The Netflix documentary “Becoming” follows Michelle Obama on her nationwide book tour, as she dazzles intimate groups of young women and packed arenas of fans alike. She’s enormously charismatic and a gifted storyteller, but Nadia Hallgren’s depiction of the media-savvy former first lady isn’t quite as “unplugged” as the trailer...
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Reviews
Breakfast All Day Podcast 6/21/19
A couple different talking-toy movies are opening this weekend, so make sure you choose wisely when you’re with your family at the multiplex. We did an early review of “Toy Story 4” on last week’s Breakfast All Day. This week, Alonso, Matt and I review the latest incarnation of Chucky...
Read moreHollywood’s Biggest Morning
Oscar nominations morning is actually really fun, despite the ungodly hour. For years, I’d cover the nominations from the Academy on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills alongside all the other reporters and producers. Everyone’s in a good mood, if a bit bleary-eyed, buzzing on a combination of caffeine and expectation....
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Studio 11 LA — Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Kick-Ass 2, Jobs, Paranoia
Hashing through the weekend’s winners and losers at the box office with Lauren Sivan on Studio 11 LA. Watch the video...
Read moreWhat the Flick?! — Lee Daniels’ The Butler
Lee Daniels’ trip through the second half of 20th century American history features plenty of powerful moments as well as some amusing stunt casting — and a great performance from Oprah, who gets to play it a little trashy....
Read moreOn Oscar Bait, in August
After a recent screening of “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” based on the true story of a black butler who served every United States president in the White House from Eisenhower to Reagan, a friend asked me what I thought of the film. My first instinct was to respond: “It’s good....
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