Fred Topel

Movies // 2 hours ago

Movie review: 'Friendship' captures Tim Robinson's brand of humor

"Friendship," in theaters Friday, translates Tim Robinson's "I Think You Should Leave" humor into a coherent, scathingly funny feature film.

'Electra' star Maria Bakalova 'more outspoken' when in character

Movies // 2 days ago

'Electra' star Maria Bakalova 'more outspoken' when in character

Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons film 'Bugonia' to open in October

Movies // 3 days ago

Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons film 'Bugonia' to open in October

Movie review: Nicolas Cage elevates intriguing 'The Surfer'

Movies // 4 days ago

Movie review: Nicolas Cage elevates intriguing 'The Surfer'

'John Wick' documentary available next week

Movies // 4 days ago

'John Wick' documentary available next week

Liongsate announced the documentary "Wick Is Pain" on Wednesday. The behind-the-scenes film will be available on VOD May 9.

Movie review: 'Last Bullet' is intense conclusion to French action trilogy

Movies // 4 days ago

Movie review: 'Last Bullet' is intense conclusion to French action trilogy

"Last Bullet," on Netflix May 7, delivers the most intense entry in the "Lost Bullet" trilogy. The French action film series is directed by Guillaume Pierret and stars Alban Lenoir.

Movie review: Mean spirit undermines 'Another Simple Favor'

Movies // 5 days ago

Movie review: Mean spirit undermines 'Another Simple Favor'

"Another Simple Favor," on Prime Video Thursday and starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, fails to recapture the fun of the original because its humor is rooted in mean-spirited sniping.

Movie review: 'Thunderbolts*' ineffectively retreads 'Avengers' movies

Movies // 5 days ago

Movie review: 'Thunderbolts*' ineffectively retreads 'Avengers' movies

"Thunderbolts*," starring Florence Pugh and in theaters Friday, repeats familiar beats from superior "Avengers" movies, but past results prove no guarantee of future performance.

'St. Denis' cast says doctors, nurses praise comedy's accuracy

TV // 6 days ago

'St. Denis' cast says doctors, nurses praise comedy's accuracy

Wendi McLendon-Covey, David Alan Grier, Allison Tolman, Kahyun Kim and co-creator Eric Ledgin said real health care workers have told them their comedy "St. Denis Medical," airing Tuesdays on NBC, gets hospitals right.

'Last Breath' director respects audience intelligence in dive rescue film

Movies // 6 days ago

'Last Breath' director respects audience intelligence in dive rescue film

Alex Parkinson spoke with UPI about giving the audience credit for following the deep sea diving protocols in his film "Last Breath," on DVD and Blu-ray Tuesday, which tells the true story of Chris Lemons' rescue.

Jack Quaid, Jeffrey Dean Morgan enjoyed no frills 'Neighborhood Watch' production

Movies // 1 week ago

Jack Quaid, Jeffrey Dean Morgan enjoyed no frills 'Neighborhood Watch' production

Jack Quaid and Jeffrey Dean Morgan spoke with UPI about working with a crew no bigger than 10 on "Neighborhood Watch," in theaters and VOD Friday, and discussed new seasons of "The Boys" and "Walking Dead: Dead City."

Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sasha Calle: '50s love story in 'On Swift Horses' relevant today

Movies // 1 week ago

Daisy Edgar-Jones, Sasha Calle: '50s love story in 'On Swift Horses' relevant today

Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sasha Calle spoke with UPI about their movie "On Swift Horses," in theaters Friday, which they say captures timeless romantic feelings even though they play characters in the 1950s.

Movie review: 'Bullet Train Explosion' celebrates speed, teamwork

Movies // 1 week ago

Movie review: 'Bullet Train Explosion' celebrates speed, teamwork

"Bullet Train Explosion," on Netflix Thursday, harkens back to the glory days of disaster movies with a speeding train and teamwork between passengers, conductors and railway crew.

'Étoile' creators say ballet show evolved naturally from 'Mrs. Maisel'

TV // 1 week ago

'Étoile' creators say ballet show evolved naturally from 'Mrs. Maisel'

"Étoile" creators Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino spoke with UPI about the ballet show, premiering Thursday on Prime Video and featuring actors Luke Kirby, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Lou de Laáge.

TV review: 'Andor' Season 2 fulfills promise of 'Star Wars' prequel

TV // 1 week ago

TV review: 'Andor' Season 2 fulfills promise of 'Star Wars' prequel

"Andor" Season 2, starring Diego Luna and premiering Tuesday on Disney+, further explores the interesting areas under the surface of the "Star Wars" universe.

Movie review: 'Accountant 2' more fun than original

Movies // 2 weeks ago

Movie review: 'Accountant 2' more fun than original

"The Accountant 2," starring Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal and releasing in theaters Friday, emphasizes the best aspects of the original to make the sequel more fun.

'Ugly Stepsister' star Lea Myren researched pain for role

Movies // 2 weeks ago

'Ugly Stepsister' star Lea Myren researched pain for role

Stars Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Naess and writer/director Emilie Blichfeldt spoke with UPI about the dark Cinderella story "The Ugly Stepsister" and depicting the pain and mutilation Myren's character endures.

Joan Chen, Youn Yuh-jung blend tradition, modernity in 'Wedding Banquet'

Movies // 2 weeks ago

Joan Chen, Youn Yuh-jung blend tradition, modernity in 'Wedding Banquet'

Joan Chen plays mother of the bride and Youn Yuh-Jung plays grandmother of the groom in "The Wedding Banquet," in theaters Friday. The veteran actors spoke to UPI about their approach to the new generation's remake.

'Leverage' cast says characters struggle with 'Redemption'

TV // 2 weeks ago

'Leverage' cast says characters struggle with 'Redemption'

Gina Bellman, Christian Kane, Beth Reisgraf and Aleyse Shannon spoke with UPI about "Leverage: Redemption" Season 3, premiering Thursday on Prime Video, and their characters' struggle with finding redemption.

DJ, game show host Wink Martindale dies at 91

Entertainment News // 2 weeks ago

DJ, game show host Wink Martindale dies at 91

Wink Martindale, radio DJ and host of game shots "Tic-Tac-Dough," "Gambit" and "High Rollers," died Tuesday at age 91, his family announced.