Michael Cavna on “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”

Posted on October 19, 2016 at 10:56 am

Michael Cavna, who covers comics, graphic novels, and animation for the Washington Post writes about Peanuts’ classic Halloween special, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” The family favorite celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Cavna writes:

Their swift narrative certainty for “Great Pumpkin” freed Melendez (who also voiced Snoopy) and his crew — including gifted animator Bill Littlejohn — to create stunning watercolor skies and rich autumn hues that provide every scene with its own mood, apart from the characters. Melendez brilliantly painted both motion and emotion.

“It is by far the most colorful of the shows,” Mendelson says, “as Bill and his team captured the vibrancy of the fall season.”

And the camera, often so static in “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” zooms in for facial close-ups in the follow-up that provide the viewer with a poignant intimacy.

Trailer: The Boss Baby

Posted on October 18, 2016 at 8:00 am

Alec Baldwin, Lisa Kudrow, and Steve Buscemi star in “The Boss Baby,” inspired by the sibling rivalry that is all too familiar to anyone who’s ever been in a family.

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Trailers, Previews, and Clips

More Trailblazing Women on TCM

Posted on October 17, 2016 at 9:19 pm

Turner Classic Movies has another series of tributes to “Trailblazing Women” Tuesdays and Thursdays this month. It is hosted by Illeana Douglas, actress, writer, and granddaughter of two stars of Hollywood’s golden age, Melvyn Douglas and Helen Gahagan.

Her co-hosts include many of the actresses who are being honored this month, including Rita Moreno, Jane Fonda, Lee Grant, and Bette Midler.

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Television

Middleburg Film Festival, October 20-23, 2016

Posted on October 16, 2016 at 3:28 pm

In just four years, the Middleburg Film Festival has become a major force. Led by BET co-founder Sheila Johnson, and based at her Salamander luxury resort in the heart of Virginia’s post horse and hunt countryside, this year’s slate includes several titles expected to be Oscar nominees. I am especially looking forward to seeing Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling re-teaming in “La La Land,” a musical from “Whiplash” writer/director Damien Chazelle.

Also on the schedule: “Lion,” with Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman in the true story of an adopted man searching for his biological mother, “Custody,” with Viola Davis in a story about related child abuse cases in the family court system, and “Loving,” with Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton in the true story of the 1967 Supreme Court case that overturned laws requiring married couples to be of the same race.

The festival also includes all of the films nominated by their countries of origin for the Foreign Language Oscar and a tribute to film composer Henry Jackman.

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Where You’ve Seen Her: Anna Kendrick

Posted on October 14, 2016 at 3:49 pm

Anna Kendrick is one of my favorite performers and she is terrific as always in “The Accountant.”

I first saw her singing “Life Upon the Wicked Stage” from “Show Boat” with “Cabaret’s” Kit Kat Girls in “My Favorite Broadway.”

She sang another too-old-for-her Broadway classic, “Ladies Who Lunch,” in “Camp,” where she played an “All About Eve”-style teenager who temporarily poisoned her rival. (NSFW language) With the ultimate disappointed middle-age belter, she slayed.

She was sensational with the rat-a-tat dialogue of “Rocket Science,” as a champion high school debater with an instinct for the jugular.

And really broke into major star status with “Up in the Air” and the “Pitch Perfect” movies.

She has quietly become one of the most versatile and appealing performers working today. She provided the voice for the annoying older sister in LAIKA’s “ParaNorman,” appeared in the raunchy comedy “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates,” and turned in thoughtful, sensitive performances in indie films like “Cake” (with Jennifer Aniston) and this year’s “The Hollars.” She was a therapist in “50/50” and Cinderella in “Into the Woods.” She even appeared in the “Twilight” series. Coming up next: the romantic comedy “Table 19.” Can’t wait.

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Actors