Talking With the Past: Architect Erich Mendelsohn on Screen

In March of 1933, German Jewish architect Erich Mendelsohn fled Berlin, having been stripped of his membership in the Architects’ Union and foreseeing even graver consequences from...

The Devil’s Woman: “The Devil’s Music, The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith”

Some shows and their stars just don’t know when to quit. And it’s a good thing, because Miche Braden, the brilliant, ball-busting Bessie Smith of this blockbuster hit has been making...

“Tinker Tailor” Soldiers On As Great Spy Film

In a time when people think the Jason Bourne movies are the definitive depiction of a true-to-life spy, we need a good dose of reality. How ironic to find a film like Tinker Tailor...

The Woman With The Paper Teacups

Cecilia Levy has a commanding presence. Even over Skype — the only method for our interview seeing as Levy’s in Sweden and I’m in Cleveland, Ohio — her voice is clear and strong....

Oscar Watch Part 1: The Snubs

Every other year, we have a much-hyped occasion in which the best of the best in their line of work strive to go for the gold. But for those of us who aren’t glued to the TV during the...

The Master of Illusion: An Interview with Pavement Artist Kurt Wenner

Fumbling with your cell phone on your way to work, your alertness is unfocused as you step onto a crack in the sidewalk, leading into a gaping, yellow hole with hands and bodies sticking...

“A Separation” Oversteps Cultural Boundaries

It’s a prize that is most often given to Western films. But this year, the frontrunner for the best foreign language film at the 2012 Oscars is A Separation, an Iranian film that has...

“Haywire” Not a Kick off The Old Block

How do you feel about punching a girl in the face as hard as you can?

If that makes one feel queasy, then Haywire is a film that is best avoided.

The Soul of An Artist: An Interview with Ivan Jenson

Ivan Jenson has worn many hats during his career, but throughout stints as a pop singer, a painter, a poet, a sculptor and more, he has maintained the soul of an artist. In his new novel,...

Three-Dimensional Dancing with Pina Bausch

There is a scene in Pina, film director Wim Wenders’ new 3D film, when a line of nimble dancers, dressed in evening clothes and assembled in what could pass for a high-school...