Sandra Miska
Gary Oldman Delivers Another Compelling Performance in Convoluted but Urgent Drug Thriller ‘Crisis’
Features • Published on February 2021
The opioid crisis, a dire situation that has touched many Americans, is front and center in writer-producer-director Nicholas Jarecki’s second feature, the timely thriller “Crisis.” Comprised of three different narratives set…
In HBO Max’s ‘Tom & Jerry,’ Underdogs Rule
Features • Published on February 2021
Two old foes reunite in “Tom and Jerry,” an updated version of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon that combines classic animation with live action. While some things stay the same –– Thomas Cat and…
Three’s a Crowd in Absurd Period Comedy ‘Blithe Spirit’
Features • Published on February 2021
A writer who is blocked in more ways than one finds inspiration from the beyond in “Blithe Spirit,” a supernatural period comedy based on the 1941 play of the same name by…
In ‘I Care a Lot,’ Rosamund Pike Is as Wicked as Ever
Features • Published on February 2021
Rosamund Pike once again taps into her evil side in “I Care a Lot,” a dark comedy that turns into an unnerving thriller. Pike stars as Marla Grayson, a career con…
The Good Life Is Elusive in Dark Comedy ‘Breaking News in Yuba County’
Features • Published on February 2021
Suburban life is not all it’s cracked up to be in the dark comedy “Breaking News in Yuba County.” Allison Janney leads an all-star ensemble in this feature that satirizes the…
In Bleak Drama ‘The World to Come,’ Two Frontier Women Find Comfort in Each Other
Features • Published on February 2021
Upstate New York in the 1850s is the setting for a passionate lesbian affair in romantic period drama “The World to Come.” Katherine Waterston stars as Abigail, a frontier woman who…
Lucas Hedges on ‘French Exit’ and Tapping Into His Inner Drifter
Features • Published on February 2021
Ever since his breakthrough role in “Manchester by the Sea” earned him an Oscar nomination, Lucas Hedges has been steadily delivering impressive performances, playing a wide range of roles in films like…
In Pandemic Drama ‘Little Fish,’ Love and Memory Loss Are Both Emotional and Heartbreaking
Features • Published on February 2021
A young couple in their first year of marriage face tragedy in pandemic romance drama “Little Fish.” While technically a romantic sci-fi, the film doesn’t feel quite as far-fetched as it probably…
In Half-Baked Sci-Fi ‘Bliss,’ Salma Hayek and Owen Wilson Tap Into an Alternate Reality
Features • Published on February 2021
Salma Hayek becomes Owen Wilson’s unlikely guide through an alternate reality in Amazon’s trippy sci-fi “Bliss.” Wilson stars as Greg, a recently-divorced dad working a thankless office job. Because much…
In ‘Penguin Bloom,’ a Magpie Leads Naomi Watts Down the Path To Recovery
Features • Published on January 2021
“Penguin Bloom” is the latest Netflix film to feature a character overcoming tragic circumstances. Based on a true story, Naomi Watts stars as Sam Bloom, an Australian woman who becomes paralyzed…
In ‘Our Friend,’ Jason Segel Helps Casey Affleck and Dakota Johnson Through Dark Days
Features • Published on January 2021
A pair of young parents find themselves dealing with a devastating diagnosis in “Our Friend,” a touching drama based on “The Friend,” an award-winning Esquire article by Matthew Teague. Casey Affleck…
In ‘The Ultimate Playlist of Noise,’ Keean Johnson and Madeline Brewer Bond Over the Sounds of Music
Features • Published on January 2021
A teen with a love for music and all things auditory gets the worst blow imaginable in “The Ultimate Playlist of Noise.” Keean Johnson stars as Marcus, a high school student…
Liam Neeson Is Once Again the Hero in Action-Thriller ‘The Marksman’
Features • Published on January 2021
Liam Neeson does what he does best in action-thriller “The Marksman,” playing Jim Hanson, a grizzled veteran living on a ranch in Arizona. Because Jim’s property is close to the Mexican…
Kornél Mundruczó’s ‘Pieces of a Woman’ Is a Harrowing Exploration of Loss and Grief
Features • Published on January 2021
Art imitated life for Hungarian director Kornél Mundruczó and screenwriter Kata Wéber when the husband and wife team explored a taboo topic extremely personal to them — the grief that comes…
Monsters Are No Match for Chloë Grace Moretz in Zany WWII Sci-Fi ‘Shadow in the Cloud’
Features • Published on January 2021
Chloë Grace Moretz is put to the test in “Shadow in the Cloud,” a sci-fi action thriller set during World War II. Moretz plays Maude Garrett, a flight officer who hitches…
‘One Night in Miami’: Regina King Explores the Very Human Sides of Four Black Legends
Features • Published on December 2020
Four Black icons come together for a memorable evening in “One Night in Miami,” the feature directorial debut from Oscar-winning actress Regina King. Adapted by writer Kemp Powers from his…
Tom Hanks Goes West in Contemplative ‘News of the World’
Features • Published on December 2020
Tom Hanks is the hero we need in “News of the World,” a new kind of classic Western set in 1870 Texas. After 25 years of playing Woody the toy cowboy…
‘Sylvie’s Love’: Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha Light up the Screen in Old-Fashioned Romance
Features • Published on December 2020
Two young lovers find each other in 1950s New York City in “Sylvie’s Love,” an old-fashioned romance that takes place in the ’50s and ’60s. Tessa Thompson plays the titular character,…
Devon Sawa Goes Up Against Something Unnatural in Survivalist Horror ‘Hunter Hunter’
Features • Published on December 2020
The remote wilderness outside of Winnipeg, Canada provides the setting for “Hunter Hunter,” a chilling horror drama centered around a family, fur trapper Joseph (Devon Sawa), his wife Anne (Camille…
‘The Stand In’: Drew Barrymore Embraces Dark Humor in Twisted Showbiz Comedy
Features • Published on December 2020
In her latest film, Drew Barrymore satirizes the entertainment industry. “The Stand In” is a dark comedy that sees her pulling double duty as movie star Candy Black (real name Cathy…
Tig Notoro’s ‘Tig and Friends’ Has a Home at Largo
Comedy Corner • Published on August 2016
Born Mathilde O’Callaghan Notaro in Mississippi, Notaro was given the nickname “Tig” as a child. Before getting into comedy, Notaro worked in the music industry, managing bands under the name Tignation Promotions. Notaro’s comedy career took off…
Chris Isaak to Play Fred Kavli Theatre
Music • Published on July 2015
Chris Isaak is best known for his song “Wicked Games,”, which was released in 1989 but didn’t become a hit until a year later when it was featured in the David Lynch film,…
Yusuf/Cat Stevens First U.S. Tour in 35 years to Come Through Nokia Theatre
Music • Published on December 2014
Get ready to sing along to “Here Comes My Baby” and “Wild World,” when British singer-songwriter Yusuf/Cat Stevens performs at the Nokia Theatre on Dec. 14 as part of his first North American…
Los Angeles Ballet to Perform ‘The Nutcracker’ Throughout December
Theater • Published on December 2014
Nutcracker fans, rejoice! Not only will the Moscow Ballet be performing the beloved Christmas show at The Wiltern on December 21, but also our very own Los Angeles Ballet will be doing…
Moscow Ballet to Bring the ‘Great Russian Nutcracker’ to The Wiltern
Theater • Published on December 2014
Angelenos’ may not be able to build snowmen, engage in snowball fights, or go sledding come the holiday season, but we will have the opportunity to experience a bit of a Russian Christmas. The…
Sundance Favorite ‘The Green Prince’ Opens in L.A. Dec. 5
Film • Published on December 2014
On December 5, “The Green Prince” will finally be released out of the festival circuit bubble and granted a limited release. This gripping documentary details the true story of Mosab Hassan Yousef, the…
Spectacular Rubens: Triumph of Eucharist on Display at Getty
Art • Published on December 2014
Many great artists of the past have made their mark creating vibrant religious art, and Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens is no exception. In the early 1620s, he designed a series of tapestries, “The…
Xu Bing Debuts his Exhibit ‘The Language of Xu Bing’ at LACMA
Art • Published on December 2014
When one thinks of a person who works with words, they almost always envision a writer typing away at a laptop. However, words can also be visual art, as Chinese artist Xu Bing will…
Christine Corday to Bring Protoist Series to LACMA
Art • Published on December 2014
Art and science will intersect this month at the LACMA when Christine Corday: Protoist Series, Selected opens on December 13. This will be the first solo presentation of Christine Corday’s art at an…
Capital Cities to Perform in Their Hometown of Los Angeles
Music • Published on November 2014
Indie-rock band, Capital Cities, will be performing at the Fonda Theatre on November 20 and 21. However, less than six years ago, in 2008, members Ryan Merchant and Sebu Simonian met through a Craigslist ad.
Carey and Daniels Reunite for ‘Dumb and Dumber To’
Film • Published on November 2014
A lot of memorable films came out in 1994, “Forrest Gump” and “Pulp Fiction,” just to name a few, but only one of the cinematic gems from that year is getting a sequel, and that…
Cold War Kids to Play The Regent
Music • Published on November 2014
Cold War Kids, an indie rock group based in Long Beach, will be performing at The Regent Theater on Nov. 18. Having started in 2004 in downtown Fullerton, Cold War Kids’ original…
Pierre Huyghe to Bring Avant Garde Exhibition to LACMA
Art • Published on November 2014
Just a week after the arrival of the celebrated painting “Greece on the ruins of the Missolonghi” by Eugène Delacroix, the museum will debut the first major retrospective of avant-garde French artist Pierre Huyghe on…
‘The Old Woman’ Starring William Dafoe is Coming to UCLA
Theater • Published on November 2014
Those who like their theater a bit on the Russian and avant-garde side are in luck. The theatrical production “The Old Woman,” based on a story by the Russian author Daniil Kharms, is coming…
All-Male Dance Company BalletBoyz to Perform in Los Angeles
Theater • Published on November 2014
When thinking of ballet, one often imagines young women prancing around in tutus to elegant music. Well, ballet enthusiasts and casual fans will have their expectations defied when all-male dance company BalletBoyz visit the…
Foster the People are ‘Coming of Age’ and Coming to Shrine Auditorium
Music • Published on November 2014
Hailing from Los Angeles, Foster the People will be playing the Shrine Auditorium on Nov. 14. Having risen to fame in 2010 with hit “Pumped Up Kicks,” the band formed in 2009 after…
Delacroix’s ‘Greece on the ruins of the Missolonghi’ on Display at LACMA
Art • Published on November 2014
Sometimes a painting is more than just a painting, such is the case with “Greece on the ruins of the Missolonghi,” one of the most celebrated French paintings, ever. This masterpiece by Eugène…
Photographer Larry Sultan to be Remembered at LACMA
Art • Published on November 2014
The late Californian Photographer Larry Sultan will be remembered at LACMA with the show “Larry Sultan: Here and Home.” The first retrospective show of the artist’s work, “Here and Home” will run from…
Discover Transit Art on Metro Art Moves
Art • Published on November 2014
During your daily commute, you may be surprised to see beautiful works of art on display at underground train stations. What you may not know is that since 1989, Metro has commissioned artists of all…
Batsheva Dance Company Celebrates 50 Years at UCLA
Theater • Published on October 2014
Move over, Russia and England, some of the best dancers in the world happen to live in Tel Aviv, Israel, and they’re coming to Los Angeles this month. The Batsheva Dance Company will stop by…