FilmWeek

Larry Mantle and critics Peter Rainer of the Christian Science Monitor and Scott Foundas, film editor for the L.A. Weekly discuss this week's new releases, including Apocalypto, Blood Diamond, The Holiday, Off the Black, Unaccompanied Minors, and Days of Glory.

A report detailing the effects of U.S. involvement in Iraq will be released tomorrow morning, complete with policy suggestions and advice for the current administration. According to the facilitators of the group, the United States Institute for Peace, the report will focus on topics such as security and strategic environment in Iraq and the region, political developments following the elections and formation of the new government, as well as the Iraqi economy and reconstruction. The report will be made available to the public on December 6, at 8:00 AM PST, but Patt Morrison takes an early look. * Doyle McManus, Washington Bureau Chief, Los Angeles Times * Wayne White, a former Deputy Director of the State Department's Middle East Intelligence Office. He is also adjunct scholar with the Middle East Institute in Washington D.C.

Larry Mantle and critics Andy Klein, film editor and chief critic for CityBeat , Henry Sheehan of HenrySheehan.com, and Charles Solomon, animation critic for amazon.com discuss this week's new releases, including The Nativity Story, Candy, Van Wilder Deux: The Rise of Taj, The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes, 3 Needles, The Lives of Others, Ten Items or Less, and The Aura.

Larry Mantle and critics Peter Rainer of the Christian Science Monitor and Andy Klein, film editor and chief critic for both CityBeat and ValleyBeat discuss this week's new releases, including The Fountain, Deja Vu, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Living the Dream, The History Boys, Opal Dream, Flannel Pajamas, Cautiva, and Broken Sky.

Larry Mantle and critics Henry Sheehan of HenrySheehan.com, Lael Loewenstein of Variety, and Charles Solomon, animation critic for amazon.com discuss this week's new releases, including Casino Royale, Happy Feet, Bobby, For Your Consideration, Fast Food Nation, Sweet Land, Cave of the Yellow Dog, Forgiving Dr. Mengele, Hannari - Geisha Modern, and Iraq in Fragments.

The film industry is best associated with glamour and, especially in Southern California, jobs. But a UCLA study shows that there's a smokier side to Hollywood: pollution. Turns out all the trucks, generators and pyrotechnics used in film production also generate some 140,000 tons of ozone and diesel particulates in the LA basin. Patt talks with guests about this unfortunate side effect of LA's best-known industry. * Mary Nichols, Professor of Environmental Law and Director of the UCLA Institute of the Environment * Jack Kyser, Chief Economist, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation

Larry Mantle and critics Ella Taylor of the L.A. Weekly and Peter Rainer of the Christian Science Monitor discuss this week's new releases, including A Good Year, Stranger Than Fiction, Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus, Copying Beethoven, Come Early Morning, Unknown, Climates, and Commune.

The election is over and the results are in - at least most of them. Patt checks in with those who won and lost, talks with political analysts about the exit polls and how the election outcome will play across the nation, gets a behind the scenes look at changes in store for capitol staffers, and hears a foreign view of what this is all about. * Rep. Henry Waxman (D - 30th district), Ranking member for the House Committee on Government Reform * Frank Stoltze, KPCC reporter * Karen Tumulty, National political correspondent for TIME * Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, political analyst for KNBC and senior scholar at the school of policy, planning and development at USC * Lisa Vorderbrueggen, Contra Costa Times reporter

Larry Mantle and critics Jean Oppenheimer of New Times, Charles Solomon, animation critic for amazon.com, and Andy Klein, film editor and chief critic for both CityBeat and ValleyBeat discuss this week's new releases, including Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Flushed Away, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, Volver, Shottas, Requiem, The Pusher Trilogy, Stolen, Cocaine Cowboys, and Wrestling With Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner.

Larry Mantle and critics Peter Rainer of the Christian Science Monitor and Scott Foundas, film editor for the L.A. Weekly, discuss this week's new releases, including Death of a President, Babel, Catch a Fire, Romeo and Juliet: Sealed with a Kiss, Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing, The Bridge, and Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple.