The Prom: Star-studded adaptation of an LGBTQ-themed Broadway hit bounces from laid-on-thick to thin
ReviewJim SlotekRyan Murphy, Glee, Hollywood, The Prom, Netflix adaptation of a Broadway musical, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Corden, Andrew Rannells, Kerry Washington, Jo Ellen Pellman, Ariana DeBose, Keegan-Michael Key, Same-sex prom date controversies, Bob Martin, The Drowsy Chaperone
Original-Cin Q&A: The young stars of Netflix's musical The Prom, on working with Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman
By Bonnie Laufer
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InterviewJim SlotekRyan Murphy, Glee, Hollywood, The Prom, Netflix adaptation of a Broadway musical, Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Corden, Andrew Rannells, Kerry Washington, Jo Ellen Pellman, Ariana DeBose, Keegan-Michael Key, Same-sex prom date controversies, Bob Martin, The Drowsy Chaperone
Wander Darkly: Sienna Miller and Diego Luna in a near-death experience, and an emotional journey without a false note
By Karen Gordon
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Queer Japan: Doc on Japan’s Meek Acceptance of LGBTQ Culture a Delightful Rallying Cry
But I’m A Cheerleader: Director’s Cut of Cult Comedy Still Campy If Dated on Gay Themes
Review, PreviewJim SlotekBut I'm A Cheerleader, Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Jamie Babbit, Julie Delpy, Michelle Williams, RuPaul, Movies about gay teens, Comedy, Camp classics, Cult Classic, Lesbians, Christian Gay Conversion Therapy, Bud Cort, Mink Stole
CRAVE CORNER: Yes Virginia, Bruce Willis really IS Santa Claus
ViewsJim SlotekCrave TV, Die Hard, Die Hard is a Christmas movie, NYPD Detective John McClane, John McTiernan, Jan de Bont, Singin’ in the Rain, Ode to Joy, Steven E. de Souza, Jeb Stuart, De'voreaux White, Run-DMC, Christmas in Hollis, Roderick Thorp, Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia
Original-Cin Q&A: Aaron Eckhart talks up the thriller Wander with Tommy Lee Jones - but what he'd really like to do is host a podcast
By Bonnie Laufer
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InterviewJim SlotekAaron Eckhart, murder mystery, April Mullen, Wander, Tommy Lee Jones, Ron Howard, The Missing, Harvey Dent, Celebrity podcasts, Keeping in character, Jack Nicholson
The Legend of Baron To’a: Fun Kiwi Dramedy-Slash-Throwdown Offers Blood-Free Charms
Review, PreviewJim SlotekThe Legend of Baron To’a, Dramedy, Comedy, Wrestling, Kiel McNaughton, indigenous films, imagineNATIVE, Uli Latukefu, Nathaniel Lees, John Tui
Billie: Doc on Jazz Great Billie Holiday Elevated by Newly Unearthed Audio Archive
Original-Cin Q&A: Amanda Seyfried talks about David Fincher's many takes in Mank, and the lost talent of Hearst's mistress Marion Davies
By Bonnie Laufer
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InterviewJim SlotekMank, David Fincher, Netflix, Citizen Kane, Greatest movie of all time, Herman J. Mankiewicz, Gary Oldman, Orson Welles, Tom Burke, Amanda Seyfried, Marion Davies, William Randolph Hearst, Award season movies
Funny Boy: Canuck Oscar Contender Charts Gay Coming-of-Age Story, Sri Lankan-Style
Review, PreviewJim SlotekAva Duvernay, Deepa Mehta, CBC, Oscar contender, Funnt Boy, Gay themes, Canadian, Sri Lankan, Shyam Selvadurai, adaptation, Alice Munro, Civil War, Sri Lankan civil war
Rocks: Lovely, Affecting Drama Captures Silliness and Sorrow of Teen at a Crossroads
Review, PreviewJim SlotekRocks, TIFF 2019, Sarah Gavron, Bukky Bakray, D’angelou Osei Kissiedu, Kosar Ali, Teenage story, Coming of age, London
Black Bear: Aubrey Plaza plays with our heads in the woods, and uses her deadpan to best effect in intriguingly weird film
ReviewJim SlotekBlack Bear, Aubrey Plaza, Surreality, Lawrence Michael Levine, Ambiguity in film plots, Christopher Abbott, Sarah Gadon, Movies set in the woods, Movies about movies, Robert Leitzell
Stardust: Imagined David Bowie Adventure Lacks Imagination and Adventure
Happiest Season: Heart-lukewarming LGBTQ themed Christmas movie is the cinematic equivalent of gifted socks
ReviewJim SlotekLGBTQ themed Christmas Movies, Happiest Season, Writer/director Clea DuVall, The Christmas House, 12 Dates of Christmas, A New York Christmas Wedding, Kristen Stewart, Dan Levy, Mackenzie Davis, Mary Steenburgen, Victor Garber, Alison Brie, Mary Holland, Aubrey Plaza
Fear of Dancing: Intriguing doc about why some (like Stephen Fry) are chronically unable to get down with their bad selves
The COVID Cruise: How a repeat plague ship, The Diamond Princess, became the ultimate COVID super spreader
ReviewJim SlotekCOVID-19, Disease outbreaks on cruise ships, The Diamond Princess, Yokohama, Captain Gennaro Arma, Mike Downie and David Wells, Gay Courter, Spencer Fehrenbacher, Ya Tsan, SeaDream 1
Original-Cin Q&A: Shawn Mendes doc director Grant Singer talks 109-show shoot, voice crises and T.O. homecoming
By Bonnie Laufer
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InterviewJim SlotekConcert tour documentaries, Shawn Mendes, Shawn Mendes: In Wonder, Grant Singer, The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, Canadian pop sensations, Camila Cabello, Netflix, Pickering
Tales of the Uncanny: Doc on Horror Anthologies Necessarily Captures Genre’s Best and Worst
Review, PreviewJim SlotekTales of the Uncanny, David Gregory, Horror, Horror anthology, The Uncanny, Creepshow, The Theatre Bizarre, Stephen King, Roger Corman
Original-Cin Q&A: ZAPPA director Alex Winter on why the doc is more about the man than the music
By Bonnie Laufer
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InterviewJim SlotekFrank Zappa documentary, Alex Winter, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Downloaded, The Panama Papers, Showbiz Kids, Gail Zappa, Bill and Ted: Face The Music, Editor Mike Nichols, Senate hearings on record labeling, Ahmet Zappa, Diana Serra Cary, Cameron Boyce
