- Social:
Variety
Chief film critic for Variety
PROFILE
Justin Chang
Guest
FROM Justin Chang
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Clinton Slams Trump in Forceful Foreign Policy Speech There’s Sundance, Toronto, Cannes, Telluride – and this week, Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Film Festival is underway, and this year, 42 movies will debut at the festival, many of them directed by women and people of color. That’s because before #OscarsSoWhite became a thing, the LA Film Festival made showcasing more diverse films with diverse casts its primary mission. That’s a commendable objective, but how are the films featured at this year’s festival? And how does LAFF stack up against other festivals?
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Friday Film: 'Cinderella,' 'Going Clear,' and 'Run All Night' It’s Friday, which means it’s time to talk about film. This week catches us during an “in-between” moment in the movies industry, post-Oscars and pre-summer blockbusters. But there’s a genre for everyone this weekend, from a sugary sweet princess story to Liam Neeson’s latest action movie -- kind of a genre unto itself. We also discuss Alex Gibney’s new documentary about Scientology, Going Clear.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Vampires, Football and Cartoon Birds The newest releases out this week include Only Lovers Left Alive, a film about vampire ennui by auteur Jim Jarmusch; Draft Day, a business-of-football feel-good flick; and Rio 2, an animated romp through the Amazon. Our critics pick the movies apart and then give us a sneak peek of the latest in the Expendables franchise.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Remembering Philip Seymour Hoffman Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead this weekend in his New York apartment of an apparent drug overdose. An amazingly versatile actor, Hoffman’s death has shocked the entertainment industry and movie fans. We look back on his life and work.
Recommended
The Business
In 'Speechless,' Scott Silveri combines comedy, family & disability Scott Silveri has written and produced sitcoms for more than 20 years. In all that time, he never encountered a TV family that looked anything like the one he grew up in -- with a mom, a dad...and a brother with cerebral palsy. He changed that with his show Speechless on ABC. Silveri tells us about looking to his own past for stories, and why he was determined to make a family comedy and not just a "disability show."
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Why is Trump so behind on filling staff jobs, establishing concrete policies? Yesterday Donald Trump signed a “decision memo” to revamp the air traffic control system. But there was little legislative detail in the plan. There’s not much to other splashy announcements from the White House, including tax cuts and the arms deal with Saudi Arabia. And hundreds of positions are unfilled in federal agencies.
The Treatment
Kenya Barris: Black-ish Black-ish creator Kenya Barris joins Elvis Mitchell to discuss utilizing his show as a conversation starter.
Good Food
'Dandelion and Quince,' food and crime, 'All About Eggs' Sarah Lohman talks about the murder and historic recipes that form the backbone of her new book, “Ohio 1910,” and Rachel Khong shares highlights from Lucky Peach’s last cookbook, “All About Eggs.” Michelle Mckenzie tells us how to cook oft-forgotten fruits, veggies and herbs, and Jonathan Gold reviews AR Cucina in Culver City. Plus: raspberries at the market and a special guest DJ set from Alton Brown.