“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” Directed by John Madden Review by Malcolm Maclachlan and Tony Sheppard Malcolm: I loved the Newsweek headline for their review of “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”—“Eat, Pray, Die.” Not that there was a lot of praying going on. Actually, I don’t remember any. Maybe it should have been “Eat, Love, Die,” (though that sounds a little Darwinian) because the aging Brits in this predictable but charming little tale remain obsessed with their love lives, but not much concerned with any afterlife they’ll soon experience (or not). To back up, the story involves a group of down-on-their-finances British retirees who decide to stretch their money by settling at a hotel i

Film studio heads rarely make general public appearances, let alone teach. Larry Meistrich, head of Nehst Studios and producer of the Oscar winner Sling Blade, turns that concept on its head! Coming to Sacramento October 15,16 & 17, Meistrich presents the acclaimed, weekend-long Aspiring Filmmakers Boot Camp so those interested in film careers can get the rare opportunity of educatation and interaction with a film industry leader who is running a film financing, production and distribution company in today’s entertainment world. At the boot camp Meistrich shares a lifetime of insights, knowledge and powerful tips to help successfully navigate the film business – whether as a writer, direc

“Funny Girl” is a star maker. It made a star out of Barbara Streisand first on Broadway, then in film. Vicki Lewis most certainly shines as Fanny Brice the title “Funny Girl” in this the latest Music Circus production of the show. Everything in the play centers on the character of Fanny Brice. Brice herself was one of the biggest stars of her time. From 1910 through the 1930s on stage, screen and radio, Brice was wildly popular and influential. Legendary Broadway producer David Merrick worked with lyricist Jule Styne and equally well-known composer Bob Merrill to turn what had started as a screenplay into a Broadway musical. Having seen Streisand in her first role on Broadway in “I Can

There have been certain shows over the history of musical theater that have been major game changers. In the 1950s the combined talent of Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins, Arthur Laurent and Harold Prince created West Side Story. However, iI wasn’t just the talent. West Side Story took a very old story, Romeo and Juliet, and framed it in gangs and interracial relations. A Chorus Line was a game changer for the 1970s. The 70s was the era of the musical driven by the choreographer, such as Bob Fosse. Choreographer Michael Bennett conceived a musical about one group of performers: the chorus dancers. The show looks at who are the individuals that come together to perform i

Hal Holbrook has over 120 film and television credits stretching back to 1954.  In addition to his Tony Award for portraying Mark Twain and four Emmy Awards (with six additional nominations), he became the oldest male actor nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in 2007's "into the Wild." His new film "That Evening Sun," a co-presentation of the Crest Theatre and the Sacramento Film & Music Festival, opens at the Crest on Friday, March 5th.  Holbrook plays an aging farmer who escapes a nursing home only to have to fight to regain his family farm. "That Evening Sun" has won at least 15 film festival honors, including two Special Jury Awards from South by Southwest.  Joe Leydo