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Sara Vilkomerson

Ghost in the Machine

The Ghost Writer
Running time 128 minutes
Written by Robert Harris and Roman Polanski
Directed by Roman Polanski
Starring  Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Cattrall, Olivia William

Can one put aside all the turmoil and controversy swirling around Roman Polanski while watching his latest film The Ghost Writer? Not very easily: The 76-year-old Read More

Don DeLillo Returns

Point Omega
By Don DeLillo
Scribner, 128 pages, $24.95

The century ended. Says Richard Elster, the protagonist of Don DeLillo’s 15th novel, Point Omega: “I’d try to imagine the end of the century and what a far-off wonder that was and I’d figure out how old I’d be when the century ended, years, months, days, Read More

Hollywood’s ’80s Time Machine

At a recent packed showing of Sherlock Holmes in Kips Bay, there was one preview that managed to wake up the winter-deadened audience: It started with some tittering, which led to some guilty giggling, which then proceeded into full-on hilarity. By the time the name of the film was announced (with arch aplomb by Apatow Read More

The Week in DVR

Wednesday, Jan. 13:

The Human Spark

Oh, Alan Alda, what can’t you do? Mr. Alda (a man that, through an entirely un-scientifically conducted poll, we’ve concluded reminds most people of their dad) hosts the three-part PBS series devoted to what makes humans unique. Tonight’s installment, “So Human, So Chimp,” is Read More

Today in DVR: Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is one of those movies where it’s fun to imagine how the pitch meeting might have gone down: “Uh, so there’s this guy, see, and he’s in Punxsutawney for Groundhog’s Day, and he keeps living the same day over and over and over again till he gets the day right. So he tries Read More

Today in DVR: Closer

Oooh, doesn’t this movie just feel so 2004? File this one under Movies Not to See on a Date: Mike Nichols directed this moody adaptation of Patrick Marber’s hit play about two couples who love and lust and hate and lie and betray one another a few times over. It stars a pre-Duplicity Clive Owen Read More

Today in DVR : Modern Family!

MODERN FAMILY

Yes, we know it’s hard to come back to work after the holidays but on the upside there is new prime time TV programming! Back tonight is critical darling Modern Family, for our money the funniest new show on television. If you haven’t been watching, we suggest you jump in with this evening’s Read More

Fly Me to Pandora!

AVATAR
Running time 162 minutes
Written and directed by James Cameron
Starring Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi

For the record: I was formerly a member of the “Avatar Looks Ridiculous” club. I was unimpressed by the trailer (it looked to me like a live-action Led Zeppelin cover) Read More