By Stuart Greenbaum and Kathryn Cherkas What happens when two-dozen adult day center participants, ages 68-98, come together to critique a feature film -- “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” for instance? Well … a handful walked out mid-screening, some fell…
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She said “No,” so I naturally assumed she simply didn’t understand what I was asking. Since my initial request to her friend or sister was received with a shrug and something in Spanish. I gestured that I was simply asking…
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There are some TV commercials so obnoxious the remote’s mute button virtually presses itself. For example, the Allstate spot with the car owner on the phone asking “What?” over and over, escalating in volume and indignation and by the fifth…
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Credit her keen observation of real life for the perfection with which Catherine O’Hara portrays vain and narcissistic characters. In Time magazine’s recent profile on the comedic actor, writer Judy Berman thoughtfully connects and contrasts O’Hara’s iconic, outsize roles on…
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Other than Marvel icon Stan Lee’s ubiquitous cameos, the super hero genre is not known for showcasing “mature” adults. So, it is refreshing to see 74-year old Michael Douglas playing a pivotal role in the “Ant-man” franchise. Better still, though,…
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There is little more annoying on TV than talk show pundits talking over one another. And the phenomenon is worsening. Once polite, deferential panelists and guests have decided the only way to make their cases heard is to use the…
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“All you do is imitate me,” the confident Dennis character says to the insecure Warren in the Kenneth Lonergan play “This Is Our Youth.” With this single sentence, we not only know Dennis, we most likely can associate his conceited…
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By Stuart Greenbaum Remember when Harold said to Maude: “A lot of people enjoy being dead. But they are not dead, really. They’re just backing away from life. Reach out. Take a chance …” The science of artful communication has…
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Now that Hollywood appears to have wised up to the Asian market, could the critical acclaim and box-office success of “Crazy Rich Asians” inspire the industry to reconsider its treatment of other under- and misrepresented populations? It’s time -- for…
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What’s new in Hollywood? Not much you might think by watching year after year of wife-killer murder mysteries; rogue surgeons with god-complexes; rom-coms with could-be couples; singing and dancing competitions with hard-luck contestants; and reality series with rotating stars. The…
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