David Morse and Ryan Hurst Step Into WGN’s Outsiders Season Two by Brad Balfour Just like its name suggests, the WGN’s series Outsiders is definitely something that engenders risk; it, so to speak, sits “outside” of expectations. Think about it: a weird community in the hollers of Kentucky resists efforts to corral an extended family … Continue reading
A DOG’S PURPOSE (2017) Starring Britt Robertson, KJ Apa, John Ortiz, Dennis Quaid, Juliet Rylance, Luke Kirby, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Peggy Lipton, Pooch Hall, and the voice of Josh Gad. Screenplay by W. Bruce Cameron, Cathryn Michon, Audrey Wells, Maya Forbes and Wally Wolodarsky. Directed by Lasse Hallström. Distributed by Universal Pictures. 100 minutes. Rated PG. … Continue reading
Louis CK and Kevin Hart Are Animated in The Secret Life of Pets by Brad Balfour Comedians Louis CK and Kevin Hart make for formidable presences, especially through their voices – which really makes the animated feature The Secret Life of Pets a rollicking comedy and the raucous charmer of the past summer. Now it is getting its … Continue reading
Cynthia Addai-Robinson Figures Out The Accountant by Brad Balfour A title like The Accountant, the latest film from director Gavin O Connor (Warrior, Pride and Glory), defies expectations. Not suggesting the action film that’s about to unfold lends it further drive and energy. There are various surprises in this tale of a man with Asperger’s … Continue reading
Master Bassist Robert Miller Makes Project Grand Slam His Mission by Brad Balfour With his dark shades and black/white garb on stage, master bassist Robert Miller seems like a cool cat out of a 1950s Hollywood casting of a jazz musician. But he’s much more than that. The 60-ish player is leader of Robert Miller’s … Continue reading
Jaume Collet-Serra A Director Takes a Dip in The Shallows by Brad Balfour Sharks are never far from the news – whether it’s a rare catch off the coast of New York City, or attacking swimmers en masse off the surfers’ shores of Australia. But in The Shallows, young-though-experienced surfer Nancy Adams (played by a … Continue reading
Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone & Akiva Schaffer SNL Vets Make a Music Mockumentary, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping by Brad Balfour Maybe it’s simply an extended Saturday Night Live bit, but considering the state of the current pop music scene – with self-parodying musicians such as Justin Bieber, Kanye West and Ariana Grande – a … Continue reading
Steve Aoki In Bio Doc Premiering at TFF, DJ Mixes Up An A-List Career by Brad Balfour Son of sports star and entrepreneur Rocky Aoki, long-haired Steve Aoki strode a very different path to set in motion his own career. But becoming an internationally-renowned DJ / mixer / producer wasn’t initially part of his plan. A Grammy-nominated international producer / … Continue reading
Ridley Scott Legendary Director Launches The Martian by Brad Balfour When an established, serious, award-winning director like Ridley Scott makes a space movie – something associated with solemn drama – humor isn’t expected from its star. Yet in The Martian, where Matt Damon stars as American astronaut Mark Watney, who has been accidentally left behind on Mars after a mission disaster, the humor humanizes the situation. … Continue reading
Ingersol A New Voice Belting It Out by Brad Balfour For Ingersol, music and the arts have always played a big part in her life. Born on July 22, 1990, this Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, native grew up traveling between the US and the UK. Her mother had emigrated from London, England after her parents had met … Continue reading
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