Mike Birbiglia & Actors of "Don't Think Twice" Surprise Audience After Show

Last night at Landmark theater in LA, Mike Birbiglia, the writer/dir/star of the film "Don't Think Twice" delighted audience members with a surprise Q&A moderated by comedian Andy Richter (Conan's past co-host.)  Also on the panel were the 3 female leads in the film.  Gillian Jacobs, who played Keegan-Michael Key's love interest was present but mute (Dr.'s imposed resting of her vocal cords.)  Jacobs had a yellow legal pad with the word YES she would hold up.  The spontaneous & serendipitous vocal interaction doubled the pleasure of the movie going experience.  Mainly motivated to help promote the film, Mike & Andy were a winsome twosome who overshadowing the women.  Nonetheless, there was a candid camaraderie amongst the comics that shed light into the stardom of the   entertainment world.  As Richter rightly put it "There's a hard lump of rejection I carry around inside."  Birbiglia was more philosophical admitting to the "Life isn't fair" modus operandi of celebrity.  There are many talented performers who don't get their fair share of notoriety.  And,"having worked with assholes in the past" - he has a non-asshole policy for working on projects.  "If it's not fun - what's the sense of doing it."  The movie "Don't Think Twice" was an enjoyable comedic romp.  The post-show pop-up panel made the evening thrice as nice.

"Don't Think Twice" A Comedic Film about Improv Proves Funny

Michael Birbiglia is the writer/dir & star of "Don't Think Twice" takes a serious/comedic look inside the workings of an improv group & their groping for immortality through celebrity.  This charming, at times endearing film begins with COMMUNE, an improv comedy group breaking down the mechanics & historic beginnings to what is deemed an art form into 3 rules:  1) say yes to everything & build on the situation 2) it's about the group as a whole; not the individual and 3) "Don't Think" be impulsive "As you're falling - figure out what to do on your way down."  Rules are made to be broken & it's rule #2 that gets bent out of shape and causes the minimal conflict & character arcs in the film.   The upside  is the entire ensemble cast.  The downside is that the characters tend to blend and no comic is left behind - for the most part.  The COMMUNE performs in a rundown Bklyn venue where the cover is $5 (incredulous.)  There is an on with the show ethos that is cringe worthy.  But, on the night a scout (from Night Live) is rumored to be in the audience, Miles (Birbiglia) the leader of the pack admonishes the troupe, Jack (Keegean-Michael Key) in particular, NO showboating.  Nevertheless, Jack pops out from the pack. He & his girlfriend (Gillian Jacobs) are contacted for an audition for Night Live.  As expected, Jack lands the part.  His sweetheart pulls a no show and the COMMUNE begins to crumble.   The movie has moments of tenderness & earnestness.  It also has its pathetic side - when will these 30 SOMETHINGS grow-up.  I liked this film which gives a look behind the curtain of comedy in the making.  I had fun with the film but this was a movie that you didn't have think twice of where it was going.  It was predictable plotting with a likable cast that proved failure & heartache easier to bear.

Nan Goldin: The Ballad of Sexual Dependence at MoMA

Nan Goldin (b. Amer 1953) is a renown & highly awarded photographer.  She received The French Legion of Honor Award in ('06.)  This is interesting because many of Goldin's photos are sexually provocative & Americans are generally regarded prudish.  Her works are often compared with Cindy Sherman & Jean Arbus.   Goldin, like Sherman, puts herself in many of her photos.   Unlike Sherman, Goldin isn't masked in facade.  Goldin chooses to use photography as her own journal in a very candid & graphic style.  I consider her work exhibitionistic but the viewer is a voyeuristic participant.  Like Arbus, Goldin photographed the gay community and shared a fascination with drag queens.  There is a similar wry aesthetic Goldin & Arbus share.   These photographers are all women of a contemporary era rendering their ouevres for comparison.  The photos share a theme of "sexual dependence" which is the title of her 42 minute audio/visual film comprised of photo portraits with an evocative soundtrack.  Her photos on display (all of which are owned by MoMA & many donated by the artist) are striking in  their titilating subject matters & for the pathos of isolation observed in a relationship or sexual embrace.  There is a disturbing sadness or bizarreness to these photos all shot from the late 1970's-1980's, although many were only recently printed.  The only 2 seemingly content or happy photos were of an elderly couple & a couple just married.  Perhaps insinuating the diminished sexual dependence & the implication of sexual promise.  Goldin uses a tint from the 3 primary for emotional impact.  My favorite photo is a sepia still life showing her parent's wedding photo atop an old bureua in a bare room. There is a feeling of abandonment or transition to this quiet & impregnanting image.  If you're depending on my recommendation - "The Ballad…" should be added to the must see list."

Richard Hunt: Framed and Extended at The Studio Museum

Chicago born artist, Richard Hunt (b. 1935) is THE most prolific sculptor of public artworks in the world.  Chicago is bequeathed the most outdoor installations from its own local artist.  He was educated at the Art Instit of Chicago.  Several of his large sculptures grace the landscape around Lake Michigan & the Chicago Art Instit Museum.  The Studio exhibition contains more than 2 dozens sculptures & prints ranging from his earlier works in the 60's up to very recent.  My 2 favorite pieces were the cast bronze "Spiral Odyssey II" ('14) & the welded bronze "Grown Out" ('16.)  Mr Hunt has received numerous awards & honors.  He was the youngest artist to be featured @ the Seattle World's Fair & his work was @ the MoMA while he was in his 30's.  Pres Johnson appointed Hunt among the 1st to serve on the Nat'l Endowment for the Arts.  The Studio Museum displays stunning examples of his sculptures which are a hybrid of nature; urban structure and kinetic energy.  He large outdoor installation is a few blocks from the Studio "Harlem Hybrid," ('72.)  Hunt's wall mounts remind me of Mel Edwards "Lynch Fragments."  Both artists reflect social & political commentary.  The "Wall Pieces" are welded  metal forms that refer to shackles and restraints.  As you move around these "Wall Pieces" there is a graceful beauty to their forceful solidity.  The exhibit contains several of Hunt's prints.  In addition to his prolific sculptures, Hunt experimented with various forms of printmaking.  The sculptures are very  dynamic with their infinite virtuoso possibilities.  I sense the elegance of Brancusi, Nadelman & David Smith in Hunts' sculptures along with his own unique synergy.  "Framed & Extended" at the Studio Museum is a must see.  I will be on the prowl for Hunts' public installations; especially next time I visit Chicago.

Bruce Conner: It's All True @ MoMA - It's an Explosive Dud

The San Francisco based artist Bruce Conner (1933-2008) covered multi-media art forms including photography, film, sculpture, drawings & performance.  His penchant for the macabre especially war & death is overriding & oppressive in his body of work.  Of course, that's my feeling and although I believe any depiction of war is an anti-war statement.  Still, blame it on tempid, humid weather in NYC or the climate of hate in the world, I don't endorse forcing yourself to visit this historic, apocalyptic oevre of art.  For example, his compilation of photos "Black Dahlia" focuses on the grisly slaying of an LA based waitress.  The devise used here by Conner teeters on the voyueristic perspective making the viewer an accomplice.  His roughly 15 min video, a montage of newsreels combining war & soft-core pronography were not worth my time.  I felt the work itself felt dated  The still of nuclear bombs plumage(an iconic image) does maintain its hypnotic allure despite knowing its imminent destructive nature.  I'd rather not have seen this exhibit so my advise is not to visit.

Alma Thomas' Art at the Studio Museum-A Must See Show

The Studio Museum in Harlem is free to the public on Sundays from 12-6PM.  Regardless, the Alma Thomas show is well worth the minimal suggested donation fee Mon-Sat.  Ms Thomas, a maverick artist is having more than 50 of her works on view at The Studio Museum.  Walking into the gallery felt like being inside a rainbow.  Her gifts as a colorist are remarkable as is her colorful life.  Thomas (b. Amer 1891-1976) is an artist known for distinctive, bold & colorful brushstrokes.  Her oeuvre is associated with abstraction although her figurative paintings, i.e. "March on Washington" ('64) are formidable historic works.  Always fascinated by nature & space, Ms Thomas captures colorful landscapes & celestial subjects.  Her painting "Snoopy Sees Earth Wrapped in Sunset" is so vivid, it looks combustible.  She pays homage to Van Gogh in "Starry Night & the Astronauts ('72.)  My 2 favorite pieces are "Stars & Their Display" ('73) & "Cherry Blossom Symphony" ('73.)  Her paintings reflect Matisse's mosaic cut-outs and her earlier works show Hans Hoffman's influence.  I see Pousette-Dart being heavily influenced by Thomas in his ocular, undulating paintings.  The Whitney held an exhibit of Thomas' work in '72; a time when numerous Afr-Amer artists were irremissibly overlooked.   Ms Thomas stated "One of the things we couldn't do was go into museums, let alone think of hanging our pictures there.  My, times have changed.  Just look at me now."  Sadly, our nation is sliding backwards with regards to racism.  "A world without color would seem dead.  Color, for me is life."  Alma Thomas' work is joyful, ebullient and hopefully, healing.

The doc "Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You" is Vital Viewing Now

The doc on Norman Lear is a must see film.  Lear IS arguably the most influential writer/prod in television history.  His prodigious body of work includes "All in the Family," "Maude," "The Jeffersons" & "Sanford & Son" to name but a few of his iconic groundbreaking series that were entertaining & socially relevant.  Lear is best known & highly regarded for confronting prevelant social issues with humor & honesty.  Mr. Lear definitely moved the conversation forward & exposed our nation's biases & contentious issues.  Mr Lear will also be revered for purchasing THE DECLARATION of INDEPENDENCE (who knew it could be purchased {$8,000,000}) and making it accessible to the public across the country for viewing. This documentary film by Oscar nom documentarians Rachel Grady & Heidi Ewing, is a work of art in itself.  Lear is portrayed as a young, mini-me version, white cap on top with flashbacks, interviews, personal reminiscences - all with candor & immense joy & pride for his legacy of work but mainly for his beloved family.  The doc. does reveal the darker periods in his life.  As a child of 9 he saw his father taken away in handcuffs.  He was passed from family member to member.  This nomadic passage taught him the value of "being a good provider." He also become aware of hateful anti-semitism as a boy.  Lear is lauded bymany of today's top stars such as Stewart, Poehler & Clooney who credit him as their major mentor.  Lear's short answer to Cavette's question of whether or not his shows promoted bigotry is "No."  Comedy is serious business and it has the power to change people's attitudes.  Lear credits his longevity (93 yrs.) to laughter.  "Laughter is crucial to health & longevity."  Norman Lear is one of the most significant pioneers in television.   His contributions to a comedic & socially conscious world are essential.  It is imperative to see "Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You."  "It's the foolishness of life that knits us altogether." (NL)

"Captain Fantastic" Starring Viggo Mortenson Is A Fantastic Film Go & See

I was thoroughly engaged, entertained & moved by this Swiss Family Robinson drama derived out of choice rather than disaster.  The father (Viggo Mortenson "Lord of the Rings") is raising his 6 children outside convention & civilization.  Dir/writer/producer/actor  Matt Ross received a Best Dir nod at Cannes this year for his film. Then premise seems preposterous but it is handled with grace & earnestness that garner this movie credibility and make it a truly inspiring cinematic experience.  Viggo  is raising his 6 progenies alone in the wild while his wife is being treated in a conventional medical institute.  It becomes clear she was being helped in a mental hospital when Viggo learns of her suicide from his sister via a call made inside a bar.  The movie begins in a rush.  The eldest son (played by British actor George Mackay in a star turning role) ensnares a buck armed only with a knife.  We are in equal measures appalled & amazed.  Dad performs a ritualistic manhood initiation bequeathing the buck's (liver? - ugh) while the rest of the tribe look on in survivalist camouflage.  The audience is braced to rally against the sovereign & barbaric lifestyle the children are subjected.  However, our allegiance falters regarding the coerced lifestyle when we see the intellectual, physical prowess instilled.  More importantly, we sense the omnipotent familial bonds of love for each other.   Rebellion in the ranks comes from the 2nd son who is more pragmatic.  He believes their father is responsible for the death of their mother & for ruining their lives.  Frank Langella adds his formidable force as the father of Viggo's wife.  Langella anathema of Viggo is visceral.  Viggo brings his "tribe" into the "real world" which is shocking for the funeral of their mother.  The Christian burial is the antithesis of his wife's last will & testament.  The 2nd son abandons ship & opts to live with his wealthy & prominent grandfather.  Viggo & the family's plans to abduct their brother which lead to tragic consequences for the eldest daughter.  Viggo re-evaluates the lifestyle choices he's made for his children & succumbs to granting his in-laws custody.  There is plethora of provocative social, religious & political commentary.  The cinematography is stunning.  The entire ensemble is extraordinary.  This is a winning film that is about  as good as it gets. "Captain Fantastic" is marvelous in everyway.  

" A Day at the Sea" Don't See it at the Beckett Thtr

"A Day at the Sea" written by N.C. Hunter (b. Britain 1908) set in Dorset 1953 is a dated piece that is a cheap Chekovian copy that doesn't cut it. It's a dated piece with heady messages of man's inherent penchant for self-destruction & annihilation are pompously bantered about by the bourgeois.  The droll hypocrisy of the well mannered upper class while teetering on the precipice of civility is guerolous & tiresome.  The aristocratic Anson family consists of matriarch Laura , brother-in-law David & son Julian.  An alcoholic & morose Dr Farley lives with the family to care for the elderly David.  The doctor is oftentimes crocked.  He has a tendency to rant & rage against man's animalistic inherent instincts.  Ingenue, Frances Farrar (although the bloom is off this rose) is a guest of the family with her children.  Frances was raised with Julian as a young girl after her being orphaned.  She left the Anson householda as a young woman to marry a man later committed suicide.  Her 2nd marriage recently ended in divorice.  Both marriages are fodder for scandal & make her a social pariah.  The undercurrent of attraction between Frances & Julian are obvious despite suitable restraint.  The loquacious dialogue & decorum   sum up to boredom.  I left after the 1st act with 2 more long acts to follow.  The faulty accents & broken air conditioning contributed to my pulling up anchor & fleeing.  Despite being offerred a free ticket to a return, I don't plan on seeing it.  This dry play should remain buried in the sand.

The 1st Church of Mary…Benefit Concert, Revival & Pot Luck Dinner" NY Musical Festival

The full name of the original musical, part of the NY Music Festival is "The First Church of Mary, the Repentant Prostitute's FIFTH ANNUAL!!! Benefit Concert, Revival, and Pot Luck Dinner."  A very verbose title suited for a long-winded musical that is overflowing with talent.  Geoff Davin, the writer/  lead actor/actress? is a malgamation of Tim Curry in "Rocky Horror" & the late, great Robert Preston in "The Music Man."  While not on par with either actor, Davin possesses a hypnotic & repugnant quality that is captivating & irrepressible.  Given Davin wrote both the book, music & lyrics, here is a talented artist who needs to get out of his own way.  The cast deserved more time in the spotlight shine. The earnest performances & strong vocals were terrific.  Preacher Huckster (Geoff Davin) is the domineering & sneering preacher of a revivalist church whose altruistic intent is bent towards anointing himself.  The music is performed on stage by a lively, percussive band.  The music is steeped in gospel, but also swayed into rock, disco & ballads.  While many of the musicals numbers tended to blend, the back-up singing trio belted out with amazing prowess.   I have to single out Ruwanda (Jennifer Whitcome-Olivia) for her beautiful voice and Luwanda (Brooke Davis.)  The outstanding musical numbers were "Whoah," & "Soldier On." A tour-de-force performance by Charlotte (Megan Chambers) gave a strong counter balance & credibility to the fraudulent Huckster.  Chamber's steadfast determination & lovely singing voice anchored the overblown show.  The salacious innuendos & formulaic plot went outside a digestable radius.   You may choose to see things differently.  The parts were better than the whole but there was a whole lot of talent in the show.  

Japanese Film "Our Little Sister" Has a Big Heart- I Loved this Movie

The Japanes film "Our Little Sister" (with English subtitles) won this year's Japanese Acad. Prize for Best Picture & received a Golden Lion.  Japanese male Dir Hirokazu Koreeda collaborated with Japenese female writer & award winning manga artist, Akima Yoshida.   I mention their genders because it would be easy but misguided to judge this a male bashing moviw despite it's many "males are useless" comments.  However, I felt it must have been written by a woman with sisters.  The exquisitiely shot movie highlights the the Japanese landscape in all its glorious beauty.  The scenery underscores the 4 truly beautiful women (physically & inherently) who were all sisters.  The 3 older sisters lived harmoniously (not without their sisterly bickering) in their large, old family home.  The eldest sister, the responsible, sensible mother figure maintains order with a very loving hand.  Their father left their mother for another woman with whom he had a 4th daughter.  Their mother left the girls soon after with another man leaving the girls to live alone in their "dorm like" existence.  Tradition,  Japanese custom & respectful cordiality are omnipresent and inspiring.  The 3 sisters receive word from their matriarch, Great Aunty, that their father has died.  Out of a show of respect, the 2 younger sisters undertake the long train ride to the funeral where their younger 1/2 sister (15 yr old) Suzu awaits them at the train.  The eldest sister arrives late (unexpectedly) & spontaneously asks Suzu now living with her step-mother (their father's 3rd wife) to live with them.  Suzu is stunned but quickly says she will. She is seen running after the train with joy waving good-bye.  Suzu arrives & the bonds of love for each other steadily grows.  This is heartwarming picture of the mundane rituals & shared experiences  that builds a caring family.  I wanted to become the 5th sister to these amazing women.  Of course, I'm blessed with awesome sisters.  I love my sisters & strongly recommend this life affirming film about sisterly love.

Yankees Shut Out Orioles on Pineda's Pitching on Picture Perfect Night

Last night in the Bronx, the Yankees shut out the Orioles 5-0.  That made 2 wins for the Yankees v Orioles pushing Orioles out of 1st & putting the Yankees back over .500, the 1st time since April.  The game was played under perfect conditions and to top it off,  caps were given out to the fans. The game was exciting from the 1st inning with Gardner hitting a hard long ball to track. The Oriole outfielder had his glove on the ball but bobbled it when he banged into the wall.  (Something you never want to see - when your team is playing the outfield.)  This gave Gardner a standing triple which was ruled a hit - which I agree.  Mark Teixeira broke his dry spell at bat with a home run and big baby Arod was off the roster & wasn't missed.   Pineda pitched 6 strong innings with 6K's.  Although, Pineda put the Orioles in scoring positions, he worked himself out of trouble.  I thought Mgr. Joe was going to take him out in the 6th with over 100 pitches & Orioles posing a threat.  I was wrong.  Relief came in the 7th with great pitching.  In the bottom of the 6th, the Yankees had the bases loaded with no outs.   They only brought in 1 run but the Yankees managed a major win & big blow to Baltimore.  And, did I mention we all got Yankee caps.

Woody Allen's Latest "Cafe Society" Repetitive Social Commentary & Themes

Woody Allen's latest film "Cafe Society"finds Woody dipping back to the well of his angst & social commentary.  Still, his cinematographty is glorious.  There is the omnipresent glint on LA in golden sunlight which fails to overshadow Allen's true love, NYC.  "Cafe Society" is a satirical look at the pretentiousness & allure of the Hollywood golden era of  the1930's.  Ubiqutiously, Woody shines a less than flattering (but comical) light on the Jewish family; the ties that bind and spin out of control.  The Dorfmans are at the heart of this mediocre film which is not without charm.  Bobby (Jessie Eisenberg) is the youngest sibling.  Bobby's father is a shlumpy, working class jeweler in NYC with a whiney wife who thinks the world of her successful brother, the studio head.  Mom casts a blind eye on her eldest son, a murderous thug.  Afterall, he's brings home the not so kosher bacon.  Bobby, like Belle, wants more than his provincial life (albeit) in the big city & moves to LA with pipe dreams of a job from his uncle at the studio & making it big.  In a week or 2, maybe his uncle will make him a star, days into weeks and all that ever came to pass was a passing fling with his uncle's mistress, Vonnie (an appealing Kristen Stewart.)  Bobby/Woody were born & raised in NYC where "they" return to mend a broken heart.  Bobby goes to work for his big brother at his hot nightclub.  There Bobby meets Veronice (the lovely & disarming Blake Lively.)  They marry when she becomes pregnant.  Then, of all the clubs to walk into - Vonnie, now married to Bobby's movie mogul uncle - comes in & stirs adulterous romance with NYC panache.  Problem is Woody repeats his maudlin macabre medley and his Jewish/gentile comparisons which have already worn thin.  Lively is so wonderful why would Bobby yearn to stray?   More farfetched, was Allen's casting of the grating Eisenberg in the lead.  Had he recast Alden Ehrenreich ("Blue Jasmine") the movie could have been a contender with Ehrenrich's Hollywood star power.

The Art of Whimsy of Mo Willems at NY Historical Society

I didn't know Mo.  You know, Mo Willems, (b. Amer 1968) the highly honored illustrator and children's author.  Willems has received 3 Caldecott honors, 2 Geisel Medals and is an inductee in the Picture book Hall of Fame.  For shame - I didn't even know his name.  The exhibit is endearing and some of the characters seemed familiar.  I appreciate the curators of NY Historic Soc taking a broad expanse of exhibits that inform, enlighten & entertain - for every age.  It would have been fun had I someone young to take.  There was a cozy carpeted nook with lots of Willems' books.  The exhibit was sponsored by Disney Publishing Worldwide.  The museum took a page out of Disney's modus operandi "exit out the gift shop."

Larry Silver's Black/White Photos of NYC 1949-55 Shimmer with Beauty

Bronx born & raised, Larry Silver's (b. 1934) photos of NYC & its burrows from 1949-1955 are view at the NY Historic Society.  These images have gone mostly unheralded, yet deserve to be spotlighted and admired for their scintillating & aesthetic appeal.  Perhaps, his black/white photos have been overshadowed by his contemporary American photographers such as Ansel Adams, Margaret Burke-White, Dorothea Lange, Joe Rosenthal, Diane Arbus and Gordon Parks.  These photographers have captured iconic images of the 20th C.  Silver deserves accolades for his artistic composition & indelible images featuring beautiful landscapes & arresting images.  Silver's photos possess a quiet omnipotence & hone in on an epoch in America's history just after WWII.  His silver gelatin black/white prints highlight life in the New York city area at a time when life was furtively changing.  The appeal of these photos are apparent when close up to his subject as in "The Boy on Rooftop" '51 & compelling taken from a distant vantage, "Raft, NY Botanical Garden" '50.  "Raft" captures an adventurous spirit of young men in a surprisingly rustic setting for an urban locale.  "Polio Camp" evoked strong feelings of sympathy.  Two young boys with leg irons are seen standing on wooden fence looking with longing at whatever is occuring out of sight of the camera.  Also note the "United Nations Construction" '51 which shows 2 young boys climbing on a rough construction site for the future landmark.  Silver's eye for composition is notable.  I felt an underlying sense of melancholy in many of his works as in "Polio Camp" & "The Boy on Rooftop." There is a feeling of isolationg & solitude.  Also, the passage of time is felt viewing NYC on the precipice of major change.   Larry Silver's photos are overdue for acclaim.  Silver's body of work from 1949-1955 are of major significance & worth seeing.   Silver's photos belong in the same echelon as the major mid-20th C documentarian/photographers.