tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51596576960301908512024-02-20T00:54:04.690-08:00ArtsNFashionArtsNFashion Magazine celebrates all types of artists and the artistic process. We know that behind every work of art there is a human being working very hard to make it happen. We want to honor the artist by exploring the process and his/her journey. To us, the story of the artist is as relevant as the art itself. We seek to showcase the up-and-coming as well as the established artists. We encourage all genres of artists – visual and performing – to send us their stories.ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.comBlogger286125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-10048497937977083372015-05-01T11:59:00.000-07:002015-05-01T11:59:24.909-07:00 Avengers: Age of Ultron<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vXV7yu7mb6MrFwrrKubzcjq7nKMgKDpjNWr1w7f9q74U-rItxsLW0aW7topeBRRV3WXKUd1xCC6RrXIGkGBP5Ab3ut8ruLJz1uDRu1aEynPigE9OtcPy5SeE-4vHQqRql11B-LnwA8o/s1600/Avengers+Age+of+Ultron.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vXV7yu7mb6MrFwrrKubzcjq7nKMgKDpjNWr1w7f9q74U-rItxsLW0aW7topeBRRV3WXKUd1xCC6RrXIGkGBP5Ab3ut8ruLJz1uDRu1aEynPigE9OtcPy5SeE-4vHQqRql11B-LnwA8o/s1600/Avengers+Age+of+Ultron.png" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6666660308838px; text-align: start;">Robots and Revolution</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Director:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Josh
Whedon</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Cast:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Robert
Downey, Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo,
Jeremy Renner, James Spader, Don Cheadle, Samuel L. Jackson, Aaron
Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olson, Paul Bettany, Cobie Smulders, Anthony Mackie,
Idris Elba, Stellan Skarsgaard, Thomas Kretschmann, Andy Serkis and Stan Lee<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><u><b>Review</b>
by James Colt Harrison<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">With a cast larger than the population of Rhode
Island, madcap director Josh Whedon’s bloated sci-fi adventure <i>Avengers: Age of Ultron,---</i>out of the
pages of Marvel comics--- is out to set all sort of records at the box office
this summer. How can it miss? It has almost every star in Hollywood (that’s an
exaggeration, just like the film), the guidance of comic book guru Stan Lee
(with fellow comic book creator Jack Kirby), the wild imaginations of Whedon,
and the backings of the two greatest animation studios of the current creators
working today. Throw in the dazzling camera work of Ben Davis, the Erector Set
stylings of costume designer Alexandra Byrne, and the startling and stunning
music by tunesmiths Danny Efman and BrianTyler, you can’t miss. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Starting with Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) trying to
salvage the peacekeeping talks that previously went awry, the only way to save
the world is for all the Super Heroes to band together as a team. Iron Man
(Downey, Jr.), Thor (Hemsworth), Captain America (Evans), Black Widow
(Johansson), The Incredible Hulk (Ruffalo), Hawkye (Renner) and War Machine
(Cheadle) see the sense in that to combat the evil Ultron (voice of James
Spader) and prevent him from destroying all humans as well as the earth. The
team of heroes must stop Ultron in his tracks before he institutes his
dastardly plans. Ultron turns out to be a very clever robot, much in the vein
of HAL in Stanley Kubrick’s science-fiction classic <i>2001</i>. Just as HAL’s voice was chilling in that long-ago film,
Spader grabs the part by the throat and runs chills up and down your ultimately
shivered spine. He steals the film without ever appearing in it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The film is Whedon’s usual revved-up,
hyper-active romp that will never make you take No-Doze to keep awake. The
decibel level alone will shatter your eardrums as well as the batteries in your
hearing aids if you wear them. Seemingly, the entire reason for this picture is
action, action, action. With apparently
not much of an excuse, the heroes launch from one fight scene to another, each
one more bone-crunching than the next. It’s a good thing they are Super Heroes
or they would be demolished in a second if mere mortals. The ladies may find Hemsworth
and Evans as chili-peppered catnip when they show off bodies that apparently
were chiseled from some old Michelangelo statues in Carrere marble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">With some amusing wisecracks on the lips of the
cast, we are projected across the world in a 3D tour of Africa and Asia. Yes,
there are some funny lines as per the previous outings of this gang of
do-gooders. And the spectacular scenery captured by Ben Davis’s cameras is
eye-popping. The 3D process is unobtrusive, yet brings alive the
three-dimensional objects the human eye sees naturally. It adds tremendously to
the enjoyment of the picture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The stars of the film are
really the special effects people. Without them there would be no film to get
excited about. Too numerous to mention, the various CGI companies and
motion-capture people have outdone themselves on this bombastic film. The kids
will love this movie and so will some of the big kids. There is not too much
plot to confuse us, but there is plenty of action and explosions to distract
us. It’s a wild ride through space and beyond!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-34440923606473464842015-04-26T20:57:00.002-07:002015-04-26T20:57:37.746-07:00“The Age of Adaline”<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sR91kLlfeFg/VT2zh_dAplI/AAAAAAAAE3E/m2bBnoJ0jmw/s1600/The%2BAge%2Bof%2BAdaline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sR91kLlfeFg/VT2zh_dAplI/AAAAAAAAE3E/m2bBnoJ0jmw/s1600/The%2BAge%2Bof%2BAdaline.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6666660308838px; text-align: start;">Immortal Life and Love</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Director:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Lee Toland Kreiger</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Genre:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">
Fantasy/ Romance/ Mystery</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Studio: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Lionsgate/
Warner Bros.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Running
Time: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">110 Minutes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Cast:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Blake
Lively, Harrison Ford, Michiel Huisman, Ellen Burstyn, Kathy Baker, Lynda Boyd,
Amanda Crew<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><u><b>Review</b> by James Colt Harrison<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Blake Lively plays blonde and pretty Adaline
Bowman, a woman who stops aging at 29 and lives through a century as a bright,
young female in perfect health. Some people would welcome this condition, but
Adaline is not too happy about it and feels she must keep it a secret. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Through some flashbacks it is revealed with
some scientific hocus pocus she survived a severe car crash when struck by a
bolt of lightning. This event, apparently, changed all her molecules and they
stopped the aging process. Good in theory, but hardly based on any facts known
at this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Shot mostly in photogenic San Francisco, the
film follows Adaline’s paranoia about being ‘found-out.’ Every decade or so she
changes identity, jobs and location in a mad quest to avoid detection and being
treated like a circus freak. She avoids intimacy with any men, and her best
friend is blind pianist Regan, played charmingly by Lynda Boyd. This is a
convenient way of keeping her secret about not aging while her friend ages
normally. Adaline also leans on her daughter for support. An interesting part
of the film is to have the daughter age enough so that she looks like the
mother and not Adaline! The beautiful actress-of-a-certain-age Ellen Burstyn is
full of life and vigor and plays the daughter. The two women share the secret
and are tender and sweet with each other. While Burstyn’s character pretends to
be “just a friend,” she keeps the secret under wraps for her “mom.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Caught off guard, Adaline meets smashingly
handsome and rich Ellis Jones ( Dutch actor Michiel Huisman) at a charity
event. He relentlessly pursues her and she gives him the brush-off. It’s at
this point director Toland points the film toward being a romantic tear-jerker.
Using restraint, it does not wallow in tears as some films are wont to do (see
Scott Eastwood’s <i>The Longest Ride</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Adaline can’t resist Ellis’ physical charms and
agrees to meet his parents on a weekend jaunt. Kathy Baker ( 3 Emmy Awards for <i>Picket Fences</i>) plays mom and wordly
Harrison Ford (<i>Star Wars</i>) turns out
to be Ellis’ father. In an intriguing sequence of events, we learn it may not
be the first time he has met Adaline. The Spoiler Alert is that we are not
revealing anything at all about the movie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">A note on newcomer Michiel Huisman: He is
familiar to audiences in the United States through his work on television and
in some films. HBO’s <i>Game Of Thrones </i>has
brought him instant recognition as the character Daario Naharis, and <i>Orphan Black</i> saw him play actress
Tatiana Maslany’s old flame. He played opposite Emily Blunt in the 2009 <i>The Young Victoria, </i>was with Brad Pitt
in World War Z in 2013, and romanced Reese Witherspoon along the trail in <i>Wild</i> in 2014. The Netherlands-born actor
(July 18, 1981) started out as a musician and singer with his Dutch band
Fontane. He gravitated toward Dutch films and soon made his way to some
television films in England. He played famed ballet dancer Rudolph Nureyev in
the 2009 <i>Margot. </i>He made his entry
into American television with parts on the series <i>Treme </i>(2010-2013), <i>Nashville </i>(2012-2014), and <i>Orphan Black </i>(2014-2015). </span><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Age
of Adaline </span></i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">is his first leading man role in an American
film.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span>
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-56503908412944204872015-04-24T15:34:00.000-07:002015-04-24T15:34:39.281-07:00The Water Diviner<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSd7xjmpa_CvYqubzRWo9yesn-_I-05t3S7CNrrLTGMSxXdk0qWNoXRGwL0f0aPzOM1Zy1i6eAjXzZkI1KvSTWgeYju9W_CNx2emHq29EKk7g7QiMaO-DxK_1Q9WsAzxdimZ3V8Zk-eo/s1600/The+Water+Diviner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSd7xjmpa_CvYqubzRWo9yesn-_I-05t3S7CNrrLTGMSxXdk0qWNoXRGwL0f0aPzOM1Zy1i6eAjXzZkI1KvSTWgeYju9W_CNx2emHq29EKk7g7QiMaO-DxK_1Q9WsAzxdimZ3V8Zk-eo/s1600/The+Water+Diviner.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6666660308838px; text-align: start;">A Sensitive Crowe Touches Hearts</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Director:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Russell
Crowe</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Studio: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Universal
Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Cast: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Russell
Crowe, Jai Courtney, Olga Kurylenko, Ryan Corr, Yilmaz Erdogan, Cem Yilmaz,
Dylan Georgiades, Dan Wyllie, Robert Mammone, Jacqueline McKenzie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<b style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><u>Review by James Colt Harrison</u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Opening in its native Australia more than four
months ago, <i>The Water Diviner</i> was
eligible for the Australian Awards. It won Best Film, Best Supporting Actor
(Yilmaz Erdogan), Best Costume Design (Tess Schofield), and was nominated for
Best Actor (Crowe), Best Supporting Actress (Jacqueline McKenzie), Best
Original Screenplay (Andrew Anastasios, Andrew Knight), Best Production Design
(Christopher Kennedy), Best Editing (Matt Villa), and Best Visual Effects
(David Booth, Prue Fletcher, Marc Varisco, Adam Paschke). It was embraced by
the Australians, and it is now set to be admired by the rest of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Making his directorial debut, actor and Oscar®
winner Russell Crowe is a hero in his native Australia, and he’s a top
world-wide star as well. Taking on this historical drama is a big task, and
Crowe has handled it deftly and with a big dose of sensitivity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Set in 1919 just after the end of World War I,
Crowe plays a common farmer named Joshua Connor, who has a gift for “divining”
water in dry areas, with a wife and three sons. Joshua raised the boys to be
patriotic and good men who will do their part for their country. Five years
previously to the beginning scenes, the boys—Arthur (Ryan Corr), Henry (Ben
O’Toole) and Edward (James Fraser) left for the war in Gallipoli, Turkey and
have not returned and are considered to be dead. Joshua’s wife (Jacqueline
McKenzie) is wracked with grief and commits suicide, thus convincing Joshua to
bring the boys’ bodies home to rest beside their mother. Ms. McKenzie is quite
effective in her madness and sorrow and was nominated as Best Supporting
Actress in the Australian Awards as she completely conveyed the grief of a
mother who loses all her children. It’s a sad beginning, but it leads us to
fleshing out the story and Joshua’s quest to find his boys, dead or alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Joshua makes a pilgrimage to Turkey to find his
three sons and to learn their fate and determine if they are still alive. In
stunning flashbacks to the war at Gallipoli in 1915 at various moments
throughout the film, the audience may be horrified at the intensity of the
scenes. Guns explode in your ear, soldiers are graphically shown being blown to
bits, and bombs wipe out entire regiments. We know this was done to show the
uselessness of war and the damage it does to young soldiers, but it may be a
little too realistic for many moviegoers. In fact, the war scenes are so
intense and graphic, they may be too frightening for youngsters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Traveling to Constantinople (now Istanbul) must
have been quite a trek in 1919 before the days of jet plane travel. It probably
caused Joshua to sail for months to get from Australia to Turkey by ship.
Weary, yet still retaining his innate gentleness, Joshua finds a family hotel
that just happens to be run by the unbelievably gorgeous Muslim widow Ayshe
(Russian-born Olga Kurylenko playing a Turk). She conveniently has a young son
Orhan (Dylan Georgiades, whose name appears to be Irish-Greek) who immediately
bonds with Crowe’s character. The boy is desperately looking for a daddy, and
Joshua fills that role perfectly. The scenes between the two are touching and
heartwarming. It also serves to bring Ayshe and Joshua together, although any
relationship between them seemed tabu in that culture and times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Although it is forbidden to visit the killing
fields of Gallipoli, Joshua hires a fishing boat and swims ashore. There he
meets Turkish military officer Major Hasan (the wonderful Turkish star Yilmaz
Erdogan), affable Sgt. Jemal (Cim Yilmaz) and Australian officer Cyril Hughes
(dashing newcomer Jai Courtney sporting an intense moustache). They are there
to protect the site and recover casualties. They throw roadblocks in Joshua’s
way, but it does not stop him from looking for his son’s bodies, if they are there.
Special note must be made of actor Ryan Corr’s turn as Joshua’s oldest son
Arthur. In flashbacks to the horror on the battlefield, Corr gives an
absolutely heart-breaking performance when he must deal with his two brother’s
fate in war.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The film is well-crafted and all the actors are
excellent and effective, despite language differences. We hear Arabic, Turkish,
English, Australian slang, and a touch of Greek, making the film truly
international in flavor. Crowe gives one of his most subdued performances in
recent years, yet he elicits sympathy from the audience by containing his grief
inside but showing it through his expressive eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Special mention must be made about
cinematographer Andrew Lesnie (The Lord of the Rings). What he does with his
color cameras shows a true artist at work. The scenes in all countries—whether
they be on dry desert land, turquoise colored oceans, dense green forests or
the fairy-tale minarets of Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul are exquisite.
Lesnie’s camera work becomes part of the story and envelopes the viewer with
its breathtaking artistry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The picture is well worth
seeing for those who are Crowe fans and who love re-living history.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.artsnfashion.com/" style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: justify;">ArtsNFashion Magazine</a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-43963618135183600882015-04-20T13:43:00.001-07:002015-04-20T13:43:51.711-07:00Fashion Trends Spring 2015: Black and White<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 2.25pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZAjT6_1wA0/VTVicdk1vKI/AAAAAAAAE2A/e5J_5GyJzF4/s1600/angl_shopangl_spring_2015_top-8347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FZAjT6_1wA0/VTVicdk1vKI/AAAAAAAAE2A/e5J_5GyJzF4/s1600/angl_shopangl_spring_2015_top-8347.jpg" height="320" width="183" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">ANGL,
Blue Lagoon Maxi-Dress<br />$46.99 </span><a href="http://www.shopangl.com/" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px; line-height: 16.8666667938232px;" target="_blank">www.shopangl.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Although
there is nothing out of the ordinary about the combination of black and white,
if anything it is a classic staple of everyone's wardrobe, what is new is the
context. This spring there are new textures, new patterns and new silhouettes
to the tried and true combo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXfzxzhudxh4gh2701fSrVQzOpSXUEhDTNx9Fk-odq8O4hp49E1T3wkWnEU_faztij3XRzj29vsAMNPbcGfDnglONbiughuZLMajkv43ojfNj1hKMX0PfPBfLqJDuLwAAZsnj0ZwuNFo/s1600/406000074711-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXfzxzhudxh4gh2701fSrVQzOpSXUEhDTNx9Fk-odq8O4hp49E1T3wkWnEU_faztij3XRzj29vsAMNPbcGfDnglONbiughuZLMajkv43ojfNj1hKMX0PfPBfLqJDuLwAAZsnj0ZwuNFo/s1600/406000074711-a.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Styles
for Less, Santorini Woven Palazzo Pants<br />$19.99 <a href="http://www.stylesforless.com/" target="_blank">www.StylesForLess.com</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Traditionally, black and white denotes
elegance, simplicity, good taste, seriousness. You can't go wrong with black
and white. At the moment, it compliments and works with flirty shapes,
youthful dresses, boho pants, and peasant blouses to stand out in a new
way.</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22_p2C3i7i3ua8e5HfjRWqJucfQ2NohgpjWeTty9TCXtqAaxOi3gY6MU-1uWAaM-j3NEX1AHoDeCQM0fCKqbEaEjBiDq45E4uiWNQLzdcyu1jFRJ_G3OPBlsFMVH2r_5TlHGLlxNhLA4/s1600/img_7619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22_p2C3i7i3ua8e5HfjRWqJucfQ2NohgpjWeTty9TCXtqAaxOi3gY6MU-1uWAaM-j3NEX1AHoDeCQM0fCKqbEaEjBiDq45E4uiWNQLzdcyu1jFRJ_G3OPBlsFMVH2r_5TlHGLlxNhLA4/s1600/img_7619.jpg" height="320" width="183" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">ANGL,
Long Batwing Tie Dye Top<br />$33.99 <a href="http://www.shopangl.com/" target="_blank">www.shopangl.com</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNrUPcC93q-RMcAPRZuZHafBGx7xRkibRyaavpgVQ24XZD63KsOi3jLT4PrbHyqHarfkvzi5ECUgI2dbWn6sIms0YUHDUIxLOnDARZP2gXDtt-xi7S4vbXI6H04IWClscc3CkHvVtKkY/s1600/vive04-blk_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNrUPcC93q-RMcAPRZuZHafBGx7xRkibRyaavpgVQ24XZD63KsOi3jLT4PrbHyqHarfkvzi5ECUgI2dbWn6sIms0YUHDUIxLOnDARZP2gXDtt-xi7S4vbXI6H04IWClscc3CkHvVtKkY/s1600/vive04-blk_01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;">Urban Original, Wild Diva
Lounge Two-Tone Lug Sole Open-Toe Heel<br />$32.20 <a href="http://www.urbanog.com/" target="_blank">www.urbanog.com</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">The gravitas of
black and white on the fun, youthful pieces makes for a striking contrast and a
surefire way to have your cake and eat it too.</span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.artsnfashion.com/" style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: justify;">ArtsNFashion Magazine</a></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Find ArtsNFashion on FB and Twitter:</span><br />
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-80614710369299851522015-04-16T09:46:00.000-07:002015-04-16T09:46:28.519-07:00The Longest Ride<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oKvK-5shRbo/VS_m4g-KM8I/AAAAAAAAE1o/Ea3cLbCHAxg/s1600/The%2BLongest%2BRide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oKvK-5shRbo/VS_m4g-KM8I/AAAAAAAAE1o/Ea3cLbCHAxg/s1600/The%2BLongest%2BRide.jpg" height="178" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6666660308838px; text-align: start;">Bulls and Brawn</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Director:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">George Tillman, Jr.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Cast: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Scott
Eastwood, Britt Robertson, Alan Alda, Lolita Davidovich, Oona Chaplin, Jack
Huston<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b><u>Review by James Colt Harrison<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Like father, like son so the saying goes. To
prove that statement we have Scott Eastwood looking like an exact replica of
his Oscar® winning father Clint Eastwood when he was young. Both are handsome,
both are striking, and both are knockouts on the screen. A new generation has
arrived, and Scott is fully equipped physically and professionally to take over
the reigns of his well-loved father. All he has to do is ask.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The Longest
Ride</span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> is adapted from a book by Nicholas Sparks, the
great purveyor of weepies and woes by the gallon. There is no lack of that in
this film. Add in the adventure, romance and rodeo action and you have more
than two hours of entertainment pleasure. That is, if you go into throes of
ecstasy at maudlin situations and tear-invoking scenes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The tear-duct scenes are only part of the film,
so don’t think it is all weeping. There are actually some fun scenes, some
laughs (usually provided by scene-stealer Alan Alda) and certainly some thrills
at the rodeo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">So where does the rodeo come into the story?
Scott, as Luke Collins, is a championship bull rider on the world circuit. A
head injury put him out of commission for awhile, but now he is trying to make
a comeback. Mom Kate Collins (Lolita Davidovitch) is not happy with the
situation because she wants Luke to come home after every ride in one piece.
Mom’s who love their sons are like that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Luke has his fans who scream and yell as he is
getting tossed about by the bull like a rag-doll. He survives to great acclaim
and the girl fans scream with delight. Among the fans is the most adorable and
the prettiest of all of them---Sophie Danko, as played by beautiful newcomer
Britt Robertson. Of course, she and Scott “meet cute.” They make for a very
eye-pleasing couple; he’s handsome as can be and sweet-natured, and she’s
gorgeous and smart and waiting for her internship in New York at an art
gallery. Their lifestyles seem at odds with each other as they have nothing in
common. Except sexual attraction. That’s enough for sparks to kindle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">On the way home from their first date they find
a crashed car that has gone off the road. They act quickly and save an old man—Ira
Levinson (Alan Alda) from certain death just moments before the car explodes
into flames. Alda plays an old curmudgeon whose heydays were in the 1940s. The
two youngsters become attached to him and his stories of his wife Ruth (Oona
Chaplin). They find Ira and his stories enchanting. Alda, of course, has been
in show business longer than the two lead actors’ ages combined. Having come to
prominence in the TV hit show M*A*S*H decades ago, he knows every trick in the
acting book to steal scenes right out from under Eastwood and Robertson. No
matter---the kids are still cute and are a pleasure to see brightening the
screen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">What would a romance be if there weren’t storm
clouds every so often? The kids conflict over their opposite lifestyles.
Sophie wants to go to New York and be in the Art World; Luke wants to remain on
the rodeo circuit amongst the smelly bulls and dirt. She’s high-class and he’s
just a regular guy. Can they ever agree? Lots of tears are shed—mostly by the
audience--- and resolution to the problem is difficult. Women’s Liberation
members would have a fit if Sophie decided to give up her plans and settle down
to have babies with Luke. And men would look down on Luke if he traded in his
tight jeans for a tuxedo and the fancy world of New York artists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Nicholas Sparks has the talent to wring all
emotions to their limits, and he stops at nothing to grab the audience by the
tear ducts at every corner. This gives director George Tillman, Jr. ( <i>Barbershop</i>) the go ahead to put the lead
actors in jeopardy every chance he gets. Both Eastwood and Robertson, in their
first big leading roles, are attractive enough for the audience to look beyond
the pathos and see young love blooming with joy, delight, wonder and awe. The
two actors rise above Sparks’ doom and gloom tendencies and make us laugh, cry
and jump for joy when things go right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Both Eastwood and Robertson
are destined to become major stars provided they are cast in the proper roles. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-92079212744194008612015-04-09T14:56:00.002-07:002015-04-09T14:56:31.153-07:00Furious 7<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfm0DRNSIHcdekAUv03X5GNI5hmiryeBmkzAGyQHbIIJ_u_oc_s7pgr8OMFfGKBVQuv6WX0hrs6iUd-XsJnAceMjcnTFJ8WiWPUq2R3SFCfJ3tlbKOIWz7rrjXhMv9TbeJfc1Te0WKIQ/s1600/furious7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfm0DRNSIHcdekAUv03X5GNI5hmiryeBmkzAGyQHbIIJ_u_oc_s7pgr8OMFfGKBVQuv6WX0hrs6iUd-XsJnAceMjcnTFJ8WiWPUq2R3SFCfJ3tlbKOIWz7rrjXhMv9TbeJfc1Te0WKIQ/s1600/furious7.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6666660308838px; text-align: start;">Mayhem, Fast Cars & Bullets</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Director:
</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> James Wan</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Cast:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Paul
Walker, Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Lucas Black, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana
Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Kurt Russell, and Jason Statham.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Review by James Colt
Harrison</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">A more ridiculous, but wildly fun, film has not
been made. Universal Pictures has put every stunt man in Hollywood to work
overtime in this dashingly-made tale of mayhem, speeding cars, and mega-machine
guns run amok. <i>Furious 7</i> takes up where <i>Furious 1 – 6</i> left off---or whatever they were called--- and
outdoes all the crashes, cliff hangers (literally), solid bone-crunching jaw
punches, body blows, and impossible-to-get-out-of situations tenfold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It’s exhilarating to watch a human body survive
treatment that would snap a steel bar in half, demolish a locomotive into two
or three shredded pieces, or crumple a 747 before your eyes. But the objects of
this unceasing bodily harm are Vin Diesel, Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson. We
know they can’t be hurt because they are movie stars. So they roll with the
punches, the bashings, the explosions and come up with only a few well-placed
bandages and a Hollywood make-up artists’ smudge and go on to the next scene
with nary a brain concussion or severed leg.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Is there a plot? Well, sort of. It’s used
loosely to tie the scenes of extreme mayhem together and as a segue to the next
incredible car crash. Baddy Statham’s character Deckard Shaw is out for revenge
for his brother’s death (Luke Evans) and effectively uses martial arts terror,
Chinese film star Tony Jaa to keep turning up to whack the stars over the head,
drill holes in them with rapid fire machine guns, or to immobilize them with
strategic between-the-legs high kicks. What a guy, that Tony Jaa !<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Never mind the plot, written by Chris Morgan,
allegedly with a used set of crayons. All fans of this genre really want to see
is what the producers did to have the late Paul Walker appear in the film. We
must say with all admiration, they did a very tasteful job of having Walker
appear throughout the film using Walker’s two brothers as stand-ins. One
brother looks exactly like Paul, complete with the Caribbean-depth sparkling
blue eyes. It was a touching send off to the actor who left us all much too
early in his life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Audiences are kept literally out of breath
trying to figure out what zany stunts are coming up next, and how will the
director and stunt people dream up something that is more bizarre than the
last. Expensive cars are dropped from a plane and land in Russia with nary a
scrape. The crème de la crème scene is crashing a million dollar sports car out
of a high rise condo and flying it into the building next door, only to have
the car’s brakes fail and go shooting out the other side, smashing more glass
walls, and flying through the glass of that building as well. Incredible,
unbelievable, stunning and most of all, thrilling as can be imagined. We almost
cheered at it’s conclusion. Oh—that car didn’t suffer any dents or scratches
either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">We would like to have seen more of Dwayne
Johnson. He’s actually a likeable guy, all smiles and muscles bulging like the
Pillsbury Dough Boy. He got waylaid in the beginning of the film, but returns
to mop things up at the end. He’s always a welcome sight when he cracks and
crunches grown men like nuts in a nutcracker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">What can we say about Vin Diesel? He’s the
greatest non-actor actor in films. He grunts, uses his Mariana trench deep
voice to shatter glass, and stands there immobile like a lump of Michelangelo
marble waiting to be given a personality. Don’t get me wrong—we love the man.
His fake name alone is hilarious. He probably doesn’t know it, but he’s more
camp than Dame Edna. He’s unique to say the least and adds so much fun to these
inane proceedings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Is <i>Furious 7</i> Shakespeare? No, it’s more like a high school essay
written with a broken hand. But is it fun? You bet! It’s one of the most
enjoyable films of the year. It’s full of adrenaline, testosterone and Viagra
all in one amazing shot. It’s terrifically entertaining.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Find ArtsNFashion on FB and Twitter:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/artsnfashion" target="_blank"><img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT6BY_S25MSC0scrxYVNUSXI_Q8DeVDQW07B9hKEPA-07M91qDA" height="43" width="45" /></a> </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/artsnfashion" style="font-family: Helvetica;" target="_blank"><img src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQd3KSjBFUDQHBTrtr_5THFEo370wuZOaN91twv__jHGoQJbgUS2Q" height="58" width="56" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-29708180775501744842015-04-09T14:46:00.000-07:002015-04-09T14:46:24.159-07:00Danny Collins<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6666660308838px; text-align: start;">Fading Rock Star Finds Salvation</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Director:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Dan
Fogelman</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Cast:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Al
Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner, Bobby Cannavale, Christopher Plummer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Review by James Colt
Harrison</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">In a one-man show, Oscar® winning actor (8
nominations) Al Pacino dominates the screen throughout the comically dramatic
film. Turning in a fascinating performance of a self-centered rock star of mega
proportions, he has a change of heart and tries to be less selfish with his
family and friends. Does it work? Partly, as he uses all his star power to be
funny, touching, ashamed, contrite, and a power to be dealt with all at the
same time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">As an aging rock performer, he still fills
stadiums and concert halls with nostalgia-lovers who have seen more events than
can fit on a thousand-year calendar. Collins may be aging, but so are his fans,
loyal to (almost) the end. They gum his lyrics and happily sing along. He seems
to be a compilation of Neil Diamond, Bruce Springfield, and his idol John
Lennon. Pacino has all the swagger and braggadocio of someone who has been
catered to all his musical life as a star. It’s not entirely his fault he is
spoiled and bowed to like a king. Perks come with the job and he is, in effect,
a victim of all that adulation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Being on the road for years, womanizing every
fan who will throw themselves at him, drinking gallons of liver-killing
alcohol, and flying in private planes has turned his head and fatefully made
him neglect his son back home. He actually has never met his son, played
angrily by the handsome Bobby Cannavale, a perfect choice and believable as
Collins’ offspring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">A turn of events happens when Collins’ road
manager Frank, played smoothly by Christopher Plummer, brings some good news.
At a glorious 85 years-old, Plummer seems to be one of the oldest living actors
in Hollywood. Good for him---he’s marvelous. There’s not much trace of his <i>Sound of Music</i> days, but still charming
nonetheless. Frank presents Danny with a 40 year-old letter from John Lennon
that had never been delivered. Lennon was an unabashed fan and sent words of
encouragement. This is a revelation to Danny and inspires him to have a change
of heart and become a better father. It’s a bit schmaltzy and completely out of
character for the self-centered rock star. But, the event helps propel the
storyline, written by director Fogelman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Collins makes a feeble, yet sincere effort to
meet his son Tom. After years of neglect and non-contact, Tom wants nothing to
do with his father. Cannavale, as Tom, is all grown up with is own family.
Jennifer Garner and he have one hyper-active daughter (Giselle Eisenberg) and
another baby on the way. They are not rich. They can use some help, but Tom
wants nothing to do with his absent dad. Cannavale is one of the best male
actors in films today. He always gives a good performance, and in this film he
shows just the right amount of hurt, resentment and anger as is warranted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The treacle flows by the gallon, dad and son
make an uneasy peace pact, and they attempt to bring the family together. A
twist of an unexpected illness helps to smooth things over, but it is an old
Hollywood cliché to bring people closer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">With an uninspiring script to contend with, all
the actors do their best with their parts. Pacino and Cannavale excel as well
as they can. It’s </span>not all drama and gloom.
There are many funny scenes, and Pacino is also a master at comedy. In fact,
he’s the entire picture.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-90643067810742418742015-04-09T14:34:00.003-07:002015-04-09T14:34:58.841-07:00Woman In Gold<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-71HORJIi798/VSbwJ4rF_PI/AAAAAAAAE08/idG3C9nC8_8/s1600/woman%2Bin%2Bgold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-71HORJIi798/VSbwJ4rF_PI/AAAAAAAAE08/idG3C9nC8_8/s1600/woman%2Bin%2Bgold.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6666660308838px; text-align: start;">Nazi Art Thieves at Work</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Director:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Simon
Curtis</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Cast:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Helen
Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Allan Corduner, Daniel Bruhl, Katie Holmes, Elizabeth
McGovern, Charles Dance, Max Irons, Tatiana Maslany, Jonathan Pryce, Frances
Fisher, Moritz Bleibtreu<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><u><b>Review by James Colt
Harrison</b><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Woman in Gold, one of the world’s most famous
paintings produced by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt (1862 – 1918) was the
inspiration for the title of the movie. The correct title of the painting is
Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer. Based on a true story with a script written by
Alexi Kaye Campbell and E. Randol Schoenberg (and his life story as well), the
film stars the formidable British actress and Oscar® nominee Helen Mirren. She
plays the real-life Jewish refugee Maria Altman who is attempting to get her
family’s art work returned that had been stolen by the Nazi’s during World War
II.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Klimt’s painting of Ms. Altman’s aunt Adele,
which ultimately became the famous Portrait of Adele Boch-Bauer, was part of
his Golden Period in which he mixed paint with gold leaf, thus giving the
painting the world-reknown glitter effect. Klimt’s style was a mixture of the
Art Nouveau period and the Arts & Crafts style. His art was popular in the
very early 20<sup>th</sup> Century when he painted them around 1908.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">As Mrs. Altman, we expect no less of Mirren
than a stellar acting performance, and she delivers. The wizards in the makeup
and costume departments have transformed Mirren into an octogenarian Jewish
lady of some substance and education. She plays Altman with some restraint
throughout most of the film, but she rises to indignation and strength in the
scenes where it is needed. Her determination to right a terrible wrong made
during World War II is deftly achieved by the flawless Mirren.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Her story, and subsequently the story of the
creation of the painting, is done with the judicial use of flashbacks. Altman
is played as a young girl of 19 by the pretty Tatiana Maslany. Maria sees no
way out of the inevitable takeover of Austria by the Nazis. She must leave for
the United States with her new husband, played by the handsome British actor
Max Irons (son of Jeremy Irons). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Maria’s father is played with verve and
authority by the wonderful British actor Allan Corduner, who must speak all of
his lines in flawless German. Corduner shows just the right amount of love and
pride for his daughter. But he knows she must flee to save her life. Corduner
is incredibly touching in a silent scene when they must separate. Using only
his expressive eyes and slightly quivering lips, Corduner’s performance is
heart-breaking and very nearly overwhelmingly sad when he realizes they will
never see each other again. Corduner has one of those rare career-moments when
he steals the picture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">In order to help her with the authorities who
can retrieve her artwork, Altman hires young American attorney E. Randol Schoenberg
(author of the script. He is also the grandson of world famous composer Arnold
Schoenberg). He is a green young man who is smart and broke. Altman figures his
inexperience could be a plus because he knows no boundaries. Ryan Reynolds is
correct for the part, being young, handsome, personable, and appears
inexperienced and naive as a lawyer. This film will put Reynolds a notch higher
in the leading men category in films.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Altman and Schoenberg run into many obstacles,
not the least of which is the Belvedere Museum in Vienna holds possession of
the famous painting and is reluctant to let it go. Although there is no great
mystery in the story, director Simon Curtis guides Mirren to be a formidable
and determined woman when she knows she’s right. Reynold’s lawyer Schoenberg
gets fired up and unstoppable when he finds clues that are all in their favor.
The painting is in plain sight, but the ownership is greatly in question.
Therein lies some of the film’s mystery---who owns it and who will inherit it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Art lovers will enjoy this
quest to find the rightful owners of some of the sensational art of the Klimt
Art Nouveau period. It may also trigger painful memories of those unfortunate
Jewish people who were ravaged by the vicious Nazi regime and stripped of their
artifacts. It was a hateful period during World War II. Mirren, Reynolds and
Corduner help bring back that period with style, grace and chutzpa!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<a href="http://www.artsnfashion.com/" style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: justify;">ArtsNFashion Magazine</a></div>
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-32366168263496758772015-03-24T14:55:00.001-07:002015-03-24T14:55:33.031-07:00Spring Fashion Trends 2015: Kimono Style Trench Coats<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D4nUm1kawZo/VRHcHZMELAI/AAAAAAAAE0U/_cgK_Po7XL0/s1600/NM-5H7C_mk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D4nUm1kawZo/VRHcHZMELAI/AAAAAAAAE0U/_cgK_Po7XL0/s1600/NM-5H7C_mk.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8666667938232px;"><span style="font-size: 14.6666669845581px; line-height: 16.8666667938232px;">Neiman Marcus, Real Talk Open-Front Floral Trench Coat</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px; line-height: 16.8666667938232px;">$275</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px; line-height: 16.8666667938232px;"> </span><span style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16.8666667938232px;"><a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/" style="cursor: pointer; font-size: 14.6666669845581px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16.8666667938232px;" target="_blank">www.neimanmarcus.com</a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8666667938232px;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 115%;">The
trench coat has a very utilitarian history, being originally created to be used
by soldiers in the trenches of World War I. It is typically a raincoat
made of water proof, heavy duty cotton or gabardine.</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #444444; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: #444444; font-size: 36pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yprn_bepaqk/VRHcHkj2sVI/AAAAAAAAE0Y/g8qK8NdOAHY/s1600/031w01_002_1_14_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yprn_bepaqk/VRHcHkj2sVI/AAAAAAAAE0Y/g8qK8NdOAHY/s1600/031w01_002_1_14_2.jpg" height="273" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px; line-height: 16.8666667938232px; text-align: start;">Nau, Synfill Kimono Trench Coat<br />$219</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px; line-height: 16.8666667938232px; text-align: start;"> </span><a href="http://www.nau.com/" style="cursor: pointer; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666669845581px; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 16.8666667938232px; text-align: start;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0068cf;">www.nau.com</span></a></td></tr>
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adopted by the world of fashion it often kept its protective, heavy duty
material while evolving aesthetically. This spring the trench coat is infused
with a kimono style look that adds beauty, delicacy, and the sharp, wide,
geometric cuts of traditional Asian fashion.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-91908631541797490902015-03-21T08:52:00.002-07:002015-03-21T08:52:50.763-07:00The Gunman<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gke3Qz78-ao/VQ2Tfbv_XJI/AAAAAAAAEz8/36m2WdZHApI/s1600/The%2BGunman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gke3Qz78-ao/VQ2Tfbv_XJI/AAAAAAAAEz8/36m2WdZHApI/s1600/The%2BGunman.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Muscles, Mayhem & Murder</span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Directed
by:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Pierre Morel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Cast:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Sean
Penn, Javier Bardem, Idris Elba, Ray Winstone, Mark Rylance, Jasmine Trinca,
Peter Franzen<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Review by</b> James Colt Harrison</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">According to reports, Sean Penn insists he is
not becoming another Liam Neeson and switching over to hard-core action films
as opposed to starring in heavy dramas. If this isn’t an action picture we
don’t know what it can be called!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The title alone gives you a clue as to what may
be expected in the content of the film. Penn is certainly not playing a West
Hollywood interior decorator. Screenwriters Don Macpherson and Pete Travis
adapted the novel <i>The Prone Gunman</i> by
French writer Jean-Patrick Manchette and assigned the part of hired assassin
Jim Terrier to Penn. It’s impossible to relate the plot of the movie without
giving everything away as it is, as usual with these action films, convoluted
and complicated and not a simple Disney-type theme.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Congo as part of an assassination team set up by international mining
interests. When a local Minister of the Mines tears up all international mining
contracts, he is targeted to get snuffed out and Penn’s character inherits the
job. Terrier was a former bad guy who wants to go legit, a story as old as
Methusela. Penn is believable as the tough guy—although he still has a
likeability about him---but we know he has a nasty job to do and he does it
with skill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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body of a 25 year-old and a world weary, wrinkled-as-a-prune face to go with
it. Could he have had a body transplant? Never mind, we get to see plenty of
skin in his token love scenes with pretty Jasmine Trinca, a medic with Doctors
Without Borders and, in her case, Doctors Without Clothes. Rival Javier Bardem
plays jealous Alex, the civil liaison for the foreign mining companies. One
look at Bardem’s smoldering eyes and snorting nostrils and we know he is going
to be the villain. The only thing he lacks is the twirling moustache.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Enter former cohorts in the assassination plot
who are now living in Europe. Burly Ray Winstone is a pal of Terrier and can be
counted on to protect him. Bless his heart, but Winstone’s accent is thicker
than Congo mud and not one word of his is understandable. Mr. Cox (Mark
Rylance) who was a member of the original assassination team, lives a posh life in London. Why? You have to see
the movie to figure it out. Actually, you <i>don’t
</i>have to see the movie to figure it out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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the characters very well enough to really care for them. So that leaves us a
little uninvolved. However, the action, the evil characters that float in and
out of the film (Idris Elba as an Interpol operative excels in a cameo), the
beautiful scenery in London, Barcelona and Catalonia, and Penn’s innate
charisma carry the film through an unsurprising climax. Despite all the flaws,
we genuinely enjoyed the film, the exciting thrills, and Penn’s new turn as an
action star---despite his protests.</span><br />
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-9371971792207037642015-03-16T17:38:00.000-07:002015-03-16T17:38:47.491-07:00Fashion Trends Spring 2015: Gingham<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M2WIbnxibjQ/VQd1fZRpHxI/AAAAAAAAEzU/hgI1UOAbHpU/s1600/49258810-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M2WIbnxibjQ/VQd1fZRpHxI/AAAAAAAAEzU/hgI1UOAbHpU/s1600/49258810-01.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Forever 21, Belted Gingham Shirtdress<br />$19.90, </span><a href="http://www.forever21.com/" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;" target="_blank">www.forever21.com</a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: x-large;">Gingham is such a cozy material. It is made out of simple, woven cotton or linen cloth with a check or plaid pattern. The colors are commonly blue/white or red/white. It can vary from very small, checkered pattern to very large checks. It is normally associated with comfort and imply a rustic, country-style, laid-back look.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eh00bpGmhy8/VQd1fX3F-TI/AAAAAAAAEzM/R6XGf1pe_os/s1600/NMT9FGY_mk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eh00bpGmhy8/VQd1fX3F-TI/AAAAAAAAEzM/R6XGf1pe_os/s1600/NMT9FGY_mk.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Neiman Marcus, Splendid Long-Sleeve Gingham Shirt<br />$138, </span><a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;" target="_blank">www.neimanmarcus.com</a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: x-large;">This spring gingham is leaving the "strictly comfort" look behind and going a little more upscale, trendy, and hip. Very popular on the fashion runways this spring, gingham reminds us that it can be very bold and graphic as well as fashionable. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVKWshXteubnRG5hxdcxJ6p7JUkT3PR9ysRiCTU25aMgCiXBf0KYCtKwQMXeq286tJCWaU8dqTT2i5w3n1g2fMSLTMDYrSHNnBDAg418FQGe-i6-Cdvj4JNO-NeqjmZIw6RltedcRpgU/s1600/tess_giberson_long_skirt_with_placket_red_gingham_238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVKWshXteubnRG5hxdcxJ6p7JUkT3PR9ysRiCTU25aMgCiXBf0KYCtKwQMXeq286tJCWaU8dqTT2i5w3n1g2fMSLTMDYrSHNnBDAg418FQGe-i6-Cdvj4JNO-NeqjmZIw6RltedcRpgU/s1600/tess_giberson_long_skirt_with_placket_red_gingham_238.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Tess Giberson, Long Skirt w/placket<br />$258, </span><a href="http://www.thedreslyn.com/" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;" target="_blank">www.thedreslyn.com</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eco9LphW8iA/VQd1gBIq4sI/AAAAAAAAEzY/o_9Z7Y_jo2c/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eco9LphW8iA/VQd1gBIq4sI/AAAAAAAAEzY/o_9Z7Y_jo2c/s1600/untitled.png" height="320" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">H&M Balconette Bra<br />$10. </span><a href="http://www.h%26m.com/" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;" target="_blank">www.H&M.com</a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.artsnfashion.com/" style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: justify;">ArtsNFashion Magazine</a></div>
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-34438219940584410872015-03-13T05:00:00.000-07:002015-03-13T05:00:06.245-07:00Cinderella<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8mhmYaQU-Pc3hARmzw1Ig2kV_9QIpEJnR3WCgM0PAVD9I3oyCApYXJ8ghBAyjNBe1pNAL_64F3aGenUENcb6k5lp1-Qtvkw1axVORqIfhyIqwP9Q8491EnTkcrr9G0pjpiRK1tCu0Sc/s1600/cinderella2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8mhmYaQU-Pc3hARmzw1Ig2kV_9QIpEJnR3WCgM0PAVD9I3oyCApYXJ8ghBAyjNBe1pNAL_64F3aGenUENcb6k5lp1-Qtvkw1axVORqIfhyIqwP9Q8491EnTkcrr9G0pjpiRK1tCu0Sc/s1600/cinderella2.jpg" height="251" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6666660308838px; text-align: start;">Classic Fairy Tale with Laughs & Romance</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Director:
</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Kenneth Branagh</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Cast:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Lily
James, Richard Madden, Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Stellan
Skarsgaard, Derek Jacobi, Ben Chaplin, Sophie McShera<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Review
by</b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> James Colt Harrison</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Director Kenneth Branagh has gone from
Shakespeare to Cinderella, which only proves his versatility in the theatrical
arts. Branagh is a national treasure in England, where he is a classically
trained actor. Guiding the actors with a light-hearted touch proves delightful
and fun. Everybody knows the story of Cinderella, so there is no surprise
there. And, of course, the happy ending is expected as in the original story.
But we’re not here for the story but more for how it is told.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Disney always loves to mix comedy with drama,
giddiness with pathos, and the updated version of the classic Cinderella tale
is no exception. Little Ella is only 10 years old when she loses her mother
(Haley Atwell). Daddy (Ben Chaplin) remarries (Cate Blanchett) and presents
Ella with two dreadful stepsisters ( Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera of <i>Downton Abbey</i> fame). Of course, there
would be no story if he didn’t die himself. Little Ella is left to contend with
her Wicked Stepmother, who treats her as a lowly servant. Cate Blanchett does
some serious overacting but is missing the campier elements of such a
character. Perhaps Joan Collins would have been a better choice. Being a far better
clothes-horse than Blanchett, Collins is campy just standing there and doing
nothing. Blanchett looks chic in Sandy Powell’s costumes, but Collins would
have looked more like an overdressed drag queen and would be far funnier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Anyone who is not familiar with the Cinderella
saga must not yet be born or grew up in the Borneo forests with hedgehogs and
no Disney theme park. When Cinderella accidentally meets the handsome prince (a
dashing young Richard Madden of <i>Game of
Thrones</i>) while horseback riding, we know she will automatically fall in
love and he will also be smitten by the mysterious young girl. Madden is a good
choice for the Prince as he exudes the charm, likeability, and solid build of a
young Scotsman (b. June 18, 1986). Madden seems to have the acting chops he
earned at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Pretty and innocent Lily James is the grown-up
Cinderella. We’re all familiar with her as Lady Rose in her TV hit <i>Downton Abbey.</i> She brings the youthful
exuberance and fun-loving nature she displays as her character in <i>Abbey</i> to her iconic Cinderella. Born
Lily Thomson in England April 5, 1989, she is a graduate of the 2010 class at
the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The movie has a gorgeously lavish look, partly
due to its being shot on film and in widescreen process by Cinematographer
Haris Zambarloukos. Production Designer Dante Ferretti has done his usual
outstanding job, and costume designer Sandy Powell has dressed both the ladies
and men in form-flattering, colorful period pieces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The new Cinderella is a harmless and fluffy
piece of charming entertainment with some laughs, romance, and drama that
should be pleasing to the entire family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The movie will appeal to those who love fantasy
and laughter.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span>
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-57736396364595354202015-03-12T23:21:00.003-07:002015-03-12T23:21:41.799-07:00The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjjqsJitwsnQV4SkkMi3_j5csZT_7SXZtuNrQrkcQQRyWKzDRoxKvlLsSdwoBOwFvuhvocO1h0Y2o_t1ekLXsh18IEX4aDI-3DqtL_5zKPLjM5FFsdTZKFkd0k47T6EoocId80O2cVrM/s1600/second+best+exotic+marigold+hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjjqsJitwsnQV4SkkMi3_j5csZT_7SXZtuNrQrkcQQRyWKzDRoxKvlLsSdwoBOwFvuhvocO1h0Y2o_t1ekLXsh18IEX4aDI-3DqtL_5zKPLjM5FFsdTZKFkd0k47T6EoocId80O2cVrM/s1600/second+best+exotic+marigold+hotel.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Elephants & Laughter</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Director:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">John Madden</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Cast:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Judi
Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel, Richard Gere, David Strathairn,
Celia Imrie, Penelope Wilton, Diana Hardcastle, Ronald Pickup, Tamsin Greig,
Shazad Latif, Tina Desai, Lillet Dubey</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Review by</b> James Colt Harrison</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Oh, what joy there is in watching outstanding
actors at the top of their profession! No screen actors today can match Judi
Dench and Maggie Smith when it comes to scene stealing. It’s done with such
ease, such cleverness, and just a little slyly without malice. But, there it
is---one can’t look at anybody else on screen, and pity the poor actor who must
appear in a scene with either of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">In a second helping of the Marigold Hotel saga
that is imaginatively called <i>The Second
Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,</i> the story continues about the
snow-on-the-roof-gang who has moved from England to India to run and live in a
hotel owned by young Indian star Dev Patel (<i>Slumdog
Millionaire</i>). Maggie Smith, as Muriel, runs the front desk with an iron
will. She’s just as pungent with a razor-sharp quip here as she has proven on
television’s <i>Downton Abbey.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The old gang is still here---with the exception
of Tom Wilkinson who had an early demise in the first film--- and all are
seeking different things for their Golden Years. Dev Patel plays Sonny Kapoor,
the overly exuberant proprietor of the previously shabby Marigold Hotel. We see
it a few years after where the first film left off, and there have been some
physical improvements made. His ambition has never flagged, and now he seeks
financial help to expand his empire by buying another hotel with the advice of an
American banker, played smoothly by Oscar® nominated David Strathairn. Patel’s
character of Sonny is also enmeshed in the very complicated process of an
Indian marriage to his long-time fiancé Sunaina, as played by famed Bollywood
dancing star Tina Desai.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Sonny’s scheme of buying another hotel and
planning his marriage are all throw into an uproar with the arrival of Guy
Chambers, played by silver fox Richard Gere, posing as a novelist. Sonny
believes he is a spy planted by the investment firm that will approve his
application for money. In what is almost a French farce, plans go awry when
Chambers meets and becomes smitten with Sonny’s gorgeous mother, veteran Indian
superstar Lillet Dubey. Mom, of course, doesn’t approve of anything, least of
all Sonny’s ambitious plans. She is open, however, to a little romance with the
handsome Mr. Chambers. Sonny is horrified his mother has any romance left in
her, and reacts hilariously to her newly-awakened sexual needs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Everything dissolves into an uproar as the
wedding plans overwhelm Sonny. Evelyn and Douglas (Dench and Bill Nighy) can’t
decide to throw caution to the wind and have an affair, and Norman and Carole (
Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) wade through the choppy waters of matrimony.
Old maid Madge (Celia Imrie) comes into her own with two gentlemen persuing
her. With the cast having many years of training on the London sage, each and
every character portrayed is a gem of subtlety and depth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">There are many laughs in the film as it is
essentially a bright and cheerful story. There are moments of pathos where
appropriate, but in general our spirits are lifted by the youthful enthusiasm
of Sonny’s ambitions and by the wisdom of the elder cast members. As a bonus,
we are treated to the obligatory Bollywood musical sequence at the end as it
celebrates Sonny’s elaborate marriage to Sunaina. Dance! Dance! Dance!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Dame Judi Dench is Britain’s treasure. She’s
also globally loved for her iconic performances in such world-wide hits as the
James Bond thriller Skyfall in which she played agent M, and <i>Philomena, </i>in which she played a mother
looking for the son she had given up at birth. It was an Oscar®-nominated role
directed by Stephen Frears. She was nominated for an Oscar® for her role as
Queen Victoria in <i>Mrs. Brown</i> and won
the Academy Award® as Best Supporting Actress in <i>Shakespeare in Love. </i>The current Queen Elizabeth recognized Dench’s
numerous contributions to the theater and films by bestowing the Order of the
British Empire in 1970 and the DBE (Dame of the British Empire) in 1988.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Maggie Smith has captured world-wide attention
as the matriarch and Dowager Countess on TV’s hit series <i>Downton Abbey,</i> which has brought her new young fans. She, herself,
claimed the prestigious DBE when she became a Dame in 1990. Her stage debut was
at the Oxford Playhouse in 1952 and her Broadway appearance in <i>New Faces of 56 </i>brought her to the
attention of American audiences. She appeared in many British stage productions
with Laurence Olivier and appeared in many plays at the National Theatre of
Great Britain. When she starred in the hit 1969 20<sup>th</sup> Century Fox
film <i>The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, </i>it
kicked off her long and varied film career both in the United States and in Britain.
For this part she won the Oscar® and BAFTA Awards. She also picked up another
Oscar® as Best Supporting Actress in 1978’s <i>California
Suite.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Young Dev Patel gathered rave reviews for his
performance in the Academy
Award®-winning hit <i>Slumdog Millionaire</i>
from director Danny Boyle. The film won Best Picture and Best Director among
it’s 8 wins in 2009. Patel was singled out for Best Breakthrough Performance by
the National Board of Review and the Broadcast
Film Critic’s Choice Award for Best Young Actor. After starring in <i>The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,</i> Patel
turned his interest toward television and starred with Jeff Daniels in the HBO
hit <i>The Newsroom. </i> His next film is <i>Chappie </i>with Hugh Jackman and Sigourney Weaver.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span>
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-37083656925077688342015-03-12T23:11:00.002-07:002015-03-12T23:11:33.717-07:00Focus<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Z3iUP0T6VI/VQJ_ERRqgNI/AAAAAAAAEyY/PdhdvREFJno/s1600/focus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Z3iUP0T6VI/VQJ_ERRqgNI/AAAAAAAAEyY/PdhdvREFJno/s1600/focus.jpg" height="173" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6666660308838px; text-align: start;">The Con-Man and the Lady</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Directed
by: </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Glenn Ficarra, John Requa</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Cast:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Will
Smith, Margot Robbie, Gerald McRaney, B.D. Wong, Rodrigo Santoro, Adrian
Martinez, Steve Kim<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Review</b> <b>by</b> James Colt Harrison<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Few actors today are as charming as Will Smith.
He’s not only charismatic, but he’s good looking and catnip for the ladies. He
has that winning combination of appeal for both men and women. Does all that
come to the fore in his latest comedy caper film Focus for Warner Bros? It sure
does, and that is one of the saving graces for the film.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Who could match Smith in the charm and charisma
department? Newcomer Margot Robbie does and she sears the edges of the film
with her man-eating personality and sense of humor to rival Smith’s well-known
grasp of comedy. Ms. Robbie plays Jess, an amateur con-artist who is taken
under the master con-artist’s wing, Nicky Spurgeon (Smith). Although Robbie is
a native Australian, she captures an American accent with ease.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Smith’s Nicky is an accomplished
con-artist/thief who almost meets his match in Jess. She’s an amateur lifter of
watches and wallets off unsuspecting tourists in New Orleans. Nicky looks a tad
bored about all this, but he takes pity on Jess and decides to show her the
ropes about big-time heists. Jess is all sparkly and enthusiastic and even
funny in some scenes. Smith’s Nicky has seen it all and is getting dangerously
close to being world-weary about the whole thing. In this sense, Robbie has
become the better actor over Smith and steals the picture right out from under
the former box-office champ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Supporting actors pop up who are, themselves,
scene stealers. Asian actor B.D. Wong, always good whether on TV or on film,
plays Liyuan, a shady character with a big bruiser of bodyguard (Steve Kim) who
keeps him from getting rubbed out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Comic foil Adrian Martinez plays Farhad, a
bumbling character who adds laughs to the light-hearted film. We wish he had
been used more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The ultimate eye-magnet is veteran old-timer
Gerald McRaney, who gained fame and popularity on the TV show Simon and Simon. Audiences
cannot look away from him. Playing the nastiest of thugs, he chews the scenery,
spits it out, and leaves Smith with egg on his face. McRaney’s character of
Owens plays a very significant part in Nicky’s life, which isn’t revealed at
first. There won’t be any spoilers here, but McRaney’s thug proves the theory
that what you see may not necessarily be what really is in front of you. He’s
terrific in his role and could be sighted for honors later in the year during
the next awards season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Getting back to Ricky and Jess finds them not
only partners in crime, but partners in various luxurious hotel bedrooms as
well. With two beautiful people like this, what else can we expect?
Unfortunately, Nicky shows boredom in the relationship and the two go in
separate directions crime-wise. But fear not---their separation only lasts two or
three years and they are back to planning new capers. Robbie plays her Jess
character like a young girl merely out for an adventure. Nicky is more serious
about the quality of his heists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">They move from New Orleans to Buenos Aires
where the stakes are higher in the race car circuit. Latin star Rodgrigo
Santoro plays an ace driver who is into nefarious professions that make
additional money. We don’t really get to know his character in depth, so we
can’t empathize with his plight in the crime game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The scenes in Buenos Aries are colorful as many
events take place in the arts colony which contains brilliantly hued houses
overlooking the promenades. Cinematographer Xavier Grobet gingerly captures the
bustling movement of colors in this dazzllng district. Other technical kudos go
to costume designer Dayna Pink for creating attire for Robbie that is barely
there, Production Designer Beth Mickel for bringing together two different
design concepts in New Orleans and Buenos Aires, and finally to Nick Urata for
creating custom music for the caper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Focus is as light-hearted as a crime
drama/comedy can be, so it’s a pleaser. It’s not the greatest movie ever made,
but it’s not the worst, either. As the cliché goes, it has its moments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Robbie, age 24, is definitely a find and should
have a long career ahead of her. She’s a stunner, that’s for sure. Born in
Queensland, Australia July 2, 1990, she grew up on a farm. By the time she was
17 she knew she didn’t want to milk cows for the rest of her life. She moved to
Melbourne, the capital of Australia’s artsy set. She attended Somerset College
and graduated in 2007. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">She began acting professionally and appeared in
some commercials and a couple of small films. She was cast in the popular
television series Neighbors as the character Donna Freedman. After starring in
the show for three years she announced she wanted to try her luck in Hollywood.
Before she left Australia she nominated for Most Popular Actress at the Logie
Awards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Upon arrival in Hollywood she auditioned on the
Sony Pictures lot for the television series Pan Am, in which she played a
stewardess (as called those days), which today would be a Flight Attendant. The
series was critically acclaimed but was canceled after one season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Iconic director Martin Scorcese became
interested in her to play the part of Naomi Lapaglia in his giant production The
Wolf of Wall Street in 2013 with Leonardo DiCaprio. She made a magnificent
impression and was nominated for several awards, including Best Supporting
Actress by the Georgia Film Critics Association and the Empire Award for Best
Newcomer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now the actress has several
films lined up for release in the next couple of years. She’ll be starring in
The Mountain Between with Charlie Hunnam, the DC Comics thriller Suicide Squad,
and as Jane in the new Tarzan for 2016.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-86010016578862492352015-03-06T03:00:00.000-08:002015-03-06T03:00:00.258-08:00Fashion Trends: Yellow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-c0j9Y2wMDv_JvHsLD-q4RS36CRmu8T7czQac7kfBX1sZ4x1uQV37JTZghiwiK0LWQC1FtsDOqr2HF0ALPT0MKfXg05w34vztZDWwh-UWaleqiSCaNX2j1Ji7AafXEKkfp43AYC7aR-g/s1600/91650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-c0j9Y2wMDv_JvHsLD-q4RS36CRmu8T7czQac7kfBX1sZ4x1uQV37JTZghiwiK0LWQC1FtsDOqr2HF0ALPT0MKfXg05w34vztZDWwh-UWaleqiSCaNX2j1Ji7AafXEKkfp43AYC7aR-g/s1600/91650.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">That's a Wrap<br /> Neon Yellow Long Sleeve Dress<br />$49 </span><a href="http://www.lulus.com/" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;" target="_blank">www.lulus.com</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Every where you look on the runways, in the magazines, and on the red carpet you will thankfully see the color yellow. Its such a pretty color, but so rarely seen that when it comes into fashion it is a breath of fresh air. It definitely has the power to brighten up a look full-force, even if its just in touches of color or in accessories. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Yellow is a power color. Average looking </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">clothing articles that would not stand out in dark colors, pop with yellow. For those of us that wearing an entire outfit in this vibrant color seems like too much, you can use it in small doses with shoes, scarves, purses or other accessories that will shed an accent of color. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Let's hope this trend is here to stay.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zVaq7HAFO6I/VOwss_lM7xI/AAAAAAAAExc/NgSHZ2WVzSs/s1600/ZJF35317729_OUT_LG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zVaq7HAFO6I/VOwss_lM7xI/AAAAAAAAExc/NgSHZ2WVzSs/s1600/ZJF35317729_OUT_LG.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">JustFab<br />Aurelie -Yellow open-toed wedges<br />$47.99 <a href="http://www.heels.com/" target="_blank">www.heels.com</a></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tq-M3fzOZ3M/VOwssi7f6kI/AAAAAAAAExY/x7NTen5SYdk/s1600/00136602-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Tq-M3fzOZ3M/VOwssi7f6kI/AAAAAAAAExY/x7NTen5SYdk/s1600/00136602-07.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Forever 21 <br />Knit Pencil Skirt<br /> $8.90</span><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"> </span><a href="http://www.forever21.com/" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;" target="_blank">www.forever21.com</a></td></tr>
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-85515045836322764432015-03-03T03:00:00.000-08:002015-03-03T03:00:03.424-08:00Let’s Meet: Monty Montgomery, Artist<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTmSFTAYOlRXX-I0QAhzWa-JNv9O5F3Cge3_kBEmrH8SVSC8kQVSsDV-ahjSx4qR95lZb4S5Qp1cqIbEID5nbj-6rlAUAgoxQr2PTZNk7QfA2-BwSLCoMLCKHrQzeuAzOroH4w4czv50/s1600/montygreenhatstudio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTmSFTAYOlRXX-I0QAhzWa-JNv9O5F3Cge3_kBEmrH8SVSC8kQVSsDV-ahjSx4qR95lZb4S5Qp1cqIbEID5nbj-6rlAUAgoxQr2PTZNk7QfA2-BwSLCoMLCKHrQzeuAzOroH4w4czv50/s1600/montygreenhatstudio.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monty Montgomery</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">Monty Montgomery began exhibiting
his work in 2002. Born and raised in Virginia, Montgomery loved black lines and
bright colors at a very young age and was influenced by his mother who was a
kindergarten teacher. “I started doing art really young,” Montgomery says.
“Grabbing crayons and markers and trying to fill in good old-fashioned coloring
books. I remember having a massive amount of coloring books and being able to
sit for hours with my mom at the kitchen table trying to get each page
perfect.”</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l68OhGRAwDA/VOwpbszdEJI/AAAAAAAAExE/wnItUJi3mqg/s1600/p17_51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l68OhGRAwDA/VOwpbszdEJI/AAAAAAAAExE/wnItUJi3mqg/s1600/p17_51.jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Montgomery’s use of “stars” in his
work comes from years of sitting with his Grandfather as he pointed out
constellations through the dark, small town, Virginia skies. “It was always
magical listening to my Grandfather and learning about the stars”, Montgomery
says. “I will always remember that feeling as a little boy and try to somehow
bring it back to life in my paintings.” Through his teenage years he discovered
this visual connection was becoming more and more a substance for him to
express his inner works of art. In his junior year at Longwood University, he
launched Cilli Original Designs and began spreading his word through clothing,
paintings, poetry, stickers, and culture. Montgomery went on to earn his BFA
from Longwood University in 1998.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While based in Charlottesville, Va.
and working on various design projects in the music/surf/skate industries along
the East Coast, Montgomery opened, operated, and curated, C.O.D. Gallery
& Studios on the Downtown Mall in “C-VILLE” and joined forces with the
“SOA” Sound of Art in New York City for a period of time. After many
great years in Virginia, he made the move to Boston, Ma. in 2006 to expand his
vision. “Almost every single one of my pieces has a specific meaning to it, a vibe,
a feeling or message that I want you to take in and walk away with,” Montgomery
says. “I not only want to hit you with my vision of color and lines, but even
more so with the message within each creation. My job is to create art that
makes you feel.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">In 2008 Montgomery made the move to San Diego,
California and launched </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.montymontgomeryart.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.montymontgomeryart.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">. He is currently based in San Diego and
continues to focus in on his works and take on various projects across the USA.
Montgomery recently combined forces with J Feather, another San Diego based
Artist and the duo formed KREASHUN in 2012. KREASHUN is a combination of both
Artist’s visions and talents coming together to create one lucid dream of experience
upon interior and exterior walls around the globe. Experience this new vision
at </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.kreashun.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.kreashun.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">.</span></div>
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-3782495827578338282015-02-27T03:00:00.000-08:002015-02-27T03:00:00.051-08:00An Iraqi Mother’s Novel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBXmM9mnTZ4/VOwmIw7_tuI/AAAAAAAAEwY/DwYfAWil7yQ/s1600/11008994_1603331416563195_1813036374_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBXmM9mnTZ4/VOwmIw7_tuI/AAAAAAAAEwY/DwYfAWil7yQ/s1600/11008994_1603331416563195_1813036374_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<i><span lang="EN" style="color: #0f2105; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through </span></i><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.kickstarter.com</span></i></a><i><span lang="EN" style="color: #0f2105; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"> you can help Nisreen Abu Klam translate her novel about her suffering under Saddam Hussein and Al-Qaeda, and the kidnapping of her son</span></i><span lang="EN" style="color: #0f2105; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Click on the hyperlink below after reading to Participate.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0f2105; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18pt; text-align: justify;">My name is Nisreen Abu Klam, born in Baghdad to a well-known
middle-class family. My parents both enjoyed books and reading. I graduated
from a civil engineering department and worked compulsory by what was known in
Iraq as the Central Appointment Law for a few years in my profession. I have
made many prior attempts to write novels and articles, but the unstable way of
life in Iraq, the lack of the services, and the general unavailability of
domestic items most of the time impose additional loads on Iraqi women. I had
to leave Iraq to follow my husband who was teaching at various universities in
the Middle East. Such travels gave me the opportunity to see more places and
elevate my writings.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #0f2105; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was inspired to write this book because
of the state of grief and oppression that possessed me since the day my beloved
son was kidnapped. To this present day he has never come back to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: #0f2105; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This book covers the time period of
1980-2010. It begins after the year 2003, when the American Army came to
liberate Iraq from Saddam Hussein. Al-Qaeda men from Iraq and abroad, entered
Iraq through the borders of neighboring countries and they started kidnapping
all the people who participated with the Americans to redevelop Iraq. I am one
of the people who was targeted by Al-Qaeda. They kidnapped my boy because they
did not believe in redevelopment and thus did not want us to take part in this
process. They killed him. After asking me for ransom money, our whole immediate
family was threatened so we had to flee the country. We applied through the
United Nations to find somewhere we could find safety and refuge. We came to
the U.S.A. and settled in San Diego.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #0f2105; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After many years of the healing process, I
decided to write my story and put all these experiences into a book so that the
American people will be able to understand the suffering of Iraqi women during
the wars that Saddam Hussein created. I began writing this book in 2009 having
been inspired through attending a writing group. I heard many stories from
other women from all over the world in this group and the injustices they had
experienced. I kept hearing stories from other women in the Iraqi community who
had similar stories to myself. I felt I was finally in a safe space where I could
dedicate myself to writing this book and to tell the stories of those who could
not write for themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #0f2105; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This books is about how the men of Al-Qaeda
and Saddam Hussein worked to destroy the social pattern of society. This book
details the injustice all Iraqis had to endure as an inevitable result of the
control of the dictatorship on the capabilities of the Iraqi people. I wanted
my personal story to be shared and to allow the world to know of the pain and
suffering the Iraqi people experienced as a result of 35 years of dictatorship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #0f2105; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
primary goals for this book is for it to be easily accessible to a large number
of readers. In particular, this book was written for Americans, without whom
our dictator would still be in power. This book was written in America after
running away from Iraq. For this reason, I wanted this book to be translated to
English so I can receive feedback from American readers having provided them
with well-documented knowledge and experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #0f2105; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #0f2105; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Risks and challenges<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #0f2105; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The challenges with this project lie within
translation itself. The challenge of translation is two-fold. First, it is
clearly essential that the translator needs to be proficient in both English
and Arabic as a very basic ingredient for translating the written word.
Secondly, the translator must be able to stylistically translate the sentiment
and feelings of the original text and be able to emote the same kind of
feelings for the reader.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #0f2105; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am currently working with a published
author and friend who is helping me in the translation process to ensure that
how the book is written in Arabic translates emotionally in English.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: #0f2105; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">If you would like to help
with this project, Click <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/881295653/english-translation-of-an-iraqi-mothers-novel?fb_action_ids=1602438349985835&fb_action_types=og.shares&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B771842906231853%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.shares%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><strong>Lawrence Harbison</strong>, The Playfixer, brings you up to date with what’s hot and what’s not in New York. In this column, Larry reports on <strong><em>HAMILTON, RASHEEDA SPEAKING, EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH, CHURCHILL</em></strong> and <strong><em>THE EVENTS</em></strong>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">I am, to put it mildly, not a fan of hip-hop, which I consider doggerel set to noise. Still, I always go to the theatre hoping that what I see will be wonderful, as I did when I went to <strong><em>Hamilton</em></strong>, at the Public Theater, even though I had heard it was mostly in the hip-hop idiom. This new musical, with book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda (he of <em>In the Heights</em> fame) tells the story of Alexander Hamilton. Yes, a lot of it is hip-hop. All of it is absolutely brilliant.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Thomas Kail’s staging of this wonderfully witty and ultimately very touching work is epochal, the best direction of a new musical this season, and Miranda is wonderful in the eponymous role. Also great are Phillipa Soo as Hamilton’s wife, Eliza, and Leslie Odom, Jr. as his nemesis, Aaron Burr.</span></div>
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Unfortunately, the entire run at the Public Theater is sold out, except for a handful of tickets sold by lottery for every performance. I went on a weekend matinee, and there were about 100 people waiting in the lobby, hoping their names would be called. Fortunately, Hamilton is almost certainly moving to Broadway. When it does, don’t miss it.</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">I also enjoyed Joel Drake Johnson’s <strong><em>Rasheeda Speaking</em></strong>, produced by the New Group at the Signature Center, about two clerical workers in a doctor’s office. Ileen, who has been there for several years, is white; Jaclyn, there for six months, is black. Jaclyn has quite an “attitude problem,” which concerns the doctor, who wants to get rid of her. In this day and age, though, that can be a real problem if the problematic employee is black, so he enlists the very reluctant Ileen to keep a record of all the problems Jaclyn causes. In a climactic monologue, though, Jaclyn brings home the root cause of her “bad attitude,” and what emerges is a thoughtful examination of what it means to be black in what is still a white man’s world.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Tonya Pinkins is, to put it mildly, sensational as Jaclyn; but she is matched by Dianne Wiest as the namby-pamby, go along to get along Ileen. These are two of the finest performances in any play this season.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Sheila Callaghan’s <strong><em>Everything You Touch</em></strong>, produced by Rattlestick at the Cherry Lane Theatre is a fascinating, surreal look at the fashion industry. Victor is an enfant terrible designer whose muse, Esme, pushes him to get more and more outrageous with his designs. Two women come into his world – Jess, a plain-Jane type and Lonella, a refugee from the Midwest, who influence him to begin designing clothes that women might actually wear. There is a chorus of models who move through the play, wearing Victor’s designs.</span><br />
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The actors, under Jessica Kubzansky’s fluid and inventive direction, are just plain wonderful. <em>Everything You Touch</em> is sometimes hard to figure out, but stick with it. Sheila Callaghan is a true visionary, that rare non-realistic playwright who manages to make it all cohere. And Jenny Feldenauer’s costumes are spectacular!</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Churchill</em></strong>, at New World Stages, written by and starring Ronald Keaton in the eponymous roles, is a standard-issue biographical monodrama. Sir Winston is in his study, talking to us. Who “we” are is never made clear. Most of it covers Churchill’s military and political careers up until World War Two, and his fall from power after the war was won. Keaton looks a little like Churchill, but he lacks his stentorian growl. He seems more like your jolly uncle than one of the pivotal figures of the 20<sup>th</sup> Century. Still, his is a fascinating story. If you don’t know much about Churchill, here’s your chance to learn something.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Every year, philanthropist/producer Carol Tambor spends a month at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, sees a gazillion shows, and chooses what she considers to be the best of them all, which she then produces off Broadway. This year’s Tambor Award winner is David Greig’s <strong><em>The Events</em></strong>, at NY Theatre Workshop. It’s about a female cleric who runs the choir at her church. At every performance, a different choir participates. I saw/heard the Lafayette Inspirational Ensemble. There’s also a man who interacts with the minister, appearing to play various roles – but you’re never sure who he’s supposed to be at any given time. I think the play is about a mass shooting, but it’s so murky and confusing it’s hard to tell. <strong><em>The Events</em></strong> is interminable. It has no interval, and several audience members ditched in the middle of it, including half my row. Ah well, at least the music was enjoyable.<strong> </strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b><strong>HAMILTON</strong>. Public Theater, 435 Lafayette St.<br />TICKETS: The entire run is sold out.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><br /><strong>RASHEEDA SPEAKING</strong>. Signature Center, 480 W. 42<sup>nd</sup> St.<br />TICKETS: <a href="http://www.ticketcentral.com/" target="_blank">www.ticketcentral.com</a> or <span class="ecxskype_c2c_print_container ecxskype_c2c ecxnotranslate">212-279-4200</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span class="ecxskype_c2c_container ecxskype_c2c ecxnotranslate" data-isfreecall="false" data-ismobile="false" data-isrtl="false" data-numbertocall="+12122794200" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"><span class="ecxskype_c2c_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr"><span class="ecxskype_c2c_textarea_span"><span class="ecxskype_c2c_free_text_span"></span></span></span></span><br /><strong>EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH</strong>. Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce St.<br />TICKETS: <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">212-989-2020</a></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><br /><strong>CHURCHILL </strong>New World Stages, 340 W. 50<sup>th</sup> St.<br />TICKETS: <a href="http://www.telecharge.com/" target="_blank">www.telecharge.com</a> or <span class="ecxskype_c2c_print_container ecxskype_c2c ecxnotranslate">212-239-6200</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span class="ecxskype_c2c_container ecxskype_c2c ecxnotranslate" data-isfreecall="false" data-ismobile="false" data-isrtl="false" data-numbertocall="+12122396200" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"><span class="ecxskype_c2c_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr"><span class="ecxskype_c2c_textarea_span"><span class="ecxskype_c2c_free_text_span"></span></span></span></span><br /><strong>THE EVENTS. </strong>NY Theatre Workshop, 79 E. 4<sup>th</sup> St.<br />TICKETS: <a href="http://www.telecharge.com/" target="_blank">www.telecharge.com</a> or <span class="ecxskype_c2c_print_container ecxskype_c2c ecxnotranslate">212-239-6200</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b>For discount tickets for groups of ten or more, contact Carol Ostrow Productions & Group Sales. Phone: <span class="ecxskype_c2c_print_container ecxskype_c2c ecxnotranslate">212-265-8500</span>. E-Mail: <a href="mailto:ostrow1776@aol.com">ostrow1776@aol.com</a>.</span><br />
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<b>“It requires a certain largeness of spirit to give generous appreciation to large achievements. A society with a crabbed spirit and a cynical urge to discount and devalue will find that one day, when it needs to draw upon the reservoirs of excellence, the reservoirs have run dry.”</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b> — George F. Will </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who actually does strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b> — Theodore Roosevelt</b><o:p></o:p><br />
<b><br /></b><b>Click <a href="http://playfixer.com/wordpress/" target="_blank">HERE</a> for more of Larry's Reviews!</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.artsnfashion.com/" style="font-family: Helvetica;">ArtsNFashion Magazine</a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Find ArtsNFashion on FB and Twitter:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/artsnfashion" target="_blank"><img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT6BY_S25MSC0scrxYVNUSXI_Q8DeVDQW07B9hKEPA-07M91qDA" height="43" width="45" /></a> </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/artsnfashion" target="_blank"><img src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQd3KSjBFUDQHBTrtr_5THFEo370wuZOaN91twv__jHGoQJbgUS2Q" height="58" width="56" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><br /></span>ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-19107310467727845972015-02-21T14:26:00.002-08:002015-02-21T14:27:16.872-08:00McFarland, USA offers hope and excitement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NfUjmIhlbBU/VOkFmKN3lUI/AAAAAAAAEvw/YYQlcXn0WYI/s1600/McFarland-USA1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NfUjmIhlbBU/VOkFmKN3lUI/AAAAAAAAEvw/YYQlcXn0WYI/s1600/McFarland-USA1.jpg" height="400" width="268" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Director</b>: Nico Caro</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Studio</b>: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Running time</b>: 129 Minutes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Cast</b>: Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Juanes,
Morgan Saylor, Carlos Pratts, Martha Higareda, Valente Rodriguez, Johnny Ortiz<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Review by James Colt Harrison</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Popping out of the Disney patriotic bin is the
exciting and inspirational film from veteran star Kevin Costner. Recently
scoring with his film <i>Black and White</i>
that shows another side of Americana, this time Costner tackles race relations
with Hispanic-Americans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The movie was inspired by a 1987 real-life
event that took place in the tiny farming town of McFarland, California. The
area in the Central Valley is economically challenged, and the people mainly
are farm laborers with little chance at succeeding in life. Something to uplift
their spirits is indicated to bring happiness and success to the people who
live there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Coach Jim White (played realistically by Kevin
Costner) arrives in their small town to build up the track team at the local
high school. The school is predominantly a Latino high school, and Costner also
has to learn to fit in with the boys on the team. The school has never had much
success with athletics and it is up to White to mold the boys into shape in
order to compete with other high schools in the championship runs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">White immediately notices the boys have incredible
running ability but have no discipline nor expert training. It’s a rag-tag
bunch of talented boys who need direction. It’s also an opportunity for White
and the boys to learn about each other, to see what their differences are, and
what they also might have in common. They struggle to find a common bond and
realize that family relationships are powerful and the connecting tissue
between the boys, their families and White’s family. Maria Bello play’s White’s
wife but Is given little to do, and is the fate of most actresses to day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">There is a smattering of suspense when the boys
are training for the big game, but the outcome is a foregone conclusion.
Audience enjoyment is gotten from the hard work the boys put in to make it to
the championship game. They struggle, they run up mountains, they sweat, they
threaten to quit, they collapse. What else did you expect? It’s Costner’s job
as Coach White to talk them into realizing how important it is for them to
practice, practice, practice and then practice some more for the glory of their
school and their community. Costner is good at this sort of thing, as he acts
much like a father or a big brother to encourage the boys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The boys are talented and go on to win many
prizes in the history of the school. The story is a well-known commodity
because of the phenomenal 24-year streak of wins at the State Championships.
Because of this true story, much of the suspense and surprise of the film is
evaporated as we already know the end results. But it remains an inspiring look
at what can be accomplished by a small-town group of determined and talented
running young men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The film is a feather in
the cap of the Latino community and should serve as an example of what a good
education and good clean athletics can do for its young men. The entire family
will enjoy the movie. It’s pleasant entertainment for everyone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://www.artsnfashion.com/" style="font-family: Helvetica;">ArtsNFashion Magazine</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/artsnfashion" target="_blank"><img src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT6BY_S25MSC0scrxYVNUSXI_Q8DeVDQW07B9hKEPA-07M91qDA" height="43" width="45" /></a> </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/artsnfashion" target="_blank"><img src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQd3KSjBFUDQHBTrtr_5THFEo370wuZOaN91twv__jHGoQJbgUS2Q" height="58" width="56" /></a></span></span></div>
ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-46412699795415600822015-02-19T10:09:00.001-08:002015-02-19T11:51:34.270-08:00Lets Meet:Lisa Reck, Photographer<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2F0yeP8r3JQ/VOQ8OzP2-hI/AAAAAAAAEvI/gdpz751CqJw/s1600/The%2BGates%2Bof%2BHeaven.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2F0yeP8r3JQ/VOQ8OzP2-hI/AAAAAAAAEvI/gdpz751CqJw/s1600/The%2BGates%2Bof%2BHeaven.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gates of Heaven</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://amunandromeda.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">Lisa Reck</a> is a photographer from Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania with a love for the natural beauty of the world. Her pallet is Mother Earth, creatures of the
earth and the heavens. Her photographs
capture the splendor of the world with the glow of Heaven which is the
title of her current work. In this
interview she tries to give us a glimpse into what inspires her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">ANF:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> Why art
and why now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">LR:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> I
studied art initially in my home town of Pittsburgh, PA. Although I loved it, the ups and downs of
life kept me from pursuing it with all of my heart. I moved to Mississippi and worked in several
different fields while raising my three children. But, I never lost my love of art. It’s just now that I've really listened to
the call and have</span> actively taken steps to share my vision.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TU7wiXOgpdI/VOQ8e5CU9kI/AAAAAAAAEvg/nKaXGcQCCZI/s1600/splash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TU7wiXOgpdI/VOQ8e5CU9kI/AAAAAAAAEvg/nKaXGcQCCZI/s1600/splash.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Splash</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">ANF: </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">What attracts you to photographing nature
shots?</span><br />
<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">LR:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> I have
always maintained a close relationship with God even through my personal
struggles with addiction. My love of art
is a direct relation to my connection to heaven. Art, through the eyes of God, has been my
life preserver. It is also through this relationship
that I decided to truly follow my heart and my calling of art. The beauty of the world that I photograph far
outweighs any strife I have in my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">ANF: </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Your photographs are extremely warm and
inviting, is that your intent?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rVtQA0hwkiU/VOQ8cZqxC_I/AAAAAAAAEvQ/V2WYzvjHGkM/s1600/meincar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rVtQA0hwkiU/VOQ8cZqxC_I/AAAAAAAAEvQ/V2WYzvjHGkM/s1600/meincar.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa Reck</td></tr>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><b>LR:</b>
Yes! I see the warmth of my photography
as a space where heavenly peace exist and people can find their own peace,
beauty and a healing source. Art has and
always will be a mending process for me.
It is mending my heart and soul.
I want to share what I get to see on a daily basis with the world. I’m currently working out of West Palm Beach,
Florida and the opportunities that are presented for an artist to find Heaven
in every shot are innumerable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">ANF: </span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Clearly you have a love of the spiritual side
of art. Your current collection is called Heaven. What else motivates you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n-a_OA2eam0/VOQ8dyihkuI/AAAAAAAAEvY/528fCGeHbrM/s1600/Broken%2BLeaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n-a_OA2eam0/VOQ8dyihkuI/AAAAAAAAEvY/528fCGeHbrM/s1600/Broken%2BLeaf.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broken Leaf</td></tr>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">LR:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> You’re
right and hit the nail on the head. I’m
spiritually motivated and I believe that you can experience the Heavens through my
art. I’m also motivated by my three
beautiful boys, Charly, Jacob, and Robert as well as my two grandchildren. My art is for everyone, but most of all it is an
extension of my faith, for my children and for my own comfort. Art is my meditation. It fills me and keeps me happy and safe. I
want to share this with those who also have a need to rise out of challenging
times as I have. It allows me to enjoy all that I do and I hope it does that for those who view my work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Click <a href="http://www.amunandromeda.myshopify.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a> to buy and see more work from Lisa Reck at AmunAndromeda Gallery.</span><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/AmunAndromeda-Gallery-Lisa-Reck/605510402914720" target="_blank">HERE </a>to Follow Lisa on Facebook</span></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-12842957248637222502015-02-13T20:43:00.000-08:002015-02-13T20:45:11.653-08:00New York Theatre Reviews: "On the Aisle with Larry" <div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSOzKZn5NhM6y23xEt4N8MQyj_iIyOP_nbV4vUVg5y4kl9A6gZXK_Y8mn-d0VXpCE0rZFoXsNxngwRSJYXDlu-kQI6mgbgBSADS96U_l-JzNIpeDJJN5K_nVggjyOWGr3ssFhPndcoBg/s1600/Groucho-Mark-014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSOzKZn5NhM6y23xEt4N8MQyj_iIyOP_nbV4vUVg5y4kl9A6gZXK_Y8mn-d0VXpCE0rZFoXsNxngwRSJYXDlu-kQI6mgbgBSADS96U_l-JzNIpeDJJN5K_nVggjyOWGr3ssFhPndcoBg/s1600/Groucho-Mark-014.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
“On the Aisle with Larry” 5 February, 2015<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Lawrence Harbison</b>, The Playfixer, brings you up to
date with what’s hot and what’s not in New York. In this column, Larry reports
on <b><i>HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, WINNERS, FILM CHINOIS, THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS </i></b>and<b><i> A MONTH
IN THE COUNTRY.</i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i>Honeymoon in Vegas</i></b>, at the Nederlander
Theatre, is an old fashioned musical comedy of the sort once regularly directed
by the likes of George Abbott. In this case, retro is a good thing. The show is
great fun; pure, Broadway entertainment that’s been sorely missed. Not that I
don’t enjoy all the “serious” shows I see night after night – I do. It’s just
nice to have a break from all the alienation and despair once in a while.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s based on the movie which starred Nicholas Cage and
Sarah Jessica Parker as a Brooklyn couple who come to Las Vegas to get married.
The owner of their hotel, a rather shady character, takes one look at the bride
to be and decides he’s gotta have her because she reminds him of his deceased
wife. He snookers the groom in a poker game and basically wins her for a
weekend, during which he tries to persuade her to marry him instead. Will she,
or won’t she?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Rob McLure and Brynn O’Malley are charming as the couple,
Jack and Betsy, although you have to suspend your disbelief that a total babe
like Brynn is marrying a schmo like McLure. Tony Danza, as Tommy, the hotel
owner, sings well, tap dances, plays the ukulele and completely steals the
show. Also terrific are Nancy Opel as Jack’s dead mother, who nevertheless pops
up from time to time to try and stop him from getting married, as no woman
could possibly be good better than Mom, and David Josefsburg as a lounge lizard
singer and the head of the parachuting “Flying Elvises.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jason Robert Brown’s songs are just plain wonderful. This
gifted composer has finally found his groove.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Even with sheaves of great reviews, <i>Honeymoon in
Vegas</i> is struggling at the box office. If it can hang on, it just
might have a shot at the Tony Award. After all, remember what happened with <i>A
Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder</i>?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i>Winners</i></b>, a comedy by Maggie Bofill at Ensemble
Studio Theatre, turns the traditional dysfunctional family play on its ear.
Dad’s been unemployed for a year and Mom, now the breadwinner, is having an
affair with her boss. Their teenaged son Tommy has been fired from his after
school job at the Gap for smoking weed. Dad goes over there to talk to the
boss, who turns out to be an old friend, and winds up being hired to replace
Tommy. The most interesting character, though, is daughter Gabby, part science
geek, part performance artists and part superhero fanatic. Together, she and
Tommy devise a hilarious production wherein they bring this troubled family
together again. Pam Berlin’s direction is appropriately whacky, and there are
fine performances – particularly from David Gelles and Arielle Goldman as the
two kids.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Winners</i> is a winner.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Damon Chua’s <b><i>Film Chinois</i></b>, at the Samuel
Beckett Theatre, is a murky tale of deception and skullduggery in 1947 Beijing.
Seemingly everyone is a spy of some sort. It gets more and more confusing as it
plays out, and winds up being a real head-scratcher; but the production by Pan
Asian Rep is one of the best I have seen in quite a while and the performances
are all first rate.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Film Chinois</i>, while not a must-see, ain’t bad.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tom Dulack’s <b><i>The Road to Damascus</i></b>, at 59
E 59, <i>is</i> a must-see. It’s set in the not too distant future.
There has been a terrorist attack in New York, and the U.S. government thinks
the Syrians (who are now post-Assad) are behind it so they plan to bomb
Damascus to rubble. Set against them is the first African Pope, who has decided
to fly to Damascus to present the destruction as a human shield. Also involved
are a female journalist from “Al Arabya” TV and a State Department official
(with whom she is having an affair), who is sent to the Vatican to try and talk
the Pope out of going to Damascus. There, he learns the truth about the
terrorist bombing.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>The Road to Damascus</i> is a gripping geo-political
thriller which will have you on the edge of your seat. It’s been superbly directed
by Michael Parva and features a cast of terrific actors. My faves were Mel
Johnson, Jr. as the Pope and Larisa Polonsky as the Chechnyan Muslim TV
reporter.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Finally, there’s a new production of Turgenev’s <b><i>A
Month in the Co</i>untry</b> at Classic Stage Co., featuring TV stars Peter
Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”) and Taylor Schilling (“Orange is the New Black”).
It’s been mostly slammed by the press, faulting director Erica Schmidt’s
production which many found languid. Well, folks, her direction isn’t outstanding
but it’s OK. The problem is the play. It’s a proto-Chekhovian comedy set in a
country house with none of the social context which makes Chekhov’s plays
endure. Of the actors, Taylor Schilling comes off best. I hope she does theatre
again, in a better play.<o:p></o:p></div>
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HONEYMOON IN VEGAS. Nederlander Theatre, 208 W. 41<sup>st</sup> St.<o:p></o:p></div>
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TICKETS: <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.com/">www.ticketmaster.com</a> or
866-870-2717<o:p></o:p></div>
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WINNERS. Ensemble Studio Theatre, 549 W. 52<sup>nd</sup> St.<o:p></o:p></div>
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TICKETS: 212-247-4982<o:p></o:p></div>
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FILM CHINOIS. Beckett Theatre, 410 W. 42<sup>nd</sup> St.<o:p></o:p></div>
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TICKETS: <a href="http://www.telecharge.com/">www.telecharge.com</a> or
212-239-6200<o:p></o:p></div>
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THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS. 59 E 59 Theatres, 59 E. 59<sup>th</sup> St.<o:p></o:p></div>
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TICKETS: <a href="http://www.ticketcentral.com/">www.ticketcentral.com</a> of
212-279-4200<o:p></o:p></div>
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A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY. Classic Stage Co., 136 E. 13<sup>th</sup> St.<o:p></o:p></div>
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TICKETS: 212-352-3101<o:p></o:p></div>
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For discount tickets for groups of ten or more, contact
Carol Ostrow Productions & Group Sales. Phone: 212-265-8500. E-Mail:<a href="mailto:ostrow1776@aol.com">ostrow1776@aol.com</a>.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>“It requires a certain largeness of spirit to give
generous appreciation to large achievements. A society with a crabbed
spirit and a cynical urge to discount and devalue will find that one
day, when it needs to draw upon the reservoirs of excellence, the reservoirs
have run dry.”</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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— George F. Will </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points
out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done
them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose
face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs,
and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and
shortcoming; but who actually does strive to do the deeds; who knows the great
enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at
the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the
worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place
shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor
defeat.” </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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— Theodore Roosevelt</b><o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>Click <a href="http://playfixer.com/wordpress/" target="_blank">HERE</a> for more of Larry's Reviews!</b></div>
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-21458816910323832042015-02-13T20:22:00.001-08:002015-02-13T20:22:46.716-08:00Fifty Shades of Grey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaBQQ3Vklm-7q2rQwFIXoIEVt9cw5Ecs2Q9RYQramkgIVd-qNlZAVdJB85oqxH-UE37zK5vNgC_1uc8a8NrOJsIzZo898lrwTzeuQY8-Lovxz9Bawq6Mxb3BW739VrCqQ-VXhFRH3yq0/s1600/Fifty+Shades+of+Grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaBQQ3Vklm-7q2rQwFIXoIEVt9cw5Ecs2Q9RYQramkgIVd-qNlZAVdJB85oqxH-UE37zK5vNgC_1uc8a8NrOJsIzZo898lrwTzeuQY8-Lovxz9Bawq6Mxb3BW739VrCqQ-VXhFRH3yq0/s1600/Fifty+Shades+of+Grey.jpg" height="174" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Director:</b> Sam Taylor-Johnson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Studio:</b> Focus Features<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Cast:</b> Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson, Marcia Gay
Harden, Victor Rasuk, Jennifer Ehle, Rita Ora, Luke Grimes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Review by James Colt Harrison</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Fifty
Shades of Grey</span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> is the most anticipated film of the year.
Millions of people around the world bought the book by E.L. James, and they
will be the core audience. How can a film be exactly like a book? Well, it
can’t as motion pictures are not printed on a page, so exceptions must be made.
Books require the imagination of the reader to fill in the blanks for the
images described on the page. In movies, all the images are right in front of
you and nothing is left to the imagination---except sometimes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Getting notoriety for being “soft porn” as a
book, audiences may be expecting more from the film. It is not a pornographic
film, but it is graphic in its images. Many of them are quite artistic, and we
have cinematographer Seamus McGarvey to thank
for that. </span><span style="font-size: 18.6666660308838px;">Beautifully</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> lighted and creatively framed, young Dakota Johnson makes
a film debut that won’t soon be forgotten. For she is tenderly photographed in
compromising positions that eventually look like the paintings hanging in the
Louvre. It is art, and not smut, that we see. And handsome Jamie Dornan, her
“sexually dominant” partner, is equally photographed nude, although we only see
shots of his posterior now and then, and certainly no frontal views, heaven
forbid we should see a nude male. In America, males have no genitals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Not having read the romance-style book, we
can’t confirm reports the written dialogue is “cringe-inducing” (Sheri Linden, </span></span><i style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Hollywood Reporter). </i><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">However, some of
the dialogue from screenwriter Kelly Marcel (allegedly heavily supervised by
the author of the book) is </span><span style="font-size: 18.6666660308838px;">ofttimes</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> unintentionally funny. The dime-novel and
soap opera style creeps in occasionally and produces some howlers. To be fair,
the film is often quite funny as intended and has some genuinely amusing scenes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">First-time film actress Dakota Johnson is the
daughter of veteran stars Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith. She looks exactly
like Don Johnson in a fright wig, but prettier. The only thing she seems to
have inherited from her mother is an occasional inflection in her voice that is
a trademark of Melanie’s. Dakota’s character Anastasia Steele is naïve and
sweet and has just enough moxie to twist Mr. Grey around her inexperienced
fingers. In a sense, it takes a clever actress to be able to convey innocence and
sexual yearning at the same time. She pulls it off expertly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">When Anastasia is not having wild sex with
Grey, she pals around with best friend Jose, played by Victor Rasuk with
yearning tenderness and an obvious sexual attraction. He’s young and handsome,
but remains a friend. Anastasia is only intrigued by Christian Grey and his
off-kilter view of sex. A little bit of normality when mothers of both
characters come in for a turn to possibly explain why their offspring may be
socially damaged. Jennifer Ehle is effective as Anastasia’s mother and Marcia
Gay Harden portrays the wealthy, uptight socialite mother of Christian with
aplomb and humor. Both actresses are lovely and bring in a welcome dose of
“mom” and “apple pie” in a sense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Director Sam (Samantha) Taylor-Johnson is one
of the few top female directors in Hollywood and London. Born in 1967, she
showed an early interest in photography. She devised some video works and
multi-screen exhibits. She won the Illy Café Prize for Most Promising Young
artist in 1997 Venice Biennale. In 2008 she was chosen to direct <i>Nowhere Boy</i>, a film about Beatle’s
singer John Lennon. She was nominated for a BAFTA Award. Starring in the film
was 19 year-old Aaron Johnson. She was 42. Instead of adopting him, she married
him and produced two daughters.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: start;">
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-64724992910346597222015-02-12T13:31:00.000-08:002015-02-12T13:31:33.065-08:00Seventh Son<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TfZj1D6tZMA/VN0a6a2-UKI/AAAAAAAAEuY/frG0ycxgml0/s1600/Seventh%2BSon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TfZj1D6tZMA/VN0a6a2-UKI/AAAAAAAAEuY/frG0ycxgml0/s1600/Seventh%2BSon.jpg" height="199" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18.6666660308838px; text-align: start;">Thrills, dragons and goblins</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Director:</span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Sergey
Bodrov</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Studio: Universal Pictures/Legendary Pictures/China Film Co.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Cast:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Jeff
Bridges, Julianne Moore, Ben Barnes, Djimon Hounsou, Kit Harrington, Olivia
Williams, Jason Scott Lee, Alicia Vikander</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Review by James Colt
Harrison</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Despite hazards along the way---the special effects
company went bankrupt, Warner Bros. pulled out of a distribution deal, a rookie
Russian director handed the reigns, and a two-year post-production time--- <i>Seventh Son </i>has survived all the
disasters and turns out to be a fairly entertaining action film. At last! A
fantasy adventure that teen-age boys will love---and maybe you will, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Preparing to hate the movie because fantasy
dragon stories are not this reviewer’s favorite genre, we sat back and felt we
might as well enjoy the 3D cinematography of Newton Thomas Sigel. Mr.Sigel uses
the three dimensional cameras as naturally as he can, and very little of the
on-screen action is thrown off the screen and into the audience for shear “scare”
tactics. It’s like seeing with real eyes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Allegedly shot in British Columbia and various
other exotic locations, the look of the film is sumptuous and not sleazy as one
would think. The money is on the screen; the story is not. Written by Charles
Leavitt, Steven Knight and Matt Greenburg, the boys have adapted Joseph
Delaney’s fantasy novels into a road-company version of <i>Lord of the Rings.</i> There aren’t any cute little creatures in this
film, but there are plenty of ugly flying goblins, oversized bears, eyeless
monsters, smokey ghosts and shape-shifting witches and dragons. Kids will be delighted---and scared
out of their wits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Boiled down to a gnat sized plot, the story is
essentially that at one time Jeff Bridges rejected Julianne Moore’s romantic advances.
Nothing like a woman scorned as they say, and she takes out her revenge in
ridiculous proportions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">In a battle to gain control of the forest-laden
kingdom, the good guys must do battle with the evil witches and dragons.
Julianne Moore plays a fetching witch who is, of course, evil or there would be
no reason for her part. Filmed through what must be camera filters made of
linoleum, Ms. Moore again looks 20 years old and beautiful. Bridges plays
Master Gregory, a wine-soaked battle veteran who hasn’t washed or shaved in
decades. Bridges mistakenly thought if he improvised some sort of a mangled
British accent he would seem more authentic. Not! He merely sounds as though he
is suffering with a bad set of loose dentures or is gargling with marbles instead
of mouthwash. He’s completely incomprehensible, and that may have added to his
acting skills. Perhaps the Academy should petition to take back his Oscar®.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">In an obvious attempt to appeal to the young
set, handsome Ben Barnes is given the job as Tom Ward, the Seventh Son of the
Seventh Son and is recruited as an apprentice to gnarly Bridges. Just barely
out of his boyhood himself, Barnes must act as a man and save the kingdom.
Along the way, the producers threw in a fledgling actress named Alicia Vikander
as sex appeal. They are both cute and huggable and we root for them to get
together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">It’s actually an enjoyable action film with
plenty to see, terrific special effects, some revealing costumes for the ladies
(from designer Jacqueline West), and smashingly decorative production design
from Italian Dante Ferretti. (Moore’s Moroccan-style lair is dazzling).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, <i>Seventh Son </i>probably won’t enter the records as a classic, but it’s
good enough to keep you amused for a time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: start;">
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-7829679933234501882015-02-01T20:44:00.001-08:002015-02-01T20:44:23.637-08:00Black or White<div class="MsoNormal">
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0IgFtkjumNo/VM7_3BmCUMI/AAAAAAAAEuE/yL_F_iJa-0U/s1600/BOW2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0IgFtkjumNo/VM7_3BmCUMI/AAAAAAAAEuE/yL_F_iJa-0U/s1600/BOW2.jpg" height="169" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Director:</b> Mike Binder</span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Cast:</b> Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer, Jillian
Estell, Anthony Mackie,</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Andre Holland,
Mpho Koaho, Jennifer Ehle, Bill Burr Gillian Jacobs</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b>
<b>Review by James Colt Harrison</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Race relations are not always black or white,
and Kevin Costner’s new movie attempts to show the intricacies of having a
mixed-race family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">When his daughter dies in childbirth, granddad
Costner and his wife (Jennifer Ehle) are
left to raise Eloise (played charmingly by newcomer Jillian Estell). In another
stunning turn of fate, Costner’s loving wife is subsequently killed in a car
crash soon thereafter. Grieving terribly for both his losses, he turns to the
bottle of Scotch for solace. However, luckily for him, it doesn’t interfere
with his raising of the beautiful little girl. In fact, he becomes her “mom”
and learns to do girly things like tie a bow in her hair and get her off to
school in time. He clearly adores little “Eloise.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Costner, who plays prominent lawyer Elliot
Anderson, wants to retain complete custody of his granddaughter Eloise, but he
is getting stiff opposition from Rowena Jeffers (an incredibly funny and
dramatic Octavia Spencer) the grandma from the other side of the family. Her
son Reggie (an excellent Andre Holland) is a recovering drug addict and is the
absent father of Eloise. Both sides of the family love the little girl and both
want the best for her. That is, Rowena wants custody and is stepping in for her
shiftless and irresponsible son. He is definitely not father material and shows
no interest in parenting. Rowena has a blind eye toward her son who she thinks
is turning over a new leaf and going “straight” by dispensing with drug use.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Both families want custody of little Eloise and
both have legitimate reasons for wanting her to grow up with various family
members. Rowena is a force to reckon with, and she files suit in court to gain
custody. She hires her nephew---a hotshot lawyer--- to look after her
interests. Anthony Mackie plays Rowena’s tough nephew Jeremiah to defend her
family concerns. Mackie, as usual, is excellent as the smart, clever attorney
who will make the drug-addicted father Reggie look practically like a saint in
court. Judge Cummins’ personality, played with humor and a no-nonsense outlook,
is deftly captured by actress Paula Newsome. As well as being a sharp looker,
she commands respect for her believable portrayal of a fair and impartial
judge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">In some of his best acting in years, Costner
takes the stand and explains his thoughts and feelings and admits his mistakes
in dealing with race relations. Although he insists the case is not about race
relations, it must figure into the equation. It’s a terrific scene, Costner
runs the gamut of emotions, and he gives Spencer a run for her money in the
acting department. That is saying a mouthful because Ms. Spencer is one of the
finest actresses on screen today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The film is not all dark drama. There are many
funny scenes and situations that come naturally out of a different way of
looking at things, be they black or white. Writer/Director Mike Binder is a
former stand-up comic, so he knows how to create funny scenes to lighten the
load of a serious drama. Ms. Spencer is adept at parlaying potentially serious
scenes into comic masterpieces with the popping of her eyes or her use of African-American
body language. She’s one terrific
dramatic/comic actress!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Because of the charm exuded
by young Jillian Estell as Eloise, the revitalized acting chops of Kevin Costner,
the scene-stealing comic bits by Octavia Spencer, and the professionally adept
supporting roles of Andre Holland as the crack-head father, Anthony Mackie as
the opposing lawyer, Mpho Koaho (who does an hilarious bit as an egghead
tutor), Bill Burr as Costner’s best friend Rick, and blond Gillian Jacobs as
Fay, the film is a pleasing entry into the early months of 2015.</span><br />
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ArtsNFashionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663225491200844597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159657696030190851.post-763604707960347692015-01-29T12:08:00.001-08:002015-01-29T12:08:19.463-08:00Black Sea<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uDODitIUGLs/VMqS0r1Bg5I/AAAAAAAAEts/HTeJbpeJIbg/s1600/Black%2BSea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uDODitIUGLs/VMqS0r1Bg5I/AAAAAAAAEts/HTeJbpeJIbg/s1600/Black%2BSea.jpg" height="232" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Underwater thrills and adventure</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Director:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Kevin Macdonald</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Screenplay:
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Dennis Kelly</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Cast:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> Jude
Law, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, Bobby Schoenfeld, Grigoriy Dobrygin, Tobias
Menzies, Michael Smiley<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Occasionally a submarine thriller comes along
and holds our interest with the intensity of the underwater thrills. <i>Black Sea</i> accomplishes that goal, and
director Kevin Macdonald keeps the thrills at a heightened frenzy. This
reviewer loves everything about the sea having been in the Navy, so any
shipboard antics give out blood pressure rushes and thrills. So will the audience
experience the same artery tightenings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">International star Jude Law stars as Captain
Robinson, an unemployed submarine pilot whose job has been eliminated where he
has worked for a good part of his life. Other jobs were also made redundant,
and many “old salts’ with 30 years experience now find themselves out of date
in today’s technological world. All the men get together and tell sea tales.
One legend involves an alleged sunken German U-Boat that was filled with gold
ingots from Stalin to Hitler in the 1940s. The gold was supposedly a pay-off to
Adolph Hitler in hopes he would not invade Russia. Of course, the Nazis did
invade Russia in the winter in one of the most disastrous campaigns of World
War II for the Germans. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The submarine filled with the gold never made
it to its destination and lay at the bottom of the Black Sea in fairly shallow
waters. Robinson proposes to the rag-tag men that they try to rescue the gold
on their own and thus eliminate all their financial worries and mortgages.
Robinson finds a questionable financier to put up the cash for the expedition.
They find and buy an old rusty Russian submarine that is ready for the scrap
heap and paste it together so that it actually sails and submerges. The rough
and tumble men show their nautical skills and get the boat into ship-shape as
much as they can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The “money men” insist they have a
representative on board, so Scoot McNairy as Daniels fills the bill as the
non-sailor passenger who has no faith in the venture. He’s the fifth wheel in the episodes and
fills the atmosphere with his negative views on the success of their pursuit.
He’s of no help to the crew and is always in the way. But he serves as a spy
for the investors and is a necesssary evil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Robinson makes up his crew with grizzled
old-timers who know their stuff and complements them with additional sailors
who are Russian and are vitally needed to interpret as well as navigate the
Russian-made sub. The British crew and the Russian crew are emotionally
divided, but are somewhat united when Robinson offers all of them an equal
share of the booty at the bottom of the sea. However, tempers flare when deep
sea diver Fraser (Ben Mendelsohn) frequently blows his stack and irritates the
other men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Most sailors love to grouse and complain about
everything, and these guys were no different. Soon, somebody realizes that
there will be more to share of the gold if there are fewer crewmembers. A nasty
thought at best. Some “accidents” occur, some heads are bloodied, and soon the
passengers list shrinks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">A little humanity is injected into the tense
scenes underwater with the addition of 18 year-old Tobin, played engagingly by
Bobby Shoenfeld. He’s certainly wet behind the ears and the men tease him
unmercifully because of his inexperience. Robinson takes him under his wing
because he, too, has a young son and can relate to what Tobin is experiencing
as a sailing novice. We get a sense of knowing Tobin’s character much more than
any of the other men. There is little character development of the other men
other than individual personalities being exposed through their actions. Law’s
character is revealed in quick flashbacks with his wife and son, but Dennis
Kelly’s screenplay never develops him fully as a man, husband or father.
However, Law’s performance is exemplary and he comes across as a man in charge
who knows how to skipper a sub.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Director Macdonald has paced the actions scenes
well and has squeezed every ounce of excitement out of it that he can.
Explosions on board are certainly terrifying, water gushing through the sides
of the sub cause tense gripping of the theatre seats by audiences. The extreme
claustrophobia inherent in a small sub is captured in cinematographer
Christopher Ross’ lenses and heightens the cramped over-all look.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Overall, it’s a pretty
exciting and terrifying look into the underwater world of submarines, grizzled
sailors and the lust for riches. <i>Black
Sea</i> is one of the better nautical yarns to be filmed in years.</span><br />
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