LEE HARTGRAVE REEL FILM TWITTER

LEE HARTGRAVE REEL FILM TWITTER

RAYMOND CHANDLER IS BACK IN STYLE IN 'THE MISSING PERSON' 

At least in the new movie “The Missing Person”. Filmed in deep Noir Shadow sometimes works in this film – but on the other hand, it was so dark that all I could see at the beginning were eyes shining in the dark. Creepy, yes – but that theme prevails throughout the movie.

There are many things that I liked about it however. I liked the Noir feel of the movie – loved the train ride and the tacky Motels that the Detective stayed at along the way. In some ways it has a feel of “No Country for Old Men”.

The quality of the film varies along the way. Sometimes it is pretty good, but most of the time is has a grimy, gritty look that gives it an old time patina look. Maybe that is what the director has in mind.

There is some tough talking Dialogue in the film (which harkens back to 40’s type lingo.) Especially intriguing is the conversation between a cab driver and the detective.

There were times that I almost gave up on this movie. However I stuck to it – and began to like it better. The film has a surprise ending that I would not have guessed. The story keeps you interested and the acting is superb. Now, if only there was just a little more illumination.

Film Noir was Dark and shadowy, but we were always able to see their faces. In this movie, you really have to strain to see anything.

Brilliant performances by Michael Shannon, Amy Ryan, Margaret Colin, Linda Emond, Yul Vazquez and John Ventimglia. Masterful Direction is by Noah Buschel

RATING: THREE BOXES OF POPCORN!!! –trademarked-

YOUNG VICTORIA IS A GORGEOUS FILM

I love Castles and Palaces. I never get enough of them. Watching Monarchs stiffly sitting in their palaces is endlessly entertaining.

And no one was more prim, proper and stiff than Queen Victoria. But, of course when she was just Princess she showed that she really did have some feelings. Was this a prison? Well, yes – when you are an heir to the throne, you can’t even walk down the stairs by yourself. Someone had to hold your hand as you walked down and up. But isn’t it worth all that bother to become a queen or a king? For that kind of adulation – I would gladly hold hands with anyone, as long as they didn’t push me down the stairs.

This is a beautiful movie that is kind of a docudrama. The interiors are sumptuous beyond belief. The palace intrigue is quite interesting. There is always the danger of being poisoned – that is why Victoria has a taster, before she could touch the food.

Victoria and her mother did not get along well. The mother wanted Victoria to give up the right to be Queen. She and her Palace Boyfriend tried to get the future Queen to sign away her rights and name her mother Regent until Victoria became of age. The sassy “V” would have none of it. It was then that we found out what a force the new Queen would be. No one was going to out smart her. However, she did have to give in on a few things, like giving her new husband Prince Albert more say in how the Palace is run. Actually, Albert was very smart and was very good for the Queen. Until he came into her life, everyone hated the new Queen. He more or less made her more human. And they did go on to have nine children. My, My – did they ever get out of bed?

The entire cast was really quite Royal and fascinating. They  made the entire thing seem quite real. Emily Blunt (the Devil Wears Prada) and Rupert Friend (Prince Albert) are perfectly suited as the Royal pair. They had the pomp and circumstance down to the bottom of their royal robes. You’ve never seen so much bowing and scraping in your life.

RATING: FOUR BOXES OF POPCORN!!!! (highest rating) – trademarked-

BROKEN EMBRACES – HOT BLOODED

PEDRO AMMODOVAR AS USUAL HAS DIRECTED A MOVIE THAT BURSTS WITH PASSION AND FIRE.

There are so many twists and turns to this movie that it almost makes you dizzy. There is a blind screenwriter. His secretary and her son help him write his screenplays. There is a beautiful woman, Penelope Cruz who will complicate his life. 

All of them seem to have many secrets that are just about to pop out at any time. One lives under a double identity and a past that soon comes out in the open.

But the thing about Almodovar’s movie is the realism that you feel. You care about these people. They become part of your life. It’s not like you’re looking and thinking “Oh, they are just actors.” Not in this case. You become involved with them and the story.

And the melodrama explodes on the screen. I guarantee that you will not be bored. Hey, I should know. I bore easily. My like it or not meter is when I start to nod off at the beginning of the film. I did not nod off in Broken Embraces.

This is a smooth, intriguing film that reminds at times of Fellini. Broken Embraces has some film-noir elements to it. And that is a good thing.

RATING: FOUR BOXES OF POPCORN!!!! (highest rating) –trademarked-

(((Lee Hartgrave has reviewed films for PBS KQED, California Voice, City Magazine and Los Angeles Nightlife Magazine)))

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WICKED - SUBLIME PLEASURE TO WATCH

WICKED – 2009 San Francisco

PHOTO: CITY HALL GOES GREEN FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE GREEN WITCH IN SAN FRANCISCO. Photo by: Cele Hugo

By Lee Hartgrave
February, 2009


WICKED IS SOME KIND OF MIRACLE ON MARKET STREET


ELPHABA (THE GREEN WITCH): -- “You’re the only friend I’ve ever had.” GLINDA (THE GOOD WITCH): – “And I’ve had SO many friends…but only one that mattered.” Of course that ONE would be Glinda.

SHE’S POPULAR (GLINDA) AND ONE IS GREEN (ELPHABA). Glinda is perky and pink and she sings to the Green Witch about how to be pop-u-lar. The galindafied version of being popular is to put on some lipstick, -- and fluff your hair every time you enter a room. Hey, it works for me.

This is the story of Elphaba, a girl from a prominent family that is born with Green skin because her mother drank a green liquid. The family immediately took a dislike to her. No one wanted to be around her, so she grew up without friends. Then at school, she has to room with Miss Personality – Galinda the Good Witch of the North, who later becomes Glinda because no one pronounces Galinda correctly. The fact that these two odd-balls shared a room is really bi-polar. They have nothing in common, however as time goes on Glinda, who has this entitlement personality, begins to really like the poor Green girl. It’s a relationship that does not last for long.

The show begins with the ending. “Is the Witch of the West really dead” ” – the town folks ask as Glinda the good witch descends from the heavens in a glass bubble. She is all sparkle and glitter with a flashy Tiara. And yes, she does have a magic wand.

This is a story that has captured the imagination of the entire world. Composer Stephen Schwartz and the writer of the book, Winnie Holtzman has created a world of mythic dimensions. This fabulous tongue-in-cheek story is based on Gregory Macquire’s book that shows us a prequel to the famous “Wizard of Oz.” In this musical play we find out that the wicked witch of the West, wasn’t always mean and vindictive. To the contrary – Elphaba was actually a very sweet girl when she was young. It was the people that taunted her green-ness that turned her against everyone. The two Witches (Good and Bad) do have one thing in common. There is a certain good-looking young man at school that they both are in love with.

There are wonderful moments with Carol Kane as Head Teacher Madame Morrible. She is just a hoot and funny as hell. And turning things into Hell is what her specialty is. Everyone loves her, even though she does turn against the Green Witch. The set is really a knockout, and the costumes are marvelously bizarre. They are a big part of making this story creepy in a uniquely colorful town.

Every now and then, there is a story that invites you into a bizarre and imagined world. And once you step into that story – you will be held captive forever by the passion and spectacle. Wicked – IS that story!

This is pure unadulterated singing and acting by: Kendra Kassebaum (Glinda), Teal Wicks (Elphaba, Green Witch), Carol Kane (Madame Morrible), Tom Flynn (Doctor Dillamond) Nicolas Dromard (Fiyero – who loves the Green Witch), David Garrison (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – and the first ever Ponzi schemer). Everyone in the cast -- Monkeys, Students, people of the Emerald City and Palace Guards are so great that you’ll want to line up and see it again, the minute it ends!

AT THE ORPHEUM THEATRE

RATING: FOUR GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!!!! (highest rating) –trademarked-
(((Lee Hartgrave has contributed many articles to the San Francisco Chronicles Sunday Datebook Section and produced a long-running Arts Segment on PBS KQED)))

TAGS: Orpheum Theatre, Witches, Green, musicals, music, Theatre, Wizard of Oz, Wicked, Arts, San Francisco, Salem, Twister, beyondchron, Buzzin, Lee Hartgrave, KQED, PBS.

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