The Pentagon to cut spending by $78 billion. Gang massacre stuns Redlands community. Should grown men cry? FilmWeek: Season of the Witch and Summer Wars. TGI-Filmweek! With Oscar season rapidly approaching, director David O. Russell discusses making The Fighter and director Sofia Copolla talks about her latest film, Somewhere. An Oscar nomination preview.
Pentagon to cut spending by $78 billion
It’s usually the last thing that gets cut when the feds talk about austerity measures, but now even the military is on the chopping block. The Pentagon announced plans yesterday to freeze its ballooning budget by shrinking the size of the Army and Marines and increasing health care premiums for military retirees and their families. The Pentagon says it can stop asking for annual budget increases in 2015, adjusting its spending only for inflation. Will there be more cuts to the military budget? And how will the armed forces continue to re-orient to reduce spending while still preparing to face future threats?
Guest:
Nathan Hodge, Wall Street Journal Pentagon reporter
Fatal shooting stuns Redlands community
Five high school teens were hanging out at the Cinnamon Creek Apartments when they were approached by someone with a gun who opened fire. When police arrived, they found four wounded teens. Two of them died in the hospital. Two others survived. The fifth escaped unharmed. Redlands police are investigating whether the incident is gang related or racially motivated. Crime rates are generally low in Redlands, making this tragic incident especially shocking to community members. What are police doing to respond?
Guest:
Chantal Lovell, Staff Writer, covering the story for The Redlands Daily Facts
Don’t cry for me John Boehner – really, don’t
According to a new study in the journal Science, women’s tears, turn men off. Whatever the chemical reasons behind this, women have long known that crying, especially at work, can be off-putting, to say the least. But what happens when grown men weep? We’ve seen the new House Speaker John Boehner cry numerous times in public now. On Wednesday, his chin started trembling before he even reached the podium to accept the gavel from a dry-eyed Nancy Pelosi. Dems might argue that if anyone had reason to sob that night, it was Nancy Pelosi. But she would have been crucified for an emotional display of that kind. Reactions to Boehner’s water works have been mixed. Some say the Republican’s tears are moving, authentic and show he’s in touch with the people. Others argue they’re fake, manipulative or unbecoming of a masculine leader. How do Boehner’s tears go over with you? Do you like him more or less? Is it now ok for grown men to cry? What if said man was a Democrat – say, Joe Biden or President Obama?
FilmWeek: Season of the Witch and Summer Wars
KPCC film critics Henry Sheehan, Andy Klein and animation critic Charles Solomon join Larry to review the week’s new film releases including Season of the Witch and Summer Wars. TGI-FilmWeek!
Guests:
Henry Sheehan, film critic for henrysheehan.com Andy Klein, film critic, KPCC and Brand X Charles Solomon, animation critic, author and historian for amazon.com
David O. Russell talks about directing The Fighter
Director David O. Russell’s new film The Fighter is based on the true story of boxer “Irish” Micky Ward’s struggle to win the world light welterweight boxing title despite his highly dysfunctional family. After finding some much needed stability in a new romantic relationship Ward works to emerge from the shadow cast by his brother and trainer, Dicky, a former boxer and local hero whose career was sidelined by drug addiction and crime. Russell’s previous films include the critically acclaimed Flirting with Disaster, Three Kings and I Heart Huckabees. Russell joins Larry in studio to talk about The Fighter and the Oscar buzz it’s been generating.
Guest:
David O. Russell, director of The Fighter
Sofia Coppola isn’t trying to get Somewhere
Sofia Coppola’s most recent film Somewhere follows actor Johnny Marco (Stephan Dorff), a Hollywood heartthrob that is surrounded and yet lonely as he reconnects with his 11 year old daughter (Elle Fanning). Coppola is known for her long shots and minimalist dialogue as seen in her previous films Lost in Translation and The Virgin Suicides. Is the famous father young daughter scenario at the heart of her film based at all on her real life relationship with her award winning father, director Francis Ford Coppola? Larry talks with Sofia Coppola about her latest film.
Guest:
Sophia Coppola, writer and director of Somewhere
And the nominees are…
It is the season that falls between Winter and Spring – Award Season. Larry and the critics look at the films that have been nominated for Guild, Globe and Spirit awards, talk short lists for the Oscars and make fun of those that love to make fun - the Razzies. The King is speaking, the Swan is dancing, the Titans are clashing and the critics are weighing in.
Guests:
Henry Sheehan, film critic for henrysheehan.com
Andy Klein, film critic, KPCC and Brand X
Charles Solomon, animation critic, author and historian for amazon.com
Here are their top picks for 2010 - In no particular order:
Henry
Alamar
Black Swan
Carlos
The Illusionist
Kisses
The Social Network
Soul Kitchen
Toy Story 3
White Material
Wild Grass
Andy
Black Swan
Enter the Void
The Ghost Writer
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hot Tub Time Machine
Inception
Mother
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Secret in Their Eyes
The Social Network
Charles
How to Train Your Dragon
The Illusionist
The King's Speech
Neon Genesis Evangelion Movie 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone
Toy Story 3