06-15-12 Angela Lansbury and Joel Grey at The Theater Hall of Fame
2012 Fellowship Luncheon Saluting Joel Grey at the New York Friars Club.
57 East 55th St. Friday afternoon 06-15-12
Off-Broadway, Warrior Class, by Kenneth Lin, is an
interesting play about politics with three excellent actors playing a
rising politician (Louis Ozawa Changchien), a behind-the-scenes
political operative (David Rasche) and a former college
girlfriend (Katharine Powell) who might damage the politician's
career. The ninety minute play holds your interest with its twists and
turns. It is worth a visit.
Black Milk, by Vassily Sigarev, is
about a couple of unpleasant, vulgar con artists, who wait for a train
in a small village railroad station. The woman is pregnant and gives
birth, forcing them to spend more time in the village. The village
people are all weird or stupid. It is difficult to spend two hours with
them. The opening night party took place in the theatre.
I attended an opening reception for the new
Elektra Theatre where Silence! the Musical has its new home. The
stars Jenn Harris and David Garrison were there, as well
as many cast members of Newsies.
Film Society of
Lincoln Center is presenting Invitation
to the Dance Gene Kelly @ 100 July 13-26. Brigadoon, by
Vincente Minnelli, 1954, is the film version of the charming
Broadway musical with lovely music and songs by Lerner & Loewe,
choreographed by Gene Kelly. It is a charming fairy tale about an
enchanted 200-year old village in Scotland that reawakens for one day
every 100 years. Kelly, a twentieth century New Yorker, falls in love
with Cyd Charisse, a maiden in the village.
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Van Johnson co-stars as Kelly's friend. The dance numbers are enjoyable, the songs are melodious and the film is entertaining. Summer Stock, by Charles Walters, 1950, has Judy Garland running a farm, and a group of actors arrive, headed by Gene Kelly, to put on a show in her barn. It is a typical musical of the period, mildly entertaining, with pleasant dance numbers and a supporting cast, that includes Gloria DeHaven, Eddie Bracken and Phil Silvers. A Guide for the Married Man, by Gene Kelly, 1967, stars Robert Morse teaching Walther Matthau how to cheat on his wife. It is amusing film, with cameos by a large number of old-time stars like Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Jayne Mansfield and Sid Caesar. It was the sixth film of the series that I saw, and they brought back pleasant memories.
Film Society of Lincoln Center is presenting the 13th Annual latin Beat August 10-23. Expiration Date, by Kenya Marquez, Mexico, 2011, is a macabre, fascinating, well-made film, with first rate acting. Three characters tell the same story from their point of view. One is an elderly mother searches for her missing middle-age son. Another is a young mysterious lady moves into the apartment opposite the old lady. The third is an unemployed middle-age man, who scrounges around wrecked automobile lots stealing auto parts and hangs around autopsies being performed at the morgue. The way the three come together is ingeniously plotted. I recommend it highly.
The Last Christeros, by Matias Meyer, Mexico, 2011, is based on the closing of churches in Mexico in the 1920s and 1930s, and the expulsion of priests from the country. Rebels, called Christeros, fought the government to defend their right to religious freedom. In this beautifully photographed, slow moving film, we follow five of the rebels, as they wander through the mountains, seek shelter in caves, occasionally skirmish with soldiers, and briefly reunite with their families. One understands their deep commitment to their religious beliefs, and the scenes resemble tableaux, which are remarkably similar to paintings.
Chinese Takeaway, by Sebastian Borensztein, Argentina, 2011, is a delightful film about a solitary owner of a hardware store (a wonderful Richard Darin), who helps a Chinese immigrant, who cannot speak Spanish. As the two spend days together, a warm bond is formed, resulting in a happy ending for both men. It is a heartwarming film about friendship, which can take place between good people, who do not speak the same language, but are able to find ways to communicate.
3 Million, by Jaime Roos & Yamandu Roos, Uruguay, 2012, is an overlong documentary about a musician and his photographer son, who accompany the Uruguayan national team to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup. Soccer fans will enjoy the scenes of the football games, but one has to tolerate the vanity trip of the two filmmakers, who sing, philosophize, and spend too much time on camera.
MoMA is presenting Premiere Brazil! July 12-24. Dirty Hearts, by Vicente Amorin, 2011, is a powerful film about the Japanese minority living like second-class citizens in Brazil as World War II ends with the defeat of Japan. We see a photographer become an assassin for the group of fanatics, who refuse to believe that Japan has lost the war. The effect on his wife and neighbors is devastating, and the result is tragic. The acting is first rate in a memorable film.
MoMA is also presenting Unaccompanied Minors: Views of Youth in Films from the Collection July 22-August 14. Girls Can't Swim, by Anne-Sophie Birot, France, 2000, stars Isild Le Besco as a teenage girl in a small seaside town exploring sex with a boyfriend and other visiting young men during the summer vacation. When her girl friend from another town arrives, problems ensue, as they have changed over the school year. and jealousy rears its ugly head. It is also a penetrating insight into the difficult family relationships of both young girls. It is a realistic, intelligent look at adolescent problems.
MoMA is also presenting an excellent exhibition Century of the Child: Growing by Design, 1900-2000 from July 29-November 5. At the press preview, we were invited to see two films from the series mentioned above. The Ball, by Orlando Mesquita, Mozambique, 2001 is a six minute amusing short about a group of children ingeniously using a condom to replace a lost soccer ball. The second film is the classic The 400 Blows, by Francois Truffaut, France, 1959, with Jean-Pierre Leaud as the unhappy twelve-year old, who causes trouble in school and at home. It is an impressive film, that has the same powerful effect it had on audiences over fifty years ago. The exhibition itself is wonderful and should definitely be seen by parents and teachers. The past one hundred years have had an enormous effect on how we educate children. The exhibit shows film clips, toys, books, posters, artwork, furniture and more, plus propaganda used by totalitarian nations to indoctrinate their youth. You will be well rewarded by your visit.
The Morgan Library & Museum has the wonderful exhibition Churchill: The Power of Words June 8-September 23. They are presenting three films about Churchill. We attended the final film Young Churchill, by Richard Attenborough, 1972, which follows the great statesman (played by Simon Ward, who, unfortunately, passed away this week at age 70) through school and his army career, ending with his first election to Parliament. We see his bravery in India, Sudan and South Africa, where he was captured and escaped. Anne Bancoft and Robert Shaw play his parents. Although quite long, it still shows the many influences in his young life, which were to form his determination to defeat Germany in World War II under his leadership.
06-21-12
(L-R)
Danny
Burstein.
Rebecca
Luker.
Ted
Chapin.
Hal
Prince
at
the
opening
night
for
"Closer
Than
Ever"
at
the
York
Theatre
at
Saint
Peters.
619
Lexington
Ave.
Wednesday
night
06-20-12 |