Category Archives: Reviews, previews, profiles and movie news

He never finished it in his lifetime, but Jonathan Larson’s “Tick, Tick…BOOM” might be the ultimate “Let’s put on a show!” musical. The guy whose grand achievement was “Rent,” the “musical for the MTV generation,” lays bare his struggles to … Continue reading →

He’d done a lot of TV and bit parts in movies, mostly, before Clifton Collins Jr. first popped into the public consciousness with a gripping turn as one of the murders in “Capote.” I interviewed him back then and he … Continue reading →

“Writing with Fire” is an Indian documentary of citizen journalism at its most elemental and vital. It’s about Khabar Lahariya, the Northern Indian activist newspaper wholly staffed by “lower-caste” women who teach each other the journalism basics and then go … Continue reading →

Dec 17 on Hulu, kids.

This look at TV journalism and its fashion model “stars” “chasing ratings,” notoriety and riches looks pointed, scathing and funny. “France” opens Dec. 10 in LA and NYC.

There are moments — whole stretches even — in “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” where I thought, “If I was 10-12 years old, I’d love sitting through this.” The rest of the time I couldn’t imagine anyone OVER 10 wanting to. A sometimes … Continue reading →

For his latest picture, Paul Thomas Anderson turns picaresque for an unconventional romance parked on Hollywood’s periphery, lightly dusted with glorious pieces of Hollywood lore. “Licorice Pizza,” like its title, flirts with being treacly sweet and serves up a teens’ … Continue reading →

In the interest of not discouraging a nascent filmmaker from taking on the herculean task of getting his second feature film made, let’s focus on the positives of “Autumn Road,” a belated Halloween horror story built around twins and their … Continue reading →

A pop star on her “Marry Me” (named after this very song) tour finds romance? A Valentine’s Day release.

“Just Short of Perfect” is an Around the World with Netflix romantic comedy from Brazil, a sentimental but clumsy search for laughs in pairing up a tall bombshell and an exceptionally short but rich suitor,.t. Or as they say in … Continue reading →