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Stephen Frears's ‘Philomena’ (1st review)

An outrage in Ireland, but who’s responsible?

Stephen Frears’s Philomena is the true story of an outrage, but it suffers dramatically by focusing almost entirely on the anguished victims rather than the perpetrators.

Dan Rottenberg

Jan 20, 2014 Articles 5 minute read

Martin Scorsese's 'Wolf of Wall Street'

Why do we love wolves?

Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street is well on its way to making more than $100 million. The fact that it’s a hit should not surprise anyone. Bad guys sell tickets.

Armen Pandola

Jan 20, 2014 Articles 5 minute read

Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) may not have provided perspective to Tony (James Gandolfini), but she did for the viewer.

The end of the television antihero

Breaking up with the bad boy

Many are calling this a Golden Age of Television, with a plethora of dramas examining morally complex antiheroes. How complex are they, really, though?

Paula Berman

Jan 16, 2014 Articles 5 minute read

Ricky (Desi Arnaz) comforts Lucy (Lucille Ball) after yet another of her plots to escape her housewife existence meets an ignominious end.

The return of Lucille Ball

I Hate Lucy

With a new live show and colorization, Lucy is back. Her message was damaging enough the first time — do we really need to revisit it?

Susan Beth Lehman

Jan 09, 2014 Articles 3 minute read

Downton Abbey’s Secret Feminist

Are you ready for season four?

Even the politically progressive can get sucked in by the delightful soapiness of Downton Abbey, despite the show's troubling politico-economic subtext. Who'da thunk the only feminist of the lot was below stairs, though?

Alaina Johns

Jan 08, 2014 Articles 5 minute read

The Coen Brother's 'Inside Llewyn Davis'

A shaggy cat tale about a modern Ulysses

The Coen brothers didn’t set out to make a nostalgic movie about the bards of Bleecker Street, and they literally pull no punches in Inside Llewyn Davis.

Ilene Raymond Rush

Jan 07, 2014 Articles 4 minute read

Downton Abbey Season 4

Immune to Lady Mary's charms

Downton Abbey is merely the latest soap set in the great homes of Britain to take America by storm. What's the appeal?

Jackie Schifalacqua

Jan 04, 2014 Articles 3 minute read

Carrie Underwood vs. Julie Andrews

Carrie Underwood confronts the Maria problem

It was a gutsy move when country singer Carrie Underwood took on the role of Maria in NBC TV’s live presentation of The Sound of Music— a role that belonged, in many viewers’ minds, to Julie Andrews. How do we deal with a change in our expectations when someone else takes on the role?

Naomi Orwin

Dec 21, 2013 Articles 5 minute read

Is George Bailey happy? Who really gives a damn?

It’s Not Such A Wonderful Life

Where are you, Clarence, now that we really need you?

Here’s a thought for the holiday season: Haven’t you seen It’s A Wonderful Life enough already? Don’t you have anything better to do with your time, especially now that the film is owned by the 21st Century’s answer to Mr. Potter?

Perry Block

Dec 07, 2013 Articles 3 minute read

‘The Best Man Holiday’

Why leave your living room?

Today you can rent any movie right from your living room to stream on your giant flat-screen TV. But watching this piece of feel-good holiday fluff with a very appreciative audience made me remember the benefits of the movie theater experience.