Today on FilmWeek Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein and Peter Rainer review this weekend’s new movie releases. We also discuss the lost legacy of movie monster maker Milicent Patrick with author Mallory O'Meara.
FilmWeek: ‘Pet Sematary,’ ‘Amazing Grace,’‘Shazam!’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein and Peter Rainer review this weekend’s new movie releases.
Tickets are now on sale for our latest FilmWeek screening: Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Boogie Nights.” Join Larry Mantle at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on July 27 at 7pm. You can buy your tickets here
- " Pet Sematary " in wide release
- "
Amazing Grace
" at ArcLight Hollywood, Cinemark Baldwin Hills, AMC Burbank, AMC Burbank Town Center & The Landmark Theater
- The Frame's John Horn interviewed one of the films directors earlier this week. You can listen to that interview here
- " Shazam! " in wide release
- " The Best of Enemies " in wide release
- " Roll Red Roll " at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
- " Ramen Shop " at the Nuart Theater
- " Peterloo " at Laemmle's Royal Theater
- " The Chaperone " in select theaters (check local listings)
- " The Public " in select theaters (check local listings)
- " Storm Boy " at AMC Universal CityWalk, AMC Puente Hills, Laemmle's Monica Film Center, AMC Orange & AMC Ontario Mills
- " High Life " at ArcLight Hollywood & The Landmark Theater
CRITICS' HITS
Lael: 'Amazing Grace' & 'Ramen Shop'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkKOIQwTiKE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmNrucfrngw
Peter: 'The Best of Enemies' & 'Roll Red Roll'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKM6fSTs-A0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v1iUSyViyo
MIXED FEELINGS
Lael: 'The Chaperone' & 'The Public'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STwiLcUMibE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN0iLUj64zs
Peter: 'Pet Sematary,' 'Peterloo' & 'Storm Boy'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XakmsXltPkA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj5h1kKjVYc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cBOvn18yeQ
MISSES
Lael: 'High Life'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WI49OA3BjU
Peter: 'Shazam!'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uilJZZ_iVwY
Guests:
Lael Loewenstein , KPCC film critic; she tweets
Peter Rainer, film critic for KPCC and the Christian Science Monitor
The beauty behind the beast: uncovering the lost history of movie monster maker Milicent Patrick
The titular creature from “ The Creature from the Black Lagoon ” is one the most memorable movie monsters in Hollywood history, but what about the woman who created the creature?
For decades, the creature’s creation had been credited to Bud Westmore, the head of Universal’s makeup department, however in reality a woman named Milicent Patrick designed and brought the creature to life. The creature, also known as Gill-man by generations of sci-fi and horror fans, was the first and at the time, only movie monster to have been designed by a woman.
Westmore, who was known to be known to be difficult, controlling, and jealous of those under him in the makeup department, struck Milicent’s name from the credits, replaced it with his own, and then fired her, rather than have her role in the movie’s success become known to the public.
Mallory O’Meara’s book “ The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick ” takes a look at Milicent’s passion for art, her resilience in the male dominated world of Hollywood and horror, and how Milicent’s work has inspired countless movies and filmmakers including Guillermo del Toro and his Oscar winning film “ The Shape of Water ”.
Guest:
Mallory O’ Meara , author of “ The Lady from the Black Lagoon: Hollywood Monsters and the Lost Legacy of Milicent Patrick ” (Hanover Square Press, 2019); she is also a producer for Dark Dunes Productions , an independent film company that makes horror, science-fiction and fantasy films and co-host of the literary podcast Reading Glasses ; she tweets