Larry is joined by KPCC film critics Claudia Puig and Peter Rainer to discuss this week’s new films, including The Dictator, Battleship, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Mansome and more. TGI-FilmWeek!
GUESTS
Claudia Puig, film critic for KPCC and USA Today
Peter Rainer, film critic for KPCC and The Christian Science Monitor
FILMS REVIEWED
The Dictator
A totalitarian ruler comes to the United States.
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris and John C. Reilly
Written by: Baron Cohen, Alec Berg, David Mandel and Jeff Schaffer
Directed by: Larry Charles
R
Paramount Pictures
Battleship
The U.S. Navy fights in a global effort against invading aliens.
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Brooklyn Decker, Alexander Skarsgard and Rihanna
Written by: Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber
Directed by: Peter Berg
PG-13
Universal Pictures
What to Expect When You’re Expecting
Five couples must face impending parenthood.
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks and Chace Crawford
Written by: Shauna Cross and Heather Hach
Directed by: Kirk Jones
PG-13
Lionsgate
A Bag of Hammers
Two grifters reconsider their line of work after taking in a young boy.
Starring: Jason Ritter, Jake Sandvig and Rebecca Hall
Written by: Sandvig and Brian Crano
Directed by: Crano
Not rated
MPI Media Group
Hysteria
A young doctor treats hysterical women in Victorian London.
Starring: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hugh Dancy, Jonathan Pryce and Felicity Jones
Written by: Jonah Lisa Dyer, Stephen Dyer and Howard Gensler
Directed by: Tanya Wexler
R
Sony Pictures Classics
Polisse
Child-protection police officers in Paris deal with the pressures from their line of work.
Starring: Karin Viard, Marina Fois and Nicolas Duvauchelle (doo-VOH-shel)
Written by: Maiwenn and Emmanuelle Bercot
Directed by: Maiwenn
Not rated
Sundance Selects
Grand Illusion
A group of French POWs in World War I.
Starring: Jean Gabin, Dita Parlo and Pierre Fresnay
Written by: Charles Spaak and Jean Renoir
Directed by: Jean Renoir
Not rated
Rialto Pictures
Mansome
An exploration of how grooming and appearance factor into being a man.
Starring: Will Arnett, Jason Bateman
Directed by: by Morgan Spurlock
PG-13
Paladin
The Samaritan
A former grifter tries to turn a new leaf, but faces temptation.
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Luke Kirby and Ruth Negga
Written by: Elan Mastai and David Weaver
Directed by: Weaver
Not rated
IFC Films