DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
2013
Jun
24
 
 
Ron Davis produced and directed this new HBO documentary film, which visits, and gives the history of, the decade-old pageant for children with limitations, organized by Abbey Curran, who was diagnosed at age 2 with cerebral palsy. She went on to compete in the Miss USA pageant, but not before organizing this less restrictive alternative, where every entrant wins something, and self-esteem is the real prize.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jun
24
 
 
SERIES PREMIERE: This new summer series, a welcome and different experiment from CBS, is based on a 2009 story by Stephen King, which imagines that a giant invisible dome is dropped over a small town, isolating its residents from the world outside. The same thing happened to the town of Springfield in 2007’s The Simpsons Movie, but let’s put that aside. What we have here is the makings of a welcome summer diversion, starring Dean Norris from Breaking Bad as a town resident prepared t
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jun
24
 
 
SEASON PREMIERE: The opening offering for Season 26 of P.O.V. comes from Harlem, where a funeral director named Isaiah Owens ministers to the needs of his community in a way that brings to mind, among other things, Six Feet Under and a TLC reality series. No wait – that last part doesn’t sound like a compliment, and what I’m trying to say is that this program, a celebration of both death and life, is well worth your time. Just know, as this documentary also points out, that tim
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jun
23
 
 
This 1994 movie thriller was an unforgettable introduction to Natalie Portman, who stars opposite Jean Reno in this tense, touching tale of a hit man (Reno’s Leon) who, against his better judgment, shelters a youngster who witnessed the murder of her family. Gary Odman co-stars, and writer-director Luc Besson makes superb use of all three performers.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jun
23
 
 
In this second episode of the new season, a still-menacing Bill (Stephen Moyer) has a vision in which Lilith comes to him. In the daylight – which he interprets as an extremely powerful sign. For a vampire, that’s close to a religious experience: After all, he’s seen the light.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jun
23
 
 
SEASON FINALE: Peggy has called Don a monster. Sally has caught Don with another man’s wife. Other characters have been touched on the knee, shot in the face, gotten double duty on TV by donning a blonde wig, or just responded to a bad stretch by curling up in the fetal position. And tonight, after all that, comes the season finale. How can you not watch?
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jun
23
 
 
SEASON PREMIERE: The opening to Season 2 is very bloody, and very violent, as though Copper is almost daring you to change channels. But you shouldn’t. What starts with a dissatisfied john carving his initials into a prostitute’s back soon leads to the introduction of a riveting new character, played by a fully bearded Donal Logue.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jun
23
 
 
Tom (Chris O’Dowd), once again, visits a remote location where historical re-enactors enthusiastically go through their paces, and joins them in their odd pursuits. This time, though, the fun takes place on this side of the pond – another thing he finds the United States and his native United Kingdom have in common.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jun
23
 
 
Resemblances to the board game Clue and the series Downton Abbey are purely intentional. Anything in common with stupidity likely wasn’t in the game plan...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Jun
22
 
 
Morgan Spurlock, one of the more recognizable faces in American documentary filmmaking, premieres his new series this Sunday night on CNN...