Film & TV
FreedomLand Rings
Racial tension is sometimes a cop-out for filmmakers, a way of increasing dramatic tension while diverting the audience's attention away from poor casting.
That Guy (for Kids)
What do Dakota Fanning, Jodie Foster, Ron Howard, Fred Savage and the Olsen Twins all have in common?
Hot hot heat
Street: How were you able to get into the character of the evil Bill Cox? It's something that's quite out of the norm for your career, and I was wondering what it was like and did you ever find yourself morally repulsed because you have real kids now.
Hurts so good
In Why We Fight, Eugene Jarecki strings together footage from every war the United States has fought on camera with interviews from experts on the subject in order to prove a point.
Something old, 'something new'
In Something New, first-time director Sanaa Hamri makes an admirable effort to increase discourse on the perpetually controversial topic of race.
That Guy
This week's "That Guy" is none other than Michael C. Maronna. Michael C. who, you ask? You may not know his name but you'll never forget his pale skin, gangly figure, fiery mane or his cracking pubescent voice as narrator of the bizarre storylines of Nickelodeon's cult favorite, The Adventures of Pete and Pete. Since Pete and Pete's cancellation in 1996, Michael has been on the Hollywood backburner, getting suspended from high school for setting guitars on fire, studying film and re-emerging onto the Hollywood scene. In 2002, Maronna made his first appearance on the big screen since his 1990 debut in Home Alone as Jeff, one of Kevin's (Macaulay Culkin) older siblings.
Dept. of interracial relations
Kriss Turner's breakthrough screenplay Something New proves to be a breath of fresh air in multiple ways.
Big Momma's In Da House
Director John Whitesell literalizes tropes of gender and racial identity confusion in his Big Momma's House 2, which meditates upon the nuanced difficulties of existing in society as an obese African-American woman, while in reality being a skinny black man.
Pootie tang and pokemon
Street: Could you tell us a little about how the Video Library started? Attiba Royster: I'm not sure exactly -- I only started this job about four years ago -- the store has been around before me.
Comfort for the cold
The long stretch between winter and spring breaks is arguably the worst time of the year. The holidays are over, it's cold and dreary and few people around here brave the outdoors without a Burberry scarf and pants tucked into their Ugg boots.
Many Seamen
In Annapolis, James Franco plays Jake Huard, a shipyard worker who joins the U.S. Naval Academy.
Nanny diaries
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, Mary Poppins and Mrs. Doubtfire are just a few of the "nanny" movies that have thrilled us, made us laugh and made us cry.
Light up a 'Match Point'
Woody Allen's new film, Match Point, is a departure from his recent string of less-than-stellar comedies.
Scary new world
The scenery in The New World is very pretty. The trees are pretty, the water is pretty, the sun is pretty.
That guy
David Koechner is one of those actors who is perfectly content playing "policeman number two." Though he's not usually on the screen for more than a couple of minutes, he manages to garner up a small, but well-deserved laugh.
Scarlett fever
Match Point was a departure from The Island -- I thought you were going to go action on us.
By your powers combined, I am Captain Communism!
Salt of the Earth has the distinction of being the only film blacklisted by the United States government.
Better red than dead
A bold cinematic statement of rebellion, Warren Beatty's 1981 Hollywood masterpiece Reds challenges mainstream political thought on every level.
