Life extension is all the rage, in medical laboratories, but in science-fiction scripts, the term has taken on a new definition. Preserving somebody’s essence, postmortem, in another body or network as a way to negate mortality is a hot plot point in our movies. In 2014’s silly Transcendence, Johnny Depp’s consciousness lived long — and really, really prospered — in a … [Read more...]
‘Better Living’ wallows in vulgarity, cliché
The only likable character in Better Living Through Chemistry shows up in two scenes, late in the movie. His name is Jack, and his role in the film doesn’t really matter. Suffice it to say that he coasts on the warmth, depth and intelligence of the actor playing him, Ray Liotta, and when he leaves the screen, it’s all the more apparent that the rest of these 92 minutes have … [Read more...]
Sundays: Engineering a better human
By Myles Ludwig Computo ergo sum: I compute, therefore I am. Old Monsieur Descartes would likely be writhing in his grave had he known what his defining formula for human existence has become and how irrelevant it might be coming. I’m not suggesting that thinking, as such, will lose its place as an especially juicy characteristic of mankind (and womankind as well, of course), … [Read more...]
On Broadway, a bad year for musicals, a good one for plays
This Sunday evening, when the American Theatre Wing hits the airwaves with the 66th annual Tony Awards show ― Broadway’s prime national marketing tool ― it will put on its bravest face and claim that the commercial theater is better than ever. In fact, by most subjective opinions ― including mine ― this was the worst season for new musicals in decades. Even the Tonys’ … [Read more...]
Theater’s Ingham bestows love of drama, language on students
By Tom Tracy With the aid of his daughter Francesca, who was assisting him on a recent Monday by queuing up the DVD player, Barrie Ingham introduced his students to a series of films clips from movies based on the writings of George Bernard Shaw. For Ingham, a veteran stage and television actor and Royal Shakespeare Company honorary associate, understanding great texts means … [Read more...]
The View From Home 35: New releases and notable screenings, Feb. 7-29
There are many, many people who would disagree with me (I’m marrying one of them), but I can think of no better way to spend 195 minutes than watching a documentary on Woody Allen. I’m what you might call a Woody Allen fanboy – an apologist, even. I will go on record appreciating his bombs as well as his critical successes (well, most of them, anyway – Cassandra’s Dream and … [Read more...]
Music roundup: The Adaskins, Hye-Jin Kim, and ‘Semele’
Editor’s note: Here are late reviews from three concerts held earlier this month. Adaskin String Trio (Jan. 10, Flagler Museum) The Adaskin String Trio did something at its Flagler Museum concert that only the better chamber groups do: Play unusual, rarely heard material with the same kind of commitment they expend on the standards. In its program Feb. 10 at the … [Read more...]