What a delight. Dustin Hoffman is a revelation as Dorothy, the woman he pretends to be to further himself as an actor – but he’s no less impressive as Michael, the passionate actor so dedicated to his craft. His on-screen arguments with Sydney Pollack, who also directed this film, are classic. And Bill Murray, Jessica Lange, Geena Davis, Dabney Coleman, Teri Garr, Charles During – all of them add something special to this breezy, witty comedy, which has heart as well as l

2013

Jul

MY FAVORITE YEAR By David Bianculli

This 1982 movie, a thinly veiled behind-the-scenes look at TV’s classic Your Show of Shows variety series, was produced by Brooksfilms. That’s Mel Brooks’ company, and Brooks, of course, was one of the writers on Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows through its entire run. Richard Benjamin directs this wild comedy, which stars Joseph Bologna in the Caesar-type role, Mark Linn-Baker as the wide-eyed young comedy writer, and Peter O’Toole as a wild and crazy actor, a forme

2013

Jul

DINER By David Bianculli

Barry Levinson arrived, big time, with this 1982 character study, a smart and tender look at a bunch of friends in Baltimore at the end of the 1950s. Levinson both wrote and directed this movie, and deserves equal credit for both. He also deserves praise for his eye for casting, because the group of actors he assembled here is top-notch, and catches most of them at the start of their careers. Daniel Stern. Mickey Rourke. Kevin Bacon. Steve Guttenberg. Paul Reiser. Ellen Barkin. Tim Daly. And the

2013

Jul

IF DOCTOR WHO'S ON FIRST, WHAT'S ON SECOND? By Bill Brioux

BBC America celebrated the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who at the tony L.A. SoHo House in West Hollywood. Bill Brioux reports...

2013

Jul

MOYERS & COMPANY By David Bianculli

Bill Moyers’ guest this week, helping Moyers commemorate and evaluate the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington, is Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga), the last surviving speaker from the day Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I have a dream” speech from the Lincoln Memorial. The hour – a must-see, engrossing TV history lesson – begins with Moyers and Lewis chatting with young students at the base of Lincoln’s statue, and ends with Moyers thanking

2013

Jul

DAY FOR NIGHT By David Bianculli

In 1973, Francois Truffaut directed this head-spinning exercise in life imitating art becoming art imitating life imitating… and so on. The movie is about a director, played by Truffaut himself, working against strong odds, and strong-willed actors and actresses and assistants, to complete a movie that’s behind schedule and beset with production problems. Co-stars include Jacqueline Bisset, Valentina Cortese and Jean-Pierre Aumont.

2013

Jul

SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN By David Bianculli

In this 2011 romantic comedy directed by the lyrical Lasse Hallstrom, a sheikh wants to bring sport fishing to the deserts of Yemen – and with an almost unlimited budget, and an enterprising scientist, the attempt is made. Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt star, which is good news. If there’s one thing that’s crucial to the success of a movie about salmon fishing, it’s the casting.

2013

Jul

FROM BROADWAY WITH LOVE: A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR SANDY HOOK By David Bianculli

Less than six weeks after the horrifying shooting at Sandy Hook, CT, the theater communities in nearby Newtown, elsewhere in Connecticut and throughout New York City combined to donate their services and put on a Broadway-level benefit show at the Palace Theatre in Waterbury, CT – “about 20 minutes,” says my longtime friend Jeffrey Saver, the show’s music director, “from where the shootings occurred.” All involved donated their services, and donations are soli

2013

Jul

THE LAST METRO By David Bianculli

Francois Truffaut directed this haunting 1980 film, which provided memorable and complicated roles for two of France’s most iconic movie stars: the impulsive Gerard Depardieu and the gorgeous Catherine Deneuve.

2013

Jul

HELL'S KITCHEN By David Bianculli

SEASON FINALE: The heat of Hell’s Kitchen has dissipated for me a bit the past two cycles – too much repetition, too few surprises. But the last episode of this show usually delivers a few nice moments, either of inspiration or desperation, from the remaining candidates vying to advance their culinary dreams. So popping in for the finale, without seeing what’s led up to it, is kind of like eating out and ordering only the dessert.

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