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Only good movies
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Your host
I’m Mark Olsen and I write about all kinds of movies for the Los Angeles Times. Nothing gets me quite as excited as being knocked out by a movie for the first time and in turn passing that enthusiasm on to readers and audiences. In short, I am a nerd turned pro.
What to expect
Because life is short, time is tight and people have more options than ever on what to watch and how to watch it, I hope you think of this as your field guide. Or as I have long secretly held the motto/worldview/motivating principle of Indie Focus to be: Only Good Movies.
This weekly newsletter will spotlight my work as well as that of my intrepid colleagues on the movie team here at the Los Angeles Times as a starting point for what’s going on in the wild world of cinema.
This will also serve as headquarters for the Indie Focus Screening Series, a year-round program that I curate and host. About once a month, we bring you a movie before it opens along with a post-screening Q&A with the filmmakers. The events are free to Los Angeles Times subscribers.
The term “Indie” in this context is intended as a catch-all, an umbrella that can cover anything from one-time screenings to wide-release movies. Is it worthy enough to me to be worthy to all of you?
Nonstop movies. Movies nonstop.
Latest Indie Focus Newsletters
Also this week: Ann Magnuson and Susan Seidelman with “Making Mr. Right,” Robert Frank and Rudy Wurlitzer’s “Candy Mountain” and a Nicole Holofcener double feature.
Also this week: GuadaLAjara Film Festival, 30 years of Giant Robot and a 35mm nitrate screening of “Blonde Venus,” starring Marlene Dietrich.
Also this week: AFI Fest rolls along, Alonso Ruizpalacios in-person for a retrospective and screenings of ‘Heaven’s Gate’ and ‘The Boy Friend.’
In Screen Gab No. 153, our resident ‘SNL’ buffs break down the series’ 1975 premiere, the creators of ‘South Park’ save a beloved Mexican restaurant and more.
Also this week: Writer-director Sean Baker returns with his Palme d’Or-winning “Anora,” and the Micheaux Film Festival lands in Culver City.
Also this week: Tarsem’s “The Fall” restored in 4K, Rita Moreno at the Academy with “West Side Story” in 70mm, and Bennett Miller’s 1998 debut “The Cruise.”
Also this week: Road movies, including ‘Paper Moon,’ ‘It Happened One Night’ and ‘Two for the Road,’ plus a Guy Maddin retrospective that includes his new ‘Rumours.’
Also this week: Francis Ford Coppola’s personal epic ‘Megalopolis,’ Johnnie To’s ‘Election’ and a live performance of Eiko Ishibashi’s ‘Gift.’
Also this week: Leonard Maltin presents 1930s Universal rarities, ‘Rhythm Thief’ restored, Haile Gerima’s new documentary and a double-bill of Alain Delon’s beauty.
Also this week: A new 35mm print of ‘Shampoo,’ a 4K restoration of ‘Paris, Texas,’ ‘Mi Vida Loca,’ a generous Beyond Fest lineup, news about Sundance and more.
