ELVIS & NIXON Review — Truth That's Stranger and Funnier Than Fiction
I like my comedies like I like my men — dry and tasty. Seriously, how can you not enjoy a film that has a tagline of: “On December 1, 1971, two of America’s greatest recording artists met for the first time”? The meeting between the beloved and befuddled king of rock-n-roll and the unloved and unctuous President…
A Dozen Things You Can Do Now to Start Your Spring Garden
Editor’s Note: I originally wrote A Dozen Things You Can Do Now to Start Your Spring Garden for Yahoo Makers, right before the company pulled the plug on that particular site. But I thought the research was just too valuable to go unpublished, so I asked my Yahoo editor if I could run it here on AtHomeInHollywood, and he…
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…
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.
THE DANISH GIRL Review — Not Buying Into the Hype
Get ready for a review unlike any other. I’m giving The Danish Girl my “Emperor’s New Clothes” award this year, because it covers the politically correct issue du jour — transgenderism, and there’s so much heavy hitting talent involved that many critics are afraid to criticize it or see the film’s flaws. Most members of the…
THE PEANUTS MOVIE REVIEW: Good Grief! It's Great!
Sweetest movie of the year (period). It was both a relief and a thrill to see the tenderness, reverence and whimsy with which filmmakers brought the beloved Peanuts gang to the big screen. It took me right back to the days of having a dancing Snoopy Feelin’ Groovy poster on my wall, and dressing up as the WWI Flying…
Check Out Irish Fashion Icons Lainey Keogh and Louise Kennedy
When you think of superstar European designers, the first names that come to mind are probably Italian, French or perhaps English. All that’s about to change. You are about to have your fashion worlds rocked by a couple of fabulous ladies from…Ireland, if you can believe it. Lainey Keogh and Louise Kennedy are such well established…
Barry Weiss, the Bubble Car and Me at Auctions America
I admit that I’m not really a car girl. When I tour celebrity homes, I’m usually more interested in the decor style of the garages than in the cars they house. But all that changed last weekend, when my hubby and I attended Auctions America’s California Auto Sale at Barker Hanger in Santa Monica. I originally went to see our buddy…
SOUTHPAW Review: Timing is Everything
Let’s face it: boxing movies are all about the final big match. Everything that happens up to that point is there just to build tension. So ultimately, if that last match delivers suspense, excitement and impact, the film can be considered a success, right? Well, not so much. While Southpaw is punctuated with brutally and effectively…
TRAINWRECK Review — Amy Schumer Blows Hard
By Lisa Johnson Mandell Here’s the thing: You either get Amy Schumer or you don’t. I don’t. I think her humor is snarky and mean spirited and her foul mouth makes me uncomfortable. I say this knowing full well that she’s the hottest thing on TV right now, and soon to be the hottest thing on the…
