David Fincher on the off-screen torture of making ‘Seven’
By any reasonable measure, David Fincher had made it by 1990. He was directing rapturous music videos for Madonna (“Express Yourself,” “Vogue”) and doing lucrative…
Sibling ‘Sasquatch Sunset’ directors cut their own indie way
A family makes their way through a woodland forest, eventually stopping to set up camp. They have something to eat, go to sleep and then…
‘Strangers With Candy’: Oral history of Comedy Central show
When Amy Sedaris makes appearances around the country, she finds it easy to identify the “Strangers With Candy” fans in the audience. “They’re ugly,” she…
‘Mr. Bates vs the Post Office’ review: Toby Jones leads a resistance
This Sunday the PBS British-import series “Masterpiece” brings to American audiences the four-part “Mr. Bates vs The Post Office,” which caused a sensation when it…
What NBA scouts say about Bronny James as a draft prospect
Bronny James has declared for the NBA draft while entering the transfer portal, giving him multiple options for the next step in his basketball career.…
Here is why ‘The Casagrandes Movie’ is set in Michoacán
Fans of the Nickelodeon show “The Casagrandes” showed their love for the animated series about a Mexican American family when “The Casagrandes Movie” debuted on…
UCLA spring practice preview: Will anyone challenge Ethan Garbers?
UCLA linebacker Joquarri Price, right, tackles Washington’s Giles Jackson during a game in October 2021. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images) UCLA’s defense could be living…
In ‘Parish,’ Giancarlo Esposito steps into the antihero role
For years, Giancarlo Esposito’s performance as stoic and ruthless cartel distributor Gustavo Fring was pivotal in helping “Breaking Bad” and its prequel spinoff, “Better Call…
Wingard on his ‘mic-drop monster movie’ ‘Godzilla x Kong’
Since making his MonsterVerse debut in 2017’s “Kong: Skull Island,” the title character has battled a sneaky squid, deadly lizard-like predators, the mighty Godzilla and…
Corruption “feels like a betrayal.” What motivates U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada to go after the bad guys
In mid-January, U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada stood in front of a bouquet of microphones with a phalanx of prosecutors behind him. Their somber faces…
Russell Westbrook’s return can’t save Clippers from another loss
Tyronn Lue’s Clippers have been baffling because they’ve been plagued by inconsistent play despite having such a talented group led by stars Kawhi Leonard and…
The palace, not the public, failed Kate Middleton: analysis
After weeks of often wild speculation about the nature of her planned abdominal surgery and subsequent months-long absence from the public eye, Catherine, Princess of…
Lincoln Riley has a new outlook as USC opens spring practice
He’s the quarterback whisperer. The Heisman maker. The offensive mastermind. But on Tuesday, when USC opened spring practice, Lincoln Riley was the defensive observer. The…
Alan Sieroty dead: California ex-lawmaker helped create Coastal Commission
Former state Sen. Alan G. Sieroty, a Democrat from Beverly Hills who championed disability rights and efforts to protect California’s coast, died Saturday. He was…
Opinion: Apocalypse now, but not in Santa Monica
In December, an atheistic, pro-choice, anti-gun, environmental activist — a.k.a. a resident of Santa Monica — asked me, “So how do you plan to ring…
As with Diana and Meghan, royals’ Kate Middleton crisis is self-made
Turns out not even the Oscars can bump Kate Middleton from the top of the pop-cultural conversation. On Sunday, a photo of Catherine, Princess of…
William Shatner on his career and how curiosity drives him
William Shatner is busy. A documentary on his life, “You Can Call Me Bill,” directed by Alexandre O. Philippe (“Lynch/Oz”), is scheduled to roll out…
Oscars review: An upbeat show on the edge of good taste
The Oscars, edition 96, hosted for the fourth time by Jimmy Kimmel, were broadcast over ABC on Sunday evening from the branded Dolby Theatre on…
Jamie Foxx says he’ll talk about medical emergency onstage
After plenty of teases, Jamie Foxx says he’s going to finally share the details of his mysterious 2023 medical emergency. But it will be on…
Hannah Gadsby’s ‘Gender Agenda’ pushes progress through punchlines at Netflix
With the arrival of “Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda,” the battle of Gadsby versus Netflix is officially on pause. “The last time Netflix brought this many…