"As I see 'em" A Christmas Carol What would Christmas be without the spirits of Christmas past, present and future, Bob Cratchit, Marley’s ghost, Tiny Tim and Ebenezer Scrooge snarling Bah Humbug! A Christmas Carol brings the memory of the famous Dickens tome to life through a show and tell performance. I found the narration by the characters, followed by dialogue, confusing… added by constant prop changes and duel role actors. It is difficult to bring about a large ensemble with multiple props effectively at a small venue. Marley’s ghost stood out. His distant voice sounding from another dimension but lower lighting might have made his apparition eerier. Over all I felt the production entertaining. Merry Christmas and God bless us one-and-all. A Christmas Carol at the Stoneham Theatre, November 27-December 27, 2009 It's a Wonderful Life It is wonderful when you can attend a holiday production and leave feeling the magic intended. It’s a Wonderful Life does just that. I felt this production, for its number of characters and limited stage size, was flawless. Especially impressive was Owen Doyle’s adaption of George Bailey, the down on his luck man struggling as life and adventure pass him by. There were actual moments when I thought young Jimmy Stewart stood there asking the lovable guardian angel Clarence, “...what’s A-S-2?” A bell has rung for set design, lighting, sound, costume and especially director Chris Jorie who has definitely earned his wings! It’s a Wonderful Life runs November 28 through December 21 at the Stoneham Theatre, Stoneham, MA. Tickets and information 781-279-2200 http://www.stonehamtheatre.org/ Pageant When I first learned the Stoneham Theater would open their ninth season with a musical spoof of beauty pageants, and performed by men, I was skeptical to say the least. Pageant erased my doubts and quickly proved to be a wonderful satire of a fashion/talent showcase dominated by women contestants. Six young men, each representing a different area of the country enthrall the audience in separate yet hilarious shows of talent, poise and glamour, as the real queens of beauty pageantry do; each on a course to win the coveted Miss Glamouresse title; a fictious beauty product company which sponsors our Pageant. Many a rousing snappy tunes were choreographed by Shea Sullivan (pageant alumni – Miss Oklahoma and Miss Florida) and sung by the “boys” in gowns, swimsuits and geographical costumes representing Miss Deep South (John Ambrosino) Miss Great Plains (Nick Cearly) Miss West Coast (Adam Cochran) Miss Bible Belt(Michael Joyce) Miss Texas (Danny O’Connor) and Miss Industrial Northeast (Corbitt Williams). Pageant host is Frank Cavalier (Nicholas Ryan Rowe) who delights in his stories, song and humorous remarks. It is a well organized trip into the funny little world of beauty. Yet the most interesting segment came when Host Cavalier indiscriminately picked five audience members to judge the show, causing not only an unknown finale, but a rousing attempt from the audience in declaring their favorites as the judging begins, more so, when it ends! I was impressed with the daring of these fine actors not only to transform into beautiful women but also dance and prance for the entire show in heels while wearing stunning costumes created by designer to the real pageants, Stephen Yearick (Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss America) I didn’t find Pageant used as a platform to showcase cross dressing although a touch of gay pride was evident, rather, Pageant stuck to its premise as a spoof from a male’s vision of a human contest all too often regarded as the crème de la crème of womanly obtainment. Pageant is a wonderful escape from a reality often taken to extremes, embraces superficial admonitions and awards the prize of a throne, as though it were the coveted Lost Ark of life. Yes, a spoof is in order and here it is; to laugh at ourselves helps locate the wrong within and Pageant is just the vehicle to bring us there. It is enjoyable, laughable and will make you believe in, not only life’s beauty but its absurdity as well. Kudos to Tony nominated Lyricist Bill Russell for the book Pageant. He has also directed the musical at several world performances, including the Stoneham Theaters production. Highly recommended *** (Three out of four) Atonement (2007) At first, the film adaption of Atonement is difficult to grasp for viewers unaware of the well-crafted novel by Ian McEwan. Although brilliantly filmed, and acted, the film lacks the tug-at-the-heart it so requires perhaps due to confused emotions sensed through a beginning (when viewers should be hooked) froth with a maze of flashbacks and whispered voices smothered in British dialogue. The introduction of characters was confusing at times through this process. Thankfully the story finally unfolds after its tedious start taking us into a sensitive and emotional look at a young girl’s lifelong struggle that began with resentment, but reverted to remorse. I wondered where it all was leading until the final frames, which caught the audience by surprise. Stunning cinematography and a well written script (Christopher Hampton) kept our interest regardless of the slow outset finally bringing the work to life. Kudos all the same for Directer Joe Wright (Pride and Prejudice) Two out of four ** Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) Who would have thought, after a hiatus of nearly twenty years since Raiders of the Lost Ark, the pulse jumping adventure would, or could, continue? Indiana Jones is back with all the adventure, humor and character driven action sequences to keep you at the edge of your seat. It is good to return to those times of well made action films that are capable of removing us from today’s world and place us smack dab in the center of an adventure beyond our wildest dreams. It’s especially comforting to be taken on this ride with a hero who has morphed into a more charismatic scholarly daredevil. Indy shows us his mature side, emotional and, yes, fatherly, allowing new sidekick Mutt Williams to take over on some of the action and rejuvenating passion for a lost love. Although directed by Steven Spielberg, (redeeming himself from War of the Worlds) this film screamed George Lucas throughout. He certainly placed his hand into the mix with a well rounded story plus tossing in cinematography that was exceptional (think Star Wars) In one scene Indy refuses over and over to take hold of a snake rather than being sucked down into quicksand, “Maybe I can touch bottom?” Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull will not be taken this franchise to the bottom. This fourth episode of the series will stay well on the surface as a classic Indy thrill ride. A must see adventure entertainment. Four out of four **** Resurrecting the Champ The sweet science is more than a series of simple one-two hits, and, like Resurrecting the Champ (2007-Directed by Rod Lurie (Last Castle) it is a methodical, well conceived plan of execution. Yet, as in boxing, a few slip ups can cost the round; a few rounds the fight. This title bout of a film is based on a true story built on a deception that really was a lie that brought redemption to one man and peace to another… confused? Boxing is not that simple nor is this film. Both contenders (Samuel L. Jackson as The Champ and Josh Hartnett as struggling sports reporter Erik Kernan) each carry into this ring an inner dilemma. Through a series of sometime predictable rounds they learn only facing reality will bring a conclusion to their individual turmoil at the final bell. You will not see tumultuous fight scenes as in Rocky but you will witness a conflict of emotions between each. Laced with implants toward the sensitivities of our fellow man and the love of a child/father relationship Resurrecting the Champ doesn’t deliver that knockout punch I expected but I am positive the judges will see it as a winner through unanimous decision. I wasn’t knocked to the canvas, as I had hoped, yet I felt every hit of the complexities of deception and lies. The film reminded me of an old boxing adage, “It’s the one you don’t see coming that’ll hurt ‘ya.” Two out of four ** The 11th Hour (2008) The 11th Hour focuses on problems, causes and results of mans known and unwitting destruction of this planets eco systems. In 92 minutes the viewer is transcended through the wonders of the world, reactions to the threat of our destruction and religious perspective of our treatment of the ‘Creation.’ Opinions, views and concerns of many of the world’s leading scientist, politicians, theologians and academia bring an awareness of the problem, its cause, who can bring change and who will pay the ultimate price if action is denied; the answer, of course, is us. From the beginning, The 11th Hour takes hold of your undivided attention through a collage of current and historical footage revealing mankind’s sustained ruin of the planet. The viewer senses the urgency of Mother Nature’s plea for us, as intelligent beings, to act, and act soon for it truly is the 11th Hour. I purposely avoided labeling this work a documentary because I didn’t feel it as such. The 11th Hour is a fine film which portrays our future destiny, saved or destroyed, while avoiding the usual, mundane soothsayer approach. Whatever the category this work is defined as, I salute producer/narrator Leonardo DiCaprio for a job well done. A must see for anyone who shares life on this place we call home… this earth. Three out of four *** There Will Be Blood (2007) This epic film displays how easy it was for the Academy to award Best Actor to Daniel Day-Lewis. His portrayal of turn of the century oilman Daniel Plainview is as awe inspiring as the footage. Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights) There Will Be Blood ooze’s drama as does the oil rich land of fictional New Boston, a desolate area leased for drilling by Plainville. Through his rise as successful oilman, Plainville remains within reach of his projects assuring his much needed victory over any and all competitors. Plainview deals with family, friends, foes and demons alike, all of which threaten his control mantra while touching his sanity. Filmed within a treeless, lunar desolate countryside the footage easily symbolizes the wide open era of cutthroat business deals and land acquisitions complete with a sound track that scratches the inner-self with a retching reminder of the pain, fear and touching moment just witnessed. Similar to Sinclair Lewis’s “Oil!”Anderson’s story brings us deeper into the well of human instinct and greed. The well that is There Will Be Blood comes in as a huge gusher of strikingly brilliant acting and cinematography enriching us all by the flow. At 162 minutes the film borders on boring and sometimes mundane, yet in time, rectifies and balances nicely. Truly a film for the ages. Four out of four **** Walk the Line (2005) A compelling journey back to music’s greatest leap into our hearts. We are taken by Director James Mangold (Girl Interrupted, 3:10 to Yuma) to witness the rise of the late Johnny Cash (played by Oscar nominated Joaquin Phoenix) The viewer shares in the development of not only Johnny’s creative mind but shares in his vulnerable spirit, racked by alcohol, drugs and his love for a woman unflinching of his advances. Taken mainly from his memoirs “Man in Black”, this wonderfully filmed biopic introduces us to Johnny’s boyhood on an Arkansas cotton farm where he begins life’s hardships with the death of his older brother. Johnny’s deep seated pain, blended with a mother inspired love of spiritual music, emerges during his rise through Sun Records where his songs display hardships endured, not only by Johnny, but the era as well. Through his lyrics we learn of the Man in Blacks frustration, pain, yet mostly, desire and love for singer June Carter (played by Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon) Walk the Line is a terrific finger-snapping, serious, and in the right places, humorous look at one of modern music’s, and our nations, most revered and loved icons. This film proves “Love is a Burning Thing”… and beautifully so. Excellent! Four out of four **** War (2007) Jet Li (Cradle 2 the Grave, The Forbidden Kingdom) plays the rogue assassin under hot pursuit by Jason Statham (Transporter, Lock, Stock and two Smoking Barrels) as the FBI agent intent on revenging his partner’s death. Both provide solid acting to their respective roles. Director Philip G. Atwell has woven this story into an action packed film with a matching sound track enhancing the drama steep with violence, adult language and nudity. Rated R, this 103 minute film is well worth waiting for the several unexpected twist. ***
