Author Archives: admin

FILM REVIEW: Bryan Cranston, Helen Mirren in ‘Trumbo’

Posted on February 5, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – The infamous treatment of filmmakers in Hollywood during the communist witch hunt of the 1940s and 1950s should have made for a powerful movie but Jay Roach’s “Trumbo” misses the target.

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Academy Awards diversity: a look at the numbers

Posted on January 29, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – In the discussion about diversity in the top prizes of the Academy Awards, the depth of the problem for the Academy is clear as in the 14 awards from 2001 to last year, on the AMPAS … Continue reading →

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London Critics’ Circle film awards: Ovation for Alan Rickman

Posted on January 18, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON  – There was only one standing ovation at the London Critics’ Circle Film Awards Sunday night and it was for someone who was not there: Alan Rickman, who died on January 14. The audience responded immediately … Continue reading →

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David Bowie: When Ziggy played guitar

Posted on January 11, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – On Oct. 8 1972, a new young artist from England played his sixth U.S. concert in Detroit at the Fisher Theatre. This is what I wrote in The Windsor Star newspaper two days later: Remember the name. … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: Quentin Tarantino’s ‘The Hateful Eight’

Posted on January 8, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Quentin Tarantino’s western “The Hateful Eight” reveals him as a horrible sham who relies on the skills of talented filmmakers to make his pictures look and sound great despite his absence of talent as a … Continue reading →

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Composers Williams, Morricone up for Bafta film awards

Posted on January 8, 2016 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – The nominees for original music in the Bafta Film Awards announced this morning are Thomas Newman for “Bridge of Spies”, Ennio Morricone for “The Hateful Eight”, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Carsten Nicolai for “The Revenant”, Jóhann Jóhannsson for … Continue reading →

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THEATRE REVIEW: Frank Loesser’s ‘Guys and Dolls’

Posted on December 20, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – If you like musical theatre, beg, borrow or steal a ticket to see the Chichester Festival Theatre’s dazzling production of Broadway classic “Guys and Dolls”, which opens at the Savoy Theatre on Jan. 6 and … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: Saoirse Ronan in John Crowley’s ‘Brooklyn’

Posted on December 12, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – A finely nuanced performance by Saoirse Ronan as a young Irish ex-pat in New York is one of the many pleasures of John Crowley’s warm and entertaining “Brooklyn”.

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Why Frank Sinatra was called The Voice

Posted on December 12, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett There were several reasons why Frank Sinatra, who was born 100 years ago today, was known as The Voice. In 1992, Daily Variety gave me the chance to research just how he earned the sobriquet.

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FILM REVIEW: Daniel Craig as James Bond in ‘Spectre’

Posted on December 11, 2015 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – The latest James Bond film, “Spectre”, has grossed around $800 million around the world, so it’s clear that the filmmakers know what sells. It’s just a shame that it’s not really a James Bond film. … Continue reading →

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