Driven To The Brink: Art Of The Automobile Also At Stake In Big 3 Crisis March 31, 2009

I’m a car guy.  They’re much more to me than just transportation … they are freedom, inspiration, mechanical alchemy and art.  The shape, the lines, the power, the fit and finish … when these elements come together for me it’s like hearing a great rock song, or seeing a terrific piece of live theater, or viewing an amazing painting.  It’s sculpture meets asphalt, and you get to set it all in motion.

That’s why the current crisis in the U.S. auto industry is such a bummer for me … I feel the era of the dream machine slipping away.  Now my qualifications for a hot car may be a lot different than yours.  I’m a huge fan of the American muscle car … Mustang Cobra GT, Corvette, the revival of the Dodge Challenger.  These beasts are for the dragon riders, willing to give up comfort and ease for the pure adrenaline rush of perfectly timed horsepower.

You’re Steve McQueen in “Bullitt” … Barry Newman in “Vanishing Point” … heck, you’re Burt Reynolds in “Smokey and the Bandit” … you’re on the road, wrapped in American made heavy metal.  Such a glorious waste of fossil fuel.

Now love of these cars doesn’t always translate to ownership.  Have you ever tried to pilot a rear-wheel drive V-8 through a New England winter?  Two words … not fun!  Do I miss my ’95 Mustang GT on hot, summer days?  More than you’ll ever know.  During January snow storms?  Not so much.

Still, it’s the idea that they’re out there … roaming the highways like a phantom T-Rex that’s a comfort to me.  That’s why the current meltdown in Detroit is so troubling.  I know GM and Chrysler have made some horrible business decisions over the years, but I still want them to survive.  That’s because the true heart of the industry still beats in the muscle car divisions of those companies.  Not the most important … not the most profitable … but a piece of living history worth preserving.

Did you see the article in “The Boston Globe” Monday about Harvard’s president, Drew Gilpin Faust going to bat for the old school majors?  Classics, whether Greek or four on the floor, matter.

Now that Rick Wagoner has gotten the boot at GM … do you think Drew could do a little moonlighting in Detroit?

Under The Radar: Local Entertainment Gems That Deserve Your Attention March 25, 2009

When it comes to many local level arts events a common refrain is, “Gee, if I had known about it I would have gone.”  Fair enough, so here’s three quick hits on some worthy happenings deserving of your attention this coming weekend.

Moving Images: It’s a film festival devoted to the understanding of living with psychiatric and developmental disabilities.  Expect to be challenged, and entertained by a series of short and feature length films aimed at combating the stigma of mental illness and developmental challenges.  One of the films is called “Cracking Up” … it’s a documentary about people with mental illness pursuing a year of  stand up comedy.  Find out how laughter sometimes is the best medicine.

The festival is this Saturday (March 28) at the Joseph B. Martin Conference Center at Harvard University.  It’s free and open to the public.

http://www.vinfen.org/newsroom/releases/movingimages2009.htm

The Massachusetts High School Drama Festival: Call it Varsity Theater, or Tournament Drama, this is an amazing event involving fourteen Bay State High Schools that have already battled through two rounds of festival-style competition.  Expect to be stunned by the level of talent and commitment shown by these young performers and their teachers.

The Boston Globe sponsors this event, which is much appreciated … but last year didn’t cover it, which was a stunning omission.   This competition deserves to be seen and talked about.  Plenty of media attention is given to high school athletics, but not nearly enough to the creative arts.

The festival runs from Thursday-Saturday (March 26-28) at the Back Bay Event Center (also known as Old John Hancock Hall in Boston).  Tickets will run you about $15.00 and packages are available.

http://www.mhsdg.com/finals09.html

The Gold School, Art Of Life: This phenomenal dance school in Brockton presents an evening of entertainment that is sure to leave you inspired and exhilarated.  I have been to Gold School shows in the past and I can’t recommend them enough.  You will see young dancers, performing at the peak of their abilities in beautifully choreographed pieces that range from the kinetic to the sublime.

The shows are this Saturday and Sunday (March 28-29) at the beautiful performing arts center at Whitman/Hanson High School.  $15.00 will get you in.

http://thegoldschool.com/performances.htm

Three great choices, and now you know about them.  Have fun.

Movin’ Out: Joel And Tharp Have All The Right Moves March 21, 2009

This weekend Boston is lucky enough to have two big budget shows featuring some amazing dancing.  You’ve probably heard about the one over at the Opera House, “Dirty Dancing” (if you haven’t, welcome back to the land of the living Rip Van Winkle!) … the other is “Movin’ Out” at the Colonial Theater.  Now, with no disrespect to the kids in the big, pink juggernaut that is “DD” … if you want to see some real dancing, get yourself over to “MO.”

“Movin’ Out” is a wonderfully entertaining mash-up of the work of two pop culture giants, Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp.  Joel’s decades of classic pop provides the music (24 songs in all), Tharp’s infectious choreography delivers the movement.  It’s no more complicated than that … great songs, great dance.  Add a cast of talented musicians and the athleticism of a stunning corps of dancers, and you’ve got quite a feast for the eyes and ears.

Yes, there’s a story that ties it all together … no real dialog, but a story.  Mismatched lovers Brenda and Eddie from Joel’s “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” splittin’ up in the Summer of ’65 (instead of ’75 like the original song lyrics).  This allows for a story arc involving three friends, Eddie, Tony and James who face love, war (Vietnam) and eventually the horrible fashion trends of the ’70’s.  That makes for plenty of sex, drugs and rock and roll … but since this is Billy Joel and not Led Zeppelin, it’s all pretty lucid.  Unfortunately, a wee bit trite too, but story is not what carries this show.

Dancing is what’s front and center here …  the music comes from a band on a catwalk above the stage (but more on that later) … and you’ll see moves that will amaze you.  Tharp puts her dancers through a workout that only a professional athlete could fully understand.  Lifts, throws, splits, dives and leaps … tango one minute, pas de deux the next.  All executed with a crispness and intelligence that match the songs that inspired them.

Lawrence Neuhauser, as Eddie, is just a force of nature.  He throws himself into the role of a troubled tough guy with real heart and passion.  He commands the stage and your attention at every moment.

Addie Hoobler, as Brenda, matches that intensity, but also injects a level of vulnerability that draws you in.  Her dances with Tony, played by Anton Harrison LaMon have real heat … and the sweat pouring off their bodies prove it.

Does it all work?  No.  There’s this awful S-and-M number set to the song “Captain Jack” … interesting that the number that has the most sex in it is the least sexy.  Also, the dream sequences that resolve some of  Eddie’s nightmares can be a bit much … the company dons these muted, asylum-like, play clothes for the “River of Dreams” dance that are more annoying than evocative.

Those stumbles are the exception, however, not the rule.  The dancing, overall, is nothing short of exceptional.

Now, let’s hear it for the band.  Matthew Friedman hits all the right notes as Piano Man.  He bangs the keys, and delivers Joel’s songs with a pleasing combination of reverence and spunk.  Dressed in black, he’s conductor and narrator … our touchstone to where the music sprang from.  He’s got a crack band with him, and because they’re above the stage and the dancers below, sometimes it’s hard to know where to look.

I also have to mention, the very cool chain-link and corrugated steel set design … throw in some stage smoke and lighting effects and it gives everything some real street cred.  Well done.

Now, unlike “Dirty Dancing” which still has several weeks to go, “Movin’ Out” moves out after just four more shows (two today, and two tomorrow).  Grab some tickets online or at the Colonial Theater box office, and have a great time.  Joel and Tharp will have you steppin’ lively into spring.

http://www.broadwayacrossamerica.com/BOSTON

Is Jon Stewart Now The Most Trusted Man In America? March 16, 2009

Well, is he?

After his complete dismantling of CNBC’s Jim Cramer on “The Daily Show” last week it’s a fair question.  In a half hour for the TV ages, Stewart delivered a public shaming not just to the hyperbolic host of “Mad Money” but also to the so-called mainstream media for being asleep at the wheel in the years leading up to the current economic crash.

Stewart, whether he likes it or not,  has now crossed the threshold from satirist to, well, statesman.  He took apart Cramer like the relentless chairman of a congressional investigation … he had the incriminating evidence (video clips of Cramer talking about shady financial industry practices) … he had Cramer admitting that he had been lied to by insiders and CEO’s to manipulate his investment advice … and in the show’s most stunning passage, Cramer sheepishly acknowledging that indeed there was a “two market” system at work during the Wall Street bubble years.

This wasn’t Charlie Gibson, Brian Williams, or Katie Couric delivering the goods … or even “60 Minutes” for that matter … this was Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart giving John and Jane Q. Public a lesson on the tremors that eventually caused an economic tsunami.

Now, to be fair to the folks who deliver “real news” Stewart has the advantage of having it both ways … he can play it straight or for laughs … and always has an escape hatch marked “comedy.”  He has the flexibility to be wrong about something and then just pass it off as “entertainment.” Hard news people have to be right, or pay the price (or write for “The Onion”).  There are scores of “great” stories out there that are just that, stories.  Those pesky facts keep getting in the way.  Stewart with a wink and chuckle can tip toe around all that legwork.

That’s not what he was doing with Cramer though.  He was on a righteous crusade to highlight the paradox of CNBC … can a financial network that is so entrenched in Wall Street machinations, honestly and accurately report on it?  The best Cramer could do was admit that he, and his network could do .. and must do .. a better job.

So, who would have thunk it?  Jon Stewart, suddenly one of the most powerful, and credible voices in American broadcasting.  Is he the new Will Rogers?  Is he the old Al Franken?  One thing’s for sure, he’s now a media force to be reckoned with.

And that’s no joke.

U2 IN THE ‘VILLE: ROCK GODS TRY TO COME BACK TO EARTH March 11, 2009

So, a lucky few will get to see U2 at the Somerville Theatre tonight … no tickets, you have to win (via local radio stations) to get in.  A pair of tractor trailers pulled into Davis Square Tuesday morning, and started unloading gear.  The ridiculous amount of equipment only serving to prove a rather deflating point … our lads from Dublin have totally lost touch with their humble beginnings.

Let’s be real, this is basically a club show … rumored to be just 4 songs and some audience Q and A.  Do you really need an army of roadies to pull off that gig?  I’ve seen bands set up in 20 minutes and rock the house down … and if U2 really wanted to reconnect with the real world that’s what they should have done.  No frills.  A few amps .. house lights .. music up front .. celebrity on the shelf.

Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. breath a rarified form of rock air.  Their place in rock history is secure, they’re so good that even the recycled material they’ve been churning out for the better part of a decade is praised to the heavens.  They have such a legacy of good work and good will that it’s almost impossible to knock them … until you pick up one of Bono’s more recent lyric sheets.

Anyway, I’m not here to bash U2 … I’m here to wallow in nostalgia, and remember how incredibly powerful and endearing they once were.  I’m talking “Live Aid” 1985 and their performance of the song “Bad.”  That’s where you’ll see Bono not in wrap-around sunglasses, but sporting a mullet for the ages.  That’s where you’ll hear the classic chime of The Edge’s guitar … and the relentless drive of Clayton’s bass and Mullen’s drums.  That’s where Bono’s song of a friend dying from a heroin overdose rises to the level of a prayer of forgiveness.  That’s also where Bono pulls a girl from the massive throng at Wembley Stadium, and quietly dances with her for a few seconds as his mates lay down a wall of healing sound.

That’s the U2 I hold close to my heart … not the juggernaut that’s frantically pushing a new CD for a recording industry in freefall.

I won’t be at the Somerville Theatre for the show … but I will light a candle for U2, and the unforgettable fire that once burned.

Wound Up Over Watchmen: Ticking Off The Best And Worst Of The Movie Adaptation March 9, 2009

To me it’s a pop culture moment on the same level as The Lord of the Rings film series.  The big screen arrival of Watchmen this past weekend carried so much anticipation (yet somehow crossed with dread) … high hopes (but tinged with low expectations) … geek pride (crossed with fan boy delusions).  As much as I love the graphic novel, I’m also keenly aware of the unholy mess its narrative contains.  It absolutely defies all the quick and easy recipes for mainstream success, challenging the reader with difficult characters and a somewhat toxic world view.

It’s pretty much an all or nothing gambit … you’re either going to buy in and love it, or drop it like a hot potato.  Which is not generally the kind of material Hollywood seeks for its mega-budget projects.  Still, the sheer audacity of Alan Moore’s warped imagination, and Dave Gibbons’ retro art style made “Watchmen” a holy grail for ambitious filmmakers, and the final product that made it to the screen has plenty to fuel up on.  Here’s my take.

The Review Star System: I’ve seen everything from 1-and-a-half to 5-stars.  I’d give it 4-stars, but just by a whisker (3-and-three-quarters might be more accurate). Let me say this, though, about any review below three stars … go pound sand!  Seriously, this is a fine, but flawed adaptation of a groundbreaking piece … and it does follow the original story quite faithfully.  What I’m trying to get at here is how can a 5-star piece of fiction suddenly be given 1-and-a-half stars by some reviewers because it follows the story “too closely?”  That’s absurd.  It’s an adaptation not a complete re-imagining.

The Opening Credit Sequence: Nothing short of genius.  Using Bob Dylan‘s “The Times They Are A Changing” while bringing the audience up to speed on the alt-America populated with costumed crimefighters is profound and silly at the same time … just as it should be. Director  Zack Snyder puts his personal stamp on “Watchmen” with a master stroke of wit and intelligence.  You don’t know as you’re watching it that it’s the best thing in the whole movie.  You sure do when it’s done though.  What the hell, I’m glad Snyder set the bar that high, even if he couldn’t clear it again.

Rorschach: Why is this miserable wretch of human so damn compelling?  He’s a paranoid, filthy, violent misogynist who wears his self-loathing like his ever changing mask.  He’s every bit the sociopath, but he’s also loyal and stubbornly committed to the colleagues who can’t live up to his skewed standards.  Jackie Earle Haley delivers an Oscar worthy performance.  His Rorschach is every bit as unforgettable as Heath Ledger’s Joker.

Nite Owl: White boy pain finds its father figure in Patrick Wilson‘s down (but not out) caped crusader.  His dreams dashed, his libido flagging, his unexpected return to crimefighting re-awakens his passion for … well, just about everything.  Wilson is endearing even if his mad skills as a street fighter aren’t quite believable.  He seems much more at home geeking out with his Owl-mobile.

Silk Spectre II: Okay, here’s where things go hilariously wrong.  Malin Akerman‘s performance comes very close to the unintended camp of Showgirls.  She’s a pervy delight in her latex costume, but then a terrible thing happens … she starts speaking her lines.  Oh, man is she bad.  She’s the supermodel who talks like a gum-snapping, mall brat.

The Comedian: Jeffrey Dean Morgan has the other breakout performance in “Watchmen” … like Rorschach, The Comedian is the complete package as an anti-hero.  A remorseless killer, a rapist, and the linchpin for just about everything that happens in “Watchmen.”  It’s Morgan’s job to actually make us care about this creep … and he pulls it off.  The Comedian is Alan Moore’s scathing rebuttal to the mindless worship of superhero culture.  Morgan gives us the amoral vigilante that makes the point with a flamethrower.

Doctor Manhattan: Big blue certainly makes an impression … a full frontal one at that.  Doctor Manhattan is the only superhero in this bunch who actually has superpowers, and Billy Crudup manages to bring a much needed does of humanity to this time traveling, nuclear enigma.

Ozymandias: Matthew Goode is just flat out miscast.  Too bland to play the self-promoting, smartest man on the planet, he just comes off as clueless.  The phony nipples on his costume have more personality.

Direction: Say what you want about Zack Snyder, but you know what? … he got it done.  He showed respect for the source material, and wasn’t afraid to take some chances.  He’s got a feel for spectacle … not so much for nuance.  I’m glad he delivered an R-rated film, because “Watchmen” takes place in an R-rated world.  Sex, violence, profanity?  Hell, yeah.  Like he did in 300, Snyder is playing to a mature audience, and hopefully parents will make sure young kids steer clear.

Hey, there wasn’t even time to get into Richard Nixon’s nose, or the return of Matt Frewer (Max Headroom I haven’t forgotten you) … that’s what’s so cool about “Watchmen,” you’ll talk about it endlessly.  That’s a story worth telling.

Nathan Fillion: Oh, That Guy March 4, 2009

Ladies and gentlemen let’s welcome Nathan Fillion to the Mike Stand.

Seriously, if I hadn’t stuck his picture at the top of this blog, would you have any idea who I was talking about?  Joss Whedon fans you’re excused from this part of the conversation ’cause I know you know.  In fact you guys know everything.  In fact, why don’t youfinish this blog for me I haven’t practiced guitar yet today.  Sorry, I know the whole Dollhouse thing has got you down.  Have a latte and we’ll talk later.

Anyway, back to Nathan.  There’s an expression used by show business types that’s equal parts admiration and jealous resentment, and it goes something like this. “He’s (she’s) always working.”  That pretty much sums up our man Fillion.  He’s done everything from soap operas (One Life To Live), too cool for school TV (Firefly, Buffy The Vampire Slayer), indie films (Waitress), and super hero musicals shot on a shoestring with very famous talent (Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog) … throw in voice work on video games like Halo 3and you’ve got quite the resume.  You’ve also got the blessing of having all that work and a profile that’s low enough to let you live a TMZ-free life.

His next gig might be his toughest though.  He’s the title character in ABC new tongue-in-cheek mystery series Castle.  Fillion has always been best in an ensemble, but in Castle he and co-star Stana Katic pretty much have to carry the ball themselves (think Moonlightingwith Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd).  He plays a successful mystery writer looking for a new character model … she plays the tough as nails cop (who just happens to look like a supermodel) who becomes his muse.  Yeah, it wreaks of high concept, but talent and chemistry could pull this one off.  Let’s reserve judgment until we see the pilot Monday night.

In the meantime, get to know our man Fillion.  He’s terrific in “Firefly” as Malcolm Reynolds, the leader of the renegade crew on the spaceship Serenity.  He’ll also surprise you with his musical talents as Captain Hammer in “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.”

The guy’s got so much star quality … I just hope he doesn’t mess it all up by becoming a star.

The premiere of “Castle” is Monday, March 9th on WCVB TV, Channel 5 at 10:00 PM.

Legend Of The Seeker: So Bad, And So Good March 1, 2009

Legend of the Seeker is like a family sized bag of “Cheetos” (that you don’t plan on sharing with the family), so wrong and yet so right.  Plot lines to this syndicated sword and sorcery tale pretty much equal the nutritional guide on the cheese curls … not much there.  Yet, try to stop eating those fluorescent orange bits of salty, greasy, crunchy goodness once you get going … hard to do.  Same with the “Seeker” … it eats up an hour quicker than you can finish off the bag.

LOTS is a throwback to the days of Xena: Warrior Princess, and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (except for the lack of a colon of course) … it’s produced by Sam Raimi and Robert Tappert who both had a hand in those shows.  It’s also got a budget.  Disney is the deep pockets behind it.   They shoot in New Zealand for cryin’ out loud, though you won’t mistake anything that’s going on for The Lord of the Rings … at least not in a good way.

So why did Disney opt for syndication rather than a prime time slot on its ABC network? It’s pretty obvious to me that the goal here is to go global.  The stories are so basic, the legends pretty much ripped off from every culture you can think of, why wouldn’t they click just about anywhere?  Dubbing is also a cinch … no big name stars, just bring in your hammiest voice actors and turn ’em loose.

If you haven’t caught an episode of LOTS what’s the best way to describe or recommend it?  Well, if you’ve read The Sword Of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind you’ve got a pretty good idea of what your in for.  Here’s a better question, how do you feel about lace-up corsets?  If you’re a fan you’ve found your show.

I’ll admit I don’t know much about clothing lines in magical times, but the lingerie trade was apparently boffo.  The gals in this show all have fabulous hair, healthy complexions, and cleavage to beat the band.  Who knew everyone was in such amazing shape back then.  See, that’s why we need show like LOTS … very educational.

I do have to give a shout out to the cast of this quirky epic … they’re all true gamers.  Craig Horner has a lot of appeal as the Seeker.  He has a bit of a Nathan Fillion (Firefly, Castle) vibe, and Bridget Reagan comes off like one of the stars of those Celtic Women concerts except she wields a sword instead of a fiddle.  She’s fun to watch.  Bruce Spense gets to ham it up as a wizard named Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander … complete with lightning bolts from the fingertips.  Way over the top.

I know I’m showing my age, but do you remember when Dan Aykroyd did the sketch called “Bad Cinema” on SNL.  His character was called Leonard Pinth-Garnell (who curiously morphed into James Lipton several decades later) … anyway, Pinth-Garnell would hail terrible movies with phrases like. “deliciously bad” or “gloriously bad.”  That’s what LOTS is … so bad, and so good.

Legend Of The Seeker airs on WCVB TV, Channel 5 on Saturday at 7:00 PM and Sunday at 11:45 PM

Person Terry Goodkind

Right click for SmartMenu shortcuts