Tag Archives: The Hollywood Reporter

Dave Robb, a fine reporter and great friend

By Ray Bennett LONDON — A friend of mine is gravely ill and so, risking his wrath, I want to write this now rather than later. David Robb is the best reporter I’ve ever known and I’ve been fortunate to … Continue reading

Posted in Comment | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Bob Dowling gave me the best job in the world

By Ray Bennett LONDON – I shall always be grateful to Robert J.Dowling, the former publisher and editor-in-chief of The Hollywood Reporter who has died aged 83, because it was thanks to him that for several years I had a … Continue reading

Posted in Comment, Film, Media, Music | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Bob Dowling gave me the best job in the world

When John Williams asked for me …

By Ray Bennett LONDON – In 2000, John Williams, who turns 90 today, was named ‘Maestro of the Year’ at ShoWest in Las Vegas. He agreed to an interview with The Hollywood Reporter tied to that with one proviso. He wanted … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Interviews, Music | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on When John Williams asked for me …

THEATRE REVIEW: Mike Leigh’s ‘Grief’ at the National

By Ray Bennett LONDON (The Hollywood Reporter) – Mike Leigh’s new play “Grief” is the complete opposite of his film “Happy-Go Lucky” with a family rendered almost cataleptic by personal loss and the gloom of post-World War II England. Given … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on THEATRE REVIEW: Mike Leigh’s ‘Grief’ at the National

BERLIN FILM REVIEW: Jonathan Sagall’s ‘Lipstikka’

By Ray Bennett BERLIN – Canadian director Jonathan Sagall’s intriguing drama “Lipstikka” tells of two women whose memory of a dramatic incident when they were teenagers is markedly different and affects their lives in complicated ways. Set in London with … Continue reading

Posted in Berlin International Film Festival, Film, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on BERLIN FILM REVIEW: Jonathan Sagall’s ‘Lipstikka’

THEATRE REVIEW: ‘Flashdance the Musical’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – There is so much exciting singing and dancing talent onstage in the West End debut of “Flashdance the Musical” that it makes you wonder how all the other musicals in town are making out. Fans … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews, Theatre | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on THEATRE REVIEW: ‘Flashdance the Musical’

‘Up In the Air’ tops my 2009 Top 10 list

By Ray Bennett Jason Reitman’s ‘Up In the Air’, starring George Clooney and Vera Farmiga (pictured) with Anna Kendrick, is my pick as the best movie released in the United States in 2009. My Top 10 list for The Hollywood … Continue reading

Posted in Comment, Film | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Up In the Air’ tops my 2009 Top 10 list

FILM REVIEW: ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’

By Ray Bennett LONDON — Designed to give devoted fans of the 2007 “Transformers,” which grossed more than $700 million worldwide, more of the same, Michael Bay’s sequel “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” is a nonstop whirl of flying, battling … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Reviews | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on FILM REVIEW: ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’

Headed to the Rio de Janeiro film festival

  By Ray Bennett LONDON – The Hollywood Reporter has assigned me to cover the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival in the first week of October. The 10th Rio festival kicks off Thursday with Brazilian director Bruno Barreto’s “Last … Continue reading

Posted in Film, News, Places | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Headed to the Rio de Janeiro film festival