What Maisie Knew
She has the face of a flower and she still believes that the world is an enchanted place that cannot hurt her.  She does not understand what is going on around her, but we do. Her name is Maisie (the exquisite Onata Aprile).  She is seven and she lives in New York with her parents, a fading roc

posted 5:41:13pm May. 23, 2013 | read full post »

Interview: Scott McGehee and David Siegel of "What Maisie Knew"
"What Maisie Knew" is a touching, beautifully acted new movie starring Julianne Moore and Steve Coogan as a couple breaking up but the story is seen through the eyes of their little girl.  I spoke to the directors, Scott McGehee and David Siegel, about the film.  Remarkably, though it is set in th

posted 3:59:52pm May. 23, 2013 | read full post »

Contest: Bink & Gollie
I am always especially excited to have one of the fabulous Scholastic Storybook DVDs to give away, and this one is extra important for families because it is about what it means to be a friend.  This all-new compilation is headlined by “Bink & Gollie” from Kate DiCamillo, the Newbery Medal

posted 12:00:57pm May. 23, 2013 | read full post »

The Hangover Part III
Let's hope that this movie is the much-needed stake in the heart to the triligization of popular movies (okay, with an exception for Richard Linklater's "Before" series and "Toy Story").  I began to think of the three films as a shell game, with the pea of novelty and humor under just one shell, an

posted 11:02:34am May. 23, 2013 | read full post »

Jen Chaney Ranks the "Fast and Furious" Movies
Just in time for the release of the sixth in the series of car chase extravaganzas that began with "The Fast and the Furious" is Esquire's smart and funny assessment of installments 1-6 from my friend Jen Chaney. It’s tempting to lump all of the Fast and the Furious movies into one massive clutc

posted 3:39:37pm May. 22, 2013 | read full post »