FM hosts revitalize AM broadcasting
Frosty, Heidi and Frank have built a following through humor and daily podcasts.
McCarthy novels sap adrenaline from films
Ours is a violent generation, and Cormac McCarthy knows it. He knows it, and he knows how to exploit us for it. The final third of Joel and Ethan Coen’s adaptation of McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men was one of the most divisive acts of cinema committed this decade. After establishing a violent and […]
Show portrays a world on the verge of going ‘Mad’
The season finale of Mad Men foreshadows the drastically changing culture of the ’60s.
God gives very few answers
Oh my God, where did this film go wrong? British native Peter Rodger’s documentary was advertised as a valiant attempt to define God in such a way that would pervade religious barriers and promote peace. The actual product, however, is a sloppy, cliché film by a novice director. Rodger and his two-man crew traveled to […]
A sweet spot in Little Tokyo
Chewy. That’s the best word to describe traditional Japanese mochi, a treat derived from glutinous rice. Though most Benihana-eating, less educated folk know the treat as a round rice ball filled with ice cream or as a trendy pétite topping for frozen yogurt, mochi’s origins stem from customary offerings to the gods and are a […]
Filmmakers didn’t ‘Dare’ sacrifice realism
Director Adam Salky and screenwriter David Brind focused on character and emotion to maintain the film’s naturalistic quality.
Beneath the snowfall and leaves is another side of the season
Can I admit something? The warmth of California sometimes frustrates me. It is just so undeniably constant. So predictable. I know when I wake up in the morning what I will need for the day — every day. There is always sun, a slightly smoggy sky and chilly, empty nights. But most of all, there […]
Master’s student brings images of the world to USC
Paul Rockower showcases photographs from his travels in hopes of inspiring others.
Believe the hype: Sundance winner is a ‘Precious’ gem
When a small independent film achieves mainstream success through several festival wins and early critical praise, a tidal wave of backlash is almost inevitable. Usually, the innocent underdog is tossed on a pedestal so fast that Oscar purists are quick to call sabotage before the hype can smother anybody else. Slap the names Oprah Winfrey […]
New releases: This week’s DVDs in review
Up Rating: PG Length: 96 min. Now available When film critics and audiences alike believed no animated film could top the incredibly innovative and heartfelt WALL-E, Pixar Animation Studios upped the stakes — again — with Up, the colorful, slightly more mature tale of misanthropic 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Edward Asner). A former balloon […]