Monday, May 29, 2023

CODA Patrick Stewart 5/29/2023

I recently got the DVD of "CODA" staring Patrick Stewart and it is outstanding.  And, of course, well played by Patrick Stewart.

He made you believe that the character DID suffer from debilitating stage fright and overall mental instability.

Well worth watching.

Coda is a 2019 film starring Patrick Stewart, Katie Holmes, and Giancarlo Esposito about a concert pianist (Stewart) who suffers from performance anxiety late in his career.  The film is written by Louis Godbout and directed by Claude Lalonde.

The film premiered at the 2019 International Film Festival of India.

Plot

Henry Cole is an acclaimed classical pianist at the twilight of his career.  He returns to the stage after a long absence following the death of his wife only to discover that his performance is marred by stage fright and overall mental instability.  He barely escapes catastrophe as he suffers an anxiety attack on stage, running outside after finishing a number and smoking a cigarette.

At a post-recital press conference, he meets Helen Morrison, a music critic for The New Yorker.  She wants to write a story about him and unsuccessfully asks for an interview.  They meet again a few days later at Steinway Hall, where Henry suffers another episode while attempting to perform.  Helen rescues him in extremis and earns his trust.  Henry finally agrees to the interview.

Meanwhile, despite his agent Paul’s best efforts, Henry’s mental condition declines steadily.  His recitals become more and more perilous, thus jeopardizing his comeback tour and his much anticipated and publicized final concert in London.

Henry is urged by Helen to travel to Sils Maria in the Swiss Alps in order to hear another pianist she once knew, famous for the therapeutic effect of his interpretation of Beethoven’s late piano sonatas.  Once there, Henry’s symptoms at first worsen, but he gradually finds solace through walks in nature, curious but empathetic encounters with strangers, spirited chess matches with Felix, a hotel porter, and the music of Beethoven.  - Wikipedia

 

 



West Side Story 5/29/2023

I just bought the DVD of the musical "West Side Story (Steven Spielberg)" and it was and it was outstanding.

West Side Story is a 2021 American musical romantic drama film directed and co-produced by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Tony Kushner.  It is the second feature-length adaptation of the 1957 stage musical of the same name.  It stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler in her film debut with Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Mike Faist, and Rita Moreno in supporting roles.  Moreno, who starred in the 1961 film adaptation, also served as an executive producer alongside Kushner.  The film features music composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

The film entered development in 2014 at 20th Century Fox; Kushner began writing the screenplay in 2017.  In January 2018, Spielberg was hired and casting began that September.  Justin Peck choreographed the dance sequences.  Principal photography occurred in New York and New Jersey; filming began in July 2019 and ran for two months.

West Side Story had its world premiere at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater in New York City on November 29, 2021, three days after Sondheim's death.  The film was later theatrically distributed by 20th Century Studios in the United States on December 10, after being delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The film received critical acclaim with praise for the performances of the cast, Spielberg's direction, and the cinematography, with some critics deeming it superior to the 1961 film.  It was named one of the top ten films of 2021 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute.  The film grossed $76 million against a $100 million production budget.  Among its multiple awards and nominations, it received seven nominations at the 94th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, with DeBose winning Best Supporting Actress.  It also received four nominations at the 79th Golden Globe Awards, winning three, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical for Zegler, and Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for DeBose.

In 1957, the Jets are a gang of white youths that fight the Puerto Rican Sharks for control of San Juan Hill on Manhattan's Upper West Side.  Officer Krupke and Lieutenant Schrank break up a skirmish, telling the gangs that their conflict is pointless since the neighborhood will soon be demolished to make way for Lincoln Center.  The gangs are too proud to care, and Jet leader Riff proposes a "rumble" (fight) between the two gangs.  He approaches his friend Tony, who is on parole, for help.  Tony refuses, wishing to turn over a new leaf with the help of Valentina, the Puerto Rican owner of Doc's general store.  Meanwhile, Maria, Shark leader Bernardo's sister, is betrothed to his friend Chino, but yearns for independence.  At a neighborhood dance, Tony and Maria meet and fall in love, angering Bernardo, who agrees to Riff's terms for a rumble if Tony attends.  Tony tells Maria of his love and the couple meets on her fire escape, promising to see each other the next day.  - Wikipedia

I remember seeing the earlier version somewhere, and I had forgotten that the story is a Tragedy, because it's a story about prejudice, the tragic reliance on violence to solve the goal of misplaced pride against the love between a boy (Tony, Jets) and girl (Maria, Sharks).

This version was otherwise enjoyable.

 

Trailer

 



Monday, January 30, 2023

OPINION - Marcus and Abernathy 1/27/2023

"Marcus and Abernathy on the deadly police beating in Memphis" PBS NewsHour 1/27/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus and her Post colleague Gary Abernathy join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including the deadly police beating in Memphis and mass shootings in California as America once again reckons with its chronic struggle to prevent violence and hold the powerful accountable.



CANVAS - The Play "Life of Pi"

"A look inside the acclaimed new theater production of ‘Life of Pi’" PBS NewsHour 1/27/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The play "Life of Pi" opened this winter at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  You may know the story from the bestselling book or the Oscar-winning film.  But the creative team of the play wants you to reconsider what you thought you knew.  Jared Bowen of GBH Boston has the story for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

COMMENT:  I am a fan of SiFi and Fantasy therefore no surprise I prefer the fantasy interpretation that the animals are real.



JUSTICE IN AMERICAN - The "Driving While Black" Murder of Tyre Nichols

"Former Memphis police officers charged with murder in death of Tyre Nichols" PBS NewsHour 1/26/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Five fired police officers in Memphis, Tennessee, have been charged with second-degree murder in a killing that has echoed across the country.  The victim, Tyre Nichols, died after a confrontation during a traffic stop earlier this month.  Attorneys for Nichols' family say body camera footage shows a police beating that lasted three minutes.  John Yang reports.

 

 

"Memphis prepares for protests as video of police beating Tyre Nichols is released" PBS NewsHour 1/27/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Authorities in Memphis and other cities are urging peaceful protests as they prepare for the release of graphic video of the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols.  The 29-year-old died this month after police beat him for three minutes following a traffic stop.  The five fired police officers are charged with his murder.  Geoff Bennett spoke with Rev. Earle Fisher about the Memphis community's response.

 

 

"Tyre Nichols’ death puts spotlight back on excessive police use of force" PBS NewsHour 1/28/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  People across the nation are struggling to come to grips with the shocking display of excessive force by Memphis police in the beating death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols.  Thaddeus Johnson, professor of criminal justice and criminology at Georgia State University, joins John Yang to discuss the use of force in policing.



MODEL FOR THE NATION - Washington State Domestic Extremism

"How a Washington state plan to fight domestic extremism could be a model for the nation" PBS NewsHour 1/25/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  In Washington state this week, legislators held public hearings to form a domestic violent extremism commission that, if implemented, would make Washington the first in the nation to target extremism with a public health and civic engagement approach.  Laura Barrón-López spoke with Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson about what his state is doing and how it could be a model for the nation.



POP FRANCIS - Laws Against GAYS

"Pope Francis says laws that criminalize homosexuality are ‘unjust’" PBS NewsHour 1/25/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Pope Francis, in a wide-ranging interview with the Associated Press, spoke at length about his health, his critics and the future of the papacy.  Most notably, he called laws criminalizing homosexuality fundamentally unjust and said being homosexual is not a crime.  Paul Elie of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs joined Geoff Bennett to discuss the pope's interview.



GOP ANTI-DEMOCRACY - Dictator House Speaker Locks Democrats

As I've said before, the GOP cannot win playing by the rules, so the always rig the 'game.'

"McCarthy locks out leading Democrats from key committees, sparking partisan outrage" PBS NewsHour 1/25/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Historic levels of drama played out over the first few weeks of the new Congress [House].  Legislative leaders are just now beginning to get into the day-to-day of Capitol Hill.  This week, Speaker Kevin McCarthy sparked outrage when he locked out leading Democrats from key committees.  Lisa Desjardins has a look at what's happening now and what's to come.



UKRAINE - Tanks for Ukraine!

"U.S. and Germany sending tanks to Ukraine for fight against Russian invasion" PBS NewsHour 1/25/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The U.S. officially announced it will send American tanks to Ukraine as part of a coordinated effort with Germany, which will also send its tanks.  It’s a shift in U.S. policy and one of the most significant weapons upgrades that Ukraine has been asking for.  To discuss the development, Nick Schifrin spoke with John Kirby, the National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications.



FBI - Former Agent Aiding Russian Oligarch

"Former FBI agent charged with violating sanctions against Russia, aiding oligarch" PBS NewsHour 1/24/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  A former senior FBI official will appear in a federal court, but not as an investigator or a government witness.  Charlie McGonigal is charged with hiding $225,000 he received from a former Albanian intelligence officer while he was still with the FBI.  McGonigal is also accused of money laundering and violating Russian sanctions.  Retired FBI agent Frank Montoya joined Nick Schifrin to discuss.



CANVAS - Contemporary Native American Arts

"Filmmaker Sky Hopinka’s unconventional ways of telling Native stories" PBS NewsHour 1/23/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The artist and filmmaker Sky Hopinka was awarded the prestigious MacArthur Genius Award last fall, celebrating a decade of his experimental work focused on Indigenous people.  Jeffrey Brown met Hopinka in New York’s Hudson Valley for the final story in our series on contemporary Native American Arts.  It’s part of our arts and culture series, "CANVAS."



MEXICO - Crooked Politics in Drug Enforcement

"Mexico’s former anti-narcotics chief on trial in U.S., accused of protecting cartels" PBS NewsHour 1/23/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  In New York, arguments began in the case of the highest-ranking Mexican official to ever stand trial in the U.S. Prosecutors say the very man responsible for working with the U.S. to enforce the War on Drugs, Genaro García Luna protected the cartels he was supposed to prosecute.  León Krauze of Univision Noticias joined Nick Schifrin to discuss the case.



SENSITIVE DOCUMENTS - The Documents Scandals

NOTE:  Trump has never WILLINGLY turned over the sensitive documents in his position and still contends he had the right to have them.

"How a new chief of staff will affect the Biden White House amid documents scandal" PBS NewsHour 1/23/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  As President Biden enters his third year in office, there's a change coming at the top of his leadership team.  White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain will leave his post in the coming weeks.  It comes as the President prepares for the State of the Union Address and deals with questions about his handling of classified material.  White House Correspondent Laura Barrón-López reports.

 

 

"Pence latest to face scrutiny after classified documents found in his Indiana home" PBS NewsHour 1/24/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Aides to former Vice President Mike Pence said they discovered a number of classified documents at his Indiana home during a search conducted last week.  Pence's attorney said the documents were "inadvertently boxed and transported" at the end of the Trump administration without his knowledge.  Larry Pfeiffer of the Hayden Center joined Laura Barrón-López to discuss the latest.



DeSANTIS - Proves His Racism and Belief in Conspiracy Theory

"DeSantis defends blocking African American studies course in Florida schools" PBS NewsHour 1/23/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis defended his administration's decision to block a course on African American studies from the state's public schools.  He said teaching Black history is required in Florida schools, but the Advanced Placement course amounted to ‘indoctrination.’  The fight is just the latest in the ongoing identity and culture war in Florida that has become a hallmark of DeSantis' agenda.



MASS SHOOTINGS - Again, and Again, and Again......

#StopTheNRA an American Terrorist Organization

"Community seeks answers after deadly Lunar New Year shooting in California" PBS NewsHour 1/23/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Authorities in California are trying to determine the motive behind the shooting in Monterey Park that killed 11 people celebrating the Lunar New Year.  It's the deadliest shooting the U.S. has seen since 19 children and two teachers were killed last June in Uvalde, Texas.  Amna Nawaz reports from Monterey Park and spoke with Rep. Judy Chu about the latest community affected by mass gun violence.

 

 

"Can gun safety laws make an impact on the frequency of mass shootings?" PBS NewsHour 1/23/2023

IMHO:  Not as long as the NRA exists.

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The tragedy in Monterey Park was the second mass shooting in California in just under a week.  To discuss the laws in that state and the challenges of stopping shootings given the wide availability of guns, Geoff Bennett spoke with Adam Winkler, a professor at the UCLA School of Law where he focuses on constitutional law and gun policy.

 

 

"Another community mourns after California’s 2nd mass shooting in 48 hours" PBS NewsHour 1/24/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Less than 48 hours after a gunman’s rampage shook the sleepy Southern Californian city of Monterey Park, a mass shooting in Northern California left a second trail of devastation.  Officials said the gunman opened fire at a farm and another agricultural business near Half Moon Bay, a small coastal city outside of San Francisco.  Amna Nawaz reports.

 

 

"Latest wave of mass shootings sparks new debate over U.S. gun access" PBS NewsHour 1/25/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  As Vice President Harris meets with the families of those killed in the Monterey Park shooting, many are grappling with the toll it is taking on their community.  For Asian Americans, this past week has been especially painful.  All 11 victims in Monterey Park were of Asian descent.  Gloria Pan of MomsRising and the AAPI Against Gun Violence Coalition joined John Yang to discuss gun access.

 

 

"How the trauma of mass shootings fundamentally change American communities" PBS NewsHour 1/26/2023

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  This week's mass shootings in California, plus two others in just eight days, left 25 people dead and wounded 15 others.  They also left many people to cope with the trauma of these attacks.  Jennifer Carlson is studying the impact and aftermath of gun violence for the National Science Foundation.  She joined Geoff Bennett to discuss how these shootings fundamentally change communities.



Monday, November 21, 2022

CLIMATE SOLUTIONS - Norway’s Unique Approach

"Oslo, Norway’s unique approach to curbing carbon emissions" PBS NewsHour 11/20/2022

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The capital of Norway is working to be nearly emission-free by 2030.  Every year, the city of Oslo calculates how much emission-producing activity will contribute to greenhouse gases, then implements a carbon budget to keep those levels low.  Lisa Desjardins speaks with Heidi Sørensen, director of Oslo's Agency for Climate, to learn more.



CANVAS - Alice Gerrard

"Bluegrass icon Alice Gerrard on her trailblazing career" PBS NewsHour 11/19/2022

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  With their unique harmonies, the bluegrass duo of Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard blazed trails for female folk singers in the 1960s and ‘70s.  They were also civil rights activists who used their music to speak out politically.  To celebrate the pair's legacy, last month the Smithsonian released a selection of remastered versions of their music.  Ali Rogin speaks to Gerrard about her career.

 

Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard — Long Black Veil



OPINION - Capehart and Abernathy 11/18/2022

"Capehart and Abernathy on the special counsel appointed to oversee Trump investigations" PBS NewsHour 11/18/2022

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Washington Post columnists Jonathan Capehart and Gary Abernathy join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including a special counsel appointed to investigate former President Trump, the balance of power in Washington [DC] and the battle for leadership on Capitol Hill.



2022 FIFA WORLD CUP - The Real Cost

"Migrant workers recount abuse while building stadiums for World Cup in Qatar" PBS NewsHour 11/18/2022

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The World Cup starts Sunday in Qatar, but controversies have shadowed the event.  To host, the nation went on a stadium-building spree, bringing in thousands upon thousands of migrant laborers.  There are numerous stories about the workforce being mistreated and more than three dozen died on the job.  We partnered with independent filmmakers Fat Rat Films to hear from some of those workers.



SEARCHING FOR JUSTICE - Conditions Inside Our Jails

"How a criminal justice reporter built trust with prisoners to highlight conditions inside" PBS NewsHour 11/17/2022

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  A criminal justice reporter (Keri Blakinger - The Marshall Project) is using her background to build trust with men and women behind bars and to highlight conditions inside prisons.  Special correspondent Christopher Booker reports from Texas for our series, “Searching for Justice.”