The Buzz: movie reviews

I can't believe it's already August with September quickly approaching! That means school is back in session all over the country. Soon, the air will begin to chill and the breeze will blow. New book bags, freshly sharpened pencils, and scary new teachers mark the beginning of a new semester for everyone from kindergarten to grad school. These movies may not all literally be about school, but they still capture the vibe of this time of year. [Disclaimer: I know there are plenty of college party movies out there, but none of them fit the spirit of this collection. That's a different type of list for a different time.] 1. Clueless (1995) Harkening back to an age of hackey sacks and ska, Clueless is a coming-of-age story in the 90s. Hilarious and fun, it stars the late Brittany Murphy, Alicia Silverstone, Donald Faison of Scrubs fame,  and a much younger Paul Rudd. As IF! 2. Mean Girls (2004) Now a whole decade old, I would argue that this is a modern teen comedy cl...

     As a kid, I vividly remember watching Mork and Mindy , and thinking "that whacky guy" was unbelievably talented and magnetizing. The impact that had on me remains to this day, because it taught me that being a performer can be electric, joyful, and full of laughter.      I have done comedy here and there over the years, and if you ask me to list my top 5 favorites and most influential, Robin Williams is always near the top. I've done mostly improv comedy, but also did college productions ranging from Shakespeare to modern comedies. Anyone worth their salt in performance / comedy / theater will surely cite Robin Williams as a central inspiration.      It seems odd how much his passing has disturbed, saddened, and shocked me. I feel almost as if I have lost a distance relative. I knew he struggled with depression and alcoholism, but had no idea the depths of his struggles over the years. It just goes to show that even someone with Ro...