Top 10 films of 1968, according to then-LA Times critic Charles Champlin
August 4, 2018
Filed under Entertainment, Uncategorized
On Jan. 5, 1969, then-Times film critic Charles Champlin chose these as the best films of 1968, in alphabetical order. “The Battle of Algiers.” “A powerful and disturbing masterpiece of documentary reenactment, an illumination of the struggle for Algerian independence done with newsreel fidelity ...
Kate Gosselin to search for love on new series ‘Kate Plus Date’
August 1, 2018
Filed under Entertainment, Television
Oh great, more from “Kate Plus 8.” Kate Gosselin is set to star on a new TLC reality series, “Kate Plus Date,” that centers on her search to find love eight years after her divorce, People reported. “I’m nervous, I’m excited, and I’m forcing myself to do this,” Gosselin told the magazi...
After 14 long years, ‘Incredibles 2’ picks up with its family of suburban superheroes
July 20, 2018
Filed under Entertainment, Fiction, Movies
LOS ANGELES — Brad Bird stood in front of a full orchestra on the Barbra Streisand Scoring Stage on the Sony Pictures lot, his leg bouncing to the beat, a big grin on his face. At a recent scoring session for Pixar Animation Studios’ superhero sequel “Incredibles 2,” the film’s writer-director watche...
Quentin Tarantino, Leonardo DiCaprio surprise CinemaCon to tease ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’
July 19, 2018
Filed under Entertainment
Just a couple of months ago, it seemed as if Quentin Tarantino’s Hollywood future could be in question. But at a major movie industry event here Monday night, the head of Sony Pictures feted the director as Hollywood royalty, declaring the filmmaker’s new screenplay the best thing he’d read in 30 ...
Debby Ryan, Gillian Jacobs educated by ‘Life of the Party’
July 16, 2018
Filed under Entertainment
“Life of the Party”’s Debby Ryan only managed to find time to take a few college classes over the years because she’s been so busy working on TV and film projects since she was 13. Her co-star in the new comedy film, Gillian Jacobs, not only graduated from Julliard, but a major hunk of her acting...
The Academy votes to expel Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski
July 9, 2018
Filed under Entertainment
Say goodbye to Hollywood, Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski. The Academy announced Thursday that both the disgraced comedian and the scandal-plagued director have been expelled from the prestigious organization. “The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors met on Tuesday night and...
The ‘Infinity War’ question: Is alluding to a new movie’s controversial end over the spoiler line?
July 6, 2018
Filed under Activities, Entertainment, Fiction, Movies, Television
Can we please talk about film review spoilers without spoiling anything for anybody? Can we respect even the most spoiler-sensitive wishes on this one? We can do that. Can’t we? I’m bad. Already I’m having a hard time playing this one straight. It’s all I can do to ROSEBUD IS THE SLED refrain...
Cast, crew reveal ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ tidbits
July 4, 2018
Filed under Entertainment
LOS ANGELES — “Avengers: Infinity War” has the potential to be the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that has so many heroes a scorecard may be necessary to keep track of all the players. Just for the press conference the weekend before the movie hits theaters, 24 cast and crew members t...
The Simpsons’ response to Apu criticism sparks backlash
July 3, 2018
Filed under Entertainment, Fiction, Television
It’s been five months since a documentary sparked a national conversation on the polarizing “Simpsons” character Apu, and the long-running Fox sitcom has finally addressed the controversy — though not all are impressed. Comedian Hari Kondabolu premiered in November “The Problem with Apu,” a...
Capsule reviews of feature films
June 17, 2018
Filed under Books, Entertainment, Fiction, Movies, On Netflix, Television
BEIRUT. 3 stars. Well-acted, well written thriller about a bitter, failed diplomat (Jon Hamm) recalled to Lebanon during its civil war to negotiate a hostage exchange, a dangerous and complex affair involving competing factions within the U.S. contingent (Rosamund Pike, Shea Whigham, Dean Norris), mili...
‘Wheel of Fortune’ contestant blows chance at $7,100 by mispronouncing ‘Flamenco’ as ‘Flamingo’
June 16, 2018
Filed under Entertainment
An ill-fated “Wheel of Fortune” contestant learned the hard way that there’s a big difference between a flamingo and the flamenco. The contestant, Jonny, butchered his chance at a $7,100 prize on Monday’s episode when he mispronounced the phrase “Flamenco Dance Lessons” by saying the name of th...
John Lasseter’s six-month leave of absence is almost up — but return to Pixar not likely
June 10, 2018
Filed under Activities, Entertainment, Fiction, Movies, Television, Top Stories
Pixar and Disney animation head John Lasseter’s six-month leave of absence is coming to end as more allegations about inappropriate behavior — including his treatment of women and credit-hogging — have come to light. Longtime colleagues claim in a piece published by The Hollywood Reporter Wedne...
