FilmWeek

Austin Cross and LAist film critics Claudia Puig, Tim Cogshell, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Is God Is, Wide Release

Life Hack, In Select Theaters

The Propagandist, Available on select digital platforms

Decorado, In Select Theaters

Silent Friend, AMC Burbank & Laemmle Royal [West LA]

American Agitators, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]

The Wizard of the Kremlin, In Select Theaters

Marty, Life is Short, Streaming on Netflix

Obsession, Wide Release

The A List: 15 Stories from the Asian and Pacific Diasporas, Streaming on HBO Max

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The topic:

Last week, the Academy Awards released new rules for the Oscars. Some of the changes include awarding the director rather than the country for Best International Feature and allowing actors to be nominated for multiple films in the same category, such as Best Actor/Actress and Best Supporting Actor/Actress. 

Other changes: Two of the new rule changes included explicit language about acting performances and screenplays being “demonstratively human” and “human-authored” respectively. These new rules come as the Oscars are planning for a change in venue and a new broadcast partner in YouTube starting in 2029.

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Guest host Austin Cross and LAist film critics Claudia Puig and Peter Rainer review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

The Sheep Detectives, Wide Release

Mad Bills to Pay: (or Destiny, dile que no soy malo), Laemmle NoHo, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica], and Vidiots [Eagle Rock]

Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour, Wide Release

W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]|Airs on PBS May 19 at 9 p.m. ET

Couples Weekend, Available on Digital & VOD

Group: The Schopenhauer Effect Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] & Laemmle Royal [West LA]

Mistura, Laemmle Town Center [Encino], Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] & Regal Edwards in South Gate

Broad Trip, Streaming on Roku

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In order to keep up with the changing film landscape, Canada’s Motion Picture Bureau was re-established as the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). It was helmed by filmmaker John Grierson, known for coining the term ‘documentary.’ Grierson recruited filmmaker and animator Norman McLaren to lead the NFB’s animation division, and under the two of them, the NFB supported pioneering artists pushing Canadian animation and filmmaking forward. This time on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with FilmWeek’s own Charles Solomon, animation historian and critic, about his new book “Animation for the People: An Illustrated History of the National Film Board of Canada.”

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

Films:

The Devil Wears Prada 2, Wide Release

Hokum, Wide Release

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea, Wide Release

Two Pianos, Laemmle Royal [West LA]|Expands Wide May 8

Omaha, Landmark Nuart Theater [West LA]|Expands throughout May

Swapped, Laemmle Glendale & Streaming on Netflix

Power to the People, In Select Theaters May 3

The School Duel, Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA] & Lumiere Music Hall [Beverly Hills]

Modern Whore, Available on Digital & VOD

Paying for It, Available on Digital & VOD

Deep Water, Wide Release

One Spoon of Chocolate, In Select Theaters

Casa Grande, In Select Theaters

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The TCM Classic Film Festival is back! With films including Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948), Confessions Of A Nazi Spy (1939), Dangerous Liaisons (1988), The Misfits (1961), and a special Opening Night Gala presentation of Barefoot in the Park (1967) introduced by Jane Fonda. This year’s honorees include actresses Glenn Close and Barbara Hershey, and songwriter and composer Paul Williams. This week on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle is joined by TCM’s SVP of Programming, Charles Tabesh and TCM host, Ben Mankiewicz, to talk about the festival and its film line-up. 

The TCM Classic Film Festival is from April 30 to May 3. Festival passes are available at filmfestival.tcm.com. Tickets for individual screenings are also available.

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Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Beandrea July and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Michael, Wide Release

Over Your Dead Body, Wide Release

Ricky, In Select Theaters

Blue Heron, AMC Burbank & the Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA]

Just Sing, Laemmle NoHo

I Swear, In Select Theaters

Something Casual, Laemmle Royal [West LA] April 25|Laemmle NoHo April 24 & 26

Apex, Landmark Westwood|Streaming on Netflix

Fuze, Wide Release

Kangaroo Island, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]

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It's a hard job to explain but seems to be a very easy title to get. The mysterious film producer credit used to go to just a couple people who were integral in a movie's pre- and post-production, but after the consequential Best Picture win for 1998's Shakespeare in Love, the credit of film producer became a title given to people in lieu of other forms of compensation, regardless of how much actual work they contributed to the film. This year marks the PGA's Code of Credits 25th anniversary, created in part due to Shakespeare in Love's unprecedented number of producers. While some "underserving" people may still be credited, the PGA Mark only goes to those who fit their arbitration criteria. On FilmWeek, we delve into the allusive title of "film producer" and how the credit has changed over the years with Deadline senior TV and labor reporter Katie Campione. She's the author of the piece "How ‘Shakespeare In Love’s Best Picture Win Inspired The PGA’s 25-Year Effort To Answer One Question: Who Is A Producer?"

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Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Lael Loewenstein and Peter Rainer review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

Mother Mary, In Select Theaters

Balls Up, Streaming on Prime Video

Steal This Story, Please!, Laemmle Glendale, Laemmle Royal & Art Theatre Long Beach

Lorne, Wide Release

Normal, Wide Release

Erupcja, Landmark Nuart Theater [West LA]

Changing Lanes, In Select Laemmle Theaters

Mabel, Available on Digital & VOD

Immigrant Songs: Yiddish Theater and the American Jewish Experience, Streaming on select platforms

A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough, Streaming on Netflix

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During World War II, Hitler recognized the power that Hollywood held as a tool for propaganda. So much so that he sent Nazi agents to L.A. to infiltrate the studios. In his new book, Hollywood vs. Nazis: How the Movie Studios Took on Nazis Infiltrating Los Angeles, author Michael Benson, tells the story of how one entertainment lawyer spearheaded the defense against Hitler’s pro-Nazi propaganda in Hollywood. Today on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with Benson about his book and this interesting intersection in movie history.

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