Arts & Entertainment

Cate Blanchett Loses Her Cool in ‘Babel’

By Pauline M. Millard

Cate Blanchett must have a secret, and it’s one a lot of Hollywood actresses would probably like to know. How does she manage to consistently get good, dramatic parts while picking up awards and accolades along the way? She’s played Queen Elizabeth in “Elizabeth,” a perky society girl in “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” The Queen of the Elves in “Lord of the Rings” as well as a tough, Irish journalist in “Veronica Guerin.” She even earned an Oscar in 2005 for her portrayal of Katherine Hepburn in “The Aviator.”

Music: Beck plays Oct. 18 at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in support of his new album, “The Information.” 8 p.m. Tickets through Ticketmaster (212) 307-7171.

Click
Sony Pictures

Adam Sandler’s latest film, “Click”, is an effort for the actor to stretch his acting abilities into adulthood while keeping the lowbrow humor that made him a star. Surprisingly, “Click” is an entertaining film that is funny and shamelessly sappy.

By Pauline M. Millard

When Ed Harris was first asked to play Ludwig von Beethoven in the new film “Copying Beethoven”, he said his first reaction was a big, nervous gulp.

By Leslie (Hoban) Blake

At Lincoln Center’s 44th New York Film Festival several films are already generating buzz including Stephen Frear’s The Queen and Todd Field’s Little Children, both of which are already in release. Also notable is Pedro Almodovar’s Volver, scheduled to open in early November. The Queen examines the period directly after Princess Diana’s untimely demise, when Queen Elizabeth II (played by a stoic Helen Mirren) at first refused to heed either her country’s heartfelt outcry or the political pleas of Tony Blair, played by Michael Sheen.

The Killers
Sam’s Town
Island Records

The Killers are back in full force with a bigger, stronger and more diverse second album called Sam’s Town that avoids the dreaded sophomore curse. The always stylish Las Vegas quartet exhibits a fully loaded album that has raw emotion, high energy and a new rock-n-roll sound fused with their famed use of glam 1980’s music. The title track opens and immediately draws the listener in with an explosion of drum rolls and a rush of guitars and synthesizers. The album maintains this high energy and unfolds catchy sounds and alluring lyrics. The tracks “When You Were Young” and “This River Is Wild” illustrate singer Brandon Flower’s talent for lyrics. Sam’s Town is a well produced and fun album that showcases strong vocals, untraditional sounds and an infectious energetic tempo that reflect a confident band that has matured but kept their original indie pop-rock glamour sensibilities.—Paul Chi

By Pauline M. Millard

Audiences have seen Hugh Jackman as a Wolverine, a 19th century gentleman and even a monster hunter, but the Australian-born actor takes another career twist in “The Prestige.”

By Peter Malbin

Evangeline Lilly’s combination of playful charm and natural talent is earning her a reputation as one of the most promising young actresses in Hollywood.

By Leslie (Hoban) Blake

“25 Questions for a Jewish Mother,” Judy Gold’s auto-biographical off-Broadway comedy, is the product of Gold’s more than five years of cross-country travel, playing comedy gigs. From the answers to such questions as “What would you have been without children” or “How are you like your own mother,” they have constructed an evening of Anna Deveare Smith-like monologues with Gold playing herself and a dozen others characters.

By Mark Allwood

In the world of rap music, street credibility is everything. The same is true in the growing genre of writing known as street fiction.