Archive for the ‘Arts’ Category

shorts: 16

Posted: August 31, 2021 in Arts
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Short film reviews to suit our short attention spans. If your attention holds, more can be found here.

Nomadland (2020) – A beautiful, if a bit over-romanticized, chronicle of living in America without a permanent home. (3) – 08/31/21

Waiting for Guffman (1996) – This take on the classic trope of “putting on a show” is sublimely brilliant. (3½) – 08/31/21

Dumb and Dumber (1994) – Check please! (4) – 08/31/21

Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) – Potentially fascinating historical drama offers no evidence (more…)

a parting gift

Posted: August 23, 2021 in Arts, Observations and Commentary
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Since musician Nanci Griffith’s recent death her fans have flooded social media with an avalanche of tributes. They reflected on songs and albums which hold special meaning. They remembered concerts and television appearances. They talked about times when her music shepherded them through challenging periods. These posts were (and still are) varied, heartfelt, and often tinged with sadness and melancholy. But almost universally they were framed with feelings of gratitude and thanks.

The official announcement of her passing specifically mentioned her wish that no details surrounding it be publicly shared for at least a week. It was a curious and, in this age, unusual choice, although (more…)

artist at work

Posted: September 4, 2020 in Arts, Observations and Commentary
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Most of us never see artists at work. Most of us never want to see artists at work. The process of visualizing, creating, refining, and polishing is the best left in the shadows. The multiple iterations required to arrive at a completed piece are neither appealing or interesting to most of us. The mental and emotional gyrations which spun and swirled in Van Gogh’s head and hand as he accelerated towards The Starry Night or Café Terrace at Night may fascinate, but they hardly make good viewing. Bach’s endless tinkering with notes and sounds while he composed the Brandenburg Concertos may appeal to the musicologist, but the rest of us are satisfied listening to the music. Nobody wants to see Meryl Streep stand in front of a mirror practicing gestures, accents, and tone while preparing for a role. The image of Anne Coates viewing reels of film in a cramped editing room, then manipulating them in search of the proper pacing for Lawrence of Arabia, is best left to film students. We just want to see the movie. The effort behind (more…)

into the great wide open

Posted: January 4, 2018 in Arts, Observations and Commentary
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Tom Petty has been gone for three months, but it still doesn’t feel real. Since the mid-70’s he has always been there doing his thing without much fanfare, like bedrock. His songs, especially the earlier ones, routinely pop up on classic rock stations. Whenever that happens the volume gets boosted a bit. Part of the reason is the songs are solid; the other is they offer warm familiarity. This may be true of all music you enjoyed as a kid, but not all of that music endures. Petty endures, like bedrock.

I was never a superfan, but I like a lot of his work – and love some of it. I saw him live for the first and only time in 1979. Back then huge video screens did not flank the stage, so unless (more…)

shorts: 15

Posted: November 20, 2016 in Arts
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Movies are an escape. Now is a good time for a little film diversion, dontcha think? And there are plenty more where these come from.

Words, The (2012) – This mildly interesting tale of plagiarism gone horribly wrong is unnecessarily multi-layered. (2) – 11/20/16

Stranger Than Fiction (2006) – Will Ferrell shines in this quiet gem exploring the weird cosmic connection between an everyman and neurotic novelist. (4) – 11/20/16

Age of Adaline, The (2015) – Harmless fluff about (more…)

shorts: 14

Posted: August 31, 2016 in Arts
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You want movie reviews? We got movie reviews! Not enough? Click here!

Game, The (1997) – Extremely engrossing, well-acted puzzle continually stretches, before finally snapping, any reasonable measure of plausibility. (2½) – 08/31/16

Florence Foster Jenkins (2016) – Not one false note in this compelling and melancholy story of a (more…)

long walk home

Posted: August 24, 2016 in Arts, New Jersey
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welcome home

Home is where you feel at home and are treated well. – Dalai Lama

Bruce Springsteen came home to New Jersey last night. Again. And 55,000 people who he has never met welcomed him. Again.

These days whenever Springsteen and his mighty E Street Band bring their ageless touring carnival to the great Garden State we embrace them with a fervor that is part love, part pride, part ritual, and all possessiveness. Across all the decades, albums, tours and concerts, and after all the triumphs, tragedies and changes, we still flock to the altar because (more…)

shorts: 13

Posted: July 18, 2016 in Arts
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Many people share their opinions without being asked. We here at Trask Avenue honor that tradition with our periodic one sentence movie reviews. For additional highly subjective assessments, click here.

Martian, The (2015) – The story of an astronaut stranded so far away often hits so very close to home. (3½) – 7/18/16

Walk on the Moon, A (1999) – Strong performances bolster this ordinary (more…)

one hour at a time

Posted: July 10, 2016 in Arts
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blue bloods

Sucked in like a rube by a carnival barker, that’s what you are. You are relaxing on the couch, minding your own damn business, not paying attention to the dribble spitting from the television, when a tiny niblet suddenly squirms through your defenses and Velcros itself to your consciousness. It may be a (more…)

shorts: 12

Posted: March 10, 2015 in Arts
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Searching for something to watch, but don’t have the time to read movie reviews that drone on longer than one sentence? Look no further! We’re here to help with the latest installment of Shorts! And, if you want more opinions, the entire list can be found here.

Salt (2010) – Standard spy thriller is far more entertaining than could be reasonably expected. (3) – 3/10/15

They Were So Young (1954) – High class modeling opportunities in Rio merely (more…)

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