"Manchester at the Sea" A Malaise of Sorrow Starring Casey Affleck & Michelle Williams

"Manchester at the Sea" is a movie sure to garner a trove of accolades from the critics & academy.    The turgid pace for this requiem of grief is painfully slow; rippling pain in its wake.  Two Chandler brothers, Lee (an affecting Casey Affleck) and Kyle (the unfailing Kyle Chandler) were raised in a small New England fishing town, Manchester.  Both brothers tow an odyssey of sorrow.  Kyle raised his son Patrick (a likeable Lucas Hedges) as a single parent after his wife became an alcoholic. Alcohol abuse is suffused throughout the film.  Kyle succumbs to a fatal disease leaving a will that provides for Lee to become Patrick's guardian.   Meanwhile, Lee is living in Boston as a janitor in a small basement apartment and getting into bar brawls by night.  The storyline is not linear.  There are touching flashbacks to happier times on Kyle's small fishing boat with Lee & a young Patrick.  We also see scenes of Lee's domestic life; married to Randi (an exceptional Michelle Williams) with 3 young children.  There's a missing story as to what ended Lee's family domicle which we've yet to uncover.  Lee is drawn back to Manchester to bury his beloved brother and temporarily oversee his nephew. Kyle had made a will stipulating Lee as guardian to Patrick & trustee for the estate.  Except, Lee was unaware of his brother's intention & has no intention of taking on the responsibility of his nephew or relocating.  Lee's ominous reputation is known to many in Manchester prior to our learning of his devastating tragedy.  Lee's unbearable & "unbeatable" grief render him soulless.  He seeks solace through acts of violence.  The frigid landscape mirrors Lee's frozen existence.  Signs of life ebb & flow around Lee as lives with Patrick & among people from his past.  Lee becomes able to cull the grace to seek help for Patrick & himself.  "Manchester at the Sea" is awash in quality acting and beautifully shot.  Nonetheless, the film is moored in anguish that many would choose to cast off.

French Artist Francis Picabia's Works at MoMA Will Have Your Head Spinning

The recently opened Francis Picabia (French 1879-1953) exhibit at MoMA:  "Our Heads Are Round so Our Thoughts Can Change Direction."  This wonderfully wry title shows a large photo of the artist riding a tiny schwinn with an inviting grin.  A self-proclaimed funny guy, he's the guy with enormous  talent, curiosity and the endless ability to reinvent himself.  Picabia was a zeitgeist of multiple eras with an constantly changing aesthetic & perspective.  This is a show that is hard to pass up and harder still to codify.  Picabia's work runs the gambit of artistic styles:  impressionism, radical abstraction, Dadaist provocation, pseudo-classicism and photographic based realism to art informel.   Picabia is a provocateur in multi-artistic expressions.  In addition to his paintings, he was a poet, performance artist, illustrator and filmmaker.  Be sure to watch his whimsicial Dadaist film, listen to the background audio about the artist and the poetry readings best heard in the last gallery.  Living through both WWI & WWII, perhaps Picabia's developed a wry sense of humor and a penchant for a chameleon sensibility in his work.  Some of the artists whose styles he tried on were:  Picasso, Matisse, Seurat, Monet and Magritte. Magritte & Picabia seem to share a trickster psyche.  The earliest works (1912-1914) saw works in an impressionist style, focusing on landscapes & architecture and cubist paintings.  Also note the titles he uses which add hum  "Comic Wedlock" & "She Corrects Manners While Laughing."  Picabia interest in machinery are seen in his mechanomorphic images.   Trying to find common threads throughout will remain enigmatic.  There are recurring Adam & Eve subjects and Spanish Women portraits.  But, these are all done with varying styles & techniques.  I was most intrigued with his later "transparency" paintings with multilayered figures & motiffs.  Picabia incorporates a plethora of techniques & materials in his works with winsome results; matches, hairpins, coins, feathers & nails.  Picabia is a genius extraordinaire on par with Picasso.  Unlike Picasso, Picabia's constantly evolving art make identifying his oeuvre elusive.  "Our Heads Are Round so Our Thought Can Change Direction" is a whirlwind of an exhibit that is endlessly exciting & fun.

The Musical "A Bronx Tail" Directed by Robert DeNiro Music by Alan Menken

The new Broadway musical "A Bronx Tail" is based on Chazz Palminteri's book and later made into a play & a movie starring Robert De Niro.  This time the De Niro wisely steps back & lets a talented ensemble cast of triple threats:  actors, singers & dancer, do the hard hitting stuff.  Alan Menken known for his illustrious & prolific Disney scores: "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty & the Beast" and "Aladdin" to name but a few from his slew of hits, wrote the music.  The musical numbers are aimed at a rapid fire pitch.  Some of them are hit out of the ballpark while the majority all meld in the infield.  There were several show stopping numbers including the opener "Belmont Avenue" with fleet footwork, "I Like It" sung by an upcoming young star Hudson Loverro as the young lead Calogero "C" and "One of the Great Ones." "One of the Great Ones," is sung by the Don of the thugs, Sonny.  Sonny becomes a fatherly mentor to "C."  These 3 wise songs drive the storyline and rise to the top.   Mostly, the musical numbers tend to blend or stretch to be lessons in morality.  The story's hero is "C," a young boy growing up in the Bronx (late 50's-60's) on Belmont Avenue, not straying far from the hood he loves.  C loves his working class parents & has close ties with his father but finds himself torn between worlds: loyalty to his parents, his friends and looking into his own heart.  "C's" parents try to steer their son to do the right thing but send mixed messages.  "C" cops to Sonny's belief that work is for suckers and succumbs to Sonny's shady lifestyle.  The play also contains a star crossed lovers "West Side Story" with the "Wops" and Blacks fighting for their turf.  "A Bronx Tall" is a musical mixed bag of "Wise Guys," "West Side Story" and father/son genres. The exceptionally talented ensemble featured killer choreography with singing voices to die for.  I feared I wasn't going to like this musical incarnation.  I didn't love it but I liked it a lot.   This is an offering you shouldn't refuse.

"The Edge of 17" Starring Hailee Steinfeld & Woody Harrelson

This coming of age teen flick clicks on all burners.  "The Edge of 17" produced by James L Brooks captures the emotional rage of an insecure & precocious teen, Nadine (an exceptional Hailee Steinfeld) with credulous charm & frustrations.  It's tough enough being a social outcast from early adolescence &  add to that, a handsome/popular older brother, Darian (Blake Jenner) also mom's favorite.  The beloved father & emotional anchor dies while driving with Nadine making her life nearly unbearable.  Her  saving grace is her only friend, Krista (Haley Richardson.)  They become fast friends at an early age only later to feel completely betrayed when Krista falls for her brother.  The mother is played with self-consuming neurosis by Kyra Sedgwick.  She seems to only relate & rely heavily on Darian.  Mr. Brunner (a terrific Woody Harrelson) is Nadine's history teacher to whom she vents her feelings of outrage, self-loathing & vulnerabilities.  "The Edge of 17" is set far above most teen movies.  Every scene is engaging & convincing.  Cruel things are said to Nadine from her brother, mother, classmates & even Mr Brunner.  But, Nadine lashes back in ways that are hurtful to others & self-destructive.  We continuously care for what Nadine is feeling or doing.  Nadine's tells Mr Brunner she intends to commit suicide.  His concern is measured and he responds admirably.  Meanwhile, the social scene of high school teens resonate with fun, frustration & fear.  Nadine's mother tells her "Everybody is miserable.  Just some people are better at pretending."  There's not a false note in this engaging film.  Steinfeld is wonderful in her role.  Irwin (a terrific Haden Szeto) is the classmate who tries to befriend Nadine.  Sometimes, you just need to look nearby to find friendship and acceptance.  "The Edge of 17" is an edgy & entertaining movie for teens & adults alike.  "Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name."  And those who see "The Edge of 17" will be glad they came.

Gilmore Girls-We Women Want More Gilmores

The verdict is on Gilmore Girls mini-series on Netflix.  It's an overwhelming crowd pleaser.  But, please, as Michel (Yanic Truesdale) tells the female applicant "now is the time to take out your tissue."  They just don't many shows anymore of the quality of "Gilmore Girls."  Whoever said "You can never go home again," is so wrong.  Whoever said "More is more," is so right.  Watch "Gilmore Girls" and I rest my case.  The shows are true to form to their former incarnate and then taken to the next great level.  This tongue teaser, heartwarming series is a pastiche of blasts from the past, ballet, broadway, romance, friendship and familial love.  I loved the sets (real & surreal) the rants, the banter, the reunions, the mass confusion and anticipated epiphanies.   This Thanksgiving I'm thankful for This Wonderful series brought back to Life.  Lorelai & her mother finally listened to each other, empathized with the other &  benefitted in in their own lives. "Barely even friends then somebody bends unexpectedly - Just a little change.  Small to say the least.  Both a little scared."* Beauties more at peace. Bravo! We want more Gilmores.  Perhaps, the title should be changed to Gilmore Women We Love.

*"Tales as Old as Time"

Gilmore Girls Series - Stuck in a Time Warp? Women at Some Point?

Bringing back the popular "Gilmore Girls" series is cause for celebration.  The series is being revised as an original Netflix program.  It follows the same 3 generations of Gilmore Girls; grandmother, mother & prodigal daughter, Rory.  It's now a decade since the emotional finale when everyone bid adieu to the the lovely ingenue, Rory.  Rory graduated from Yale & was set to embark on Obama's presidential campaign.  I've just watched the 1st two episodes (mini-marathon movies each,) I have some reservations before declaring it a rave of a reboot. Stars Hollow is still center stage.  This charming "Camelot" of a small New England town has more than its share of eccentric citizens.  Lorelai, the queen of witty witticism declares "the town is set within a snow globe."  The perpetual dialogue is fueled by the omnipresent caffeine elixir.  Luke's (Scott Patterson) diner provides its fair share of coffee.  Rory (Alexis Bledel) is  Lorelai's daughter (Lauren Graham) who is Emily's daughter (Kelly Bishop.)  Rory is the lovely & endearing homewrecker of yesteryear.  Lorelai is as loquacious as before with a little more body mass to love.  No body shaming permitted.  Afterall, this is an empowering series for young girls.  A little fun is poked at the added pounds at Lorelai's expense.  Emily is showing signs of aging.  She has become a recent widow after 50 years of marriage.  Edward Herman was wonderful as the family patriarch.  His death assumes a sombre & prominent presence.  The gaggle of local yokels include: the irritatingly intense Paris, the huggable lug, Luke and Logan in London engaged to wed & in bed with Rory along with motley town criers.  Change churned slowly.  There is Kirk's "ooober" enterprise and faux wifi at the diner.  But, the story arch has always been the battling banter between the Gilmore generations.  Rory & her mom are tight.   Lorelais & her mom continue to fight.  The well meaning advise from Lorelai to her bereft mother to seek professional counseling is a masterly coupe at the show's core  (a major score.) The jury is still out on the series.  I'm hoping that Dean (Jared Radaleci) and Sookie (Melissa McCarthy) will be back to add flavor to the brew. Carol King is a local, but she's yet to sing.  The marvelous B'wy star Sutton Foster is cast in the local musical which is hilarious.  Hooray, the show is back.  Footnote: Rory "is not back," which means she's amongst the unmoored 30 something set.  I'm yearning to sing praises but for now, stay tuned.

British Netflix Original Series "The Crown" Reigns Supreme

British director Peter Morgan (The Queen with Helen Mirren) is the creator/director of this original historical drama "The Crown" which covers the life & times of Queen Elizabeth II.  As an American I am beguiled with the British consuming love affair with their Royal Family.  Having binged watched with addictive adoration "The Crown" I have garnered a sense of history & sensibility for the Brit's devotion to Royalty.  Morgan has created a captivating & beautifully filmed historic drama that centers around the life of Queen Elizabeth II.  The Queen (and the distinctions are denoted) is the focal point from which we view her circuitous ascension to the throne.  Personal dramas swirl around the Royal family, scandals, political rivalries, power plays are all provocative and most intriguing, the vouyeristic lifestyles of the aristocracy and those who serve them.  Claire Foy ("Wolf Hall") gives a sovereign portrayal of the Queen and leads a stately ensemble cast.  John Lithgow as "Churchill" the imposing & power hungry leader is the sole American actor in an otherwise British bunch.  Lithgow holds his own amongst but for his adherence to an American accent that does a disservice to the role.  However, this Netflix glorious feature could only be made richer by having Dame Maggie Smith as a domineering dowager.  Still, I give this enticing series, "The Crown," the highest ranking.

Nederlander Dans Theater Dazzles at City Center with Topical Performances and Top Talent

The Dutch Nederlander Dans Theater was founded in 1959.  It was an experimental an edgy dance theater that has continued to convey innovative contemporary performances.  Highly awarded and regarded internationally, the Nederlander's dancers are comprised of elite dancers & artists throughout the world.  Some dancers are from the US & the Netherlands and others hail from Japan, France, Spain, Switzerland, Brazil, England, Portugal, Germany, Ireland, Iran, China, Belgium & Taiwan.  Consider the broad amalgamation of artists and note how amazing this collaboration results in a pinnacle of creative artistry.  Nederlander continually alters the landscape of contemporary dance with  electrifying new conventions & excellence.  Two pieces that premiered this year in their repertoire were performed Friday night: "Woke up Blind" choreographed by Marco Goecke (b. Germany) & "The Statement" choreographed by Crystal Pite (b. Canada.)  "The Statement" exuded a demonic aura of fallen angels such as Lucifer.  Beings who are defiant, rebellious; choosing evil over virtue.  The dancers were in all black but an for a mesmerizing female dancer dressed in demonic red velvet pants.  The dance was also interpreted as lovers' rebuff, leaving heartbreak & isolation in its wake.  The dancers agile movements were therianthropic, shapeshifting of humans into sightless bats.  The nimble,  stylistic contortions were exhilarating.  The music seemed to emanate from within the dancers outward.  The complex combinations of movement in "Woke up Blind" were eye-opening and revelatory, reflecting deeply rooted human emotions. Crystal Pite's "The Statement" is dance theater in its most formidable form.  The combustible topical choreography combined text, technique and movement for an omnipotent anti-war presentation that is provocative & thought-provoking.  Four dancers dressed in street close hover over a conference table with a dark tunnel-like structure hovering menacingly overhead.  The four stylishly slithering & pouncing dancers are imbued with individual dialect. Without the dancers speaking, we know instinctively which character is being represented.  The seemingly odious, but benign metaphor for disclaiming responsibility of a business debacle morphs into a tormented finger-pointing for failing to intervene in bloody conflicts. "How did it get to this." "I was just following orders." The dancers moved organically over & under the table emoting despair, vindictiveness and pending doom.  Pite's gripping piece deserves a Nobel Prize. "The Statement" is artistry at its finest & most inspiring.  It's a noteworthy social declaration for peace.

Prof Dennis Hale Talks about His Book "The Jury in America: Triumph and Decline"

The origins of the jury system can be traced back to the 12th C.   Dr Dennis Hale, Prof of Political Science at Boston College spoke at the 92ndY about his new book "The Jury in America:  Triump and Decline."  His fascinating 45 minute talk (with a 15 minute Q&A) was extremely enlightening.  The American jury system is the central element of democracy in our government.   Our right to vote is a vital element also but our singular vote is amongst millions of others.  Being on a jury, imparts a pre-eminent power to impact a ruling pertaining to the laws of our country.  A juror acquires a direct experience to rule.  The individual juror is not omnipotent but a jury brings together a random cross section of the population who must deliberate together towards a verdict.  Prof Hale traced this history of the jury from its inception; an all white property owning sector through its many biased pratfalls and limitations.  Hale touched upon 4 more recent jury trials including the Zimmerman case & the McDonalds' hot coffee fiasco.  Jury reforms in the 19th & 20th Centuries were discussed.  The number of jury trials have been steadily declining.  Plea bargaining is mainly responsible for this trend.  Jury consultants have flourished due to ubiquitous  foreknowledge of monumental events & pre-emptive juror selection.  Prof Hale impressed upon me his view that verdicts which may seem startling, as in Zimmerman's vindication of Trayvon Martin's murder, result because "only facts with evidentiary basis are presented.  Not atmospheric innuendo."  Prof Hale also stressed jurors are schooled & guided in the law & rights by judges & lawyers.  The jury system has progressed since Samuel Chase, an Assoc Justice of the US Supreme Court in the 18th said "The jury has the right to determine the law and the facts." Grocho Marx said "I was married by a judge.  I should have asked for a jury."

Two NYC Icons In Conversation Sarah Jessica Parker and Andy Cohen-Too Irresistible

First, the dish on SJP's ensemble.  The Renaissance woman whose talents are endless, is a fashion icon.   She always assembles an ensemble that is unique & tres chic.  She wore sparkling emerald green slippers, a golden glimmering vest under a long sleeveless vest over black slender slacks. Her style is effervescent as is her personality & intellect.  Andy Cohen exudes warmth, charm & a joie de vivre that is delightfully infectious.  These 2 stars came together last night at the 92ndY.  It was obvious there is a deep bond of friendship & admiration between these 2 dynamos.  SJP had a heart to heart tete a tete in part to promote his new auto-bio "Superficial."  SJP pointed out that this memoir had a more introspective tone.  Andy, agreed saying he wrote the book as a fun read but it was a vulnerable and honest exploration of his seeking "a more full life."  Andy spoke about his love for writing & opening himself up to a "perfect partnership."  He also spoke of the possibly becoming a parent.  The banter between the two was delightful.  SJP did asked Andy what he would say to Trump.  "You're going to  fuck-up the traffic in NYC everyday."  Which is true and on a more sombre note, "You've been dividing us and now you need to take back every hateful thing you've said and bring us together."  As for Pence, "He's the most anti-gay VP ever."  When asked, "Which housewife would you most like to fire?"  Andy pleaded the 5th.

British Playwright Simon Stephen's "Heisenberg" Stars Mary-Louise Parker and Denis Arndt

British playwright Simon Stephen's ("Curious Incident of the Dog…) new 1 act, 2 character play "Heisenberg" swings for the fences but falls short.  Georgie (a garbled mouth Mary-Louise Parker) plants an unwarranted but not unplanned kiss on the neck of a complete stranger, Alex (Denis Arndt.)  Alex is a senior.  He's surprised but nonplussed by the planted smooch.  Georgie's apologetic confessions stir Alex's sympathy.  She tells him she's lonely since the death of her husband.  Alex's tolerance turns to annoyance when she admits to a compilation of lies.  Georgie pursues Alex at his butcher shop much to his surprised chagrin. We're unsure what's driving Georgie's attachment.  However, she manages to convince him to take her out.  Their stilted dinner conversation is steered by Georgie's bumptious banter & inappropriate inquiries.  The stark set consists of 2 tables & chairs rearranged between scenes marked by brief blackouts.  Audience members are seated in bleachers behind the narrow stage.  They appear within reach of the actors.  The title "Heisenberg" may be deduced from the 1932 Nobel Prize winning German theoretical physicist known for his uncertainty principle built on his philosophy of matrix formulations.  The play's aspiring esoteric message is mundane:  wake up & smell the coffee.  Life is precious, meant to be relished and shared.  Alex has kept a diary for 67 years.  Georgie discovers & devours them.  She tells him they're dull & poorly written except for his 1 brief love affair.   However, she manages to convince him to take her out on a date.  Georgie's chance encounter proves highly calculated but the outcome is unexpected & highly improbable.  The formula for "Heisenberg" is faulty.  The high minded theory doesn't deliver positive results.

British Dir Tomas Leach's doc "Lure" is a Real Gem of a Film

London based doc filmmaker, Tomas Leach's 2nd film "Lure" follows several people hooked into uncovering buried treasured in the Northern Rocky Mtn region.  Forest Fenn, a notorious art dealer  & self-promoter, purportedly left a pirate's bounty in gold & precious stones for the taking by anyone clever enough to decipher his cryptic clues (or lucky enough to stumble upon it.)  Leach's 1st doc "Saul Leiter," (2013) a 20th C NYC photographer.  Leach uncovers the artistic jewels captured by Leiter's lens.  Leach's camera captures Leiter artistic genius & allows his humanity to quietly reveal its many   fascinating layers.  "Lure" has the captivating hook of striking it rich by finding gold.  Regardless, it's the intangible profundities & experiences Leach's magically hidden camera captures from a handful of engrossing treasure hunters.  The beauty of the vast landscape is only one of the many rewards to this resplendent looking & entertaining doc.  While Fenn may or may not have planted an actual treasure chest is moot.  Fenn's shameless self-promotion makes him the least appealing character but his vie for an enduring legacy is universally valued.  Those whose journeys  we're priviliged to join include 2 female friends, both formerly with the police force.  The they joy found in nature & their shared experience outdoors was infectious.  The most colorful character is a former city slicker who gave-up material wealth for the ardors of living off the land.  Still, he is obsessed with outsmarting Fen & everyone to be the first to find the loot.  In contrast, is a middle aged woman whose motives remain somewhat ambigious.  But, it's clear the quest & vast landscape are filling a void.  The most poignant portrait is of a middle aged husband & father undergoing chemo.  He is undeterred in his mission.  His teenage son sojourns with his dad for the camaraderie & to ensure his well-being.  The father is completely convinced he'll solve the mystery & reap the treasure.  He asks Leach (off-camera) "Shall I contact you after I find it."  Seek out this jewel of a film.  Its rewards are priceless.

Israeli Author Amos Oz at 92ndY Talks: His New Novel "JUDAS"

Amos Oz (b Jerusalem 1939) is regarded as Israel's most famous author ("My Michael" & "Where the Jackals Howl") has received numerous literary awards and the Legion of Honor (1997.)  He's also been called a traitor.  Mr Oz was at the 92ndY to promote his new book "Judas" a story which resonated  for him personally & profoundly.  The word Judas, Oz explains equates as traitor.  He was consumed with the story of Judas as a young man working on a Kibbutz.  He spent countless hours reading the new testament to learn the story of Jesus & Judas.  Oz said "the story of Judas is the most terrible story - responsible for more blood shed.  It is the Chernobyl of anti-semitism leading to the Holocaust."  Oz vehemently argued several flaws in this "ugly" story that are nonsensical for blaming Judas for Jesus' crucifixion.  Oz said as a young man he was asked by a nun if he was Jewish.  When he answered yes, she asked "why would you kill Jesus, he was such a nice young man."  Oz joked that he told her he was at the dentist that day.  Oz was an interesting & entertaining speaker.  He maintained that prevailing anti-semitism stems from a perpetuated myth from past centuries.  He read in Hebrew a small section of his novel "Judas" which was re-read in English.  Oz explained the structure of his new book. The novel is an ongoing dialogue between the 3 eccentric co-habitants who form a miraculous familial bond.  Oz referred to his notes.  He outlined the story so clearly I understood its dynamics.  Most thought provoking were Oz's comments about what it means to be a traitor.  He enumerated historic traitors including Churchill, Ben Gurion, Sadat & Arafat.  "Being called a traitor can be a badge of honor."  Oz told us that from all his reading of scriptures & the new testament the most important thing was the teaching of the moral obligation of being kind.  "People can change.  I've seen people change.  People do change and they can surprise themselves."

"Arrival" Alien's with Amy Adams as an Intergalactic Linguistics Expert

"Arrival" is a contemporary sci-fi movie direted by Denis Villeneuve ("Incendies" 2011) starring Amy Adams (Dr Louise Banks) and Jeremy Renner (Dr Ian Donnelly.)  It takes a realistic approach to how our world would respond to alien space crafts landing simultaneously in various parts of our world.  In many ways this echoes "Contact" with a realistic examination of the expected co-operation & disconnect between power house nations.  At first, all 12 countries align global communications to share information.  It's not long before China & Russia pull out of the pack threatening aggressive attacks on the gigantic, alien (a not so politically corect term) spacecrafts.  Louise is brought in as a linguistic expert assigned the improbably task of deciphering messages transmitted by the intergalactic space travellers.  The anti-gravity affects, military protocols, mystifying aliens & hieroglyphics are all credible & intriguing.  The celestial sic-fi plot takes a cerebral leap of faith that outshines other E.T. storylines.  "Memory is a strange thing.  We're bound by it with a beginning and an ending."  While working to save humanity, Louise sees dreamlike flashbacks of her daughter Hannah from the joys of infancy & early childhood to her heart wrenching death as teenager.  Hannah's special name is a palindrome; spelled the same forward or backwards.  I interpreted this captivating & beautiful alien invasion movie more as an intelligent paradigm of time travel.   Would you live your life over knowing the future?  I'd go back and see "Arrival" again.

Doc "Disturbing the Peace" Israelis & Palestinians Dedicated to Peaceful Alliances

"Disturbing the Peace" is both a wrenching doc. on the the courageous Palestinians & Israelis committed to establishing a safe, peaceful & reasonable resolution to the ongoing Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The perpetual warring factions determined to destroy each other have growing numbers within their ranks wanting to end the bloodshed & co-exist peacefully.  These courageous civilians have served in the Israeli army & within the Palestinian militia.  They've found mutual ground in their complicated relationships with one another.  "We both held a common willingness to kill people we don't know."  A former Israeli soldier tells us "Fighting denies the humanity of the other side.  We must think about the suffering & humanity of the other side."  These brave, benevolent individuals, viewed by many as traitors, have formed a movement, called Commandos for Peace (CFD.) CFD are dedicated to breaking down the walls of hatred & violence that have killed, maimed & oppressed masses of people for what feels an enternity.  It's a revolutionary endeavor exemplifying the possibility for change using a strategy of non-violence and open communication.  The doc shows wrenching footage of carnage & destruction inflicted on both sides.  The focus is on several Israelis, formerly in the army & former Palestinian militants who share the epiphany: enough is enough.  Bloodshed only brings more bloodshed.  A Palestinian mother whose son was killed, wept watching footage of Israeli fatalities from a suicide attack.  She tells us "A mother's pain is all the same.  Blood does not come in 2 colors."   One soldier said "There is courage fighting in the army.  There is real courage in civilians who don't stand for everything the government dictates."  Directors Stephen Apkon & Andrew Young's Hebrew/Arabic language documentary is sub-titled in English.  This is an intelligent, affecting & inspiring film that  examines the possibilities of sworn enemies turning swords into plowshares.  The paradigms for peaceful resolutions are deemed not only admirable but possible.

Liz Gerring Dance Co World Premier "(T)here to (T)here" Collaborating with Artist Kay Rosen

Liz Gerring's new, collaborative dance performance "(T)here to (T)here" premiered at the BAC as part of the White Lights Festival last evening.  This dynamic piece was enhanced by the visual text by artist Kay Rosen and score by composer Michael Schumacher.  Schumacher's computer generated composition provided a constant tonal sound that underpinned the forceful impact of the dancers.  The The 5 dancers, including Gherring performing in her piece, are all robust dancers whose athleticism maintained a taut elegance.  The austere staging & language based artwork also enhanced the impact of the abstract fluidity of the dancers' movements.  The piece commenced with an urgency relating to time and its perpetual momentum.  The individual choreography flowed unimpeded.  The physical contact between dancers was minimal but the parrallel connections were echoed resoundedly.  Rosen, whose works have been exhibited at the MoMA, Whitney & internationally, used illuminating text that  defined spatial relationships.  Rosen interwove & played with various words such as divisibility, vertical, horizontal, and there.   The identically sized lettering showed the equation 1 + 1 = 1 1.  The cerebral & potent performance portrayed the independent beauty of an individual with its moments of human interaction.     

Crooked TRUMP Takes $103,000 for Campaign from CEO of Pipeline Project

Correct, Trump, pres-elect collected $103,000 from CEO Kelsy Warren of Energy Transfer Partners (ETP.)  The corrupt company destroying sanctioned Native Amer lands from ND to IL & threatening the safety of the water supply to millions.  Warren has been noticeably absent from the front lines regarding the North Dakota Pipeline project pushed through by ETP.  The Obama administration finally put a halt to the project which is nearly 85% complete.  Warren wants to reassure everyone that this destructive, invasive and toxic project will get pushed through under Trump.  Of course, reassured is not how I view this immoral fiasco that is financially driven.  Warren contends this is an efficient way to transferr oil to save people money. (Just take lands that belong to indigenous Native Americans & tear them up.)  "We will get the easement and we will complete our project," boasts the CEO charlatan.  Mark Albert of CBS News asked Warren if has spoken about the pipeline with Mr. Trump.  His insidious response, "I've never met the man."  In other words Warren dodged the question.  And, he donated $103,000 to Trump's election.  To quote Warren directly, "They {protestors} will not stop the project. That's naive.  They're not stopping us."  Coming from press elect last month "We're going to allow the Keystone Pipeline and so many other changes to to move forward."  Trump has not disavowed his statement.  You can bet he's going to allow it.  What a disgraceful, dangerous hypocrite Trump has already proved himself.  He's called Hilary crooked while taking money from big business to insure their noxious self-interests and his own.

"Les Liaisons Dangereuses" with Liev Schrieber & Janet McTeer

Finding entertainment in a play about cruel manipulations of people's emotions was futile.  The world is a cruel and dangerous place.  Art has the power to enable us to escape from ourselves and to discover ourselves.  Today, my mind found the tedium of sexual dalliances & debauchery as a game unamusing.   The staging was stunning with the candle chandeliers.  Schrieber & McTeer were exceptional in their roles.  But, I didn't have the wherewithal to care at all.  Perhaps, my dismal reception for what was meant to scintillate was never given a fair opportunity to flicker.  Still, I felt fidgety throughout and found the production without substantive merit.

British Playwright Mike Bartlett's' "Love, Love, Love" Biting Satire of Baby Boomer's Self-Indulgence

British playwright, Mike Bartlett (b 1980) is a brilliant, prolific playwright, "King Charles III" 2015.  He's an interesting playwright with a broad spectrum of subject matter that incorporates clever contrivances to his staging.  "Love, Love, Love" is a lighter farce focusing on a swinging 60''s couple. Both are narcisstis who spout freedom, free love and adventure without concerns for the consequences of their all consuming self-indulgences.  Sandra meets Kenneth in a London flat while on a date with his his older, working class brother.  Kenneth has been freeloading & annoying his older brother Andrew who wants him to leave.  Sandra manages to manipulate Andrew out of his apt. & shamelessly seduces Kenneth.  Both are more suited being cut from the same solipsistic mold.  "Love, Love, Love" is in a triptych format.  It deals with generational divides, sibling rivalry & cavalier concern for others.  The 2nd act is set in an affluent home in 1990.  Kenneth & Sandra are married & parents to two teens.  Time has moved forward but the couple remain annoying, manipulative & self-centered.  Their children become pawns & collateral damage from lack of parental love & support.  The tour de force meltdown by 16 yr old daughter Rose when frustrations boil over is exasperating & exhilarating.  The 3rd act set in 2012 is a cumulnation of the wake of destruction caused by the couple's climbing the ladder of success while simultaenously breaking it.  The son is not a fully functioning member of society.  The distraught, 37 yr old Rose fails miserably to convey to her parents how empty & alone she feels.   This engrossing satire may seem shallow.  But, stop in the name of love to consider the cost of a self-obsessed generation that has razed our planet and empowered a hate monger to flourish.  What the world needs now is love, sweet love.

"Loving" Illegal Interracial Marriage Ruled Legitimate by the Supreme Court

"Loving" is a graceful film based on the odious arrest & conviction in 1958 of an interracial couple in VA for marrying & cohabitating.  As put by the arresting officer to Richard Loving (Australian actor Joel Edgerton "You know better. That don't fly here. God is law. A sparrow is a sparrow and a robin is a robin.  They different for a reason."  The hateful ruling stated their "marriage went againt the peace & dignity of the commonwealth."  This hateful rhetoric festered from slaver.  It was deplorable but enforceable under the laws of VA & several other souther states.  Mildred Loving (Ethiopian-Irish actress, Ruth Negga) was pregnant with their 1st child when officers barged into their bedroom and arrested the couple.  Loving was released on bail the following morning but Mildren was detained for several days in prison.  Her husband was not allowed to post bail for his wife.  The movie begins disarmingly, Mildred tells Richard she's pregnant and his quiet delight.  There's no frivolous disclaimer  "…being based on a true story."  The landmark civil rights case was ruled by the US Supreme Court in 1978 that marriage is an inherent right guaranteed by the Constitution.  It's only been since 2016 that the Supreme Court ruled gay marriage legal.  "Loving" is an intelligent, unhurried profile of a courageous couple who risked their safety, the safety of their family & lengthy incarceration to rectify an egregious ruling in the courts and racist mentalities.  The heart rendering acting by both Negga & Edgerton is stirring.  The wheels of justice turn slowly.   "Loving"tells the history of unsung heroes of humanity and social justice with eloquence & dignity.   This historic civil rights film warrants viewing.    

"Ultimate Beauty Bible" at New Ohio Theater-The Ugly Underbelly in the Big City

The world premiere of Page 73's "Ultimate Beauty Bible" is a black comedy of a couple of NYC gals who are self-proclaimed gurus of glamour.   Three women are at the helm of a fiendish friendship.  They have all mounted the masthead of the fashion mag. "Crimp;" an amalgamation of" Cosmo" & "Vogue." Since joining together as interns, Danielle (an exceptional Eboni Booth,) Lee & Tiffany, the trio have triumphed into senior editorial positions which provides them plenty of swag & misconceived notions of self-esteem.  Danielle & Lee are roommates.  Tiffany lives alone, somewhere downtown.  The 3 buccaneer, besties work hard by day at their glam jobs & are on the prowl most nights hunting for booty.  Daneille, the seeminlyg more sensible & self-assured of the 3 says she'd "just like to meet a nice cute guy."  Ergo, Kit, short for Kristopher (or nitwit) saunters by & is waylaid by "Tif" who orchestrates his hook-up with Danielle.  Kit & Danielle's dalliance at her aptmt is waylaid by Lee when she stumbles home late to find him in their living room.  Danielle has only recently been diagnosed with cancer & is beginning her treatment process.  Although she shares her diagnosis with her friends & Kit, she receives the most comfort & empathy from Seth, her insurance phone contact who givers her his direct extension.  Mixed in with this glossy group of characters is Autumn, a lowly intern at "Crimp."  Autumn sprays bizarre biographical soliquies.  Yet, her perceptive observations surgically dissects all that is noxious in her vertiginous surroundings.  The one act, two hour plays runs on, managing to get on your nerves but also under skin.  The talented ensemble cast & clever staging suture some of the play's flaws.  Kit texts his breakup to Danielle while he & Lee sneak into an affair.  Kit says to Lee, "I told you I love you. I didn't say I like you."  I didn't love this appealing production.  I will say I liked it.  

Doc "The Eagle Huntress" Soars as an Inspiring Biopic of A Mangolian Teen

The majestic documentary of a 13 yr old Mangolian girl, Aisholpan, is both inspiring & groundbreaking. Director Otto Bell's light touch gives us an unobtrusive view of a remarkable young woman, Aisholplan and & her family.  The film is a stunningingly beautiful look at their nomadic lives in the mountainous Mongolia outskirts.  Aisholpan is the 1st female ever trained as an eagle hunter. It's a courageous & highly skilled undertaking which up until now had been delegated to men. This arduous, dangerous & noble task has been handed down from father to son, from generation to generation.  However, in this remote region of the world, change in attitudes and opportunities for women are expanding.  I formed a fondness for this soft hearted girl with a strong will; willing & able to do whatever it takes to succeed.  She is helped in her quest by her loving father, her biggest ally & mentor.  Their bond is endearing & unbreakable.  He's admirable & heroic as her proponent.  There are many skeptics among the older men opposed to women becoming eagle hunters.  Those opposed have strong dictates for roles assigned to men & women.  Nonetheless, she is permitted to perform in the highly esteemed eagle hunting competition.  It's no buzzard kill knowing she wins.  Full eagle hunter status is only bestowed after capturing prey.  Despite being a longtime animal advocate, I applauded Aisholpan successful hunt.  The respect & teamwork between Aisholpan and her animals is incredible. Every frame of this gorgeous film grants a look into the fascinating, harsh & happy lifestyles in this remote region.  Bell's enthralling doc. presents the exciting process of capturing an eaglet & the necessary training.  A sense of tradition & a respect for nature is felt throughout.  "The Eagle Huntress" shows the rigorous demands upon Aisholpan and her family.  It also presents the pride, thrill, love and respect Aisholpan experienced & inspired in others.    

Ava DuVernay's Doc "13th"-Emancipation Bent into Incarceration & Injustice

Ava DuVernay's disturbing documentary "13th" is meant to make us uncomfortable, as well we should be.  The "13th" Amendment; the emancipation decree is legal semantics for the transformation of slavery into Jim Crow laws into mass incarceration of black men.  Footage of lynchings, violence against peaceful civil rights protestors and black men being arrested & imprisoned are horrific.  However, as a society, we promulgate unfair & inhumane sentencing practices.  Senator Booker and legal activist Bryan Stevenson are eloquent yet alarming voices of reason explaining how systemic racism in our country has evolved from the plantation to incarceration. The Reagans', Clintons', Bushes' misguided war on drugs became legal loophole for locking up black men in alarming numbers & with egregious sentences.   In other words, "slavery" is not legal but the incentive and intention of imprisoning of a disproportionate population of black men has become big business with financial & racial driven motives.  Everyone must see this intelligent and piercing documentary.  Hopefully, its  intent will provoke a public's outcry for humane changes in our country's legal system.  The inhumanity of slavery has in theory been abolished.  In reality, we have become a heinous nation of mass incarceration.  DuVernay's documentary is required viewing, especially now that the KKK has endorsed a presidential candidate who doesn't disavow their support.  DuVernay is a powerful filmmaker who allows the interviewees their say.  DuVernay makes it apparent the troubling truths of the clandestine cover-up of today's Jim Crow rulings.  

THE ENCOUNTER-An Immersive Diversion into Sensory Overload

British dir/playwright Simon McBurney's one act one actor iteractive theatrical experience is not an original inception.  The production relies on sensory overload and an overly ambitious concept.  Disney was an earlier innovator of immersive technology in their "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" theme park film.  Each seat was wired for individual, visceral responses.  "The Encounter" provides headsets for each "guest" with instructions to ensure they're operational for everyone's inward audio & visual interactions.  At times, this proves very clever & eerily effective.  Nonetheless, Disney will inform you it all comes down to storytelling.  The play is at its most charming when its lone performer, Richard Katz, is cajoling & bribing his 2 yr old daughter to go to bed.  She finagles a treat and a bedtime story.  She wields the upper hand while mom is away at a Buddhist retreat  Katz sets the audience up with an instructive, introductory pre-performance.  The driving, true story is the quest of Nat'l Geographic photographer, Loren McIntyre.  McIntyre journeys into the deep recesses of the Amazon.  His mission is to prove the existence of the Mayoruna Tribe whom he claimed rescued him from a near fatal attack by the "Cat" Tribe."  This intriguing story gets lost in translation.  Simon McBurney conceived and directed this tech savvy theatrical immersion.  He beats the audience into madness by fusing everything in an overkill.  There are environmental messages & philosophical queries of merit.  And, there is much to recommend in the creative aural & visual encounter.  However, the blending rendered a madness of mixed messaging that was dense in special effects and obtuse in substance  Although, this may be the show to encounter after drinking the kool-aid.