Chat Details

TWT entertainment reporter Kelly Jane Torrance 05-08-09

This chat will begin at noon on Friday, May 8, 2009.

Read the transcript of the live chat with Ms. Torrance, who took questions on Friday, May 8.

Transcript

1. • Kelly Jane Torrance, an entertainment reporter for The Washington Times, joins us at www.WashingtonTimes.com for a live chat. Good afternoon, Kelly. Thanks for being with us. by Jilly Badanes
   • Answer: It's great to be here. It's a gorgeous Friday afternoon, but the forecast of rain this weekend means people might be looking for things to do indoors. by KELLY JANE TORRANCE
2. • How do you decide which movies to review? Do you prefer certain genres? by Washington, D.C.
   • Answer: I share reviewing duties here at the Washington Times with Sonny Bunch. We tend to have different tastes, so we don't arm wrestle over an assignment too often. I love films of all types, and I always try to keep an open mind about any film I'm seeing. Still, I admit that there are genres I prefer. I love foreign films, especially those from France. And are British films considered foreign these days? I'm also a sucker for literary adaptations and costume dramas, when done right. You're more likely to find me at the arthouse than the multiplex. by KELLY JANE TORRANCE
3. • Today you review the new movie 'Goodbye Solo'. From the preview it looks like a pretty predictable story of an unlikely friendship, is it really free from cliches? How does it compare to the Hollywood movie the Soloist? by Washington, D.C.
   • Answer: It really is. "Goodbye Solo" is one of those small-budget, independent movies that could do very well through word of mouth. The emphasis here is on these particular characters, not any archetypes that they might represent -- which is what often happens when Hollywood makes a story about a young man and an old man, or a black man and a white man, finding friendship. There are no over-the-top "Oscar moments" here. Just an affecting story, beautifully and subtly told. Highly recommended. "The Soloist," though, has the hands of Hollywood all over it. I was quite disappointed by this one, because Joe Wright is such a technically talented director, and I'm a classical music fanatic who loves good films about music. I found "The Soloist" to be filled with cliches, and a very superficial look at a troubled musician and what music means to him. It was as if the movie was made simply to win Oscars, with little thought about the real people whose stories it tells. It didn't work -- the studio moved the film off its fall slate, deciding not to push it for any Oscars. by KELLY JANE TORRANCE
4. • What kind of preparation do you do before writing a film review? Do you read other reviews/blogs on the film or the actors/director? by Washington, D.C.
   • Answer: Good question. Some of my friends think all my job entails is watching movies and heading to a computer to type up my thoughts about them. (Of course, our small staff here means I write on every topic under the sun, not just movies.) But some research is always necessary, and in some cases, a lot of research is necessary. I always look into the backgrounds of the makers of the film. You need to know what films the director has made before, what kind of experience the actors have, what subjects the writer has focused on in the past, to provide context for the current film. I try to stay away from reading other reviews, mostly because sometimes I'll find someone saying the same thing I'm thinking and then I feel I can't use it! For most films, the reviews aren't published until opening anyway, so it's usually not an issue. If the film is on a larger topic, then I'll do even more work beforehand. With Michael Moore's "Sicko," for example, I did some research into the health care systems of the countries discussed in the film. With "Che," I brushed up on my biographical knowledge of the revolutionary. These types of films have something to say about a social or political topic, and I try to get up to speed on it if I'm not already. by KELLY JANE TORRANCE
5. • Good afternoon Ms. Torrance, What is your take on Kiefer Sutherland's latest run with the authorities? by VA
   • Answer: It sounds like Kiefer Sutherland needs to take another anger management course, eh? It seems at least a couple times a year, we hear about some trouble he's gotten into because he can't quite control himself. It doesn't actually sound like it was a huge incident -- although with headbutts, who can tell? -- but it's complicated by the fact he's on probation for a drunk driving conviction. If I were on a hit television series, I think I'd be rather happy with life and be careful not to jeopardize that career, but celebrities never seem to think that way. by KELLY JANE TORRANCE
6. • Which actors do you think stand out these days? by Falher,Alberta
   • Answer: Good question. It's a bit of a difficult one to answer, because I think there are so many great talents out there. In the well established category, I've long been a fan of Ralph Fiennes. He has an incredible intensity on screen. (Though I don't think "The Reader" was his best work.) Colin Firth is underrated and I'm always interested in what Adrien Brody is doing. Jeffrey Donovan, from TV's "Burn Notice," had a big role last year in "Changeling." I'd love to see a lot more of him -- he's talented and classy. This afternoon, I will actually be interviewing Bradley Cooper, who has a new movie coming out this summer, "The Hangover." I saw him in "He's Just Not That Into You" and I predict he's going to be a big, big star. He simply burns up the screen. by KELLY JANE TORRANCE
7. • A movie I thought got great reviews (oscar nods, etc) was "The Reader." I out and outright thought this movie was awful. I really enjoyed all of the other oscar nominated movies for 2008 (Favorite was "Milk"), but this one just stunk it up for me. Do you chalk this up to me being A) a guy or B) having a bad taste in movies. by Alexandria, VA
   • Answer: How about none of the above? I was really disappointed by "The Reader" myself. Director Stephen Daldry and writer David Hare had previously collaborated on "The Hours," which was a film I wasn't expecting to enjoy but which turned out to be something really special. "The Reader" could have dealt with fascinating issues: How does a country come to terms with its ugly past? How does a young generation deal with the crimes of its elders, people they might even love? These questions could have been explored both in a general sense and in the specific story of a man who learns his former lover was a concentration camp guard. As one character said in the film, "How could you let this happen, and why didn't you kill yourself when you found out?" Such an interesting question was asked, though, but then dropped in favor of a pretty preposterous plot that implies (SPOILER AHEAD) accepting responsibility for killing hundreds of Jews is better than admitting you can't read. (SPOILER OVER) Academy voters obviously didn't always agree. But as Ricky Gervais joked, Holocaust dramas are a sure bet for the Oscars. And I will say that, despite disliking the script, I thought Kate Winslet's performance was a truly brave one. I would have loved to see what German director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, who made the incredible "The Lives of Others," would have done with this material. by KELLY JANE TORRANCE
8. • How do you see the internet changing the film industry? Do you think we'll see more movies online, short films on youtube and less in the theaters? by Washington, D.C.
   • Answer: Yes and no. We are already starting to see more movies online. As you say, YouTube is even starting to bring more professional filmmakers on board. This is great news, because films can be made outside the Hollywood system and actually get seen. Because of the way the business is set up, making a Hollywood film is expensive and hence very risky for the money people, which means you're so much less likely to get an interesting film out of the process. The big guys are going to see more competition and maybe step up their game. Still, despite all we hear about Netflix, people still want to go out and see a movie on the big screen. The box office doesn't seem to have been hit that hard by the recession. In fact, it seems like people might actually be spending more money on cheap entertainment like the movies (well, the snacks aren't cheap), and less on pricier events and dinners out. It would be a shame if sitting a room with a bunch of other people, laughing or crying about the same thing, was an experience that disappeared. by KELLY JANE TORRANCE
9. • What is your ideal movie viewing location? by Washington, D.C.
   • Answer: Besides in a cinema in Paris, London, or Rome? Because I'd love to be in one of those cities right now. I'll be honest -- I love the media room in my house. It's got big, fluffy theater seating complete with cupholders for a nice glass of wine (make mine champagne), a huge TV, and a great sound system, and I picked the burnished gold paint myself. Barring that, there are some great places in town to see a flick. Landmark's E Street Cinema shows great films and you can get wine to enjoy while you watch. (That was perfect during a screening of "Bottle Shock" last year.) The club cinema at Mazza Gallerie has nice, big leather seats, and you can't beat the Uptown for an old-fashioned movie experience. by KELLY JANE TORRANCE
10. • Do you have a favorite movie? by Washington, D.C.
    • Answer: Uh oh. I'm not sure a film critic should reveal themselves like that. But okay. My favorite film is "The English Patient." I feel very lucky to have interviewed Anthony Minghella at the Toronto film festival a few years ago, before he died. A close second is "Impromptu." This is a lesser known film that lovers of music, farce, romance, and costume drama should all seek out. by KELLY JANE TORRANCE
11. • I love your weekly 'Sage Advice' column. How do you decide which 'sage' to pair up with each question? by Washington, D.C.
    • Answer: Thanks! That's a fun column to write, and I always wonder if people realize it's out there. I give celebrities advice -- writing the fake questions from them myself -- using the words of well-known sages. It can take a lot of time to find the perfect match. I've done a lot of reading over the years, so sometimes something will just come to mind. I also skim through books of quotations. Other times, I'll do an internet search, looking for quotations on the subject I'd like to get across. by KELLY JANE TORRANCE
12. • I saw K. Sutherland a few months ago on the Letterman Show talking about his drunk driving episode ... he sounded and looked serious and remorseful, but apparently he's just a good actor. If celebrities keep behaving this way, why in the world are the masses so obsessed with these people? by VA
    • Answer: That's what our celebrity-obsessed culture boils down to, isn't it? I think there are probably a number of reasons. We seem to have an ambivalent view of success -- we like to put people up on a pedestal and then tear them down. And perhaps it makes us feel better about our own foibles to learn that wildly good looking and successful people have them, too. by KELLY JANE TORRANCE
13. • You wrote this week about films coming up this summer. Which one are you most looking forward to? by Washington, D.C.
    • Answer: That's a great question. I wasn't really THAT excited about "Star Trek," but I have to tell you I loved it. Clever and funny. I thought "Borat" was one of the funniest films in recent years, so I'm looking forward to "Bruno," Sacha Baron Cohen's latest film in which he embarrasses Americans by getting them to reveal their real feelings. I do like Ang Lee's and Richard Curtis' films, so I will check out "Taking Woodstock" and "The Boat That Rocked." One of the perks of this job is that I do get to see some films quite some time before they are released. So I've already seen three great films opening this summer. Woody Allen's "Whatever Works" is a hilarious, old-fashioned AND modern comedy. "The Brothers Bloom," starring Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel Weisz, is simply magical. And Atom Egoyan's "Adoration" might be the best serious film of the summer. by KELLY JANE TORRANCE
15. • Have you seen the new Angels + Demons Movie? + if so,what do you think? Is it as good as the first? by Falher,Alberta
    • Answer: They have not screened this one for critics yet. Ron Howard is one of our most accomplished directors, so it's hard to see how this could be a flop, whether you're a fan of this kind of thing or not. And Tom Hanks is box-office gold. So expect this one to do big business -- regardless of the what the critics think. by KELLY JANE TORRANCE
16. • Kelly, we are coming to the end of our scheduled session.. Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with our readers today. Do you have any final thoughts? by Jilly Badanes
    • Answer: Thank you. It was great to actually chat live with the people I try to reach each week with my stories. "Star Trek" opens today, and I'll say again that it's an exceedingly entertaining film. If you have even the most basic knowledge of the original series, go see it. If you're looking for something off the beaten track, I also recommend two smaller films opening today: "The Limits of Control" and "Goodbye Solo." Have a great weekend! by KELLY JANE TORRANCE
17. • Why were you not excited about "Star Trek Mr T by Edmonton, Alberta
    • Answer: That's because reboots of franchises are rarely as good as the originals. This one is! by KELLY JANE TORRANCE