Director John Walter Talkin’ About a Theater of War and Meryl Streep by Brad Balfour While Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep garners attention for her role as the authoritarian nun in Doubt, another film – the doc Theater of War out now – offers insight into Steep as an actress, and it grapples with the nature of war as … Continue reading
Category Archives: Musicals
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (A PopEntertainment.com Movie Review)
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3 – SENIOR YEAR (2008) Starring Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Bart Johnson, Alyson Reed, Olesya Rulin, Chris Warren Jr., Ryne Sanborn, KayCee Stroh, Matt Prokop, Justin Martin, Jemma McKenzie-Brown, Leslie Wing Pomeroy and Socorro Herrera. Screenplay by Peter Barsocchini. Directed by Kenny Ortega. Distributed … Continue reading
Frankie Valli – Romancing the 00s
Frankie Valli Romancing the 00s by Jay S. Jacobs Frankie Valli has been such an in-your-face presence in music and pop culture for so many decades that it is kind of shocking when you realize that his CD Romancing the 60s is his first album of new material in 28 years. After all, this is a guy … Continue reading
Chris Warren, Jr. – Exploring His Depth
Chris Warren, Jr. Exploring His Depth by Deborah Wagner Christopher Warren Jr. was born with acting in his blood. With both parents in the business, he knew from an early age that it was what he wanted to do with his life. After paying his dues for over a decade on TV, the big screen … Continue reading
Mamma Mia! (A PopEntertainment.com Movie Review)
MAMMA MIA! (2008) Starring Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Christine Baranski, Colin Firth, Julie Walters, Stellan Skarsgård, Dominic Cooper, Rachel McDowall and Ashley Lilley. Screenplay by Catherine Johnson. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Distributed by Universal Pictures. 108 minutes. Rated PG-13. Mamma Mia! has been a bit of a surprise as a theatrical phenomenon – and … Continue reading
George Martin – A Little Help For His Friends
Sir George Martin A Little Help for His Friends by Ken Sharp George Martin is inarguably the most successful music producer of all-time. If there’s anyone who can legitimately lay claim to the mantle of “Fifth” Beatle, it’s George Martin. Martin’s unparalleled production expertise coupled with his profound talents as a musician, arranger and conductor … Continue reading
A Very Brady Musical – Lloyd Schwartz and Hope Juber Reimagine the Family Business
A Very Brady Musical Lloyd Schwartz and Hope Juber Reimagine the Family Business by Ronald Sklar For the producers of The Brady Bunch, it was more like Family Affair. Creator Sherwood Schwartz (who also gave the world Gilligan’s Island) worked closely with his son, Lloyd, and still does. However, for those five sunshine-day seasons on ABC, the Schwartz team lived, … Continue reading
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (A PopEntertainment.com Movie Review)
SWEENEY TODD – THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET (2007) Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Jamie Campbell Bower, Ed Sanders, Timothy Spall, Jayne Wisener, Sacha Baron Cohen, Laura Michelle Kelly, Gracie May, Ava May and Gabriella Freeman. Screenplay by John Logan. Directed by Tim Burton. Distributed by Paramount Pictures. 117 minutes. Rated … Continue reading
Jim Sturgess Bets on 21 to Transform His Acting Career
Jim Sturgess Bets on 21 to Transform His Acting Career by Brad Balfour Based on Ben Mezrich’s non-fiction book Bringing Down the House – about MIT master math student Jeff Ma and his blackjack team – 21 details the story of Ben Campbell and his card-counting crew that ravages Las Vegas casinos for little over a year (making oodles … Continue reading
Romance and Cigarettes (A PopEntertainment.com Movie Review)
ROMANCE & CIGARETTES (2005) Starring James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Steve Buscemi, Mandy Moore, Mary-Louise Parker, Aida Turturro, Bobby Cannavale, Christopher Walken, Barbara Sukowa, Elaine Stritch, Eddie Izzard, Amy Sedaris, P.J. Brown, Adam LeFevre and John Turturro. Screenplay by John Turturro. Directed by John Turturro. Distributed by United Artists. 106 minutes. Rated R. 2007 … Continue reading