Monday, March 18,2013

New worlds to conquer

Moody 'Another Earth' combines stark drama with elements of science-fiction

by James Sanford

Friday, Aug. 19 —The discovery of another planet identical to our own is the starting point for director Mike Cahill’s “Another Earth,” a moody drama that’s not so much science-fiction as it is an in-depth character study. Instead of concentrating on what’s out there in the cosmos, the screenplay by Cahill and star Brit Marling points its telescope instead at the human heart.

Monday, March 18,2013

The shape of TV to come

WKAR's Fall Preview celebrated the past and looked into the future

by James Sanford

Thursday, Aug. 25 — TV from around the world — and foods from around the country — were served up at WKAR’s Fall Preview 2011 Wednesday evening.

Monday, March 18,2013

It's all set

The new WLNS news set is unveiled tonight; expect to see some familiar sights

by James Sanford

Friday, Aug. 26 — Although the new WLNS news set makes its debut during tonight's 5 p.m. newscast, chances are excellent you've already seen some of its elements. The amber and blue backdrops of the main desk and the smaller "explainer" desk include images of such Lansing landmarks...

Monday, March 18,2013

Toronto Madness!

by James Sanford

Wednesday, Sept. 14 — "I've got insanity in my entrails," laments a deeply disturbed mother in director Pedro Almodovar's "The Skin I Live In," one of the many high-profile films being rolled out during this week's Toronto International Film Festival.

Monday, March 18,2013

Feel like getting 'Footloose'?

Limited numer of passes available for a sneak preview Thursday night

by James Sanford

Wednesday, Sept. 21 — If you'd like to be one of the first to see the new version of "Footloose" and you're free on Thursday night — you're in luck.

Monday, March 18,2013

Diamonds are a boy's best friend

Brad Pitt leads a winning team in the engaging 'Moneyball'

by James Sanford

You’re the general manager of a baseball team. Three of your most notable players are leaving at the end of the season and you’ve got to find replacements. Unfortunately, you don’t have a bottomless well of money to pay out to potential superstars. What’s your strategy?

Monday, March 18,2013

The best medicine

Beautifully balanced '50/50' reveals the lighter side of a life-threatening crisis

by James Sanford

In “50/50,” Adam Lerner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has to break some very bad news to his mother (Anjelica Huston) midway through dinner. There’s no easy way to start the discussion, but Adam has a strategy.“Have you ever seen ‘Terms of Endearment’?” he asks.Yes, the 27-year-old Adam has cancer, a malignant, rapidly growing tumor on his spine that, his physician has told him — with barely suppressed excitement — is the result of “an incredibly rare gene mutation.” Although Adam has about a 50/50 chance of survival, his doctor has a near-100 percent chance of getting a terrific paper out of the case.

Monday, March 18,2013

It's party time

George Clooney directs and co-stars in entertaining 'Ides of March,' but he gives the central role to Ryan Gosling

by James Sanford

This is a great year to be Ryan Gosling.The Canadian-born actor has had a rather phenomenal run of late, starting with the national release of "Blue Valentine" earlier this year, in which he and Michelle Williams gave bruisingly real performances as a seemingly doomed couple. A few months later, Gosling was wowing audiences with his knack for light comedy, playing a pick-up artist who turns out to have a heart in "Crazy, Stupid, Love." Gosling switched gears again weeks later to play the cryptic wheelman in the hypnotic thriller "Drive."

Monday, March 18,2013

Almost paradise?

It's debatable whether or not we needed a new version of 'Footloose,' but director Craig Brewer's remake is energetic fun

by James Sanford

To the generation that grew up in the early days of MTV — a.k.a. back when the channel was still showing music videos instead of chronicling the travails of teen moms or celebrating the debauchery of the “Jersey Shore” gang — the idea of remaking “Footloose” ranks right up there with letting Rebecca Black do a cover version of “Bette Davis Eyes.” Some 1980s icons are not to be tampered with.

Monday, March 18,2013

Crazy talk

Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin discuss long-distance love

by James Sanford

Friday, Dec. 16 — When it came to understanding the dynamics of long-distance love, “Like Crazy” stars Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin were already experts before the cameras rolled. “I’m an actor, so I’m always in a long-distance relationship,” Jones explained in an interview during the Toronto International Film Festival in September. “So I definitely empathized with how it feels to be away from home and in transit.”