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FilmWeek on AirTalk, hosted by Larry Mantle, is a one-hour weekly segment devoted to films. It offers reviews of the week's new movies, interviews with filmmakers, and discussions on various aspects of the industry.
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Sir Roger Deakins is the award-winning cinematographer behind the films Bladerunner: 2049, 1917, and No Country for Old Men (just to name a few). Although those behind the camera often do not reach the heights of mainstream recognition, Deakins is the rare case of a cinematographer becoming a household name, considered one of the greatest of all time. In his new book Reflections: On Cinematography, Deakins steps into the light, sharing memories from his time in art school and working on music videos, to his longstanding career in film, working alongside directors such as the Coen Brothers and Denis Villeneuve. Larry Mantle speaks with cinematographer Sir Roger Deakins about his memoir and his decades spent behind the camera on some of the most influential films. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Lael Loewenstein review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: Predator: Badlands, Wide Release Sentimental Value, In Select Theaters Train Dreams, In Select Theaters|Streaming on Netflix Nov. 21 Die My Love, In Select Theaters Nuremberg, Wide Release Christy, In Select Theaters Lost & Found in Cleveland, In Select Theaters Peter Hujar’s Day, Laemmle Royal [West LA] Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
Despite only lasting four short years from 1930 to 1934, the pre-code era of Hollywood’s Golden Age produced films that pushed the boundaries of cinema and storytelling, even by today’s standards. Hollywood classics including King Kong (1933), Freaks (1932), and Grand Hotel (1932) all came out during this time, just before the enforcement of the Production Code in 1934. Films of the pre-code era explored themes of sexuality, outlaws, racial identity, and class disparity. In a new book released in partnership with Turner Classic Movies, film historians and creators of Pre-Code.com, share their 50 must-see movies from the pre-code era. Joining us on FilmWeek to discuss some of the best films of the early 1930s, is Kim Luperi, film historian and co-author of the book Pre-Code Essentials: Must-See Cinema from Hollywood’s Untamed Era (1930-1934). Kim Luperi will be at Book Soup in West Hollywood Sunday, November 2 for a book signing event. You can get more information about the event here. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Peter Rainer, Tim Cogshell, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: Nouvelle Vague In Select Theaters|Streaming on Netflix Nov 14 Love+War Laemmle Monica Film Center|Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu Nov. 7 Ballad of a Small Player Streaming on Netflix Little Amélie or the Character of Rain In Select Theaters Anniversary In Select Theaters Stitch Head In Select Theaters Wisdom of Happiness Laemmle Royal [West LA] The White House Effect Streaming on Netflix Hallow Road In AMC Theaters Chainsaw Man–The Movie: Reze Arc In Select Theaters The Wrecker Available on VOD Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Manuel Betancourt and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: Bugonia, In Select Theaters Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere In Select Theaters Hedda The Culver Theater [Culver City]|Streaming on Prime Video Köln 75 Laemmle Royal [West LA]|Laemmle Glendale|Laemmle Town Center [Encino] Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost Laemmle Royal [West LA]| Streaming on Apple TV+ Mr. Scorsese Streaming on Apple TV+ The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Streaming on Hulu Shelby Oaks In Select Theaters Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
The Rocky Horror Picture Show created a blueprint for other initially unsuccessful films to find second lives through fervent fans. Its unapologetic celebration of difference continues to resonate on the 50th anniversary of the film. In the new documentary Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror, director Linus O’Brien delves into the phenomenon of “Rocky Horror” through interviews with major players including director Jim Sharman, actors Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon, and O’Brien’s father, Richard O’Brien, the creator of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. O’Brien joined Larry on AirTalk to discuss his documentary. Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror is playing at Vidiots in Eagle Rock now through Oct. 29. You can find showtimes here. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
Bruce Lee’s martial arts work on the silver screen made him a household name in America at a time when those of Asian descent were rarely seen in media. His very presence served as a complicated and nuanced representation for this underseen group. Now, a new book traces the life of Lee and argues his short life had an even greater impact on the world than had been previously considered. Today on AirTalk, Larry speaks with the author of Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America Jeff Chang, about the book and Lee's legacy. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Beandrea July review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Tim Cogshell review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: Tron: Ares, In Select Theaters Roofman, Wide Release Kiss of the Spider Woman, In Select Theaters A House of Dynamite, In Select Theaters If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, In Select Theaters After the Hunt, In Select Theaters Urchin, AMC Burbank & AMC Century City Orwell: 2+2=5, Landmark Nuart [West LA] John Candy: I Like Me, Streaming on Amazon Prime The Alabama Solution, Streaming on HBO Max The Woman in Cabin 10, Streaming on Netflix Vicious, Streaming on Paramount+ Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
From Scream Queens to Final Girls, women have been at the center of horror cinema since its rise in the late 60s. Violence on screen mirrored the violence real women faced off screen. From the allusions to reproductive control in Rosemary’s Baby, to the undertones of domestic violence in The Shining, horror’s female protagonists cannot be divorced from political and social commentary. In her new book “Scream with Me: Horror Films and the Rise of American Feminism (1968-1980), Eleanor Johnson, professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University, views some of our most popular scary movies through a feminist lens. And once you see the themes of women’s oppression, it’s hard to look at a horror film the same way again. This week on FilmWeek, Larry speaks with Johnson about her new book and reanalyze some horror classics together. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Manuel Betancourt review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: The Smashing Machine, Wide Release Anemone, In Select Theaters The Lost Bus, In Select Theaters & Streaming on Apple TV+ Play Dirty, Streaming on Amazon Prime Fairyland, Landmark Sunset [West Hollywood] The Ice Tower, Laemmle Glendale Are We Good?, AMC Americana [Glendale] & Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA] Viva Verdi, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] Coyotes, In Select Theaters Good Boy, In Select Theaters Norita, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] Stripped for Parts, Streaming on PBS.org and PBS app Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Manuel Betancourt review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: One Battle After Another Wide Release Eleanor the Great In Select Theaters All of You Laemmle NoHo|Streaming on Apple TV+ Dead of Winter In Select Theaters Predators Laemmle Royal [West LA] & Alamo Drafthouse DTLA Strange Journey - The Story of Rocky Horror In Select Theaters Plainclothes Landmark Sunset [West Hollywood] All the Devils Are Here Available on VOD Adulthood Laemmle Glendale|Available on VOD Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
Widely credited with creating the modern summer blockbuster in 1975, Steven Spielberg's Jaws has captured the imaginations (and entered the nightmares) of audiences ever since. For Jaws’ 50th anniversary, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has created an all-ages experience: combining unprecedented behind-the-scenes access and interactive elements. The unique structure of the exhibit will take visitors scene by scene through the film, exploring the iconic story in an entirely new way. Today on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle is joined by Jenny He, Senior Exhibitions Curator, to talk about the exhibit and the film’s enduring legacy. Jaws: The Exhibition is open at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures now through July 26, 2026. You can get more information and tickets for the exhibition here. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
“Hamnet,” Chloé Zhao’s drama about William Shakespeare’s marriage and the death of their 11-year-old son, won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, putting it on an enviable track to Academy Awards contention. This might’ve been the biggest headline for the festival, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Joining us this morning to help round up the festivities is Claudia Puig, film critic for LAist and program director for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and Peter Rainer, film critic for LAist and the Christian Science Monitor. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Claudia Puig review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. They also share thoughts on the passing of film icon Robert Redford, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 89. Films: A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, Wide Release Him, Wide Release Another End, In Select Theaters and Available on VOD A Savage Art: The Life & Cartoons of Pat Oliphant, Laemmle Claremont 5, Monica Film Center, Newhall, Glendale, and Town Center 5 The Summer Book, Laemmle Town Center [Encino] Xeno, In Select Theaters Democracy Noir, Laemmle Monica Film Center Waltzing With Brando, In Select Theaters Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
This Is Spinal Tap ushered in a new wave of genre films with its satirical, mockumentary style. It is hailed as a classic, having found its way into the U.S. Library of Congress' National Film Registry. And if that isn't proof enough, the Criterion Collection is releasing a director-approved 4k restoration of the film. Now, over forty years later, the band is back together for one last show. Spinal Tap II: The End Continues finds bandmates David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel, and Derek Smalls (all reprised roles by Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer) reuniting on stage after much time apart. Along with documentarian Marty DiBergi, the band tries to recapture the magic that was in the original This Is Spinal Tap. Today on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle is joined by Rob Reiner, co-writer and director of both films to talk about the legacy of the original This Is Spinal Tap for both film and music, and the unique task of continuing that legacy four decades later. SPINAL TAP II: THE END CONTINUES is in Wide Release and available in IMAX theaters. A Director-Approved 4K UHD edition of THIS IS SPINAL TAP will be released from the The Criterion Collection on Tuesday, September 16. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire, Tim Cogshell, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: The Long Walk, Wide Release Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, Wide Release Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, In Select Theaters Demon Slayer–The Movie: Infinity Castle, Wide Release The History of Sound, In Select Theaters The Baltimorons, Laemmle Royal [West LA] Riefenstahl, Laemmle Royal [West LA] & Laemmle Town Center [Encino] Clemente, Laemmle Monica Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
In our age of surround sound and IMAX theaters emphasizing the importance of sound effects and mixing in movies, it’s easy to forget that for film history’s first thirty years, movies were silent. A new film festival is aiming to fix that. In partnership with the American Cinematheque, Retroformat Silent Films and Mount Saint Mary’s University are hosting the first annual Los Angeles Silent Film Festival. The festival will take place at the American Cinematheque Los Feliz theater from September 12 to September 14, and include the world premiere of the World Restoration Premiere of ‘He Who Gets Slapped’ (1924) starring Lon Chaney, Sr., John Gilbert and Norma Sheare and the Los Angeles Restoration Premiere of ‘Kid Boots’ (1926) starring Clara Bow and Eddie Cantor. Each of the screenings will be accompanied by a live score selected and played by Musical Director Cliff Retallick and guest artist Andrew Earle Simpson. The festival will allow audiences to experience silent films as they were originally intended. Joining us on FilmWeek to talk about the festival and the importance of silent film preservation is Thomas Barnes, president of Retroformat Silent Films and one of the co-founders of the Los Angeles Silent Film Festival. You can find out more about the festival and purchase tickets here. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Lael Loewenstein and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: The Conjuring: Last Rites, Wide Release Twinless, In Select Theaters The Threesome, In Select Theaters Preparation for the Next Life, Alamo Drafthouse DTLA Tinā, In Select Theaters Hamilton, Wide Release The Cut, Laemmle NoHo Love, Brooklyn, In Select Theaters
A24 has solidified itself as the "indie darling" of film studios, gaining a sizable cohort of devotees (many of them young) who rep the studio's merch like fans of a rock band. Started in 2012, A24 made a name itself by releasing smaller art-house and art-house adjacent films in a time when the mid-size movie was quickly being shuffled from theaters to streaming. Some of the studio's early successes include Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers, Barry Jenkins' Moonlight, and Robert Eggers’ The Witch. The latter being a prime example of A24's unique business model: mid-budget movie gets a mid-size release with some edgy, digital-first marketing to turn a mid-size profit. But, as A24 has grown, so has its movies' budgets. We probably won't see an A24 Superman anytime soon, but the studio’s more recent in-house productions and festival acquisitions show a trend away from the indie films that helped set it apart. Today on FilmWeek, Larry speaks with culture editor for the New Yorker, Alex Barasch, about the rise and evolution of A24. Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!
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