- eOne
Michaelson shines despite underwhelming 'Lights Out' production
BY KENNETH SELANDER
Lights Out is a little too perfect, because it doesn’t really seem to push, but rather contently stays in place.
You can hear the students sing in 'Les Mis'
BY ALEX BERNARD
“Les Miserables” opened on Broadway in 1987. The show won eight Tony Awards, and now, through the School of Music, Theatre and Dance, the legendary musical comes to Michigan.
'Mad Men' marks the beginning of the end
- AMC
BY MADDIE THOMAS
As a stand-alone episode, this installment of “Mad Men” is middling at best. But that’s exactly the game Weiner likes to play. It’s all about the build-up from here on out, and “Time Zones” does its job of laying the groundwork for the coming episodes quite well.
What is happening on 'Scandal?'
- ABC
BY ALEC STERN
“Scandal” needs fixing, but it’s not up to Olivia Pope to solve every problem. Shonda Rhimes is going to have to handle this one.
'Afghan Whigs' returns with flawless record
- eOne Music
BY AMRUTHA SIVAKUMAR
he band’s first record in 16 years and first after being reunited as a band last year, Do the Beast tells a story of dimness and obscurity, drawing on minor progressions and sweltering melodies to showcase emotion through every mix.
'Draft Day' sure to enthrall fans of the genre
- Lionsgate
BY CONRAD FOREMAN
For lovers of sports films, this one’s essential. For everyone else, “Draft Day” is still a visually impressive film (especially notable, considering that the vast bulk of the action is busy-work in an office) with a storyline that never loses its audience.
AMC to 'Turn' Revolutionary War into thrilling drama
- AMC
BY JOE REINHARD
The show opts for a slow-burn approach, and that isn’t to say there’s nothing to enjoy here, but it’s clear it’ll take some time before there’s any real payoff. Luckily for “Turn,” its first episode helps it along in proving itself as a worthwhile investment.
Postmodernism and Gondry's 'Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy?'
- IFC
BY ZAK WITUS
Will self-reference and self-deprecating humor continue to excuse postmodern artists from their own creative critiques, or will their irony transform into a stain of hypocrisy that justifies the present postmodern temple’s collapse into abysmal absurdity?
Backstage with 2 Chainz at Hill
- Ruby Wallau/Daily
BY ADAM THEISEN
2 Chainz’s the last rapper you’d ever accuse of being pretentious. His songs cut right to the point, and he has no qualms about trying to make music that’s accepted by a wide audience.
Elliot Alpern: Traveling on the Arts road
BY ELLIOT ALPERN
There’s no way to know if, maybe, I’d be writing the same column as a sports writer, reminiscing about that day I chose athletics over the arts. But I chose the road I truly desired, the road I’d been traveling toward my whole life. And that has made all the difference.
Latin@ Culture Show to showcase range of cultural landscapes
BY KATHLEEN DAVIS
The term “Latin@ culture” seems insufficient in of itself to describe the cultural diversity of the people living everywhere from the boroughs of Mexico City to the bustling metropolitan areas of Argentina to the rural farming regions of Peru.
- FX
'Fargo' proves limited series are here to stay
BY ALEX INTNER
It seems like the “limited series” genre is here to stay. As long as we get shows like “Fargo,” with its brilliant performances and fantastic sense of place, it’s a great thing for the future of FX and television in general.
- A24
'Enemy' not your typical thriller
BY KAREN YUAN
You’ll lean back several times while watching with an uncomfortable, churning feeling in your gut. And the ending may be one of the most unexpected and jarring endings of all time.
Kayla Upadhyaya: The finale
BY KAYLA UPADHYAYA
I’ve never done too well with goodbyes. And as with most things in my life, I think that probably has something to do with my love of television. You see, us TV obsessers never do too well with closure.
- Relativity Media
'Oculus' calls upon horror classics in winning story
BY SEAN CZARNECKI
“Oculus,” a near masterpiece, demonstrates the ability of that genre to lead us further into the territory of madness in a well-structured, well-executed story that tests and violates your sensibilities.
