Movies & TV - June 18, 2013
It's clear as black and white: "Frances Ha" is an absolute charmer
Noah Baumbach's 2005 breakthrough "The Squid and the Whale" is a great movie, but it should come with a warning. The dialogue and characters are so cutting and acidic, I was left looking for a Band-Aid when it was all done. Eight years and a couple more scathing features later, Baumbach delivers "Frances Ha," a sweet Woody Allen-esque comedy that his honest, funny, acute screenplays can come with a light, tender touch, as well.

Movies & TV - June 11, 2013
Glorified Google ad "The Internship" is a full-time failure
Dear readers, I have seen our savior, and its name is Google. Google is a shining, six-letter, multi-colored beacon of light and hope in these dark, difficult times, and its technological wizardry brings joy to the hearts of millions. All hail our wonderful search engine leader. All hail it indeed. At least, that was my main takeaway coming out of "The Internship," a woefully humor-devoid workplace comedy starring Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson.

Movies & TV - June 9, 2013
"Love Is All You Need" needs some new material
A movie called "Love Is All You Need" is clearly a movie that does not mess around. Most films may try to weave the message or theme into the story with some nuance, but not "Love Is All You Need." It's right there in the title: The characters in this movie will learn that love is, in fact, all you need. With a blunt title like that, what else could you possibly expect? Not much apparently.

Arts & Entertainment - June 6, 2013
Skylight's timeless "Porgy and Bess" a grand exit for director Theisen
Times have changed mightily since "Porgy and Bess" first took the stage in 1935 (though large, all-black productions are still rare in the arts, both stage and screen), but as staged and performed by the Skylight's remarkable cast and crew, the original production's sweaty South Carolina grit and gorgeous moments of massive, raw emotion seem well in tact with rarely any trace of cobwebs.

Movies & TV - June 1, 2013
Visually impressive "Epic" tells a moderately sized story
Another month, another big, flashy celebrity-filled animated feature hoping to snag a slice of the oh-so-predictable children's movie box office pie. The most recent colorfully drawn entry is "Epic," which comes from director Chris Wedge, the brains behind the original "Ice Age." And, much like its title, "Epic" is oddly bold and bland at the same time.