Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Christy Lemire, Tim Cogshell and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases. We also discuss how genre, region and the cast’s race might impact a film’s success overseas.
FilmWeek: ‘Night School,’ ‘Smallfoot,’ ‘Little Women' and more
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Christy Lemire, Tim Cogshell and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s new movie releases.
- " Night School " in wide release
- " Smallfoot " in wide release
- " The Old Man & the Gun " at the Arclight Hollywood & The Landmark
- " Hell Fest " in wide release (didn't screen for critics)
- " Tea with the Dames " at Laemmle's Royal
- "
Monsters and Men
" at AMC Burbank, Arclight Hollywood &The Landmark
- Listen to the Frame's interview with the director of "Monsters and Men" Reinaldo Marcus Green and the films star Anthony Ramos here
- "
All About Nina
" at Arclight Hollywood & AMC Sunset
- The Frame's John Horn interviewed director Eva Vives earlier this week, you can listen to the interview here
- " My Hero Academia: Two Heroes " in select theaters (check local listings)
- " Little Women " in wide release
- " Bad Reputation " at Nuart Theatre
- "
Free Solo
" at Arclight Hollywood
- You can listen to the Frame's interview with Free Solo's directors here
CRITICS' HITS
Charles: "My Hero Academia: Two Heroes" & "Tea with the Dames"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXJT4_CQOHM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HriuD7MsUak
Christy: "Monsters and Men" & "Bad Reputation"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AnpybNQ-hU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQYM-NJ0v8s
Tim: "The Old Man & the Gun" & "All About Nina"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7rlUe-Thvk&t=1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS-BYN5FC1Q
MIXED FEELINGS
Tim: "Free Solo"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urRVZ4SW7WU&t=1s
Christy: "Night School"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9QtXGirWf0&t=14s
MISSES
Christy: "Smallfoot"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBw6EvIxIS8
Tim: "Little Women
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7yNDrTgwBY
Guests:
Christy Lemire , film critic for KPCC, RogerEbert.com and co-host of the ‘What the Flick?’ podcast, available at ChristyLemire.com ; she tweets
Tim Cogshell , film critic for KPCC, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com ; he tweets
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine
Analysis of the notion that black films ‘don’t travel’
The release of “Sorry to Bother You” proved to be a domestic success, reeling in $14 million during its first month in theatres.
Yet, writer and director Boots Riley
re: the international distribution of #SorryToBotherYou :
— Boots Riley (@BootsRiley) August 4, 2018
Even tho we'r outperforming a gang of other movies, distributors r claiming "Black movies" dont do well internationally and r treating it as such. There'r films that bombed here, that theyr distributing. Let em know wsup
the film was met with resistance from foreign distributors because of the belief that "black movies don't do well internationally." Riley’s sentiment reflects the notion that movies featuring black casts struggle at the international box office.
The trope has persisted despite global success of films such as “Black Panther,” “Get Out,” and “Moonlight,” among others. For decades, European and Asian distributors have overlooked Hollywood films with non-white casts based on the justification that international moviegoers are simply not interested.
So are distributors’ expectations making it more difficult for these movies to become an international hit? Or are they underperforming because of the genre itself? We discuss how genre, region and the cast’s race might impact a film’s success overseas.
Guests:
Scott Mendelson , contributor to Forbes, where he covers the film industry with an emphasis on domestic and foreign box office analysis; he tweets
Christy Lemire , film critic for KPCC, RogerEbert.com and co-host of the ‘What the Flick?’ podcast, available at ChristyLemire.com ; she tweets
Tim Cogshell , film critic for KPCC, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com ; he tweets
Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine