FilmWeek

Latest Episodes:

What makes Michael Mann’s Collateral one of the best LA set films? Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

The topic:

For our most recent FilmWeek screening, Larry Mantle and critics Tim Cogshell and Claudia Puig traveled down to Santa Ana to the Frida Cinema for Michael Mann’s 2004 neo-noir thriller Collateral. The critics, along with special guest Barry Shabaka Henley, who plays the jazz club owner Daniel in the film, discuss the movie’s impact, its portrayal of Los Angeles, and the great acting by co-leads Jamie Foxx and a rare villainous Tom Cruise.

The panel:

Tim Cogshell, film critic for LAist, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com

Claudia Puig, film critic for LAist and program director for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Barry Shabaka Henley, film and television actor who plays the character Daniel in Collateral

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.

FilmWeek: ‘By Any Means,’ ‘The Sun Never Sets,’ ‘Onslaught’ and more! Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

The topic:

Larry Mantle and film critics Peter Rainer and Manuel Betancourt discuss this week's biggest releases, including the quiet but sweet romantic drama The Sun Never Sets starring Dakota Fanning and Jake Johnson set in Anchorage, Alaska, and Mariannne Elliott’s feature directorial debut The Salt Path starring Gillian Anderson.

The films:

By Any Means, Wide Release

The Sun Never Sets, Wide Release

Mayday, Apple TV+

Onslaught, Wide Release

Filipiñana, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] & Laemmle Glendale

Boorman and the Devil, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]

Virginia Woolf's Night & Day, In Select Theaters

The Salt Path, In Select Theaters

The critics:

Peter Rainer, film critic for LAist and the Christian Science Monitor

Manuel Betancourt, film critic for LAist and interim editor of Documentary Magazine

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.

Feature: Remembering Tim Curry Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

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.

FilmWeek: ‘Coyote vs. Acme,’ ‘The Dog Stars,’ ‘Finding Emily’ and more! Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

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.

Feature: It’s back to school! Our critics share their favorite school-set flicks Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

The topic:

Summer is over and school is back in session. So we thought we would ask our FilmWeek critics what some of their favorite school-set films are and what makes them so effective in bringing back those school-day memories.

Our critics' picks:

Cooley High (1975)

To Sir, With Love (1967)

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Fame (1980)

The Last Picture Show (1971)

Carrie (1976)

The 400 Blows (1959)

Election (1999)

Booksmart (2019)

Mr Holland’s Opus (1995)

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.

FilmWeek: ‘Insidious: Out of the Further,’ ‘It Ends,’ ‘Mutiny’ and more! Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

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.

Feature: Directors Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio on their Emmy-nominated Mel Brooks documentary Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

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.

FilmWeek: ‘The End of Oak Street,’ ‘Don’t Say Good Luck,’ ‘Late Fame’ and more! Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

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.

Feature: Why some of the greatest romance movies started as novels Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

The topic:

In a follow up to her book But Have You Read the Book?, author Kristen Lopez focuses on romance movies that were adapted from or inspired by famous works of literature. From beloved classics like Anna Karenina to modern cult favorites like Bridget Jones’ Diary, But Have You Read the Book? Romance Edition will give you the perfect reading (and corresponding watch) list for the summer.

Guest:

Kristen Lopez, freelance entertainment journalist and author of the new book But Have You Read the Book? Romance Edition

FilmWeek: ‘One Night Only,’ ‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma,’ ‘Tony’ and more! Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

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’