- Social:
host of the podcast The Canon
Host of the podcast The Canon; Former chief film critic for LA Weekly.
PROFILE
Amy Nicholson
Guest
FROM Amy Nicholson
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Does Disney's 'Christopher Robin' stay true to the soul of A.A. Milne's stories? Our critics review “The Darkest Minds,” a film adaptation of a popular young adult book, in which adults fear everyone under age 18; “The Miseducation of Cameron Post,” about a teen who is sent to gay conversion therapy; Disney’s “Christopher Robin,” starring Ewan McGregor as Christopher Robin, alongside live-action Winnie the Pooh and friends; the buddy comedy “The Spy Who Dumped Me,” starring Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
In 'Tully,' Charlize Theron reveals the stress and tedium of motherhood Our critics review “RBG,” a documentary about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; “Overboard,” where Anna Faris plays a carpet cleaner for a yacht, and Eugenio Derbez plays a playboy who falls off the boat and gets amnesia; the horror/thriller “Bad Samaritan;” and “Tully,” starring Charlize Theron, Ron Livingston and Mark Duplass.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Jennifer Lawrence's 'Red Sparrow' is better than 'Atomic Blonde?' “The Shape of Water” is the favorite at Sunday’s Oscars, but will “Get Out” and “Lady Bird” snatch surprise wins? We also get reviews of “Red Sparrow,” starring Jennifer Lawrence as a ballerina-turned-secret agent; and “Death Wish,” a remake of the 1970s Charles Bronson series.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Clint Eastwood casts real-life heroes in '15:17 to Paris' Our critics review Clint Eastwood’s “15:17 to Paris,” which stars the real-life men who thwarted a terrorist attack on a train in 2015; the live-action adaptation of the Beatrix Potter classic “Peter Rabbit;” and the final installment of the Fifty Shades trilogy, “Fifty Shades Freed.”
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
The view from Sundance Sundance wraps up on Sunday. This year’s festival debuted in the wake of the Me Too movement. Harvey Weinstein was a longtime fixture at Sundance, but he didn’t attend this year. Sundance has always been ahead of the curve in promoting new and underrepresented voices in filmmaking. So what’s the next big thing?
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
'Last Jedi' is a fitting tribute to Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Our critics review the animated feature “Ferdinand,” an update of the beloved children’s book about a bull with a big heart; “Birdboy: The Forgotten Children,” which has hand-drawn animations; and the blockbuster “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
'Thor: Ragnarok' and the importance of movie stars Our critics review “A Bad Moms Christmas,” starring Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis and Kathryn Hahn; “Thor: Ragnarok,” with Chris Hemsworth back as Thor, and directed by Taika Waititi of “Flight of the Conchords;” and “Lady Bird,” about the relationship between a mother and her strong-willed teenage daughter.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Will 'It' pull Hollywood out of its box office funk? Our critics review a reboot of Stephen King’s “It,” now set in the ‘80s with kids disappearing from a small town, and a makeover for Pennywise the clown; and “Home Again,” a romantic comedy starring Reese Witherspoon. Also, this summer has been officially the worst at the box office in more than a decade. Is Rotten Tomatoes to blame?
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
As Spider-Man, how does Tom Holland compare to Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire? Our critics review “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” where Peter Parker is in high school and serves as an intern to Tony Stark; “A Ghost Story,” starring Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck; and “The Little Hours,” about a servant who runs away from his master and takes refuge at a convent in the Middle Ages.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
With women at the helm, 'Wonder Woman' wows Our critics review the long-awaited “Wonder Woman” blockbuster, starring Gal Gadot and directed by Patty Jenkins; “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie,” based on a popular children’s book series; and “Band Aid,” about a couple who hopes to alleviate their marriage problems by forming a band together.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
'The Great Wall:' Political satire or just another action flick? Our film critics review “The Great Wall,” set in China and starring Matt Damon; the horror anthology “XX,” which features women writers, directors and lead actors; and another thriller called “A Cure for Wellness.”
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Escapism at the movies this weekend Our film critics discuss The Love Witch; Ang Lee’s take on the veterans experience in Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk; the alien flick Arrival, starring Amy Adams; and the black comedy Elle.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
What to see at the movie theater this weekend New releases at the cinema this weekend include: “Deepwater Horizon,” a film based on the explosion on an oil rig that led to the BP oil spill in 2010; Tim Burton’s “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children;’ “Napoleon Dynamite” director Jared Hess’s new flick, “Masterminds,” and Cannes indie fave “American Honey.”
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
New releases to check out this long weekend Labor Day is upon us and even though it’s the end of summer movie season, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of movies coming out. What should you head to the cineplex for this long weekend? Film critics Roth Cornet and Amy Nicholson give Press Play their picks.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
New Films to Escape With This Weekend For those looking for escapism this weekend, the family-friendly animated film “The Secret Life of Pets” is coming to the local cineplex. But if raunchy is more your thing, “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” may be the flick for you.
Recommended
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
How do Trump supporters feel about the Paris Accord? Globally and around the U.S., there are strong opinions whether or not the Paris Climate Accord is a good idea. The American exit is either a horrifying abdication of American leadership or a forceful and long overdue statement about U.S. sovereignty.
Design and Architecture
Farewell LA freeways, Peter Shire is back Angelenos don't want more freeways but we seem not to want mass transit either. Metro has killed the 710 freeway extension, and bus and train ridership is down across the region. What's the future of getting around in LA? And, Peter Shire is having a comeback. What attracts a new generation to his playful ceramics and furniture?
The Treatment
Hua Hsu: A Floating Chinaman Author Hua Hsu stops by to discuss his book A Floating Chinaman, recounting the life of 1930's actor/writer H.T. Tsiang and his struggles entering the American literary world.
Bookworm
George Saunders: Lincoln in the Bardo (Part I) Lincoln in the Bardo dramatizes a grieving President Lincoln as he visits the grave of his beloved son Willie, who died at age eleven. In the novel, the buried dead believe they're not dead -- "they're sick and refer to their coffins as "sick boxes."