Alejandra Manzo in Anita. By John ThomasonHow’s this for a premise: When a terrorist attack separates a Down syndrome-suffering woman from her caring and infinitely patient mother for the first time in her life, she is forced to confront a harsh outside world, emotionally connecting with the derelicts she encounters and vice versa.Healthy and full of real-world … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: July 8-10
Jade Master, left, winner of last year’s Palm Beach Idolscompetition, with events producer Eileen Weissmann at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre.Theater: Many of Palm Beach County’s professional theaters are idle this summer, but the Maltz Jupiter Theatre has a few special events, like this Saturday night’s talent competition, called -- what else? -- Palm … [Read more...]
Film review: Charmless, shopworn ‘Ceremony’ deserves dustbin
Uma Thurman and Michael Anganaro in Ceremony. By John ThomasonI’m always taken aback when unequivocally bad movies like Ceremony somehow pass the same art-house muster as films by renowned artists.A snarky, misogynistic and intellectually vapid Indiewood feature, Ceremony belongs in Blockbuster’s direct-to-video dustbin, not sharing real estate with the … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Dec. 31, 2010-Jan. 2, 2011
Jacquy Pfeiffer in Kings of Pastry.Film: We know, we know, one of your New Year’s resolutions is to lose some weight, and viewing the high-calorie baked goods in the tasty new documentary Kings of Pastry is not going to help matters. Still, treat yourself to this affectionate confection by co-directors D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus (The War Room, Moon … [Read more...]
Film feature: New independent cinema house at FAU boosts area’s film offerings
An outside view of the Living Room Theaters.By Hap ErsteinWith the exception of the occasional adventuresome booking at West Palm Beach’s long-since defunct Carefree Theatre, this county used to be a wasteland when it came to international, independent or alternative films.But six years ago, a digitally projected national network, Emerging Cinema, moved into Lake … [Read more...]