Award-winning actor reaffirms genius potential


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Few words mean less today than “genius,” which casual overuse has seriously devalued over time. Like “brilliant” and “awesome,” “genius” is cheap praise, and too often it is mistaken for simple intelligence. That’s why I humphed noisily and rolled my eyes when I overheard some woman say that the man whose performance we were about […]

Film evens out melodrama before it all goes Bad


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It takes a confused director to make a film like I Can Do Bad All By Myself. Tyler Perry, who is the world’s most bankable drag queen as the legendary and legendarily crass old woman Madea, seems to be just that type of person. Perry, the famous filmmaker whose review-proof films are consistent hits within […]

Workplace gossip nears modern tabloid sensationalism


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When a number of people are confined to the same workspace, the office rumor mill starts churning out gossip at a rate that puts professional blabbermouths like Perez Hilton to shame. While the gossip is occasionally made up of harmless, passing comments like, “Oh dear God, did you see what so-and-so wore to that meeting?” […]

Doc uncovers man behind Mickey Mouse empire


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We live in a time when Walt Disney’s name is linked to everything from theme parks to mouse ears. But people often forget that the name belonged to a true artist and a man who worked hard — and imagined even harder — to lay the building blocks of what has now become a magnificent […]

Born to lead


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Matt Barkley, USC’s 19-year-old freshman quarterback (left), led the Trojans to victory in Saturday’s game against Ohio State. Barkley completed 15 of 31 pass attempts and threw for 195 yards. But more important than his stats, Barkley orchestrated an 86-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes of the game to lift the Trojans to a […]