Glen Powell in HIT MAN-A Sure Fire Film that Misses IT'S Mark

HIT MAN stars the sexy Glen Powell as Gary, the mild mannered Psyche Prof. who supplements his meek income with the daring but sleazy role as Ron, an undercover hitman for the police. Powell's star power blazes in his scene stealing roles in TOP GUN, ANYONE but YOU and currently TWISTERS. Here Powell is cast as a duplicitous character; a moral, mild mannered professor and an adept undercover hitman who ensnares people prepared to pay a third party to permanently put someone away. Based on a "true story"and directed by Richard Linklater (BOYHOOD, SCHOOL of ROCK) you would bet on it being an entertaining rom/com, crime thriller. Gary is surprisingly competent at coxing incriminating confessions from a motley mix of lowlifes. One lowlife turns out to be a beautiful, sexy siren, Madison (the alluring Adria Arjona). Seems Gary is smitten by Madison who wants her controlling husband out of the picture. Gary convinces Madison to simply take the money and run and abandon any notion of rubbing her hubby out. Powell and Arjona have killer chemistry together.  Gary falls hard for Madison who thinks he's Ron and becomes upset and confused when he comes clean with his true identity just after she admits to having killed her husband. Problems arise as the film fails to take shape despite Argon's stunning looks and Powell's sizzling smile. The plot meanders in ways that feel laden as if embedded in wet cement. As attractive as our leads are, we are led off keel.  The entire film feels too long and arduous. We deduced we've been duped and Gary as well. However, Gary fares better in a happily ever after ending that feels empty. We're left holding the bag for a movie that's consummately a drag. Don't be duped by the true story label. None of the twists and turns are credible. Director Linklater should've delivered a film that was better.

LADY GAGA Jazz and Piano in Las Vegas at Park MGM

Lady Gaga was born to be a star. Her singing voice, songwriting, piano playing, acting and stage presence put her in a class with the elite, echelons of performers of any era. I was fortunate enough to catch one of her remaining jazz and piano performances in Las Vegas. Gaga sings from a selection of some of the greatest jazz compositions written or performed by legendary artists including Ellington, Porter, Etta James, Fitzgerald, Sinatra, Piaf and Tony Bennett. Bennett is quoted in her program. "I'm amazed at jazz. I think it's the greatest art form of music that has ever been invented." Gaga gave special recognition not only to her great friend and recording collaborator, the late, great crooner, Tony Bennett, but several shout outs in the audience to his widow Susan Bennett, and also to her mom. Gaga's sold-out Dolby Live Park MGM in Las Vegas seats a little over 5,000. The concert was performed with a full-sized orchestra with an 11 member string section, 13 winds and percussion. Featured performers included her longtime trumpet player, Brian Newman, saxophone player Steve Kortyka and conductor, Michael Bearden. Both Newman and Kortyka entertained with blaring virtuoso solos that were huge crowd pleasers. Pianist, Alex Smith, was featured on keys except when Gaga stepped in and accompanied herself on the keys. I'd be happy to hear Gaga sing acapella or with her own tinkling of the ivories. This full-scale production replete with jazz orchestra, five costume changes still had an intimate feel. The show's introduction was a video of Gaga's friendly, pre-concert convening with her featured artists. During her five costume changes, short videos featuring Gaga in glamorous showbiz costumes moving throughout Las Vegas at night and backstage were played. I liked the video vignettes and her costuming with elaborate headdresses, glitzy long dresses and Broadway fashions. I wonder what havoc the heavy make-up on her face may ensue upon her complexion. The thickly drawn eyeliner and lashes was more bewildering than bewitching. This petty perturbation aside, the major irritation came from two men sitting behind us. They were obnoxious in their obsequious, non-stop catcalling which was majorly disruptive and rude. Nonetheless,  this was an evening of first rate entertainment from a multi-talented artist. Gaga performed jazz classics that she brought her own ingenious interpretation. I agree with Tony B. about jazz being the greatest art form of music. I contend Lady Gaga is one of the greatest singers/entertainers to perform with her innovative style, outstanding three octave range, mezzo-soprano vocals and dazzling stage presence. Hurry before she closes out her Vegas run on July 6.

REEFER MADNESS the Musical at the Refer Den in LA

REEFER MADNESS has become a cult musical that has been around for decades.  Originally made in  1936 as a propaganda film to scare the public senseless with the pitfalls of partaking in the hedonistic habit of toking on a doobie. The consequences for pursuing what was an illegal and immoral drug at the time were so extreme as to lend itself to being parodied. The musical first opened in LA in 1998 written by Kevin Murray and music by Dan Student. It has since spawned into an international cult classic that has been performed and promoted by A list performers including Alan Cummings, Cristian Campbell and Kristin Bell. REFEER MADNESS now playing at the Refer Den in LA opens with the voice of Alan Cummings offering a warm welcome the portends a good time as does the aroma of pot wafting through the cabaret style staging. This production is ingeniously staged as the talented cast of singers/dancers and actors gyrate and sidle through the tables, stairs and sets in an audience immersive experience. The story follows the romance of Mary and Jimmy, an all American, wholesome high school sweethearts in the 1930s. Their budding future and romance are waylaid when Jimmy succumbs to the doobie and becomes debauched and self-destructive having fallen in with the riffraff and lowlifes. The farfetched consequences are outrageously comical and winsome. The choreography is exceptional as are the dancers who are adept showing versatile styles of tap, modern and Broadway dance. The directors/choreographer Spencer Liff and Max Reed have garnered numerous Emmy nominations for choreography for FOX "So You Think You Can Dance," and have choreographed for the Soars, Emmy Awards and numerous Broadway shows. The earnest performances are all engaging and exhilarating. Overall this is a performance not to be missed for its fun energy and clever production with or without mood enhancements. A recent announcement was been made that a revival production will be restaged sometime this year that will star Alan Cummings and Kristen Bell. I sure as hell will be coming. 

Ethan Coen's Film "Drive Away Dolls" Stay Away from this Dreck

 Ethan Coen and his brother Joel have created and perfected the genre of the droll macabre drama.  Ethan's' first foray as a solo director is a total disaster with sporadic moments that show glimmers from what make the Coen brother's films so memorable. However, these flashes of dark comedy do not a full movie make and DRIVE AWAY DOLLS is a train wreck of a film that is a total disaster. The movie is a lesbian buddy roadtrip/crime thriller minus thrills, chills, laughs. It's a hodgepodge of gaffs that miss the mark. Don't fault the cast which provided star quality performances from Margaret Qualley as Jamie, a lesbian on the nonstop lookout for getting laid and her lover Sukie (an under used Beanie Feldstein). Jamie's voracious sexually appetite matches her unflappability in all situations. She takes an assured lead in a road trip from Philly to Tallahassee with her platonic lesbian friend Marian (a deadpan Geraldine Viswanathan) after she ended her live-in relationship with Sukie, a no nonsense cop. Jamie and Marian rent a car which contains, unbeknownst to them, a decapitated head and phallic head castings being transported by a mob boss. The mixup of the car rental pickup is the start of a journey that goes wrong for the bickering, goony gangsters, right for Jamie and Marian and terribly wrong for the audience. Jamie and Marian find their platonic friendship becoming much more as they rotate around a girl's sport team's make-out party. They also find use for the booty found in their trunk. Sukie, 

DOWNTOWN OWL Staring Lily Rabe-Worth Watching with Henry Golding/Ed Harris/Vanessa Hodges

The film DOWNTOWN OWL stars acclaimed film, TV and Broadway actress Lily Rabe who also co-directed with her husband Hamish Linklater. Rabe is best known for starring in the FX anthology "American Horror Story" and on Broadway in "Merchant of Venice".  She is a captivating actress who makes the most of her roles. Here she is especially winning as Julia, the befuddled new high school teacher in a rural North Dakota town in the early 80s.  Julia is taking a semester break from her husband as she acclimates to the weather and eccentricities of small town life and its locals. The film has a "Northern Exposure" sitcom humor, the melodrama of a marriage unraveling, high jinx high school football team antics and the vile, improper teacher/student relationship.  Julia receives the school principal's orientation to the block long town which has a closing movie theater, partial grocery store, chummy diner and popular bar. The cartoon illustration of the town's main strip sets a comic tone which continues through the school as Julia is eyed lasciviously by male students and with resentment by female students.  A few of the students that standout are Eli, (a worldly wise Jack Dylan Grazer) and Tina (Arden Michalec). Tina is known to be  pregnant with the coach's baby.  A delightful surprise comes in the role of Naomi (Vanessa Hodges) a fellow teacher who befriends Julia on day one and becomes her nightly drinking/dancing buddy.  The always excellent Ed Harris plays Horace, the town's wizened sage who also befriends and mentors Julia. Julia is smitten by Vance (Henry Golding) and flirts shamelessly who appears sporadically at the local pub. These fragmented characters along with the comedy and drama all mesh surprisingly well together as they build towards a climatic, deadly blizzard. The scenes where Julia is speaking on the phone to her estranged husband and to her father are particularly potent.  We observe her dependence on her dad and her distancing from her spouse with vested interest. The handling of improper student/teacher relations is disturbing and dealt with unsatisfactorily. But, it feels realistic in this ND town. The high school students all look as if they should've graduated from college and little time is spent within the classroom. However, the minor characters and plot lines are not going to be on the final exam. The final is focused on the central character's journey. And, the final grade for DOWNTOWN OWL is B+ because Rabe offers a master class in acting.