Filmmakers, like humanity in general, have long been obsessed with death – and why wouldn’t they be? The construct is simultaneously universal and intensely personal, terrifying and exciting, certain and unknown. These bipolarities make for good theater. But for as frequently as The End is dramatized on the silver-screen, the years leading up to it […]
Reviews by Request: “Make Way for Tomorrow” (1937) Read More »
In the age of viral Internet marketing and 30-second TV spots, audience appraisals that a film “didn’t live up to expectations” usually imply that said film wasn’t as good as its advertising campaign. But what about the expectations established within the film itself? It’s hard not to watch the opening scenes of “The Hunter” with
Blu-Ray Review: “The Hunter” Read More »
Andy Griffith, the actor most famous for playing a small-town sheriff on the appropriately titled “The Andy Griffith Show,” died Tuesday at his home on Roanoke Island, N.C. He was 86. “The Andy Griffth” show ran for eight years, from 1960-1968, and 249 episodes – an almost unthinkable amount by today’s standards. It was a ratings
Andy Griffith dies at 86 Read More »
Ever wonder how Norman Bates’ mother ended up decaying in that rocking chair? Probably not, but thanks to A&E, the answer could soon be made clear. The cable network has ordered a season of “Bates Motel,” which will tell the story of the eponymous character from Alfred Hithcock’s seminal thriller “Psycho.” Created by Carlton Cuse
A&E orders “Psycho” prequel series “Bates Motel” Read More »
The critics may have been lukewarm on Charlie Sheen’s post-“Two and a Half Men” comeback, “Anger Management,” but viewers were certainly curious to see the show for themselves. The premiere of the new FX series posted the best ratings of all-time for a scripted comedy airing on basic cable. What’s more: it beat every single
Charlie Sheen’s “Anger Management” sets cable comedy ratings record Read More »
On the rare occasion that Roberto Benigni’s follow-up to his Oscar-winning “Life is Beautiful,” a profoundly strange adaptation of “Pinocchio,” is remembered by Americans, it is usually for the film’s comically bad English-language dub. Certainly, it’s a challenge to make any dub worthy of being taken seriously, but this particular job, featuring once-teen star Breckin
Reviews by Request: “Pinocchio” (2002) Read More »
When the auteur theory, arguing that a film is primarily a reflection of its director and their creative vision, was originally put forward, another issue was inadvertently raised: content versus execution. Can a director overcome a trite premise and create a masterpiece or, more precisely, can a filmmaker take a seemingly broad and cliche story
Streaming Pick: “Fish Tank” (2009) Read More »
Composed almost entirely of stock footage from 1966-‘71, “When You’re Strange” is a rock documentary narrated by Johnny Depp on the career of seminal blues-psychedelic band The Doors. On a stylistic level, the film succeeds admirably. The grainy footage gives the audience a sense of what the band must have really looked and sounded like, both
Streaming Pick: “When You’re Strange” (2009) Read More »
It’s doubtful that there is a living soul who cares about the Daytime Emmy Awards and doesn’t work for one of the nominated shows, but just in case those who work for the nominated shows visit Critic Speak and missed the ceremony when it aired live on HLN earlier tonight, I’ll post the winners here. And
Complete list of 2012 Daytime Emmy Award winners Read More »
Three bits of interesting fall TV casting surfaced today, which should earn the established shows a few viewers who don’t normally watch… Jennifer Hudston will get a multi-episode arc on NBC’s musical “Smash,” which stars Katherine McPhee as a young woman working hard to make it on Broadway. Hudson will play a Tony-winner “who reached [her] Broadway dream but
Casting bits: Jennifer Hudson, Marilyn Manson, and Patrick Wilson join fall TV shows Read More »
