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