The Village Voice calls it a “drag to riches story,” and that perfectly sums up this valentine to Charles Busch — playwright, director, drag queen, fixture of the New York downtown theater scene who transferred his unique outlook on the drama inherent in all our lives to mainstream Broadway with unique success. From his underground … more…

Legendary screen goddess Maria Schell died in 2005, but not before her brother, actor and Academy Award-nominated documentarian Maximilian Schell, created this loving, lovely tribute to her life and her work. But this is no effort of mere journalism: this is a demanding, ultimately triumphant film, one that embraces all its subject’s difficulties as well … more…

It was a huge hit in New Zealand, which only goes to show: people the world over like the same old junk. And it turns out that the immigrant Samoan culture Down Under looks remarkably like immigrant cultures all over the Western world: Irish, African, or even big fat Greek, you’ve seen this all before. … more…

“It’s a comic book world, sir.” A spear-carrier offers this by way of explanation — to his boss, no less, a secret government agent played by, no kidding, former Six Million Dollar Man Lee Majors — for the fact that the local newspaper is full of news of a superfast crimefighter. It’s the “sir” that … more…

It’s all really rather shockingly unshocking, for so seemingly provocative a setup. Charlotte (Trine Dyrholm) leaves her indifferent boyfriend, moves into her own apartment, and strikes up an unusual friendship with her new neighbor, Veronica, a pre-op transsexual (David Dencik). Both are depressed, confused people, and hardly pleasant to be around, and their tentative relationship, … more…