Today on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Claudia Puig, Justin Chang and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases. We also discuss the history of African-Americans in Hollywood with film historian and author Donald Bogle.
FilmWeek: ‘Pokémon Detective Pikachu,’ ‘The Hustle,’ ‘Tolkien’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Claudia Puig, Justin Chang and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases.
- " Pokémon Detective Pikachu " in wide release
- " Tolkien " in wide release
- " The Hustle " in wide release
- " Non-Fiction " at Laemmle’s Royal & Arclight Hollywood
- " Poms " in wide release
- " The Biggest Little Farm " at the The Landmark & Arclight Hollywood
- " Black Mother " at the Laemmle Music Hall
- " El Chicano " in wide release
- " Rafiki " at Laemmle’s Glendale & Laemmle’s Royal
CRITICS' HITS
Justin: 'Non-Fiction.' & 'Black Mother'
Claudia: 'Rafiki'
Charles: 'The Biggest Little Farm'
MIXED FEELINGS
Justin: 'Pokémon Detective Pikachu' & 'Wine Country'
Claudia: 'El Chicano'
Charles: 'Tolkien'
MISSES
Claudia: 'The Hustle' & 'Poms'
Guests:
Claudia Puig , film critic for KPCC and president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA); she tweets
Justin Chang , film critic for KPCC and the Los Angeles Times; he tweets
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine
Hollywood Black and the Silver Screen: A history of African-American actors and filmmakers
Author Donald Bogle’s new book, " Hollywood Black: The Stars, the Films, the Filmmakers ", tells the history of African-Americans in cinema, both in front of the camera and behind it.
In the book, Bogle covers every seminal moment in black film history, from Hattie McDaniel’s Oscar win for Gone With The Wind to last year’s groundbreaking blockbuster Black Panther , while also delving into the lesser told stories of people like silent filmmaker Oscar Micheaux and blacksploitation star Tamara Dobson.
Though Hollywood Black celebrates the myriad achievements by African-Americans in the film industry, it also delves into challenges that have plagued them from silent film era to today, like the lack of backstory often given to black characters, and how African-Americans have often been relegated to supporting roles as helpers to white protagonists.
Are you an African-American actor or filmmaker? We’d love to hear your questions and comments at 866-893-5722
Guests:
Donald Bogle , film historian and author of nine books; his latest is “ Hollywood Black ” (Running Press Adult, 2019)
Tim Cogshell , film critic for KPCC, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com ; he tweets