TIFF FILM REVIEW: Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Arrival’

Posted on September 9, 2016 by admin

arrival-1-x650

By Ray Bennett

TORONTO – Science-fiction movies that threaten to depict creatures from outer-space generally leave me cold but Denis Villeneuve’s “Arrival” presents a plausible “what if?” grounded in a contemplative question for humankind with another standout performance by Amy Adams.

The key issue in the film is the question of time and how it is experienced and understood. Suspenseful, thought-provoking and very entertaining, the film has standout contributions from cinematographer Bradford Young and composer Jóhann Jóhannsson. Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews, TIFF Toronto International Film Festival | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on TIFF FILM REVIEW: Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Arrival’

TIFF FILM REVIEW: Pedro Almódovar’s ‘Julieta’

Posted on September 8, 2016 by admin

julieta-pedro-almodovar-x650

By Ray Bennett

TORONTO – Pedro Almódovar’s sublime “Julieta” is a reminder of how, in the hands of a master, a lifetime’s drama can be shown movingly and memorably in little more than an hour and a half of great cinema. It is sumptuous with great performances and a marvelous score by Alberto Iglesias. Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Reviews, TIFF Toronto International Film Festival | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on TIFF FILM REVIEW: Pedro Almódovar’s ‘Julieta’

TIFF FILM REVIEW: ‘The Magnificent Seven’

Posted on September 8, 2016 by admin

magnificent-seven-1x650

By Ray Bennett

TORONTO – Antoine Fuqua’s “The Magnificent Seven” is a rousing Western adventure with stylish set pieces, interesting characters sketched quickly, and a great deal of carnage. It moves fast and loud and should please action fans and lovers of old Westerns. Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Music, Reviews, TIFF Toronto International Film Festival | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on TIFF FILM REVIEW: ‘The Magnificent Seven’

Mark Harmon always had the right moves

Posted on September 2, 2016 by admin

NCIS

By Ray Bennett

LONDON – I first met Mark Harmon, who turns 65 today, when he was 29 years-old and it was clear then that he had the talent and determination to become one of the most enduring and popular stars on American television.

Few TV stars can match his longevity from “Flamingo Road” to “St. Elsewhere” (below) to “Reasonable Doubts” to “Chicago Hope” and his long-running current hit series “NCIS” (above) with many feature films, TV movies and other series along the way.
Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Memory Lane, Television | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why Wilder and Brooks stopped making films together

Posted on August 31, 2016 by admin

young frankenstein 2

By Ray Bennett

LONDON – Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks made three films together and each one is regarded as a comedy classic. Neither man achieved the same degree of success on his own but Wilder, who died Monday aged 83, was quite clear about why they stopped. Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Why Wilder and Brooks stopped making films together

‘Jeannie’ Barbara Eden dreamed of being a TV cop

Posted on August 23, 2016 by admin

Jeannie x650

By Ray Bennett

LONDON – Barbara Eden, who turns 85 today, is remembered most fondly as the sexy genie in the Sixties sitcom “I Dream of Jeannie” but what she really wanted to be was a TV cop. Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Television | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Jeannie’ Barbara Eden dreamed of being a TV cop

TIFF2016: ‘Magnificent 7’ to open, ‘Edge of 17’ to close

Posted on July 26, 2016 by admin

TIFF Magnificent 7 x650

By Ray Bennett

LONDON – Antoine Fuqua’s remake of “The Magnificent Seven” will have its world premiere at the opening gala of the 41st Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 8. TIFF 2016 will close on Sept. 17 with the world premiere of Kelly Fremon Craig’s “The Edge of Seventeen”. Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Previews, TIFF Toronto International Film Festival | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on TIFF2016: ‘Magnificent 7’ to open, ‘Edge of 17’ to close

When I spoke to Wonder Woman, she had no clothes on …

Posted on July 24, 2016 by admin

Lynda Carter Wonder Woman x650

By Ray Bennett

LONDON – Lynda Carter, in her “Wonder Woman” prime, stepped naked and wet from the shower as I said “hello” to begin our interview about life after three seasons as TV’s top female superhero. Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Television | Tagged , | Comments Off on When I spoke to Wonder Woman, she had no clothes on …

How a love of sports made Garry Marshall a comedy legend

Posted on July 20, 2016 by admin

Happy-Days_1876859b

By Ray Bennett

LONDON – Garry Marshall, who died Tuesday aged 81, said one of the reasons he became one of the most prolific and successful producers of TV sitcoms was because he was a sports nut. Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Cheryl Ladd on ‘Charlie’s Angels’, Farrah Fawcett and bikinis

Posted on July 12, 2016 by admin

Cheryl-Ladd-x650

LONDON – Cheryl Ladd, who turns 65 today, was always the most fun and down-to-earth of TV’s “Charlie’s Angels”, friendly and a bit flirty, and she wasn’t catty about Farrah Fawcett when she had every right to be. Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Cheryl Ladd on ‘Charlie’s Angels’, Farrah Fawcett and bikinis