Kelly Jane Torrance

MOVIES: In ‘Love,’ grief happens

"Love Happens" is anything but the light romantic comedy it's being marketed as; it's more interesting than that - an exploration of grief and loss and how even the most sensible of us have trouble coming to terms with them. Published September 18, 2009

Peter Garrett takes political stage

Midnight Oil, more than any other rock outfit from Australia, prided itself on speaking truth to power. Published September 18, 2009

MOVIES: ‘Burning’ blondes

Intertwined, nonlinear storytelling has become the trademark of Guillermo Arriaga - so much so that the unconventional is in danger of becoming a convention. Published September 18, 2009

Sage Advice

Advice compiled and condensed from actual sources by Kelly Jane Torrance, who composed the questions. Published September 16, 2009

MOVIES: Fewer, lighter fall films

Hollywood observers are predicting this fall will see about a third fewer films than last fall. The season traditionally focused on Oscar contenders will be lighter — in both senses of the word — than usual. Published September 11, 2009

BEYOND: Peeling back the cover of Vogue

Anna Wintour, it's no exaggeration to say, is a mythic, mysterious figure. Now, however, we finally have a glimpse at the real woman behind the omnipresent sunglasses. Published September 11, 2009

Kennedy Center to honor De Niro, Springsteen

All five recipients of the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors were born in the United States -- and one of them turned that fact into an anthem. Published September 10, 2009

‘The Boss,’ De Niro top KenCen honors list

All five recipients of the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors were born in the U.S.A. -- and one of them turned that fact into an anthem. Published September 9, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘All About Steve’

"Al About Steve" originally was scheduled for release in March, but it got shelved. If its two leads hadn't starred in three of the top-grossing films of the year, it might have disappeared directly to DVD. Published September 4, 2009

EDGE: Farewell to the ‘quality’ film?

The supply of award-worthy titles likely will shrink significantly the very year the industry's top awards ceremony demands more of them. Published September 4, 2009

Sage Advice

Advice compiled and condensed from actual sources by Kelly Jane Torrance, who composed the questions. Published September 2, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Taking Woodstock’

Ang Lee's latest film takes one exciting and quite cinematic weekend and turns it into a two-hour snoozefest. Published August 28, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Play the Game’

Andy Griffith might have made a "Return to Mayberry," but in his latest project, he's far away from the folksy sitcom that made him an icon. Published August 28, 2009

Publishers find deceased authors draw many readers

How do you promote a book whose author can't go out on a multicity book tour or make an appearance on "Oprah"? Published August 28, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Cold Souls’

Sophie Barthes' feature debut, the dark, metaphysical comedy "Cold Souls," could be described as Charlie Kaufman meets Woody Allen by way of Russian and Czech literature, but it also marks the arrival of a singular new talent. Published August 21, 2009

THEATER: ‘Dirty Blonde’ not enough of a good thing

The Tony-nominated musical "Dirty Blonde" is a raucous celebration of the risque movie queen and vaudeville star Mae West. It's so good at defining Miss West's raw appeal that one wonders why we need those admirers to frame what's a fascinating story on its own. Published August 21, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Captain Abu Raed’

"Captain Abu Raed" is an intriguing glimpse at a little-known world and a moving testament to the potential that exists there as much as anywhere else — although even its inhabitants have trouble believing it. Published August 21, 2009

Sage Advice

Advice compiled and condensed from actual sources by Kelly Jane Torrance, who composed the questions. Published August 19, 2009

Woodstock no longer a cultural rift at 40

Woodstock, long the ultimate symbol of the divide between the two sides of the culture wars, has, on its 40th anniversary, lost much of its power to polarize. Published August 14, 2009

BEYOND: A musical rumble in the jungle

Filmmaker Jeffrey Levy-Hinte was in the District to present "Soul Power" at the Silverdocs film festival in June, right around the time authorities in Iran and China were blocking their citizens' access to social-networking Web sites. People in those places, he notes, would be happy to be able to speak their opinion and have other people "listen to it, and print it." He sighs, "That is the age we live in. Published August 14, 2009