A classically styled drama from writer Sabrina Gennarino and director Pieter Gaspersz, AFTER is thoughtfully absorbing and beautifully acted, focusing not only on the dynamics of “family” but the ties that bind and the lengths family goes for one and another. The Valentinos are your average middle class family. Patriarch
By: debbie lynn elias In her latest film, THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY, Helen Mirren plays the stoic and hauteur Madame Mallory, proud owner of the well-respected Michelin star holding restaurant Le Saule Pleureur. A true lover of French cuisine with an inscrutable palate, Madame Mallory knows food and its preparation. But what
By: debbie lynn elias You know them. You love them. You have a kick-ass time with them. And they’re back! Bigger and badder than ever, THE EXPENDABLES 3 has you breathless within the first 10 minutes, setting the stage for the most explosive film of the year; after all, who
By: debbie lynn elias To paraphrase screenwriter Steven Knight, “Food is memories”. Since the days of a feeble Oliver Twist innocently saying “Please sir, I want some more” to Scarlet O’Hara infamously avowing “I’ll never go hungry again” to Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka to Ratatouille to the Food Network
By: debbie lynn elias One of the most indelible and adorable characters to emerge as a scene-stealer in Marvel’s GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is Groot. Diehard Marvel Comics fans first met Groot (aka Monarch of Planet X) back in 1960 when he appeared in “Tales to Astonish” Issue 13. Described as
By: debbie lynn elias I admit it. I had some doubts when it was announced James Gunn (whom I admire and am a fan of his work) would be directing GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. Although I had no doubts about Gunn nailing the humor and action ideology of the film,
By: debbie lynn elias One look at Joe Swanberg’s HAPPY CHRISTMAS and you can fully appreciate why W.C. Fields once intoned, “Never work with children or animals” because with a child as adorable and scene-stealing as Swanberg’s 2-year old son Jude, you’ll be upstaged every time. And that’s exactly what
By: debbie lynn elias From a 1925 Alfa Romeo to Jacki Weaver draped in $2.9 million in diamonds to vintage 1920’s French couture to the ethereal elegance of Cap d’Antibes and Mouans-Sartoux to the ever dashing Colin Firth (*sigh*), Woody Allen steeps us in old world beauty and classic glamour
By: debbie lynn elias Norton Herrick is a true renaissance man. A titan in real estate and business, Herrick may be best known to most as CEO of The Herrick Company. Born and raised in Brooklyn, over the past 40 years Herrick has become one of the most successful and
By: debbie lynn elias As the voice of Dusty Crophopper in Planes and now Planes: Fire & Rescue, Dane Cook fulfills the dreams of so many kids who, like himself, can’t contain their excitement on meeting or hearing the voice of their “hero” talking to them. On meeting his young fans,
