Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Tim Cogshell and Lael Lowenstein review this weekend’s new movie releases. We also talk about a possible wane in Hollywood's big budget films with international audiences, and is Rotten Tomatoes ruining the industry?
FilmWeek: ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming,’ ‘A Ghost Story’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Tim Cogshell and Lael Lowenstein review this weekend’s new movie releases including:
- " Spider-Man: Homecoming " in wide release
- " A Ghost Story " at ArcLight Hollywood and The Landmark
The Frame host John Horn also spoke with writer-director David Lowery, you can listen to the interview here .
- " Lost in Paris " at Laemmle's Playhouse and Laemmle's Royal Theatre
- " Harmonium " at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
- " Austin Found " at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
- " Hickok " at Laemmle's Music Hall
Critics' Hits
- Lael: "Spider-Man: Homecoming" & "Harmonium"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNE0zRNyXuc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b9EJ1lInlE
- Tim: "A Ghost Story" & "Harmonium"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vb0F_CN83E
Mixed Feelings
- Tim: "Lost in Paris"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1uT5mWbpdI
- Lael: "A Ghost Story"
Misses!
- Lael: "Austin Found"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eELvf7WbCjQ
- Tim: "Hickok"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM44BpUf4pU
Guests:
Tim Cogshell , film critic for KPCC and Alt-Film Guide; he tweets
Lael Loewenstein , KPCC film critic
Is the big budget Hollywood franchise waning with international audiences?
The lifeline of big budget Hollywood franchises, often with less than stellar critical reviews, such as “The Mummy” and the latest “Transformers,” has typically been the international market, especially in China – but it seems like the appetite for these high-octane films might be starting wane abroad.
That’s the argument in David Sims’ recent Atlantic piece, “ Hollywood has a bad-movie problem .” While Chinese audiences are rescuing box office numbers during opening weekends, they’re not as enthusiastic during weekend number two and three, and that might be a bellwether for what’s to come.
So what’s changed in movie-going audiences abroad, particularly in China? Are we seeing the beginning of the end for high-budget Hollywood franchises?
Guests:
David Sims , senior associate editor at The Atlantic, where he covers culture; he wrote the piece “ Hollywood Has a Bad-Movie Problem ” and tweets
Clayton Dube , director of the USC's U.S.-China Institute; his areas of expertise include international relations and media effects and he tweets
Are the ratings on Rotten Tomatoes ‘certified fresh?'
“Rush Hour” director and producing giant Brett Ratner doesn’t think so.
“The worst thing that we have in today’s movie culture is Rotten Tomatoes,” said Ratner at this year’s Sun Valley Film Festival . “I think it’s the destruction of our business.”
The rating site was introduced in 1998, moving audiences away from the traditional 1-5 star reviews by veteran film columnists to a percentage sticker based on aggregated quotes from both critics and general moviegoers: 59 percent and below marks a film “rotten,” over 60 percent is “fresh” and anything above 75 percent earns a “certified fresh.”
While Rotten Tomatoes has replaced nuance with averages, film critics like The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw say it’s a bit of a stretch to say it’s hurting the industry. Rather, it hurts the art of conversing film, but it’s not the end all of who will go out to the theaters.
AirTalk wants to hear from you: Do you depend on Rotten Tomatoes or similar rating sites? How do you approach the reviews posted, and why? Call us at 866-893-5722.