Episodes
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From 'Jonny Quest' to 'The West Wing' and beyond: Actor Tim Matheson on his decades spent in Hollywood
Actor Tim Matheson has been working in showbiz since he was a young kid. He took up roles in some shows from the 1960s, like Leave it to Beaver and Window on Main Street. In 1964, he became the leading voice for the animated adventure series Jonny Quest. He'd go on to play Eric "Otter" Stratton in one of his best-known roles in the 1978 comedy film Animal House, and he was Emmy-nominated for his role as John Hoynes in The West Wing. For this weekâs feature, we re-air an interview Larry recently did with Matheson, tied to his new memoir Damn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Trenches (Hachette Books, 2024)
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FilmWeek: 'Moana 2,' 'Queer,' 'Maria,' 'That Christmas,' and More
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell, Peter Rainer and Charles Solomon review this weekendâs new movie releases on streaming and on-demand platforms.
Moana 2 Queer Maria The Seed of the Sacred Fig Ernest Cole: Lost and Found Porcelain War That Christmas Queens (Reinas) -
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As we enter a major weekend for Hollywood, how successful are Wicked and Gladiator II projected to be?
Although Thanksgiving cooking is a major event on its own, the next two weekends serve as a time when major studios try to cash in on the audienceâs free time. The two major releases this weekend, John M. Chuâs Wicked and Ridley Scottâs Gladiator II, have bot h heavily campaigned for eyeballs, leaving questions about whether both can find box office success during the first week of their respective domestic releases. Internationally, Gladiator II has been released in some territories and made more than $80 million dollars in the process; Wicked has yet to open up its wide release but is projected to make more than $100 million in its opening weekend. With many referencing Barbenheimer, due to both filmsâ heavy promotion and different audience demographics, it does beg folks to wonder how each film will ultimately do financially and during awards season. Rebecca Rubin, senior film and media reporter for Variety, joins us to discuss this.
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Feature: Critics discuss whatâs behind the idea of movies being longer, and how to best prep for them
At a time when rolls of film dominated the land, making a blockbuster was going to be expensive when you had to consider a physical film that had to be distributed across the globe. Itâs an issue that made films longer than 120 minutes feel like an occasion. However, in the world of digital cameras, the unique quirks that came with the film were no longer an issue, making it easier to extend the length of a given feature. Auteurs like Christopher Nolan and Martin Scorsese have tried their best to keep viewersâ attention, with recent projects like Oppenheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon, respectively. In the vein of West Side Story (1961) and Lawrence of Arabia, Brady Corbetâs upcoming film The Brutalist uses an intermission to give viewers a break. But ultimately⊠are Hollywoodâs movies longer now? And for viewers interested in watching these long moviesâ what are ways to fully devote yourself to a film?
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FilmWeek: 'Gladiator II,' 'Wicked,' 'Joy,' 'Spellbound,' and More
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Charles Solomon, Amy Nicholson, and Claudia Puig reviewthe latest releases on FilmWeek.
Gladiator II Wicked Flow Joy Spellbound Agent of Happiness The Merry Gentlemen The Glassworker -
FilmWeek: 'Red One,' 'Elton John: Never Too Late,' 'Daruma,' and More
Larry Mantle and FilmWeek critics Lael Loewenstein, Manuel Betancourt, and Charles Solomon review the latest releases on FilmWeek.
Red One All We Imagine as Light Elton John: Never Too Late Bird The World According to Alle Willis Bogart: Life Comes in Flashes Ghost Cat Anzu Daruma Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy Night Is Not Eternal Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom The Lost Children -
Feature: As Hollywood begins its âChristmas creep,â we talk our favorite holiday movies
The holidays are here⊠or at least film distributors are under that impression. Itâs been two weeks since Halloween has wrapped, and in that time weâve seen some new Christmas-centric films make their ways to theaters and streamers. This weekâs most-promoted theatrical release being the Christmas, action-comedy Red One; the film includes stars like Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, and J.K. Simmons. Last week on the show, we had the chance to discuss Christmas Eve in Millerâs Point and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, two films that fit into the rich tradition of comfort movies that you can watch with your family during the holidays. So for this weekâs FilmWeek feature, weâll speak to our critics about the trend itself and hear about their favorite movies centered on the holiday season.
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Feature: New book âOpening Weekendâ 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 âsuccessâ or âflop.â 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. Frederickâs 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 weekâs feature, weâll talk to Frederick about Opening Weekend and get an insiderâs understanding of how marketing works within the film industry.
Jim Fredrick, studio marketing executive, and Chapman University film professor; heâs also the author of the new book Opening Weekend: An Insider's Look at Marketing Hollywood's Hits and Flops
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FilmWeek: "Heretic," "The Piano Lesson," "Small Things Like These," and more
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Andy Klein review this weekendâs new movie releases on streaming and on-demand platforms.
Heretic The Piano Lesson Small Things Like These Elevation The Last Rifelman Christmas Even in Millerâs Point The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Meanwhile on Earth Sallywood Weekend in Taipei -
The upcoming general election has of course been on many peoplesâ minds, and what better way to work through the angst than by viewing how generations of artists have tried depicting politics on the big screen? Since early September, Turner Classic Movies has been airing some of the most political films to be released, with some examples being The Great Dictator and JFK. So for todayâs feature, Larry and LAist film critics Andy Klein and Christy Lemire talk about their favorite election-related movies, getting into what makes them so topical and worth looking back at following their initial release.
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Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Andy Klein review this weekendâs new movie releases on streaming and on-demand platforms. They also remember actress Teri Garr, who passed away at the age of 79.
Here
Blitz
Emilia Perez
A Real Pain
Juror #2
Endurance
Freedom
The Gutter
Soundtrack to a Coup dâEtat
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Feature: Larry talks to Sean Baker and Mikey Madison about the work that went into making âAnoraâ
Since his 2012 feature-length film Starlet, critically acclaimed director Sean Baker has made films that bring realism to the lives of sex workers across the United States. Angelenos are likely familiar with the locations of Starlet and Tangerine, with the former taking place in the San Fernando Valley and the latter in Hollywood. Baker would eventually shoot his next films in Florida and Texas, but his latest picture, Anora, brings viewers to Brooklyn, New York. In Anora, Mikey Madison portrays Ani, an exotic dancer who eventually finds herself eloping with the son of a Russian oligarch. The film has garnered positive reviews since being screened at film festivals and was awarded the Palme dâOr at this yearâs Cannes Film Festival by fellow filmmakers judging the competition. For this weekâs feature, we sit down with Anoraâs writer-director Sean Baker, and the filmâs star, Mikey Madison.
Anora is now in select theaters and will expand on November 1
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FilmWeek: 'Venom: The Last Dance,' 'Conclave,' 'Memoir of a Snail,' and More
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Peter Rainer, Wade Major, and Charles Solomon
Venom: The Last Dance Conclave Memoir of a Snail Martha My Name is Alfred Hitchcock Magpie Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band Kikiâs Delivery Service (1989) The Remarkable Life of Ibelin Rule of Two Walls The Sacrifice (1986) -
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Amy Nicholson and Manuel Betancourt review this weekendâs new movie releases on streaming and on-demand platforms.
Smile 2 Wide Release Anora In Select Theaters Rumors In Select Theaters Exhibiting Forgiveness In Select Theaters Woman of the Hour In Select Theaters and Streaming on Netflix Goodrich Laemmle Newhall [Santa Clarita] and Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino] Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan And Sara Streaming on Hulu MadS In Select Theaters | Streaming on Shudder The Body Politic Laemmle NoHo 7 | Streaming on PBS Bookworm In Select Theaters | VOD -
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell, Wade Major, and Charles Solomon review this weekendâs new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.
Piece by Piece Wide Release The Apprentice Wide Release My Hero Academia: Youâre Next Wide Release We Live In Time In Select Theaters | Expands to Wide Release October 18th Last of the Sea Women Laemmle NoHo 7 [North Hollywood] | Streaming on Apple TV+ Food and Country Laemmle Royal [West LA] Nurse Unseen Laemmle Glendale In Her Place Streaming on Netflix | In Select Theaters Dusty & Stone Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] | Laemmle Royal [West LA] Lonely Planet Streaming on Netflix Mad About the Boy: The NoĂ«l Coward Story In Select Theaters & VOD Terrifier 3 In Select Theaters Caddo Lake Streaming on Max -
Referred to by Vulture as a box office âMega Flop(olis),â Francis Ford Coppolaâs decades-long project didnât have an ideal opening, making $4,000,000 domestically across 1,854 theaters. Coppola, now 85 years old, hasnât gotten much love from audiences for the film, although one sequence has become the subject of many online memes. Megalopolis also arrives at a time when advertisements for the 94-year-old Clint Eastwoodâs new film, Juror #2, are set to release in November. Both filmmakers have extensive filmographies, including some hits and misses, but are their new projects resonating as much as prior works? How are they faring compared to longtime auteurs like Martin Scorsese and Michael Mann? We talk to FilmWeek critics Tim Cogshell and Wade Major about whether these filmmakers are still resonating with audiences, and what challenges they face with making films in their twilight years.
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Daniel Day-Lewis is coming out of retirement, seven years after his last movie, for a film directed by his son Ronan Day-Lewis. The project was announced Tuesday by Focus Features and Plan B, who are partnering on âAnemone.â The film, Ronan Day-Lewisâ directorial debut, will star his father along with Sean Bean and Samantha Morton. The two Day-Lewises co-wrote the film. Earlier Tuesday, Daniel Day-Lewis and Bean were spotted driving a motorbike through Manchester, England, stoking intrigue about his impending return to acting. After making Paul Thomas Andersonâs 2017 film âPhantom Thread,â the 67-year-old said he was quitting acting. Given Day-Lewisâs decades-long filmography, and 3 Academy Awards to his name, we thought itâd be good to look back at his legacy to help contextualize how significant his contributions have been.
With files from the Associated Press
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Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Lael Loewenstein and Claudia Puig review this weekendâs new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.
Joker:Folie a Deux Wide Release
The Outrun In Select Theaters
Blink In Select Theaters
Stripped For Parts: American Journalism On The Brink Laemmle Royal [West LA]
Daytime Revolution In Select Theaters One Night Only on October 9th [Wednesday]
The Problem with People Laemmle Royal [Sawtelle]
White Bird In Select Theaters
Guests:
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Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Charles Solomon, Christy Lemire and Andy Klein review this weekendâs new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.
Megalopolis Wide Release
The Wild Robot Wide Release
Saturday Night AMC Burbank 16 + AMC Burbank Town Center 6 | Expands October 11th
Lee In Select Theaters
Sleep Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA] + Available on VOD
Amber Alert Laemmle Royal [West LA]
Rez Bell Streaming on Netflix
Girls Will Be Girls Landmarkâs Nuart Theatre [West LA] | Expands October 4th to Laemmle Glendale [Glendale]
All Shall Be Well Laemmle Royal [West LA]
Haunted Heart Laemmle Monica Center [Santa Monica] + Available on VOD
House of Spoils Streaming on Amazon Prime
Art Dealers Lumiere Music Hall + VOD on Oct. 1
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Having done film criticism for decades, it was around the early points of the COVID-19 pandemic that film critic and historian Carrie Rickey decided to take up the task of outlining the life of beloved director, Agnes Varda. In A Complicated Passion: The Life and Work of AgnĂšs Varda, Rickey looks at not just Vardaâs filmography, but also how she became such a public-facing individual who embodied the politics she preached in interviews and on the big screen. Writing about the work that went into making great films like Cleo from 5 to 7, how she became a notable part of Franceâs feminist movement, and the friendships that made her known as a beloved socialite. So for this weekâs FilmWeek feature, we speak to film critic and historian Carrie Rickey about her new book, A Complicated Passion: The Life and Work of AgnĂšs Varda.
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