It’s not exactly the popcorn action flick you think of when you hear the phrase “summer movie,” but Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom may be one of the most evocative portrayals of that season that I’ve seen. It takes place in summer 1965 on a craggy New England island, and you can practically smell the salty sea air through the screen. The film centers on two unlikely lovebirds: preteens Sam Shakusky (an ... Read More

If you are a human with access to the internet, you are probably aware that Magic Mike premiered this weekend. You are probably also aware that it involved mostly naked men, several of whom are very, very good-looking, and one of whom is a very excellent dancer. But here's the thing--did you also know that there's a thing called pornography? Because that exists, too, and if you're into naked dudes, you should probably just watch that ... Read More

You may already know that beloved essayist, author, journalist and filmmaker Nora Ephron died Tuesday night of leukemia. She was 71 years old.  Ephron died a three-time Academy Award nominee for the films "Silkwood," ''When Harry Met Sally ..." and "Sleepless in Seattle." She was the boss in two very male dominated fields of her time: journalism and film. A graduate of Wellsley College, she was determined to become a journalist, and ... Read More

Ever since cinema-going first became a popular pastime in the early 20th century, films have given their viewers a way to escape from the banalities and tribulations of everyday life. But, as our everyday lives move further and further away from reality (hello, makeover TV shows, social networking, and airbrushed everything), it’s often refreshing to see a movie that speaks to the real-life struggles and experiences of women in this ... Read More

I often hear artists and musicians respond in interviews that they do what they do because of an intense and mysterious compulsion. This strong drive is difficult to understand unless personally experienced, but to Iceland’s Sigríður Níelsdóttirit, the feeling was all too familiar. So much, in fact, that she recorded a catalog of over 700 songs within seven years at the tender age of 70. Lovingly known as ... Read More