Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Wade Major, Lael Loewenstein and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases. We also remember the filmmaking careers of late directors Nic Roeg and Bernardo Bertolucci.
FilmWeek: ‘Anna and the Apocalypse,’ ‘Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle,’ ‘United Skates’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Wade Major, Lael Loewenstein and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases.
- " Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle " at iPicWestwood (streaming on Netflix starting December 7)
- " Anna and the Apocalypse " at AMC Century City & ArcLight Hollywood
- " Mirai " at Laemmle's Glendale & The Frida Cinema
- " United Skates " at Laemmle's Playhouse
- " The Possession of Hannah Grace " in wide release
- " Elliot the Littlest Reindeer " at Laemmle's Music Hall
- " Never Look Away " at Laemmle's Royal Theater
- "
Invisible Hands
" at Laemmle's Glendale
- "Invisible Hands" filmmaker Shraysi Tandon will participate in Q&A's following the 5:00 pm shows on Saturday, 12/1 and Sunday 12/2 at the Laemmle's Glendale .
- " Bathtubs Over Broadway " at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
- " Driver X " at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
- " The People's Republic of Desire " at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
- " I am Paul Walker " available on demand
- " The Great Buddha+ " at Arena Cinelounge Sunset
- " Song of Back and Neck " at Laemmle's Monica Film Center
- " Making the Five Heartbeats " at Laemmle's NoHo
CRITICS' HITS:
Lael:"United Skates", "Invisible Hands" & "I Am Paul Walker"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QboWIYgHpw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_hvZ1xafgU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eL_cLqaMX0
Wade: "Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle", "Anna and the Apocalypse", "Never Look Away" & "Bathtubs Over Broadway"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVBjPpUlQrE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfWIfwKJ7vA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCEYXnDNcrg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ7SicdfY10
Charles: "Mirai"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d-lsJZgmJs
MIXED FEELINGS:
Lael: "Driver X"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5I6SpWagHI
Wade: "The Great Buddha+" & "Making the Five Heartbeats"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttodl0-_xG0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkDF8oCX4Dc
Charles: "The People's Republic of Desire"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWdg8d18Tfs
MISSES:
Lael: "Song of Back and Neck"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdExuQbg2hA
Charles: "Elliot the Littlest Reindeer"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viUFB3Oitnk
Guests:
Lael Loewenstein , KPCC film critic; she tweets
Wade Major , film critic for KPCC and CineGods.com
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine
Remembering the filmmaking careers of late directors Nic Roeg and Bernardo Bertolucci
Earlier this week, acclaimed directors Nicolas Roeg and Bernardo Bertolucci passed away.
Nicolas Roeg, acclaimed British director who climbed his way through the filmmaking ranks, has died at the age of 90 last Friday, the cause and location were not given.He was born on Aug. 15, 1928, in London and did not attend film school, but rather worked his way up in the film industry working as a camera operator and then cinematographer on films such as “Fahrenheit 451” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”. He would later go on to direct his first film “Performance” starring Mick Jagger in 1970. Roeg would continue to direct singers turned actors such as David Bowie in 1976’s “The Man Who Fell to Earth”, and Art Garfunkel in 1980’s “Bad Timing”.
Bernardo Bertolucci, the sensual and stylistic Italian director, died on Monday at his home in Rome at the age of 77. Bertolucci films were known for their revolutionary spirit, especially the way they addressed how the world had begun to socially shift. Arguably one of Bertolucci’s most successful films is 1987’s “The Last Emperor” which won all nine Academy Awards for which it was nominated, including best picture and best director. However, Bertolucci’s best-known and most controversial film was 1972’s “Last Tango in Paris”, which some praised as pushing the boundaries of sexual representation, while others denounced it as misogynistic or pornographic. Bertolucci’s career spanned more than five decades with his first film “The Grim Reaper,” which had its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, released in 1962 to his last film in 2012 "Me and You", which he directed from a wheelchair due to his poor health and back problems.
Guests:
Lael Loewenstei n , KPCC film critic; she tweets
Wade Major , film critic for KPCC and CineGods.com
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine