Kelly Jane Torrance

Sage Advice

Advice compiled and condensed from actual sources by Kelly Jane Torrance, who composed the questions. Published November 25, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans’

"Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans" is a terrible title for Werner Herzog's new film. It's not that it's an untruthful one. The problem is that the title makes it look like a remake of the 1992 film. This "remake" turns out to be one of the most interesting surprises of the year. Published November 20, 2009

BEYOND HOLLYWOOD: Going rogue

Werner Herzog is one of the most fascinating figures in film. One is struck by how consistently amusing he is — telling funny anecdotes and giving opinionated answers in his distinctive, accented English. Yet he claims he doesn't like being the subject of conversation. Published November 20, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Pirate Radio’

Swinging London might not have been quite as swinging as most of us thought. Published November 13, 2009

‘Radio’ director Curtis apportions time

Richard Curtis is one of the most prolific writers for the big and small screens. Published November 13, 2009

Media Room: DVD & Blu-ray reviews

Reviews of "Up," "Monsters, Inc.," "The Ugly Truth," "Dawson's Creek: The Complete Series," "Pray the Devil Back to Hell," "The Merry Gentleman" Published November 10, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Skin’

Any human being could understand what was wrong with South Africa's racist system of apartheid. But one woman's circumstances best exposed the absurdity in the system to those who perpetuated it. Published November 6, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story’

George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter — the names bandied around for Greatest American Songwriter are a familiar bunch. Less well-known are the handles of the Sherman Brothers, yet their songs are just as memorable. Published November 6, 2009

Sage Advice

Advice compiled and condensed from actual sources by Kelly Jane Torrance, who composed the questions. Published November 4, 2009

Booksellers ask feds to investigate book pricing

Airline tickets, gasoline, video-game systems — a wide variety of products have been the target of price wars. It's been rare to see literature a part of that list, though, until now. Published October 30, 2009

BEYOND HOLLYWOOD: Director Scherfig enjoys creating a British film

Lone Scherfig was not the obvious choice to direct "An Education" — though producers must be glad they chose her. Published October 30, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘An Education’

There have been many movies about older men seducing younger women — but few so beguiling as "An Education." That's because the film is about a number of other age-old stories, too. Published October 30, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘The Maid’

"The Maid" ("La nana") is a character study, and though — like many in the genre — it moves deliberately and unhurriedly, it's a gutsy one. That's because the woman at the center of this Chilean film is a hard one to empathize with, let alone love. Published October 30, 2009

Jackson’s ‘It’ is a thriller

Watching "This Is It" sometimes feels too disturbingly intimate. The limited-engagement film was compiled from video recorded at Michael Jackson concert rehearsals. He died days after some of the film was shot. Published October 29, 2009

‘This Is It’ brings fans backstage on Jackson’s final days

MOVIE REVIEW: Watching this backstage peek at an extraordinary performing artist's creative process sometimes feels a little too disturbingly intimate. Published October 28, 2009

Sage Advice

Answers compiled by Kelly Jane Torrance, who also composed the questions. Published October 28, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Amelia’

Amelia Earhart, the new film about her tells us, was once the most famous woman in America. She must have been a fascinating woman — but you wouldn't know it watching the slick but unsatisfying "Amelia." Published October 23, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘The Damned United’

Peter Morgan has imagined the inside story of a president ("Frost/Nixon"), a prime minister ("The Deal"), a tyrant ("The Last King of Scotland") and a monarch ("The Queen"). Now the screenwriter has turned his considerable talents to a rather smaller role, but one still often accompanied by an oversized ego: the English football manager. Published October 23, 2009

BEYOND HOLLYWOOD: Noir festival’s bright future

It's back — though it shouldn't come as any surprise. Last year marked the first Noir City DC, a tribute to film noir at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring. The mystery, though, wasn't whether the festival would become an annual event, but what took so long to do so. Published October 23, 2009