‘How to Make a Killing’ review: Riffing on a black comedy classic

“How to Make a Killing,” starring Glen Powell as a working-class man who sets out to murderously reclaim his inheritance, has a clear inspiration: the great Ealing black comedy “Kind Hearts and Coronets.” In that sublimely wicked 1949 film, Alec Guinness played all eight of the relatives that Dennis Price’s would-be heir tries to bump […]

Best movies of 2025 (so far) and how to watch them

Often the best movies of the second half of the year come almost preordained as the Oscars Industrial Complex revs into high gear. The first half, though, can offer more of a thrill of discovery. The first six months of 2025 have offered plenty of that, including indie gems, comedy breakouts and sensational filmmaking debuts. […]

How to Direct and Shoot a Live Comedy Special For Theaters

Joe List is one of my favorite comedians, and so prolific. Just this month alone, he’s toured doing comedy, shown his documentary, and now is debuting his new special, Small Ball, which will screen in theaters nationwide for one night only on May 21. So, how do you direct a special you know is going […]

Comedian Rose Bishop’s advice on how to overcome fear of public speaking

Fear of public speaking is no joke, and I’d know: I’m a stand-up comedian, so I’m intimately familiar with both fear and jokes. The fear, also known as glossophobia, is reportedly one of the most common in the world, and it’s also what led me to try stand-up in the first place.  A therapist I […]