Buying gifts for movie geeks can be tough. If you go for an obvious cinematic classic, they’ll have probably already bought it for themselves. If you go for an eye-catching … Read More
Album review: Neil Young is weary but unbowed on the new “Peace Trail”
Only five short months have elapsed since Neil Young’s last album, a live collection called Earth, hit the marketplace, and already the classic rocker is back with a batch of … Read More
Movie Review: “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is too elaborate, but good fun
The tendency toward serialization in current pop culture has proven a boon for television, with shows becoming more addictive and binge-able as the stories that are unpacked become more complex. Unfortunately, … Read More
Blu-ray Review: “On Guard” and “Five Day Lover” show two sides of a beloved French director
The late French filmmaker Philippe de Broca is probably best known in the U.S. for making the ’60s cult film King of Hearts, although he has a career that spanned more than … Read More
DVD Review: “City of Gold” offers a food critic’s vision of Los Angeles
At first glance, Jonathan Gold does not look like a remarkable figure. Instead, he just looks like a run-of-the-mill, fifty-something dad. He’s paunchy, his fashion sense is pretty ordinary, and … Read More
Review: Maria Bamford’s new comedy album, “20%,” is her best
Album Review: Maria Bamford 20% There’s an old saw about how comedians wish they could be rock stars and rock stars wish they could be comedians. The professions are two … Read More
Blu-ray review: “South Park” tackles PC culture in excellent 19th season
The premiere of South Park‘s twentieth season tonight on Comedy Central offers a nice opportunity to reflect on how both the show and we the viewers have changed since the wild and … Read More
Album Review: “An Evening with Todd Rundgren: Live at the Ridgefield”
An Evening with Todd Rundgren: Live at the Ridgefield is a document of Rundgren’s most recent concert tour, which Pat Francis praised on this very site a few months ago. Live at … Read More
Movie Review: Imperium
At this point, Daniel Radcliffe has appeared in enough different sorts of roles on screen (and on stage) to prove that he is a solid actor and not just a one-note … Read More
Movie Review: Train to Busan
The current South Korean box office champ (also playing in select US theaters), Train to Busan, is a zombie disaster movie in the World War Z mold, but with far … Read More
Comedy Album Review: The Pat Brown “Sex Tape”
“I’m black, I’m gay, I’m female. I’m just so thankful I wasn’t left-handed.” New York-via-Atlanta comedian Pat Brown isn’t shy about her identity on her debut album, Sex Tape, but her easygoing, … Read More
Album Review: Neil Young + Promise of the Real – “Earth”
Neil Young has released at least a half-dozen archival live albums in the past decade, but he hasn’t released a “new” live album, documenting a current tour, since 2000’s Road Rock: … Read More
Movie Review: The Neon Demon
“Beauty isn’t everything. It’s the only thing.” So says a fashion designer played by Alessandro Nivola in The Neon Demon, the new arty psychodrama from Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn. Set in the Los Angeles … Read More
Movie Review: The Duel (Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth)
The Duel is a new western that feels like an old western, but not in a good way. Writer Matt Cook (Triple 9) and director Kieran Darcy-Smith essentially serve up a pale … Read More