Lisa Johnson Mandell's Lucky 13 Best Movies of 2015
By Lisa Johnson Mandell There were so many great movies out this year, I had a hard time limiting my favorites to a Top 10, so I decided to go with a Lucky 13. Going straight to the heart of the matter, here are what are, in my opinion, the best movies of 2015, in…
The 2015 Guys Guide to the Movies
Editor’s Note: My husband James is a lucky guy, cinematically speaking, in that he gets to pick and choose what he wants to screen, while I have to see almost everything that comes out. But he has graciously agreed to pay for that privilege every year with his sweeping Guys Guide to the Movies. Without…
STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS Review — It's Celestial!
I couldn’t be more excited to tell you that Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens is everything you hoped it would be…and more. Righting what very little was wrong with the original three films, bringing back beloved characters and introducing new ones that are truly obsession worthy, J.J. Abrams has ingeniously and flawlessly revived what…
CONCUSSION Review — Should be a Big Hit, But…
It’s a shame that Concussion is being released on Christmas day, among so many other heavy hitters and in the wake of Star Wars. I fear for the success of this excellent film about the doctor who discovers chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) among professional football players, much to the chagrin of the mighty NFL. Had Concussion been released…
JOY Review — The Mop is a Flop
When people hear that Joy is based on the true story of the woman who invented the Miracle Mop, they inevitably ask, “How can they make an interesting movie about that?” Apparently they can’t. Even the great David O. Russell and the infinitely talented Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert DeNiro can’t make the film gel…
Mad Max Fury Road Races to Top of Critics Choice Awards Nominations
I hate to say I told you so, but does anyone else remember little old me saying how blown away I was by “Mad Max: Fury Road,” and declaring that we had the year’s first Academy Awards contender? Well here we are a couple of months away, and all the critics groups are showering the…
THE HATEFUL EIGHT Review — Hatefully Yours, Q.T.
By James Mandell Great-lookin’ trailer, ain’t it, along with all them thar Golden Globe nominations? Lisa and I found ourselves at the glittery Cinerama Dome premier for this flick, and Harvey Weinstein himself took the podium to introduce the director, telling the story of QT’s impassioned pitch to them, which included his insistence on filming…
THE REVENANT Review — It Will Make You Shiver
Brutal and punishing, intriguing and mesmerizing, The Revenant stands alone in its sheer mastery of the medium. While you might not be able to say you enjoyed it, you can’t help but be in awe of it. And although it’s a man against nature wild western, a genre that is not among my favorites, in my…
My Critics Choice Nominations — Did STAR WARS Make the Cut?
You’ve probably been hearing a lot of announcements lately about awards nominations and winners; Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild, National Board of Review, not to mention the city specific critics organizations like L.A. New York, Chicago film critics, etc. And you might have noticed one glaring omission: Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens.
Jon Hotchkiss' Adorable Puppies — Home Sweet Television Network
This may look like your typical Sherman Oaks home with a drought tolerant yard, but something more lurks behind that wrought iron gate. Owner Jon Hotchkiss, a TV veteran with 14 Emmy nominations to his credit, has created his own TV network here. He fetchingly calls it Adorable Puppies Inc., and has everything he needs to shoot, produce, edit and…
