Off Broadway, Death Takes a Holiday has an all star cast, headed by Jill Paice and Julian Ovenden. Ovenden is outstanding, with a magnificent voice. Brownsville Bred is a terrific one woman show, written and performed by the enormously talented Elaine Del Valle. Peg O' My Heart is an entertaining musical with a superb cast, especially Brittney Lee Hamilton in the title role, with a scene stealing 4 year old terrier mix named Minnie, trained by William Berloni. A Strange and Separate People, has three fine actors in a tale about an Orthodox Jewish couple, whose life is upset when a gay doctor enters their home. It is an intelligent discussion about religion, family and sexual desire. David Greenspan gives an astonishing performance as the entire cast in The Patsy.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center began press screenings of the 2011 Latin Beat Festival August 10-24 with Sidewalls, by Gustavo Taretto, Argentina/Germany/Spain, about two lonely young souls living in tiny studio apartments in Buenos Aires. Both are attractive and well educated, but have serious psychological problems. It is a clever and intelligent film, which shows the demoralizing effect architecture can have on individual lives, and how modern life is dominated by the internet. No Return, by Marcelo Cohan, Argentina, is a well made film about the events following a car crash, that kills a bicyclist. An innocent man is convicted, and the story revolves around the three families involved and a miscarriage of justice. The acting is superb. Acorazado, by Alvaro Curiel, Mexico/Cuba, is about a pathetic middle aged Mexican, whose friends encourage him to leave his wife and girlfriend, to sail on a raft to try to enter the United States as a Cuban. Instead he arrives in Cuba. The film tries to be humorous, without much success. The Life of Fish, by Matias Bize, Chile, is about a Chilean travel writer living in Berlin, who attends a party and reunites with his friends and meets his former girlfriend, who is now married with twins. He realizes what he has lost in his life. An interesting film, with all scenes at the party. Country Music, by Alberto Fuguet, Chile/U.S., is about a Chilean visiting Nashville, listening to country music and meeting odd ball characters. A strange film, but country music lovers may enjoy it.
|
Long Distance, by Esteban Insausti, Cuba, is a fascinating look at life in Cuba through the eyes of a woman, who has lost contact for ten years with her close friends and the effect of the mass exodus of Cubans to the United States.
The Death of Pinochet, by Bettina Perut and Ivan Osnovikoff, Chile, is a documentary on the day Pinochet died, his funeral and the divided opinion of his supporters and enemies. Many of the scenes, instead of talking heads are talking mouths. This is a little disconcerting, but dentists will enjoy it
The Film Society of Lincoln Center is screening a series of Prince of the City: Remembering Sidney Lumet July 19-25. We saw two of his most wonderful films. The first was Serpico, a true story, with an outstanding performance by Al Pacino as an honest cop, trying to survive among widespread corruption in the New York City Police Department. It is a powerful film. The second was Network, a brilliant film that shows the influence of television in modern life, with splendid performances by Peter Finch, William Holden, Robert Duvall and Faye Dunaway. These are two of the best films any filmgoer will ever see.
The Interrupters, by Steve James and Alex Kotlowitz, is another powerful film, about three former gang members, who try to intervene in the violence that erupts daily in the poor neighborhoods of Chicago. It is a depressing look at a major problem in the United states today, but it offers a possible hopeful solution when dedicated people, like these three members of the organization CeaseFire, prove that lives can improve, in spite of their horrendous past. The Future, written and directed by Miranda July, is about a couple, who decide to quit their jobs and let fate guide their future. It is a weird film, and it is difficult to know exactly what the film tries to prove. However, the two protagonists, Miranda July, who stars, and Hamish Linklater are easy to watch, and there are some off beat moments
|