As we enter the second half of the year, and the 4th of July weekend, our critics Manuel Betancourt and Lael Loewenstein will take some time to recap what’s been released this year so far and talk about their favorite films that have been released as of now.

As we enter the second half of the year, and the 4th of July weekend, our critics <a href="https://laist.com/people/manuel-betancourt">Manuel Betancourt</a> and <a href="http://www.lafca.net/members/lael_loewenstein.html">Lael Loewenstein</a> will take some time to recap what&rsquo;s been released this year so far and talk about their favorite films that have been released as of now.

FilmWeek on AirTalk, hosted by Larry Mantle, is a one-hour weekly segment devoted to films. It offers reviews of the week's new movies, interviews with filmmakers, and discussions on various aspects of the industry.

Reviews of the week's new movies, interviews with filmmakers, and discussion.

FilmWeek

Feature: FilmWeek critics share their top picks for 2025 so far

The topic: 

Tim Curry, a character actor who created a gallery of delicious, very loony villains for stage and screen, including Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the smug concierge in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, has died. He was 80. Larry Mantle and our FilmWeek critics remember some of Curry’s most iconic roles on the screen and on the stage.

The critics: 

Lael Loewenstein, film critic for LAist

Charles Solomon, film critic for LAist, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine

Katie Walsh, film critic for LAist, the Tribune News Service and L.A. Times

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic:&nbsp;
Tim Curry, a character actor who created a gallery of delicious, very loony villains for stage and screen, including Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the smug concierge in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, has died. He was 80. Larry Mantle and our FilmWeek critics remember some of Curry&rsquo;s most iconic roles on the screen and on the stage.
The critics:&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.lafca.net/members/lael_loewenstein.html">Lael Loewenstein</a>, film critic for LAist
<a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/critic/charles-solomon/movies">Charles Solomon</a>, film critic for LAist, <a href="http://www.animationscoop.com/">Animation Scoop</a> and <a href="http://www.animationmagazine.net/">Animation Magazine</a>
<a href="https://linktr.ee/katiewalshstx">Katie Walsh</a>, film critic for LAist, the Tribune News Service and L.A. Times
Visit <a href="http://www.preppi.com/LAist" data-stringify-link="http://www.preppi.com/LAist" data-sk="tooltip_parent">www.preppi.com/LAist</a> to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

Feature: Remembering Tim Curry

FilmWeek (cont'd)

The topic:

Larry Mantle and this week’s critics review the long-awaited Coyote vs. Acme, starring Wile E. Coyote and the other Looney Tunes. They’ll also talk about Ridley Scott’s newest sci-fi movie The Dog Stars starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin.

The films:

Coyote vs. Acme, Wide Release

The Dog Stars ,Wide Release

Finding Emily, Wide Release

The Last Blossom, In Select Theaters 

The Marching Band, Laemmle Royal [West LA], Laemmle Town Center [Encino], Regency Theaters [Laguna Nigel]

Dreams in Nightmares, Laemmle Glendale & AMC Burbank Town Center

Idiots, In Select Theaters

How to Divorce During the War, In Select Laemmle Theaters

The critics:

Lael Loewenstein, film critic for LAist

Charles Solomon, film critic for LAist, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine

Katie Walsh, film critic for LAist, the Tribune News Service and L.A. Times

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic:
Larry Mantle and this week&rsquo;s critics review the long-awaited Coyote vs. Acme, starring Wile E. Coyote and the other Looney Tunes. They&rsquo;ll also talk about Ridley Scott&rsquo;s newest sci-fi movie The Dog Stars starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin.
The films:
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1756855/">Coyote vs. Acme</a>, Wide Release
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21285562/?ref_=fn_t_1">The Dog Stars </a>,Wide Release
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32499466/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_finding%20em">Finding Emily</a>, Wide Release
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36639400/?ref_=fn_t_1">The Last Blossom</a>, In Select Theaters&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30327451/?ref_=fn_t_1">The Marching Band</a>, Laemmle Royal [West LA], Laemmle Town Center [Encino], Regency Theaters [Laguna Nigel]
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32765596/?ref_=fn_t_1">Dreams in Nightmares</a>, Laemmle Glendale &amp; AMC Burbank Town Center
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6628920/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_idiots">Idiots</a>, In Select Theaters
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29009930/?ref_=fn_t_1">How to Divorce During the War</a>, In Select Laemmle Theaters
The critics:
<a href="http://www.lafca.net/members/lael_loewenstein.html">Lael Loewenstein</a>, film critic for LAist
<a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/critic/charles-solomon/movies">Charles Solomon</a>, film critic for LAist, <a href="http://www.animationscoop.com/">Animation Scoop</a> and <a href="http://www.animationmagazine.net/">Animation Magazine</a>
<a href="https://linktr.ee/katiewalshstx">Katie Walsh</a>, film critic for LAist, the Tribune News Service and L.A. Times
Visit <a href="http://www.preppi.com/LAist" data-stringify-link="http://www.preppi.com/LAist" data-sk="tooltip_parent">www.preppi.com/LAist</a> to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

FilmWeek: ‘Coyote vs. Acme,’ ‘The Dog Stars,’ ‘Finding Emily’ and more!

Feature

Feature (cont'd)

The topic: 

Summer is over and school is back in session. So we thought we would ask our FilmWeek critics what some of their favorite school-set films are and what makes them so effective in bringing back those school-day memories.

Our critics' picks: 

Cooley High (1975)

To Sir, With Love (1967)

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Fame (1980)

The Last Picture Show (1971)

Carrie (1976)

The 400 Blows (1959)

Election (1999)

Booksmart (2019)

Mr Holland’s Opus (1995)

The critics: 

Peter Rainer, film critic for LAist and the Christian Science Monitor

Tim Cogshell, film critic for LAist, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com

Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

The topic:&nbsp;
Summer is over and school is back in session. So we thought we would ask our FilmWeek critics what some of their favorite school-set films are and what makes them so effective in bringing back those school-day memories.
Our critics' picks: 
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072820/">Cooley High</a> (1975)
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062376/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_in_0_q_to%20sir%20wih">To Sir, With Love</a> (1967)
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083929/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_in_0_q_fast%20tim">Fast Times at Ridgemont High</a> (1982)
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080716/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3_tt_4_nm_4_in_0_q_fame">Fame</a> (1980)
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067328/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_the%20last%20picture">The Last Picture Show</a> (1971)
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074285/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_8_tt_3_nm_4_in_0_q_carrie">Carrie</a> (1976)
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053198/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_in_0_q_the%20400%20blows">The 400 Blows</a> (1959)
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126886/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_election">Election</a> (1999)
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1489887/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_in_0_q_booksmart">Booksmart</a> (2019)
<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113862/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_5_nm_3_in_0_q_mr%20holland%20">Mr Holland&rsquo;s Opus</a> (1995)
The critics:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/critic/peter-rainer/movies">Peter Rainer</a>, film critic for LAist and the <a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/">Christian Science Monitor</a>
<a href="http://www.cinemainmind.com/">Tim Cogshell</a>, film critic for LAist, Alt-Film Guide and <a href="http://cinegods.com/">CineGods.com</a>
Visit <a href="http://www.preppi.com/LAist" data-stringify-link="http://www.preppi.com/LAist" data-sk="tooltip_parent">www.preppi.com/LAist</a> to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency.

Feature: FilmWeek critics share their top picks for 2025 so far

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