FilmWeek

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 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   

It's a hard job to explain but seems to be a very easy title to get. The mysterious film producer credit used to go to just a couple people who were integral in a movie's pre- and post-production, but after the consequential Best Picture win for 1998's Shakespeare in Love, the credit of film producer became a title given to people in lieu of other forms of compensation, regardless of how much actual work they contributed to the film. This year marks the PGA's Code of Credits 25th anniversary, created in part due to Shakespeare in Love's unprecedented number of producers. While some "underserving" people may still be credited, the PGA Mark only goes to those who fit their arbitration criteria. On FilmWeek, we delve into the allusive title of "film producer" and how the credit has changed over the years with Deadline senior TV and labor reporter Katie Campione. She's the author of the piece "How ‘Shakespeare In Love’s Best Picture Win Inspired The PGA’s 25-Year Effort To Answer One Question: Who Is A Producer?" 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   

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. 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+ 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, 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   

The American Cinematheque, L.A.’s nonprofit film and culture organization, is best known for their curated screenings of cult classic films, filmmaker retrospectives, and festivals like Bleak Week and Beyond Fest. Now, through a new podcast, they are putting actors and filmmakers’ film taste to the test. Every week, artistic director Grant Moninger sits down with a director, actor, or screenwriter and asks them to put together their “perfect” film festival line-up, reflecting on the movies that made an impact on their lives. This week on FilmWeek, Grant Moninger joins Larry to talk about the podcast, his work as AC artistic director, and what programming American Cinematheque has coming up.  “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. 

Guest host Austin Cross and LAist film critics Tim Cogshell and Christy Lemire review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. Films:  They Will Kill You Wide Release Forbidden Fruits Wide Release Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice Streaming on Hulu Marc by Sofia In Select Theaters The AI Doc: Or How I Became An Apocaloptimist In Select Theaters Alpha In Select Theaters Holy Days In Select Theaters BTS: The Return Streaming on Netflix Refuge Available on Digital & VOD Wardriver Available on Digital & VOD

Project Hail Mary, Ryan Gosling’s new space blockbuster, reached number one at the Box Office last weekend. It’s the second successful book-to-screen adaptation for author Andy Weir, best known for his novel The Martian which also got a movie adaptation in 2015 starring Matt Damon. Weir helped write the screenplays for both films, which could be part of their positive reception. But, turning a book into a well-received film is no small feat, even if you have the author at the helm. Obviously, a two hour movie cannot fit everything included in a 500 plus page book. A while back, LAist host Austin Cross spoke with FilmWeek critic Tim Cogshell on AirTalk about what makes a good book-to-film adaptation. Listeners also called in to share the movies they thought adapted their source material well and the ones that got it all wrong.  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