‘Nanny’ (31:48)

The new film Nanny follows Aisha, an undocumented immigrant from Senegal, who is hired by a wealthy couple to care for their young daughter. The couple makes no attempt to learn about Aisha’s personal life, treating her simply as ‘the help,’ even demanding she work overtime with no pay. The film is directed by Nikyatu Jusu, and the character Aisha is portrayed by Sengalese-American actor Anna Diop who spoke with KPCC’s John Horn about the thriller and the issue of representation in Hollywood. 

John Horn’s Interview With Director Laura Poitras of ‘All The Beauty And The Bloodshed’ (43:51)

The Sackler family is known for their pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma and their contribution to the opioid crisis, in which they created and heavily marketed the painkiller OxyContin knowing it was highly addictive. Possibly far less known, however, is photographer and activist Nan Goldin, who staged public protests at museums bearing the Sackler name as they tried to artwash their image through generous donations. The new documentary ‘All The Beauty And The Bloodshed’ tells the story of Goldin and her quest to take down the Sacklers.

KPCC’s John Horn spoke with the film’s director Laura Poitras about bringing Nan Goldin’s life and career to the screen.