Joyce's Choices

MOVIE REVIEW: STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS

Joyce Kulhawik — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:25:04 +0000

Loved this--and I am not a Trekker, have never been on a spacecraft, or had an out of body experience (OK maybe once) but I love an exciting cinematic romp through outer space, and after seeing STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS I left the theater feeling like my car was the Starship Enterprise (and if you must know, I am always traveling at warp speed.) The 12th installment of the adventures of that merry band of space explorers led by Captain James T. Kirk (played by Chris Pine and his indestructible eyebrows) and Mr. Spock (played by Zachary Quinto of the equally bodacious brows)-- just made me want to go along for the ride. This time they are after a single guy (Who isn't-- A number of my friends are asking...) a super powerful dangerous bad ass (Benedict Cumberbatch) who's hiding out in a neutral Klingon outpost and I won't spoil it by telling you who it is. But what I liked about the film-- and most Star Trek movies is that they are about the characters and their interaction-- and there's plenty here for the Enterprise crew to chew on. Uhura (Zoe Saldana) and Spock are finding their way through a rather complex relationship. In fact, Spock's identity is at the heart of the action. As a half Vulcan, Spock acts logically of course, but must navigate a romance with the het up Uhura, and decipher his friendship with Kirk who's operating from his gut. So Spock must adjust his thinking to take all of this into account; he's also half human, but has made certain decisions not to feel-- to protect himself from feeling what he confesses he actually at one time has felt or known--but must now control. Or at least try to. Not even Dr. Phil could straighten this out. Then there's Kirk and his relationship to rules in general, his mentor Admiral Pike (Bruce Greenwood), and the chain of command--Peter "Robocop" Weller is onboard as Admiral Marcus. Then there's Scotty (Simon Pegg) who resigns and gets drunk, while Sulu (John Cho) proves himself a man in the big chair, while McCoy (Karl Urban) gets off some choice one liners. Then there's the gorgeous blonde (Alice Eve) who sneaks aboard. The character drama holds up somewhat better than the action sequences which are often messy-- sometimes not clear what's happening or who's doing what to whom. But there's enough to fill in the blanks. The plot is a bit inconsistent on the details as well-- the opening scene has Spock trying to solidify the lava from a volcano so it won't overflow and wipe out a primitive civilization on the planet Nibiru-- but I thought Starfleet wasn't supposed to interfere with the history of a people? Later Kirk is called to account for doing just that. Lazy writing. So what kept me onboard? The pace, the overall flow, the likeability of this cast, seeing the beginnings of their evolution as characters, and perhaps-- I just needed an escape. "Star Trek Into Darkness" while not brilliant, was enough fun to take me out of the doldrums of a late Spring afternoon--just before a hail storm and a black bear invaded my neighborhood (See my Facebook/ Twitter stream). The blockbusters have arrived-- and they will live long and prosper this summer if STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS is any indication.

MOVIE REVIEW: THE GREAT GATSBY

Joyce Kulhawik — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:30:14 +0000

It's great-- once it stops. The first frantic 45 minutes of filmmaker Baz ("Moulin Rouge") Luhrman's eye-popping, screen swollen, 3D, musical mashup of F. Scott Fitzgerald's mythic novel brought me to the brink of motion sickness. Then it settled down, and the dramatic interplay of these iconic characters, against the deeper backdrop of the American Dream, played out in the fictional towns of East and West Egg on Long Island-- took hold. I was gripped for the remainder of its 142 minutes. Tobey Maguire is the perfect Nick Carraway, open, observant, decent, even-tempered. He's come to the village of West Egg and takes a little summer cottage next to a really big summer cottage belonging to a mysterious millionaire named Jay Gatsby. Little does Nick know-- Gatsby will turn out to be as much of a mystery to himself as he is to everyone else. Played by Leonardo Di Caprio, Gatsby projects a glamorous, moneyed veneer, his new wealth the product of bootlegging; but his boyish features belie a relentless idealism and naivete. He is driven by romance-- the desire for the girl of his dreams-- he met her when they were young, before she married the old-moneyed Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton) in East Egg. As Nick observes of Gatsby, "some vision of himself was wedded to her... he fell in love and lost himself." He must now reclaim her, the embodiment of the American dream of success, power, beauty -- Daisy -- the object of his devotion and completion, who is here played by the merely cute Carey Mulligan. DiCaprio is an infinitely more beautiful physical specimen than she, but Mulligan's less than idyllic features-- yet sumptuous gifts as an actress-- play to the character's flaws. She will prove an ornate empty vessel, unworthy of Gatsby's devotion. Luhrman brings this drama of class, crime, collateral, clout, and identity into balance and rich focus. As Gatsby pursues Daisy right under the nose of her philandering brute of a husband, Luhrman doesn't let all the topiary and tulle get in the way. Underneath the luscious set design and extravagant costumes is a dramatic showdown with real teeth. The scenes where Tom challenges Gatsby, and Gatsby challenges Daisy to confess she NEVER loved Tom-- have all the suspense of a Sergio Leone western. The camera circles the room, fixing on each face, closer and closer, until the tension explodes. DiCaprio's emotionally naked meltdown is excruciating to watch as Daisy wilts, and a fragile flower turns quivering coward. My head was spinning as the final tragic scenes unwound--the accident, the betrayal, the murder and suicide, Gatsby's future already behind him, as the light goes out, and-- to paraphrase novel's exquisite last line-- he and we are borne back against the current, into the past, the dream more elusive the harder we pursue it. To his great credit, Luhrman makes this all lucid and palpable to a new audience. I regret only that the filmmaker took the easy way out and made an aesthetic decision to introduce the music of Jay Z, Amy Winehouse, Beyonce, and other contemporary artists to the soundtrack so that current audiences might hear this world of flappers the way audiences of that era did-- as something fresh, hot, and young. But how much more satisfying-- and perhaps difficult --if he had dared to make the soundtrack of the roaring 20's written by Cole Porter, Fats Waller, Gershwin-- sound new. Nevertheless, Luhrman has given us a Gatsby that taps into what's timeless and inevitable about this delicate, almost mystical work. See THE GREAT GATSBY and see it in 2D; 3D actually gives it less depth.

FREE ADVANCE SCREENING: “FAST & FURIOUS 6″

Joyce Kulhawik — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:00:42 +0000

HURRY!! FREE ADVANCE SCREENING of a Universal Pictures’ upcoming release: “FAST & FURIOUS 6” THE FIRST 25 PEOPLE TO RESPOND (via “Contact Joyce” on home page) WITH THEIR FULL NAMES WILL BE NOTIFIED OF A PASS FOR TWO! Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 7:00 PM at a Boston Theater. (Theater will be named when notified.) “FAST & FURIOUS 6” Running Time: 130 Minutes Opening Date: May 24, 2013 Rated: “PG-13” Synopsis: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson lead the returning cast of all-stars as the global blockbuster franchise built on speed races to its next continent in Fast & Furious 6. Reuniting for their most high-stakes adventure yet, fan favorites Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and Elsa Pataky are joined by badass series newcomers Luke Evans and Gina Carano.   Since Dom (Diesel) and Brian's (Walker) Rio heist toppled a kingpin's empire and left their crew with $100 million, our heroes have scattered across the globe. But their inability to return home and living forever on the lam have left their lives incomplete.   Meanwhile, Hobbs (Johnson) has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled mercenary drivers across 12 countries, whose mastermind (Evans) is aided by a ruthless second-in-command revealed to be the love Dom thought was dead, Letty (Rodriguez). The only way to stop the criminal outfit is to outmatch them at street level, so Hobbs asks Dom to assemble his elite team in London. Payment? Full pardons for all of them so they can return home and make their families whole again. Building on the worldwide blockbuster success of Fast Five and taking the action, stunts and narrative to even greater heights, Fast & Furious 6 sees director Justin Lin back behind the camera for the fourth time. He is supported by longtime producers Neal H. Moritz and Vin Diesel, who welcome producer Clayton Townsend back to the series. Tickets are FREE but expected to go quickly. You must have a ticket to attend this screening but a ticket does not guarantee seating–seating is first come, first served — GET THERE EARLY!

:30 SECOND REVIEW: “42″

Joyce Kulhawik — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:37:37 +0000

If you don’t have time to read the FULL TEXT REVIEW of “42”– check out my :30 Second Review with video for a short, smart critical assessment of this biopic about Jackie Robinson who broke Baseball's color barrier –and get the bottom line fast!

NORTIE NEWS: THEAT-A/ CHITA/MAY-A/WIN-NAS!!!

Joyce Kulhawik — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:58:07 +0000

The 31st annual ELLIOT NORTON AWARDS honoring Boston theater was one of the best shows ever! As president of The Boston Theater Critics Association I was honored to emcee this annual event at Boston's Paramount Center (5/13) where 24 winners took home their "Norties"-- the coveted Elliot Norton Awards! BROADWAY ICON CHITA RIVERA ACCEPTS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WILL LYMAN ACCEPTS ELLIOT NORTON PRIZE FOR SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE MAYOR THOMAS M. MENINO HONORED AS THE ELLIOT NORTON CHAMPION OF THE PERFORMING ARTS ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION HONORED FOR A CENTURY OF SERVICE PLUS: Two surprise dance tributes! Veteran showman Maurice Hines--now onstage in TAPPIN' THRU LIFE at the Cutler Majestic-- delivered loving words of tribute to Chita and brought young tap sensations THE MANZARI BROTHERS from his show to perform in honor of the icon! They brought the house down-- as did Jeannette Neill's BOSTON YOUTH MOVES in a number inspired by the Broadway legend! Plus live performances by two of the nominated musicals, Lyric Stage Company of Boston’s Avenue Q and SpeakEasy Stage Company’s Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson-- both winners last night! I am still high as a kite from the proceedings-- we all partied later in "The Jackie" little black box theater while Chita held court in the outer lobby. I just love this theater community-- we are BOSTON ARTS STRONG! Here's a list of all those who took home NORTIES 2013: Outstanding Visiting Production Metamorphosis (Vesturport Theatre and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, presented by ArtsEmerson) Outstanding Production, Large Theater Our Town (Huntington Theatre Company) Outstanding Production, Midsize Theater The Motherfucker with the Hat (SpeakEasy Stage Company) Outstanding Design, Large Theater Metamorphosis: set design by Börkur Jonsson, lighting by Björn Helgason, sound by Nick Manning (Vesturport Theatre and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, presented by ArtsEmerson) Outstanding Actor, Midsize Theater Will Lyman, Long Day's Journey into Night (New Repertory Theatre), Operation Epsilon (Nora Theatre Company and Catalyst Collaborative @ MIT Project) Outstanding Actress, Midsize Theater Evelyn Howe, The Motherfucker with the Hat (SpeakEasy Stage Company) Outstanding Actor, Large Theater LeRoy McClain, A Raisin in the Sun (Huntington Theatre Company) Outstanding Actress, Large Theater Bianca Amato, Private Lives (Huntington Theatre Company) Outstanding Production, Small Theater The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Company One) Outstanding Production, Fringe Theater Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead (Happy Medium Theatre) Outstanding New Script Mildred Fierce, by Ryan Landry (Gold Dust Orphans) Outstanding Solo Performance Georgia Lyman, Chesapeake (New Repertory Theatre) Outstanding Director, Large Theater John Tiffany, The Glass Menagerie (American Repertory Theater) Outstanding Director, Midsize Theater Paul Melone, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (SpeakEasy Stage Company) Outstanding Director, Small or Fringe Theater Shawn LaCount, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Company One) Outstanding Design, Midsize, Small or Fringe Theater The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity: set and props by Jason Ries, lighting by Jen Rock, sound by Arshan Gailus, costumes by Kendra Bell, video by Olivia Sebesky (Company One) Outstanding Actor, Small or Fringe Theater Ricardo Engermann, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity (Company One) Outstanding Actress, Small or Fringe Theater Kiki Samko, Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead (Happy Medium Theatre) Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor Sahr Ngaujah, Fela! (presented by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, FELA Broadway LLC in association with The National Theatre of Great Britain) Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actress Andrea Martin, Pippin (American Repertory Theater) Outstanding Musical Production by a Midsize, Small or Fringe Theater Avenue Q (Lyric Stage Company of Boston) Outstanding Musical Production by a Large Theater Pippin (American Repertory Theater) Outstanding Ensemble, Large Theater The Glass Menagerie (American Repertory Theater) Outstanding Ensemble, Midsize, Small or Fringe Theater Avenue Q (Lyric Stage Company of Boston) For more information, visit http://nortonawardsboston.com or on Facebook or Twitter @nortonawards.

FREE ADVANCE SCREENING: “SCATTER MY ASHES AT BERGDORF’S”

Joyce Kulhawik — Sun, 12 May 2013 04:41:50 +0000

HURRY!! FREE ADVANCE SCREENING of an Entertainment One upcoming release: “SCATTER MY ASHES AT BERGDORF’S” Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 7:00 PM at a Boston Theater. (Theater will be named when notified.) For your chance to attend an exclusive Fashion Night Out screening of SCATTER MY ASHES AT BERGDORF'S, send an email to ScatterMyAshesBoston@gmail.com with your full name, birth date and answer the following question: Who is your favorite fashion designer and why? “SCATTER MY ASHES AT BERGDORF’S” Running Time: 93 Minutes Opening Date: May 17, 2013 Rated: “PG-13” Synopsis: “I want my ashes scattered over Bergdorf’s.” -- Caption from a classic New Yorker cartoon by Victoria Roberts It’s the most mythic of all American emporiums – a one-of-a-kind Manhattan institution where over the last century; the view of fashion has been transformed into modern art. But behind Bergdorf Goodman’s magical window displays lies a very real world where the rich and famous wield their power and eccentricity, where young and talented designers have their dreams granted and denied, and where money and ambition co-mingle with radical ideas of beauty and provocative style. Now, for the first time, audiences get a chance to peek inside this world, as Matthew Miele’s Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s explores the history, inner workings and untold stories behind the store’s rise from a modest ladies’ tailor shop to a mirror of contemporary culture. The legends, the parties, the windows, the women, the buyers and shoppers all come to life in this portrait of a realm where creativity and commerce collide. The 111-year history of Bergdorf Goodman echoes American history as the store comes of age. Miele traces the tale from the store’s immigrant start to its merger with the celebrity culture of the 50s and 60s to its now vital role cultivating the design prodigies fueling a global fashion obsession. Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s reveals the store after-hours, introducing the people and personalities who make it tick -- from fashion director Linda Fargo, the Bergdorf’s gate keeper who has the power to make and break the careers of new designers; to window decorator David Hoey who turns Christmas displays into gallery-worthy exhibits; to personal shopper Betty Halbreich, who doles out her no-holds-barred style advice to movie stars, politicians and fashionistas from around the world. At the heart of it all are a series of funny and revealing stories from a star-studded list including Giorgio Armani, Candice Bergen, Manolo Blahnik, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Naeem Khan, Michael Kors, Karl Lagerfeld, Lauren Bush Lauren, Susan Lucci, Christian Louboutin, Catherine Malandrino, Gilles Mendel, Isaac Mizrahi, Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen, Thakoon Panichgul, Joan Rivers and Jason Wu, among others. An Entertainment One release, Quixotic Endeavors presents in association with Berney Films and BG Entertainment, a Matthew Miele film, Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s. Tickets are FREE but expected to go quickly. You must have a ticket to attend this screening but a ticket does not guarantee seating–seating is first come, first served — GET THERE EARLY!

MY CRAZY WEEK: Punk, Porn, Mozart & The May-ah

Joyce Kulhawik — Sat, 11 May 2013 19:37:59 +0000

GREAT week around town--theater is thriving and the Mayor--though barely mobile- is everywhere! I popped into his office this week and presented His Honor with THE ELLIOT NORTON CHAMPION OF THE PERFORMING ARTS AWARD! Play below or click here to download video which we'll play at the "Norties" Monday night May 13 at the Paramount when we honor all the outstanding work of our theater community. Broadway legend CHITA RIVERA our guest of honor will be in the house, along with tapper Maurice Hines who will preview his show opening next week! It's still not too late to buy a ticket! I will host-- and would love to see you there! As for what's onstage right now? Plenty--for everyone. Grab your teenagers and head for ZEITGEIST STAGE COMPANY's riveting, superbly acted/directed, and acutely relevant production of (former teacher) Simon Stephens PUNK ROCK. It's a dramatic exploration of the sudden eruption of violence among teens at a British secondary school in the pressure cooker of their senior year. We're like flies on the wall as a new girl comes to town, adding fuel to the firey dynamics of this claustrophobic society. We recognize the complex, often cruel dynamics of kids struggling with identity, power, loyalty and lust. I jumped out of my seat more than once. The cast will blow your mind. Do not miss PUNK ROCK at ZEITGEIST through May 25th! If classical music's your speed- check out New Rep's solid production of Peter Shaffer's 7-time Tony Award-winning AMADEUS about the potty-mouthed prodigy Mozart and the mediocre but celebrated court composer Antonio Salieri who hates him. Salieri has the ears to recognize the upstart's genius, but not the chops to equal him; thus he wages war on GOD and Mozart is the battleground. Mozart's arch nemesis backstabs him into oblivion during his lifetime; Salieri flourishes while Mozart flounders-- but God will have the last laugh. The production sags under the weight of "too many words," but nimble direction, a winning cast (especially Ben Evett, McCaela Donovan, and Tim Spears) and Mozart's music make the evening not exactly whiz--but at least engrossingly glide by. At New Rep extended through May 26th! Finally, onstage for the porn-obsessed, fairy-tale loving dramaphiliacs among us-- get downstairs to the Ramrod Center for the Performing Arts (AKA Machine) and DON'T bring the kids. Ryan Landry and those frisky Gold Dust Orphans have tackled Pinocchio and turned him into a porn star in "PORNOCCHIO"! A riotous opening number set to "Funiculì, Funiculà" launches a 2-hour drag mash-up that involves the Blue Fairy as a foul-mouthed crackhead, Liza's belting, Fosse's moves, "Fiddler's" fiddling, Rosemary Clooney's Mambo Italiano, JC Superstar, and Landry's adorably deadpan doggy Rhoda. A non-stop chorus of singers and dancers kicks up its heels in endless production numbers that reveal all. (This is Landry's most explicitly costumed show to date.) Act II's staging is a thing of wonder as we are plunged into the deep blue sea, and climaxes with the ejokulation we've been waiting for. Did I just write that? Not for the faint of heart: See PORNOCCHIO through May 26th-- your last chance to see the orphans before they hit the road for NYC and NEW ORLEANS. Break a leg!

FREE ADVANCE SCREENING: “FRANCES HA”

Joyce Kulhawik — Fri, 10 May 2013 17:42:07 +0000

HURRY!! FREE ADVANCE SCREENING of a Sundance Select upcoming release “FRANCES HA” THE FIRST 75 PEOPLE TO RESPOND (via “Contact Joyce” on home page) WITH NAME OF FILM AND THEIR FULL NAMES WILL BE EMAILED A PASS FOR TWO! Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 7:00 PM at a Boston Theater. (Theater will be named when notified.) “FRANCES HA” Running Time: 86 Minutes Opening Date: May 24, 2013 Synopsis: Frances (Greta Gerwig) lives in New York, but she doesn't really have an apartment. Frances is an apprentice for a dance company, but she's not really a dancer. Frances has a best friend named Sophie, but they aren’t really speaking anymore. Frances throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as their possible reality dwindles. Frances wants so much more than she has, but lives her life with unaccountable joy and lightness. FRANCES HA is a modern comic fable in which Noah Baumbach explores New York, friendship, class, ambition, failure, and redemption. Tickets are FREE but expected to go quickly. You must have a ticket to attend this screening but a ticket does not guarantee seating–seating is first come, first served — GET THERE EARLY!

FREE ADVANCE SCREENING: “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS”

Joyce Kulhawik — Thu, 09 May 2013 03:56:46 +0000

You are cordially invited to One of Two-- FREE ADVANCE SCREENINGS for a Paramount Pictures’ release set to open in theaters on 5/15/13: “STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS” Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 9:00PM in Revere --OR-- Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 9:00PM in Dedham (Theater will be named on your ticket.) Rated: “PG-13” Running Time: 132 Minutes Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana, Zachary Quinto Synopsis: After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction. Tickets are FREE but expected to go quickly. You must have a ticket to attend this screening but a ticket does not guarantee seating–seating is first come, first served — GET THERE EARLY! MOVIE SCREENING DETAILS **************************************** WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 9:00 PM REVERE, MA TO DOWNLOAD A SCREENING PASS: 1) Go to https://www.gofobo.com/rsvp/promotion/83a56e526c4c886d8b23dd092ff2cbbc 2) Print pass and attend screening or WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013 9:00 PM DEDHAM, MA TO DOWNLOAD A SCREENING PASS: 1) Go to https://www.gofobo.com/rsvp/promotion/9419367d8cac8153f40b87b0591e77f1 2) Print pass and attend screening

:30 SECOND REVIEW: “OBLIVION”

Joyce Kulhawik — Thu, 09 May 2013 03:44:33 +0000

If you don't have time to read the FULL TEXT REVIEW of "OBLIVION"-- check out my :30 Second Review with video for a short, smart critical assessment of Tom Cruise's latest--and get the bottom line fast!