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Seen, Heard & Whispered: Justice Alito's biography; Crowley reflects on royals; 'Dangerous Laughter'

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Articles by Kelly Jane Torrance

THEATER: Sprawling ‘Ragtime’

Set at the dawn of the 20th century, "Ragtime," the 1998 musical based on the 1975 novel by E.L. Doctorow, tries to capture an entire nation and its brewing social problems - of race, labor and sex. It might have done the job better had it really immersed itself in that time.

April 28, 2009

D.C. rules make filmmaking a tough sell

The film industry spent $62 million in the District in 2007. That number might have been a lot bigger, though, had the nation's capital not had the reputation of being America's most difficult city in which to film.

April 24, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘The Soloist’

"The Soloist" is like a Bach cello suite performed by a technically competent but passionless player — it doesn't assault your senses, but it doesn't excite them, either.

April 24, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘State of Play’

If District denizens can tear their eyes from the background as they try to identify every local exterior, they might notice "State of Play" is a taut and tense, albeit pretty formulaic, political thriller.

April 17, 2009

Snoozing at the symphony

Women have gotten men to open up the job market, share the housework and jointly raise the children — but we haven't managed to stop them from nodding off at the ballet or opera.

April 10, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Observe and Report’

Move over, Judd Apatow. There's a new master of R-rated comedy in town, one who doesn't feel the need to pander to a mass audience by leavening the raunch with parables of love and friendship and heartwarming endings.

April 10, 2009

TORRANCE: Sage advice

I'm having a messy breakup with my girlfriend. Honestly, I don't know why I stayed with her so long.

April 8, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Adventureland’

"Adventureland" is set in the halcyon days of 1987. Take away the teased bangs, the animal-print pants and the now-extinct cars, though, and this charming coming-of-age comedy could be taking place at any time.

April 3, 2009

PBS loses $300 million in recession

One industry that's been particularly hit by the bad economy didn't get a dime of the $800 billion stimulus — public television. It certainly could have used the help.

March 27, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Absurdistan’

”Absurdistan” might take its title from a self-inflicted nickname for countries behind the collapsing Iron Curtain, but its antecedents are much older than that. This bawdy fairy tale could be described as what happens when Aristophanes meets Aesop, by way of Chaucer.

March 27, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Sunshine Cleaning’

"Sunshine Cleaning" feels like a poor facsimile of "Little Miss Sunshine" — a film full of quirky people whose foibles seem to have been created simply because first-time screenwriter Megan Holley and director Christine Jeffs wanted to make a similarly successful quirky comedy.

March 20, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Crossing Over’

"Crash," Paul Haggis' 2004 Oscar-winning film about race relations in Los Angeles, was so good it was bound to inspire imitators. The formula doesn't work for "Crossing Over."

March 13, 2009

Kennedy Center plans full arts bill

The Kennedy Center's 2009-10 season, announced Tuesday, is full of celebrations, commissions and celebrities. It is a full slate of arts programming without a single cut, which Michael M. Kaiser, the center's president, calls "miraculous in this economic environment."

March 4, 2009