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It's a look into history this week with the narrative feature THE SIEGE OF JADOTVILLE available on Netflix and, NO ASYLUM: THE UNTOLD CHAPTER OF ANNE FRANK'S STORY, now on various digital and VOD platforms. THE SIEGE OF JADOTVILLE Unknown to most is the story of the 1961 post-Colonial siege at Jadotville in The Congo in which Irish battalion A-Company held off a five day attack by 300-plus Katangese secessionists and mercenaries, and despite being out-manned and out-gunned, lost none of their...
The Culver City Arts District, a unique collection of art galleries, creative businesses, specialty retail and restaurants, will present Culver City Art Walk 2016 on October 8 from 2 pm to 6. The Art Walk event will be centered on Washington Boulevard between Helms and Fairfax Avenues and will celebrate the beginning of the fall art season with a free self-guided tour of art galleries exhibiting new and distinguished artists, musical and dance performances throughout the day at various venues, interactive experiences and special offerings at...
We all know the name Edward Snowden. A former CIA employee and contractor to various U.S. government agencies and its sub-contractors, Snowden turned the world upside down in May 2013 when he leaked classified information to journalists, Glenn Greenwald and Ewan MacAskill, and documentarian Laura Poitras, exposing the high level of global surveillance being perpetrated by the NSA and others with the knowledge and support of the United States and European governments. During a "covert" operation...
In a day and age where kids are losing the innocence of childhood and the idea of myth, fantasy, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Mother Goose and storks at frighteningly early ages, it's refreshing to see co-directors Nicholas Stoller and Doug Sweetland deliver a story that stops that clock and reverses it, reinvigorating the centuries old "the stork brought you" story while redefining the definition of family for a new generation. Seriously people, does a 3 or 4 year old child reaaaallly need...
Kentwood Players will hold open auditions for the comedic satire “The Imaginary Invalid” by Molière, on Saturday, November 12, noon to 4 pm and Sunday, November 13 from 6 pm to 9:30. This is a non-equity, non-paid production directed by Susan Stangl and produced by Sheridan Cole Crawford for Kentwood Players. Performance dates are January 13 through February 18, 2017 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm. Auditions and performances take place at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester. Moli...
There is more than light between oceans in this latest film from writer/director Derek Cianfrance. There are tears, lots and lots of tears, and the tidal swirling of emotions both on screen and in the audience as Cianfrance pulls on every heartstring known to mankind and then some, with this adaptation of Australian author M.L. Stedman's 2010 bestseller. The richness of the story swells and surges to life thanks not only to exquisitely strong and impressive visuals, but complex enigmatic...
Holy mother of God! You won't believe your eyes and ears when you watch BAD MOMS! It's moms-behaving-badly in this raunchy, riotous ridiculum of side-splitting hilarity. And although not a perfect film, it is the perfect antidote for a case of the mid-summer doldrums or whatever ails you. Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn star as our seemingly less than perfect "bad" moms - Amy, Kiki and Carla, respectively - who are trying to do it all but sometimes fall a bit short, while Christina...
For everyone who has already seen "Hell or High Water", you know the Oscar race has begun thanks to an award-worthy performance by Jeff Bridges, a powerhouse script from Tayler Sheridan and stunning cinematography by Giles Nuttgens. This film has Best Picture contender written all over it. (And if you haven't seen "Hell or High Water", get thee to a theatre now!) But this week another contender in the acting race steps into the Oscar ring with Jonathan Jakubowicz' HANDS OF STONE and two knockout...
Let's just cut to the chase. BEN-HUR is masterful! A spectacle worthy of Cecil B. DeMille but with a story that is more grounded and layered with softer, nuanced, more human emotional performances that go beyond the visual (and visceral) experience and elevate the film into an eye-opener for the heart. Majestic in scope and message, what director Timur Bekmambetov and company have done is deliver a film for the ages. Being the classic film devotee that I am, and as my regular readers and...
By Observer Staff Reporter John Kay and Steppenwolf, one of the architects of the hard-rock sound from the 1970's, make a rare appearance at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on September 10. In the late 1960's, Steppenwolf embodied that era's social, political and philosophical restlessness, building an impressive body of edgy rock 'n' roll that retains its emotional resonance more than four decades after the band's formation. Their big hits "Born to Be Wild," "Magic Carpet Ride," "Rock Me," a...
Several artists in the coming Fall show "California Landscapes" at West Los Angeles College may first be known for a previous job, as the relative of an icon, or for working behind the scenes in the art world. But make no mistake, Gil Garcetti – former Los Angeles District Attorney and father of LA's Mayor; Lucas Reiner – son and brother to Carl and Rob Reiner; and Gayle Roski – renowned art philanthropist after whom the USC School of Art and Design is named, are gifted visual artists who have...
Deborah Warren has been named the new Director of Marketing and James Sims the new Director of Communications at Center Theatre Group of Los Angeles, one of the largest and most active nonprofit theatre companies in the country.. Warren arrives at Center Theatre Group with a marketing background that includes a decade at League of Resident Theatres (LORT), including five years as Director of Marketing at the Geffen Playhouse. She spent 15 years marketing Broadway productions in New York and around the country with Disney Theatrical Group as...
Rehearsals have begun for the world premiere of “Throw Me on the Burnpile and Light Me Up,”written and performed by the Oscar-nominated Lucy Alibar (Best Adapted Screenplay for “Beasts of the Southern Wild”). “Throw Me on the Burnpile” previews September 10, opens September 16 and continues through October 2 at Center Theatre Group’s Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Directed by Center Theatre Group Associate Artistic Director Neel Keller, “Throw Me on the Burnpile and Light Me Up” blends a lecherous goat, Pentecostals on the radio, a clut...
A quiet little gem from "Orange Is The New Black" writer/producer Sian Heder expands wider in theatres this week - TALLULAH. Heder, who not only writes TALLULAH, makes her feature directorial debut, and in the process delivers a beautiful film driven by intimate character studies and the intricacy of nuanced detail. We first meet Tallulah and boyfriend Nico living in Tallulah's beat-up old van. Living a true vagabond life, the two have been wandering around the country for two years, stealing...
Philip Roth has long been a favorite author to many. His words have found themselves adapted for the big screen countless times to great effect. But it’s his 29th novel, INDIGNATION, that is one of the most beautiful and resonant adaptations thanks to writer/director James Schamus. A novel that fictionalizes Roth’s own life during his college years, on both page and screen, we are transported on both an emotional and sensory level to 1950's Newark, New Jersey with the story of Marcus Mes...
ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE Scrat's back and as to be expected, he's up to his old tricks again; this time inadvertently creating the solar system thanks to his never-ending pursuit of that elusive acorn. That's right folks! The ICE AGE franchise continues with this fresh and funny fifth installment, ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE. As has become the story standard, everyone's favorite saber-toothed squirrel Scrat and his mishaps are the catalysts or inspirations for each film. Remember the splitting...
Kentwood Players will hold open auditions for the musical “YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN” with book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, music and lyrics by Mel Brooks, on Saturday, September 10 from 11 am to 2 pm and Sunday, September 11 from 6 pm to 9 pm. Callbacks by invitation only will be held on Monday, September 12 at 7pm. This is a non-equity, non-paid production led by Director/Choreographer Alison Mattiza and Musical Director Catherine Rahm, produced by Lori A. Marple-Pereslete by special arrangement with Musical Theatre International. Per...
Right in the heart of the classic motion picture studio district "Screenland" comes a revived art form of theatrical revue. With laughter, drama and song, this is the whacky world of "The Bucket List Actors. " It all started as a group of once were, or wanna be actors and performers, started meeting in Culver City two years ago. Carole Marie, a Chickasaw citizen, and long time Screen Actors Guild member, had an early morning dream about her digital camera she had used to make documentaries. It...
Once again, Woody Allen sweeps us up into the magic, elegance, glamour and excitement of an era long past with CAFÉ SOCIETY. But that's where the "once again" part ends as Allen pushes himself beyond his patented funny and delivers a film with emotionally resonant characters (but still dealing with myriad neuroses) and a story as rich as the film's visuals. Filled with bittersweet poignancy, heartbreak and humor, a tinge of melancholy laced with a longing for days gone and a wistful wondering...
The season opens on July 16 with Frog Tails, an original play as part of the Children’s Popcorn Theatre series. Long time company member Eric Billitzer has once again combined and updated two Grimm folk tales for a comedy of mistaken identities, magical spells, royal romance, and talking animals. Directing is Nicola Henry, Vice President of CCPT. Nicola trained in London's Covent Garden securing a BA Honours Degree in Drama and set up her own theatre company and acting school in the UK for children and adults, Imagine Theatre Company. C...
Shrek the Musical, Jr is coming July 14, 15 and 16t from dee-Lightful Productions at the Vets Auditorium. Better than the book, better than the movie, Shrek the Musical has ogres, donkeys, fairy tale creatures, and princesses of several kinds. Songs! Jokes! Belching! (He's an ogre, you know -) Thursday the 14th and Friday the 15th at 7 pm, and two shows on Saturday the 16th at 3 pm and 7 pm. Tickets available at the door, All seats $10. For more info, go to www.dee-Lightful.org, or like us on Facebook....
The first word that comes to mind on watching writer/director Matt Ross's CAPTAIN FANTASTIC is "intelligent", quickly followed by "humor" and "heart", culminating in "beautiful storytelling." Ross captures our attention and imagination not only with the opening titles but with the first frames. A lush, thick wooded forest. Glimmers of sunbeams filter through the massive height of the trees. An audible stillness fills the senses with the sounds of nature. A softly babbling brook. The soft rustle...
When it comes to espionage, be it literary or cinematic, one name jumps to the forefront. John le Carre. "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy", "A Most Wanted Man", "The Russia House", "The Constant Gardener" and currently airing on cable on AMC, "The Night Manager" with Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie, should immediately spring to mind. And now OUR KIND OF TRAITOR, a subtler yet equally fraught with tension, but a more emotional and contemporary story based on Le Carre's 2010 best-seller is added to the b...
It's been a long time since audiences have had a "killer" shark movie to bite into. Sure, we've all been swept up into the "Sharknado" frenzy of the past few years (with July 31, 2016 already circled in blood red on the calendar for "Sharknado 4"), but that speaks to our feral bloodlust and love of over-the-top implausible disaster scenarios, as do so many of the "Sharktopus", "Shark Attack", "Megashark" "Super Shark" and "Ghost Shark" entries in the genre. (Yes, shark movies are their own genre...
It's been 13 years since we last saw everyone's favorite short-term memoried blue tang Dory and all it takes is one look at FINDING DORY to ask yourself - How could we have gone this long waiting to see Dory again? But without missing a beat, everything feels right with the world and you forget that it's been so long since our last visit. FINDING DORY is an undersea rainbow of beauty, mystery and fun, filled with heartfelt happiness. Swimmingly sensational, FINDING DORY is nothing short of Two...
