Variety film critic
Scott Foundas is Chief Film Critic for Variety. Prior to joining Variety, he was Chief Film Critic for The Village Voice, where his writing was syndicated throughout the Village Voice Media network (including the L.A. Weekly). In addition, he has contributed to the DGA Quarterly, Film Comment and The New York Times among numerous other publications.
CANNES CHECK IN A few films are getting buzz at Cannes this week, including a Chinese film about globalization, the Amy Winehouse documentary, and the latest from Pixar.
'The Master' and Scientology The new film, The Master , is based largely on the life of L. Ron Hubbard. Philip Seymour Hoffman dazzles as the founder of Scientology , a charismatic Svengali who convinces his acolytes of the power of his vision. As his son says in the movie, he makes it up as he goes along. We compare fact and fiction in film with a film critic and a chronicler of Scientology.
Claudio Magris: Blameless In Claudio Magris' Blameless, a museum of the implements of war and destruction is created to inspire peace. But this conversation is not just about war and peace.
Accusations of lying fly between James Comey and White House During his testimony Thursday, former FBI Director James Comey accused President Trump and other White House officials of lying when they said the FBI was in disarray and its staff had lost confidence in him. President Trump’s lawyer said Comey was wrong -- that the president never asked for his loyalty, and never asked him to back off the investigation into former NSA director Michael Flynn.
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?
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."
