DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

ALEX STRACHAN

MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

GARY EDGERTON

TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
2013
Dec
11
 
 
Unfairly held back until 1:30 a.m. ET, TCM presents Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire in this 1957 musical version of Ninotchka. This time it’s Charisse, not Greta Garbo, as the cold Russian eventually warmed by the charms of a persistent American (Astaire) – and since this movie is hard to find both on TV and DVD, it’s recommended you take advantage of the opportunity.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Dec
10
 
 
Last week, ABC repeated the pilot episode of this series, which introduced a rogue character with unchecked superpowers: soldier Mike Peterson. Tonight, in this new episode, we meet Peterson again – this time as a recruit to help the agents fight a powerful new villain, the Centipede. We’ll know, in coming episodes, whether that villain makes a return appearance – or, in other words, whether the Centipede has legs.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Dec
10
 
 
As Christmas movies go, this 1990 comedy is pure wish-fulfillment for young children. A frantic family heads for a Christmas vacation overseas, but leaving behind one child (young Macaulay Culkin) in the mad dash to the airport. Suddenly, the poor kid finds himself not only alone for the holidays, but defending his house against some astoundingly inept burglars (played by Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci). It should be scary – but this Chris Columbus farce, like a live-action cartoon, plays ever
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Dec
10
 
 
Peter Sellers surely went to school on this 1949 dark comedy, which has a charming villain (Dennis Price) targeting for extermination eight heirs to a family fortune – with all eight would-be victims, male and female, played by Alec Guinness.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Dec
10
 
 
Back in the days of print, and of magazines, one running joke was that some people insisted they read Playboy for the articles. A modern analogue would be someone who claims to watch CBS’s annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show for the music. In which case, you can listen to Taylor Swift and Fall Out Boy. Although, in the case of Taylor Swift this year, you might be able to make a strong argument for either side.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Dec
10
 
 
SEASON FINALE: We learned, at the end of last week’s episode, that Tara (Maggie Siff) had defied both her husband and the authorities by a) taking her kids and running, and b) not taking a witness-protection deal. So she’s on her own, with both SAMCRO and the law looking for her – and I suspect that will come to a climax before tonight’s season finale does.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Dec
9
 
 

HBO’s Six by Sondheim special, premiering Monday night at 9 ET, tells the story of Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim while looking closely at six of his songs. Why stop there?...

 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Dec
9
 
 
Part 2. The drama concludes, culminating in the climax that’s not so much a shoot-out as a shoot-at. And, all things considered, still packs less punch than the 1967 Warren Beatty movie. But here it is, if you’re interested.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Dec
9
 
 
A wonderful new special, celebrating and exploring the music and lyrics of Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. For a full review, see Bianculli’s Blog, or listen to my report on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Dec
9
 
 
Made in 1977, this is one of the best sports movies ever made – and in no small part because of Paul Newman’s smash-to-the-glass, enjoyably profane performance.