MUTINY Review — Unapologetically Familiar in All the Best Ways
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Mutiny review says that even though Jason Statham’s latest film marches to a very familiar beat, it’s still an exciting comfort watch. You know exactly what you’re getting. Jason Statham is magic. I don’t say that lightly, and I definitely don’t say it because Mutiny is reinventing anything. It isn’t. This is…
TONY Review — The Tasty Tale of Anthony Bourdain’s Seminal Summer of ’75
Lisa’s TONY review raves that the film adroitly defies conventional biopic tropes and sumptuously captures the moment when Anthony Bourdain found his insatiable passion. Before I was a film critic, I was a food critic. My family was involved in those two industries, among others, but these are the two that fascinated me. I grew…
Frank Gehry’s Benson House Hits the Market for Under $2 Million
The Benson House, one of iconic celebrity architect Frank Gehry’s earlier residences, is now on the Calabasas market for $1,745,000. It’s registered as a Calabasas Historical Landmark, and is sure to go quickly. If you’ve followed me for any amount of time, you know the reverence I hold for certain architects, among them Frank Gehry.…
Pow! 2026 Annual CCA Super Awards Winners Announced
The 2026 CCA Super Awards Winners are a mixed bunch this year, with many of my favorites in Sci Fi getting their just rewards. The Critics Choice Association (CCA) of which I am a very active member, just announced the winners of the sixth annual Critics Choice Super Awards, honoring the most popular, fan-obsessed genres…
The Mid Mod Home of Famed Couple John Hillcoat and Polly Borland Lists for $2,949,000
This classic Midcentury Modern home owned by writer/director John Hillcoat and multimedia artist Polly Borland has all the classic LA elements. It doesn’t get any more quintessentially LA than this midcentury modern, Mulholland Drive masterpiece, owned by an award winning writer/director and a celebrated multimedia artist. Designed in 1972 by prominent architect Robert S Wilkerson,…
SPIDER-MAN BRAND NEW DAY Review — Doesn’t Stick the Landing
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Spider-Man Brand New Day review says the film gives great fan service, but casual observers find themselves wishing they hadn’t been caught in this particular web. I wasn’t quite ready, and frankly, I don’t think I’ll ever be, for yet another Spider-Man film, especially with Tom Holland, 30 and Zendaya, 29, as…
Check Out the Marvelous Malibu Former Home of Joni Mitchell — Now for Sale
It’s time to jump in a big yellow taxi and head for the beach! The former home of Joni Mitchell in Malibu has been listed, but you can’t get it for a song. You can see the luxe beachfront home formerly owned by music legend Joni Mitchell from both sides now that it’s on the…
12 Wondrous Ways to Watch THE ODYSSEY in Theaters — Which One’s Right For You?
With so many different ways to watch The Odyssey in theaters, options seem confusing and surprisingly pricy. Here’s a guide explaining pros and cons, for your maximum viewing pleasure. Let’s get one thing straight from the very beginning: you absolutely, positively must see Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in a theater. Not on your couch in…
THE ODYSSEY Review — The Next Great Historical Epic
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Odyssey review cries all hail to Christopher Nolan’s awe-inspiring epic! It could be the cinematic event of the decade. Some time after I left my 70mm screening of The Odyssey, having spent the entire two hours and 52 minutes absolutely riveted to the screen without dozing off for even a second,…
THE DINK Review — Can This Warm, Clever Comedy Serve Up a Win?
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Dink review — Is this gentle pickleball comedy a hit or a whiff? A committed pickleball enthusiast weighs in. I couldn’t watch Apple TV’s new The Dink without my bestie Sara by my side. Several years my junior, she is the Queen of the Pickleball scene in our neighborhood, and has…
