Since I work in a restaurant my "weekend" is a little different than the calendar. I get Tuesdays and Wednesdays off. Due to the scorching heat, which inspired the orange font, I worked very hard to put myself in entertaining air conditioned situations. And what better way to do that than see a movie or a play, or four. This "weekend" I saw 2 movies and 2 plays.
Iron Man
Despite my abhorrence of Robert Downey Jr. personally and the rather foppish beard he was sprouting in this film, its hard not to love super gadgets or robots with personalities, or men who talk to their robots.
The one hiccup that made me squirm in my seat, was the fact that despite Tony Spark's (Downey) loads and loads of money, his personal workshop was still in his garage. Also in his garage was a bevy of very expensive cars. Why would he risk it? Does he just have so much money he doesn't need to worry about putting little dings in his customized Porsche? Or do American film audiences actually enjoy watching muscle cars get pulverized? I don't. And yes, the cars do get pulverized.
Everything you could possibly want from an action film. Sit through the credits for a sneak peak at what the future holds.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Aside from the aliens, pardon me "transdimensional beings," the movie is fine.
I think people forget that the first three movies were relatively corny. By Shakespearean standards it is a comedy because it ends with a wedding.
Although it does seem like it tries to hard most of the time. There was an obviously concerted effort to bring in "big things" about the first three movies. For example, the way they worked in Indy's fear of snakes was both rather contrived and detoured the forward motion of the plot. But who doesn't like a good quick sand pit? (Pardon me, it wasn't actually quicksand, it was a dry version, but I stopped listening to Indy's explanation).
The action sequences are good, except pieces of the plot get in the way of making it really great. However, its pretty cool that it is set mostly in South America, particularly in the Amazon jungles since they are getting a bit of attention right now regarding their inhabitants.
I do recommend seeing it, we have been waiting a long time for this movie and despite the downfalls, or the rather many tumbles the actors take off cliffs, its fun. Who doesn't like hear that theme song play over and over, and over, again.
Top Girls
By Carol Churchill
Even at her most lucid Carol Churchill is a nut job. The play on stage was nothing like the play described in the playbill notes.
However, this production did prove to me that Martha Plimpton actually is a talents actress. Also in the production was a very versitile Marisa Tomei and Ana Reeder, who I was supposed to have worked with on "Secret Agenda of Trees" by Colin McKenna at the Cherry Lane theater Spring 2007. But Ms. Reeder dropped out of the production half way through the rehearsal process because she had contracted a parasite while in India before rehearsal. You can also catch her in the swimming pool scene of "No Country for Old Men". I think they were filming that during the Spring of 2007. Hmm.....
Anyway, the set was pretty cool.
http://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/current-season/top-girls-showsite/INDEX.HTM
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
By Tennessee Williams
Starring: James Earl Jones, Felicia Rashad, Terrence Howard and Anika Noni Rose.
Ms. Rose was stunning. I don't think I actually heard most of the exact words she was saying throughout the first act, but I understand exactly what she meant and what she wanted. Her desires oozed out of her body like juice from crushed grapes. Maggie the Cat (not an actual cat), was being crushed harder than any vinter would dare press their grapes for fear of bruising.
James Earl Jones has a stunning voice, but somehow he didn't quite shine the way I wanted him to. The role is not a huge role, although it does demand some range. He played it subtly.
Sitting in the audience I wondering if any of the dialogue was changed from the original during the rehearsal process because everything fit so well. Performing "Cat on a hot tin roof" with an all African American cast just makes sense. The only reason I ask if they changed some of the words, is because I know Tennessee Williams (although, not this particular play) and I don't think he would use the word "poon-tang". For those of you who don't know what that means, I suggest looking it up. Actually don't look it up, if you don't already know what it means I can promise you don't want to know what it means.
However, after a bit of research Tennessee Williams did write those words into the script. But he was asked to take them out when the play originally premiered in 1954. Now it all makes sense. The words made sense in context, people have been saying them in private for decades, but not in public. When private is made public on stage, in 1954 you had to abid by the rules of public descency. Things are a little different now. Maybe we got rid of the idea of public descency. Although, if the words are original keep them. I'm jsut against altering a writer's work. No alteration, no foul, err... no error, as the words are foul.
The bothersome thing about the entire evening however was the over zealous house staff. They felt the need to make announcements at the beginning and end of each intermission (there were two). They alerted us to such things as the need to take our ticket with us if you went outside to get a breathe of hot air or to turn off our cells phone before the new act started. Unfortunately the over abundance of announcements did not curb the abundance of phones ringing during the performance. I counted ten times and all from different phones.
Other than that, its a good show, that is scheduled to close soon. I'd saw there's a 40% chance the run extends.
http://www.telecharge.com/behindTheCurtain.aspx
In Other News
I also hit up the Cooper-Hewett museum's Roccoco exhibit. While I'm not the hugest fan of the decorative arts and I always have a great desire to sit on the fancy chairs and chaise lounge, but I know the museum staff wouldn't like that. However, now I can definitively say that I pick out a Roccoco design in the antique shop. What I did like about the exhibit was that it also traced newer forms that have been influenced by Roccoco, particularly Art Nouveau. Art Nouveau is a calmer version, with longer lines. The curator classified some of the Tiffany vases as Art Nouveau. I would include the Tiffany vases on display as the highlights of the exhibit. I really like Tiffany glass, there is something so absolutely transcendental about their form and colouration, but since they are made of glass they also capture the essence of human frailty and mortality.
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