The Scottish Film SUNSET SONG-Scenice Scotland Post OUTLANDER Pre WWI

Dir/screenwriter Terrance Davies' (b.  1945 Britain) lSUNSET SONG is a sumptuos film of the Scotish countryside on the brink of WWI.  The bucolic beauty of the land belies the serentiy within the household of a family headed by a tyrannical father.  He takes as much sadistic pleasure in flogging his son as Capt Randall does Jamie in the OUTLANDER TV series.  The film features shots of a Stonehenge assemblage  and rolling, green countrysides.  The lead character, Chris is the oldest daughter in this family.  The father is so brutal, her brother flees & her mother poisons herself & her twin infants.  Chris, a promising student with career aspirations to teach finds herself bound to her father & the farm. Fortunately for her, the father suffers a stroke liberating her & leaving her the land.  Chris (not unlike Claire) is a very sensual & sexual being.  Chris finds happiness as a young newly wed with Ewan.  Together they work the farm harmoniously & bear a son.  Their domestic bliss is short lived.  Germany & England are now at war.  However, not all Scotts wish to align with the Brits & do their fighting.  Those who do not enlist are accused of cowardice and allied with Germany.  Ewan reuluctantly enlists.  On his 1st furlough, his demeanor has radically changed into an abusive lout.  Chris fails to acknowledge Ewan's departure.  The gloaming cinematography & rustic farming are charming.  "Lovely things in the world don't endure and are made lovelier for that."  SUNSET SONG is a harsh & stunning look at life in Scotland in the early 20thC.  Aye, I'm more captivated by the OUTLANDER series set in Scotland early 18th C.  

CAGNEY at Westside Theatre-Two Heels Up

The musical, biopic play on the late great James Cagney has something nice for everyone; the majority  niche is for those with seniority. Still, this likable, intimate production casts a killer hoofer in the lead role.  Robert Creighton plays the legendary actor thug who stuffed a grapefruit in a woman's mug.  I compare Creighton to Astaire.  Astaire's 1st screen test for studio mogul Selznick reportedly said "Can't act. Can't sing.  Can dance a little."  I felt the same about Creighton.  His singing sucked, his acting was pat but his dancing was dandy.  The ensemble helped with the heavy tapping & Bruce Sabath as Jack Warner was perfect casting.  Cagney's life was surprisingly more interesting than the interchangeable tough guy roles he played on film.  It turns out Cagney was a real life hero to the working class and a man of strong principals.  His lifelong marriage & longtime friendship with Bob Hope were heartwarming and made for show stopping dancing duets.  Cagney should also be remembered for his support of our troops (along with Hope,) and his forthright appearance before the House UnAmer Activities Com.  The show drags its feet in with story telling & the musical numbers are mostly blank & vanilla.  Still, for an intimate show with a lot of bang for its buck, I give it my regards.  

Jonathan Horowitz Show at The Brant Fdtn-Whole Lot of Witticism

My friend coaxed me to The Brant Fdtn situated on rolling green acerage in Greenwich, CT.  The barn like structure is a spacious 2 story structure which lends itself to art exhibitions & bird inhabitants amongst the rafters.  Indepth shows of a single artists are featured twice yearly & led by a curator.  Admission is free but reservations are required.  Situated on the lawn outside were 2 small Richard Serra sculptures & 1 massive, morphed shaped sculpture by Urs Fischer (b. Switzerland '73.)  Fischer had a smiliar gargantuoun installation in front of the Seagrams building.  In both settings, the sculptures mirror the building in NYC and the trees in CT.   The featured artist is Jonathan Horowitz (b. Amer '66.)  Horowitz is a multi-media, conceptual, political, pop culture, installation artist.  He uses photography, technology, video, found objects & is fond of appropriating other artists' works. There were "homages" to works by Warhol, Lichtenstein & Johns.  A small gallery featured a life size bronze  of a cartoonish Hillary Clington being crowned with the wording "Hilary Clinton is a person too."  The wall contained hundreds of small, silly figurines Horowitz painted, adorned and also used the wording "….is a person too" adding individual names (OJ Simpson) & classifications (convicted felons.)  I found this engaging, provcative & comedic.  The "open store" installation contained household items.  We were encouraged to take from or add something.  Horowitz did a lot of taking from other major artists' ideas.  An Amer flag covered in white with glitter appropriated both Johns & Horowitz's partner, artist Rob Pruitt.  The lower level galleries contained the most thought provoking works of social & political signfigance, for instance:  a minimalistic Kelly warped pink triangle and donation bins for various causes scanning pressing & polar oppposite positions.  The final gallery was a US presidential tribute that was extremely relevant & thought provoking.  Horowitz borrowed ideas but some of works stirred me to contemplate pressing social issues.  My friend & I noticed small photos in odd, out of the way places.  We asked the curator who said they are of wanted terrorists at large.   I encourage you to visit the Brant Fdtn & see what you find stimulating.        

The MEDDLER Starring Susan Sarandon, Rose Byrne & J.K. Simmons

"The Meddler" is a comedy that is anything but funny or entertaining.  The A list cast of stars include Susan Sarandon as the annoying but (un)lovable, overbearing mother to successful, beautiful but (not) so tragically single daughter (Rose Byrne.)  The fine cast of actors who play love interests to Sarandon are J.K. Simmons & Michael McKean.  The always likable Jason Ritter plays Byrne's on-again off-again boyfriend.  Despite the charms of these 3 fine actors, Sarandon's grating voice, incredulous character & uncharacteristic overacting all but bury this chick flick into an interminably, unwatchable movie.  For anyone who is a mother or who has had a mother…hmm...this movie is not for you.

RABIN in HIS OWN WORDS an Israeli Documentary by Erez Laufer

Israeli documentay filmmaker Erez Laufer (One Day After Peace '12) has made a profound biopic film about Israeli Prime Minister Rabin's extraordinary life & the exceptional part he played in history as a soldier, military commander, Defense Minster, and broker of peace for in the Middle East.  The film's footage traces Rabin's family history along with the birth of the State of Israel and the ongoing violence & wars that have plagued Israel since its inception.  Laufer's doc is a tribute to Rabin's initiative & profound commitment to establishing peaceful resolutions between Israel, the Palestinians, and Israel's neighboring Arab nations.   Rabin had maintained an adamant stance against negotiating with the PLO being they were a terrorist group committed to wiping Israel off the face of the Earth.  His altered position to conduct negotiations through peaceful accord was heroic.  Arafat, the leader of the PLO allowed that Israel had the right to exist secured in peace & renounced terrorism.  Rabin asserted "We must think differently, look at things in a different way.  Peace requires a world of new concepts, new definitions."  This doc is an absorbing historic overview of meetings between Rabin, Arafat, Sadat, Hussein & our Presidents.  It's interesting to see our past leaders & their respective spouses during these historic times.  I highly commend this film as an emblematic testament to seeking peaceful resolutions.  Tragically, both Rabin & Sadat were assasinated (by their own deranged countrymen) for their courageous inroads towards peace.  Rabin is to be remembered & honored for the milestones he laid to end fighting amongst nations.   "We do not celebrate the death of our enemies.  I believe, however, that peace is attainable regardless of the Arab mentality, society or government."

INCOGNITO at MTC Incomprehensible but Memorable

The cerebral new play INCOGNITO by Nick Payne ("Constellations") is literally a complex study of the brain.   Payne's 1 act play with  4 actors (playing multiple roles) in 3 significant segments, retreads his contrivance of repetitive dialogues & sequences.  Parallels can be drawn between these plays pondering analytical quandaries.  "Constellations" explored infinite possibilities in the celestial expanse.  "INCOGNITO" is focuses inwardly on the workings of the tangible, human brain.  The 4 dexterous actors assumes 4 to 6 characters convincingly making this convuluted play confusing and simultaneously compelling.  For all the scientific advances and explorations, perhaps the final frontier and most important area of study is man's brain.  The characters are tenuously connected like tissue to each other via neurological doctors.  At the cortex of the play is actual brain matter taken & preserved from Albert Einstein.  The most sympathetic & heartfelt character is Henry.  Henry suffered some brain trauma rendering severe short term memory.  He is forever opining for his wife & doomed a life stuck in time.   Nevertheless, Henry makes a fascinating & frustrating case study.  Imagine the possibilities & problem solving to be conquered should we learn how the brain stores & retrieves memory.  What are if not for our memories & imaginations?  "Imagination is more important than knowledge." (A Einstein)  This clever play may not appeal to the masses but more to intellectual asses (like me.)  

Jullliard' 3rd Year Rep. Love's Labour's Lost-Lots of Laughter

Julliard students' Shakespeare's Repertory for spring '2015 includes "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Love's Labour's Lost."  I saw the later with a production geared for laughter.  There is an exuberance and energy that the students bring to Shakespeare's romantic comedies and a contemporary  aesthetic.  I commend the clean & clever 4 level set design and staging.  And, Shakespeare's language rang eloquently from the cast but the modern high jinks hijacks the play.  I prefer Julliard's drama  performances of 20th & 21st C plays.  The student's Shakespeare plays are labors of love but are lost on me.    

The Aspen Instit David Miliband Discusses the Global Immigration Crisis

Last night at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Inst, David Miliband, Pres & CEO, The Int'l Rescue Com discussed the Global Immigration Crisis.  Miliband manages the agency's humanitarian relief in  more than 30 war torn countries & resettlement & aid programs into 25 US cities.  Miliband is an Oxford grad & received his masters fro MIT as a Kennedy Scholar.   I was very much interested in learning about the problems & progress made with regards to the refugee crisis.  Unfortunately, I was not able to discern what is being done nor where efforts are primarily directed.  Perhaps, I needed a more prestigious degree to grasp the erudite complexities in dealing with this world wide & exponentially expanding problems.  We were informed the refugee crisis is at its worse since WWII  with more than 60,000,000 people displaced and growing at a rate of 40,000/day.  The primary countries struggling with refugees in staggering numbers are Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Greece & Kenya.  Overall, the exodus population who return to their home countries is only 1%.  Miliband implied the pragmatic solution for each country is to absorb the mass influx of people with the understanding they will become permanent residents.  How this is to be attempted or accomplished was ambiguous.  Miliband implied the World Bank is not equipped and is restricted from distributing aid where it's most crucial.  It was indicated that it is futile to provide aid in countries combatting civil war.    Poverty is another factor driving mass exodus.  I failed to comprehend any plans or solutions directed to combat the global immigration crisis.  I left confused & despondent.  One bright note:  Canada has pledge to take in 25,000 immigrants/year.  (From where, how or what's going to be done, I don't know.)  

MET' MANUSxMACHINA Fashion's Fit with Technology

The grand entrance to this extraordinary exhibition at the MET's Costume Instit features a regal white gown that is a heavenly concoction of royal wedding gown & religious ceremonial frock.  The statuesque & bedazzled gown is the centerpiece of the show.   The elaborate train is breathtaking.  Above, the ocular shows a kaleidoscope video of the jeweled detailing. This imperial gown establishes the miraculous omnipotence of creativity enhanced with technological advances.  The curatorial adornments of multi-media tehnology are minimal.  The cornucopia of courture span from the 20th C to the present and are so striking on their own, it is suffice to simply identify the designer and year.  Note how the earliest designs appear contemporary & timeless.  The incredible craftsmanship of hand beading, embroidery, lacework are evident.  The advent of the sewing machine in the 19th C enabled mass production, exponentially liberating creative possibilities.  Then, as now, advances in science & technology have pushed the seamless boundaries of design towards exhilarating new achievements from tailoring ateliers.  Some of the futuristic, edgy designs incorporated 3D printed products, inorganic materials & laser cuttings.  The couture was jaw dropping for its beauty, ingenuity & peculiarities.  The intricate & ingenious designs were arresting.  A few (and there were many) favorites pieces:  "Venus" dress by Dior '1950, McQueen's spring/summer  '2009 dress with hand-embroidered enameled metal flowers and the Channel Wedding Ensemble '2006.  MANUS x MACHINE at the MET is a show to meander through slowly and enjoy in mass amounts.    My vote for best dressed at the MET Gala goes hands down to Beyonce who wore a stylish latex Givenchy gown with puffed shoulders & hand appliqué adornment.  Her dress was the pinnacle blend of machinery & handcraft with a wearable, contemporary design.

Shout Out to Julliard Student & Budding Star, Soprano Shereen Pimentel

The Julliard School is winding down for the year.  This means revving up on student recitals.  There are a bevy of concerts open to the public (free of charge) put on by the students for their degree and for the delight of the audience.  There are even plenty of recitals on Saturdays & Sundays.  Today I had the pleasure of hearing 2 cellists, a tenor and a soprano (all accompanied by fellow Julliard students.)   The soprano, Sherren Pimentel, was spectacular.  Shereen Pimentel, today's student, tomorrow's Broadway baby.  Congrats to all the students for their wonderful performances.  Shereen Pimentel - a name to remember.