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Joshua Rothkopf

@joshuarothkopf.bsky.social

10K followers 270 following 180 posts

Film Editor, Los Angeles Times | Member, LAFCA | Vice-Chair, National Society of Film Critics | I'm watching a movie right now.

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Reposted by Joshua Rothkopf

Mark Harris @markharris.bsky.social · 4d

I saw If I Had Legs I'd Kick You at the NYFF and it's...a horror movie with laughs? The scariest comedy ever? A sweet and gentle gift to those of us who decided not have kids? A completely harrowing experience? A perfect vehicle for the phenomenal Rose Byrne? Possibly all of the above.

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · 5d

Rose Byrne should have three Oscars by now but the indie IF I HAD LEGS I'D KICK YOU is truly a moment for her. @ezwrites.bsky.social sat down with her in Cobble Hill. www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

She's used to finding laughs in catastrophe. But Rose Byrne is only now going to the edge

After stealing focus in everything from "Bridesmaids" to "Insidious," Rose Byrne unravels beautifully in "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You," a bold, career-best turn.

www.latimes.com

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · 9d

PTA finds his own beautiful way into Thomas Pynchon with ONE BATTLE — part of that is the needle drop of the year ("Dirty Work"), part is an even funnier phone argument than the one in PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE. But it's all him. @indiefocus.bsky.social ranks the 10 features. www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

All the movies of Paul Thomas Anderson, ranked from worst to best

The director's latest, 'One Battle After Another,' is now in theaters, but the career of the Valley's No. 1 filmmaker stretches over three decades. What's his best?

www.latimes.com

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · 13d

“It’s actually really nice to be here because it was another home for me. I had to appear as though I owned it — and I kind of did.”

We brought Tim Curry back to the Roxy to chat about THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, now 50. @steveappleford.bsky.social has the story. www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

Tim Curry on the sexual whirlwind of 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show,' then and now

After countless screenings, the classic midnight movie turns 50. The story of its success owes much to L.A.’s Roxy Theatre — and to the audiences who found themselves in it.

www.latimes.com

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · 14d

Spinning off from Thomas Pynchon's "Vineland," Paul Thomas Anderson’s "fun and fizzy adaptation views its Molotov cocktail as half-full," says our @theamynicholson.bsky.social in her review, a beautiful piece of writing. Make time for this one. www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

Review: The revolution gets energized in Paul Thomas Anderson's dynamite 'One Battle After Another'

Paul Thomas Anderson's brutally hilarious political thriller brings together Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro and newcomer Chase Infiniti.

www.latimes.com

Reposted by Joshua Rothkopf

National Society of Film Critics @nsfc.bsky.social · 20d

We strongly condemn the actions taken by Nexstar and Disney-ABC to pull JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE! off the air.

FILM CRITICS’ GROUPS DENOUNCE NEXSTAR AND DISNEY-ABC DECISIONS TO SUSPEND “JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!”

We, the members of the New York Film Critics Circle, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the National Society of Film Critics, strongly condemn the actions taken by Nexstar and Disney-ABC to pull “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air. For decades, our organizations have represented a profession that is enabled by the First Amendment. Kimmel’s long-running talk show promotes free speech, including when it gives film artists the chance to discuss their work. There is only one word to describe the decision by powerful media corporations to silence an individual’s perspective due to fear of repercussions by the government: censorship. This is the antithesis of the values embodied by our work. We demand a reversal of this decision and encourage our colleagues across the industry to do the same.

Reposted by Joshua Rothkopf

Los Angeles Film Critics Association @lafilmcritics.bsky.social · 20d

We strongly condemn the actions taken by Nexstar and Disney-ABC to pull JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE! off the air.

FILM CRITICS’ GROUPS DENOUNCE NEXSTAR AND DISNEY-ABC DECISIONS TO SUSPEND “JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE!”

We, the members of the New York Film Critics Circle, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and the National Society of Film Critics, strongly condemn the actions taken by Nexstar and Disney-ABC to pull “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” off the air. For decades, our organizations have represented a profession that is enabled by the First Amendment. Kimmel’s long-running talk show promotes free speech, including when it gives film artists the chance to discuss their work. There is only one word to describe the decision by powerful media corporations to silence an individual’s perspective due to fear of repercussions by the government: censorship. This is the antithesis of the values embodied by our work. We demand a reversal of this decision and encourage our colleagues across the industry to do the same.

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · 20d

Sitting for his first solo interview about his new movie ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER, director Paul Thomas Anderson chats with Glenn Whipp about fathers, daughters and fascism. A deep read on what is unquestionably the American film of the year. www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

He’s made the most incendiary movie of the year. But Paul Thomas Anderson remains an optimist

The director of "Boogie Nights" and "There Will Be Blood" returns with an angry epic about American dissent, born from grappling with Thomas Pynchon's "Vineland."

www.latimes.com

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · 26d

Toronto is finally in the rearview and @theamynicholson.bsky.social @indiefocus.bsky.social and I have our favorites from a lineup that kept us guessing. www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

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

Strong turns by Tessa Thompson, Amanda Seyfried and Jessie Buckley arrived in movies that rose to the top of a stacked slate at the Toronto International Film Festival.

www.latimes.com

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · 28d

Reserving my thoughts on THE SMASHING MACHINE for a moment, but it is a stroke of absolute brilliance to close on the Alan Parsons Project’s “Limelight,” which is the emotionally overwhelming Moroder song he never wrote. That’s 100% @bowedtie.bsky.social

Reposted by Joshua Rothkopf

Amy Nicholson @theamynicholson.bsky.social · Sep 8

A dispatch from TIFF where I've been ordering Canadianos -- not Americanos -- while watching a bunch of movies about guys gone wild, including a gasp-inducing local comedy where the director shouted an onstage apology to the mayor of Toronto. (She liked the movie!)

www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

Review: Canadian pride booms, dual Hamlets duel and Rian Johnson's knives are out (again) at a 50th TIFF

The first days of TIFF were jam-packed with Oscar hopefuls and genre thrillers: Rian Johnson's "Wake Up Dead Man," Chloé Zhao's "Hamnet" and Potsy Ponciroli’s “Motor City.”

www.latimes.com

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · Sep 7

I’ve been thinking about SIRÂT for months — it’s a movie that crystallizes my apocalyptic mood. Sitting down with its filmmaker Oliver Laxe was a pure pleasure. He’s a director who doesn’t wait for permission. www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

His apocalyptic art film 'Sirât' dances in the face of oblivion. Maybe that's why people love it

Quietly, Oliver Laxe's euphoric, shocking movie, set at the end of the world, is winning over critics and audiences alike, a hopeful sign for challenging cinema.

www.latimes.com

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · Sep 3

Lions and tigers and AI — oh my! @theamynicholson.bsky.social headed down to Vegas to catch the Sphere-ified WIZARD OF OZ. Is it the enemy? Or just a fun ride? A little of both. tinyurl.com/5emukwub

'Wizard of Oz' at Las Vegas' Sphere feels more like a ride than a movie (with Disneyland-level pricing)

The cherished 1939 fantasy has been expanded by generative AI to fit the giant parameters of the Las Vegas immersive venue. Has too much creative license been taken?

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · Sep 2

The performances of this year's Telluride were marked by a quiet, concentrated intensity — it proved to be a thrilling showcase for acting. We picked our favorites. www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

The six best performances we saw at the 2025 Telluride Film Festival

Several Oscar races sharpen into focus as the Telluride Film Festival, an annual window into the state of awards season, delivers more than a handful of stellar turns.

www.latimes.com

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · Aug 31

Chloé Zhao has the triumph of Telluride in HAMNET. Getting there was not easy. In a beautiful, intimate interview, Josh Rottenberg sat down with her and they talked about the last four years. She also told us what Ryan Coogler thinks of the new movie. www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

Chloé Zhao went through a 'very painful fire' before turning heartbreak into 'Hamnet'

The Oscar-winning filmmaker discusses her career after "Eternals," adapting Shakespeare’s family story and what Ryan Coogler said to her after he saw "Hamnet."

www.latimes.com

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · Aug 31

“People are angry. That’s what seems to define our country right now. Anger. And it doesn’t seem to be going away.”

In our exclusive #Telluride sit-down with Jeremy Allen White, the actor goes deep into his process and his own connection to Springsteen’s “Nebraska.” www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

Jeremy Allen White on becoming Bruce Springsteen in 'Deliver Me From Nowhere'

In our exclusive, the star of "The Bear" and the forthcoming Springsteen "antibiopic" speaks about his preparation for the role and his connection to the music.

www.latimes.com

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · Aug 21

Me, Jada, you, Tim and Dave

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · Aug 20

And finally, here are the 21 fall movies we're most anticipating, the ones that can't come soon enough. I asked eight @latimes.com staffers for their picks (and couldn't help including some of my own). www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

The 21 movies we're most excited to see this fall

From a Bruce Springsteen biopic to the movie version of Stephen King's "The Running Man" to the "Wicked" sequel, here are the movies to look forward to this fall.

www.latimes.com

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · Aug 20

An incredibly mysterious person,” says Zoey Deutch of Jean Seberg, whom she embodies in Richard Linklater's NOUVELLE VAGUE, a film about artists stepping into their own power. @indiefocus.bsky.social has the story. www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

She was always meant to play Jean Seberg. Now Zoey Deutch has her own 'Breathless'

Director Richard Linklater had only one person in mind for "Nouvelle Vague," his loving evocation of the making of "Breathless." Deutch went deeper than a haircut.

www.latimes.com

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · Aug 20

Mockumentary? They beg to differ. @timgrierson.bsky.social sat down with the members of Spinal Tap (who elsewhere go by Michael McKean, Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest, but not today). www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

Spinal Tap is back and ready to talk. Just don't bring up the last movie

Older, louder, though perhaps not wiser, Spinal Tap returns with a new film and some new fans you may know, including Paul McCartney and Elton John.

www.latimes.com

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · Aug 20

Our annual fall preview is live and I'm proud of the breadth of tastes of all who contributed. A brief 🧵: @carlosfilm.bsky.social sat down at El Mercadito with Tonatiuh, born in L.A. to immigrant parents and commanding in the new KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

His immigrant mother named him after a sun god. Now Tonatiuh is a breakout star

In the upcoming "Kiss of the Spider Woman," based on the stage musical, L.A.-born phenom Tonatiuh announces himself as a player to watch, with serious ambitions.

www.latimes.com

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · Aug 17

There are days on which TOBY DAMMIT is my favorite Fellini and that’s largely due to Terence Stamp, splitting the difference between LA DOLCE VITA and something much darker. One of a kind. images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5...

Reposted by Joshua Rothkopf

Katey Rich @kateyrich.bsky.social · Aug 12

Working in media these days is getting the chance to build something beautiful with colleagues you love, and then watching it get destroyed for basically no reason.

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · Aug 9

And in the fourth part of this essential series by Josh Rottenberg, he looks at the big picture and what's at stake in the largest sense. In an atmosphere of decentralized storytelling enabled by AI, what will Hollywood even mean? www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

If anyone can make a movie now, what does Hollywood still stand for?

From AI-native studios to interactive platforms, a new generation of storytellers is challenging Hollywood’s role as the center of the entertainment universe.

www.latimes.com

Joshua Rothkopf @joshuarothkopf.bsky.social · Aug 9

If you are on a crew, if you do specialized work like dolly gripping or production design or costumes or storyboarding, AI is becoming a very real factor, especially in a climate of budgetary chops. www.latimes.com/entertainmen...

As AI changes how movies are made, Hollywood crews ask: What’s left for us?

AI is supplying powerful new tools at a fraction of the cost, forcing below-the-line artists to wonder if the future of filmmaking has a place for them.

www.latimes.com