Podcast appearances and mentions of Larry Mantle

The topic: Larry Mantle and this week’s critics review the long-awaited Coyote vs. Acme, starring Wile E. Coyote and the other Looney Tunes. They’ll also talk about Ridley Scott’s newest sci-fi movie The Dog Stars starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin. The films: Coyote vs. Acme, Wide Release The Dog Stars ,Wide Release Finding Emily, Wide Release The Last Blossom, In Select Theaters The Marching Band, Laemmle Royal [West LA], Laemmle Town Center [Encino], Regency Theaters [Laguna Nigel] Dreams in Nightmares, Laemmle Glendale & AMC Burbank Town Center Idiots, In Select Theaters How to Divorce During the War, In Select Laemmle Theaters The critics: Lael Loewenstein, film critic for LAist Charles Solomon, film critic for LAist, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine Katie Walsh, film critic for LAist, the Tribune News Service and L.A. Times 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 topic: Tim Curry, a character actor who created a gallery of delicious, very loony villains for stage and screen, including Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the smug concierge in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, has died. He was 80. Larry Mantle and our FilmWeek critics remember some of Curry’s most iconic roles on the screen and on the stage. The critics: Lael Loewenstein, film critic for LAist Charles Solomon, film critic for LAist, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine Katie Walsh, film critic for LAist, the Tribune News Service and L.A. Times 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 topic: Larry Mantle and film critics Peter Rainer and Tim Cogshell talk about the latest installment in the Insidious franchise, and yes, they do recommend you see the preceding five films. They also discuss the documentary The Last Picture Shows, about the handful of independent movie theaters across the U.S. that are slowly dying out. The films: Insidious: Out of the Further, Wide Release It Ends, AMC Burbank & AMC The Grove Mutiny, Wide Release Memory of Princess Mumbi, Laemmle Glendale The Last Picture Shows, Laemmle Royal [West LA] Franz, Landmark Theater [Pasadena] The Magic Faraway Tree, Wide Release Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter, Streaming on Prime Video Learning to Fly, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] The critics: Peter Rainer, film critic for LAist and the Christian Science Monitor Tim Cogshell, film critic for LAist, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com 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 topic: Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Maureen Lee Lenker review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. The films: The End of Oak Street, Wide Release Don’t Say Good Luck, Streaming on Netflix Late Fame, Laemmle Royal [West LA] The Wrong Girls, Wide Release If These Walls Could Rock, Available on Digital Six the Musical Live!, In Select Theaters Union County, Landmark Nuart Theater [West LA] The Brink of War, Wide Release The critics: Christy Lemire, film critic for LAist, and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ YouTube and podcast series Maureen Lee Lenker, LAist film critic and freelance journalist formerly of Entertainment Weekly who's written for Gold Derby, The Los Angeles Times, The Hollywood Reporter, and Turner Classic Movies. She's also the author of three novels set in the Golden Age of Hollywood. 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 topic: The two-part documentary Mel Brooks: The 99 Year-Old Man! has garnered 6 primetime Emmy nominations including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special and Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program. Co-directors Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio join Larry Mantle on FilmWeek to talk about the legendary filmmaker himself (now 100 years-old) and what it was like to talk to Brooks about his generation-defining comedy. Mel Brooks: The 99 Year-Old Man! is available to stream on HBOMax. Guests: Judd Apatow, co-director and executive producer of the two-part HBO documentary Mel Brooks: The 99 Year-Old Man! Michael Bonfiglio, co-director and executive producer of the two-part HBO documentary Mel Brooks: The 99 Year-Old Man! 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 topic: Larry Mantle and the critics discuss the confusing intricacies at play in the society of One Night Only and the impressive storytelling and meta-commentary behind writer-director Jane Schoenbrun’s latest film Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. Larry also reminisces on his interview with Anthony Bourdain following Kitchen Confidential. That time in Bourdain’s life is portrayed in the new biopic Tony. The films: One Night Only, Wide Release Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, In Select Theaters Tony, In Select Theaters Ice Cream Man, Wide Release Mr. Hero, In Select Theaters Cookie Queens, In Select Theaters Olmo, In Select Theaters The Last House, Streaming on Netflix Above and Below, Available on VOD Aug 25 The critics: Amy Nicholson, film critic for the Los Angeles Times and host of the podcast ‘Unspooled’ Tim Cogshell, film critic at the Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com

Award-winning investigative journalist and George Polk Award recipient Theo Baker joins veteran public radio host Larry Mantle for a conversation on power, privilege, and the institutions that shape America's political, economic, and cultural elite.Drawing on his acclaimed book How to Rule the World: An Education in Power at Stanford University, Baker examines how elite universities cultivate influence, how networks of privilege are formed, and what these systems mean for leadership, opportunity, and democracy in the United States.  

The topic: Larry Mantle and LAist film critics review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. The films: The Odyssey, Wide Release Reading Lolita in Tehran, Laemmle Royal [West LA] The Floaters, Laemmle Royal [West LA] & Laemmle Town Center [Encino] Horsegirls, Laemmle NoHo Remake, Laemmle Royal [West LA] Sherman’s March, Laemmle Royal [West LA] Heartstopper Forever, Streaming on Netflix

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, will voters deliver a political reckoning?In this timely edition of America at a Crossroads, journalists Peter Baker and Susan B. Glasser join moderator Larry Mantle to examine the forces shaping the midterms, the stakes for both parties, and what the results could mean for the future of American politics.Peter Baker is chief White House correspondent for The New York Times and a political analyst for MSNBC. Susan B. Glasser is a staff writer for The New Yorker and author of its “Letter from Trump's Washington” column. Larry Mantle is the longtime host of AirTalk on NPR member station LAist 89.3.Wednesday, July 15, 20265:00 p.m. Pacific

The topic:Larry Mantle and LAist film critics review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. The films: Evil Dead Burn, Wide ReleaseMoana, Wide ReleaseGail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass, Wide ReleaseMary Oliver: Saved By the Beauty of the World, At Select Laemmle TheatersNight Nurse, In Select TheatersThe Isolate Thief, In Select Theaters Mockbuster, Laemmle Glendale & Available on Digital & VODThe American Southwest, Available on Digital and VODBarrio Triste, Landmark Nuart Theater [West LA] & American Cinematheque’s Los Feliz 3

Veteran diplomat and Middle East negotiator Dennis Ross joins longtime public radio host Larry Mantle for an in-depth discussion of the rapidly evolving relationship between Iran, Israel, and the United States, and what American diplomacy should look like in an increasingly volatile Middle East.Drawing on decades of experience advising both Republican and Democratic administrations, Ross examines regional security, nuclear tensions, shifting alliances, and the strategic choices facing U.S. policymakers in a changing global order.Topics include:• U.S. policy toward Iran and Israel• Middle East diplomacy and regional security• Iran's nuclear program and deterrence• American leadership in a multipolar world• Prospects for peace, stability, and future diplomacy#AmericaAtACrossroads #DennisRoss #LarryMantle #MiddleEast #Iran #Israel #ForeignPolicy #Diplomacy #NationalSecurity #CurrentEvents

The topic: Larry Mantle and LAist film critics review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. The films: Minions & Monsters Wide Release Young Washington Wide Release Romería Laemmle Glendale|Laemmle Royal [West LA] Enola Holmes 3 Streaming on Netflix Reeling Available on Digital & VOD Tues. July 7 Drunken Noodles Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]|Laemmle NoHo Lockbox In Select Theaters The Get Out Available on Digital & 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 The critics: Charles Solomon, film critic for LAist, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine Christy Lemire, film critic for LAist, and co-host of the ‘Breakfast All Day’ YouTube and podcast series Claudia Puig, film critic for LAist and program director for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival

The topic: Larry Mantle and LAist film critics review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. The films: Supergirl Wide Release The Invite In Select Theaters|Expands Wide July 10 Jackass: Best and Last Wide Release Lucky Strike Wide Release Coroner to the Stars Laemmle Glendale|Available on Digital & VOD July 14 Peter Asher: Everywhere Man Laemmle Royal [West LA]|Laemmle NoHo Animals in War Available on Digital & VOD|Streaming on Film Movement Plus Maddie's Secret In Select Theaters Woody Guthrie and The Ghost of Tom Joad Today Streaming on PBS SoCal The critics: Lael Loewenstein, film critic for LAist, 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 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 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

National security columnist and global affairs analyst Josh Rogin joins veteran public radio host Larry Mantle for a discussion of America's role in an increasingly fragmented world and the strategic challenges posed by China's growing influence.Drawing on decades of reporting on foreign policy, national security, and U.S.-China relations, Rogin examines how geopolitical competition, economic interdependence, technological rivalry, and shifting global alliances are reshaping international affairs.Topics include:• U.S.-China relations and strategic competition• Global security and shifting alliances• Trade, technology, and economic rivalry• The future of American leadership abroad• Geopolitical flashpoints and international stability

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 ReleaseRenoir, Laemmle Nuart [West LA]Scary Movie, Wide ReleaseCarolina Caroline, In Select TheatersThe Currents, Laemmle Royal [West LA]Time and Water, Laemmle Royal [West LA] & Laemmle GlendaleOffice Romance, Streaming on NetflixSavage House, Laemmle Royal [West LA]|Laemmle Town Center [Encino]|The Frida Cinema [Santa Ana]Chum, 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

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 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

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and foreign affairs columnist Thomas Friedman joins veteran broadcaster Larry Mantle for a wide-ranging conversation on global instability, geopolitical conflict, technology, climate, and the forces reshaping the modern world.Drawing from decades of reporting on international affairs and themes explored in The World Is Flat, Friedman examines how globalization, political fragmentation, economic disruption, and environmental pressures are colliding in unprecedented ways.Topics include:• Global instability and shifting world order• U.S. foreign policy and the Middle East• Technology, AI, and economic disruption• Climate change and global resilience• Democracy, polarization, and the future of leadership

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 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, 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 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 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.”

In this conversation from the America at a Crossroads series, CNN Senior Legal Analyst and former federal prosecutor Elie Honig joins Larry Mantle (AirTalk, NPR) to break down the evolving legal landscape in the United States.With deep experience in federal and state prosecution, Honig examines how recent legal battles, shifting precedents, and questions of executive power are reshaping the rule of law—and what it means for the future of American democracy.The discussion explores key questions including:• How are legal norms and precedents changing in today's environment?• What are the implications of expanding or challenged executive power?• How should the public interpret major legal developments and rulings?Offering clear, accessible analysis, Honig provides insight into the forces redefining the American legal system and the potential paths forward.SpeakersElie Honig – CNN Senior Legal Analyst and former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He prosecuted organized crime and public corruption cases and later served as Director of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice. He is the bestselling author of Hatchet Man and Untouchable.Larry Mantle – Host of AirTalk on NPR-member station KPCC 89.3 FM. Mantle has led one of Southern California's longest-running public affairs programs since 1985.Event DetailsAmerica at a CrossroadsApril 29, 2026Hosted by Jews United for Democracy and Justice

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] 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 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. 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 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 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, Beandrea July, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: You, Me & Tuscany Wide Release Exit 8 In Select Theaters The Christophers AMC Century City|Expands to Select Theaters April 17 [Next Fri] Hamlet In Select Theaters Faces of Death Wide Release The Stranger In Select Laemmle Theaters ChaO In Select Theaters The Blue Trail Lumiere Cinema Hall [West LA] Apr. 10-12 Birth of the Black Underworld Laemmle NoHo Outcome Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA]|IPIC Theaters [Westwood]|Available to Stream on Apple TV+

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. “The American Cinematheque Podcast” releases weekly on Thursdays in both video and audio formats, on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. The first two episodes are out now featuring filmmakers Edgar Wright and Mary Bronstein.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Christy Lemire, Beandrea July and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: The Drama Wide Release The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Wide Release Fantasy Life In Select Theaters The Addiction of Hope Available on VOD & Digital Our Hero, Balthazar In Select Theaters Kontinental ‘25 Laemmle Royal [West LA] John Lilly and the Earth Coincidence Control Office The Philosophical Research Society & Brain Dead Studios Palestine ‘36 In Select Theaters White With Fear Streaming on the 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 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

It’s the annual FilmWeek Oscar Preview! AirTalk host Larry Mantle and the FilmWeek critics will take us through the major races and rundown the likely winners and where we might see some surprises. Grab your popcorn and join us for this annual favorite. 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 this conversation from the America at a Crossroads series, former U.S. Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta joins Larry Mantle, host of NPR's AirTalk, to examine the shifting global landscape and the challenges facing American leadership in an era of renewed power politics.Drawing on decades of experience in national security and government, Panetta discusses how geopolitical tensions are reshaping international relations—from Ukraine and China to Venezuela and Greenland—and what these developments mean for the future of U.S. foreign policy and global stability.The discussion explores key questions including:• How is the global balance of power changing?• What challenges does the United States face in responding to rising geopolitical tensions?• What lessons from past administrations can guide today's foreign policy decisions?With insight from one of the nation's most experienced national security leaders, this conversation provides perspective on the strategic realities shaping today's international environment.

For a renowned Hollywood icon, there remains a mysteriousness to actress Joan Crawford, which is and always was part of her appeal. But in a new biography, author and film historian Scott Eyman attempts to know the woman behind the screen persona and Hollywood gossip. Through newly discovered archives and interviews with family and friends, Eyman pulls back the layers on one of films’ greatest actresses. On FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with Scott Eyman about his new book Joan Crawford: A Woman’s Face.

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: Scream 7, Wide Release Paul McCartney: Man on the Run, In Select Theaters & Streaming on Amazon Prime Billy Preston: That’s the Way God Planned It, In Select Theaters March 3 Ghost Elephants, In Select Theaters | Streaming on Hulu & Disney+ March 8 Crazy Old Lady, Streaming on Shudder and AMC+ Space Cowboy, Laemmle Royal [West LA] The Bluff, Streaming on Amazon Prime For Worse, Laemmle Royal [West LA] Undercard, In Select Theaters Dreams, In Select Theaters K-Pops!, In Select Theaters

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: How To Make A Killing, Wide Release EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, In Select IMAX Theaters|Expands February 27 Redux Redux, In Select Theaters I Can Only Imagine 2, In Select Theaters This Is Not a Test, In Select Theaters Threshold, Streaming on Peacock One Mile: Chapter One & Chapter Two, Two films available simultaneously on digital Blades of the Guardians, In Select Theaters The Dreadful, In Select Theaters Diabolic, Available on Digital and On Demand

Brazil has been a rising star in international cinema. The Secret Agent, a political thriller set in 1977 about a researcher trying to escape the country for unknown reasons, is just the latest film from Brazil to gain critical acclaim. Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho and starring Wagner Moura, the film shows the tangible and intangible effects an authoritarian regime imposes on its people. Moura's character Marcelo, spends the film in hiding under an alias as he waits for assistance to get him and his son out of the country. Moura's central performance holds audiences in the precarious situation with him. The film has been nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best International Feature, Best Lead Actor (Wagner Moura), and Best Achievement in Casting. Today on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with actor Wagner Moura about the film and its reception abroad. The Secret Agent is still playing in select theaters.

A quiet, meditative film about the Pacific Northwest’s logging and railroad industry at the turn of the 20th century is this year’s sleeper hit, accumulating four Oscar nominations including Best Picture. Train Dreams tells the story of Robert Grainier, played by Joel Edgerton, as he helps expand the nation’s railway system, clearing forests alongside nomadic characters. As the film progresses, the audience is transported to the changing landscape of the West, the visuals dreamy like sifting through memories. The film is an adaptation of the novella of the same name written by Denis Johnson. On FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with Train Dreams’ director and co-writer Clint Bentley, who is nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay alongside co-writer Greg Kwedar, and the film’s director of photography, Adolpho Veloso, who is nominated for Best Achievement in Cinematography. Train Dreams is nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Achievement in Cinematography, and Best Achievement in Music (Original Song). Train Dreams is available to stream on Netflix.

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: Wuthering Heights, Wide Release Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, In Select Theaters Crime 101, Wide Release Nirvanna: The Band–The Show–The Movie, In Select Theaters Calle Malaga, Laemmle Town Center [Encino] & Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] Starman, Laemmle Glendale Cold Storage, In Select Theaters Trango, Available on VOD on Documentary+ By Design, In Select Theaters

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Beandrea July review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: Dracula, In Select Theaters Sirāt, AMC Burbank & Landmark Nuart Theater [West LA] Pillion, In Select Theaters Jimpa, In Select Theaters Natchez, Laemmle Glendale Kokuho, AMC Citywalk [Hollywood]| Expands to select theaters February 20th A Useful Ghost, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] Queen of Chess, Streaming on Netflix Solo Mio, In Select Theaters The President’s Cake, Laemmle Royal [West LA] The Strangers – Chapter 3, In Select Theaters The Love That Remains, Laemmle Royal [West LA] & Laemmle Glendale 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. Also joining us on FilmWeek to talk about the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and some of the films being shown is program director for the festival and LAist film critic, Claudia Puig. Films: Send Help, Wide Release The Moment, In Select Theaters A Poet, Laemmle Royal [West LA] Miracle: The Boys of '80, Streaming on Netflix Pike River, Lumiere Cinema [Beverly Hills] Islands, In Select Theaters Shelter, 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 Hollywood system was never a secret, even in the Golden Age. A young girl would be discovered, plucked from a small town in the Midwest, made over to look “the part” of a movie star, and then wholly become one as one of the major studios “it girl.” Although the idea of what a “star” is has changed over the decades to reflect societal ideals of each decade, the process and effects remain the same. The same is true for the film A Star is Born, which has been adapted four times. The original was released in 1937 starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, and follows the Hollywood machine of making a movie star. Over the subsequent versions, music was introduced, first with the 1954 adaptation where Judy Garland tries to become a leading lady in a Hollywood musical. The 1976 and 2018 versions modernize the commentary by setting it in the music industry with Barbara Streisand and Lady Gaga starring respectively. These differences and what they say about each era of the entertainment industry are explored in the book “A Star is Reborn: The Most Filmed Hollywood Story of Love Found and Lost.” On FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with the author Robert Hofler. “A Star is Reborn” is on sale now.

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. And we remember the beloved animation director Roger Allers, known best for co-directing Disney’s The Lion King, and award-winning actress Joan Plowright. Films: Mercy, Wide Release Mr. Nobody Against Putin, Streaming on the Kino Film Collection Arco, AMC Burbank & AMC Century City H is for Hawk, In Select Theaters Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!, Streaming on HBO Max Disneyland Handcrafted, Streaming on Disney+ Sound of Falling, Laemmle Royal [West LA] Cosmic Princess Kaguya, Streaming on Netflix 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 new film Sheepdog was over a decade in the making. Writer, director, and star, Steven Grayhm, spent 14 years talking to veterans about their mental health struggles after returning home, and families of veterans who have taken their own lives. The film follows combat veteran, Calvin Cole (played by Grayhm), as he goes through court mandated therapy. His therapist, played by Oscar-nominated actor Virginia Madsen, is new to the job, still finishing her schooling. Madsen’s connection to the film is also a personal one. On FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with filmmaker Steven Grayhm and actor Virginia Madsen about the making of Sheepdog and their respective emotional connections to the film. Sheepdog is playing 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

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: 28 Years Later: the Bone Temple, Wide Release The RIP, Streaming on Netflix Night Patrol, In Select Theaters The Shadow of the Sun, Laemmle Glendale Young Mothers, Laemmle Royal [West LA] A Private Life, Laemmel Royal [West LA], AMC Burbank, & AMC The Grove Sheepdog, In Select Theaters Obex, Laemmle NoHo 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

South Korean director Park Chan-wook is considered one of living legends working today, known for his dark comedies inspired by film noir like his breakout hit Oldboy. His work also plays with shifting tones, like the paranoia and romance in the 2022 film Decision to Leave. Chan-wook’s newest film No Other Choice continues this pattern, melding the dark tone of a crime thriller with the slap-stick of a comical farce. The film stars Lee Byun-hun as a paper company employee who has just been laid off. Desperate to maintain his identity as a working man, he takes drastic measures to eliminate his competition in the job market. This time on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle speaks with director Park Chan-wook about his new film No Other Choice and how he decides what films to make at this stage in his career. Park Chan-wook is accompanied by his interpreter Jiwoon Lee. You can see No Other Choice 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

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Lael Loewenstein and Beandrea July review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. And we remember Hungarian filmmaker Béla Tarr. Films: Dead Man's Wire, AMC Burbank & AMC Grove|Expands Jan. 16 Greenland 2: Migration, Wide Release I Was a Stranger, In Select Theaters All That's Left of You, Laemmle Royal [West LA] The Mother and the Bear, Laemmle Glendale Homegrown, Available on VOD The Forgotten Occupation, Lumiere Cinema [West LA] Jan 10 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 Amy Nicholson and Manuel Betancourt review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: Marty Supreme Wide Release Song Sung Blue Wide Release No Other Choice In Select Theaters|Expands January The Testament of Ann Lee In Select Theaters|Expands January Anaconda Wide Release The Plague At Select Laemmle Theater locations|Expands Wide Jan 2 Goodbye June Streaming on Netflix Father Mother Sister Brother Landmark Nuart Theater [West LA]|Expands Jan. 9 The Choral AMC Burbank & Laemmle Royal [West LA]|Expands to select theaters Jan. 15

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell, Peter Rainer, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: Avatar: Fire and Ash, Wide Release The Housemaid, Wide Release The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, Wide Release Is This Thing On?, In Select Theaters The Voice of Hind Rajab, Laemmle Royal [West LA] David, Wide Release Franz, Laemmle Monica [Santa Monica] All Operators are Currently Unavailable, Laemmle NoHo Breakdown: 1975, Streaming on Netflix Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately?, Streaming on HBO Max 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 Beandrea July review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Pantone as a company is synonymous with our ideas around ‘color.’ They set the standard for what we expect “olive green” or “electric blue” to look like. But what about the man behind the iconic Pantone color square, each with a unique I.D. number? In the new documentary The King of Color, director Patrick Creadon focuses on the man who created Pantone’s Matching System, Lawrence Herbert. Creadon joins FilmWeek host Larry Mantle to discuss the legacy of Herbert and how a documentary about a niche subject like color matching gets off the ground. The King of Color is playing at the Regal Paseo theater in Pasadena. 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 Claudia Puig and Tim Cogshell review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: Five Nights at Freddy's 2, Wide Release The Secret Agent, AMC Century City 100 Nights of Hero, Wide Release Fackham Hall, Wide Release The Chronology of Water, Laemmle Royal [West LA] Cutting Through Rocks, Laemmle Royal [West LA]; Laemmle Town Center [Encino] Zodiac Killer Project, Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA]; Laemmle Glendale The Tale of Silyan, Laemmle Monica Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution, Wide Release Man Finds Tape, Alamo Drafthouse [DTLA]; Available on VOD The New Yorker at 100, Streaming on Netflix 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