The Terror, Grief and Beauty of the new doc Emanuel
Plugged In sometimes compares good media discernment with a good diet: We are what we eat. We consume movies like we might a salad or a piece of cheesecake. And who we become is, in part, a reflection of the entertainment we consume: If our diet is all junk, we’ll feel it and show it. […]
Culture Clips: Serving Up Some Curry
Basketball fans know that the Golden State Warriors—the NBA’s latest and, some say, greatest dynasty—are hanging onto their collective throne by their fingernails. They barely won Game 5 on Monday, pushing the series back to Golden State’s home court. If the Warriors lose, it means we won’t be seeing much of superstar Stephen Curry for, […]
Secret Life of Pets 2 Pitty-Pats to Top
Technically, summer isn’t even here yet. But at the box office, it already feels like we’re in its dog days. As expected, The Secret Life of Pets 2 pawed its way to the top of the box-office stairs, but it did so with more a half-hearted growl than a full-throated howl. The animated sequel earned […]
Culture Clips: The Currency of Social Media. Literally.
Aladdin Flies to No. 1
It’s not as if Disney needs a magic lamp. It owns the year’s top two movies already. It’s filling its theme parks. And forget needing to impress the princess: Disney’s roster boasts more princesses per square foot than all the royal residences of Great Britain. Still, the Mouse House got another wish come true this […]
Entertainment, Media and Mental Health: Psychoanalysis on the Screen
This is the second part of a three-part series examining the connection between our entertainment/media culture and mental health, the latter of which is a growing problem for America’s youth. Last week, Kristin Smith discussed how celebrities are increasingly open about their own struggles with anxiety and depression, giving their fans permission to do the […]
Culture Clips: Tune In, Turn On and Drop Out
Yes, the fate of Westeros has been decided (at least on HBO). Fans know that Game of Thrones’ famed Iron Throne was [spoiler warning] claimed, technically, by no one: The dragon Drogon immolated the world’s most uncomfortable chair. But according to some, the throne might not the only thing that was torched Sunday night. Some […]
John Wick Ends Endgame’s No. 1 Run
It took an R-rated action hero and a full month of attrition to knock Avengers: Endgame out of the box office’s catbird seat. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum left nothing to chance, though. John Wick unleashed more than just its signature brand of brutally choreographed action sequences on Endgame. It did more than charm […]
Culture Clips: The Dumb Side Effects of Smartphones
You have a smartphone, right? Well, put it down. Right now. (Unless, of course, you’re reading this on your phone. In which case, finish reading, send us money and then put it down.) Because—news flash—our phones can mess with our real-world lives and relationships something awful. I know, I know. We’ve said this sort of […]
‘I Did It Funny for Funny.’ A Conversation With the Late Tim Conway
Tim Conway could make you weep in the very best of ways. The comedian, who died today at the age of 85, did it all the time on The Carol Burnett Show, where Conway rose to fame. His knack for improvisation, deadpan delivery and comic timing made his castmates, especially Harvey Korman, laugh until they […]