Monthly Archives: March 2007

Channeling Edith Piaf in ‘La Vie en Rose’

By Ray Bennett EMI Music sent over their soundtrack CD for the film “La Vie en Rose,” a biography of French singer Edith Piaf, and I’ve been playing it ever since (alternating with Ry Cooder’s exceptional “My Name is Buddy”) … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Music, Notes | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Channeling Edith Piaf in ‘La Vie en Rose’

THEATRE REVIEW: Robert Lindsay in ‘The Entertainer’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – The shadow of Laurence Olivier’s performance as Archie Rice looms so large over John Osborne’s 1956 play “The Entertainer” that it’s almost surprising to rediscover what a sturdy piece of work it is. Robert Lindsay, … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on THEATRE REVIEW: Robert Lindsay in ‘The Entertainer’

Clive Owen: Man among ‘Children’

By Ray Bennett For some reason, Metacritic read my review of “Children of Men” from the Venice International Film Festival last fall and concluded I gave it an 80% rating. In fact, I ranked Alfonso Cuaron’s extraordinary film along with … Continue reading

Posted in Film, News | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Clive Owen: Man among ‘Children’

The fine eye of Joni Mitchell

By Ray Bennett When I lived in Los Angeles, Joni Mitchell was a regular at my watering hole of choice, Dan Tana’s restaurant on Santa Monica Boulevard. Tana’s is famously relaxed about the big names that dine there, but given … Continue reading

Posted in Music, News, Notes | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Hayley Atwell one to watch in ‘Mansfield Park’

By Ray Bennett Hayley Atwell steals the show as Mary Crawford, the intruder who almost ruins the hopes of poor Fanny Price (Billie Piper), in ITV’s new adaptation of “Mansfield Park”, which airs tonight. Atwell’s sly sensuality and deftly suggestive … Continue reading

Posted in Notes, Places, Television | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Hayley Atwell one to watch in ‘Mansfield Park’

FILM REVIEW: Christopher Plummer in ‘The Man in the Chair’

By Ray Bennett There are not many good movies about making movies because the moviemakers tend to take everything far too seriously and forget that it’s only a movie. It’s all the more pleasing then that journeyman director Michael Schroeder … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on FILM REVIEW: Christopher Plummer in ‘The Man in the Chair’

TV REVIEW: Billie Piper in ‘Mansfield Park’

By Ray Bennett Billie Piper hardly has to prove herself any more as a television actress after “Canterbury Tales,” “Doctor Who” and “The Ruby In the Smoke,” and she’s very good in “Mansfield Park,” which airs on the U.K.’s ITV1 … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Television | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on TV REVIEW: Billie Piper in ‘Mansfield Park’

Loach’s ‘Wind That Shakes the Barley’ takes New York

By Ray Bennett Fancy that, Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or-winning “The Wind That Shakes the Barley,” a drama about the Irish troubles set in the 1920s, opens in New York just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. The New York Times … Continue reading

Posted in Festival de Cannes, Film, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Loach’s ‘Wind That Shakes the Barley’ takes New York

FILM REVIEWS: ‘The Family Friend’ and ‘Eden’

By Ray Bennett Two intriguing but very different character studies are on display in films released in the U.K. today. Paolo Sorrentino’s creepy “The Family Friend” (L’Amico di Famiglia) is about an Italian moneylender who ruthlessly exploits everyone he encounters … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on FILM REVIEWS: ‘The Family Friend’ and ‘Eden’

Dishing with former US Vice-President Al Gore

By Ray Bennett Fresh from his triumphant appearance at the Oscars, Al Gore (left) was in London Monday for the U.K. launch of the interactive youth TV channel Current, of which he’s chairman. The new service launched the same day … Continue reading

Posted in Notes, Television | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Dishing with former US Vice-President Al Gore