Jen Kirkman Living in a Material World by Jay S. Jacobs This year is comedian Jen Kirkman’s 20th year doing standup. Just don’t expect her to do anything big to celebrate that fact on her “All New Material, Girl” Tour. “No! No, no, no. Just touring is always special,” Kirkman laughed to me recently as … Continue reading
Designated Survivor The Complete First Season (2016-2017) (ABC Studios) It is sort of ironic that Designated Survivor is becoming so popular running during the Trump administration. In many ways, President Tom Kirkman (played by Kiefer Sutherland) is many things that Trump promised he would be on the campaign trail (and then he promptly broke all … Continue reading
Jordan Brady Is Director Comic by Jay S. Jacobs If you think it’s a tough life being a road comic, imagine when the road is in Afghanistan and Iraq. Yet, every year hundreds of entertainers fly out into war zones, entering dangerous areas, staying in less than luxurious quarters, not getting paid for their time … Continue reading
Viggo Mortensen Acclaimed Actor Gets Oscar Nom Leading Captain Fantastic by Brad Balfour If anyone could relate to the character of Ben Cash – the focus of filmmaker Matt Ross’s feature Captain Fantastic – it’s Viggo Mortensen. The New York-born actor isn’t far removed, practically and philosophically, from his lead character’s situation as a bohemian … Continue reading
David Oyelowo Historical Accuracy by Jay S. Jacobs David Oyelowo has been making movies for a little over a decade now, and he seems to have carved out a special niche in Hollywood. The actor, who was born in Oxford and lived several years in Nigeria as a boy, has become Hollywood’s go-to choice for … Continue reading
A UNITED KINGDOM (2017) Starring David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike, Jack Davenport, Tom Felton, Laura Carmichael, Terry Pheto, Jessica Oyelowo, Arnold Oceng, Anton Lesser, Anastasia Hille, Jack Lowden, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Vusi Kunene, Theo Landey, Abena Ayivor, Charlotte Hope and Donald Molosi. Screenplay by Guy Hibbert. Directed by Amma Asante. Distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures. 111 minutes. … Continue reading
Raoul Peck Oscar Nominated Director’s I’m Not Your Negro Shows That Writer James Baldwin Wasn’t by Brad Balfour Director Raoul Peck is not your typical filmmaker. Even though he has established a solid set of credits such as making the 2000 documentary Lumumba or his fictional 2005 narrative, Sometimes in April, the Port-au-Prince, Haiti, born … Continue reading
Patty Griffin, Sara Watkins and Anais Mitchell – Jorgensen Auditorium – UCONN – Storrs, Connecticut – March 5, 2016 In the thick of primary politics, three of the finest female American singer songwriters are touring with the backing of the League of Women Voters: Patty Griffin, Sara Watkins and Anais Mitchell. This past Saturday at … Continue reading
WHERE TO INVADE NEXT (2016) Featuring Michael Moore, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, Krista Kiuru, Tim Walker. Amel Smaoui, Jenny Tumas, Pasi Sahlberg, Halla Tomasdottir and Borut Pahor. Written by Michael Moore. Directed by Michael Moore. Distributed by Dog Eat Dog Films. 110 minutes. Rated R. With politics in a weird state of flux, with some people feeling … Continue reading
Jill Hennessy A Little Bit of Comfort by Jay S. Jacobs There is sometimes a bit of mistrust of actors who suddenly decide to become musicians. And while it is true that some of them are trying to exploit their name recognition, more and more often it is turning out that those actors really are … Continue reading
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