An update from Haiti. Tom Campbell explains his decision to drop out of the Governor's race and into a Senate campaign. Uncertain future for a consumer protection agency. Controversy over CalPERS investments. And it's FilmWeek on AirTalk. Larry and the critics review the week's releases including The Spy Next Door, Book of Eli, and 44 Inch Chest. Later, he talks with critic Michael Adams about the his quest to find the worst movie of all time.
Haiti update from the field
Aid supplies remain scarce in Haiti after Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake, and bodies are piling up in the streets. Yesterday the International Red Cross estimated that 50,000 people were killed. Larry Mantle gets the latest news on the relief effort in Haiti.
Guests:
Steve Mathews, WorldVision Aid Worker, part of their global rapid response team
Rachel Wolff, director for international news at WorldVision
It's official: Campbell joins Senate race
Former GOP Congressman Tom Campbell pulled out of the governor’s race Thursday, announcing he will run instead for the US Senate seat now held by Democrat Barbara Boxer. In his bid for the Republican nomination for US Senate, he faces former Hewlett Packard chief Carly Fiorina and State Assemblyman Chuck DeVore of Orange County. Campbell, a social moderate, says he’ll focus on fiscal conservatism. Larry talks with Campbell about his campaign shift.
Guest:
Tom Campbell, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate
No new financial regulation agency?
Chris Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, may drop the creation of a consumer protection agency from the banking reform bill. Many of the same regulatory powers would be given to an existing governmental body, most likely the Treasury Department. Such a compromise could expedite the passage of banking reform, but would represent a major blow to President Obama's policy agenda. Will the consumer be adequately protected from future financial calamity without a dedicated agency? Or, is a reduction in bureaucracy the consumer's best protection? Is this an important truce in advancing reform or a purely political move?
Guests:
Damian Paletta, Wall Street Journal reporter
Carmen Balber, Washington DC Director of Consumer Watchdog
CalPERS corruption
Criticism is strong over the revelation that private investment funds paid intermediaries to secure business for them with CalPERS, the California Public Employees' Retirement System. An estimated $125 million was paid to the placement agents, including former CalPERS board members. The CalPERS fund manages the employments benefits for 1.6 million state and local government employees, retirees, and their families. Larry looks into the details of disclosure.
Guest:
Bob Stern, President, Center for Governmental Studies
FilmWeek
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Andy Klein of Brand X and Lael Loewenstein of Variety review the week’s new film releases, including Book of Eli, The Spy Next Door, 44 Inch Chest, and The Last Station. They will also discuss their top films of 2009 and the Writers Guild of America nominations. TGI-FilmWeek!
Andy's Top Films of 2009
1. In the Loop
2. 35 Shots of Rum
3. Red Cliff
4. Inglorious Basterds
5. Up!
6. Up in the Air
7. Hurt Locker
8. A Serious Man
9. Fantastic Mr. Fox
10. Star Trek
Lael's Top Films of 2009
In no particular order:
An Education
Hurt Locker
Up in The Air
The Cove
Ponyo
District 9
Precious
(500) Days of Summer
Amreeka
Star Trek
Guests:
Andy Klein, Brand X
Lael Loewenstein, Variety
One man's heroic (or masochistic) quest to find the worst film ever made
Usually, film critics are on the lookout for good films. Those life-affirming gems that lift us up, teach us something new, confirm our humanity. But Australian film critic Michael Adams embarked on a different quest. His mission was to uncover the worst movie ever made. For an entire year, Adams watched one terrible flick a day, including Plan 9 from Outer Space, Battlefield Earth and Showgirls. Why would anyone subject himself to such cinematic torture? Is it even possible to choose only one film as the worst ever? What’s you’re pick for the worst pic of all time?
Guest:
Michael Adams, author of "Showgirls, Teen Wolves, and Astro Zombies: A Film Critic's Year-Long Quest to Find the Worst Movie Ever Made" (It Books). He is also a film critic for Empire Magazine in Australia, as well Movieline and Rotten Tomatoes.