NPR Cineplexity: LA as a Character in Movies from Chinatown to Clueless

NPR's Cineplexity segment explores movies where Los Angeles itself becomes a character, beyond the film industry. Host Adrian Florido discusses with NPR culture reporter Mandalit del Barco and deputy culture editor Matteen Mokalla. Del Barco highlights subgenres: film noir classics like 'Double Indemnity' and 'The Big Sleep'; sci-fi dystopia in 'Blade Runner'; comedies like 'L.A. Story' and 'The Big Lebowski'; angsty underground films such as 'Ghost World', 'Boogie Nights', and 'Repo Man'; and period dramas like 'Devil in a Blue Dress'. She also notes movies reflecting LA's diversity: 'Boyz N the Hood', 'Straight Outta Compton', 'Born in East L.A.', 'Stand and Deliver', 'Real Women Have Curves', and 'Mi Familia'. Mokalla champions Michael Mann's 'Heat' as the quintessential LA film, citing its depiction of the city's topography and blue-gray hue. The conversation notes a decline in LA-based productions due to cheaper locations (Atlanta, New York, New Mexico, Canada, UK) and tax credits, though efforts like a national film tax credit aim to bring filming back. Mokalla highlights Aziz Ansari's 2025 film 'Good Fortune', shot across Eastside neighborhoods, as a recent love letter to LA addressing economic inequality.