Melinda's Monthly Move

August is the month I travel "far from the home I love."  Nevertheless, I will be blogging about movies on Melinda's Malarky, reviewing books on Mindel's Kindle & perhaps having a Meltdown or two I will need to vent.  Yes, I love the Big Apple but, perhaps not as much as the despicable & delusional Weiner loves himself.  Enjoy the summer & please check-in with me, Melinda.

Blue Jasmine - Oscar Gold

Woody Allen's latest film, "Blue Jasmine," is sure to garner plenty of Golden Globe & Oscar nominations. Allen is in top form with his piercing humor & perceptive insight of our current social malaise.  The movie centers on 2 adopted from different biological couples.  The "golden girl," is the beautiful, wealthy socialite Jasmine, (Cate Blanchette) who appears to have everything and, Ginger (Sally Hawkins) from "the poorer gene pool," a working, divorced mother of 2, struggling to make ends meet.  The plot has a lot in common with the Bernie Madoff financial scandal.  Jasmine, when living lavishly on the upper east side & the hamptons wants nothing to do with Ginger living in San Francisco until she is destittue, desperate and in need of her help.  Alec Baldwin play's Jasmine's debonair  & deceitful husband who not only cheats on his wife, but swindles his investors.  The disparities between the working class &  the "1%" is the crust of the film.  Underneath, are layers of love & trust, social aspirations & moralities and the overwhelming prescriptive and alcoholic dependence of the "masses" due to social anxieties.  Allen is foremost in casting his films.  Here, he has assembled a brilliant cast of actors who play diametrically different character types.  In addition to  Blanchette, Hawkins & Baldwin, the entire supporting cast is spectacular, including Andrew Dice Clay & Alden Ehrenreich playing Bladwin's son.  Allen has said, "I don't want to become immortal through my movies, I want to become immortal by not dying." His movies will live on & depict precisely what life was like at a specific period in time.  

Love's Labour's Lost-One Singular Sensation

FREE Shakespeare in the Park, Love's Labour's Lost a new musical.  It is NYC's beloved gifts to the public.  Is it possible to improve on Shakespeare?  It may be heresy to say, but I dare say, YES.  This  romantic comedy has been contemporized, set to music, & cast with the best of brightest stars of Broadway, performed beneath celestial stars.  The music/lyrics are by Obie winner, Michael Friedman.  The book adaptation is by Obie winner, Alex Timbers.  Shakespeare's genius, Friedman's music, Timber's adaptation meld into a hybrid vigor that not only has Shakespeare rolling in his grave, but rocking & rolling, and standing up applauding.  Friedman utilizes  a multitude of musical scores, with a special hat's off & wink to Broadway.  I will say what I mean & mean what I say, this thoroughly entertaining production should be enjoyed by everyone.  The entire cast was dazzling.  What you should do for your love is take them for this one sensational evening.  The entire show is one winning combination of music, comedy, talent & love.

The Hunt - On Target!

The Danish, foreign language film, The Hunt, is as chilling as the bittercold winter in this small, idyllic village.  It appears a village of brotherly love.  Everyone knows one another, or so it seemed. Mads Mikkelson, a former Bond villian, is convincing as Lucas, a benevolent kindergarden teacher, esteemed by his students and peers.  Until, his best friend's daughter, "said something stupid," to the school head after her brother taunts her with erotic male photos & Lucas rebuffed her overt affections.  "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." (Blake)  Lucas' life becomes a living Hell after reports of sexual child abuse are brought to the police.  Lucas is quickly ostracized and savagely attacked based on the girl's  false accusations.  There are those who believe that "children never lie," & there are those who believe "children often life."  Once that clarion bell of abuse is rung, it cannot be unrung.  A person's life & credibility can be permanently shot down in instant.  Of course, there is the omnipresent fear for the safety of our children.  As Theo, the girl's father & Lucas' lifelong best friend says, "There is so much evil in the world, if we hold on to each other it will go away."  The Hunt is disturbingly accurate how easy it becomes to turn a man into a scapegoat.  This movie gouges under your skin.

Dance Festival on the Plaza @ Lincoln Ctr

Tonight was a colossal, out of doors happening on the Hearst Plaza.  Mark Dendy, OBIE winning choreographer, presented his world premier, "Ritual Cyclical" theatre project.  Dendy's 80 dancers performed to music by the grammy winning Kronos String Quartet, and Elvis.  The theatrical performance, or as I dub it, "the happening," had a befuddled start.  Where  to stand/sit was not apparent.  Where NOT to was made clear by the police.  Slowly, women in varying white costumes made their way through the crowd to the reflecting pond.  The women were dazed & amazed by the water; some walked right in. (An older lady got into the act, she was just crazed.)  A motley group of dancers, in various dress, (some military) joined, doing "their own thing." Dancers moved from the reflecting pool to the grove, drawing the crowd with them.  There, dancers in all blue, performed in precision, with their own tree to partner with & lay around.  A cute toddler said, "Mommy they're napping."   Dancers in formal evening attire began dancing alongside the Met (some climbed up the windows.)  A female soldier grabbed a male dancer with whom she brutalized, frisked, & tangoed while a lone soldier waved the Amer. Flag.  He was joined by other soldiers forming the image of the Flag Raising on Iwo Jima.  Male soldiers did a routine that was part vaudeville & part combat with fallen soldiers. These soldiers then did a Full Monty (almost) and danced to Elvis with one fallen soldier on stage.  Was "Ritual Cyclical" anti-war propaganda, American iconic culture or audience involved performance art?  I will say, "It happened, suddenly it just happened. You better beware of the happening." (Supremes) It's happening again @ 6PM Thursday.

Fruitvale Station - Based on Oscar Grant's LIFE

I recall the killing of Oscar Grant in '09 by a SF police officer who served only 11 months for the shooting.  I'm also aware of the recent vindication of Trayvon Martin's executioner. Fruitvale Station is the heartwrenching film of the '09 killing which left me in tears, unable to stir or speak.  Now, I will speak out on the dehumanizing of young black men, wrongfully & brutally prejudged & sentenced to their deaths. The movie focuses on the man, Oscar Grant.  Ryan Coogler's convincing film is paced slowly through the last day of Oscar's life, a life that held meaning.  Fruitvale begins with the fatal footage of Grant & several others being forcible removed from the Bart.  After a fight broke out, white officers at Fruitvale Station herded only young men of color from the train.  While on his back & restrained, an officer shot Grant in the back, killing him.  Despite knowing the tragedy, tension is pervasive throughout as we learn about Grant, the man.  He was a person, like you & me.  Someone who had screwed-up and someone with family & people he loved; who loved him.  Michael B. Jordan as Grant & Octavia Spencer as his mother are flawless in their roles.  Fruitvale is an important film with an important message: every life is precious and with meaning.  What we do in life also matters.  The movie addresses police brutality and demented white supremacy.  Every 28 hrs. in our country, a black man is killed by police or vigilantes.  The film is not without the poignancies of love & human kindness.  Grant's mother, when viewing her son's body said, "I was only trying to keep him safe."  What we all want for our families is the samething we all want as human beings, to keep keep each other safe and loved.

The Highjacking, a Norweigan Film

The Highjacking, a Norweigan film, dubbed in English, is a fictionalized account of true abductions of sea vessels by armed Somalian pirates.  The Somalian terrorists board ships, heavily armed and hold the crew for ransom, threatening to kill hostages if their demands are not met.  The movie begins in the exec. offices of a Norwegian Co.  Peter, the CEO, of the firm, demonstrates his omnipotent negotiating skills when he commands & receives the terms he sought from a Japanese firm.  Shortly thereafter, he is notified of the ship which was overtaken by militant Somalians, demanding $15,000,000 in ransom for the safe return of the 7 man crew.  Peter, is determined not to maintain full authority when dealing with the captors.  He learns over several grueling months (especially for the crew) that bartering for the safe return of these men is a far cry from negotiating the terms of a commercial business deal.  The 3 apexes for the drama are Peter, Omar, the Somalian interpreter and Mikel, the ship's cook who speaks English; the common language used for negotiations.  Life for the crew is grueling and terrifying.  The movie has it's lighter & fascinating moments when captors/captives share camaraderie.  However, after an arduous 4 month standoff, the situation has reached its breaking point for the captives & their families, the Somalian pirates & company executives.  This astonishing film feels real and thoroughly convincing.  Unfortunately, these terrifying hijackings are all too real.  This is a must see film of risks @ sea.  You must know when negotiating, the person holding the gun is always in control.

The Way Way Back- Scores Way up There

This feel good coming of age story is a welcomed endearing summer flick.  Fourteen year old Duncan, played to perfection by Liam James, is headed for a summer vacation with mother, pam, (Toni Collette) & her boyfriend Trent, an overbearing lout, (Steve Carrell.) Trent demands that Duncan rate himself on a scale of 1-10.  With a shrug, Duncan answers "I dunno, a 6, I guess."  "You're wrong, you're a 3," Trent tells him and he needs to start working to improve himself.  Trent takes demonic pleasure in making Duncan's life a living Hell.  He's not treating his mother with kindness & respect, either.  The movie's warmth comes from the relationship between Owen, (Sam Rockwell,) a funny, kind hearted mgr. of the local water park and Duncan, who he takes under his wing.  The entire cast is outstanding, including Myah Rudolph, Amanda Peete & Allison Jenney whose is hilarious as the boozy neighbor.  Duncan's confidence soars faster than the kids zooming down the waterslides.  I wasn't in a hurry for this summer vacation to end. The Way Way Back is refreshing like a cool, glass of lemonade.  I rate this summer treat at least an 8.5.

Midnight Swing outside @ Lincoln Ctr

Last night was Disco night on the plaza of Lincoln Center.  Hundreds of peopleof all ages turned out to dance, listen to music & mingle.  The band played disco standards.  The female singer was Donna Summer incarnate.  Tickets ($17) need to be purchased on-line prior to the evening.  Disco is just one of the many styles of dance music that will be performed.  There is plenty of space around the large dance floor open free to the public to watch the dancers, listen to the music or just dance, dance dance.  Dance is the body turned outside because it is bursting with joy.  The plaza was a sizzling pot of people  with  everyone sharing smiling faces.

El Anatsui's Installation @ MoMA

Make time to see El Anatsui's Installation @ MoMA, Bleeding Takeri II.  You will discover it in its own room on the 2nd floor behind the Oldenberg/Guy structures.  The sombre beauty of Anatsui's work will captivate you.  Then it will give you pause to reflect on a much deeper level, what his work represents. Takeri II resembles a tapestry welded together from scrap metal & bottle caps.  It is mounted to give it a kinetic & pliable effect.  Anatsui says that its appearance varies depending on how the piece is installed.  The word Takeri, according to Anatsui is a "fictional name."  The use of bottle caps represents the "material which was there at the beginning of the contact between the two continents," {African & European.}  Alcohol being the key commodity of trade.  Takeri II undulates with a fluidity of red which resonates as flowing blood.  It is a beautiful & powerful work of art.

Rain Room @ MoMA PS1 - Way Cool

Looking for a really cool place to escape the heat in the city?  You'll find it @ MoMA PS1 in the Rain Room where it is possible to walk between the rain drops.  The Rain Room alongside the MoMA is a dark room (with 1 strong back light) where water is released from the ceiling; simulating a downpour.  Visitors (restricted to small groups) walk slowly into the rain, suspending the down flow in response to an individual's movements.  The exhibit is designed by Random Int'l, based out of London. Random Int'l utilizes new technologies and interacts them with human behavior.  The guest has a direct impact on what is happening around them.  Just founded in '05, Random Int'l received the Designer of the Future Award in '10.  The experience is fun, exhilarating and refreshing.  "And I wonder, still I wonder who'll stop the rain." (CCR)  You will stop the rain.  Still I wonder, how do they do it?

Monkey: Journey to the West, Monkey See Free

NYC is a hustle bustle town but it has so many lovely oasises.  My favorite haven is Lincoln Center.  There is a water fountain with a wide ledge to get cool, there's a grass roof to lay on & a tree lined courtyard proferring shade & chairs.  The Moore sculpture suspended in the eternity pond adds majestic beauty.  A very serene location to relax, read & enjoy.  Yesterday, I heard a loud "boom box" (remember those?) that got my attention.  There was a man doing push-ups along side Avery Fisher.  Wait, this is NOT the place for training.  Well, I was wrong.  After a few push-ups, he started to move in a very deliberate & intriguing manner.  Soon he was joined by another man & woman.  It became apparent  they were rehearsing a choreographed work.  The rehearsal was for Monkey:  Journey to the West; Lincoln Center Festival's centerpiece production.  The dancers utilized the banisters, steps & concrete floor to rehearse.  "Monkey" is a modernized Chinese rock opera that incorporates, kung-fu fighters, acrobats & dancers.  Tickets are available for the performances from $25-$250. My price to see this Monkey "performance," was free.