Well, my Cinepeeps, its time to put on my ''theatuh" cap as I look at 2 current offerings in the big smoke. The first is YASMINA REZA'S ART and the second is MEL BROOK'S YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN.
Let's look at ART, first. I had already seen a previous production of ART, in Toronto, starring the redoubtable R.H. THOMSON, which I remember having thoroughly enjoyed. I was also fortunate to see, YASMINA REZA'S fabulous and hilarious TONY AWARD winner, GOD OF CARNAGE, starring TONY SOPRANO, himself, JAMES GANDOLFINI, and MARCIA GAY HARDEN, in her own TONY AWARD winning performance. REZA, also won the TONY, FOR ART.
This production stars, COLIN MOCHRIE, who is sensational. The rest of the chamber-piece cast is composed of PETER DONALDSON and EVAN BULIUNG (I had to make sure that I spelled that last name correctly, und I did).
The play is the story of how 3 friends come to blows over the purchase one of them makes of a work or art, for an exorbitant price. The play is by turns funny, serious, sad, surreal and satirical. The performances are superb, under the direction of THE CANADIAN STAGE COMPANY'S resident renaissance man, MORRIS PANYCH.
The play has a number of relevant themes: what is art? the dynamics of friendship, honesty among friends etc. All of these topics are handled by REZA, in nothing less than a very entertaining manner.
The entire ensemble is superb, but MOCHRIE, is the real stand-out. He gives a bravura performance that has been justly lauded. It is quite simply 90 minutes (no intermission, non-needed), of sublime theatre.
...from the sublime...
The next night I saw MEL BROOK'S YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, directed and choreographed, by the multi-talented and award-winning, SUSAN STROMAN (THE PRODUCERS, CRAZY FOR YOU), and starring the hilarious ROGER BART, who originated the role on Broadway (as he did the role of CARMEN GHIA, in BROOK'S THE PRODUCERS).
Now, I have to admit that I laughed quite a bit at this production, (I'm a huge fan of the movie and as my wife, Julia, will tell you I quote from it all the time). The last time BROOK'S had a show on Broadway, it set TONY AWARD history, by winning the most ever.
Lightning did not strike twice...
The cast is very good with standouts being, besides BART, CORY ENGLISH, as IGOR (it's pronounced EYE-GORE), BRAD OSCAR, as INSPECTOR KEMP and THE HERMIT (hilariously assayed by an unrecognizable GENE HACKMAN, in the movie), BETH CURRY ( a stand-out in the late-great MADELINE KHAN, fiancee role), JOANNA GLUSHAK, as FRAU BLUCHER,(cue the horses), and ANNE HORAK as INGA (''what knockers!- sank u."). BART, as mentioned is fabulous and his line-readings and utter-lunacy, make it a show worth seeing.
The singing, choreography costumes and scenery are all top draw by Broadway pros.
So, what's the caveat? I guess it comes down to the script. In MR. BROOKS'S hands, this show seems to take place in THE CATSKILLS, and not TRANSYLVANIA. It is so full of shtick and groan-inducing one-liners, that I was waiting for SHECKY GREENE, to walk on to the stage. Everyone become MEL BROOK'S, in this show and that's not necessarily a good thing. As mentioned, I laughed at this show, but I cried at THE PRODUCERS, I laughed so hard.
...better luck Mel, with BLAZING SADDLES...
...UNTIL NEXT TIME...
T.T.F.N.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
SEX! DRUGS! AND RUNAWAYS!
Well, Cinefamilia, I have to say that I recently saw a movie, that really rocks and that movie was, THE RUNAWAYS, written and directed by Toronto's own, FLORIA SIGISMONDI and featuring KRISTEN STEWART as JOAN JETT, of the proto-punk all-female band, THE RUNAWAYS and in a revelatory performance, DAKOTA FANNING as her band mate, CHERIE CURRIE.
I have seen a lot of rock bios, in my time and you wouldn't think there would be too much new under the sun, to show, except the usual rock-movie cliches. However, this movie has a fresh take on things as it charts the rise and fall of THE RUNAWAYS, who are probably remembered mostly for their one-hit wonder, CHERRY BOMB.
SIGISMONDI, obviously has talent to burn and she uses a lot of visual gimmickry to gussy up, her low-budget flick. The camera becomes like the members of the band as it takes us on the drug-addled trip of the group. She shows us the ups and downs of a rock-band very-convincingly and with great attention paid to the rock scene in the 70's. While the film does a very-good job of portraying the friendship of CURRIE and JETT, my one caveat might be that the script, also written by SIGISMONDI, doesn't tell us too much about the other band members, including the future metal queen herself, LITA FORD.
As I previously mentioned, FANNING, acquits herself extremely well as the waifish CHERIE CURRIE. She is by turns vulnerable, sexy, funny, and coltish, sometimes in the same scene. KRISTEN STEWART, who was also very good, in GREG MOTTOLA'S criminally-underrrated ADVENTURELAND, is also very good in the less-flashy roll of JOAN JETT.
Special mention, must also be made of MICHAEL SHANNON, who plays their svengaliesque, manager, KIM FOWLEY. SHANNON, gives a bravura performance, sad, funny, menacing. He doesn't just chew the scenery, he chews it up and spits it out.
The music is also very good and it too like the movie, really rocks.
THE RUNAWAYS, the band maybe a small footnote in music history, but the movie deserves to go to the very top echelon of movie bios.
...UNTIL NEXT TIME...
...KEEP ON ROCKING IN THE FREE WORLD...
T.T.F.N.
I have seen a lot of rock bios, in my time and you wouldn't think there would be too much new under the sun, to show, except the usual rock-movie cliches. However, this movie has a fresh take on things as it charts the rise and fall of THE RUNAWAYS, who are probably remembered mostly for their one-hit wonder, CHERRY BOMB.
SIGISMONDI, obviously has talent to burn and she uses a lot of visual gimmickry to gussy up, her low-budget flick. The camera becomes like the members of the band as it takes us on the drug-addled trip of the group. She shows us the ups and downs of a rock-band very-convincingly and with great attention paid to the rock scene in the 70's. While the film does a very-good job of portraying the friendship of CURRIE and JETT, my one caveat might be that the script, also written by SIGISMONDI, doesn't tell us too much about the other band members, including the future metal queen herself, LITA FORD.
As I previously mentioned, FANNING, acquits herself extremely well as the waifish CHERIE CURRIE. She is by turns vulnerable, sexy, funny, and coltish, sometimes in the same scene. KRISTEN STEWART, who was also very good, in GREG MOTTOLA'S criminally-underrrated ADVENTURELAND, is also very good in the less-flashy roll of JOAN JETT.
Special mention, must also be made of MICHAEL SHANNON, who plays their svengaliesque, manager, KIM FOWLEY. SHANNON, gives a bravura performance, sad, funny, menacing. He doesn't just chew the scenery, he chews it up and spits it out.
The music is also very good and it too like the movie, really rocks.
THE RUNAWAYS, the band maybe a small footnote in music history, but the movie deserves to go to the very top echelon of movie bios.
...UNTIL NEXT TIME...
...KEEP ON ROCKING IN THE FREE WORLD...
T.T.F.N.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
POLANSKI'S PROGRESS
Well, Cineguys and gals, this is my first post-Oscar posting (and three cheers for KATHRYN BIGELOW and THE HURT LOCKER), and I'm proud to report, I have seen the best film of the year to date, in this admittedly short year: THE GHOST WRITER, masterfully directed by ROMAN POLANSKI, who just picked up a SILVER BEAR, at the BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL, for directing it.
The film which is based on the book by ROBERT HARRIS, (he also had a hand in the screenplay too), THE GHOST, stars EWAN MCGREGGOR, PIERCE BROSNAN, TOM WILKINSON, and OLIVIA WILDE (in a bravura performance). The less said about KIM CATRALL, in a supporting role, the better. It is by turns, funny, suspenseful, thrilling, scary, puzzling and in the end, deeply satisfying, with a wicked twist, you won't see coming for miles.
Without giving too much away, MCGREGGOR, plays the eponymous role. He has been hired by a TONY BLAIR manque (BROSNAN), to work on his memoirs, after the first ghost, has died under mysterious circumstances. At the same time, this former PM is under siege, for apparent war crimes, committed under his regime. That's all you need to know.
This film is in the tradition of those great paranoia thrillers of the 70's: KLUTE, THE PARALLAX VIEW and THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR. POLANSKI'S presence looms over every frame and one can feel echoes of his past works like CHINATOWN, reverberating in every frame. Regardless, of all the personal stress he was under at the time, (he edited it while under house arrest, for Pete's sake), the film is seamless and flawless.
This is a great film, highly recommended and alot of fun to boot.
...AND WHAT A TWIST ENDING... (enough said).
Until next time..
T.T.F.N.
The film which is based on the book by ROBERT HARRIS, (he also had a hand in the screenplay too), THE GHOST, stars EWAN MCGREGGOR, PIERCE BROSNAN, TOM WILKINSON, and OLIVIA WILDE (in a bravura performance). The less said about KIM CATRALL, in a supporting role, the better. It is by turns, funny, suspenseful, thrilling, scary, puzzling and in the end, deeply satisfying, with a wicked twist, you won't see coming for miles.
Without giving too much away, MCGREGGOR, plays the eponymous role. He has been hired by a TONY BLAIR manque (BROSNAN), to work on his memoirs, after the first ghost, has died under mysterious circumstances. At the same time, this former PM is under siege, for apparent war crimes, committed under his regime. That's all you need to know.
This film is in the tradition of those great paranoia thrillers of the 70's: KLUTE, THE PARALLAX VIEW and THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR. POLANSKI'S presence looms over every frame and one can feel echoes of his past works like CHINATOWN, reverberating in every frame. Regardless, of all the personal stress he was under at the time, (he edited it while under house arrest, for Pete's sake), the film is seamless and flawless.
This is a great film, highly recommended and alot of fun to boot.
...AND WHAT A TWIST ENDING... (enough said).
Until next time..
T.T.F.N.
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