There it was, Sunday morning, and our plans for the entire day were scuttled due to a friend’s sudden illness. My fellow traveler suggested that we take in a movie. I said OK, then thought to myself-I can do better than that! So I went online to see if any show had available seats for the afternoon. Sure enough, the only show I was interested in was A Chorus Line. And there were seats available.
After a brief consultation I made the purchase, printed out my receipt, and off we went. While I had not seen this production of A Chorus Line, I will admit that I had seen it twice during its original Broadway run. I dug out my my copies of Playbill from those performances. I actually saw Bebe Neuwirth in the role of Lois (not one of the major roles); at the time her only professional credit was A Chorus Line. I need to admit that A Chorus Line is my favorite Broadway show ever, and I have listened to the music countless times.
I am pleased to report that this production is nearly identical to the original. Even the costumes seem to have been taken out of storage and sent to the cleaners. The producers did not feel the need to update the show-it is still set in 1975. A Chorus Line is one of those rarities that has stood the test of time. It is real, and moving, and I hope this is not the last time I’ll see it.
A Chorus Line - The New Broadway Cast Recording (2006 Broadway Revival Cast)
The Mrs. is reluctant to comment. Not me. Wild. My kind of movie. Outstanding performances from Paul Dano and Daniel-Day Lewis who never gives a bad performance. When it comes to the personification of evil he is the Jack Nicholson for the 21st century. The director knows when to do closeups—same as in No Country for Old Men which we saw in Florida. Another picture I loved even though I heard complaint from Hy that there was too much killing. Another couple of great performances there.
There Will Be Blood Soundtrack
27 Dresses is a fun movie. Unlike many movies, the trailers and the publicity showcase exactly what is is-a cute romantic comedy. I don’t really know much about Katherine Heigl; I don’t watch Grey’s Anatomy and I didn’t see Knocked Up. Anyway, Heigl plays a young woman named Jane. As the movie opens, she is trying on a wedding gown for a friend. She then gets the gown to her friend in time for the wedding. Jane hires a cab driver for the evening, and shuttles back and forth between two weddings at which she serves as bridesmaid. This, of course, involves changing clothes in the cab and a number of comedic slip-ups.
Jane meets a man named Kevin-James Marsden- at one wedding, and he seems intrigued by her comings and goings. In fact, he is the only one that does notice. He escorts her home in her cab, and retrieves her all-important filofax from the floor of the cab. Instead of returning it to her, he reads it and shows up at her next appointment. This might seem a bit stalker-like, but it was cute.
Anyway, as the movie continues we learn that Jane has always taken care of other people and neglected her own needs. The relationship between Jane and Kevin proceeds as movie relationships generally do-attraction, conflict, resolution.
If you’re looking for a fun movie that doesn’t tax your brain or emotions too much, this is it!
27 Dresses
This is the first novel by Lauren Groff. She has published stories in major magazines, so she certainly has some real writing credentials. The Monsters of Templeton is really an interesting and unique novel.
The “Templeton” of the title refers to a fictional town in upstate New York. It is modeled very closely on Cooperstown, which is best known as the location of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. There are numerous other attractions in Cooperstown, and they, and the tourists who visit, inhabit the background of this book.
The Monsters of Templeton really is the story of a young woman, Willie Upton, who returns to her home town after a two year absence. Willie is a descendant of the town’s founder, Marmaduke Temple. Her mother, Vi, still lives in their ancestral home. Willie has never known her father; her mother led her to believe that he could have been one of a number of men from her wild youth in San Francisco.
Vi finally tells Willie that her father is a resident of Templeton. Vi gives Willie one clue, then challenges her to use her research skills (Willie is a graduate student studying archaeology at Stanford) to figure out his identity. In so doing, Willie learns a great deal about her ancestors, and her town, and, of course herself.
I really like the way Lauren Groff develops the characters. She makes them interesting and three-dimensional whether they are from the present-day or from a previous century. It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but then I was hooked.
The Monsters of Templeton is definitely worth reading.
In USA:
Published in hardcover-Hyperion 2008
The Monsters of Templeton
This book by David Schickler was a book club selection. Once again, I’m glad I didn’t buy it.It’s OK, but not great. It tells the intersecting stories of some of the residents of the Preemption, a Manhattan apartment building. The outstanding feature of the building is its elevator-the oldest working Otis elevator in the city. One of the residents of the building, in fact, spends one hour each night inside the elevator, just talking to the elevator. Strange, yes, but he is not the strangest resident of the Preemption.
In fact, most of the characters in this book are so strange, they are hardly believable. I hesitate to call this book a novel, because its seems more a collection of portraits strung together. I kept waiting for a plot line to develop; I guess I’m really old-fashioned that way!
Another disappointing note is that this book does not even depict a very interesting or exciting Manhattan. I contrast this to the Tales of the City series of books by Armistead Maupin. The true stars in that series are Mrs. Madrigal and her tenants on Barbary Lane in San Francisco. The stories in that series intersect in much the same way as Kissing in Manhattan, but the people are much more interesting.
There is more to making characters interesting than just making them strange.
In USA:
Published in hardcover-Random House 2001
Softcover edition-Dial Press 2002
Kissing in Manhattan
Tales of the City: A Novel (P.S.)
I went to the movies today to go to the opera. The Metropolitan Opera is broadcasting select operas each season, live in HD at certain movie theaters. I’ve been a fan of opera for years, although I am not as knowledgeable as I’d like. For a while I had a subscription to the New York City Opera. It was much less expensive than the Met, and the productions are more modern and approachable.
So, at upwards of $150 for a single seat in a good location at the Met, I have generally avoided it. In their effort to broaden their audience, the Met now offers this program. And at $22 for a seat in a theater where I can eat candy and popcorn and enjoy stadium seating, well, that sounds good to me!
Surprisingly, the theater was packed. I’m glad I got there early and was able to pick a good seat. This is really a fun way to see an opera. Before the start, there was a brief interview with Met music director James Levine. During scene changes, we get to watch some of the backstage action, including set changes. Macbeth was written by Giuseppe Verdi and is, of course, in Italian. Fortunately these productions are subtitled.
I have nothing but the highest praise for the singers and for this production. Of course everyone who has been to high school knows Macbeth, and the story has not changed. The Met’s production, under the direction of Adrian Noble, brings the action into the twentieth century. During the intermission he explains why, and it makes perfect sense.
There are five more opportunities this season to see other operas broadcast live in HD from the Met. I highly recommend trying it out.
Verdi - Macbeth / Alvarez, Guleghina, Scandiuzzi, Berti, Alberdi, Campanella, Barcelona Opera
This was the first time I’ve seen this movie. I watched it on DVD. It was cute. I’m not a particular fan of Matthew McConaughey or Penelope Cruz. I wouldn’t say that either of them are great actors. But it was a fun movie, and the special features on the DVD are entertaining. Enjoy! Just don’t take it at all seriously.
Sahara [HD DVD]
After all the aggravation of waiting for Cablevision to come and repair the HBO on Demand, it was really a letdown to see this movie. It’s hard to believe that Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Michael Caine would get involved in this bomb of a movie! The screenplay strayed so far from the book as to be unrecognizable. Characters were added, some were deleted, names were changed; it was a mess. And that’s all the time I’m spending on this review.
Children of Men (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD]
Yes, I read another book by PD James. I try not repeat authors within the space of a few weeks, but sometimes it happens. I figured that since this was so different from any of the Adam Dalgliesh books, it would be OK.
This book was published in England in 1992. I’d guess that it was released in the US in paperback in 2006 because of the movie, starring Julianne Moore. I am hoping to see it soon. It’s now available on HBO on Demand, but we’re having some issues with that right now.
I digress! This book has quite the interesting premise. The year is 2021, the place, England. No human being has been born since 1995, due to worldwide male infertility. The population is decreasing and aging. Already, there are fewer workers to maintain basic services. Schools are closing. Towns are becoming deserted. England is ruled by a dictator, Xan Lyppiatt, the self-proclaimed “Warden of England”. Mass suicides of the elderly are state-sponsored (and encouraged). All criminals are deported to the Isle of Man, now a penal colony where chaos reigns. People engage in bizarre behavior, such as dressing up dolls and parading them around in prams, and holding church christenings for cats.
Our protagonist is Theodore Faron, and Oxford historian and former professor(when there were students). He is first cousin to the Warden, and a former member of the Council of England. He lives a solitary, quiet life until he is contacted by a former student who is part of a small band of revolutionaries. They ask him to use his influence with the Warden to demand certain changes. Well, we know that dictators don’t take kindly to suggestions of that nature.
So, I won’t say any more about the book, but I do recommend it! I haven’t really read any science fiction in quite a while, and I do enjoy it.
And I was just informed that our HBO on Demand is now working, so I’m going to watch the movie now.
(False alarm-HBO On Demand not working, so I’ll have to go read something now.)
In USA:
Published in hardcover-Knopf 1993
Softcover edition-Vintage 2006
The Children Of Men
I need to qualify this review. I saw the 1979-1980 Broadway production of Sweeney Todd:The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. It was one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever seen. When I left the theater, I was a jumble of nerves, and I didn’t eat any meat for a month. That said, Tim Burton’s movie is pretty good, just not so terrifying.
Obviously, a director can do more with special effects in a movie than on the stage. Anyone who has ever seen a movie by Tim Burton knows that he brings a certain look to each of his films. Tim Burton also has a rather warped world view; so he and Sweeney Todd are like a match made in heaven.
The tale of Sweeney Todd is based on a nineteenth century London urban legend. The London in the movie appears dark and ominous. It is a dirty, smelly, dangerous place. As the movie opens, Sweeney Todd is sailing into London in the company of a naive, young sailor named Anthony. He thanks Anthony for rescuing him, and they part company for the time being. Anthony will, however, play an important role in the film. I don’t want to say much more about how the plot develops. I don’t enjoy being the spoiler.
This is quite a good movie. The story is very tight, and moves along quickly. The movie uses the Stephen Sondheim music and lyrics from the Broadway show; but some songs have been deleted entirely and some made shorter. This is no problem for a viewer who is not familiar with the songs. While I do admit that I liked the songs that were cut, the Broadway show was too long and I think the movie benefits from this editing.
Although Johnny Depp is certainly a good actor, taking him seriously is difficult. He seems as if he is dressed for Halloween. He seems more comic than menacing. Neither Depp not Helena Bonham Carter have very good singing voices; I think a musical would benefit from more accomplished vocalists.
If blood and guts on the screen are not your thing, then avoid this movie. Or do what I did and cover your eyes during the gross parts. Otherwise, I would recommend this, if only to have an informed opinion when awards season comes along.
Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979 Original Broadway Cast)
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