Kevin Bacon Comes Out of the Woods by Brad Balfour It’s not an easy role for anyone play – a pedophile just released from prison who struggles against resuming his criminal behavior while trying to establish a normal life. But if anyone can handle playing this role, the ever-versatile Kevin Bacon can, for The Woodsman is both challenging for the subject matter and … Continue reading
JAY-Z OUT FRONT WITH JAY-Z by Brad Balfour Thanks to his current conflicts with fellow tour-ist R. Kelly, Brooklyn born hip-hop chart topper Jay-Z (aka Shawn Carter) doesn’t come down from the headlines. But there’s another reason — the release of his live concert/semi-autobiographical feature, Fade to Black (producer Rick Rubin). Chronicling his Madison Square Garden performance … Continue reading
AUDREY TAUTOU Survives War and Love and Becomes an International Star by Brad Balfour Once quirky French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet saw his offbeat romantic comedy, Amelie, become not just a hit in France but one throughout the world (it was even nominated for an Oscar), Audrey Tautou became a star. Now several years later, the two … Continue reading
Liam Neeson Investigates More Than His Soul in Kinsey by Brad Balfour Originally posted on November 17, 2004. Oscar-winning actor Liam Neeson doesn’t shy away from tough roles. When he took on Oskar Schindler for Steven Spielberg, he faced a challenge but now that he’s tackled Kinsey, he has handled some difficult tasks for award-winning … Continue reading
SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR GETS UNDER THE SKIN IN THE GRUDGE by Brad Balfour Ever since she was discovered by an agent at age four, New York born and bred Sarah Michelle Gellar has been in spotlight from doing commercials, as the groundbreaking star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and film star (Cruel Intentions/I Know What You Did Last Summer). … Continue reading
Henry Rollins Out of the Van by Ronald Sklar “I could grandstand and tell you I’m The Man, but I basically don’t have a life,” Henry Rollins tells me in a recent phone interview. As usual, The Man is being too hard on himself. The rock legend, now in his early forties and still as tough … Continue reading
Raphael Saadiq The Return of Ray Ray by Abraham Kuranga Raphael Saadiq is cool. Student Council president cool. Zach Morris cool. O.K. well, you get the point. Saadiq is also extremely focused. No stranger to success, Saadiq has reached both highs and lows, but mostly highs, with Tony! Toni! Toné! and later Lucy Pearl. Saadiq … Continue reading
CHRISTOPHER WALKEN THE SANEST MAN IN HOLLYWOOD by Jay S. Jacobs Mention the name Christopher Walken, and anyone you’re talking to will have a very strong, concrete image. There are very few actors in the world who spur such strong name recognition, such certainty on the part of an audience that we get what he’s all about. He’s a hard, … Continue reading
Chris Cooper – A Real Contender by Brad Balfour Originally posted on September 22, 2004. Actor Chris Cooper didn’t need a crystal ball to figure out how to make his character in Silver City — the bumbling local politician running for governor of Colorado — resonate in this hard-hitting reflection of our times. His campaign … Continue reading
CHARLOTTE MARTIN A SHORE THING by JAY S. JACOBS Everybody wants to be loved. That’s why we do most of the things we do in life. Even more than most, people in the arts crave acceptance. However, sometimes it is enough to just get a strong reaction. Case in point, Charlotte Martin. With the release of her … Continue reading
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