By Mark D. Zimmerman MELVILLE, New York — The movie Wonder Woman, starring Israeli actress Gal Gadot, premiered this weekend to mostly rave reviews and the biggest opening ever for a female director, Patty Jenkins. Gadot, who previously won the Miss Israel contest, starred in the Fast & Furious movie franchise, and worked as a model and product spokeswoman, has […]
Jewish trivia quiz: Wonder Woman Read More »
Theatre, Film & BroadcastLOS ANGELES — After the worst Memorial Day weekend performance in 18 years, the summer box office needed a hero — or more specifically, a heroine. Thankfully, Warner Bros.’ highly anticipated “Wonder Woman” came to the rescue, like only a wondrous woman can. The DC Comics film adaptation starring Gal Gadot in the title role
‘Wonder Woman’ lassos $100.5 million at domestic box office Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — Childhood can be a dark and scary time. There are monsters under the bed and ghosts in the closet. And the most important lesson we learn is that life is not fair. “The wise man sees the error of his ways. The fool passes on and is punished.” In
‘Shockheaded Peter’: dark, brilliant, and creepy Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Theatre, Film & BroadcastWhile Wonder Woman is engaging and establishes the first worthwhile Justice League character, it’s in some respects an unambitious and safe movie. Wonder Woman feels most like a successful retread of Captain America: The First Avenger. It delivers a clear origin story, spends some time adjusting its character to radical new conditions, then sets them
‘Wonder Woman’ Review: Can Gal Gadot Play Superman Too, Please? Read More »
Theatre, Film & BroadcastDuring a Friday morning press conference in Los Angeles, comedian Kathy Griffin stood in front of reporters to try and make sense of the backlash against a photograph she posted earlier in the week. Griffin posed with a bloody dummy head that looked like President Donald Trump. In the ensuing days, members of the first
Kathy Griffin alternates between tears and Trump insults during a wild press conference Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA
By Eric George Tauber SAN DIEGO — One of my favorite sketches from The Muppets features Miss Piggy dressed as Marie-Antoinette. The pigs are arrayed in French Rococo finery singing “Stayin’ Alive.” But then, the guillotine looms ominously behind a window. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX284L12Rg0) As Americans, we embrace the French Revolution’s ideals of liberté, égalite and fraternité.
Sharp wit for heavy subjects in ‘The Revolutionists’ Read More »
Eric George Tauber, Theatre, Film & BroadcastAfter facing intense backlash over the gory picture showing her holding a decapitated photo of President Donald Trump in her hand, Kathy Griffin has issued a video apology Tuesday to those whose sentiments have been hurt by her action. She has also deleted the controversial picture. However, Griffin seems to have posted the apology following
Kathy Griffin May Face Jail For Trump’s Beheaded Photo Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USANEW YORK, May 31, 2017 – CBS has announced that Scott Pelley is no longer the anchor of the CBS Evening News. The likely reason: the network has remained mired in third place in network evening news rankings and has consistently failed to close the gap. Pelley will shortly move back to 60 Minutes. He
CBS cuts anchor Scott Pelley loose from CBS Evening News Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USAFirst lady Melania Trump questioned Kathy Griffin’s “mental health” Wednesday after the comedian sparked an uproar for photos depicting her holding a mock severed head of President Trump. “As a mother, a wife, and a human being, that photo is very disturbing,” Mrs. Trump said in a statement, CNN reported. “When you consider some of
Melania Trump questions Kathy Griffin’s ‘mental health’ Read More »
Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USAIf you live in Lebanon, “Wonder Woman” won’t be coming to a theater near you anytime soon. On Wednesday, the country officially banned the superhero film just hours before it was set to arrive in theaters. The ban followed an effort by a group called Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel, which urged the Lebanese
Lebanon officially bans ‘Wonder Woman’ from theaters Read More »
Middle East, Theatre, Film & BroadcastFormer host of iconic game shows, such as “Wheel of Fortune” and “Love Connection,” and self-proclaimed “Hollywood Conservative” Chuck Woolery is causing a stir with a string of tweets that appear to attempt to connect communism and Judaism. On Memorial Day and the day following, Woolery fired off a round of tweets on his apparent
While it was a dry year for cinema coming out of the Jewish state, the Tribe is heavily represented in this year’s screenings By Jordan Hoffman CANNES, France — Time to pack up, head home and not think about how many flaky, butter-drenched croissants I stuffed in my maw during my 12-day stay in the
Cannes and Cannes-not: Jews abound, but no Israeli films at the festival Read More »
International, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USADina Merrill, the rebellious heiress who defied her super-rich parents to become a movie star, often portraying stylish wives or “the other woman,” has died at age 93. Merrill, raised in part on the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida now owned by President Donald Trump, died Monday, according to a family spokeswoman. The cause of death
R.I.P. to Dina Merrill, a beloved character actress from the 1950s and 1960s Read More »
Obituaries & memorials, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USARest in peace Sir Roger Moore. On Tuesday, the official Twitter account for one of the men who brought James Bond to life issued an official statement with the news of his death. He was 89 years old. Watch the video With the heaviest of hearts, we must share the awful news that our father,