Nice Guys Finish First at the 2015 Critics Choice TV Awards
“It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy,” said I, after the very first of the 2015 Critics Choice Awards was given out. I was referring to Jonathan Banks, who picked up the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series award for Better Call Saul. I’d chatted with him earlier, and he told me he…
SPY Review — Big, Beautiful Laughs
Move over, 007, there’s a new international super agent on the scene, and her gadgets are just as cool as yours, even if they are disguised as feminine products and rape whistles. Such are the good natured and raucous gags in Spy, starring the infinitely talented Melissa McCarthy at her absolute best. My only complaint…
SAN ANDREAS Movie Review — the Fault is Not in the Stars
The one feel good takeaway I got from seeing my hometown reduced to rubble is that at least I don’t live in downtown Los Angeles, where skyscrapers can tumble and fires can burn whatever’s left. I live on the other side of Mulholland, in a nice, bucolic neighborhood where neighbors lend a hand, rather than trip…
LOVE & MERCY Review: Transcendent
Love and Mercy, the bio pic about the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, was almost a religious experience for me. Growing up in Southern California, the Beach Boys played the soundtrack of my life. “California Girls,” “Be True to Your School,” “Surfin’ USA” “I Get Around,” “Good Vibrations” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” were personal anthems. But…
ALOHA Movie Review: Awkward
Sometimes I like to hit a movie cold, without doing any prior research, the way most viewers see it. I want to form my own opinions without being influenced by anyone else. So when esteemed director Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire) stood up before the gathering of journalists and critics at a media screening (something directors NEVER…
Dishing on Design on The Craig and Robbie Hour
I just love me some Craig Olsen and Robbie Laughlin, hosts of the tres fabulous and colorful Craig and Robbie Hour. They got me to reveal all sorts of very personal, deep dark secrets I hadn’t thought about in years when I guested on their Global Voice Broadcasing network show, even though I was there to talk…
ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL Review — Angsters Aweigh!
I’m sorry, but I just do not get the critically acclaimed bag of cloying teenage angst that is Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. I know it won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award, and I know it had a 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes when I wrote this review, which is quite…
Tomorrowland Movie Review — Here Today…
By Lisa Johnson Mandell First and foremost, you need to understand that Tomorrowland is NOT a George Clooney movie. The handsome superstar appears for a few brief moments at the beginning, and then it goes for very loooooooong stretches without him. Tomorrowland IS a kids’ movie, and not Disney’s best effort. This is essential information when you’re…
Being At Home In Hollywood Means Movie Magic Knocking on Your Door
If you’ve ever spent any time at home in Hollywood, or the Los Angeles area in general, you’ve doubtless run across a production crew shooting a movie/commercial/television episode. You can’t mistake them — huge production trucks, noisy generators, rows of port-a-potties, dressing room trailers, screens and camera paraphernalia, dollies, carts, card tables and people —…
PITCH PERFECT 2 Review: Elizabeth Banks on a Hit
With apologies to Elton John, “The Pitch is back!” and better than ever, in no small part thanks to the efforts of first time helmer Elizabeth Banks, who also appears as Gail, the snarky acapella competition commentator in the film. Who knew what talent lurked inside The Hunger Games‘ Effie Trinket? Pitch Perfect 2 is bigger,…
