Females stand out in latest Chicago production


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“Hello, suckers!” cries Terra C. MacLeod’s sultry Velma Kelly at the beginning of Chicago’s second act. She’s speaking, of course, to us, the audience, and we chuckle because we know she’s right. Chicago — in ways far slinkier and shadier than we might originally think or expect — makes suckers of us all, and it’s […]

After the ‘Thrill’ is gone from the pages


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When I first took this column two and a half years ago, I envisioned saying goodbye in a three-part series. The first would be a detailed look at the birth of the column. Part two would be a retelling of its life. Part three would be an in-depth look at its title, “Thrilla on Manilla […]

In Theaters Today


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The Back-Up Plan For better or worse, Jennifer Lopez returns to the big screen this weekend in yet another romantic comedy to add to her lengthy list. Frustrated by her disappointing love life, Zoe (Lopez) chooses the route of artificial insemination. Unfortunately, she meets the man of her dreams (Aussie actor Alex O’Loughlin) right after […]

Stallone’s Expendables unites action film elites


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There was once a time when action films ruled cinema. But these were not the action films of today, which safely harbor a PG-13 rating. These films glorified their R rating and ushered in as much on-screen violence, sexuality and as many cheesy one-liners as possible. The 1980s showcased these over-the-top action films best. And […]