New This Weekend: The Founder Review & Split Review — Burgers and the Boogieman
The Founder Review and Split Review — Lisa Johnson Mandell gives you two takes for the price of one. The Founder Review The Founder tells the fascinating story of Ray Kroc, the pseudo father of McDonalds. Too bad the film is not nearly as fascinating as it would, could or should be. Michael Keaton, who…
You Won't Believe What I Found in the Gift Bag at the Secret Room Events Red Carpet Style Lounge Honoring the Golden Globe Awards
Stars love this event because it’s like a box of chocolates: They never know what they’re gonna get in the gift bag at the Secret Room Event Secret Room Events Red Carpet Style Lounge Honoring the Golden Globe Awards It’s awards season again, and you know what that means: I share with you all the…
Lisa's List of Must See Movies Currently at a Theater Near You
Lisa Johnson Mandell gives you the run down on her picks for must see movies of the season So. The first thing everyone always asks me is, “Any must see movies out now?” I usually respond with a short list of one or two, but this time of year I have numerous suggestions — after all, ’tis…
Lisa's List of Must Miss Movies — Long Hours You'll Never Get Back
Lisa Johnson Mandell reveals her choices for Must Miss Movies — four frustrating, forgettable films that you might otherwise be tricked into seeing. Now that I’ve posted my Must See Movies, it’s time to warn you about the films that highly disappointed me, and will likely disappoint you as well. Many of them are getting major awards…
Guys Guide to Films — James Mandell's Annual Holiday Round-Up
Every year my lovely and talented husband shares his take on the films that get a lot of buzz during awards season. Even though his reviews don’t necessarily agree with mine, his Guys Guide to Films ends up getting insane traffic, so who am I do deprive him of bandwidth? Guys Guide to Films — James Mandell’s Annual Holiday…
THE Perfect Little Black Dress — See the Amazing Poppet on Four Generations!
Four generations of my family agree: The Poppet is the perfect little black dress for all occasions I realize that just about every day someone new claims to have found the perfect little black dress, but search no further — I have found one that is truly unrivaled. Not only does it pack away in…
ROGUE ONE Review — COLLATERAL BEAUTY Review — Opposite Films That Have One Thing In Common
The reason I’ve chosen to combine the Rogue One and the Collateral Beauty review is simple: You’ll either see them or you won’t, regardless of what critics say. And although they are about as different as two films can be, they do have one thing in common: Both have remarkable ensemble casts. Rogue One Review — This is probably…
Will THIS IS US Win Best Drama Series? Will LALA LAND Win Best Film? Watch the CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS Sunday to Find Out
Is anyone else as crazy as I am over This is Us and LaLa Land? We’ll find out whether my critic colleagues are or not on Sunday, at the 22nd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards, which air December 11 at 8PM ET/ 5PM PT. I’ve got my Halston Heritage black and white penguin gown (it’s sexier than it sounds) all set…
Help Me Decide on My 2016 Critics Choice Awards Votes — Movies
Here are the film nominees for the 2016 Critics Choice Awards. Lobbying is welcome! The film nominations are out for the 2016 Critics Choice Awards, and I have to admit it’s a fine list, although everyone I nominated didn’t make the cut. Read the the lists below, and feel free to weigh in on how I…
MOANA Review — The Perfect Family Vacation
MOANA Review by Lisa Johnson Mandell @HomeInHollywood My family members, ages one through 68, were among the millions who saw Moana over Thanksgiving vacation. More important than what I thought of it as a critic is how the kids in our party responded to it. Suffice it to say that they were rapturous. More than…
