Too-Insidery 'Razzle' Sadly Doesn't DazzleNew York Post theater columnist Michael Riedel proffers anecdote after juicy backstage anecdote in Razzle Dazzle, which is just what you'd expect from Broadway's most venomous observer. Oddly, though, he doesn't bother proffering them until roughly… Oct 04 15October 04, 2015Article at NPR.org
'More Fool' Fry: Comedian's New Memoir Misses The MarkLet us stipulate at the outset that at 57 Stephen Fry is a world-class wit, unquestionably a learned fellow and surely a decent one — because really, anyone of whom Emma Thompson is that fond can't be entirely irredeemable, can he? That said, the… Jun 13 15June 13, 2015Article at NPR.org
'Millionaire' Tracks One Man's Fruitful Obsession With The Bard Of AvonSenators beelining for roll call at the U.S. Capitol, protesters brandishing signs on the Supreme Court sidewalk, guides mama-ducking tourists past the Beaux-Arts splendor of the Library of Congress — they don't always stop to note the elegant Art… May 14 15May 14, 2015Article at NPR.org
Twins Or 'Enemy' — And What Could It All Mean?Enemy Rated R for strong sexual content, graphic nudity and language (Recommended) Strange and stylish and surpassingly dark, Denis Villeneuve's Enemy — especially paired with the same director's recent cop thriller Prisoners — makes a strong case… Mar 13 14March 13, 2014Article at NPR.org
'Particle Fever': Thrills, Chills And High Subatomic DramaParticle Fever (Recommended.) All you really need to know about Particle Fever is that it includes footage of physicists rapping. About physics. Wearing giant Einstein masks. It's that blend of earnestness and abandon that informs Mark Levinson's… Mar 07 14March 07, 2014Article at NPR.org
'12 Years A Slave,' 'Gravity' Win Big At The OscarsAfter several days of heavy rain in Los Angeles, the sun came out just as the 86th annual Academy Awards got underway at the Dolby Theater. The big award of the night, for Best Picture, went to 12 Years a Slave. The film tells the harrowing tale of… Mar 02 14March 02, 2014Article at NPR.org
'Kids For Cash,' Or Perhaps Not — But A Broken System For SureKids for Cash Rated PG-13 for some thematic material and language (Recommended) There's a moment, toward the end of the documentary that centers on him, when Judge Mark A. Chiavarella breaks down, his voice cracking as he mourns the likelihood that… Feb 28 14February 28, 2014Article at NPR.org
Clip Job: 'Five Dances,' One Sweetly Moving RomanceFive Dances might be the least talky movie I've seen in months — but it's plenty expressive. What it says, it says silently, or at least nonverbally, in the music-and-movement language of Jonah Bokaer's haunting choreography, which speaks of solitary… Oct 04 13October 04, 2013Article at NPR.org
Don't Worry, Kids, These (Sex) Addicts Are All RightThanks for Sharing Rated R for for language and some strong sexual content Somewhere between Tim Robbins' angry assumption about his wife's pain pills and Pink's ecstatic-dance excursion with the guy from Book of Mormon, I realized that the… Sep 19 13September 19, 2013Article at NPR.org
When A 'Total Eclipse' Leads To Some Serious ExposureThis is a video in which the actress and musical impressionist Christina Bianco turns a New York City nightclub crowd out. No, seriously, they are all her punks now. So this here "Total Eclipse of the Heart" video has blown the heck up, tallying a… Aug 14 13August 14, 2013Article at NPR.org
Guy Pearce, We Are Pleased To Find You Looking Vaguely Disreputable In 'Jack Irish'With Linda still out at the TCA gathering, TV is much on our minds. And as she noted yesterday, there's a whole big conversation going on about the newer modes of consuming what we still, for lack of a better word, generally call… Aug 03 13August 03, 2013Article at NPR.org
Coffee Break: The Get Your 'Mary Poppins' Groove On Edition* Having seen Cate Blanchett's electric Blanche DuBois, and had a public pretend-squabble with our own Bob Mondello about it, I felt like I was all up in Charles McNulty's head when I read his take on Blue Jasmine. [The Los Angeles Times] * Long… Aug 01 13August 01, 2013Article at NPR.org
Coffee Break: People Arguing And Counting And Singing And Getting Gassed Edition* If you're anywhere near Winston-Salem, please note that Tonya Pinkins, whose chops are so considerable that I don't entirely know where to start with her amazingness, so just Google her, is in cabaret thereabouts, as part of the biennial National… Jul 31 13July 31, 2013Article at NPR.org
Coffee Break: Of Weddings And Looming Parental Mortality And GermanNo, it's not Morning Shots today. Some of us just really aren't morning people. (What, breakfast is the only time you caffeinate?) Without further ado: * Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita got married, and a lot of stars were there, which is nice… Jul 22 13July 22, 2013Article at NPR.org
In Which We Consider 'Turbo,' But Do Not Quite Write A Review Of ItWhen I was passing out assignments for this week's movie reviews, I noticed that none of my critics had raised a hand to bid for Turbo -- you know, the DreamWorks animated comedy about a sheltered suburban garden snail who dreams of racing in the… Jul 19 13July 19, 2013Article at NPR.org
Morning Shots: Not One But Two Bits Of Shark NewsIt is with some joy, and also a little trepidation, that the entire Monkey See family welcomes the news that Sharknado 2 is a thing that will happen. Because really, is that singular Sharknado lightning terribly likely to strike twice? On the other… Jul 17 13July 17, 2013Article at NPR.org
Morning Shots: In Which Kristin Wiig Gets Very SillyKristin Wiig will be in the NPR house today to talk about her film Girl Most Likely. I'm very much hoping that last night's Michael Jordan impression will be mentioned, at least in the hallways, because lord knows it's all over the social medias… Jul 16 13July 16, 2013Article at NPR.org
Morning Shots: The Does Your Garden Make You Think Of Carrion? EditionIn London, they're breathlessly anticipating a royal bundle of joy. Here in the capital of the former colonies, we await the blooming of a gigantic flower that smells like rotting meat. Because that's how we do. [The Washington Post] There's been… Jul 15 13July 15, 2013Article at NPR.org
'Terms And Conditions' And Us — Oh, My ...I'm 45, single, substantially in debt and way too susceptible to jokes about redheads. And I'm telling you these things upfront because ... why not? It wouldn't be all that hard for you — or your Big Brother — to find out. That at least is the… Jul 11 13July 11, 2013Article at NPR.org
Teens Find The Right Tools For Their Social-Media JobsOnce upon a time, it was MySpace. (Huh. Turns out you can still link to it.) Then Facebook happened. And Twitter. And beyond those two dominant social-media platforms, there are a host of other, newer options for staying in touch and letting the… Jun 17 13June 17, 2013Article at NPR.org
