Category Archives: film

HUSTLERS

Posted on September 19, 2019 by jalesy55

went to see the film Hustlers the other the night without much in the way of expectations.  After all, the film, directed by Lorene Scofaria, stars Jennifer Lopez. whose film career has faltered time and again from less than adequate … Continue reading →

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MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

Posted on January 17, 2017 by jalesy55

After a prolonged battle with Hollywood powers over his last film, Margaret, playwright-screenwriter-director Kenneth Lonergan returns to the screen with Manchester by the Sea.  Hollywood ways and theatre ways of working do not jibe, and Lonergan, in the Margaret battle, … Continue reading →

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THE STRANGE CASE OF DAVID MAMET

Posted on December 31, 2016 by jalesy55

I’ve gone through stages with David Mamet the same as I’ve gone through with Mike Tyson.  Back when Tyson was the best heavyweight, when he floored Michael Spinks in a few seconds, I was a fan.  When Tyson got violent … Continue reading →

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EARTH TO ECHO, A REVIEW

Posted on July 9, 2014 by jalesy55

I went to see Earth to Echo the other night.  I’m accustomed to seeing a long line of previews before the feature film starts.  One sequence I was pulled into.  Boys of about 13 were video recording interviews of themselves.  … Continue reading →

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THE ROCKY MUSICAL

Posted on May 27, 2014 by jalesy55

Rocky, playing at the Winter Garden Theatre, is one of the major hits of the current Broadway season.  Adapted by Sylvester Stallone and co-librettist Tom Meehan from Stallone’s 1976 film of the same name, it shows that the basis of … Continue reading →

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12 years a slave then and now

Posted on March 6, 2014 by jalesy55

The film 12 Years a Slave is a valuable work of art.  Telling the story of a free black man who, in the 1840’s, is captured and forced into bondage, it has a good script and flexible dialogue.  Its direction … Continue reading →

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LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER: A REVIEW

Posted on September 9, 2013 by jalesy55

I saw Lee Daniels’ The Butler over Labor Day weekend.  The film has been given much hoopla by its producers, the Weinsteins, who are veterans in the push for Academy Awards.  But the strong cast justified the publicity.  Forest Whitaker … Continue reading →

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ANNE HATHAWAY’S OSCAR

Posted on March 3, 2013 by jalesy55

The common misperception is that musical theatre is low entertainment, an art form inferior to both  and straight theatre.  While too many musical theatre productions cater to this misperception, there is also a strong tradition of musical theatre as serious … Continue reading →

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KATNISS

Posted on September 15, 2012 by jalesy55

Death is her shadow, Hunger her trainer, Love her motive. War is her region’s past and fam’ly’s future. She strives, and still loses most ev’ryone.   So you with Plenty’s keys in your hands so soon, how do you see … Continue reading →

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WHY SUPERHEROES?

Posted on July 28, 2012 by jalesy55

Comic book superheroes have been with us for a long time.  Perhaps too long.  A friend of mine whose children are grown still wears superhero t-shirts.  I see Spiderman on his shirts most often. The modern superhero started with Superman, … Continue reading →

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