@IndieFocus

I write about movies, all kinds, for the Los Angeles Times.

 Los Angeles, CA
latimes.com/indiefocus
Joined April 2009
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Mark Olsen retweeted
Los Angeles Times
@latimesOct 23
Two couples run headlong into the limits of empathy in the masterful 'Possible Love' latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

Review: Two couples run headlong into the limits of empathy in the masterful 'Possible Love'

In the wake of a catastrophic labor strike, a documentary project brings out class resentments and secret desires in Lee Chang-dong's suggestive drama.

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In the funny and sexy 'Wicker,' the perfect man is society's worst nightmare latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

Review: In the funny and sexy 'Wicker,' the perfect man is society's worst nightmare

Alexander Skarsgård and Olivia Colman play bizarro newlyweds in a naughty parable about lust, jealousy and moral hypocrisy. The characters are thin but the ideas aren't.

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'Once Upon a Time in Harlem' revives the spirit of an age over an afternoon's party latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

Review: 'Once Upon a Time in Harlem' revives the spirit of an age over an afternoon's party

Giants of the Harlem Renaissance assembled in 1972 to share their memories. As seen in this vital, long-gestating documentary, their collective energy amounted to much more.

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Hollywood never quite knew what to do with John Turturro. That suited him fine latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

Hollywood never quite knew what to do with John Turturro. That suited him fine

Stealing the spotlight in his latest movie, ‘The Only Living Pickpocket in New York,’ the quintessential indie actor reflects on a career spent following his instincts.

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Restored and fully extended, 'The Devils' is now honed to its sharpest provocation latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

Review: Restored and fully extended, 'The Devils' is now honed to its sharpest provocation

Director Ken Russell's vision represents a lusty, unencumbered perspective that found full flourish with this much-marred 1971 movie, the revival event of the year.

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The 10 biggest revelations of Nathan Fielder's new Elizabeth Holmes documentary 'You Can See Everything' latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

The 10 biggest revelations of Nathan Fielder’s new Elizabeth Holmes documentary 'You Can See...

The year's most discussable film is finally in theaters and its many bizarre surprises don't disappoint. Hold off on reading this until after you see it.

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'La Bola Negra' captures the sweep of history and the intimacy of personal legacy latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

Review: 'La Bola Negra' captures the sweep of history and the intimacy of personal legacy

Directed by the Spanish filmmaking duo Los Javis, the drama ties together three time periods to explore the history of gay male desire across nearly 100 years.

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Mark Olsen retweeted
Los Angeles Times
@latimesOct 14
In the mindbending documentary “You Can See Everything,” comedian Nathan Fielder and professed inventor Elizabeth Holmes sit in her beach house staring at each other like gunslingers. Read @TheAmyNicholson's review of the film. latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

Review: A prank comic faces down a fraudster in the fab doc 'You Can See Everything.' Who blinks...

This mesmerizing showdown is the King Kong vs. Godzilla of con artists as 'The Rehearsal's' Nathan Fielder tries to wrestle the truth out of Theranos' Elizabeth Holmes.

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Returning to Jane Austen with fresh eyes and sisterly intimacy — and no makeup latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

Returning to Jane Austen with fresh eyes and sisterly intimacy — and no makeup

Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles went boldly into 'Sense and Sensibility,' rethinking the text with director Georgia Oakley, who encouraged exploration.

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Paramount takes over Netflix's Bay Theater in Pacific Palisades, plans reopening latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

Paramount takes over Netflix’s Bay Theater in Pacific Palisades, plans reopening

Paramount Pictures is taking over the Bay Theater at Caruso’s Palisades Village, closed since the January 2025 fire, and plans to reopen it as a dine-in cinema.

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Another great month for movies in L.A. -- including ALIENS in 70mm, Ken Russell's THE DEVILS in 35mm, Charles Burnett's MY BROTHER'S WEDDING 4K restoration and the 30th anniversary of THE CRAFT. latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

The 12 movies you need to see in L.A. this month

Deluxe prints and special guests (Kurt Russell!) await at October's best screenings in Los Angeles, along with essential theatrical experiences like "Creepshow."

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Mark Olsen retweeted
Los Angeles Times
@latimesSep 28
Inde Navarrette, the Latina star of 'Obsession,' is still trying to 'feel her feet' latimes.com/delos/story/2026…

‘Obsession’ star Inde Navarrette doesn't wish for her wins — she works for them

Thanks to her role in the surprise blockbuster horror 'Obsession,' Inde Navarrette went from a relative unknown to an actor with Oscar buzz.

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10 must-see scares at the Academy Museum's killer new horror exhibit latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

10 must-see scares at the Academy Museum’s killer new horror exhibit

From Bela Lugosi’s original 'Dracula' cape to a room dripping with blood, here are the highlights of the Academy Museum’s new celebration of horror.

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"It’s a lot different than MATILDA." Danny DeVito revisits HOFFA in 70mm for Beyond Fest latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

Danny DeVito on directing 'Hoffa' and 'taking the final blow' for working people

Starring Jack Nicholson as the pug-nosed labor leader, the 1992 drama is screening in 70mm for the first time in more than 30 years at Beyond Fest.

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Mark Olsen retweeted
Jessica Gelt@jessicageltSep 20
Inside Lucas Museum's star-studded gala with Oprah, Kim Kardashian, Gavin Newsom and Mark Hamill latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

Inside Lucas Museum's star-studded gala with Oprah, Kim Kardashian, Gavin Newsom and Mark Hamill

The Lucas Museum's opening-night party was packed with as many high-wattage celebrities as your typical Academy Awards bash.

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Mark Olsen retweeted
Los Angeles Times
@latimesSep 18
The 9 best movies we saw at the Toronto International Film Festival latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

The 9 best movies we saw at the Toronto International Film Festival

Julianne Moore, Kate and Rooney Mara and Amanda Seyfried captivated in their showcases, while more young horror directors continue to rise worldwide.

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Underdogs are a film festival's best friend — especially when it's Toronto latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

Underdogs are a film festival's best friend — especially when it's Toronto

Stories about actors risking life and limb to succeed became the thematic rallying call at this year's TIFF. Some of them may be rewarded during awards season.

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Mark Olsen retweeted
Matt Brennan@thefilmgoerSep 17
I wrote this last week, before the firestorm over “NAZA” and Universal’s reported cold feet over “Musk,” both of which are discussed. I thought I’d re-share, since it’s not an abstraction: Political cinema needs defending. latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

Commentary: In defense of political cinema

It's hip to dismiss political films as a Woke 1.0 relic. But to do so overlooks the thrilling, genuinely thorny assertions contained in several of the season's best films.

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Mark Olsen retweeted
Los Angeles Times
@latimesSep 16
Who is 'Misty Green'? We sat down with Rosalind Eleazar, Toronto's breakout star latimes.com/entertainment-ar…

Who is 'Misty Green'? We sat down with Rosalind Eleazar, Toronto's breakout star

In the title role of Chris Rock's new film, the 'Slow Horses' star explores the pitfalls of Hollywood in an acting showcase that comes along rarely.

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Mark Olsen retweeted
Los Angeles Times
@latimesSep 14
Bob Mackie, legendary fashion designer known for creating sequined looks for Cher, Tina Turner and Carol Burnett, has died at 87. Read more latimes.com/entertainment-ar…
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