The granddaughter of Michael Curtiz was unsuccessful in her search for footage of her grandfather winning the Best Director Oscar in 1944 for “Casablanca.” But, interested in any memento of the grandfather she never knew, she was happy when UCLA alumna, and now curator of the Academy Awards show footage, Heather Sabin was able to scrounge up a radio broadcast of Curtiz’s voice. Read more...

It’s dark and I can’t breathe. I’m trapped in a shadowy coffin. I can’t find the lights. Claustrophobia sets in. I’m trying to find the switch to light the room to start the machine that I’m inside of …. Read more...

Explosions in the Sky “All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone” Temporary Residence Limited 4 Out of 5 Paws It’s almost a stab to a band’s purported musical integrity to enumerate the validity of some albums through words alone. Read more...

In 2005, classical pianist Christopher O’Riley had what he called the best rock and roll experience of his life at Royce Hall, performing his famed piano renditions of Radiohead and Elliott Smith songs to a noisy, enthusiastic crowd. Read more...

In a world moving toward instant gratification ““ instant messaging, instant popcorn, instant news updates ““ television seemed to stand still, sticking to a strict, regimented schedule that never catered to the individual. Read more...

“Music and Lyrics” Director Marc Lawrence warner bros. pictures A 1980s-style music video, complete with tight pants, mullets and lame special effects, plays at the opening credits of “Music and Lyrics” and again at the closing credits. Read more...

“Breach” Director Billy Ray universal pictures A hard-hitting government spy thriller that twists and turns so much that we need a military-regulated GPS system to discover where the story will end. Read more...