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,…
Seeing Stars at the 2015 Critics Choice TV Awards
Wow. Now that I know that so many of my absolute favorite TV/movie stars are showing up for the Critics Choice TV Awards on Sunday, May 31 at 8pm ET/5pm PT, I’m really excited about attending. I mean, Charlize Theron, who was absolutely transcendent in Mad Max: Fury Road, is showing up to present a…
Warby Parker Saves the Day…And Frankie Feldman’s Bacon
By Lisa Johnson Mandell This is my beloved Australian Labradoodle puppy Frankie Feldman
Help Me Decide on the Critics Choice Television Awards
Well, the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) just announced nominations for the 5th annual Critics Choice Television Awards, which will be broadcast live on A&E from the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday, May 31, 2015 (8:00pm ET/5:00pm PT). I’ve already got my dress picked out, but my decisions on the shows and actors I vote for are not so…
