The comic hero genre isn’t my thing. I’ve enjoyed the Iron Man series for its detached, winking-at-the-camera take on things. And I enjoyed the Spider-Man reboot for its sense of fun. Although ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ is waaaay too long at 2 and a quarter hours–there are some amazing…
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Theatre Review: ‘Loveland’ at Arena Stage
By Kyle Osborne The last person in the world you’d want seated next to you on a plane from LA to Ohio is Frannie Potts. She’s the kind of overly-familiar chatterbox who makes time stand still. But don’t mistake her sensible sneakers and child-like demeanor for stupidity—there are deep, meleancholy…
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Movie Review: ‘Noah’ : Too Much Bloat, Not Enough Boat
By Kyle Osborne The deal breaker for me wasn’t whether ‘Noah’ took artistic liberties with the Bible’s ancient story from Genesis. It wasn’t that Noah (Russell Crowe) and his family wear clothes akin to jeans and hoodies—or that they do that dramatic removal of the hood (kind of like when…
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Theatre Review: ‘Tender Napalm’ at Signature Theatre. 4 out of 4 Stars !
By Kyle Osborne You know how, in every single courtroom drama you’ve ever seen, there comes a moment when one of the attorneys seems to be going out of bounds, only to be interrupted by opposing counsel with a sharp, “Objection, your Honor!” And then we cut to the judge…
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Movie Review: ‘Divergent’: This Ain’t No Hunger Games
By Kyle Osborne One way to judge the success of a film is whether the audience for whom it’s made can get into it. Oh, people will tell you that their films are made for “everyone to see and love,” but make no mistake, there is a “target demo” for…
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Theatre Review: ‘Normal’ by Molotov Theatre Group
By Kyle Osborne Have you ever known someone, perhaps a relative, an old Uncle, who could tell a scary story that made you shiver? If you can imagine getting chills just from someone’s storytelling– no blood, no scary sound effects—just words—then you have a good idea how you’ll react to…
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Movie Review: ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ Don’t Call It “Quirky”
By Kyle Osborne Quirky. Quirky, quirky, quirky. There, I’ve gotten that out of the way before I even start. Has there ever been a film by director Wes Anderson that wasn’t deservedly described as “quirky”? And yet, that word has become too facile, too shopworn at this point. It also…
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Movie Review: ‘Need For Speed’: Shut Up and Drive
By Kyle Osborne Your brain will say, “Oh, hell no!” but your eyes will say, “Oh, my!” Apparently, ‘Need For Speed’ is a series of popular video games dating back to 1994. This will already be known to many people, and that knowledge will either heighten their expectations or make…
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Movie Review: ‘300: Rise of an Empire’ ABS-solutely Beautiful Visuals
By Kyle Osborne It comes down to this question: Is it worth it to see a movie for the sole purpose of the film’s visuals? I mean, would you go to a concert where the music wasn’t the best, but the light show and performances were amazing? For me, it’s…
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Theatre Review: ‘Mamma Mia!’ at The National Theatre. The Corniest Musical You’ll Ever Love
By Kyle Osborne It’s broader than the side of a barn and more over-the-top than a Liberace and Dolly Parton pairing in Vegas. The choreography is clumsy and the actors stiffly recite their lines like Soap Opera characters in a high school play. It’s shamelessly corny and includes pratfalls and…
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Interview: Kit Harington from ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Pompeii’
By Kyle Osborne While trudging through icy climes as his best known character, Jon Snow, in the hit HBO series ‘Game of Thrones’, actor Kit Harington is usually clad in more fur garments than Aretha Franklin at an Igloo convention. But starring as the lead character in the big screen…
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Theatre Review: ‘American Idiot’ at The National Theatre
By Kyle Osborne Seeing the Broadway musical American Idiot, currently playing at The National Theatre through February 23rd, is a lot like seeing a Green Day concert…only with better diction and more harmony vocals. This is a good thing, mind you. All of the songs from their CD of the…
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Theatre Review: ‘Mother Courage and Her Children’ at Arena Stage
By Kyle Osborne Anyone who saw Kathleen Turner’s last stay at Arena Stage, 2012’s Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins, knows that she can command a stage. And, for that matter, she commands the audience—almost pulling them along for the ride. In this case, a ride atop…
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Theatre Review: ‘Violet’ at Ford’s Theatre
By Kyle Osborne The cast alone makes ‘Violet’ a must-see musical at Ford’s Theatre. Erin Driscoll, a great singer and actress, shines even brighter than the spotlight she deservedly earned as the play’s title character. Set in the Civil Rights era 60’s, Violet is a young woman who sets out…
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Movie Review: “Labor Day” Like A Nicholas Sparks Novel, Only It Doesn’t Suck As Much
By Kyle Osborne Author Nicholas Sparks has had eight of his best-selling novels adapted into mostly silly and subpar movies (Please, fans of “The Notebook,” no nasty letters) with two more in the works for this year and next. The new movie “Labor Day” wasn’t written by Sparks, but it…
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Theatre Review: ‘The Tallest Tree In The Forest’ at Arena Stage
By Kyle Osborne Even as they seem to be gaining in popularity, one-person shows can be fraught with pitfalls; try to incorporate too many characters and you risk coming off as “gimmicky” or, worse, you lose or confuse the audience. Keep it to just one character, and things can quickly…
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The Worst Movies of 2013
By Kyle Osborne You can see my Top Ten Films of 2013 here:http://www.examiner.com/review/the-top-ten-films-of-2013?cid=db_articles And these are other excellent films that, in any other year, would have made a Top Ten list, and just barely missed it this year. They’re all highly recommended. SIDE EFFECTS, PRISONERS, PHILOMENA. PLACE BEYOND THE PINES,…
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I Just Didn’t Get It: Praised Films of 2013 That Didn’t Deserve The Hype
I JUST DIDN’T GET IT By Kyle Osborne These are films that garnered high praise and, in some cases, big tallies at the Box Office, but I just didn’t get it. Didn’t get the glowing reviews, the hype, just….didn’t get it. Captain Phillips Yes, I am fully aware that Tom…
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Which Stars Had The Worst Year in 2013 ?
STAR WHO HAD THE WORST YEAR IN 2013 By Kyle Osborne Hey, remember who the star owners of the Planet Hollywood Restaurant chain were back in the 90’s? The big 3 were Stallone, Willis and Schwarzenegger. And guess what? They were each repeat offenders in 2013, starring in some of…
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Movie Review: ‘Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones’
By Kyle Osborne In the new movie, “Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones,” the first two words of the title have become a kind of “Quentin Tarantino Presents.” It’s a form of branding, rather than a continuation of something. In this case, that’s good news for movie goers, because ‘The Marked…
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Theatre Review: ‘Gypsy’ at Signature Theatre
By Kyle Osborne If ‘Gypsy’ truly is ‘The Greatest American Musical’, as many critics have agreed since its Broadway debut in 1959, then the role of ‘Momma Rose’ is surely among the most coveted and remembered among actresses. Ethel Merman’s original is remembered decades later, Broadway veterans from Bernadette Peters…
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Theatre Review: ‘The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess’ at The National Theatre
By Kyle Osborne ‘The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess”, now playing at The National Theatre is a riveting, emotional experience, but audiences expecting a “typical” Broadway musical should know that their evening will feel much more like a night at the Opera. That’s because it is, or rather, was an opera…
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Theatre Review: ‘Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner’ at Arena Stage
By Kyle Osborne When the film, “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” opened on New Year’s Day, 1968, the Civil Rights movement was just barely in the rear view mirror, many wounds still fresh, but enough distance (and change) that racial, uh, discomfort could be mined for comedy. The set-up of…
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Theatre Review: “The Apple Family Plays” at Studio Theatre. Pull Up A Chair!
The Apple Family Plays at Studio Theatre Rating:4 out of 5 Stars December 17, 2013 By Kyle Osborne Give yourself a gift this holiday season and head to Studio Theatre to see “The Apple Family Plays.” Playwright Richard Nelson’s two one-act plays, “That Hopey Changey Thing” and “Sweet and Sad,”…
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Theatre Review: ‘Maurice Hines Is Tappin Thru Life’ at Arena Stage
In “Maurice Hines is Tappin’ Thru Life,” the great hoofer distills all of the best elements of old fashion “showbiz” into a delightfully entertaining ninety minute time capsule. Ostensibly set up as a tribute to his late brother and dancing partner since childhood, Gregory Hines, the show is one big…
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Theatre Review: “If/Then” with Idina Menzel at National Theatre. Pardon Its Progress
By Kyle Osborne Forgive one for using a noun as an adjective, but the best way to describe “If/Then”, the Broadway-bound starring vehicle for Idina Menzel, is to say that it’s very, um…Broadway. The creative team behind the hit musical “Next To Normal”, which also had its pre-Broadway run in…
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What Are The Best Films of 2013? Vote Here – Vote Now!
We’re closing in on the end of a decent year at the movies. I’m already formulating my Top Ten list for the year, though I still have about 5 or 6 films to see before the final ballot is cast. But I want to hear from you! Please visit my…
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Movie Review: ‘Thor: The Dark World’
By Kyle Osborne There are so many dudes walking around in caftans and weird shaped helmets, speaking with Middle Earth accents, that I thought I was watching “Thor of The Rings” for a moment, and not “Thor: The Dark World,” the sequel to the 2011 superhero flick. But just when…
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Theatre Review: ‘Crossing’ at Signature Theatre
By Kyle Osborne There are moments in the new musical ‘Crossing,’ currently in its world premiere at Signature Theatre, that are nothing less than inspired. Not to mention inspriing. And while it feels like a final sanding of a few rough edges would do it some good, the musical gets the…
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Theatre Review: ‘Pride In The Falls Of Autrey Mill’ at Signature Theatre
By Kyle Osborne They say that the secret to comedy is timing, but in the case of ‘Pride In The Falls Of Autrey Mill,’ world premiering at Signature Theatre, just as important as timing is casting. It’s impossible to imagine Paul Downs Colaiizzo’s pitch black comedy without Christine Lahti as its heart…
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Theatre Review: ‘Love In Afghanistan’ at Arena Stage
By Kyle Osborne There are many positive elements swimming about in “Love In Afghansitan,” Charles Randolph-Wright’s world premiere, currently playing at Arena Stage. What there is not, unfortunately, is a single moment where you believe that the main characters are actually in love. As missing pieces go, there isn’t a…
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Theatre Review: Romeo and Juliet at Folger Shakespeare Library
By Kyle Osborne ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is already considered the most accessible (if not over exposed) of Shakespeare’s works. But the new adaptation at Shakespeare Folger Theatre kicks the door open even wider. This is not your father’s Shakespeare—it’s your daughter’s. The centuries old tragedy has been given an almost…
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Movie Review: ‘Ender’s Game’
By Kyle Osborne ‘Ender’s Game’ comes to the multiplex with a built-in fan base of Sci-Fi readers who have devoured the original novel since its award winning year of release in 1985. That’s a lot of time and pressure, and one suspects that fans with that much of an emotional…
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Looking For A Scary Movie? This Guy Has 150 Suggestions For You
By Kyle Osborne If you want to find a diamond, you go to a jeweler. If you want a great recipe, you ask an experienced chef. And if you want to find a scary movie, well, just ask Dustin. In his new book, ‘The Fright File:150 Films To See Before…
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Movie Review: ‘All Is Lost’: Robert Redford Stays Afloat, But Does The Film Sail?
By Kyle Osborne Tom Hanks had a volleyball to talk to. Sandra Bullock had “Houston in the blind.” But poor Robert Redford, the only, and mostly silent, character in “All Is Lost” has nothing but his inner thoughts (which are unheard by the audience). He’s stranded at sea, his impressive…
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Theatre Review: ‘Extremities’ by Molotov Theatre Company
By Kyle Osborne The first fifteen minutes of ‘Extremities’ are an anxiety-inducing swan dive into the dark waters of human behavior. And that’s before the real moral dilemmas begin. The one-act play, which opened off-Broadway in 1982, is the perfect choice for the always adventurous Molotov Theatre Company, since exploring…
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‘The Exorcist’ Returns To Theaters For One Week + Q&A with William Peter Blatty
One Week Exclusive Engagement October 31 – November 7 At the AMC Georgetown Theaters in Washington, DC Q&A Screening with author/screenwriter/producer William Peter Blatty Thursday, October 31, 2013 Academy Award® winning author/screenwriter/producer William Peter Blatty will kick off an Exclusive One Week Engagement of The Exorcist in celebration of…
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Movie Review: ‘Carrie’ A Remake That Stands On Its Own
By Kyle Osborne For once, my fading memory serves me well–thanks to my aging gray matter, combined with the many intervening years since I last saw the 1976 original “Carrie,” directed by Brian DePalma, I am able to review director Kimberly Peirce’s re-make as a stand-alone film. I can judge…
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Movie Review: ‘The Fifth Estate’
By Kyle Osborne Sometimes I wonder if our feelings about a movie are influenced by whether the characters within are “good” or “bad” or “unlikeable.” Take, for instance, ‘Captain Phillips,’ a just “okay” movie about a “good man” and played, of course, by the beloved Tom Hanks. Are the overly-generous…
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Movie Review: ’12 Years A Slave’ Hard To Watch, Impossible To Forget
By Kyle Osborne Painful to watch, but impossible to look away from, ’12 Years A Slave,’ based on the 1853 memoir of Solomon Northup, is an eye-opener in the most wrenching possible way. Director Steve McQueen’s unflinching take on the epic journey of a free and well-educated New Yorker, (Chiwetel…
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Movie Review: ‘Escape Plan’ Arnold and Sly are Back on Planet Hollywood
By Kyle Osborne With a combined 113 years of living between them, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone have seen it all. They’ve been at the top, at the very bottom, and now in their AARP years, these two muscle-heads have floated back up just a bit—they’re in that, “Yeah, their…
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The ‘New and Improved’ Molotov Theatre Group. There Will Be Blood (just a smidgen)
By Kyle Osborne In a city blessedly crowded with top-notch theatre, the Molotov Theatre Group always stood out from the pack since its inception in 2007. In their first year, Molotov won Best Comedy by audience vote in the Capital Fringe Festival. In 2008 they won Best Overall in the…
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Movie Review: ‘Captain Phillips’ with Tom Hanks
By Kyle Osborne Tom Hanks is the Jimmy Stewart of my generation—there isn’t a more affable star of his stature in Hollywood. So, it’s not easy (or probably very smart) to be the voice of dissent regarding his latest film, “Captain Phillips,” which is getting mostly rave reviews by other…
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Movie Review: #Gravity Marks A Return To Long-Lost “Movie Magic”
We’ve all heard the expression, “You won’t believe your eyes,” but the single biggest achievement for “Gravity,” is that you will believe your eyes. You will absolutely feel as if you’re floating in space with Sandra Bullock and, try as you might to figure out ‘How’d they do that?’, you…
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Theatre Review: ‘The Velocity Of Autumn’ at Arena Stage
By Kyle Osborne If The Velocity Of Autumn ends up on Broadway (and that is the hope) there is one major tweak that will need to happen before it gets there—more pauses between the uproarious laughter. That’s a great ‘problem’ to have, right? Laughter so loud and sustained that the…
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‘Movie Review: ‘Prisoners’ is Perhaps The Best Crime Thriller Since ‘Silence of The Lambs’
In these days of most movies being extensions of comic books and video games, it’s nice to see Hollywood release a film for grown-ups. ‘Prisoners’ is maybe the quietest movie that is also this intense. I think it just might be the best crime thriller to come along since ‘Silence…
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Theatre Review: ‘Detroit’ at Woolly Mammoth Theatre
By Kyle Osborne If good fences make good neighbors, then the distinct absence of a fence between the two suburban houses in Lisa D’Amour’s Detroit foreshadows darker things than the superficiality of suburban life usually yields. The great joy of this pacey one-act play is watching that very façade peel…
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Movie Review: ‘Riddick’
A guest review this week from our friend Rick Sandlas of http://www.DearFilm.net , site that writes “letters” to the films it reviews. Dear Pitch Black 2, Since you are a favored franchise and with a few mixed reviews I went in to the theater more neutral than I usually do.…
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Theatre Review: ‘Miss Saigon’ at Signature Theatre- Now Extended Again Through Oct. 6th
Note: The run of Miss Saigon has been extended for a second time–now running through October 6th. Ticket details follow the review By Kyle Osborne Melodramatic by design and operatic in its execution (indeed, it’s loosely based on the Puccini Opera “Madame Butterfly”) ‘Miss Saigon’ lands on the stage at…
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Movie Review: ‘Lovelace’ – It’s Deep
This review courtesy of my buddy Ric Sandlas of http://www.DearFilm.net When your opening dips your toe in the controversy of the films fame for just a moment before dialing us back to the beginning and Linda’s high school years, I find the era is replete with all the accessories that…
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Movie Review: “You’re Next” Not Your Average ‘Slasher Flick’
Usually, the term “Slasher Flick,” is one of derision—it’s come to mean violent and bloody and not artfully executed. To call the new movie “You’re Next,” a thriller with elements of horror, a “Slasher Flick” is to be technically accurate, but tonally way off base. Oh, there will be plenty…
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Movie Review: ‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler’; Mediocre Storytelling Saved By Amazing Story
Both earnest and flawed, ‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler’ is a mile wide and an inch deep, skittering across the surface of history with vignettes that perfunctorily check off “Important Moments” of the decades since Eisenhower, most notably the civil rights struggles of the 60’s. All of these checkpoints are seen…
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Why I Love Rolling Stone Magazine’s Rob Sheffield (and how he learned to like the most hated band ever)
By Kyle Osborne My first impression of Rob Sheffield was not altogether positive; he was one of the talking heads that would pop up with snarky comments on those VH-1 shows (and now I can’t remember which ones, but it seems he was on the ‘I Love The 80’s’ type…
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Movie Review: ‘Planes’ Not A Good “Vehicle” for Disney
By Kyle Osborne Some are calling “Planes,” Disney’s new animated feature, “Cars 3.” Fair enough, it is a “retread” (sorry) of those talking car flicks, only this time with wings. Sadly, this worn out template of a film doesn’t have the prestige and quality of the Pixar films (even though…
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Movie Review: ‘We’re The Millers’
By Kyle Osborne Wanna hear the word “d*ck” used as a noun, verb, adverb and adjective? All in the same movie? Well, today’s your lucky day since “We’re The Millers” is in theatres. This is an “edgy” comedy, and we know this because a clip with stars Jenifer Anniston and…
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My Top Ten Movies Of The First Half of 2013
Can you believe we’re more than half way through 2013? At the box office, it’s been the best of times and the worst of times. A LOT of really good movies have come out and a LOT of them have made a LOT of money. There have also been several…
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Movie Review: ‘Fruitvale Station’ 4 Stars! Actor Michael B. Jordan Explains The Goal of The Film
By Kyle Osborne The film opens with blurry cell-phone cam footage of a few guys sitting on the ground, near the platform of a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station. It’s hard to make out exactly what’s going on…until the sharp sound of a gunshot rips through the air, and…
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Theatre Review: ‘Spin: A New Musical’ at Signature Theatre.
By Kyle Osborne It’s lighter than air, and feels like a sit-com ( a good one) in its structure of scenes between songs, but “Spin: A New Musical,” in development at Signature Theatre, will lift you ten feet off the ground with its catchy songs and exuberant performances. The musical…
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‘Born To Royalty’ A Must See Doc For Royal Watchers, Plays Limited Run At Angelika Mosaic
BORN TO ROYALTY Plays July 20 & 24 at the Angelika Mosaic Born To Royalty, an intimate look at what it means to be a child of the British Royal Family, is coming to the Angelika Mosaic for a limited engagement on Saturday, July 20 at 2:00 p.m. and Wednesday, July…
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Movie Review: ‘The Way, Way Back.’ A Film So Nice I Saw It Twice.
I’ve seen it twice now, so I’m confident in my opinion that the small indie film, “The Way, Way Back,” really is worthwhile. There are no car chases, robots or special effects, but there are authentic portrayals of heroes and villains, of complicated, imperfect people, and memories of a summer…
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Stars Of Pacific Rim, Charlie Day and Ron Perlman Talk About Their TV Fame
Yes, they are the “B Story” stars of the mega budget “Pacific Rim,” but Charlie Day and Ron Perlman are best known as the stars of the TV shows, “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” and “Sons Of Anarchy.” Here, the guys talk about how they feel about being recognized on…
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Movie Review: “Grown Ups 2” The Titan Of Toilet Humor Returns To The Throne
“Grown Ups 2” Rated pg-13 By Kyle Osborne The following moments from “Grown Ups 2” are not spoilers, for there is no plot to be spoiled. Adam Sandler returns with Chris Rock, Kevin James and David Spade for a film that is several levels lower than “low brow.” If you…
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Theatre Review: ‘One Night With Janis Joplin’ Must Close August 11th! See It Now.
NOTE: Just a reminder that this amazing show closes August 11th. By Kyle Osborne “One Night With Janis Joplin” is great. Two nights with Janis Joplin is even better. The musical which garnered praise and admiration at Arena Stage last fall, has returned for a summer encore. Mary Bridget Davies…
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Movie Review: ‘White House Down’ A Messy Mash-Up With Some Laughs
Are you the kind of person who says, “That would never happen” when you’re watching a movie? Well, don’t sit next to me—“White House Down” starring Jamie Foxx as the President of The United States, and Channing Tatum as a wannabe Secret Service agent who’s in the wrong place at…
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Movie Version of ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey’ Gets A Release Date
Are you ready for the movie version of the hottest book of the past year? Variety’s Justin Kroll reports: ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Gets Aug. 1, 2014 Release Justin Kroll After taking its time finding a director to helm the ship, Universal and Focus are charging full-speed ahead and giving…
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Movie Review: ‘World War Z’ The Classiest Zombie Flick You’ll See This Summer
By Kyle Osborne It’s probably the classiest zombie film you’ve ever seen. “World War Z” looks kinda like “Babel,” with Brad Pitt in cargo pants and frequent location changes around the world. Only with zombies. And these aren’t the kind of zombies who do pop & lock dance moves in…
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Movie Review: ‘Man Of Steel’
By Kyle Osborne Whiz! Bang!! Pow!!!! THUD. “Man Of Steel,” the latest take on that most American of Superheroes , is relentlessly noisy and shrill—spaceships assault buildings that crumble like balsa wood Jenga towers. Presumably, thousands of innocent citizens are killed, but there’s not a moment to spare for humanity…
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Theatre Review: ‘The Real Thing’ at Studio Theatre
By Kyle Osborne Like a catchy intro to a pop song, Tom Stoppard’s ‘The Real Thing’ hits its stride immediately, pulling us into its unique rhythm and getting to the chorus early enough to keep our attention through a riveting first act. In London, a man waits impatiently for his…
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Jim Gaffigan Talks About His New Book and More In This Interview
PLEASE NOTE: The amazing photo above was taken by www.CoreyMelton. A talented photographer whose cooperation is appreciated. By Kyle Osborne You know that sound people make when they are yawning and talking simultaneously? On the phone, one can almost get away with it—only in the last two words of a…
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Movie Review: ‘The Hangover Part III’
All of “The Hangover Part III”’s problems can be summed up in one short sentence: The movie isn’t funny. In the first ten minutes of the film, a giraffe is decapitated, its head flying in the air and landing on a car’s windshield. Moments later, the father of “Alan” (Zack…
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Comedian Jim Gaffigan Writes Bestseller, Goes On Book Tour
Back in the day when Jim Gaffigan was “only” selling out 4 shows at a time at the Warner Theatre, he would come to the TV station and hang and do an interview and usually give me comp tickets to the show. But these days, Gaffigan has appeared on Broadway…
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Movie Review: ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’
Whether you’re a stone cold Trek Nerd who comes to the multiplex in costume, or just someone looking for an early summer night out at the movies, ‘Star Trek: Into Darkness’ is just about perfect as an action/adventure flick. It has a great cast and stunts that are more thrilling…
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Theatre Review: ‘Pas de Duex’ at Studio Theatre
“Pas de Duex” at Studio Theatre consists of two short, one act plays. There are supposedly many threads that tie the two plays together thematically, but what I enjoyed were their differences. These pieces hold up just fine as their own islands of artistry. Two plays, each with two actors,…
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Interview: Craig Robinson from “The Office” and “Peeples”
Like his character in the new movie “Peeples,” Craig Robinson is a gentle giant—or as his co-star Kerry Washington put it, “A big ole Teddy bear.” The veteran actor is best known for his comedic roles in “Hot Tub Time Machine,” and the TV comedy “The Office” (more on that…
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Movie Review: ‘Peeples’ Puts Craig Robinson In The Lead
Pay no attention to the “Tyler Perry Presents” pasted all over the ads for the new comedy “Peeples.” It may be some of his money on the line, but fortunately, writer and director Tina Gordon Chism has made a nice little rom-com, and not the kind of lead-footed, ham-fisted camp…
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Movie Review: ‘The Great Gatsby’ Entertains
a·nach·ro·nism [uh-nak-ruh-niz-uhm] Show IPA noun. something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time, especially a thing or person that belongs to an earlier time: The sword is an anachronism in modern warfare. Get to know the word “anachronism” right now—I don’t think I’ve seen a…
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Theatre Review: ‘Other Desert Cities’ at Arena Stage. Love and Mercy and Secrets and Lies
“You always hurt the one you love The one you shouldn’t hurt at all You always take the sweetest rose And crush it till the petals fall” Song by Roberts and Fisher, 1944 At least three different times during Jon Robin Baitz’s sublime play “Other Desert Cities,” characters preface an…
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Movie Review: ‘Trance’
‘Trance’ Reviewed By Kyle Osborne Is it mere coincidence that my three favorite movies of the year, so far, are movies that I not only saw twice, but actually enjoyed even more upon the second viewing? I don’t think so. The movies ‘STOKER’ and SIDE EFFECTS share some important points…
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Theatre Review: ‘The Last Five Years’ at Signature Theatre
Review By Kyle Osborne photos: Teresa Wood ‘The Last Five Years,’ a bittersweet, yet delightful musical at Signature Theatre, tells the story of a relationship from beginning to end, and it does so with only songs. To be exact, fourteen wonderful songs that range from a heartbreaking ballad at the…
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Theatre Review: ‘The Mountaintop’ at Arena Stage
Provocative and moving, ‘The Mountaintop’ imagines what the last night of Martin Luther King’s life might have been like. That iconic photo of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis is eerily re-created on a revolving stage that has the familiar exterior and balcony on one side, and the unmistakable 60’s look…
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Theatre Review: ‘4000 Miles’ At Studio Theatre; You Won’t Want it To End
Review by Kyle Osborne Photos: Scott Suchman Ever walk through a door, take a look around and instantly decide that you like the place? That’s the feeling one gets when the lights come up on the East Village apartment belonging to Vera (the amazing Tana Hicken). Designed with authentic precision…
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Folger Theatre Announces 2013/14 Season Filled With Shakespeare Plays.
FOLGER THEATRE ANNOUNCES 2013/14 SEASON FILLED WITH SHAKESPEARE PLAYS ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** Shakespeare’s ROMEO AND JULIET Helen-Hayes Award winner Aaron Posner directs the most famous story of “star-crossed” love Shakespeare’s RICHARD III Robert Richmond, the director behind this season’s HENRY V, helms this play about a king…
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Theatre Review: ‘Mary T. & Lizzy K.’ at Arena Stage
It’s a play of “what if?” and “Wow, I didn’t know that” moments. Mary T. & Lizzy K., a play that elicits more respect than passion, asks “What if we could be a fly on the wall when Mary Todd Lincoln and her dressmaker and confidante, Elizabeth Keckly, were alone…
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Movie Review: G.I. Joe: Retaliaton
It used to be that if a critic compared a movie to a video game, it was not meant as flattery. With a movie like “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” such a comparison might well be a recommendation to its target audience. Either way, it’s true. The movie looks, feels and “plays”…
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Movie Review: ‘Spring Breakers’
Director and provocateur Harmony Korine fools some of the people some of the time, but I see him as The Emperor in his boxers—shouting incoherently from the town square. In “Spring Breakers,” that town square is a slice of beach along the Redneck Riviera, where college kids gather with beer…
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Movie Review: ‘Olympus Has Fallen’
It’s got more head shots than a Hollywood casting agency and enough corn to fill up your seven dollar bucket, but “Olympus Has Fallen”, already being described as “Die Hard In The White House. That’s not necessarily a negative thing; the blood spatter and lone-wolf hero antics could have come…
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Movie Review: “Stoker” Creepy, Campy Fun!
I don’t know for sure if “Stoker” is high camp or an involving thriller, but I do know that it made me feel both creeped out and elated. There is pure joy in watching a film that inhabits its own universe, quite apart from the real world, and “Stoker” is…
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Movie Review: ‘Oz the Great and Powerful’
What is it with these half full/half empty movies lately? Last week, “Jack The Giant Slayer,” a movie with wondrous visual effects, had a slow first hour before getting on to a finish with great flourish. This week, “Oz the Great and Powerful” does just the opposite; It comes out…
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Theatre Review: “Metamorphoses” At Arena Stage
I was slightly apprehensive about two things going into “Metamorphoses” at Arena Stage: 1.Would the pool be a distraction or a gimmick? And 2.Would I have to be up on my ancient Roman mythology in order to “get it?” Happily the answers were “no” and “no.” The pool holding 30,000…
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Movie Review: “Identity Thief” Stole Two Hours From My Life
There are two things that the new movie “Identity Thief” is convinced are funny. 1. Teasing a man named “Sandy” because it’s a “girl’s name,” and 2. Punching someone in the neck (admittedly a phrase I use often because it sounds weird and funny, it doesn’t really “play” funny on…
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Movie Review: “Bullet To The Head” Like An 80’s Action Flick On Steroids
“Bullet To The Head,” a movie with about as much nuance as its title would suggest, finds Sylvester Stallone with black spray-powder “hair,” a roided out looking physique and a limp-along gait that has become more pronounced. But unlike Arnold Schwarzenegger, who sadly walked through his latest movie, “The Last…
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Movie Review: “Warm Bodies” Get The Edward and Bella Outta Here!
The last thing I expected from a movie with a generic title and a flimsy premise (on paper) was to be charmed, and to laugh and to see a sweet romance. But that, folks, is why you actually have to go and see the films before you write a review.…
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Movie Review: “Jobs” with Ashton Kutcher Reviewed At Sundance
The first major review of “Jobs,” with Ashton Kutcher has come out of Park City, Utah, where The Sundance Film Festival is in full swing. Variety’s Just Chang seems less than thrilled, but offers up some praise for parts of the film. Read Justin Chang’s review from Variety below: “The…
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Movie Review: “Mama” Mild Maternal Scares
You know, sometimes you get points just for being better than expected, better than you had to be for the target audience. If that sounds like damning with faint praise, it’s not. It’s actually praising with…faint praise. “Mama” starts out with the news that a man (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) has killed…
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Movie Review: “Zero Dark Thirty”
There’s nothing flashy about Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty,” the movie that purports to tell the true story of how Osama Bin Laden was hunted for years, and finally killed during the now well known raid of his compound in Pakistan. The film’s tone is almost government-like in its no…
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Movie Review: “Amour” What’s Not To Love?
For me, “Amour” was a long slog–forget about watching the character’s life slip away–what about MY life? I’ll give it a second look. I mean, obviously I’m missing something. Let’s check in with guest critic Rick Sandlas from the great site http://www.dearfilm.net Sounds like Rick is picking up what…
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Meet The Actors From Signature Theatre’s “Dying City”
There’s no question that the material is, at times, heavy, but watching actors Rachel Zampelli and Thomas Keegan work in “Dying City,” is pure joy. Here’s a behind the scenes look at both the preparation and the effects the actors endured to play roles that they love. Tweet Pin It
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Movie Review: ‘The Sessions’ Headed For Oscar?
No film in recent memory has come to the table with so many potential pitfalls. A man confined to an iron lung, except for a few hours a day, when he can be rolled around on his gurney, seeks to lose his virginity at the age of 38. Is it…
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Movie Review: ‘The Words’ With Bradley Cooper
“The Words” isn’t exactly a page turner, its story is both too obvious and told at too leisurely a pace for anything like that. It does, however, have its moments, plus a game cast that makes it the cinematic equivalent of one of those “guilty pleasure” beach paperbacks that a…
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Movie Review: ‘Lawless’ Serves Up Jugs Of Corn, Buckets Of Blood
Excerpt: “Let us turn our sites on Shia LaBeouf, who plays the wide-eyed youngest brother in the most literal sense: he actually keeps his eyes opened wide. Combine that with a southern accent you might hear at a theme park Wild West show, and you’ve got the weakest link of…
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Movie Review: Only The Songs Shine In “Sparkle”
The first two minutes of “Sparkle” telegraph to the audience exactly what they can expect for the next one hundred minutes that follow: some great singing and some very bad dialogue. And, sorry to say, some less than stellar acting from the beautiful Jordin Sparks and the late Whitney Houston;…
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Theatre Review: ‘Flight of Fancy’ for Capital Fringe
MOVEius Dance’s Flight of Fancy (A Steampunk Ballet) will invigorate your senses as you watch the beautiful ballerinas move to a killer playlist of songs by artists such as the Kinks, Arcade Fire, Florence and the Machine, Lykke Li, and Angus and Julia Stone. Read the review by Grace Kim, who gave…
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Theatre Review: ‘Beef Encounter’ for Capital Fringe
Take pause from your daily grind and go on a walking holiday with Belinda Donovan (Claire Carroll, and writer of the play) as she trudges through the English countryside. Read a review of her funny British quips about life in Beef Encounter here and then buy tickets to see her performance, please.…
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Theatre Review: ‘Dreams In The Arms of the Binding Lady’ for Capital Fringe
‘Dreams in the Arms of the Binding Lady’ WILL provoke a response from you. The performance is excellent, the props and music will spook you, and critic Grace Kim guarantees that you’ll never view spiders the same way. Read her review here OR purchase tickets here. Tweet Pin It
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Theatre Review: ‘Madwoman In The Attic’ for Capital Fringe
The Capital Fringe Festival is great way to experience plays such as ‘Madwoman In The Attic.’ In this exciting play, playwright Theresa Rebeck, weaves the theme of madness and memories through six short vignettes. In one, the wife becomes enraged over her husband’s unwillingness to call his own mother and…
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Theatre Review: ‘Beertown’ at Woolly Mammoth for Capital Fringe
It starts with lemonade and cookies. It’s true! Theatregoers entering the space at Woolly Mammoth Theatre set aside for “Beertown,” literally walk into a room with a dessert pot-luck set up behind the seats. Homemade cookies and brownies set the interactive scene for the town hall-style meeting that’s about to…
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RIP Doc Watson 1923-2012 My Backstage Interview Here
I was sad to hear of the passing of music pioneer Doc Watson yesterday. Seven months ago, I was lucky enough to sit with him backstage at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA. He was kind and forthcoming. Here’s the video: If you want to learn more about the man…
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Movie Review: “Dark Shadows”
Narratively speaking, “Dark Shadows” is a hot mess, but thanks to the goodwill generated by Johnny Depp, and the visual splendor supplied by director Tim Burton, there are moments to savor and a few chuckles to be had. View a slideshow, trailer and Read The Full Review Tweet Pin It
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Movie Review: “Last Call At The Oasis”
Making a documentary about water, or the lack thereof, cannot have been an easy task, but director Jessica Yu’s “Last Call At The Oasis” washes over the viewer with aerial “beauty shots” and a spoonful of visual sugar that makes the medicine go down easily. We learn that, although the…
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Movie Review: “The Sound Of My Voice”
“The Sound Of My Voice” begins with about the best first 10 minutes of a movie I’ve ever seen. Unfortunately it ends with an underwhelming and frustrating last two minutes that don’t ruin the movie, but certainly fail to live up to what has been a harrowing and anxiety filled ride. Read…
Read MoreMovie Review: “Bully”
As filmmaking, “Bully” may have its flaws, but director Lee Hirsch’s documentary shines a light on something all too common and shameful in American schools, and the nationwide discussion about the topic has already started weeks in advance of its release. Please read the full review: HERE Tweet Pin…
Read MoreMovie Review: “The Cabin In The Woods” Surprise, Surprise
Ever watch a bad movie with a smart-ass buddy, and the two of you heckle the flick, taking turns cracking wise at the idiots on the screen? Well, here’s a movie that does that to itself! “The Cabin In The Woods,” actually provides characters to stand back and heckle the…
Read MoreMovie Review: “Three Stooges” Zero Laughs
If you’ve ever seen a blooper-reel of news anchors completely losing their sh*t on live TV, you know very well that laughter is involuntary; you can’t stop it to save your life and you can’t fake it without sounding like a sycophant reacting to his boss’s bad jokes. It-just-happens. Or,…
Read MoreMovie Review” Lockout” You’ll Like This F-ing Guy (Pearce)
One of the things that makes a “Bad Movie” truly bad is its total lack of awareness. The movie must have absolutely no idea of its awfulness just to be considered among the bottom tier of cinematic offenders. For that reason alone, we can say that one may not love…
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