Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein and Christy Lemire review this week’s new movie releases including“Snowden,” “Blair Witch,” “Bridget Jones’s Baby” and more. Plus, we'll hear about the landscape at the Toronto Film Festival from KPCC film critic Peter Rainer, and we'll also talk about a new study that found older actors were underrepresented on the big screen in 2015. TGI-FilmWeek!
FilmWeek: ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby,’ ‘Snowden,’ ‘Blair Witch’ and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Lael Loewenstein and Christy Lemire review this week’s new movie releases including Oliver Stone’s “Snowden,” about the NSA whistleblower; a return to the woods of the found-footage horror, “Blair Witch;” plus Renee Zellweger’s reprise in “Bridget Jones’s Baby;” and more.
TGI-FilmWeek!
Christy's Hits
- " Miss Stevens "
- " Operation Avalanche "
- " Fatima "
Lael's Hits
- " Operation Avalanche "
- " Fatima "
- " The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years "
- " Cardboard Boxer "
Mixed Reviews
- Lael: " Miss Stevens "
- Lael: " Mr. Church "
- Christy: " Cardboard Boxer "
This Week's Misses
- Lael and Christy: " Bridget Jones's Baby "
- Christy and Lael: " Snowden "
- Christy: " Blair Witch "
- Christy: " Cardboard Boxers "
- Lael: " London Road "
Guests:
Christy Lemire , Film Critic for KPCC and Host of YouTube’s “ What the Flick? ;” she tweets from
Lael Loewenstein , Film Critic for KPCC
Toronto Film Fest in full swing with ‘La La Land,’ ‘Loving’ and more
Dazzling contenders for the 2017 Oscar season are screening this week at the Toronto International Film Festival. "La La Land," a romance musical set in fair Los Angeles starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, wowed critics.
In the drama category, "Manchester by the Sea" from Kenneth Lonergan and "The Birth of a Nation" from Nate Parker confirmed solid expectations.
KPCC film critic Peter Rainer joins "AirTalk" from Toronto to fill in details on these films and more including "Loving," "Nocturnal Animals," and "Julieta."
Guest:
Peter Rainer , Film Critic for KPCC and the Christian Science Monitor
The ‘endangered species’ of Hollywood
Silver hair is underrepresented on the silver screen.
According to a new study released Tuesday, only 11 percent of over 4,000 speaking characters in last year’s top 100 U.S. films were 60 or older. Seniors were leads or co-leads in just 10 of these roles. Within this fraction of seniors, the representation was problematic across the board – from race (82% white), to gender (72% male) to LGBT status (2 characters were coded as gay).
And respecting elders wasn’t in the cards either. Over half the films that did feature a senior character included ageist dialogue. This came in a variety of flavors, including barbs regarding physicality (“Careful. You’ll never get back up again.”) and cognition (“Wow, what was your major? Do you remember?”).
So do you think elders are an “endangered species” in Hollywood? How would you want to see seniors portrayed in movies? And what are your favorite movies starring characters and actors over 60?
Guests:
Christy Lemire , Film Critic for KPCC and Host of YouTube’s “ What the Flick? ;” she tweets from
Lael Loewenstein, Film Critic for KPCC