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Only good movies
Get the Indie Focus newsletter, Mark Olsen's weekly guide to the world of cinema.
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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: The premiere of a documentary tribute to former Times critic Kevin Thomas, ‘Wages of Fear’ in 4K, plus new releases ‘Nickel Boys’ and ‘The Brutalist.’
Also this week: A Jacques Audiard retrospective, Diahann Carroll in ‘Claudine’ in 4K, Clea DuVall’s ‘Happiest Season’ and the 60th anniversary of ‘The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.’
Also this week: David Chase’s “Not Fade Away” in 35mm black and white, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” in I.B. Technicolor and a Pablo Larraín triple-bill.
Also this week: John Waters’ “Female Trouble’ as new holiday classic, Robert Altman’s “Ready to Wear” in 35mm and Gary Cooper’s ultra-rare 1930 “The Spoilers.”
Also this week: Tributes to Kris Kristofferson continue with ‘A Star Is Born’ in 35mm, a celebration of the unique writer and performer Zoë Lund, and China’s ‘Black Dog.’
Also this week: Pamela Anderson presents ‘The Misfits,’ 10 years of David Wain’s ‘They Came Together’ and a Kris Kristofferson tribute double-bill.
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.
