Film: The grueling existence of undocumented aliens is captured with dramatic sensitivity in Chris Weitz’s A Better Life, the ironically titled film about a gardener’s helper in Los Angeles, desperately trying to carve out a decent living for himself and his teenage son, while always looking over his shoulder for the law. Veteran Mexican actor Demian Bichir gives a haunting … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: July 8-10
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 Beach Idols. For the eighth annual event, some 90 locals of all ages who are convinced they have talent auditioned, but only 25 of them have made the cut to perform … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: July 1-6
Film: The British neurologist Oliver Sacks’ popular case studies have made good fodder for Hollywood (1990’s Awakenings), and in The Music Never Stopped, one of Sacks’ essays (The Last Hippie) is the source of the story. Gabriel (Lou Taylor Pucci), long estranged from his father (J.K. Simmons, taking a break from all those Farmers Insurance commercials), shows up in a hospital … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: June 24-June 29
Music: After conquering the world of popular music, bandleader Duke Ellington began branching out in more ambitious directions for the concert hall. In 1943, his suite Black, Brown and Beige had its premiere at Carnegie Hall, and in subsequent years there would be a landmark recording of the work with the great gospel singer Mahalia Jackson performing Come Sunday. And come this … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: April 22-24
Theater: In only two seasons, Boca Raton’s Slow Burn Theatre Company has forged a reputation for producing edgy musicals outside the mainstream. The show that got its co-founders, Matthew Korinko and Patrick Fitzwater, interested in creating and running their own troupe is Blood Brothers, the cult hit that opened in London in 1988 and is still running there. OK, so maybe “cult” … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: March 11-13
The film industry has been one of the best things ever to happen to the symphony orchestra, and tonight at the Festival of the Arts Boca, both will be together again. Restoration specialist John Guberman is bringing the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz to the Count de Hoernle Amphitheater tonight, to be screened to the accompaniment of live music from the Boca Raton … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: March 4-6
Art: If you’ve got a hankering for hitting the links but can’t get to it right now, perhaps an ongoing exhibit at the Lighthouse ArtCenter in Tequesta will help slake your fairway thirst. Gary Wiren’s nonpareil collection of golf memorabilia is on display along with paintings, photographs and sculptures from the Academy of Golf Art. Included are paintings by David Coolidge, … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Feb. 25-27
Music: Lorenzo Da Ponte wrote three operas with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Palm Beach Opera has presented the first two – Le Nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni – over the past two seasons. Tonight, the company presents the last of the Mozart/Da Ponte operas, Cosi fan Tutte. In some ways the most important and radical of the three, it’s written to an original libretto and deals … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Feb. 5-7
Art: Just installed at the Florida Atlantic University Galleries is the third iteration of SouthXeast: Contemporary Southeastern Art, a triennial show of works by artists from Southeastern states. This year’s exhibit, chosen from among more than 200 artists by curators and gallery owners from throughout the Southeast, features the work of more than 13 artists from seven states. … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Dec. 31, 2010-Jan. 2, 2011
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 Over Broadway), chronicling the three-day Meilleurs … [Read more...]