A couple of weeks back, the New York Times released an expansive project, with a focus on determining the best films released in the 21st century. Having polled 500 people in the film and entertainment industry, asking each person about their top 10 favorites, they released many of the topline results. In a separate ask to its readers, over 200,000 people contributed their ballots. Both lists included similar films, and notably held Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite as it’s consensus number 1 pick.

This week on FilmWeek, Christy Lemire and Tim Cogshell stick with us to discuss their thoughts and reactions on the ‘best films of the 21st century’ lists. We’re also joined by New York Times pop culture reporter and awards season columnist, Kyle Buchanan, to discuss the New York Times’ project.

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

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

Films:

Superman Wide Release

Kill The Jockey Laemmle NoHo 7

Apocalypse in the Tropics Laemmle Monica Film Center |Streaming on Netflix July 14

 To a Land Unknown Laemmle Royal

Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight AMC Burbank|Laemmle Royal

Sovereign Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino]|Laemmle Monica Film Center|Available on VOD

Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story Streaming on Hulu & Disney+

Daniela Forever Alamo Drafthouse DTLA

The Last Class Landmark Nuart Theatre

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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.

Films:

• The Life of Chuck In Select Theaters|Expands June 13
• Ballerina Wide Release 
• Karate Kid: Legends Wide Release
• Dangerous Animals Wide Release
• The Ritual Wide Release
• I Don’t Understand You In Select Theaters
• Bad Shabbos Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino] |Laemmle Royal [West LA]
• Barron’s Cove Laemmle Monica Film Center
• We Are Guardians Laemmle Monica Film Center|Art Theatre [Long Beach] June 21
• Pavements Alamo Drafthouse DTLA|The Frida Cinema [Santa Ana]

FilmWeek: ‘The Phoenician Scheme,’ ‘Bring Her Back,’ ‘Mountainhead,’ ‘Lost in Starlight,’ and More

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Lael Loewenstein, Beandrea July, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Films:

The Phoenician Scheme In Select Theaters| Expands June 6 (next Friday)

Bring Her Back Wide Release

Mountainhead Streaming on Max May 31

Lost in Starlight Laemmle Glendale|Streaming on Netflix

Ocean with David Attenborough Laemmle Monica Film Center|premieres on National Geographic Channel on June 7|Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu starting June 8

Bono: Stories of Surrender Streaming on Apple TV+

Ghost Trail Laemmle Royal May 30

Book of Joshua: Walls of Jericho Streaming on VOD

Tim Travers & the Time Travelers Paradox Laemmle Glendale

Charles Burnett talks ‘Killer of Sheep’ 4K restoration, and the film’s lasting influence

After a theatrical release in select theaters by Janus Films, the Criterion Collection now introduces the new 4K restoration of Charles Burnett’s 1977 feature debut film, Killer of Sheep, into its library. The film follows a family in Watts, with the father in this household being Stan, who works in a slaughterhouse. Burnett's understanding of working-class family dynamics makes for a story that’s as relatable as it is emotionally devastating at moments. These complex themes portrayed in film have served as inspiration for the likes of Barry Jenkins, whose Oscar-winning film Moonlight offers a similar blend of cinematic storytelling through the lives of adults and children. We’ll dig deeper into the film by speaking with its filmmaker, Charles Burnett.

The 4K restoration of ‘Killer of Sheep’ is out now in Blu-ray and 4K UHD; to read more about the special features included, and to purchase the film, click here.

Feature: Bleak Week returns for Year 4, we talk to programmers behind the festival

This year marks the 4th year of the American Cinematheque’s Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair, a weeklong festival dedicated to screening films with dark and bleak themes. In this year’s lineup, you’ll find screenings of Michael Haneke’s English adaptation of Funny Games, the Soviet anti-war film Come and See, and Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata’s Grave of the Fireflies. You’ll also find that the Year 4 lineup includes introductions/Q&As with the likes of Bill Hader, Elliot Gould, and Brady Corbet.

Outside of the usual festival screenings here in Los Angeles, the American Cinematheque has partnered with other arthouse theaters across the country, and even The Prince Charles Cinema in London.

Joining us to discuss this year’s iteration of the festival is Chris LeMaire, lead programmer on the American Cinematheque’s Bleak Week, and Grant Moninger, American Cinematheque’s Artistic Director. We also have our critics, Charles Solomon, Claudia Puig and Peter Rainer, commenting on what about the festival has allowed it to garner interest.

Bleak Week runs from June 1-7. You can find this year’s Bleak Week lineup by clicking here or on bleakweek.com 

FilmWeek: 'Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoning,' 'Lilo & Stitch,' 'Drop Dead City,' and more

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

Films:

Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning Wide Release

Lilo & Stitch Wide Release

Drop Dead City Laemmle Monica Film Center| Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino]

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life In Select Theaters | Expands May 30

Into the Wonderwoods Available on VOD

The New Boy In Select Theaters|Lumiere Cinema Beverly Hills

The Surrender Streaming on Shudder

Sister Midnight Alamo Drafthouse DTLA|Landmark’s

Correction: In this episode, Larry refers to Peter receiving first place in criticism from the Society for Professional Journalists (SPJ), but he meant to refer to the Society for Features Journalism (SFJ).

For those who grew up during the British Rock Invasion of the 1960s, you’re probably familiar with many of the names who made their way through the U.S. charts, one such being the psychedelic rock band The Zombies. For a lot of younger generations— their name might not ring a bell— but it might not take too long into their hit song Time of the Season to understand just how important of a band they are. A new feature by filmmaker and musician Robert Schwartzman titled Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary tells the life and legacy of the band, with in-depth interviews with band members Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent. For this week’s FilmWeek feature, we air an interview Austin did with filmmaker Robert Schwartzman and The Zombies frontman, Colin Blunstone.

Guest host Austin Cross and LAist film critics Manuel Betancourt and Tim Cogshell review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Final Destination: Bloodlines Wide Release

Hurry Up Tomorrow Wide Release

Deaf President Now! Laemmle Santa Monica|Streaming on Apple TV+

Caught by the Tides Laemmle Royal

Black Tea Laemmle Royal

The RuseWide Release

The Old Woman With The Knife In Select Theaters

The Grotto Laemmle NoHo 7

Untold: The Fall of Favre Streaming on Netflix May 20

Animation has been a major player in Hollywood, with companies like DreamWorks and Disney having made some of their most acclaimed works here in the Golden State. However, a new report has found that recent high-grossing animated films are being made outside of Hollywood. Examples mentioned include Moana, with the original film being made in Hollywood, but its sequel having been made in Vancouver. The study was co-authored by the Animation Guild, BRIC Foundation and Titmouse Foundation in partnership with CVL Economics. 

Today on FilmWeek, we’re joined by CVL Economics founding partner Adam Fowler, the Animation Guild executive board member Jason Mayer, and LAist chief animation critic Charles Solomon.

FilmWeek: ‘Friendship,’ ‘Nonnas,’ ‘Fight or Flight,’ and more!

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

Friendship Wide release

Nonnas Streaming on Netflix

Marcella Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino] | Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] | Laemmle Claremont 5

Fight or Flight In Select Theaters

Most People Die on Sundays Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino] | Laemmle Royal [Sawtelle]

Henry Johnson VOD (not seeing options outside of henryjohnsonmovie.com)

Juliet & Romeo In Select Theaters

Magic Farm Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA]|Expands May 16

Sew Torn In Select Theaters

I Know Catherine, The Log Lady Laemmle Glendale

Clown in a Cornfield In Select Theaters

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Manuel Betancourt and Lael Loewensteinreview this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

• Thunderbolts* Wide Release
• Rust Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino] | Available On VOD 
• Bonjour Tristesse In Select Theaters
• Havoc Streaming On Netflix 
• Another Simple Favor Streaming On Amazon Prime
•  The Surfer In Select Theaters
• Monty Python and the Holy Grail In Select Theaters Two-Days Only [May 4 & May 7]
• Free for All: The Public Library Streaming on PBS.org and PBS’s YouTube Channel
• Electra Laemmle Glendale 

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As we enter the second half of the year, and the 4th of July weekend, our critics Manuel Betancourt and Lael Loewenstein will take some time to recap what’s been released this year so far and talk about their favorite films that have been released as of now.

The 2005 sci-fi blockbuster Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith celebrated its 20th Anniversary this year with a notable achievement, with its re-release earning $30 million at the domestic box office. Being the biggest money-making example of a re-release this year, it shows why anniversaries for beloved films mean so much to audiences. Although not as much of a moneymaker, the 20th Anniversary re-release of Pride and Prejudice was able to make $3 million close its opening and close to $6 million total. To widen the scope to other decades-old movies, other beloved films like Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Jaws are making their way back to theaters to honor their respective 50th anniversaries. Joining us to get into this wide scope of film anniversaries is our film critics Lael Loewenstein and Manuel Betancourt.

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Oscar voters will no longer be able to skip watching some of the nominated films. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on Monday announced that members will from now on be required to watch all nominated films in each category to be eligible to vote in the final round of Oscar voting. Up until now, Oscar voters had only been encouraged to watch the nominees and vote in categories they felt qualified in. But in recent years, what films get watched by academy members has been increasingly seen as a significant factor in what wins. At the same time, the publication of anonymous Oscar ballots has often featured members confessing that they didn’t get around to watching some notable films or not finishing lengthier nominees. 

In other news — many appearances by the faces of the entertainment industry, from filmmakers of all different backgrounds, the Criterion Closet will get an extended appearance in Los Angeles, as a mobile  version of the closet will be available for cinephiles to visit. With more than 1200 films in its official collection of Blu-rays, the Criterion Collection has been one of the leading physical media distributors. So with the closet arriving in Los Angeles, we thought it’d be worth checking in on the physical media industry with Dominic Patten, senior editor & tv critic at Deadline. We’ll also hear from Peter Rainer, who add their insights and discuss their favorite physical media.

With files from the Associated Press

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

• The Accountant 2 Wide Release
• Cheech and Chong’s Last Movie In Select Theaters
• Drop In Select Theaters | VOD April 29
• The Trouble with Jessica Laemmle Royal [West LA]| AMC DINE-IN Ontario Mills 30
• Pink Floyd at Pompeii - MCMLXXII In Select Theaters | Available on IMAX screens Sunday, April 27
• Killer of Sheep (1978) Laemmle NoHo 7
•  April In Select Theaters
• Blue Sun Palace Laemmle Glendale | Laemmle Monica Film Center
• On Swift Horses  In Select Theaters 

*Correction: In the review for Cheech and Chong's Last movie, Peter Rainer accidentally refers to Shelby Chong, Tommy Chong's ex-wife, in the back of the van as "Cheech’s ex-wife."

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Last week, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’s Board of Governors announced it would add a new category to its awards ceremony starting 2028– Achievement in Stunt Design. This serves as a major win for the many stuntmen and stuntwomen who’ve lobbied for such an award, with their line of work having existed since the inception of film. Although stunts from the likes of Buster Keaton won’t ever be able to win such an award, there are plenty of recent films that have drawn crowds for their stunts. Whether it be the Mission Impossible or John Wick films, well-designed action sequences have kept moviegoers’ attention, which makes rewarding their stunt designers a great decision as we inch closer to the 100th annual Academy Awards. For this week’s FilmWeek feature, Larry and this week’s critics discuss this news with filmmaker and longtime stuntman, Chad Stahelski.

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Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Amy Nicholson and Manuel Betancourt review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

• Sinners Wide Release
• The Wedding Banquet In Select Theaters
• Sneaks Wide Release
• The Legend of Ochi In Select Theaters|Wide Release on April 25
• The President's Wife Laemmle Royal [West LA] | Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino] | Landmark Pasadena 
• The Shrouds In Select Theaters| Wide Release on April 25

• High Art [4K Restoration] Laemmle Noho 7 [North Hollywood]
• The Ugly Stepsister In Select Theaters 
• Colorful Stage! The Movie: A Miku Who Can't Sing In Select Theaters

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In their second project together, writer-directors Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza’s Warfare strikes a much different tone than last year’s Civil War. Garland’s solo writing and directing project, with Mendoza on as a military supervisor, served as a thematic look at the political divide found in the United States— Warfare, despite using similar thematic elements, takes a much more realist filming approach to the war in Iraq. Warfare follows a platoon of Navy SEALs in 2006 Iraq, going through the process of scouting insurgent territory, and eventually finding themselves in a gunfight with people they often identify as MAMs (military-age males). Told using the memories of those involved in this real event, the film isn’t focused on making a political statement on the war itself as much as it is putting together a chain of events that helps viewers understand one story a part of the greater picture of the war in Iraq. The film takes these stories and uses an ensemble cast of up-and-coming actors to help put together a linear story, with D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai notably portraying Mendoza, who was one of the Navy SEAL team members involved.

Joining us, to discuss their directorial partnership and the work that went into telling this story as truthfully as possible, are Warfare writer-directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland.

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

• Warfare Wide Release
• The Amateur  Wide Release 
• King of Kings In Select Theaters
• One to One: John & Yoko In Select Theaters | Expands April 18th 
• Neil Young: Costal In Select Theaters April 17 [One-Day Only]
• Pets Streaming on Disney+
• Kaiju No. 8 Mission Recon In Select Theaters [Three-Day Event: April 13, 14 and 16]
• Not Just A Goof Streaming on Disney+

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Beandrea July review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on-demand platforms.

• A Minecraft Movie Wide Release
• Freaky Tales  In Select Theaters 

• Janis Ian: Breaking Silence  Laemmle Glendale|Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] 
• We Were Dangerous Lumiere Music Hall [Beverly Hills]
• Julie Keeps Quiet  Laemmle Glendale 
•  A Nice Indian Boy In Select Theaters
• The Friend In Select Theaters
• Viet and Nam Laemmle Glendale 
• William Tell In Select Theaters
• The Luckiest Man in America In Select Theaters    

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Executing a fight scene requires a lot of attention to detail, but spending time to get the right fight choreographer and stunt doubles to execute their vision can make for a rewarding watch. In the case of stuntman-turned-director Chad Stahelski, his directorial debut John Wick helped spark a franchise that moviegoers love due to its well-choreographed action. Although the series has become a common example of great fighting, there’s a whole host of other examples that date back decades. Hong Kong action cinema has given so much to the action genre, having helped popularize high-speed martial arts fighting for international audiences; through this style of filmmaking, audiences were introduced to filmmaker John Woo and actor Jackie Chan.  Joining us to share their extensive knowledge of fight scenes are Tim Cogshell and Andy Klein.

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Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Lael Loewenstein and Manuel Betancourt review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on-demand platforms.

• Death of a Unicorn Wide Release
• Ballad of Wallis Island AMC Burbank 16|AMC Burbank Town Center 6| AMC Century City 15

• Grand Tour In Select Theaters 
• Thank You Very Much In Select Theaters
• The Penguin Lessons In Select Theaters 

• Being Maria Landmark Nuart Theater [West LA]
• Audrey’s Children In Select Theaters

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

Films:

Jurassic World: Rebirth Wide Release

40 Acres In Select Theaters

Nobu Laemmle Monica Film Center

The Old Guard 2 Streaming on Netflix

Dear Ms.: A Revolution in Print Streaming on Max

Heads of State Streaming on Prime Video

In The Mood For Love Laemmle Royal [West LA]| Laemmle Glendale

Igualada Premieres July 7 on PBS| Streaming on PBS until October 5

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Earlier this week, American entertainment company Fandango published a study that surveyed moviegoers, casual and loyal, on their viewing habits. Insights ranged from the way they learned about movies, to what amenities made the theatrical experience most worthwhile. With CinemaCon— a yearly event comprised of theater chain owners— happening next week in Las Vegas, we thought it’d be good to dig into this data and break down what’s driving moviegoing this year. Joining us, alongside our critics Lael Loewenstein and Manuel Betancourt, is Deadline business editor Dade Hayes.

Feature: New book ‘Opening Weekend’ provides insider perspective on film marketing

Although the film industry can be quite lucrative, there are a lot of moving parts to how a film gets to be a “success” or “flop.” As it relates to building up hype for a movie, marketing teams play a huge role in growing excitement and finding ways to resonate with general audiences. A new book, Opening Weekend: An Insider's Look at Marketing Hollywood's Hits and Flops, by longtime film marketing executive Jim Fredrick. Frederick’s career in the business has included working on the marketing team for films like Eyes Wide Shut, The Shawshank Redemption, and even the Harry Potter film franchise. So for this week’s feature, we’ll talk to Frederick about Opening Weekend and get an insider’s understanding of how marketing works within the film industry.

Jim Fredrick, studio marketing executive, and Chapman University film professor; he’s also the author of the new book Opening Weekend: An Insider's Look at Marketing Hollywood's Hits and Flops

FilmWeek: 'Snow White,' 'The Alto Knights,' 'Magazine Dreams,' 'Locked,' and More

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

Snow White

The Alto Knights

Magazine Dreams

The Assessment

Misericordia

Locked

Asian Persuasion

Bob Trevino Likes It

Ash

AUM: The Cult at the End of the World

FilmWeek: 'Black Bag,' Novocaine,' 'Opus,' 'The Electric State,' and More

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

Black Bag

Novocaine

Opus

The Electric State

The Actor

Borderline

The World Will Tremble

The Visitor

FilmWeek: 'Mickey 17,' 'Last Breath,' 'Art Spiegelman: Disaster Is My Muse', 'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl ' and More

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

Mickey 17

Riff Raff

Last Breath

Art Spielgelman: Disaster Is My Muse

Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna

Eephus

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

The Accidental Getaway Driver

The Rule of Jenny Pen

The Empire

At this year’s Academy Awards, the comedic drama Anora, came away 5 Oscar wins, including Best Picture. The film follows Ani, an exotic dancer and escort in Brighton Beach, who’s relationship with a Russian oligarch’s son takes her on an emotional rollercoaster. Having premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, it received the festival’s prestigious Palme d’Or. Since then, it’s received critical acclaim and many awards. So for this week’s FilmWeek feature, we re-air our conversation on Anora, with Best Actress winner Mikey Madison, and 4-time Academy Award winner, filmmaker Sean Baker.

The 97th annual Academy Awards is this Sunday— with dozens of films having campaigned across 23 categories this awards season— and many spectators are unsure on which folks will come home with Oscars. With all that drama comes our 23rd annual FilmWeek Oscars Preview, which was held this year at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA. Eight of our FilmWeek critics joined host Larry Mantle on stage and broke down their picks in all the major categories; categories mentioned include Best Picture, Director, International Feature, Animated Feature, as well as each acting and screenwriting category.

For a list of all the nominees this year, click here.

With Hollywood getting ready for the biggest awards show in movies, this episode of the new LAist Studios podcast NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING is all about the Oscars! Hear Oscar nominees Peter Straughan and Kris Bowers, and actress Caitlin Reilly duke it out for the ultimate award — winning a game show where the points are made up by our host, Franklin Leonard.

Guests: Screenwriter Peter Straughan (“Conclave”), composer Kris Bowers (“The Wild Robot”), and actress and comedian Caitlin Reilly (“Hacks,” “Loot”).

NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING is a production of The Black List and LAist Studios, in partnership with The Ankler.

Support for this podcast is also brought to you by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes L.A. a better place to live.

New episodes premiere Tuesdays and you can listen to the show on the radio at LAist 89.3 Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 10 p.m.

The Best International Feature category at the Academy Awards has grown in prominence over the years, coinciding with the inclusion of more international voters. It’s now meant more films typically confined to the Best International Feature category are now making their way to the conversation for Best Picture. This year, I’m Still Here and Emilia Perez serve as examples of films being nominated in both categories. In the recent past, we’ve seen the likes of Drive My Car and Parasite gain recognition from Academy voters in both categories. For this week’s FilmWeek feature, we’ll focus on this year’s crop of films for Best International Feature, and discuss our critics’ favorites. Joining us are Manuel Betancourt, Lael Loewenstein, and Christy Lemire.

FilmWeek: 'The Monkey,' 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy,' 'Millers in Marriage,' 'Cleaner' and More

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

The Monkey

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Millers in Marriage

Ex-Husbands

Cleaner

The Unbreakable Boy

Old Guy

Although the Hays Code and Lavender Scare served as a deterrent to queer representation in cinema, many filmmakers still found ways to include queer themes into their works. In his new book Sick and Dirty: Hollywood’s Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness, film historian Michael Koresky collects examples of these early queer projects and helps provide context to their development. Detailing the use of queer innuendos and development of Hays-code approved stereotypes, the book shares how films like The Children’s Hour and Rebecca served as some of the earliest examples of LGBTQ-themed cinema. Joining us to discuss their book, early films with queer themes and the filmmakers behind them, is Michael Koresky, author of the new book Sick and Dirty: Hollywood’s Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness.

‘Sick and Dirty: Hollywood’s Gay Golden Age and the Making of Modern Queerness’ is out now, click here for more information.

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FilmWeek: 'Captain America: Brave New World,' 'Paddington in Peru,' Becoming Led Zeppelin,' 'Sky Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius),' and More

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

Captain America: Brave New World

Paddington in Peru

Becoming Led Zeppelin

Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius)

Universal Language

The Gorge

Mom

I Love You Forever

Kid Snow

Rez Comedy

Feature: ‘Nickel Boys’ writer-director RaMell Ross discusses creative ways of adapting Colson Whitehead’s novel

Since the book was released in 2019, Colson Whitehead's historical fiction novel The Nickel Boys has reached great critical acclaim, having most notably won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. So to adapt the book into a feature-length film seems like it’d offer a lot of pressure, but it’s one the RaMell Ross seemed willing to take on following his Oscar-nominated documentary Hale County This Morning, This Evening. This year, Ross now finds his Nickel Boys adaptation nominated for multiple Oscars, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture. Similar to the book, the film follows the lives of two boys at the now-defunct Nickel Academy, a reform school in Florida that had a track record of abusing the African American children who attended. Ross also takes a unique approach, leaning heavily into his protagonist’s perspective, with most of the film switching between Elwood and Turner’s first-person point of view. Joining us to discuss the work put into Nickel Boys is the film’s co-writer and director, RaMell Ross.

Nickel Boys is out in select theaters and is now on VOD/digital.

Feature: 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat' director discusses Jazz greats and their relationship to post-colonial Africa

The Oscar-nominated documentary Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat has received critical success through it’s focus on an international incident, a relationship between developing countries in a post-colonial era, and how artists can unknowingly play a role in this. The documentary, directed by Johan Grimonprez, uses jazz music from the likes of Louis Armstrong and Max Roach as an entryway into post-colonial Africa. Grimonprez spends much of the documentary getting into newly independent African nations, the most notable being the Democratic Republic of Congo, and how their relationship with colonial powers involved in the United Nations can impact their new democracies. This narrative is put together with prominent jazz musicians at the time and how their performances in these new nations were used for political purposes unbeknownst to them. So, for this week’s FilmWeek feature, we sit down with Johan Grimonprez, director of Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat.

“Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat” is out now in select theaters and available on VOD

FilmWeek: 'Love Hurts,' 'Jazzy,' 'Parthenope,' 'Bring Them Down,' and More

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

Love Hurts

No Other Land

Parthenope

Suze

Jazzy

Armand

Dark Nuns

Bring Them Down

Hazard

FilmWeek: 'Companion,' 'Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story,' 'Dog Man,' and More

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

• Companion

• Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story

• Dog Man

• You're Cordially Invited

• Love Me

• Valiant One

• Lucca's World

   

Oscar Animated Shorts

*Only one film (Wander to Wonder) is available online; all the animated shorts will be bundled up in a limited theatrical release starting February 14*

• Beautiful Men

• In the Shadow of the Cypress

• Magic Candies

• Wander to Wonder

• Yuck! 

New Book ‘Falling in Love at the Movies” highlights the history of the romantic comedy

In her new book Falling in Love at the Movies, entertainment journalist Esther Zuckerman takes readers through the history of romantic comedies. A beloved genre, having built a reliable audience at the box office and some films even winning Academy Awards, the romcom has held a cultural impact that’s left many longing for romances depicted in Roman Holiday and When Harry Met Sally. So for this week’s FilmWeek feature, we speak to Esther Zuckerman about the rich history and extensive research that went into Falling in Love at the Movies: Rom-Coms from the Screwball Era to Today.

Esther will be doing a book signing, in partnership with Skylight Books, on Friday, Feb. 14 at 6:30 PM at the Los Feliz 3. Following that, she’ll be introducing a 7 PM screening of “Broadcast News.” For ticket information, click here.

Feature: New book ‘Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg: The Whole Equation’ tells the story of two MGM visionaries

Moviegoers nowadays might not know much of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios’ history outside of its iconic mascot, a lion who introduced each film with it’s iconic roar. It was an introduction that was meant to prepare viewers for not just a film, but a spectacle. A new book by retired film critic Kenneth Turan shares the studio’s rich history of spectacle through the work of co-founder Louis B. Mayer, and Irving Thalberg, who served as its head of production following MGM’s inception. For this week’s FilmWeek feature, we’ll speak to former film critic Kenneth Turan, about his forthcoming book Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg: The Whole Equation, and give listeners a glimpse as to how they contributed to Hollywood.

“Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg: The Whole Equation” is available for pre-order, and releases February 4th; click here to learn more.

FilmWeek: 'Presence,' 'Flight Risk,' 'Eternal You,' and More

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

Presence

Flight Risk 

Inheritance

Eternal You

Brave the Dark

Grafted

Rose

Global Harmony

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Manuel Betancourt and Amy Nicholson review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming.

FilmWeek: 'One of Them Days,' Wolf Man,' 'I'm Still Here,' 'Hard Truths,' and More

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Manuel Betancourt and Amy Nicholson review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming.

• One of Them Days

• Wolf Man

• I’m Still Here

• Grand Theft Hamlet

• Hard Truths

• Eno

• DIG! XX

• Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever

David Lynch, the filmmaker celebrated for his uniquely dark vision in such movies as “Blue Velvet” and “Mulholland Drive” and the TV series “Twin Peaks,” has died just days before his 79th birthday.

His family announced the death in a Facebook post on Thursday. The cause of death and location was not immediately available, but Lynch had been public about his emphysema. Lynch was a onetime painter who broke through in the 1970s with the surreal “Eraserhead” and rarely failed to startle and inspire audiences and peers in the following decades. His notable releases ranged from the neo-noir “Mulholland Drive” to the skewed Gothic of “Blue Velvet” to the eclectic and eccentric “Twin Peaks.” Joining us today on FilmWeek is Lael Loewenstein, Manuel Betancourt and Peter Rainer.

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:

F1: The Movie Wide Release

M3GAN 2.0 Wide Release

Sorry, Baby In Select Theaters AMC| The Grove 14| AMC Century City 15

Familiar Touch  Laemmle Glendale

My Mom Jayne Streaming on Max

Enigma Streaming on Max

Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything Streaming On Hulu

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore Laemmle NoHo 7

Off the Grid Lumiere Music Hall [Beverly Hills]| VOD

Union Streaming on PBS App until August 31, 2025

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, Manuel Betancourt, and Peter Rainer review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming.

A Complete Unknown

Babygirl

Nosferatu

Better Man

The Fire Inside

2073

Vermiglio

From Ground Zero

Harbin

Feature: Wallace & Gromit return to the big screen with ‘Vengeance Most Fowl,’ we talk to the directors

It’s been 19 years since the intuitive, Wensleydale-loving Wallace and Gromit graced the big screen, with their last feature being The Curse of the Wererabbit; now the duo returns with Vengeance Most Fowl, which also marks the return of an old foe, the silent penguin Feathers McGraw. Having begun as a graduation project at the National Film and Television School, and now being a three-time Academy Award-winning cast of characters, Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park has teamed up with longtime collaborator Merlin Crossingham to direct this latest feature. So for this week’s FilmWeek feature, Larry sits down with Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl directors Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham to discuss all the work that went into making this stop-motion animated feature a reality.

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl will be released in select theaters on December 18 and streaming on Netflix on January 3.

FilmWeek: 'The Brutalist,' 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3,' 'Mufasa: The Lion King,' 'The Count of Monte Cristo,' and More

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

• The Brutalist

• Mufasa: The Lion King

• Sonic the Hedgehog 3

• Homestead

• The Room Next Door

• The Count of Monte Cristo

• Counted Out

• The Wages of Fear (1953)

Feature: 1972 Munich Hostage Crisis broadcast gets revisited in ‘September 5,’ we discuss the film with its director.

Movies centered on journalists have been somewhat of a trend over the years, with Spotlight and The Post serving as recent examples, and some older classics like All The President’s Men and The Insider. Writer-director Tim Fehlbaum’s latest project, September 5, looks to add to the tradition with a timely story of broadcast journalists attempting to cover an international incident in real-time. The film follows the 1972 Munich Olympics, with its inciting incident being 11 Israeli hostages held by Palestinian militants. It was coverage that was watched by roughly 900 million viewers, showing just how serious this event was. Hansjörg Weißbrich, the film’s editor, creates tension despite most of the film being set in one building; his work on the film has since been acknowledged by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, which awarded September 5 for its Best Editing category. For this week’s feature, we talk to filmmaker Tim Fehlbaum about the making of September 5 and the work it took to revisit a dark moment in history.