FilmWeek LAist 89.3 | Southern California Public Radio

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Amy Nicholson and Claudia Puig review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” Wide Release
“Dìdi (弟弟)” In Select Theaters
“The Fabulous Four” Laemmle Newhall | Laemmle Town Center 5 | Laemmle Claremont 5
“Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa” In Select Theaters | Streaming on Netflix July 31
“Great Absence” Laemmle Glendale | Laemmle Monica Film Center
“Made In England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger” Landmark Nuart Theater | Laemmle NoHo 7 | Laemmle Glendale | Laemmle Town Center 5
“The Last Breath” In Select Theaters  | Available on VOD 
“Starve Acre”  Available on VOD 

It’s certainly a challenge to hit all the right notes for a coming-of-the-age film, but new films certainly have had issues in the past with folding in our new virtual-savvy lives; however Sean Wang’s feature directorial debut “Dìdi (弟弟)” manages this through inventive visuals and a great performance from the film’s teenage lead Izaac Wang. Set in the Bay Area during the late aughts, “Dìdi” follows its teenage protagonist, Chris, as he works through his growing pains as a child of immigrant parents. Joining us to discuss this seemingly personal story, and the production that went into developing it, is writer-director Sean Wang and the film’s star, Izaac Wang.

Passing the Mantle is a new podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations. In this episode, Larry and Desmond talk about their own mental health journeys and how the openness to which people talk about their experiences has evolved since Larry was coming of age.Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Manuel Betancourt and Peter Rainer  review this weekend’s new movie releases on streaming and on demand platforms.
 
“Twisters” Wide Release
“Crossing”  In Select Theaters | Streaming on MUBI August 30th
“Faye” Streaming on HBO
“Mother, Couch” Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] | Laemmle Glendale 
“Sisi and I” Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica] | Laemmle Town Center 5 [Encino]
“The Abandon” In Select Theaters | Available on VOD July 31st 
“Oddity” In Select Theaters 
“Widow Clicquot” In Select Theaters 

Serving as an unconventional addition to the action-comedy genre, Josh Margolin’s “Thelma” is a unique film that uses our understanding of age to create a heightened sense of action for tasks that many people may consider mundane. The film follows June Squibb as the titular character, who seeks retribution after being scammed out of $10,000 by a phone scammer. Using Los Angeles’s beautiful scenery, the film sees Thelma searching for the person who wronged her, all the while freaking her family out as they search for an older relative. These common issues bring an uncommon story to the screen, so joining us to talk about it for this week’s FilmWeek feature  is writer-director Josh Margolin and star June Squibb.

Passing the Mantle is a podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations. In this episode, Larry Mantle and his son Desmond, 23, go back to their teen years to talk high school and how the norms of what’s accepted — and not accepted — in the classroom have changed from the 1970s to now.
 
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.