Adrien Brody on B'wy in THE FEAR of 13 Lacks Feeling

Two-time Acad. Award winning actor Adrien Brody stars on Broadway in a true story of a Nick Yarris who was wrongly sentenced to death for a murder he didn't commit and served 13 years before being exonerated.  The poignant story and talented actor would seem to ensure a captivating and emotional play.  Unfortunately, the play as mainly told by Brody feels didactic and dry.  Even Tessa Thompson as Jacki Miles, Yarris', a prison volunteer who falls in love and marries him, fails to elicit passion or credibility for their relationship.  The most emotional scene comes at the start of the play where Yarris' talks about the love between two inmates who were separated for reasons of sheer cruelty by the warden and their forbidden serenade to each other in separated cells.  From there the play is laid out in a chronological order, with events depicted in a distilled, factual manner.  The one hour and 50 minute play is performed without an intermission so as not to break any emotional resonance but the play only felt belabored and overly long.  The crime of a missed opportunity to tell the tale of a terrible travesty with one of the most talented actors around is unforgivable.  At least my time served was less than two hours and not years of unjustified confinement.  

2NDSTAGE's BECKY SHAW-Alden Ehrenreich Elevates a B'wy Play from it's Original Off B'wy Stay

Gina Gionfriddo's play BECKY SHAW had its premiere Off-Broadway in 2008 when it was named a finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize in Drama.  The play was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play of that year and received an Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play. This year, the play has earned a Tony nomination for best revival and a Tony nomination for Alden Ehrenreich in his Broadway debut. Ehrenreich's debut is both notable for his ease and smooth charm in which he portrays Max, a successful business exec and eligible bachelor. Max's unorthodox upbringing was in the household of his parents' friends after his mother passed. He was raised alongside Suzanna (Lauren Patten) whose the same age as Max and has more than a sibling attachment to Max. The two are in a hotel room following the death of Suzanna's dad and Max's benefactor, prior to disseminating the estate.  Suzanna bemoans the passing of her beloved father and spouts suicidal tendencies. Max, the pragmatic voice of reason coaxes her to pursue an interest or take a ski vacation.  He's more concerned with the distressed financial situation left Suzanna and her domineering mother, Susan (Linda Emond).  Susan enters their room giving orders and dinner plans. Max and Suzanna yield to all her orchestrations.  Left alone in the room, they grow close and agree to watch porn together. Their flirtation intensifies  despite Suzanna protestations of being like brother and sister to which Max insists not quite. The play jumps 8 months to find Suzanna married to Andrew (Patrick Ball) her former ski-instructor.  The couple have arranged a blind date for Max with Becky (Madeline Brewer) from Andrew's work.  The mis-matched blind date is a debacle. The armed hold-up was the least of the nights' ordeal.  Max wants nothing more to do with the Becky, a manipulative basket case. All the characters are miserable and detestable in their own way.  There are you givers and takers.  Becky is overly needy which feeds Andrew's desire to feel good about himself.  Suzanna wants attention and to be at the center of everything.  Susan wants to call all the shots. She assigns Max to free her lover from jail on fraud charges. Becky wants Max which is the very last thing he wants. All these distasteful, self-serving characters revolve around level headed Max who is at the apex for all their shenanigans. Thankfully, Ehrenreich as Max brings a sensibility, charisma and sanity to all the stupefying antics to ground the play with humor and indignation to make BECKY SHAW an enjoyable and entertaining show. Even so, without Ehrenreich's effervescent portrayal, the five character play should stay Off-Broadway. But, with only two weeks left - go see Ehrenreich shine in BECKY SHAW.  Hopefully, we'll be seeing more of him on the Great White Way.  

COME and KNOCK DOWN MY DOOR-Taps Timidly at Zietgeist Tumultuous Times 2021

Alex Emanuel's new play "Come and Knock Down my Door" tackles the infamous insurrection on our Capitol; Jan. 6th, 2021 resulting in 5 fatalities, 174 injured which was based on Trump's false claims the presidential election was stolen.  The play starts with a gobsmacked reminder of the unimaginable events witnessed lived on television.  We witness James (Kris Coleman) reaction to the news with his mouth agape, his eyes wide open as he stares stupefied at the havoc ensued by Trump's plan to overturn the election.  Jan. 6th, 2021 is a date that will live in infamy.  It was at the time when our nation was still in throes of the COVID pandemic.  The concept and clarion call for these topical matters to be presented are in demand.  There's a slight comedic touch that keeps the play from feeling pedantic or tedious.   Unfortunately, the immediacy of delivering a knockout punch of these momentous events are blurred in its disheveled delivery.  James is joined soon after in his squalid Brooklyn apartment by his roommate Pablo (Jared Ritter).  Pablo is famished and agitated.  When asked where he's been, Pablo says he was in D.C. for the rally.  Stunned, James wants to know why he could take part in the rioting. Pablo informs him he only went to see what it was all about and that he didn't partake in any of the violence.  A third roommate and James' Russian girlfriend, Mina (Lana Ayrapetyants) returns to the apartment she begrudgingly shares with Pablo.  She's had a problem with James from the get go with his illegal drug stash in their place.  The masks and Covid protocols are a sobering reminder of this isolating period and of the mounting distrust it instilled.  Missing however, is a needed backstory as to how the 3 came to share the apartment.  Also flagrantly missing is an understanding of the disparaging political leanings held by the trio.  James glimpses a shot of Pablo at the rally on TV asking the public to notify officials if they recognize anyone.  James confers briefly with Mina whether they should report Pablo.  There doesn't seem to be much conviction that would make them want to turn their roommate over to the FBI.  Yet, James is quick to call the toll free number to report Pablo.  It was an oversight not to illicit a discussion amongst the roommates about their thoughts regarding Trump or the election.  Mina's immigrant status opened up another avenue that was a missed opportunity to explore.  The rioters on Capitol Hill at Trump's urging, called for Pence's hanging in what was a harrowing, shameful day in  history.  Unfortunately, we're left hanging in a crucial time frame without strong views on any side.  Furthermore, it's unclear what Emmanuel wanted us to take away which would  have made for a more meaningful play about an unforgettable day in history. 

The SHEEP DETECTIVES-Sheep Sleuths Solve their Shepherd's Demise Stars Hugh Jackman

The big mystery of "The Sheep Detectives" is from whom the demographic of this anthropomorphic flick intended?  From the promos I thought the show for tots.  I thought it would be perfect fun for my precocious granddaughter.  She will be turning three, soon.  Don't believe me - she'll tell you while holding up three fingers to drive home her point.  Just don't believe the hype for the film as fun for everyone.  "The Sheep Detectives" put my preternaturally advanced granddaughter to sleep.  Nevertheless, I was more than entertained and charmed for both of us.  Hugh Jackman was pitch perfect as George, the benevolent shepherd.  George took great care of his sheep and everynight reads to his brood mysteries to which he believed they were all attune.  George was correct and he clearly connects with his sheep which he kept at bay from butchering ways that befell the neighboring herds.  Unfortunately for George he was dead wrong thinking was safe amongst his flock within the small, farming town.  I shuddered at his murder.  But as a vegetarian I greatly admire the not too subtle messaging not to eat meat as animals are highly intelligent and caring beings.  There is much more to adore in this quaint and quirky who done mystery. George's beloved sheep, particularly a duo led by Lily and Sebastian, are determined to learn who did this dastardly deed and contrive to assist the town's bumbling officer, Tim (Nicholas Braun).  Tim isn't the sharpest tool in the shed.  However, with the animals' assistance with the Tim's persistence, the clues point them in the right direction.  Along the way, there are life lessons to be gleaned about cooperating, compunction, compassion and even mortality that I would agree are beyond most five years olds wherewithal, let alone three.  But, do see this movie with or without young children in tow.  No, you don't have to be a Sherlock to to deduce "The Sheep Detective" is simply delightful.  And, as delightful as some may know their grandchildren to be - children under six are not the intended demographic .  

PROJECT HAIL MARY-Pulls off Miracle-Made Me Cry Over a Rock Pile

Ryan Gosling's stellar performance in this sci-fi, apocalyptic space adventure is what made this film get off the ground.  If it weren't for Gosling's unassuming charm and acting chops this would have been a flop.  Andy Weir's novel "Project Hail Mary" was made into this blockbuster hit. Weir's previous novel, THE MARTIAN, was also made into a box office hit with Matt Damon.   In similar plots, Damon and Gosling are both alone for the majority of the movie.  Each must rely on their own intellect and wherewithal to survive stranded in outer space.  Gosling portrays Ryland Grace, a reluctant recruit marooned and the sole survivor on the spacecraft sent into the galaxy to safe all humanity from doom.  Both plots sound simple, and not unlike "Robinson Crusoe" who must survive on an isolated island.  Of course, there's a difference between surviving and thriving.  Whereas Crusoe was grateful when another man, Friday, finally arrived.  Ryland's extraterrestrial companion can be described as a resembling a pile of rocks.  This rock pile  possesses an incredible intelligence and benevolence which is astounding and ingratiating.  We first meet Ryland as an engaging science teacher to middle school students.  Ryland is waylaid outside class to be recruited into the space program.  A report he published years earlier while working as a molecular engineer predicted the doomsday scenario for which the world's greatest scientific minds now concur.  Ryland was unceremoniously fired at the time for his radical paper which is now drawing together the best international scientific minds.  It's drawing Ryland into an uncoveted spot on a one way spacecraft ride he refuses.  Drastic times call for drastic measures.  Ryland is dragged, drugged and put into a coma along with three other crew members for the selfless quest to solved the sun from dying out in less than two years.  Ryland awakens in his space capsule from an induced coma to discover he is the sole survivor on board.  The funeral Ryland gives his mates is fervent and and thoughtful.  The first half of the film feels tedious and drawn.  But, all is forgiven when Ryland connects with an alien spacecraft and its highly advanced inhabitant.  Was it the writing, the acting of Gosling or of "Rocky" that provides this hard to swallow plot with deserved pathos? I don't know.  I do know that I fell hard for the deep friendship that formed between the two.  With ET, you had an adorable extraterrestrial and cute kids.  In PROJECT HAIL MARY the long shot of landing a heartwarming, symbiotic relationship was between a rock and a hard place, yet it scored!

MARTY, LIFE IS SHORT-Long on Love, Laughs Martin Short's Doc. Is Just What the Dr. Ordered

I've been a huge fan of the immensely talented Martin Short since I first saw glimpsed Ed Grimley on SNL with chest-high pants and hair-slick. His irrepressible smile and glimmer in his eyes give him an elfin, impish quality that is impossible to resist.  Are some people just born with talent and the gift of lighting up a room?  Yes, of course, but you don't need to look any further than Marty's own backyard.  He grew up in a family love fest, the youngest of five; with "an angel of a mother" who was a concert violinist.  There's no dysfunction or resentment.  You'll only find a household built on love and enjoyment with one another.  His was and is a family that played together and has stayed together.  As Martin put it, "We lived to make each other laugh."  There is loss as his oldest, beloved brother died when Marty was 14 and his mother when he was 19.  Tragically, Marty's daughter died by suicide this past February at age 42.  While this doesn't factor into the doc. the loss of his wife, Nancy with whom he had been married for 30 years and shared three adopted children.  The film is as much, if not more, of a tribute to their endearing love story which only made me fall in love with the two of them.  They met and become a couple at the onset of both their careers in entertainment in the early 70s.  In 1977, Martin joined Second City in Canada which led to being asked to join SNL.  More notably, this led to life long friendships with a host of friends whose comedic careers were also starting out such as Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara and Andrea Martin. This hilarious and touching documentary reveals his early childhood through his rise to fame and fortune and the many steadfast friends along with his expanding, tightly-knit family plenty of with warmth and humor.  Interspersed with interviews from his A list celebrity friends such as Spielberg, Hanks, Martin and the recently deceased O'Hara that are testaments to Short's humor and humanity.  The clips from past movies, shows and interviews are laugh out loud funny.  In short, Short's philosophy of life resounds with joy, resilience and gratitude.  Comedian John Mulaney who co-starred with Short on a the Fox sitcom flop, "Mulaney" shared what he garnered from Short, "98% of it is failure.  This is what the job is," teaching Mulaney the wisdom to learn from "what doesn't work, until something works."  The home videos of holiday parties are filled with families of major stars mingling and entertaining each other were enviable.  In fact, I have only one gripe to pick with Ed Grimley and this bio-doc that mocks the silly pretense he and his dear friend Larry Kasdan making the doc. don't know each other.  It's I want to be friends with Martin Short, too.  It's hard being green.  

WIDOW'S BAY Quaint New England Town It Ain't-It's Spooky My Kind of Way w. Matthew Rhys

Looking for something set in a cozy, communal island town where everybody knows one another's name,  along with something wicked this way coming through the dense fog.  Local Mayor Tom (Emmy winner Matthew Rhys) is set on bringing fame to their small island to stir up tourism and keep the flailing island fiscally afloat.  Tom's a widower raising a high school student on his own who stays out late getting high  "cause there's nothing to do on the island."  He's begrudgingly assisted in this venture by his motley staff of eccentric locals including his doddering, octogenarian secretary.  As Tom tells the travel writer he's hoping to impress, the townsfolk "have a lot of color."  Filmed on the bay and on the isolated town of Widow's Bay, you can almost smell the fishy dampness and feel the chill in the air.  Soon you'll be feeling a chill down your spine in this smartly written, well cast series that blends the Mayor's blustering frustrations with his pothead son, Evan (Kingston Southwick, "Presumed Innocent") and the sordid locals who maintain the evil curse on the island has arisen, again.  The various A-List of veteran character actors who sprinkle in comic relief and fortitude to their jobs include Dale Dickey, Kate O'Flynn and Kevin Carrol.  Tom's biggest foe is the elder local Wyck (Stephen Root, TV Series "Barry").  Wyck is granted 5 minutes to explain to Tom why he maintains evil is imminent on island.  Tom is scornful until his  own harrowing encounters with a local fisherman found in coma as forewarned by Wyck.  Tom becomes faced with the dilemma whether he must warn the community to barricade themselves as precaution, or continue the now forgone charade of WIDOW'S BAY as an innocuous, welcoming tourist town.  The scene in the town's best restaurant where Tom had hope to impress turns eerie and intense as Tom struggles to maintain his composure in front of the reporter.  The writer just confided he "Loves WIDOW'S BAY.  It could be bigger than Martha's Vineyard."  WIDOW'S BAY is much more than a suspense, horror, idiosyncratic psychological thriller.  It is all that and more.  I can't wait to watch what's in store.  Don't miss it!   

Electric Squeezebox-17 Piece Jazz Orch. Electrifies at 222's Snug Venue

The Electric Squeezebox Orchestra squeezed all 17 bandmates onto its compact stage with their varied instruments including a concert sized piano and played for a packed house at the 222 Venue in Healdsburg over the weekend.  The Orchestra did not have to wander far from its home in the San Francisco Bay Area where its members play regularly.  Under artistic director and trumpeter extraordinaire, Erik Jekabson, the orchestra played works either composed by its members or classical jazz numbers arranged by its members.  The musicians whose original work were performed served as conductors.  Music that was written by legendary jazz artists such as Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, and Freddie Hubbard.  These pieces proved crowd pleasures.  Arrangements for these artists musical works were made to accommodate the instrumentation of Electric Squeezebox which included four saxophones, four trombones, five trumpets, drums, bass, electric guitar and piano.  One saxophonist also performed on flute and the guitarist played both electric and acoustic guitar.  My favorite pieces were two original works.  Coincidentally,  both were about animals.  The band members who'd written the composition explained their inception for their pieces.  The score inspired by avian invoked the sounds of a cluster of birds relying on the wind section and the inclusion of a flute solo.  The other piece was created by one of the trombonists.  He said when he was on an Africa safari, a cape buffalo got behind their jeep and lowered his horns in menacingly manner.  The trombones were the perfect winds to conjure up the ominous gargling sounds of the mammoth mammal.  Jekabson as the garrulous host and trumpeter welcomed the "newest member" of the orchestra.  We were told he was just joining them for the first time on bass.  Jekabson also paid tribute to former bandmates by playing some their jazz compositions written while with them.  The trumpeters played a number using plugs providing that unique, warbling timbre.  Electric Squeezebox gave an exuberant  performance in the 222's intimate setting for a full 90+ minutes that felt to me like ten.  I hope to hear them again.  BRAVO!  

The CHRISTOPHERS-Ian McKellan an Addling Artist in Soderbergh's Film; Art's Alchemy

In the art documentary film "The Price of Everything" Gerhard Richter was asked if it made sense that a postage size painting of his just sold for $2 million?  "Not when you think you could buy a home for that," Richter candidly replied.  I agree that does seem ridiculous in comparison.  But you know what? Whatever price a painting can fetch is what it's worth.  "The Christophers," the latest film by Acad. Award winning director, Stephen Soderbergh ("Traffic") takes a clever aim at the chicanery innate in the art world.  Julian Sklar (a joust at Julian Schnabel?) is the doddering artist whose early portraits were the marvel of art critics and collectors alike.  In fact, two recent portraits from his "Christopher" series were sold at over $3 million each. A fact his beleaguered prodigies did not fail to note.  Son, Barnaby (an abject James Corden) and daughter, Sallie (Jessica Gunning, Emmy and Golden Globe winner for "Baby Reindeer") connive a scheme to convince Lori (a doe eyed, stoic Mihaela Cole, (Emmy winner for "I May Destroy You") to ingratiate herself into their father's life as his hired assistant, find the unfinished portraits and then finish them so after his imminent death, they can be recovered and sold for a fortune.  "Forgery you mean," Lori tells the sinister siblings."  "No, don't think of it as that. Think of it as finishing off great works of art," cajoles Barnaby.  Lori secures both the job with Julian and the unfinished, coveted paintings.  Screenwriter, Ed Solomon's (TV series "Full Circle") writes clever dialogue with the bantering between Lori and Julian.  The rye exchanges between Julian and his off-putting offspring is comical.  Lori and Sallie were classmates at a prestigious art school. Lori gained admission based on her portfolio and Sallie for being a nepo baby.  Lori is financially strapped and agrees to the nefarious scheme.  There's an undercurrent of tension and mutual admiration between the artist and his assistant.  The cinematography provides a sense of nervousness and an oppressive chill.  The side by side townhouse which divide Julian's studio and residence is precisely what one would picture as the abode for an eccentric, egotistical artist of some means.  The premise provided a promising canvas to add layers of intrigue, the cast was were all vividly in their elements (particularly McKellan) and the settings hued for angst and rancor.  For 2/3 of the movie, I was captivated but then became allied and tired.  Still,  I was won over by this stylish film about the subversive side of notoriety and artistry for the most part.  

I SWEAR-True Story Humanizing Tourettes SEE THIS Tenderhearted Film

Tourette Syndrome is a neurological motor disorder characterized by involuntary motor tics, verbal outbursts and premonitory urges causing physical and social discomfort and oftentimes leading ostracism. or isolation. The individual flailing limbs may cause self-duress or harm to those nearby. I confess, I only first heard of Tourettes in my late 20s by a medical/ advertisement describing the symptoms with facial distortions or bodily tics accompanied by outburst of profanities.  Regrettably, I found this amusing. My friend and I watching the medical notification made weird facial and body spasm movements while swearing at each other thinking ourselves very funny and clever.  It wasn't until years later when I met someone for the first time with Tourettes.  He was a classmate of my son's.  I'm not laughing now. Nor would I act cruelly towards someone whose behaviors seem odd.  As with those with autism, who have  physical and social behaviors that appears strange, what's needed is acceptance, empathy, understanding and kindness.  Unlike autism which is considered mainstream, Tourette does not het have the same recognition and it was not recognized in the UK when John Davidson began displaying its symptoms in the 1980s.  I SWEAR is the warm-hearted and inspiring true-story of John Davidson (b. Scotland 1971) with Tourette's Syndrome.  British born dir/screenwriter Kirk Jones (winner of a BAFTA and Guild Film Award) directs with a skillful hand.  The film never feels maudlin overly dramatic, yet it captures the struggles, insecurities and brutalities Davidson (TV series "Game of Thrones") in a tour-de-force performance, experiences on screen.  Davidson becomes "adopted" into a family friend's home as a teen, after his bizarre antics cast him as an outcast at home with his family.  The matriarch of Davidson's newfound family, Dottie (Maxine Peake) is the benevolent adult figure who nurtures and advocates for him and the catalyst for Davidson's self-sufficiency and self-esteem.  Dottie encourages him to apply for a job at an adult center where he's hired by Tommy (Peter Mullen, TV series "Ozark").  Tommy's character is so compassionate, friendly, thoughtful, funny and likable you want him in your life.  Tommy's character also gives the film its gravitas and all important messaging for educating the public,  and empathy without proselytizing.  In fact, the entire UK cast and crew on this endearing and enlightening film, can give King Charles bragging rights.  If only this film could inspire our self-appointed king to do the right things and stop being so self-serving and destructive.  Now King Charles Go Home!  President Trump I SWEAR you need to see this film and the rest of us, I strongly urge you to embrace this film.