Arts & Entertainment News - Boston.com

Pixar gives ‘Monsters University’ the old college try

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:19:38 GMT

“Monsters University” is better than “Cars 2” but not by enough, and along with last year’s inspired but cluttered “Brave,” it offers unsettling evidence that Pixar’s Golden Age may be in the past. It’s a prequel: The story of how cheery green eyeball Mike Wakowski (voiced once more by Billy Crystal), met big, blue, fuzzy Sully (John Goodman) at college. Visually dazzling and flatly scripted, it trundles along on predictable storytelling tracks; what’s missing is the Pixar double-punch of elegant concept and fresh surprise. This is not a bad movie, and to small children it will be a very good one, but it’s closer to average than one would wish from the company that gave us “Up,” “Wall-E,” “The Incredibles,” and the “Toy Story” series.

Capsule reviews of new movie releases

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:06:14 GMT

"World War Z" — Might there be a real zombie apocalypse one day? The way zombies have invaded our pop culture the last several years, it's maybe a bit less implausible than it once was. What IS increasingly quite plausible, alas, is a global pandemic, and "World War Z," the long-awaited Brad Pitt thriller, cleverly melds that real-life threat into the more fanciful zombie premise. Talk about more bang for your buck: Once you've settled back into your seat after a good snarling zombie chase, there's nothing like the thought of a SARS outbreak to get the blood racing again. Despite the much-discussed production delays and budget overruns, this movie, based on the 2006 novel by Max Brooks (son of Mel), is pretty much what you'd want in a summer blockbuster: scary but not-too-gross zombies, a journey to exotic locales, a few excellent action scenes, and did we mention Pitt? As Gerry Lane, a former U.N. investigator called upon to save the planet, Pitt is a calm, intelligent presence amid the insanity. The most impressive scene is at the beginning, as the streets of Philadelphia are suddenly overrun by packs of wild, raging zombies. For an hour, the action is swift: North Korea, Israel, a harrowing plane crash. The final act takes place on a dramatically smaller scale, and at a slower pace. Oh, a reminder: Turn off those cellphones. After all, it's not just your movie-going partner you'll annoy here. Cellphones also happen to awaken zombies. Consider yourself warned. PG-13 for intense frightening zombie sequences, violence and disturbing images. 116 minutes. Three stars out of four.

Long lost Bennett-Brubeck recording discovered

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:52:16 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Tony Bennett never forgot the first time he performed with Dave Brubeck more than half a century ago. But the tape of that memorable collaboration between two American jazz masters lay forgotten in a record label's vaults until its discovery by an archivist just weeks after Brubeck's death in December, and it's just been released as "Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962."

Netflix to expand to Netherlands later this year

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:19:13 GMT

LOS GATOS, Calif. (AP) — Netflix is going Dutch.

Best-selling author Vince Flynn dies at age 47

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:17:30 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Best-selling author Vince Flynn, who wrote the Mitch Rapp counterterrorism thriller series and sold more than 15 million books in the U.S. alone, died Wednesday in Minnesota after a more than two-year battle with prostate cancer, according to friends and his publisher. He was 47.

Madonna premieres tour film, talks secret project

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:03:13 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Madonna said there were days when she was exhausted during her recent "MDNA" world tour, but she decided to press on.

Family: Country singer Slim Whitman dies at age 90

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:40:31 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Country singer Slim Whitman, the high-pitched yodeler who sold millions of records through ever-present TV ads in the 1980s and 1990s and whose song saved the world in the film comedy "Mars Attacks!," died Wednesday at a Florida hospital. He was 90.

Review: Pitt and his zombies entertain in 'WWZ'

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:05:16 GMT

Might there be a real-life zombie apocalypse one day? Not likely, but then again, the way zombies have chomped their way into our pop culture the last several years, it's maybe a bit less implausible than it once was.

'Nightline' anchor Moran heading to London for ABC

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:09:02 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — ABC News "Nightline" anchor Terry Moran is getting a new posting as the network's London-based chief foreign correspondent.

Jodi Arias film: a new case of fatal attraction

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:02:29 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — She doesn't boil a pet bunny. But Jodi Arias displays wicked knife technique in a new Lifetime movie that could have just as well been titled, "Fatal Attraction for Cable News."

'Man of Steel' promoted from the pulpit

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:13:30 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Seems Warner Bros. has taken movie marketing to a whole new level — even higher than a bird or a plane.

'Voice' winner calls it 'incredibly overwhelming'

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:50:50 GMT

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (AP) — Danielle Bradbery has "The Voice" — and the microphone-holding trophy to match.

'Dancing with the Stars' pros join 'Forever Tango'

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:43:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — "Dancing With the Stars" duo Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chmerkovskiy have shimmied aboard the Broadway-bound "Forever Tango."

Brad Pitt tries to build a better blockbuster

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:05:23 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Brad Pitt wanted to build a better blockbuster.

NBC News airing documentary on Valerie Harper

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:29:15 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Valerie Harper has agreed to give a first-person account of her battle with terminal cancer to NBC News.

Selma Blair abruptly exits 'Anger Management'

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:59:54 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Selma Blair is making a sudden exit from the Charlie Sheen sitcom "Anger Management."

Vt. gallery reopens after owner's death

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:59:17 GMT

ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. (AP) — A folk art gallery and park devoted to colorful depictions of dogs has reopened in St. Johnsbury more than two weeks after the suicide of owner Gwen Huneck.

Brad Pitt tries to build a better blockbuster

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:54:34 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Brad Pitt wanted to build a better blockbuster.

Goldstar's Jim McCarthy on why live is better

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:36:14 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Jim McCarthy doesn't just think it's fun to go out and see a play or a comedy show or a basketball game. He thinks it actually makes you a better person.

Cher credits luck for her lengthy career

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:24:05 GMT

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (AP) — Cher is no stranger to tabloid fodder.

Quote of the day: Miss Utah USA Marissa Powell

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:12:51 GMT

Do over.“It needs to be equal pay for equal work.” Miss Utah USA Marissa Powell on the “Today” show, where she got a second chance to answer a question about women as breadwinners, which she fumbled badly during the pageant finals.

16-year-old crownedas ‘Voice’ champion

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:23:12 GMT

Adam Levine’s prediction came true on the season finale of “The Voice” Tuesday: 16-year-old Danielle Bradbery took home the title. Before Carson Daly announced Bradbery had won, she thanked her coach Blake Shelton for being an “amazing person” who taught her so much. “I’m so thankful I have you in my life now,” Bradbery said. “I love you, coach.” Shelton celebrated his third consecutive win on the show, as well as his 37th birthday Tuesday night. Bradbery, who hails from Texas, was the youngest contestant on the show this season had the opportunity to sing with one of her favorite singers, Hunter Hayes, during the finale. Amherst’s Michelle Chamuel came in second place.

A look at Netflix's international expansion

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:05:58 GMT

Netflix Inc. got its start renting DVDs through the mail in the U.S. during the late 1990s and added Internet video streaming in 2007. It has been expanding globally with a streaming-only service. Here's a look at its international expansion so far.

Author, teacher of endangered Lakota language dies

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:16:35 GMT

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The endangered Lakota language has lost one of its greatest supporters.

Edward Furlong charged with assault in LA

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:11:39 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — 'Terminator 2' star Edward Furlong has been charged with assault after a May 21 incident in which his girlfriend called police and reported he attacked her.