Archive for October 2009

Michael Jackson’s swan song – This Is It

By Pauline Adamek · Comments (7)
Thursday, October 29th, 2009

photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

Whether you are a fan of the late King of Pop or not, the movie about the preparations for Michael Jackson”™s This Is It concert tour is a super entertaining, ultra-fascinating look behind the scenes. Once you get over the freak factor of Jackson”™s weird face and nose, that forced cleft in his chin – that takes about 10 minutes – hopefully you will become fully immersed in the passion, enthusiasm and hard work that so many people were putting in, striving to create the ambitious concert tour that never eventuated.

Just the amount of sheer talent that was assembled is quite staggering. It”™s so evident that all these people were working incredibly hard to produce the best show they could, not just worshiping at the shrine of MJ. The costume drawings and concepts promised to be groundbreaking. You cannot keep your eyes off those astounding dancers — only eleven we cast from a crowd of 500, all clearly at the top of their game. Then there are those gifted musicians – especially Orianthi (that 24-year-old Aussie blonde on guitar can shred like the greats) – and, of course, Jackson himself. So vital. So decisive. It”™s astounding to see he was still such an expert dancer and — even when saving his voice — a thrilling and haunting singer.

photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

For the record, I don”™t own any of Jackson”™s albums, but I have always admired his hit songs. So, yeah – I didn”™t go in as a rabid fan and I was afraid it might get schmaltzy (it did – only once, in one “˜heal the world”™ pro-environment fantasy sequence) so I was really blown away.

Whether you see it in IMAX projection (I didn”™t) or otherwise, this movie is essential viewing.

Only playing for two weeks in selected cinemas.  Visit the official site for more info.

review by Pauline Adamek

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Categories : Concert, Dance, Film, Music, Performance, Review
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A new play about old people – Exit Strategy at the Falcon

By Pauline Adamek · Comments (10)
Thursday, October 29th, 2009

A funny new play about old people, Bill Semans and Roy M. Close”™s play Exit Strategy is a real treat. In this delightful story, a pair of senior citizens learn you”™re never too old for an exciting adventure.

The lights come up on a shabby lounge area of an old rooming house. This is the Penley Hotel, an old residence that caters to elderly people on fixed incomes. There”™s a prominent crucifix on one stained wall, some ratty old furniture and a few mouse traps discreetly laid along the baseboards.

Pretty soon we meet two long-term residents, James (James Sikking) and Mae (Debra Mooney). He”™s a former actor and college professor whose dyed hair belies his given age of 82. She”™s a crabby, silver-haired old bird who, as manager, rules the roost with a firm hand. Witness Mae”™s opening line to James, a barked demand of “No smoking!” There”™s the occasional clash over the house rules, especially on where the thermostat should be set, but we see the pair are comfortable co-tenants in this decrepit rooming house. James and Mae also exchange frank banter about typical “˜old folks”™ troubles, such as prescription pills and prostate and peeing issues.

But when Mae shows James a notice she”™s just received, stating that their building is scheduled for demolition, you can see their spirits crumple as if all their breath has been kicked out of them. The pair of pensioners find themselves facing imminent eviction and an uncertain future.

Enter Alex (John C. Moskoff), a younger man on a mission (he”™s around 70) with an intriguing proposition. He asks to rent a room for a few weeks and, towards the end of Act 1, draws the pair into his confidence. It transpires that Alex has come to town to reclaim a valuable item that was stolen from his family years ago. He needs their help in order to get it back, but what he wants to ask of them is not entirely legal…

Debra Mooney is just wonderful as the salty old gal. Sikking is hilarious as James, the has-been actor, never slipping into stereotype with his portrayal of an old queen of the stage. Playing Alex, Moskoff brings a breath of fresh air and upbeat mentality to his role. Against the stale malaise that the other two seem stuck in, his positive outlook is precisely like an essential tonic that shakes them out of their complacency and helps them dream again.

This inspiring drama features three versatile veterans of television and film: marvelous Debra Mooney (The Practice, Everwood, Boston Legal), the charismatic James Sikking (Made of Honor, Hill Street Blues, Doogie Howser, M.D.) and the charming John C. Moskoff (The Wonder Years, Gypsy, Requiem for a Heavyweight).

The trio give superlative performances – their line readings and subtext are simply spot on. Together, they are completely convincing as pensioners who concoct a scheme intended to right an old wrong.

Well-directed and beautifully performed, Exit Strategy is a highly enjoyable night at the theater.

THE FALCON THEATRE
is located at 4252 Riverside Drive, in Burbank.
Box office and bookings – (818) 955 8101

Runs: until Sunday, November 15, 2009 (4pm show)
PERFORMANCES: Wed.-Sat. at 8pm, Sundays at 4pm

TICKET PRICES:
Weekdays (Wed/Thurs) $32.50 – $35.00
Weekends (Fri/Sat/Sun) $37.50 – $40.00

All production photos by Chelsea Sutton.

review by Pauline Adamek

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Categories : Performance, Review, Theater
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A reverent biopic – Amelia

By Pauline Adamek · Comments (7)
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Hilary Swank as Earhart in Mira Nair's AMELIA (Photo by Ken Woroner)

Amelia Earhart was a legendary aviatrix who, in 1937, vanished during the last leg of her attempt to circumnavigate the globe by plane.

Hilary Swank stars as the renowned aviation pioneer and author who became a feminist icon. Much like Meryl Streep was born to play Julia Child, Swank is virtually a dead ringer for Earhart. Sharing a tall, slender physique and boyishly fine features, her horsey teeth substituting for Earhart”™s legendarily oft-concealed gap-toothed smile, Swank inhabits the role more with a sense of duty than passion.

Similarly, Mira Nair (Salaam Bombay, The Namesake) directs the biopic with a reverent and restrained hand, imbuing her film with warm hues yet maintaining a cool distance. The sensational period costumes and sets and the lush, romantic score pair beautifully with some breathtaking aerial vistas as well as the focus on Amelia”™s emotional life.

The haigographical approach doesn”™t stop with Earhart. Amelia”™s husband, George P. Putnam, was a publishing tycoon and public relations manager. Essentially an upper-class huckster, he managed her fame and then creatively capitalised on it at every turn. In one early instance he confesses he stashed a product on Amelia”™s plane, then asks her to endorse it. Whenever she complains about the gruelling lecture tours and constant product endorsements, he counters that aviation is an expensive pursuit and all this is necessary to keep her aloft. We even see him urging one of Earhart”™s friendly rivals to throw a race. But these deeds are less dastardly when performed by a kind eyed, charming silver fox such as Richard Gere. A less sympathetic actor in this role would certainly have cast his behaviour in a different light.

While Nair is a sensitive filmmaker, the story she tells, using a screenplay by Ronald Bass based on two biographies, proves surprisingly superficial. We never see how Amelia goes from being an awestruck kid in a field to becoming a record-breaking pilot. Nair could have given us at least one scene where she monkeys with an engine or tests her equipment.

Nevertheless, Amelia is an enjoyable story that is beautifully told.

Hilary Swank as Earhart in Mira Nair's AMELIA (Photo by Ken Woroner)

Official site

review by Pauline Adamek

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Nightmares and blood — Cirque du Freak: The Vampire”™s Assistant

By Pauline Adamek · Comments (2)
Saturday, October 24th, 2009

John C Reilly

In this enthralling fantasy-adventure, two teenaged boys find their close friendship tested when the pair are drawn into a mysterious netherworld of sideshow freaks and grotesque misfits. Darren (Chris Massoglia) and Steve (Josh Hutcherson) are best mates and fairly typical teenagers. Darren”™s strict parents ensure he”™s a model student. Steve”™s neglectful upbringing means that no one is curbing his tendency for mischief. When the two boys hear of a Freak Show coming to town, they sneak off in the dead of night to check it out. There they see sights that defy explanation, such as a slathering wolf-man and a voluptuous bearded lady (Salma Hayek).

Steve recognizes one of the performers, Larten Crepsley (John C. Reilly), from his well-thumbed books on vampires. After the police shut down the show, Steve seeks out the vampire backstage and asks to join his clan. Meanwhile, Darren impulsively steals Crepsley”™s poisonous spider Madam Octa, and overhears the conversation between Crepsley and Steve. When Crepsley declares Steve has bad blood, he refuses to turn the boy into a vampire. Incensed by this rejection, Steve swears to kill Crepsley and departs angrily.

Darren brings the spider to school where, predictably, it escapes and creates havoc, sinking its fangs into Steve”™s face. Darren returns the spider to Crepsley and begs him for an antidote to save his friend. But there”™s a price to pay…

Somehow the boys unknowingly break a 100-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires; a peaceful group called the Vampire Clan who don”™t kill their victims, who are at odds with a group of stereotypical bloodsucking killers called the vampaneze. Darren disappears from the safety of his suburban existence to fulfill his destiny in a place shrouded by nightmares and steeped in blood.

the boys face off

Here Paul Weitz is directing for the first time without his brother Chris by his side. (Curiously enough, Chris is completing another Vampire flick, The Twilight Saga: New Moon.) The inventive animated opening credits sequence is almost worth the price of admission alone. Apart from some jarringly choppy editing, the movie is superbly entertaining and features first-rate visual affects.

Cameo performances include Willem Dafoe, Jane Krakowski and Patrick Fugit in supporting roles. The two teenagers prove decent actors, but the revelation of the piece is the brilliant performance by John C. Reilly. For the first time, Reilly gets to play a character with genuine emotional depth, and demonstrates he”™s more than up to the challenge, bringing a tremendous gravitas and air of melancholy to this role as well as a unique wit.

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire”™s Assistant is based on the first three installments of a twelve-book, young adult series by Irish author Darren Shan, entitled Cirque Du Freak, The Vampire”™s Assistant, and Tunnels of Blood (all published in 2000). The novels were adapted for the film by American screenwriter Brian Helgeland who relocated the setting from Europe to New Orleans. It is also rumored that there will be four movies to cover all twelve books.

Chris Massoglia and (r) John C. Reilly

Indeed, the ending clearly sets up for a sequel, which I am already looking forward to seeing.

Distributed by Universal Pictures and Relativity Media.

More info can be found at the movie”™s official site

review by Pauline Adamek

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Anime workshop — this Sunday, Oct 25th

By Pauline Adamek · Comments (1)
Friday, October 23rd, 2009

animated scroll

The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC) is pleased to present the return of the On the Veranda Cultural Program with the insightful 12th Century Anime Workshop.

Contemporary Japanese Anime dates back to the 12th Century where characters were painted in sumi (ink) on scrolls so that the story would unfold with each advancing twist. These animated scrolls would travel with storytellers as they would visit different communities and temples during the 12th Century, exchanging ideas, news and the classic tales held within the scrolls.

In this informative and fun lecture/workshop led by the JACCC”™s own Artistic Director Hirokazu Kosaka, attendees will learn to follow and understand the classic tales and the historical context behind them.

After a unique lecture and demonstration, Kosaka will guide attendees as they begin to draw some of the 12th Century Anime characters with brush and ink.

Celebrating the re-opening of the Award Winning James Irvine Japanese Garden, the On the Veranda Cultural Program takes place in the JACCC”™s Garden Room. Since early Spring, it has since presented some of the most informative and insightful workshops by trained masters in an intimate and serene surrounding.

“The Veranda itself is the sacred space between man and nature, between structure and garden, between here and there,” explains Kosaka. “It is the meditative space that lingers in-between, the transition that pulls us into both worlds.”

Don”™t miss the opportunity to attend this rare and unique workshop. As space is limited, reservations are recommended. General admission is $20, seniors and students are $18, and JACCC members are $15. Please call (213) 680-3700 for reservations.

WHAT: On the Veranda Cultural Program: 12th Century Anime
WHEN: Sunday, October 25, 2009, 1-3 p.m.
WHERE: JACCC Garden Room located at 244 S. San Pedro St. Los Angeles, CA 90012
INFO: For more information visit www.jaccc.org
RESERVATIONS: $20 General Admission, $15 JACCC Members, $18 Seniors/Students.
As space is limited, please call (213) 680-3700 to enroll.

This program is made possible in part by the Sempra Energy Foundation, and the County of Los Angeles through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

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