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
Mar
17
 
 
SEASON FINALE: Both emotions and deadlines come to a boil this week, as Hannah (Lena Dunham) frantically tries to comply with the due date of her novel – while ex-boyfriend Adam (Adam Driver) has an emotional catharsis that is long overdue. This last script of the season was co-written by Dunham and series co-executive producer Judd Apatow.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Mar
16
 
 
The plot of this 2012 movie is thin as onionskin typing paper, a simile that ought to baffle an entire generation of film fans – but that generation, most likely, wouldn’t have seen this movie anyway. It’s about a group of British tourists who travel to India to stay at a resort that doesn’t exactly live up to the brochure. But the cast makes this movie a pleasure: Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Smith and Bill Nighy, just for starters.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Mar
16
 
 
It’s Dustin Hoffman night on TCM: five movies in a row, starting with this brave, touching character study from 1982. Hoffman gets due credit for transforming himself into the titular character, but I’ve always been equally impressed by how committed he is to portraying a committed actor, determined to remain true to his craft as he sees it. Also noteworthy in this movie, of course: Jessica Lange as the love interest, and Bill Murray as the comical best friend.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Mar
16
 
 
Yes, Starz tonight presents the TV premiere of the 2012 Men in Black 3, which teams a time-traveling Agent J (Will Smith) with a younger version of Agent K (played by Josh Brolin). But Starz does more than that. It prefaces that premiere with the two previous films in the series, beginning at  5:50 p.m. ET.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Mar
16
 
 
Last week’s Saturday Night Live, with Justin Timberlake making his fifth appearance as host, easily was the best installment of the season – and this cut-down, prime-time "instant" rerun ought to be even better, if NBC cuts the weakest two skits. But boy, did the show start strong, with Timberlake joining the ultra-exclusive “Five-timers” club – and sharing drinks with Tom Hanks, Alec Baldwin, and others. Later tonight, in the regular SNL time sot, there’s ano
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Mar
16
 
 
From 1970, this Dustin Hoffman movie is an acting triumph, and an underrated gem — an epic character study of a young man (Hoffman) raised by Indians and managing to be present for many key events in American history, including Little Big Horn. Oh, and Faye Dunaway is memorable as well — especially in the bathtub scene. Later tonight, as part of TCM’s five-film Hoffman tribute: John and Mary at 12:30 a.m. ET, The Graduate at 2:15 a.m. ET and Kramer vs. Kramer at 4:15
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Mar
15
 
 
Forget co-eds on sandy beaches. On television, spring break means a vacation from aggression and a return to calmer drama...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Mar
15
 
 
SPECIAL: Talk about timing. There’s a new movie opening today called Spring Breakers, which follows the somewhat steamy escapades of a gaggle of thrill-seeking young women, two of whom are played by actresses who became famous playing much more wholesome roles on the Disney Channel. One is Vanessa Hudgens, star of the hugely popular High School Musical Disney telemovies. The other is Selena Gomez, who starred as teen sorceress Alex Russo in Disney’s The Wizards of Waverly Place sitco
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Mar
15
 
 
Sometimes, reruns are the best things a TV schedule can offer. That’s certainly true of this 2006 biography, which does a great job saluting, explaining and presenting one of folk music’s most noble, iconic and impressive talents. Check local listings.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2013
Mar
15
 
 
R.J. Cutler, the documentarian behind The War Room, returns to politics for this new nonfiction study – but this one is more of a portrait, with former Vice President Dick Cheney telling his side of every story. It’s not fair and balanced, as documentaries go, but it’s not intended to be. It’s more of a P.O.V.-style study, and, as such, certainly is eye-opening. No matter what your politics, you’ll find something surprising in this two-hour special, especially durin