Today on FilmWeek, Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein and Wade Major review this weekend’s new movie releases. Larry also sits down with veteran stunt performers and coordinators to talk about what makes stunt work Oscar-worthy and why the Academy hasn’t added the category yet.
FilmWeek: ‘It Chapter Two,’ ‘Linda Ronstadt: The Sound Of My Voice,’ ‘Ms. Purple’ & more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein and Wade Major review this weekend’s new movie releases.
" It Chapter Two " in wide release
" Linda Ronstadt: The Sound Of My Voice " at the ArcLight Hollywood & The Landmark
" Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! " at Laemmle's Music Hall
" Easy Rider " at Laemmle’s Ahrya Fine Arts on Saturday, September 7 at 7:30 PM
" Blink of an Eye " at Laemmle’s Music Hall
" Ms. Purple " at the Nuart Theater
" Night Hunter " at Laemmle’s NoHo & on VOD
" What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire? " at Laemmle’s Glendale
" Strange But True " at Laemmle’s Monica Film Center & on VOD
CRITICS' HITS:
Wade: "It Chapter Two," "What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire?," & "Blink of an Eye"
Lael: "Linda Ronstadt: The Sound Of My Voice," "Easy Rider" & "Ms. Purple"
MIXED FEELINGS:
Wade: "Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!"
MISSES:
Wade: "Night Hunter"
Lael: "Strange But True"
Guests:
Lael Loewenstein , KPCC film critic; she tweets
Wade Major , film critic for KPCC and CineGods.com
Veteran Stunt Performers Make Their Case For Why The Academy Should Recognize ‘Best Stunt’ At The Oscars
After more than 40 years in the film industry, stuntman Jack Gill knows a little something about taking a fall. Or a punch. Or crashing a car. And he’s one of a growing number of stunt performers and coordinators who think it’s about time that they get their due on the biggest stage of them all: The Oscars.
Jack has racked up 177 credits in his career, according to IMDB , for his work performing and coordinating stunts for several of the “Fast and Furious” films as well as others like “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” and “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” just to name a few. And for almost three of the four decades he’s been performing and coordinating stunts, he’s been making his case to The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to add a category for “Best Stunt” to the Oscars.
In a recent interview with Vulture, Gill said that at first The Academy seemed eager to help, but that their interest and willingness to meet with him has waned over the years. He argues that today, stunts and their performers are more visible than ever, given the frequency with which superhero and high-octane action movies come out these days. And some argue that if special effects get their own awards category at the Oscars, stunts should have their own category as well.
So, why hasn’t the Academy created one yet? Even Gill isn’t sure. He admits in his interview with Vulture that he’s long wondered whether the stereotype that stunt performers and coordinators are more of the blue-collar workers of the film industry and not really technicians or artists of the filmmaking craft.
Today on AirTalk, Larry Mantle sits down with Jack Gill and fellow veteran stunt performer and coordinator Julie Michaels to talk about what makes stunt work Oscar-worthy and why the Academy hasn’t added the category already. If you’re a stunt performer or coordinator, do you think there should be an Oscar category recognizing stunt performers and coordinators? We want to hear from you at 866-893-5722.
Guests:
Jack Gill , stuntman and stunt coordinator with over 40 years of experience in the film industry; he has been a stunt double for Jason Statham, Chris Evans and Dennis Quaid and his film credits include stunts and coordination for movies like “Venom,” (2018), “Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle” (2017), “Fast Five,” (2011) “The Hangover Part III” (2013) and stunts on films like “Knight Rider” (1982) and “The Dukes of Hazzard” (1979)
Julie Michaels , actor and stunt woman; her film and TV career spans more than 30 years and her acting and stunt credits include films like “Road House” (1989), “Point Break,” (1991) and “Titanic” (1997) and TV series like “Southland,” “Jane the Virgin,” and “Nashville”