Roger Ebert News

In Richie's Fantastic Five: Kurosawa, Mizoguchi, Ozu, Yanagimachi & Kore-eda, Japan Society's Film Program honors Richie's legacy, presenting five timeless classics and hard-to-see gems over five months in glorious 35mm presentations. Curated by Hirano, a former Japan Society Film Program Director, the series highlights five seminal Japanese directors, who first became known throughout the world through Richie's work. Co-presented with The Japan Foundation, the series launches with Akira Kurosawa's High and Low (October 18); continuing with Kenji Mizoguchi's The Life of Oharu(November 16); Yasujiro Ozu's Equinox Flower (December 12), screening on Ozu's birthday and the 50th anniversary of his death; Mitsuo Yanagimachi's Himatsuri (January 24), unavailable on DVD; and Hirokazu Kore-eda's After Life (February 19), marking the one-year anniversary of Richie's death.

Get ready to laugh with Bergen Performing Arts Center located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood New Jersey as they present, Cedric "The Entertainer" on Monday December 2nd and on Thursday December 12th its Cheech and Chong's "Up in Smoke" Holiday Tour with special guest WAR, these too hot comedy shows go on sale Friday, October 18th at 11 AM. Reserve tickets at www.ticketmaster.com or call the Box Office at 201.227.1030.

Academy Award-winner Jeremy Irons (Reversal of Fortune), has been added to the previously announced honorees at the 16th Annual Savannah Film Festival, October 26-November 2.

Mark Amin's Sobini Films is partnering with David Permut's Permut Presentations and Richard Waltzer's Chautauqua Entertainment to acquire RUSS & ROGER GO BEYOND, a screenplay written by Emmy winner Christopher Cluess (SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, THE SIMPSONS) based on the true story of the unique relationship between provocative filmmaker Russ Meyer and legendary critic Roger Ebert while they made BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS at 20th Century Fox.

In Richie's Fantastic Five: Kurosawa, Mizoguchi, Ozu, Yanagimachi & Kore-eda, Japan Society's Film Program honors Richie's legacy, presenting five timeless classics and hard-to-see gems over five months in glorious 35mm presentations. Curated by Hirano, a former Japan Society Film Program Director, the series highlights five seminal Japanese directors, who first became known throughout the world through Richie's work. Co-presented with The Japan Foundation, the series launches with Akira Kurosawa's High and Low (October 18); continuing with Kenji Mizoguchi's The Life of Oharu(November 16); Yasujiro Ozu's Equinox Flower (December 12), screening on Ozu's birthday and the 50th anniversary of his death; Mitsuo Yanagimachi's Himatsuri (January 24), unavailable on DVD; and Hirokazu Kore-eda's After Life (February 19), marking the one-year anniversary of Richie's death.

monterey media is proud to announce the acquisition of all US rights to “The Wait,” a haunting story of two sisters who contemplate their mother's resurrection following a mysterious phone call.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Roger Ebert's former colleague and fellow critic Richard Roeper will take on the role of movie columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times.

The Savannah Film Festival, which runs from October 26 to November 2, is pleased to announce Alexander Payne's NEBRASKA as its official Opening Night selection. Academy Award-winner Payne will be presented with an “Outstanding Achievement in Cinema” award by the film's star, Academy Award-nominee—and 2006 Savannah Film Festival honoree—Bruce Dern.

One of the original Kings of Comedy will close out 2013 as the must-attend Atlanta event when he brings his hilarious stage show to the Fox Theatre on December 31 at 8 PM. Tickets start at $49 and tickets are on sale now and are available at the Fox Theatre Ticket Office, at foxtheatre.org, 855-285-8499, all Atlanta area Whole Food Markets and Ticket Alternative outlets.

On Tuesday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m., Elements Theatre Company of Orleans, MA will host a panel discussion, "The Importance of Live Theater in Our Culture: The Art of Making Humans More Human" at Back Bay Events Center (180 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA). Panelists are Jared Bowen, WGBH Executive Arts Editor, Joyce Kulhawik, President of the Boston Theater Critics Association, Julie Hennrikus, Executive Director of StageSource; Georgia Lyman, award-winning actress, and Fr. Thomas Kane, Professor at Boston College. Danielle Dwyer, Elements Artistic Director, will moderate. Panel discussion is FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Al Pacino was in a play that he was making into a film and simultaneously directing a documentary about the production. He will join us at the Egyptian and Aero Theatres to discuss his obsession with Oscar Wilde's SALOME.

The stage version of the movie musical about a steel town girl has a few sparks, but is in need better original tunes before it takes flight

Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association (CSOA) President Deborah F. Rutter announces the appointment of Laura Emerick as Digital Content Editor, effective August 19, 2013.

Al Pacino was in a play that he was making into a film and simultaneously directing a documentary about the production. He will join us at the Egyptian and Aero Theatres to discuss his obsession with Oscar Wilde's SALOME.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center and Indiewire announced today a call for entries for the 2013 New York Film Festival Critics Academy.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, comedy legend Woody Allen revealed that after recently watching Mort Sahl perform at the Cafe Carlyle, he was inspired to return to standup. He told NYT: 'Watching him, I had the same feeling now, in 2013, as I had when I saw him in 1950-something. Of, “Hey, I'd like to get back onstage and do standup again.” He inspired me then to be a standup comic, and all these years later, I thought of it again because of him. He makes that phenomenon so enticing.'

After yesterday's news that Canadian pop group Barenaked Ladies will no longer be writing songs for the musical adaptation of ANIMAL HOUSE, The Calgary Herald reports that the band's lead singer Ed Robertson said he and the group are 'disappointed that things didn't work out' with the show and that they 'ultimately couldn't give any more time to the project' due to a new record and tour.

According to the Lethbridge Herald, Canadian pop group Barenaked Ladies will no longer be composing songs for the upcoming Broadway musical adaptation of ANIMAL HOUSE. They were replaced by composer David Yazbek (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) a few months ago.

Novels, such as James Joyce's 'Ulysses,' 'Hamlet' and Homer's 'Odyssey,' are classic works of literature that are loved by many. These famous stories have captivated many with their compelling plots, infamous lessons and powerful morals. Unfortunately, the power of these inspirational books is lost on high school students and younger generations. However, a new feature film on Kickstarter from 'You (Plural)' is taking these beloved novels, and adapting them to become more relatable in today's modern world.