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

 
 
2016
Feb
28
 
 
There’s no way even PBS would schedule the Downton Abbey series finale – which is terrific, by the way – opposite the Academy Awards. The finale is being held until next week. Tonight, there’s a new Downton Abbey special, looking at the scenery, settings, manners and morals of this show’s early twentieth century British setting. But for what happens to your beloved characters of Downton, stay tuned – for one more week. Check local listings.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Feb
28
 
 
The past two shows, opening this second half of the season, have been among the show’s all-time best – and with where they left things last week, there’s no reason not to expect more very good things to come.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Feb
28
 
 
Last week’s season opener was quite good – sorry I didn’t point it out in advance, but these Sunday Best Bets are getting quite overpopulated. Yet after last week’s cliffhanger closing, walking towards that outdoor wedding, I’d feel really remiss not to recommend it this week.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Feb
28
 
 
For three weeks now, I’ve pointed out that what’s happened in presidential politics has been so bizarre, you need to watch this weekly wrap-up. Make it four weeks, because this week, with the latest Republican debate, was the oddest one yet.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Feb
28
 
 
Twenty years ago, Cuba Gooding, Jr. won a best supporting actor Oscar as pro football receiver Rod “Show me the money” Tidwell in Jerry Maguire. He followed that up with another hit feature film, 1997’s As Good As It Gets...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Feb
27
 
 
Between the infamous tone set last Thursday evening during the latest Republican debate and the Academy Awards telecast coming up, what better time to see “Mean Tweets – Movie Edition” from Jimmy Kimmel Live!...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Feb
27
 
 
There’s nothing new on of note on TV this evening, so it’s a good time to catch up on some old movies. Not too old, this time – for example, this 1995 comedy is only 21 years old now – older than its protagonist, played by Alicia Silverstone, but still pretty young, as films go. Clueless tapped into and popularized the Valley Girl culture and teenspeak of the mid-1990s, and also showcased, as a charming young leading man, a guy named Paul Rudd. All these years later, Silv
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Feb
27
 
 
This 2013 David O. Russell movie did wonderful things with its primary cast: Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence play against type, and are fabulous, as the women involved in a wild scheme to infiltrate and uncover mob activity and expose political scandals. Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, Louis C.K. – they’re all terrific here.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Feb
27
 
 
This film is from 1979, and is one of my favorite movies – a relatively low-budget comedy-drama about an Indiana high school student and his friends, growing up surrounded by quarries and preppy college students. Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid and Daniel Stern star – and if you haven’t seen this movie, which builds to a delightful and exciting climax, I don’t want to say any more, other than to encourage you to watch.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2016
Feb
27
 
 
The current host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show is on view here in a previous incarnation, doing a stand-up comedy concert in 2013. See, and hear, what he discussed, and how he discussed it, when his personal comedy stakes were lower.