FilmWeek

The topic:

Austin Cross and LAist film critics Charles Solomon, Manuel Betancourt, and Katie Walsh review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

The films:

Toy Story 5 Wide Release                                  

The Death of Robin Hood Wide Release       

Girls Like Girls Wide Release                           

Leviticus In Select Theaters                                      

Enongo Streaming on Indie Pix Unlimited                                               

Rose of Nevada Landmark Nuart [West LA]                      

She's the He Laemmle Glendale|Lumiere Music Hall [West LA]                                         

Burt Available on Digital & VOD                                                           

Color Book Landmark Pasadena Playhouse|Streaming on Netflix    

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The topic: 

The new film Burt tells the story of Burt Berger, a 69-year-old musician in LA living with Parkinson's who reconnects with an adult son he never knew he had. The film was shot over seven days in Los Angeles on a micro-budget of $7,000. 

A personal story: Director and co-writer of the film, Joe Burke’s own father is living with Parkinson’s. A portion of the proceeds will go to Parkinson’s Community Los Angeles. 

Where to watch: Burt is available on VOD on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.

Guest:

Joe Burke, co-writer and director of the film Burt

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Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Charles Solomon, Christy Lemire, and Maureen Lee Lenker review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

The films:

Disclosure Day, Wide Release

Jinsei, In Select Theaters

The Furious, In Select Theaters

The Little Sister, Laemmle Glendale & Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]

I am Frankelda, Laemmle Glendale & Streaming on Netflix

Stop! That! Train!, Wide Release

Boy George & Culture Club, Available on Digital & VOD

Underland, Laemmle Glendale

This Tempting Madness, Available on Digital & VOD

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The topic:

Documentary Magazine, published by the International Documentary Association (IDA), released a list of what it determined to be the 25 greatest documentaries of the 21st Century.

How the list was made: Documentary polled 300 documentary filmmakers and producers, critics, programmers, and academics, asking them to name three documentaries they deemed the “greatest.” Each documentary had to be released after January 1, 2000.

Notable picks: Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Act of Killing (2012) sits in the number spot, garnering the most votes. Other films that made the list include No Other Land (2024), the most recent release on the list, and The Gleaners and I (2000), the oldest release. 

Guest: Manuel Betancourt, film critic for LAist and assistant editor of Documentary Magazine. He also contributes regularly to Variety and The AV Club

Check out Documentary’s full list here.

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Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Claudia Puig and Tim Cogshell review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

The films:

Masters of the Universe, Wide Release
Renoir, Laemmle Nuart [West LA]
Scary Movie, Wide Release
Carolina Caroline, In Select Theaters
The Currents, Laemmle Royal [West LA]
Time and Water, Laemmle Royal [West LA] & Laemmle Glendale
Office Romance, Streaming on Netflix
Savage House, Laemmle Royal [West LA]|Laemmle Town Center [Encino]|The Frida Cinema [Santa Ana]
Chum, Laemmle Glendale|Available on VOD

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The Topic:

Marilyn Monroe’s life and career has been dissected and displayed for almost a century. But for such a pervasive and enduring figure, Monroe’s true internal life remains mysterious: was she forced into her “dumb blonde,” “bimbo” persona, or did she use it to her advantage? Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in-between.

The exhibit: In honor of what would be her 100th birthday, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures attempts to portray Monroe as she was with their exhibition Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon. The exhibition displays Monroe’s most famous costumes and other paraphernalia from her most iconic films as well as personal items that may help reveal the woman behind the camera.

Details: The exhibition opens May 31st and will run through February 28, 2027. You can find more information here.

The guest: Sophia Serrano, associate curator for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures who curated the Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon exhibition.

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Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Wade Major, along with guest critic William Bibbiani review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

The films:

Backrooms, Wide Release

Power Ballad, In Select Theaters| Expands wide June 5

Pressure, Wide Release

The Last Viking, Laemmle Royal [West LA]|Available on digital & VOD

Propeller One-Way Night Coach, Streaming on Apple TV+

Ask E. Jean, Landmark Nuart [West LA]

Been Here Stay Here, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]|Laemmle Glendale

Rafa, Streaming on Netflix

The Breadwinner, Wide Release

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Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire, Lael Loewenstein and Maureen Lee Lenker review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

The Films:

Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu, Wide Release

Tuner, AMC Grove & AMC Century City|Expands May 29                                         

I Love Boosters, Wide Release          

Passenger, Wide Release              

Ladies First, Streaming on Netflix                        

Saccharine, In Select Theaters                        

The Travel Companion, Lumiere Music Hall [Beverly Hills]     

Diamonds, Laemmle Royal [West LA]                           

Magic Hour, Landmark Nuart [West LA]                   

Stolen Kingdom, Laemele Glendale|Available on Digital & VOD Jun 16    

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The Topic:

Larry Mantle speaks with the stars of the new film Tuner, Leo Woodall and Havana Rose Liu.

The plot: Leo Woodall plays Niki, a former music virtuoso now serving as an apprentice to the vivacious but stubborn piano technician Harry Horowitz, played by Dustin Hoffman. Niki suffers from a unique hearing condition that makes him extra sensitive to sound: a useful skill for tuning pianos as well as cracking safes. His condition and secret extracurriculars isolates him from his budding relationship with music composition student Ruthie, played by Havana Rose Liu.

Tuner is playing at the AMC Grove and AMC Century City. It expands to more theaters May 29.

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The topic:

Movies on film are having a resurgence. Just take late year’s biggest movies: One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Marty Supreme. But the craft of screening movies on film is a dying one, with few projectionists experienced enough to handle the delicate prints. 

A film stronghold: In L.A., it's the local repertory theaters that have helped maintain the art of film projection with many offering screenings of old movies on vintage prints. The task may be tedious, but for audiences, it’s a striking viewing experience.

Guests: Spencer Christiano, a senior projectionist at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and Boris Ibañez, technical director of Vidiots, a repertory theater and DVD/video rental store in Eagle Rock.

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