Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Claudia Puig, Peter Rainer, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases. FilmWeek also takes a deeper look into reasons for the record-low viewership of this year's Oscars, and what the Academy needs to do to pull itself out.
FilmWeek: ‘A Wrinkle In Time,’ ‘Gringo,’ ‘The Death of Stalin’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Claudia Puig, Peter Rainer, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases.
" A Wrinkle in Time " in wide release
" Gringo " in wide release
" The Death of Stalin " at ArcLight Hollywood & The Landmark Theatre
" Thoroughbreds " in select theaters (check your local listings)
" Red Sparrow " in wide release (released 3/2)
" The Hurricane Heist " in wide release
" Strangers: Prey at Night " in wide release
" The Forgiven " at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
" Tehran Taboo " at Laemmle's Town Center
" Submission " at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
" Leaning Into the Wind: Andy Goldsworthy " at Nuart Theatre
" Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Musical - Le Mouvement Final " in select theaters (check your local listings)
" King of Hearts (1966 re-release in 4K restoration) " at Laemmle's Royal Theatre
Critics' Hits
Claudia & Peter: "Thoroughbreds" & "The Death of Stalin"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPcV_3D3V2A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9eAshaPvYw
Mixed Feelings
Claudia: "A Wrinkle in Time" & "The Forgiven"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhZ56rcWwRQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIsQMp4o5j0&t=18s
Peter: "Goldstone"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvZsP581GG0
Charles: "Leaning into the Wind: Andy Goldsworthy"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAx-HsXjLvA
Misses
Claudia & Peter: "Gringo"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-bZLM3I-C0
Charles: "Tehran Taboo"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP1xOvRjU0c
Guests:
Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association; she tweets
Peter Rainer, film critic for KPCC and the Christian Science Monitor
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine
After record-low ratings for the Oscars, how can the Academy make the broadcast appeal to a wider audience?
This year’s Oscars broadcast saw its worst viewership in the history of the show, sending many in the industry scrambling to pinpoint a cause for the drop.
But what if it’s not that simple?
With a nearly 20% decline from last year’s numbers, the Nielsen results for 2018 Oscar viewers capped out at 26.5 million. But ratings for many major television events – not just the Academy Awards – have been steadily declining for years, so this isn’t necessarily an isolated incident. Causes for the downward trend have been attributed to streaming, increased options for content and a resistance to live, commercial-riddled events.
Reasons aside, this year’s viewership sparked new concerns regarding what The Academy needs to do to keep a pulse going.
What do you think needs to be done in order to make the Oscars more appealing to a wider audience? Call 866.893.5722.
Guests:
Robert Thompson , professor of television, radio and film and founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Pop Culture at Syracuse University
Joe Concha , media reporter and columnist for The Hill; he tweets