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Now in the heart of “awards season”, as the cinematic cream starts to rise to the top and the wheat separates from the chaff, the annual definition of “best” becomes clearer and the race for Oscar begins. But one category of film always seems to stand alone out of the fray and limelight and is quite often overlooked by not only distributors and theatre owners, but moviegoers - foreign language films. Each year, countries from around the globe chose one film from their country to submit for Osc...
As comes as no surprise, writer/director Ramin Bahrani breaks down the door of our collective moral compass with this cat and mouse thriller of corruption versus conscience - 99 HOMES. The very title of the film is enough of a nod to the unending debate over the 99/1 percent nomenclature describing the monetary imbalance in the US today, such that if you know nothing else going into this film, you know thematics will include this economic disparity at its core. With 99 HOMES, Bahrani focuses on...
Center Theatre Group is hosting Theatre Crash Course, a free workshop series for high school students interested in learning more about directing, acting, scenic design, lighting design or costume design. Students will collectively develop design concepts and investigate scenes from "Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)," which will play at the Mark Taper Forum in April. Ideas will then be presented to friends and family at the final workshop. The workshop series will take place on...
Some terrific movies to bite into this weekend at the box office. Bloody, violent, pushing the envelope in every direction, directors Eli Roth and Denis Villeneuve fascinate with strong story, spectacular imagery and in the case of Villeneuve’s SICARIO, Oscar-worthy performances starting with Emily Blunt. THE GREEN INFERNO Eli Roth returns to the director’s chair for the first time since “Hostel” and it’s not a moment too soon. As producer of the acclaimed “Aftershock”, Roth shifted focus...
It’s a powerhouse of cinema this weekend with social commentary, activism, action and an historical biopic all brought to life thanks to riveting, well-crafted and intelligent filmmaking. From the mind-blowing, blood letting mutilation and government manipulation in SICARIO to the eye-opening wonders of this beautiful world and man’s need to take responsibility for his own actions to save ourselves from extinction as eloquently shown in RACING EXTINCTION to a kick ass young adult dystopian post-...
By Steven Lieberman Observer Reporter It was the summer of 1964 when Gary Lewis & The Playboys were discovered by producer Snuff Garret. Before long, with the producer/arranger team of Garrett and Leon Russell behind them, they took their first single, “This Diamond Ring,” straight to #1. After their second hit titled “Count Me In” went to #2, Lewis and the band proved that they would be a continued success. They followed with more Top 10 songs such as “Save Your Heart For Me,” “Everybody...
By Steven Lieberman Observer Reporter After 50 years of hit song-making and international album sales well into the multi-millions, it’s safe to say that esteemed Canadian singer-songwriter and musician Gordon Lightfoot resides with some very exclusive company atop the list of all-time greats. And he will be bringing his incomparable voice and greatness to the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on October 2. The hits from his extensive song catalog he will be performing are such immortals like ...
"The Object Lesson," created and performed by Geoff Sobelle and directed by David Neumann, opened Wednesday, September 9 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Performances continue through October 4. Actor-illusionist-inventor Sobelle ("all wear bowlers" and "Elephant Room") returns to the Douglas and transforms the space into an epic storage facility of gargantuan proportion. Boxes are stacked to the ceiling and audiences are free to roam and poke through the clutter in this immersive...
The Oscar race just got real with the release of Oren Moverman’s TIME OUT OF MIND. Boasting a tour de force performance by Richard Gere that is arguably the finest of his career, and one which should potentially garner him a Best Actor nomination, and unparalleled cinematography by Bobby Bukowski, TIME OUT OF MIND should be assured not only recognition comes awards time, but secure a place in the annals of cinematic excellence. TIME OUT OF MIND is masterful. George is lost; lost to society and l...
It's Game, Set, Match for BREAK POINT! For many, the game of tennis can be as boring as watching paint dry, or a ball endlessly bounce. For others, it’s an exciting, riveting, emotionally charged sport with nuance, intelligence and skill. What that means is that making a film set in the world of tennis is pretty much going to align with one of those perceptions. In the case of BREAK POINT, it’s definitely the latter as co-writers Jeremy Sisto and Gene Hong together with director Jay Karas del...
I can’t remember the last time there was a weekend with two action films opening that had me this excited. The first, NO ESCAPE, solidifies what I first suspected back in 2001; that Owen Wilson does some of his best work when he goes “behind enemy lines”. The second, UNSULLIED, marks the directorial debut of former NFL star, Simeon Rice, and proves he is a winning force to be reckoned with both on and off the gridiron! NO ESCAPE Stepping out of their known comfort zone, with NO ESCAPE the Broth...
Kentwood Players presents Don Nigro’s comedic murder mystery “RAVENSCROFT” from September 11 to October 17 with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2pm at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester. The production is directed by Sheridan Cole Crawford and produced by Larry Jones by special arrangement with Samuel French. Featured in the cast are Deborah Ishida, Jennifer Marion, Jessica Marshall-Gardiner, Scot Renfro, Kati Schwartz, and Andrea Stradling. In this stylish, witty mystery-thriller, a detec...
A big summer for horror fans as the “Summer of Blumhouse” continues with SINISTER 2! Already providing us with “Insidious Chapter 3", “The Gallows” and “The Gift”, Blumhouse continues to terrorize us with genuine jump in your seat fright with SINISTER 2. And as we know from other Blumhouse banner franchises, one need not have seen the first film to appreciate and understand the sequel. However, just to bring you up to speed, 2012's “Sinister” introduced us to Bughuul, a demon of imposing physi...
Sister community Theater groups Kentwood Players and Theatre Palisades are working in tandem this summer to present all three plays in Neil Simon's Eugene Trilogy, It begins with "Brighton Beach Memoirs" by Kentwood Players from July 10 through August 15, the just added staged readings of "Biloxi Blues" at Theatre Palisades on Saturday, August 29 at 8 pm and by Kentwood Players on Sunday, August 30 at 7pm, and ending with "Broadway Bound" at Theatre Palisades from September 4 through October 11...
“The Object Lesson,” written and performed by Geoff Sobelle and directed by David Neumann, opens the Center Theatre Group’s 12th season at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Previews for the West Coast premiere begin September 4 and the opening is set for September 9. Performances continue through October 4. Actor-illusionist-inventor Sobelle (“all wear bowlers” and “Elephant Room”) returns to the Douglas and transforms the space into an epic storage facility of gargantuan proportion. Boxes are stacked to the ceiling and audiences are...
With the big summer blockbusters behind us, now is the time to sit back and take a look at some little gems you might ordinarily miss in your movie-going adventures. The past few weeks, I’ve shared some engaging and insightful “Must See” documentaries with you as well as a variety of narrative and animated features. This week I continue that path with a look at the inspiring and visually arresting documentary MERU and a lovely little indie which premiered at Los Angeles Film Festival now makin...
Kentwood Players will hold open auditions for the murder mystery musical spoof "SOMETHING'S AFOOT" on Saturday, September 12 from 1 pm through 4 pm, and Sunday, September 13 from 6 pm through 9 pm. Callbacks, if needed, will be Monday, September 14 at 7 pm. This is a non-equity, non-paid production directed by Catherine Rahm with choreography by Alison Mattiza, produced by Lori A. Marple Pereslete by special arrangement with Samuel French. Performance dates are November 13 to December 19, 2015...
It’s a mix and match weekend at the movies with something for everyone’s taste. And while there is some sweetness to be had, some of the tastes are proving a bit bitter. KAHLIL GIBRAN’S THE PROPHET A soulful and contemplative film of real beauty is the animated KAHLIL GIBRAN’S THE PROPHET. Based on nine of Gibran’s 26 philosophies set out in the best selling “The Prophet”, director Roger Allers taps into the talents of nine different animators, each with a different style, to create a mont...
It’s a big week for documentaries! Although showing on perhaps only one screen within a multiplex theatre and in specialty theatres like The Landmark which cater to these indie gems, each of this week’s documentaries are more than worth your attention. Informative, educational, eye-opening and entertaining, all are high on my “Must See” list for the year. BEST OF ENEMIES The 1968 presidential race forever changed the way television would provide election coverage; not to mention saving a lagging...
By Steven Lieberman Observer Reporter There was a surprise at The Fabulous Forum on Saturday night at the Chicago/Earth, Wind & Fire – Heart & Soul concert. Both bands took the stage together for the first 20 minutes of the show and for the finale to wow the crowd. Having both lead singers – Philip Bailey (EWF) and Robert Lamm (Chicago) – sharing vocals on “Beginnings” was a real treat. Both highly distinctive voices. I’m sure the fans wished that both bands, 20 total musicians, would have...
These are the weeks when tentpoles are out, you’ve seen them at least once, and now you have a chance to see some new and overlooked gems. Not to be missed (and we’ll talk about them on my weekly show “Behind The Lens” and in my online reviews) are gems like the masterful and exquisitely crafted MR. HOLMES starring Sir Ian McKellan, Woody Allen’s IRRATIONAL MAN which is one of his most satiric, funniest and delightful romps to come around in a long while with a cast that includes Joaquin Phoenix...
It’s long been said that the best gifts are the ones in little packages; uh, or for the ladies out there, those little “Tiffany Blue” boxes (you know what I mean!). Well, Marvel has now joined the ranks of giving one of its biggest and best gifts in the smallest power-packed package ever - ANT-MAN. The film may be smaller scale than what we’ve seen in recent years from Marvel/Disney with “The Avengers”, “Iron Man” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchises, but it has the biggest heart I’ve...
“Girlfriend” opens at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City Sunday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m. Featuring a book by Todd Almond and music and lyrics by Matthew Sweet, the rock musical about first love will continue through August 9. Previews began on July 12. Reprising their roles from the 2013 Actors Theatre of Louisville production of “Girlfriend” are Ryder Bach (Randy Newman’s “Harps and Angels” at the Mark Taper Forum) and Curt Hansen (“Parade” at the Taper and “Next to Normal” at the Ahmanson). The director is Les Waters, w...
Kentwood Players presents Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs" from July 10 through August 15 with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester. The production is directed by Valerie Ruel, produced by Heather Barnett and Kathy Dershimer by special arrangement with Samuel French. Featured in the cast are Veronica Alicino, Harold Dershimer, Lori Kaye, Louis Politan, Katie Rodriguez, Matthew Van Oss and Laura Wiggins...
In an effort to identify and nurture new talent, Richard Clar recently announced a $1000 award to help support young artists who are striving to further their careers as professional jazz musicians. The Mimi Melnick Double M Award for Young Jazz Talent has been established to honor Clar’s sister. In 1996 Mimi began hosting intimate jazz salons at her Encino home to support L.A.’s jazz community. Since her passing, this tradition has continued at the Mayme Clayton Library & Museum in Culver City. Mr. Clar said, “Mimi loved jazz more than anyth...
