On the Town With Aubrey Reuben
Where All the Stars Shine Brightly!
March 1, 2014
02-25-14 Cast
members Christopher Sears and Julia Coffey at the opening night
party for "London Wall" at Bea. 403 West 43rd St. Monday night.
02-24-14
Off-Broadway, London
Wall, John
Van Druten, is another splendid
production from the Mint Theater
Company. Although produced in 1931, it
could reflect the modern day office
world where women are harassed, The
acting is first rate, under Davis
McCallum's expert direction. It is
not to be missed by theatre lovers.
Middle
of the Night, by Paddy
Chayefsky, is a superb production
with an outstanding performance by Jonathan
Hadary as
a 53-year-old widower, suddenly finding
love with a 24-yeat-old soon-to-be
divorcee. The entire cast is wonderful.
The effect of their impending marriage
on both families is devastating. It is a
realistic, naturalistic play. I heartily
recommend it.
Ode to
Joy, by Craig
Lucas, is about an alcoholic,
bisexual painter (Kathryn
Erbe), who has a relationship with a
woman and, then a man, over 15 years.
She suffers through both, as does the
audience. The opening night attracted Amy
Irving, Debra Winger and Jay
O. Sanders. The party took place at
Dublin 6 Bar.
Kung Fu, David
Henry Hwang, is the story of Bruce
Lee, the Chinese-American Martial Arts
film star, from 1940-1971. Cole Horibe
is fine as Lee, especially in the
movements and choreography; in fact the
entire 12 member cast is very good. The
story itself is less interesting, but
martial arts fans will enjoy it.,
Satchmo
at the Waldorf, by Terry
Teachout, opens
on March 4. My comments will be in the
next column.
Film
Society of Lincoln Center also presented
press screenings of Rendezvous
of French Cinema March 6-16. School
of Babel (La Cour de Babel), by Julie
Bertuccelli, France, 2013, is a
superb documentary, one of the finest
ever produced. The film takes place in a
reception class for 24 foreign students
(ages 11 -15) from different countries,
adjusting to a new language and a new
culture. Filmed over a year, one sees
the progress made, when a dedicated
teacher inspires them to succeed. It is
a magnificent film, always focused on
the students themselves, and confirms
the belief that a teacher can have a
major influence on students. It renews
one's faith in education.
Playing
Dead (Je Fais Mort), by Jean-Paul
Salome, France/Belgium, 2013, is a
mildly amusing, outlandish story of an
out of work actor, playing a corpse in a
reenactment of a criminal investigation.
Filmed in Megeve, in the French Alps, it
has beautiful photography.
Suzanne,
by Katell
Quillevere, France, 2013, is a
depressing story of a young girl (Sara
Forestier), pregnant as a teenager,
turning to a life of crime under the
influence of a worthless young
boyfriend. The effect on her family is
tragic in this well acted film.
The
Gilded Cage (La Cage Doree), by Ruben
Alves, France/Portugal, 2013, is
about a Portuguese couple, living for
thirty years in Paris. When the
opportunity to return home arises, they
have mixed emotions. It could have been
a better film, because the subject is
timely, but a mixture of absurd
situations and irritating caricatures of
French and Portuguese characters are
annoying.
.
.
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The Marchers
(La Marche), by Nabil
Ben Yadir, France/Belgium, 2013, is
based on a true incident, in which nine people
march 930 miles across France in 1983
protesting against discrimination and racism
against Arabs, demanding equality. It will
bring to mind the demonstrations in India (Gandhi)
and in the United States (Martin
Luther King, Jr.). It is a powerful film
Mood Indigo (L'Ecume des Jours),
by Michel
Gondry, France/Belgium, 2013, is a fantasy about a wealthy
man (Romain Duris),
falling in love with a woman (Audrey
Tautou) he meets at a party. If you can suspend belief and
go along with their fanciful adventures, you might enjoy the
film. I did not.
Love Battles (Mes Seances de
Lutte), by Jacques
Doillon, France, 2013, is a film that reveals Sara
Forestier is a
fearless French film actress. Playing the neighbor of James
Thierree, she provokes him about not sleeping with her,
punches and wrestles with him, and never stops talking. He
spouts pseudo psychology. After the first irritating hour, they
begin their simulated sex acts nude. They roll in mud in a
stream, engage on a staircase, and, for the enjoyment of
sadomasochists, he bangs her head on the floor. It is both
exhausting and unpleasant.
Les Apaches, by Thierry
de Peretti, France, 2013, is about a group of teenagers, who
invade a wealthy home, when the owners are away, on the island
of Corsica. When they steal property, tragic consequences
follow. It is a well made film, and the young actors give
convincing performances.
Eastern Boys, by Robin
Campillo, France,
2013, is one of the highlights of the series. An absorbing,
realistic glimpse of undocumented immigrants from the Ukraine,
who hang around a railway station to pick up rich homosexuals.
One such encounter produces a deepening relationship between a
young man,
who, unfortunately, is a member of a violent gang, and a
middle-aged French bachelor. It is a powerful film.
Tonnerre, by Guillaume
Brac, France, 2013, is about a musician, who falls in love
with an immature young journalist. When she returns to a former
boyfriend, he goes berserk, with painful consequences. It is a
moderately interesting film.
His Wife (Son Epouse), by Michel
Spinosa, France/India/Belgium,
2014, is about a widower, who visits India, where his wife
committed suicide. He meets an Indian woman, who believes she is
the dead man's wife, and she screams a lot in this ridiculous
story.
A Castle in Italy (Un Chateau en
Italie), by Valeria
Bruni Tedeschi, France, 2013, has the director starring as a
neurotic, childless middle-aged woman with a brother dying of
AIDS and a mother who is living in a dream world. This
irritating family live in a castle, which they cannot afford. We
watch a year in their lives. Also a young, egotistic actor (Louis
Garrel) has a romantic affair with the woman. They are
obnoxious characters to spend time with, and I cannot recommend
the film.
Under the Rainbow, (Au Bout de
Conte), by Agnes
Jaoui, France, 2013, is a fairy tale, as a young girl seeks
her Prince Charming. This is mixed with a realistic view of life
in Paris. Some of the scenes are quite intelligent and thought
provoking, and a few are whimsical. It features an all star
cast, and is quite enjoyable.
Tip Top, by Serge
Bozon, France/Luxembourg/Belgium,
2013, is an unfunny comedy about two female police investigators
(one of whom is the always wonderful, except in this film,Isabelle
Huppert), trying to solve the mystery of the death of a
police informant. A lot of fine actors are wasted in this silly
tale.
The French Minister (Quai
d'Orsay), by Bertrand
Tavernier, France, 2013, is a mildly amusing comedy about a
young speechwriter (Raphael
Personnaz) hired by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs
(a superb Thierry
Lhermitte). It makes fun of the workings of typical
government bureaucracy, as the speechwriter travels the world
with his boss, trying to solve its many problems.
02-28-14 Cast members (L-R) Roxanna Hope.
playwright/director Craig Lucas. Kathryn Erbe. Arliss Howard at the opening
night for "Ode to Joy" at the Cherry Lane Theatre. 38 Commerce St. Thursday
night. 02-27-14
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