Albert Brooks and Sheetal Sheth Looking for Symmetry with the Muslim World by Jay S. Jacobs Albert Brooks is no stranger to controversy. He has done comic films mocking love (Modern Romance), death (Defending Your Life), consumerism (Lost in America), family (Mother), artistry (The Muse) and the voyeuristic tendencies of the American people (Real Life). Still, the respected filmmaker is a little taken … Continue reading
Category Archives: Writing
Atom Egoyan – Finding the Truth in Directing
ATOM EGOYAN FINDING THE TRUTH IN DIRECTING by Brad Balfour For Canadian director Atom Egoyan creating Where the Truth Lies offered a challenge of constructing something that was almost a genre film but not quite. Wrestling with musician/composer Rupert Holmes’ novel of the same name, Egoyan takes a story that plays on the conventions of the classic … Continue reading
Christopher Kennedy Lawford – No Penalty for Early Withdrawal
Christopher Kennedy Lawford No Penalty for Early Withdrawal by Ronald Sklar “The brilliance about being a drug addict and an alcoholic is that I’ve had my worst day,” Christopher Kennedy Lawford says. “Nobody can do to me what I already did far worse to myself. In terms of telling the truth about myself, no matter … Continue reading
George Clooney, David Strathairn, Patricia Clarkson and Grant Heslov – Patriotic Acts
George Clooney, David Strathairn, Patricia Clarkson and Grant Heslov Patriotic Acts by Jay S. Jacobs Copyright ©2005 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: October 1, 2005. The word legendary is tossed about way too cavalierly, however Edward R. Murrow is legitimately a legend of television broadcasting. The newsman took his radio fame (from his current affairs show … Continue reading
Jake Steinfeld – Business by Jake
Jake Steinfeld Business by Jake by Ronald Sklar “I’m looking for a kick-ass idea,” says Jake Steinfeld, of the “Body by Jake” fitness empire. “I’m looking for someone with a boatload of passion, and a ‘don’t quit’ attitude. It doesn’t need to be a zillion dollar idea – no one comes up with a zillion … Continue reading
Chelsea Handler – Going Horizontal
CHELSEA HANDLER GOING HORIZONTAL BY JAY S. JACOBS If Chelsea Handler isn’t careful, her career may infringe on her time and opportunities to have trysts. The pretty New Jersey native has been quite busy making a splash in the world of stand-up comedy, doing sold-out gigs all over the US. She is one of the … Continue reading
Steven Biel – United States of American Gothic
Steven Biel United States of American Gothic by Ronald Sklar Copyright ©2005 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted June 27, 2005. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Grant Wood must be flattered out the wazoo. Although the artist of “American Gothic” died in 1942, his painting has gone on to symbolize all things American, and parodied by … Continue reading
Alexander Payne – Staying Straight While Making Sideways
ALEXANDER PAYNE STAYING STRAIGHT WHILE MAKING SIDEWAYS by Brad Balfour With Sideways, Alexander Payne really proves he’s a true contender, not just the creator of smart, snarky idiosyncratic comedies but solid filmmaker who tackled humanity with aplomb. In this humorous on-the-road buddy flick, leads Paul Giamatti (failed writer Miles Raymond) and Thomas Haden Church (former hot actor Jack) grapple with Jack’s … Continue reading
Julie Delpy – Paris Match
Julie Delpy Paris Match by Jay S. Jacobs Sometimes, through a mixture of hard work, talent and sheer luck, a movie just clicks. Everything works. The 1995 romantic comedy/drama Before Sunrise was one of those films. It stood out from the pack of the Gen X films of the time, because it was smart, funny and had a serious point of view. It was light … Continue reading
Robert T. Littell – Watching Kennedy Grow
ROBERT T. LITTELL WATCHING KENNEDY GROW BY RONALD SKLAR It’s hard to believe that John F. Kennedy, Jr. has been dead for over five years. For a young man so full of life and promise (his father called it “vigor”), he was able to form an uneasy existence with the label that was foisted upon … Continue reading