“Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” 20th Century Fox Peter Weir’s excellent new film, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World,” seems on the surface to be geared to far too small an audience to merit the overwhelming advertising campaign behind it. Read more...

Two years ago, pop rock band Eisley performed regularly at a small coffeehouse in Tyler, Texas. This past spring, after releasing only one EP, Eisley played in front of 12,000 fans at the Hollywood Bowl when they opened for Coldplay’s “A Rush of Blood to the Head” tour. Read more...

The line at the Avco Cinema was long. Really long. It made sense, considering I was there on the Saturday night of the opening weekend of “Elf.” I was there on the Saturday night of the opening weekend of one of the biggest non-trilogy-related winter movies for college students. Read more...

It’s hard for someone to have two full-time jobs ““ and Jon Robertson, chairman of the UCLA Department of Music and conductor of the UCLA Philharmonia Orchestra, has finally decided he has spent enough time juggling. Read more...

The phrases “ballet-like” and “Hong Kong action film” are not often heard together, but when talking about the work of director Johnny To, the description is apt. Read more...

John Cage, one of the most recognized composers of the 20th century, may be best known for a time when he was silent. One of his most famous pieces, “4’33,” is four minutes and thirty-three seconds of a pianist onstage, not playing, where only the noise generated by the audience and ambiance of the concert hall are considered the “music” of the piece. Read more...

Forget about dealing with Hollywood big-shots’ egos and tantrums. Some of the entertainment industry’s finest are taking time off from their day jobs to take center stage in front of aspiring film and television students. Read more...