By Bill Marx

“Boston is adrift in the brave new competition among big American cities vying for tourist dollars.” Maureen Dezell, WBUR
Maureen made that charge back in July 2006 in an article that turned out to be one of the last posts on the late WBUR Arts Online. Now that the quote, along with a link […]

by Bill Marx
A recent study in Editor & Publisher delivers the lowdown; with its circulation down about 20% in four years, The Boston Globe is in free fall. Two major investors in The New York Times, which owns the Globe, are “challenging the company’s investment decisions, including its commitment to the struggling newspaper industry beyond […]

By Caldwell Titcomb
Stephen Sondheim has written the music and lyrics of at least a half dozen of the twentieth century’s greatest works for the musical theater. One of them is – to provide its full title – Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It has now been turned into a movie, which opens […]

The Hub Review features a perceptively waspish consideration of Pauline Kael’s unhealthy influence on film reviewers, taking scathing aim at a couple of her jittery heirs, A.O. Scott of the NYT and Ty Burr of the Boston Globe.
criticism, Featured, Film, film reviewing, literature, Pauline Kael, Persona Non Grata, Reviews

French actor Gaspard Ulliel stars in a surprisingly classy prequel in the Hannibal Lecter saga.
Film, Hannibal Lector, Movies

From gophers, “Ghostbusters” and groundhogs to “Broken Flowers” and beyond, Murray evolves into something much more meaningful.
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By Adrienne LaFrance
Before you say “I told you so,” let me explain. I wasn’t expecting “Annie Hall.” I thought “Because I Said So” might be likable in a “Something’s Gotta Give” kind of way. I was wrong.
Diane Keaton’s latest star vehicle is an empty vessel of a romantic comedy, pieced together by poorly scripted slapstick, […]

By Salima Appiah-Kubi
Moulin Rogue hinted at it. Hedwig and the Angry Inch made it cool. Everyone Says I Love You nearly killed it. This month’s release Mel Brooks’ movie-turned –musical-turned movie musical, The Producers, has made it official. Ladies and gentlemen, we are now entering the second age of the movie musical.
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Perhaps the best way to review this wild satiric film is to get inside the head of Borat, the lead character: Jagshemash! Borat number one in U. S. and A. box office! High Five! Ingredients for make good movie, show racist Americans how stupid they are: find first really smart British/Jewish comedian; add naïve foreigner; […]

Those looking to expand their horizons on art and narrative should make the time for “Cleophas and His Own: A North Atlantic Tragedy,” a very (nearly three hours) long but equally rewarding debut from director Michael Maglaras, who also stars in the film.
Marsden Hartley, Cleophas and His Own, documentary, Film, Michael Maglaras, visual art