I have been a huge fan of Harry Potter since I was in 8th grade, which is when I started reading the first three books and saw the first movie soon afterwards. I have been hooked into the magical fantasy world dreamed up by J.K. Rowling since then. You can tell it's a fantasy world for two reasons: They have wands, and good triumphs over evil. Because of this, I was of course very excited for the movie. I am proud to say that I was not disappointed. I had wished that the last few books had each been split into two movies, which had been discussed as a possibility for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, so I am glad that this book was split into two so that all the action could be retained and the film was not rushed. This was the first movie that I thought really did justice to its source material instead of being a rapidly moving, "greatest scenes" version of the book. I was impressed that 75% of the movie actually took place at Hogwarts with an elongated battle sequence, as if the filmmakers were making up for the omission of the Battle of the Astronomy Tower from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
It has been great to see Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson grow up because they have embodied the characters well and have such a great chemistry with each other. Hermione and Harry especially have developed a great brother-sister relationship. I look forward to seeing them in other flims, and it would be great to see them in a non-Harry Potter film together.
I have always felt that the teachers and adults in the film series have always been given short shrift, and this film was no exception, but the balance was evened out a little bit. Alan Rickman gave a great performance as Severus Snape, showing a different and much more human side to the character that gave him another dimension. Seeing Maggie Smith on screen is always wonderful as well, especially in a leadership role. Robbie Coltrane's Hagrid doesn't show up until the end of the film, but he's always a welcome presence. Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, and Jim Broadbent make brief appearances as well, all of whom should have had more scenes in the last few films given their character's roles in the books. Only Ralph Fiennes gets significant screen time. Helena Bonham Carter also has a few scenes as his main lackey. The problem is that there are so many wonderful characters that it's hard to showcase them all correctly in the 2 1/2 hour spans of each film, so characters often make brief or background appearances.
The actual battle is quite physical and all-consuming, at times a bit tough to follow. There are a few changes from the book as well. The final image of the aftermath is the main three characters standing on a bridge looking back at the building that has been the centerpiece of their lives for the last seven years. The movie then concludes with an Epilogue taking place 19 years later that is a complete shift in tone, showing the next generation of Hogwarts students, the progeny of our main characters, who have been aged to be in their late thirties, although still played by the same actors. Rupert Grint's transformation makes him look a bit like Mark Williams, who plays Arthur Weasley. The final image of this scene, and the whole saga, is a closeup of our three heroes as adults. I hope that the film and book series doesn't go out of style and will remain popular with future generations of readers and moviegoers, because this universe is too vibrant to fade away.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Angels in America- Part 1: Millennium Approaches and Part 2: Perestroika
I am working through my backlog of reviews, so I might as well start at the beginning with the oldest and then move towards the more recent ones. Back in February, I had the chance to see the second cast of the off-Broadway revival of Angels in America at Signature Theatre Company perform both parts of Tony Kushner's epic play. I had previously seen the first cast perform Part II back in December, and that review can be found on this blog for comparison. I think Part II is my favorite part, as I feel that Part I is mostly the exposition to set up the events which actually occur in the second part, beginning with the entrance of the angel at the end of Part I.
Thankfully, some of the cast members from the first cast were still there, namely Frank Wood as Roy Cohn, Bill Heck as Joe Pitt, and Billy Porter as Belize. Frank Wood's portrayal of Mr. Cohn is quite a wonder to behold, as he plays the real-life lawyer as a slimy, unlikable self-hating Jewish man who spends most of this play attempting to carry out underhanded deals to keep himself afloat as he faces a potential disbarment hearing. He is in denial that he has contracted HIV from unprotected sex with men on business trips because of the stigma that comes with being labed homosexual. He is afraid of losing his position of political influence in Reagan-era America. As the plays progress, his symptoms worsen and he is eventually committed to a hospital where he lies slowly dying with his tongue hanging out and an odd orange complexion.
Billy Porter is still marvelous as Belize, the homosexual black nurse who tends to Roy Cohn and also helps his friend Prior Walter cope with the same disease. He often provides a voice of reason and hope to the other characters, the opposite of Louis. Adam Driver inhabits Louis with a nervous energy but gives a very solid believable performance as a gay man struggling with his life situation, and his personal and religious identity. His partner has contracted HIV and he doesn't know how to deal with it, so he leaves and begins dating the Mormon and newly gay Joe Pitt. Mr. Driver does a good job at conveying the neurotic qualities in this complex character struggling with his emotions. Bill Heck provides a grounded center as Joe, struggling with his homosexual feelings, his career choices offered to him by Roy Cohn, and his marriage to the pill-popping and agoraphobic Harper Pitt.
Out of the new cast members, I was most excited to see Michael Urie take on Prior Walter since I enjoyed seeing him as Marc St. James on Ugly Betty over the past few years. Some of his vocal inflections and character mannerisms were the same, which made it feel like I was watching the same character at times. I did enjoy his performance though, as it felt fairly realistic.
Sofia Jean Gomez did a wonderful job in her roles as a hospital nurse the titular angel descended from on high to speak to the would-be prophet Prior. Keira Keeley also did a great job as Harper Pitt, inheriting the role from the immensely talented Zoe Kazan. She communicated the anxiety and insecurity of a wife who is losing her husband but not fully in control of her own life decisions until the end of the play. Lynne McCollough did not leave a lasting impression as Joe's mother Hannah Pitt as well as the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg.
I am glad that I had the opportunity to see both parts of the play together with the same cast in a short timeframe. Some scenes were edited, presumably for time, but the staging in the small Peter Norton Space worked very well, as the audience was close to the action and the projections and set changes really set the stage in terms of locations. I was amazed at how much was achieved simply by rotating a set piece, and the appearance of the angel was well-conceived. I look forward to seeing more productions produced by Signature Theatre Company in the coming years, although I have not seen their production of The Illusion yet as I have been unable to get a ticket. Next season will be devoted to Athol Fugard, and since I am not familiar with most of his work, I look forward to those productions.
Thankfully, some of the cast members from the first cast were still there, namely Frank Wood as Roy Cohn, Bill Heck as Joe Pitt, and Billy Porter as Belize. Frank Wood's portrayal of Mr. Cohn is quite a wonder to behold, as he plays the real-life lawyer as a slimy, unlikable self-hating Jewish man who spends most of this play attempting to carry out underhanded deals to keep himself afloat as he faces a potential disbarment hearing. He is in denial that he has contracted HIV from unprotected sex with men on business trips because of the stigma that comes with being labed homosexual. He is afraid of losing his position of political influence in Reagan-era America. As the plays progress, his symptoms worsen and he is eventually committed to a hospital where he lies slowly dying with his tongue hanging out and an odd orange complexion.
Billy Porter is still marvelous as Belize, the homosexual black nurse who tends to Roy Cohn and also helps his friend Prior Walter cope with the same disease. He often provides a voice of reason and hope to the other characters, the opposite of Louis. Adam Driver inhabits Louis with a nervous energy but gives a very solid believable performance as a gay man struggling with his life situation, and his personal and religious identity. His partner has contracted HIV and he doesn't know how to deal with it, so he leaves and begins dating the Mormon and newly gay Joe Pitt. Mr. Driver does a good job at conveying the neurotic qualities in this complex character struggling with his emotions. Bill Heck provides a grounded center as Joe, struggling with his homosexual feelings, his career choices offered to him by Roy Cohn, and his marriage to the pill-popping and agoraphobic Harper Pitt.
Out of the new cast members, I was most excited to see Michael Urie take on Prior Walter since I enjoyed seeing him as Marc St. James on Ugly Betty over the past few years. Some of his vocal inflections and character mannerisms were the same, which made it feel like I was watching the same character at times. I did enjoy his performance though, as it felt fairly realistic.
Sofia Jean Gomez did a wonderful job in her roles as a hospital nurse the titular angel descended from on high to speak to the would-be prophet Prior. Keira Keeley also did a great job as Harper Pitt, inheriting the role from the immensely talented Zoe Kazan. She communicated the anxiety and insecurity of a wife who is losing her husband but not fully in control of her own life decisions until the end of the play. Lynne McCollough did not leave a lasting impression as Joe's mother Hannah Pitt as well as the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg.
I am glad that I had the opportunity to see both parts of the play together with the same cast in a short timeframe. Some scenes were edited, presumably for time, but the staging in the small Peter Norton Space worked very well, as the audience was close to the action and the projections and set changes really set the stage in terms of locations. I was amazed at how much was achieved simply by rotating a set piece, and the appearance of the angel was well-conceived. I look forward to seeing more productions produced by Signature Theatre Company in the coming years, although I have not seen their production of The Illusion yet as I have been unable to get a ticket. Next season will be devoted to Athol Fugard, and since I am not familiar with most of his work, I look forward to those productions.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
My 24th Birthday
Yesterday, June 25, marked the occasion of my 24th birthday, and so I am dedicating to this post to encapsulating my thoughts on this event so that I can view them later and have an accurate reckoning of my thoughts and feelings. At first I wasn't thinking my birthday was a big deal. I got into the mood a little bit on Friday, but Saturday was mostly a normal day for me. Reading and napping, and then in the evening I opened a couple cards from my mother and grandmother. My grandmother's card was a little bit weird, since she signed it "Sol and Family" and not "Grandpa and Grandma" as she always did before. This is also weird since my grandfather passed away on May 3, so the card should have been signed "Grandma". I started to open my mother's birthday package, but I haven't gone through all of it. A lot of magazine articles and newspaper clippings, also Playbills from Cabaret and Lion King since I love to read and collect Playbills.
I felt happier about my birthday today because I was able to celebrate it more. I saw the matinee of Billy Elliot because I hadn't actually seen it yet. It was a pretty powerful and moving show, and I want to write a full review of it in another post. (I am REALLY behind in posting reviews. I see plays much faster than I can write about them.) This was also the first time I actually paid to see a show in a few months, not since March I think. Everything else was a gift from family or I was ushering or otherwise seeing for free.
Last year when I turned 23, I was working for the Census as a Crew Leader, a position which I mostly enjoyed but I didn't know how long it would last. I also felt 23 was a weird number. It's odd, it's prime, not easily divisible. I'm glad to be 24 which is an even number and can be divided into halves, thirds, and fourths so that I can easily review the prior years in equal sections. This year I am working part-time at two jobs but the two positions don't add up to anywhere close to 40 hours a week, so I'm still not working full-time. I do enjoy math tutoring, but wish I could do more with my math skills. I need to focus more time on my part-time position so that I can give it 110%. It's hard to put time and effort in something that is only part-time, but devoting more time to it makes it easier to accomplish things.
At this moment, I am glad to have some sources of income, but I would like to have one full-time source that I feel is stable and secure. I would also like to have some other financial uncertainties solved so that they do not cause me any stress or other physical/psychological symptoms, which tends to happen. I hope that is coming year is full of new opportunities and accomplishments in life, and I have to keep thinking of ways to make that happen.
I felt happier about my birthday today because I was able to celebrate it more. I saw the matinee of Billy Elliot because I hadn't actually seen it yet. It was a pretty powerful and moving show, and I want to write a full review of it in another post. (I am REALLY behind in posting reviews. I see plays much faster than I can write about them.) This was also the first time I actually paid to see a show in a few months, not since March I think. Everything else was a gift from family or I was ushering or otherwise seeing for free.
Last year when I turned 23, I was working for the Census as a Crew Leader, a position which I mostly enjoyed but I didn't know how long it would last. I also felt 23 was a weird number. It's odd, it's prime, not easily divisible. I'm glad to be 24 which is an even number and can be divided into halves, thirds, and fourths so that I can easily review the prior years in equal sections. This year I am working part-time at two jobs but the two positions don't add up to anywhere close to 40 hours a week, so I'm still not working full-time. I do enjoy math tutoring, but wish I could do more with my math skills. I need to focus more time on my part-time position so that I can give it 110%. It's hard to put time and effort in something that is only part-time, but devoting more time to it makes it easier to accomplish things.
At this moment, I am glad to have some sources of income, but I would like to have one full-time source that I feel is stable and secure. I would also like to have some other financial uncertainties solved so that they do not cause me any stress or other physical/psychological symptoms, which tends to happen. I hope that is coming year is full of new opportunities and accomplishments in life, and I have to keep thinking of ways to make that happen.
Monday, May 30, 2011
True Grit
I enjoyed this movie more than I thought I would, as it is the first Coen Brothers film which I actually watched. Halle Steinfeld is great as Maddie, the straight-laced, no-nonsense 14 year old who is overseeing her late father’s affairs. Dakin Matthews has a great bit role as a horse trader who’s on the wrong side of a contract with Maddie. Jeff Bridges gives a great performance as Rooster Cogburn, the drunk, sodden old codger trying to finish his life out with no scruples or regard for personal dignity. Matt Damon is also good as a Texas Marshall who also lends help and support at times in the pursuit of Josh Brolin as an outlaw wanted for murder.
There is great dramatic tension throughout as to who this ragtag team of people will encounter next and whether they will survive. There is a scary moment of Maddie being attacked by a rattlesnake in a cave that will lead to her arm being amputated. It was a great Western, showing the thrill of the open road. Made me want to spend more time in this world of the Wild West with lawlessness, outlaws, and crazy gunslingers. I have never really been a fan of Westerns, but this movie did begin to cultivate an interest in them inside me, and I would be interested in exploring more movies within that genre.
No Strings Attached
I’m working through my back-log of theater and film reviews for productions I have seen in the last four months, so please bear with me if these reviews seem like past news! Since Friends With Benefits is still due to be released, I thought it would make sense to post this review and then compare both movies.
I thought No Strings Attached was a pretty enjoyable movie. Predictable at times but still funny and entertaining. Ashton Kutcher was actually likable as a struggling writer stuck being a Production Assistant for the High School Musical-esque show he wants to be on the writing staff for. He was more grown-up and grounded than other characters he has played, which made his portrayal more realistic and likable. Natalie Portman was quite amusing and likable as a young doctor who initially resists his romantic advances until the morning after a drunken party when they end up in bed together and decide to give “friends with benefits” a try. They do make a good couple, and have some chemistry with each other.
The movie also benefits from a strong supporting cast. Mindy Kaling has some great one-liners as a roommate/co-worker of Natalie Portman’s and Greta Gerwig has some scenes as well as a longtime friend. Kevin Kline hams it up as Ashton Kutcher’s father, a washed-up actor dating annoying women half his age, including Lake Bell
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Freud's Last Session
I have seen Freud's Last Session several times since last fall, and I highly recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind thinking while being entertained. In the play, C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud engage in a battle of wits about love, war, sex, religion, and many other topics, but the main focus is on their differing views of faith and religion. The play, by Mark St. Germain, is based on Dr. Armand Nicholi's book The Question of G-d. It is unknown whether C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud actually met in real life, but it is possible that they did in London on the eve of World War II, which is when this play is set. One of the running plots is Dr. Freud listening to the news on the radio, culminating in King George VI's speech to the nation preparing for World War II, the same speech which forms the climax of The King's Speech. This play has many traits of an Oscar-nominated film itself:
Martin Rayner and Mark Dold have provided a wonderful master class in acting with their performances. They have wonderful chemistry with each other. The play is very thought-provoking and makes you question your own views and beliefs. A very funny, well-written verbal sparring match and battle of the wits. Martin Rayner gives an amazing performance as Sigmund Freud, at the end of his life and in pain from oral cancer, but still with his wits about him and able to hold his own in debate. Mark Dold as C.S. Lewis is his scene partner and foil, and is definitely up to the task. The chemistry between them is what elevates this show even further. I enjoy plays and movies which have a historical basis, and I enjoy the historical detail of late 1930's Britain on display here. Additionally, the play recently won the Off-Broadway Alliance's 2011 Best Play of the Year. Freud's Last Session is currently enjoying an open-ended run at the Majorie Deane Little Theatre at the West Side Y, 10 West 64th St. You can also visit www.freudslastsession.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
- Strong acting,
- Based on historical events
- Dialogue which is both humorous and emotionally stirring
- Main character overcoming adversity
- British period piece
Martin Rayner and Mark Dold have provided a wonderful master class in acting with their performances. They have wonderful chemistry with each other. The play is very thought-provoking and makes you question your own views and beliefs. A very funny, well-written verbal sparring match and battle of the wits. Martin Rayner gives an amazing performance as Sigmund Freud, at the end of his life and in pain from oral cancer, but still with his wits about him and able to hold his own in debate. Mark Dold as C.S. Lewis is his scene partner and foil, and is definitely up to the task. The chemistry between them is what elevates this show even further. I enjoy plays and movies which have a historical basis, and I enjoy the historical detail of late 1930's Britain on display here. Additionally, the play recently won the Off-Broadway Alliance's 2011 Best Play of the Year. Freud's Last Session is currently enjoying an open-ended run at the Majorie Deane Little Theatre at the West Side Y, 10 West 64th St. You can also visit www.freudslastsession.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
Anything Goes, Stephen Sondheim Theatre
Back in March, I saw Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of Anything Goes, at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. Since I wasn't able to see Patti LuPone and Howard McGillin perform the show at Lincoln Center in 1987, and I liked Sutton Foster and Joel Grey, I decided that I definitely wanted to see this production, so I got a ticket for a preview. Also I knew that the mezzanine was pretty comfortable with great sight-lines, so I wasn't worried but I brought my binoculars and used them anyway.
I thought the production was really great, but not overwhelmingly so. It felt a little subdued so I would give a B+. Kathleen Marshall's choreography only pops during the title number and in the 11 o'clock number "Blow Gabriel Blow," which are the two most important numbers in the show in any case. That is what lifts this show from a B to a B+. There are many classic Cole Porter songs in this show, mostly from the original score and a few that were interpolated beginning in the last revival. Rest assured all of these songs are performed at least adequately.
Sutton Foster looks wonderful as a blonde and has a great entrance scene, getting to perform "I Get A Kick Out of You" right off the bat. The show overall is much more alive when she is onstage. She plays Reno as a droll, blowsy woman, different from her usual characters, and gets to deliver some great standards. She does her trademark split and gets to dance in most of her numbers. I can't say for sure but I would assume that she does more actual dancing than any of her Broadway predecessors in the role. Although I am impressed with Patti LuPone's Tony Awards performance from the last revival.
Joel Grey receives second billing as Moonface Martin, Public Enemy #13, and a very inept criminal posing as a minister aboard the ocean liner that most of the show takes place on. He plays the role like the little Jewish man that he is, but always clever and trying to think ahead with his planning. His "Friendship" duet with Ms. Foster is pretty good. He has one solo, the odd number "Be Like the Bluebird". He seems to be in his element when he has a partner to play off of.
Colin Donnell as Billy Crocker is adequate. He's the romantic lead but he is virtually unrecognizable from the ensemble. This is his first principal role on Broadway, coming after his stint as Fiyero in the national tour of Wicked. He sings and dances very well but he doesn't seem to have much personality or charisma.
Laura Osnes as Hope Harcourt, the object of his affection, fares slightly better. Ms. Osnes is a very talented actress, and she performs Hope as the pretty, standard issue ingénue she was written to be. The role doesn't really have any distinguishing characteristics, and Ms. Osnes plays the role as could be expected given the old-fashioned plot she is trapped in.
Living Broadway legend John McMartin appears as the eccentric, near-sighted, and lovelorn millionaire Elisha Whitney. He is great in all his scenes, providing comic relief. His object of affection is Jessica Walter as Hope Harcourt's mother Evangeline. Her character is also fairly standard- the wealthy and snobbish dowager who is protective of her daughter and intent on increasing her fortune by marrying off her daughter to the highest bidder. Ms. Walter excels at playing these types of roles, as any fan of Arrested Development can attest to.
Adam Godley appears as Hope's fiancée, an eccentric British lord whose comic number "The Gypsy In Me" is also a highlight of the show, especially his dancing with Sutton Foster. We get to see an external display of the silliness inside this amusingly befuddled Brit.
Walter Charles and Robert Creighton make a great comic team as the ship's captain and purser respectively. They are the most underrated part of the show. Mr. Charles has had a long and illustrious career and Mr. Creighton's star has been rising in the last few years, with a string of replacement roles in shows such as Chicago and The Lion King.
Jessica Stone gets a few funny bits as Erma, Moonface Martin's sidekick, who passes the time by romancing the ship's sailors. The ensemble deserves some credit as well. Special mention goes to Joyce Chittick with her deadpan delivery as one of Reno's angels. William Ryall does a great job in his small role of a minister. The male ensemble get to perform some amazing athletic choreography.
I definitely recommend this show to anyone who wants some good old-fashioned entertainment and has an interest in musical theater history. I believe the show is on sale through the end of 2011. I apologize for the delay in posting the review, and I have many more reviews to post as well, which I hope to do over the next few weeks, so keep checking back!
I thought the production was really great, but not overwhelmingly so. It felt a little subdued so I would give a B+. Kathleen Marshall's choreography only pops during the title number and in the 11 o'clock number "Blow Gabriel Blow," which are the two most important numbers in the show in any case. That is what lifts this show from a B to a B+. There are many classic Cole Porter songs in this show, mostly from the original score and a few that were interpolated beginning in the last revival. Rest assured all of these songs are performed at least adequately.
Sutton Foster looks wonderful as a blonde and has a great entrance scene, getting to perform "I Get A Kick Out of You" right off the bat. The show overall is much more alive when she is onstage. She plays Reno as a droll, blowsy woman, different from her usual characters, and gets to deliver some great standards. She does her trademark split and gets to dance in most of her numbers. I can't say for sure but I would assume that she does more actual dancing than any of her Broadway predecessors in the role. Although I am impressed with Patti LuPone's Tony Awards performance from the last revival.
Joel Grey receives second billing as Moonface Martin, Public Enemy #13, and a very inept criminal posing as a minister aboard the ocean liner that most of the show takes place on. He plays the role like the little Jewish man that he is, but always clever and trying to think ahead with his planning. His "Friendship" duet with Ms. Foster is pretty good. He has one solo, the odd number "Be Like the Bluebird". He seems to be in his element when he has a partner to play off of.
Colin Donnell as Billy Crocker is adequate. He's the romantic lead but he is virtually unrecognizable from the ensemble. This is his first principal role on Broadway, coming after his stint as Fiyero in the national tour of Wicked. He sings and dances very well but he doesn't seem to have much personality or charisma.
Laura Osnes as Hope Harcourt, the object of his affection, fares slightly better. Ms. Osnes is a very talented actress, and she performs Hope as the pretty, standard issue ingénue she was written to be. The role doesn't really have any distinguishing characteristics, and Ms. Osnes plays the role as could be expected given the old-fashioned plot she is trapped in.
Living Broadway legend John McMartin appears as the eccentric, near-sighted, and lovelorn millionaire Elisha Whitney. He is great in all his scenes, providing comic relief. His object of affection is Jessica Walter as Hope Harcourt's mother Evangeline. Her character is also fairly standard- the wealthy and snobbish dowager who is protective of her daughter and intent on increasing her fortune by marrying off her daughter to the highest bidder. Ms. Walter excels at playing these types of roles, as any fan of Arrested Development can attest to.
Adam Godley appears as Hope's fiancée, an eccentric British lord whose comic number "The Gypsy In Me" is also a highlight of the show, especially his dancing with Sutton Foster. We get to see an external display of the silliness inside this amusingly befuddled Brit.
Walter Charles and Robert Creighton make a great comic team as the ship's captain and purser respectively. They are the most underrated part of the show. Mr. Charles has had a long and illustrious career and Mr. Creighton's star has been rising in the last few years, with a string of replacement roles in shows such as Chicago and The Lion King.
Jessica Stone gets a few funny bits as Erma, Moonface Martin's sidekick, who passes the time by romancing the ship's sailors. The ensemble deserves some credit as well. Special mention goes to Joyce Chittick with her deadpan delivery as one of Reno's angels. William Ryall does a great job in his small role of a minister. The male ensemble get to perform some amazing athletic choreography.
I definitely recommend this show to anyone who wants some good old-fashioned entertainment and has an interest in musical theater history. I believe the show is on sale through the end of 2011. I apologize for the delay in posting the review, and I have many more reviews to post as well, which I hope to do over the next few weeks, so keep checking back!
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