Category: TV & Movies

  • FALL ARTS GUIDE: Art, movies, music and theater

    FALL ARTS GUIDE: Art, movies, music and theater

    When the leaves turn, this city comes back to life. Find your arts adventure in this modest smattering of excuses to hit the town come fall, from pop art and photography to Mozart and Tolstoy and everything in between. FINE ART In the Steps of the Master August 29, 2015–February 15, 2016 Museum of Fine…

  • KEN BURNS EFFECT: Filmmaker reflects on The Civil War series, social equality

    KEN BURNS EFFECT: Filmmaker reflects on The Civil War series, social equality

    It’s hard to have a conversation about American history in today’s world without referencing at least one of Ken Burns’ documentaries. From National Parks to Baseball to The Roosevelts to The Civil War (the latter celebrates its 25th anniversary this month with a re-broadcasting of the groundbreaking series), it’s undeniable that Ken Burns has cemented…

  • COMIC STANDING: Gary Gulman talks economic inequality

    COMIC STANDING: Gary Gulman talks economic inequality

    Comedians are famous for knowing how to work a crowd with their side-splitting and sometimes off-color commentary on everyday issues, but they also have a unique angle on social issues. Well, at least Gary Gulman does. The Peabody native and Last Comic Standing finalist has a lot to say about the effects of income inequality…

  • CHRIS PRATT: Jurassic World star talks action, comedy, and dinosaurs

    CHRIS PRATT: Jurassic World star talks action, comedy, and dinosaurs

    By Guy Davis, Courtesy of INSP News Service www.INSP.org / The Big Issue Australia Chris Pratt, who visited Harvard earlier this year to receive Hasty Pudding’s Man of the Year award, would prefer to avoid death by a thousand bites, thank you very much. “Oh, man, take me out with one big bite, please, not…

  • MISS CONGENIALITY: Katya's alter ego talks stardom, Olympics

    MISS CONGENIALITY: Katya's alter ego talks stardom, Olympics

    When Boston won the bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, Brian McCook’s now famous drag alter ego Katya planned an old-school Russian boycott. “I’m so torn about it,” says McCook, who was in the top five out of 14 performers featured on the current season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. “While I would love to physically…

  • PHOTOS: Actress Natalie Portman speaks at Harvard

    PHOTOS: Actress Natalie Portman speaks at Harvard

    Spare Change News photographer Ryan Miner shot photos of actress Natalie Portman at Harvard. Portman, who scored an Academy Award for her work in Black Swan, will speak at her alma mater on Wednesday, May 27 as the 2015 Class Day speaker for Harvard College. –Photos by Ryan Miner    

  • GARRET'S MOVIE PALACE: Return of the reviews

    GARRET'S MOVIE PALACE: Return of the reviews

    Happy New Year! Thank you for your patience, my faithful readers. It’s been a while since I’ve written a review and, for this, I apologize. I’ve still been watching movies every month, but none of them have been worth writing about. This holiday season was also a bit difficult for me emotionally, so my heart…

  • Garret’s Movie Palace: Into the Storm

    Garret’s Movie Palace: Into the Storm

    By Garret Jordan Well, I was not blown away by this movie — pun intended. I thought for sure that this latest tornado-thon would be better than Twister, given the advances in special effects since 1996. The effects were great, but they just weren’t enough. The exposition and rising action of any story are supposed…

  • “The Skeleton Twins”: Laughter, Followed By A Punch In The Gut

    “The Skeleton Twins”: Laughter, Followed By A Punch In The Gut

    By Marissa Giambelluca Grade: A At heart, “The Skeleton Twins,” a movie directed by Craig Johnson (“True Adolescents”), is a story of a brother and sister both on the brink of self-destruction. Quite literally, actually. The movie opens with Maggie (Kristen Wiig) about to down a handful of pills, but she’s stopped by a phone…

  • Garret’s Movie Palace: Insidious, Chapter Two

    Garret’s Movie Palace: Insidious, Chapter Two

    By Garret Jordan  Royal Rating: 2.5 out of 4 crowns Yeah, you read that right. 2.5 out of 4. I was so disappointed. The first Insidious movie came out in 2011, and when I saw it, I was terrified out of my wits. We were introduced to the Lambert family: husband Josh,wife Renée, and their…