There are interesting parallels to be made, if you care to make them, between this 1971 drama directed by Mike Nichols and another of his movies, 2004's Closer. Both focus on four characters with intertwined love lives, and very complicated and emotional reactions to every act of love or betrayal. In Carnal Knowledge, the stars are Jack Nicholson, Art Garfunkel, Candice Bergen and Ann-Margret – and for the time, both the subject matter and the on-screen action were considered very mature i

2014

Dec

A TRIBUTE TO BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN By David Bianculli

This concert tribute was filmed in 2013 at a MusiCares Person of the Year celebration honoring Bruce Springsteen. The performers and performances include “I’m on Fire” by Mumford and Sons, “Streets of Philadelphia” by Elton John, “Born in the U.S.A.” by Neil Young & Crazy Horse, and, for the multi-song finale, Springsteen and his E Street Band taking the stage. Jon Stewart hosts. Check local listings.

2014

Dec

MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM By David Bianculli

Idris Elba, who burst to prominence as Stringer Bell in HBO’s The Wire, then as the titular star of Luther, has the imposing, inspirational title role in this 2014 biographical film. The film follows Nelson Mandela from his early childhood to his long incarceration, and his eventual ascension to the democratically elected president of South Africa.

2014

Dec

ONE CHILD By David Bianculli

MINISERIES PREMIERE: Another miniseries co-production by Sundance and the BBC, this two-night, four-hour drama (concluding tomorrow) stars Katie Leung as a woman suddenly confronting her past, a family she never knew, and a system of justice that’s literally foreign to her. It’s a story of clashing cultures: Leung’s Mei is of Chinese heritage, adopted at birth by a British man and his American wife, who learns as a young woman that her brother – a sibling she never knew s

2014

Dec

THE FOO FIGHTERS: SONIC HIGHWAYS By David Bianculli

SERIES FINALE: For this concluding edition of Dave Grohl’s musical mystery tour, the Foo Fighters front man takes his band to New York City, where the musical history is almost laughably extensive and inclusive. This hour, too, is inclusive, covering everything from Tin Pan Alley to Public Enemy and the Beastie Boys.

2014

Dec

EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN By Ed Martin

It will make many readers of this column feel quite old when I refer to Murphy Brown, one of the most “contemporary” comedies in television history, as a “classic.” I remember enthusiastically writing about this show whenever I was able...

2014

Dec

PETER PAN LIVE! By David Bianculli

LIVE: Gather the family, make some snacks, tune the TV to NBC, and straight on till morning: These are the directions to experience Peter Pan, live on television, the way it was last experienced live, when I saw it as wide-eyed child in 1960. I did grow up – but I’m still excited by Peter Pan anyway. This new production stars Allison Williams and Christopher Walken. For a full preview, see Bianculli’s Blog, or go straight to my report on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

2014

Dec

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL By David Bianculli

Two of “America’s Teams,” the Cowboys and Da Bears, do battle on a Thursday night game that ought to be very highly rated, even on the NFL Network. It’s Dallas vs. Chicago, with the Bears enjoying a frigid home advantage.

2014

Dec

GRACEPOINT By David Bianculli

This is the penultimate episode of this Americianized remake of Broadchurch, and one of the episodes where it veers significantly from its original inspiration. One thing to worry about, at this juncture: Will its mystery conclude next week, with the season finale? Or will Gracepoint try to pull a Killing and stretch out its story over two seasons? Because that sure ended well…

2014

Dec

MEET JOHN DOE By David Bianculli

Frank Capra directed this 1941 classic, about a man (Gary Cooper) whose personal philosophy sounds positively Buddhist: to protest certain conditions, he threatens to commit suicide publicly. Except this “John Doe” didn’t exist, until Cooper’s character was persuaded to embody him – and a media storm erupts around him. Also erupting around him: Barbara Stanwyck, at her most beautiful. And cynical.

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