On the Town With Aubrey Reuben
Where All the Stars Shine Brightly!
July 19, 2014
07-15-14
Chistina Korop and cast member John Bolton at the opening night
party of "Pageant" at the Bourbon Street Bar and Grille. 346 West
46th St. Monday night 07-14-14
Off-Broadway, Atomic,
book and
lyrics
by Danny
Ginges and Gregory
Bonsignore,
music
and
lyrics
by Philip
Foxman,
is an
overlong
musical
about
the
making
of the
Atomic
Bomb
during
World
War II.
The
nine
member,
which
includes Sara
Gettelfinger,
Jeremy
Kushnier and Euan Morton, sing
and act
well.
The
story is
sensible
and the
music is
pleasant,
although
not
memorable.
The
Long
Shrift,
by Robert
Boswell,
is
about
a
young
man
(Scott
Haze) convicted
of
rape,
who
returns
home
after
ten
years,
and
is
confronted
by
his
victim
(Ahna
O'Reilly),
who
wants
to
apologize
for
her
false
accusation.
It
is
barely
credible,
and
the
scenes
seem
endless.
The
opening
night
party
at
the
Tribeca
Grand
Hotel,
however,
was
a
huge
success,
with
many
guests
like Julia
Stiles,
Karen
Allen,
Chris
O'Dowd and James
Franco,
who
directed
the
play.
Pageant, book
&
lyrics
by Bill
Russell & Frank
Kelly,
music
by Albert
Evans,
is a
fun
musical
about
a
beauty
pageant,
in
which
the
six
female
contestants
are
played
by
men.
The
six
contestants
are
very
good,
and,
especially, John
Bolton as
the
emcee,
directed
by Matt
Lenz.
You
will
have
an
enjoyable
time
at
the
Davenport
Theatre.
The
opening
night
party
was
held
at
the
Bourbon
Street
Bar
and
Grille
with
guests
like Alice
Ripley, Karen
Ziemba and Eve
Plumb.
I
went
to
Vivid
Cabaret,
61
West
37th
St,
to
meet
and
photograph Bella
French,
the
Number
1
Adult
Film
Star
of
Canada.
She
was
sweet
and
charming,
and
she
posed
with
many
of
the
young,
attractive
ladies,
who
perform
there.The
venue
is
new
(it
opened
in
May)
and
is
elegant,
with
three
floors
and
a
rooftop.
It
was
a
very
enjoyable
evening.
Film
Society
at
Lincoln
Center
is
presenting
press
screenings
of 2014
Sound
+
Vision
July
31-August
6. Flashback
Memories
3D,
by Tetsuaki
Matsue,
Japan,
2012,
is a
documentary
about
a
Japanese
didgeridoo
player GOMA,
who
suffered
partial
memory
loss
in
an
automobile
crash
in
2009.
We
see
him
performing
before
the
crash
and
after,
with
his
recovery.
He
plays
an
unusual
instrument,
with
a
strange
sound,
but
the
music
is
hypnotic,
and
quite
lovely
and
relaxing
to
the
ear.
Shield
and
Spear,
by Peter
Ringbom,
USA/South
Africa,
2014,
is a
disturbing
documentary,
about
life
in
South
Africa,
twenty
years
after
apartheid
and
the
creation
of
democracy
with
free
elections.
Unfortunately,
with
rampant
corruption
in
the
government,
massive
crime
among
the
population,
a
lack
of
educational
opportunities
and
attacks
on
freedom
of
expression
by
artists,
musicians
and
activists,
it
presents
a
sorry
picture
of a
chaotic
country.
One
can
only
hope,
the
future
will
be
brighter.
The
film
is
filled
with
pleasant
musical
selections,
and
fascinating
interviews
with
the
artists.
Pulp.
by Florian
Habicht,
UK,
2014,
is a
sweet
documentary,
about
the
band's
final
concert
in
2012
in
their
hometown,
Sheffield,
England.
There
are
scenes
of
the
town,
and
interviews
with
their
fans,
both
old
and
young.
Also,
we
see
senior
citizens
singing
their
songs
in a
restaurant,
and
an
acapella
harmony
group
of
women
rehearsing
one
of
their
hit
songs.
It
really
is
quite
impressive
the
band's
influence
on
their
hometown.
At
the
sold
out
arena
concert,
the
fans
are
seen
having
the
time
of
their
lives. Jarvis
Cocker is
the
front-man
of
Pulp,
and
is a
charming,
charismatic
character.
It
is a
lovely
film.
For
Those
About
to
Rock:
The
Story
of
Rodrigo
y
Gabriela,
by Alejandro
Franco,
Mexico,
2014,
is
about
a
young
Mexican
couple,
not
achieving
success
in
their
country,
who
take
their
guitars
to
Dublin,
Ireland,
and
become
buskers
playing
their
own
form
of
music.
It
becomes
a
mixture
of
flamenco,
salsa
and
hard
rock.
They
perform
in
other
European
countries,
and
then,
amazingly,
become
stars
in
the
United
States.
Each
one
alternates
telling
their
story,
and
it
is
an
inspiring
one.
They
are
a
decent,
honest
couple,
and
deserve
their
success.
I
have
said
that
I
will
photograph
any
Rock
'n'
Roll
musician,
but
I
don't
want
to
listen
to
them.
However,
these
four
films
were
pleasant,
and
the
music
was
painless,
and
my
hearing
was
not
damaged.
Film
Society
at
Lincoln
Center
is
presenting NewFest,
New
York's Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual
and
Transgender
Film
Festival
July
24-29. Futuro
Beach,
by Karim
Ainouz,
Brazil/Germany,
2013,
is
about
a
lifeguard
on a
beach
in
Brazil,
who
falls
in
love
with
a
German
tourist.
He
follows
him
to
Germany,
and,
eventually,
they
split
up
and
go
their
separate
ways.
Years
later,
the
Brazilian
younger
brother
searches
for
him
in
Germany.
These
three
main
characters
are
the
dullest
people
imaginable,
and
while
Brazil
is
sunny,
Germany
is
gloomy
and
rainy.
A
highly
boring
film.
Lilting, by Hong
Khaou,
UK,
2013,
is a
beautiful,
deeply
emotional
film,
about
a
Chinese
woman
(Pei
-pei Cheng),
who
lives
unhappily
in a
senior
citizen
home
in
England.
When
her
son
dies
suddenly,
his
lover
(Ben
Whishaw),
whom
she
cannot
tolerate,
reaches
out
to
her
by
way
of a
young
female
translator.
Gradually,
they
bond,
in
spite
of
the
fact
that
the
mother
only
speaks
Chinese.
It
is a
warm,
tender
film,
and
the
acting
by
the
two
leads
is
superb.
.
.
|
Lyle, by Stewart
Thorndike, USA, 2014, is
about a neurotic, pregnant
lesbian (Gaby
Hoffman), who moves into
a creepy house in Brooklyn.
She begins to suspect that
the apartment is filled with
evil. She becomes suspicious
of her partner and friends
with tragic consequences. As
the lead is unappealing, it
is difficult to have much
sympathy for her.
Gerontophilia, by Bruce
LaBruce, Canada, 2013,
is about a young teenager,
who is attracted to older
men. He takes a job in a
senior citizen nursing home
in Quebec, and becomes
intimate with an 82-year-old
patient. When the man speaks
of his desire to see the
Pacific Ocean, the young man
sneaks him out of the
facility, and drives him
across Canada. The plot is
ridiculous, the acting
atrocious, and one is left
worrying about the fate of
senior citizens, unable to
care for themselves.
I Am Happiness on Earth,
by Julian
Hernandez, Mexico, 2013,
is about a filmmaker, who
likes to make films about
dance, so he can seduce the
male dancers. The film
focuses on nudity, and
mainly gay encounters. There
is long scene with two men
and one woman that borders
on the pornographic. It
appears out of nowhere, and
I have no idea what it has
to do with the plot. There
is also a lot of voiceover
philosophical dialogue,
which is essentially
meaningless. This is a film
for voyeurs. An elderly Gloria
Contreras, a respected
dancer and choreographer,
whom I know personally,
appears in the first scene
displaying modern dance
movements at her advanced
age. What she thinks about
the film would be
interesting to discover.
The Way He Looks, by Daniel
Ribeiro, Brazil, 2014,
is a coming of age story,
about a blind teenager, who
is attracted to a new
student in his class. As
their friendship grows, it
becomes a gay love story.
The two boys give fine,
sentimental performances,
and the film itself is quite
charming, with a penetrating
view of high school life. It
is one of the best films of
the festival.
MoMA is also presenting Lady
in the Dark: Crime Films from
Columbia Pictures, 1932-1957
from July 11-August 4. In
a Lonely Place, by Nicholas
Ray, USA, 1950, stars Humphrey
Bogart as
a screenwriter, who is a suspect
in the murder of a hat-check
girl. It is also a love affair
with his neighbor (Gloria
Grahame), which turns sour,
because of his violent behavior.
The acting is first rate, the
plot is absorbing and the
dialogue is sharp and
intelligent, and, at times,
quite funny. I recommend it
highly.
By Whose
Hand, by Ben
Soloff, USA,1932, is an entertaining
thriller, that takes place on a train
heading to San Francisco. Murders occur,
and there are many suspects among the
interesting passengers. It is also quite
humorous. It is well worth the train ride.
The Ninth
Guest, by Roy
William Neill, USA, 1934, is an absurd
story about eight high society people
invited to a party in an elegant penthouse,
where the unknown host plans to murder them
one by one. Fashion lovers will enjoy the
gowns worn by the three female guests, while
intelligent viewers will be bored by the
unbelievable plot.
The Whistler,
by William
Castle, USA, 1944, is based on a popular
radio series of the title. The film is about
a businessman (Richard Dix), suffering from
depression after his wife died drowning on a
trip, who hires a contract killer to end his
life. When he learns his wife had survived,
he tries to stop his own death. It is a
silly story, but entertaining.
The Big Heat,
by Fritz
Lang, USA, 1953, is about a tough
detective (Glenn
Ford), whose wife is killed by gangsters
in an explosion when she starts their car.
He seeks revenge. The film is filled with
corrupt cops, crooked politicians, vicious
mobsters (Lee
Marvin) and sexy dames (Gloria Grahame).
It is a fascinating film, which will hold
your attention from the beginning to the
end.
The Power of
the Whistler, by Lew
Landers, USA,
1945, has an escaped lunatic from a mental
hospital (again Richard
Dix) become an amnesiac, after being hit
by a car. A woman takes pity on him, and
tries to help him find out who he is, and
even allows him to stay overnight in her
apartment. It is a bad choice, and she
places herself in grave danger. Of course,
like all B-crime movies, it is utter
nonsense, but it is riveting and
entertaining, and it hold one's attention
throughout the film.
Let Us Live, by John
Brahm, USA, 1939, is social commentary,
about a miscarriage of justice. An innocent
cab driver (Henry
Fonda) is convicted of murder for a
crime he did not commit. With the help of
his fiancee (Maureen
O'Sullivan) and a police lieutenant (Ralph
Bellamy), they manage to save him from
execution, and capture the three criminals
responsible for the actual crime. It is a
well acted film, with a splendid cast, and
it is a serious look at how justice can be
perverted.
The Secret
of the Whistler, by George
Sherman, USA, 1946, is about a man (also
again Richard
Dix), who wants to murder his wealthy
wife, so that he can marry a young,
beautiful lady. She does die, but,
unfortunately, she kept a diary. Since
murderers are always apprehended in
B-movies, you can imagine the result.
Film Forum is
presenting the 70th Anniversary Restoration
of Double
Indemnity, by Billy
Wilder, USA, 1944, from August 1-7. Do
not miss one of the finest examples of Film
Noir with an outstanding cast. An insurance
salesman (Fred
MacMurray) is seduced by a married woman
(Barbara
Stanwyck) to murder her husband for his
insurance policy. An insurance investigator
(Edward
G. Robinson) realizes that the death is
murder not suicide. The plot is riveting,
the acting is superb and the film is filled
with brilliant dialogue.
It is one of the finest films ever made of
this genre.
07-17-14 Adult Film Star Canadian Bella French poses with the Vivid Cabaret
Lady Emma (L) at Vivid Cabaret. 61 West 37th St. Thursday night
07-17-14
|