XMAS stuff

3 25-word Reviews

The Impossible

McGregor and Watts give extraordinary performances alongside wonderful newcomer Holland. Bayona directs with fierce suspense. The compelling story and visual spectacle are a winning combination. 

4/5 Stars.

This Is 40

Rudd and Mann are not funny or charming enough to keep this repetitive, uninsightful script afloat. Apatow’s focus and story meander to an unfulfilling end. 

2.5/5 Stars.

m. henrietta’s veritable vegan epiphany

Awesomely seasoned scrambled organic tofu with sautéed onions served next to passable veggie sausage and thinly sliced avocado. A completely satisfying and richly flavored dish.

Christmas Catch-Up

So I am working my way towards vegan, guys. It’s going to be a process. I thought I could just decide and do an all plant-based diet overnight, but alas that did not work. I have to do some more research on options, substitutes, and vegan-friendly establishments. I am excited for this venture. I had an amazing vegan peanut butter cookie and m. henrietta which just furthered my resolve to make the transition. The most difficult everyday item to give up will be eggs (or possibly that sneaky milk I don’t realize is in just about everything. But I love having a good cheese every once in a while too so that will be a hard commodity to relinquish.

In other news… we had a WHITE CHRISTMAS in Chicago. Trent and I walked around our neighborhood with our pink wine and champagne concoction. The air was crisp, the dusting fluffy, and the streets practically deserted. It was really nice. For Christmas dinner Trent made a veggie sausage and cream cheese stuffing (inside crescent rolls) and I made two of the Beekman Boys' recipes (maple glazed sweet potatoes and glazed carrots with pine nuts and golden raisins) for our sides. We also had an aromatic mulled wine which was infused with brandy, an orange, honey, cloves, and ginger. Delicious.

I got Ed Sheeran’s album “+” for Christmas and gifted Ellie Goulding’s “Halcyon.” They are two of my favorite musicians from 2012. After I give the albums a few listens, I’ll write some thoughts on them and artists’ contribution to the post-retro British invasion. Also, I’ll post my Chicago Stage Standard review of Trap Door’s The Unveiling and Dozens of Cousins later this week when it’s live on their website.

I am going to attempt to escape the post-Christmas blues with movies (Les Miserables, Django Unchained, Rust and Bone, Anna Karenina, etc), vegan delights, new projects (Pride Films & Plays’ enhanced staged reading of "The Bachelors"), and New Year’s shenanigans planning.

What’re ya’ll up to? 

3 Golden Globe Nominated Films Reviewed

Hyde Park on Hudson & Hitchcock

On days when I am doing a double feature, I try to find the best coupling of times among the movies I want to see. I try to make sure there is as little layover time as possible so I am not too tempted by the buttery popcorn and Reese’s Pieces. This particular pairing turned out to be intriguing in their generational parallels and warmly welcome in stylistic differences.

Hyde Park on Hudson felt like an after-school special attempting to be naughty. The meandering script shied away from the more scandalous affairs surrounding President Roosevelt and his mistresses to focus on the ensuing comedy of manners instead. Bill Murray (in a Golden Globe nominated performance)  and Laura Linney safely portray FDR and his cousin which further hinders Richard Nelson’s blandly written characters. However, this fares well for Samuel West and Olivia Coleman (King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) for they give the film the bit of buoyancy present. After seeing the film, I was left thinking that maybe it was meant for a different generation. Perhaps, older audiences craved a simple, neutered retelling of an important and mostly uneventful weekend that changed the course of history.

I entered Hitchcock expecting a similar biopic treatment meant for a different generation. I was thankfully mistaken. Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren not only infused the titular character and his wife, Alma, with destructive carnal desire, but also accompanied it with earnest longing and passionate jealousy. Hopkins’ wonderful physical transformation is nicely matched with his behavioral changes. His unflinching facial austerity serves for the comedic moments and he wisely selects when to soften his expression for emotional impact. Mirren earned Golden Globe and SAG nominations by boldly embodying a headstrong woman with sexuality, unfaltering wit, and accenting her with loving patience, and loyalty. She makes her Alfred’s equal in intellect and determination – just as it should be – and by doing so anchors the film. Scarlett Johansson nails Janet Leigh’s onscreen performances but struggles a bit in the casual encounters. The script wisely focuses on Hitchcock and Alma’s marital struggles in the midst of their perilous professional time, but feels uneven in tone and intent. Yet, for a film targeted to a different generation, Hitchcock infused life, energy, and humor into an American icon, which Hyde Park on Hudson completely failed to do. HYDE PARK ON HUDSON 2.5/5 Stars. HITCHCOCK 3.5/5 Stars.

The Deep Blue Sea

After hearing of Rachel Weisz’s Golden Globe Nomination for The Deep Blue Sea, I was pleased to find it available instantly on Netflix. While her performance is an interesting mix of strength and frailty, the film’s style and pacing does not allow her to feel fully engrossed. There are strong supporting performances as well, but the film overall falls flat under Terence Davies’ direction of his own scattered adaptation. The costume design, original music, and overall production design greatly excels the final product. 2/5 Stars




Anybody else seeing any of these three films? What did you think?? 

Film & Theatre Reviews

So I am an entertainment junkie (kind of) and frequent movie theaters and regular theatres. I love to follow the awards season with special interest in the Academy Awards. I like to predict the nominees/winners and name my own superlatives. In preparation for that madness, I write short reviews on movies and plays. Here's a little taste of that:

THEATRE

You can check out my review of 
About Face Theatre's We Three Lizas for Chicago Stage Standard 

on their website: http://chicagostagestyle.com/threelizas.asp. 

FILM

Though not as stuffy as the trailer would make you believe, LINCOLN fails to fully engage and falters to be thoroughly entertaining despite fine performances. Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field are strongly paired, but Tommy Lee Jones barely fits in style of the film despite his earnest performance. Tony Kushner’s relevant script adds surprises to the well-known historical story, but is stretched by an indulgent pace. The period detail is marvelous from the set decor to the instantly recognizable costumes. Finally, Steven Spielberg is a legendary filmmaker that creates masterful epics. However, LINCOLN is not a film that I truly enjoyed or am excited to watch again. 3.5/5 Stars.

The visual storytelling in LIFE OF PI is breathtaking. Ang Lee playfully incorporates lovely images and aids Suraj Sharma to giving a truthful performance in a tricky, difficult role. What the screenplay lacks in subtlety, it makes up for with humor. The task of making the bleak circumstances exciting was masterfully handled through beautiful cinematography and incredible visual and sound effects. LIFE OF PI is truly a technical wonder. 4/5 Stars.

Ben Affleck delivers a surprisingly exciting period drama that is as suspenseful as tender. He directs a fine ensemble with outstanding performance by Bryan Cranston and Alan Arkin.  The ensemble, taut script, and excellent cinematography give ARGO an authentic feel. Affleck has developed nicely as an actor, but more remarkably as a filmmaker. The unrelenting pace and continuous promises of violence make ARGO a top notch thriller right up to its climactic scene.  5/5 Stars.

Hopefully, that was enough to wet your palette. Have you had a chance to see any of these? What did you think??