FilmWeek

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 Jour...

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 wil...

“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...

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 Theat...

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. Spina...

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                     &nbsp...

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 Ang...

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                         &nbs...

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 success...

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Beandrea July and Claudia Puig review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: Caught Stealing , Wide Release The Roses , In Select Theaters The Thursday Murder Club , Streaming on Netflix Sign ‘o’ the Times , In Select IMAX Theaters A Little Prayer , Laemmle Royal [West LA] & Laemmle Town Center [...

Ron Howard's filmography is diverse, a product of a four decades-long career in Hollywood. He has directed Oscar-winning dramas such as A Beautiful Mind , audience pleasing comedies including Splash and more recently, documentaries. Yet, despite his vast filmmaking career, Howard's newest film Eden , still manages to offer something different from the director. Based on a true story, the film foll...

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Claudia Puig , Christy Lemire , and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.   Films: Honey Don’t! , Wide Release Ne Zha II , Wide Release Eden , In Select Theaters Relay , In Select Theaters Splitsville , AMC Century City|AMC The Grove KPop Demon Hunters (Sing-a-Long) , In Select Theate...

Akira Kurosawa is one of the world’s most revered directors, his films often cited as inspiration amongst other auteurs. Sometimes that inspiration has led to full-on remakes of Kurosawa’s films, such as Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest (2025), an adaptation of Kurosawa’s High and Low (1963). Other adaptations of Kurosawa’s work include Seven Samurai and Yojimbo . Kurosaw...

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: Highest 2 Lowest , In Select Theaters Nobody 2 , Wide Release Americana , Wide Release Fixed , Streaming on Netflix The Musicians , Laemmle Royal [Santa Monica] & Laemmle Town Center [Encino] East of Wall , I...

Musician Jeff Buckley’s tragic early death left many shocked. Buckley found success and critical acclaim among music industry pressures, but passed away tragically after releasing only one studio album, Grace . His haunting voice and personal lyrics continue to resonate with fans. In her new documentary, It's Never Over Jeff Buckley , director and producer Amy Berg uses unprecedented access...

Austin Cross and LAist film critics Christy Lemire and Beandrea July review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: Freakier Friday , Wide Release Weapons , Wide Release Souleymane’s Story , Laemmle Royal It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley , In Select Theaters Billy Joel: And So It Goes , Streaming on HBO Max Videoheaven , Los Feliz Theater...

The war in Ukraine started in February 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion. We watched as civilians sheltered from airstrikes and buildings became ruins in the Oscar award-winning documentary ‘20 Days in Mariupol’, just as the Russians took siege of one of Ukraine’s largest metropolitan areas. Now, three years after the Russian invasion and two years after that film's...

Austin Cross and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell , Manuel Betancourt and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: The Naked Gun , Wide Release The Bad Guys 2 , Wide Release Happy Gilmore 2 , Streaming on Netflix Together , In Select Theaters Architecton , In Select Theaters 2000 Meters to Andriivka , Laemmle Royal Georgia O'Ke...

Although nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Henry VIII in the 1966 film A Man for All Seasons , audiences now may know Robert Shaw best for his role as Captain Quint in the 1975 film Jaws . Having been released a decade later, Shaw’s performance as the grizzled shark hunter served as an important role in the Hollywood blockbuster, mixing a drunken tone with a confident look that...

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Manuel Betancourt and Beandrea July review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films: The Fantastic Four: First Steps Wide Release Oh, Hi! In Select Theaters Heightened Scrutiny Laemmle Noho July 26|Laemmle Monica Film Center Jul. 27|Laemmle Glendale Jul. 29 The Ride Ahead Streaming on PBS Last Swim Laemmle Royal [W...

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Amy Nicholson , Charles Solomon , and Peter Rainer review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms! Films: I Know What You Did Last Summer Wide Release Eddington In Select Theaters Smurfs Wide Release Afternoons of Solitude Laemmle Monica Film Center Finally Dawn Laemmle Glendale | Available on VOD Sunday Best Streaming O...

What was originally a creature feature that metaphorically gets into the horrors of nuclear bombs, Godzilla has now become a media icon that’s lasted for more than 70 years. In Steve Ryfle’s new book, Godzilla: The First 70 Years: The Official Illustrated History of the Japanese Productions, the author digs into the well-known monster's filmography and the significance each adaptation...

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 incl...

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: 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...

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.