Quentin Dupieux is back! DaaaaaalĂ! isn't among my favorites by him but I can rest easy knowing he'll have a new movie out in the US soon enough. Click here for my review.
Sunday, October 06, 2024
Norman Reedus's culture 10
A new batch of sci-fi movies for September
Five new under-the-radar sci-movies to stream this month! Thataway for my selection.
Gabriel Kahane and Todd Almond
Some interesting song cycles happened to open at around the same time Off Broadway: two by Gabriel Kahane and one by Todd Almond. Read on to know which I liked best.
KS6, Medea Re-Versed, The Voices in Your Head, The Ask
Last month I dropped by a few smaller stages to see what was going on. I'm pleased to report that La MaMa is still going strong, hosting Belarus Free Theater once again, that the site-specific The Voices in Your Head is as lovely as it was back in January, and that The Ask definitely was thought-provoking. A bit less enthusiastic about the hip-hop Medea at Sheen but it had some strengths. Click here for my critic's notebook.
Monday, September 23, 2024
Ian McKellen talks about critics and ghosts
Ian McKellen is the living memory of decades of theater and talking to him is just endlessly fascinating. That was one for the bucket list. Click here for my interview.
Counting and Cracking
I recommended this show to soooo many friends, and not a single person who saw it disliked it. Consensus! You can read my review here.
James Earl Jones on stage
A belated link to my look at five important stage turns in James Earl Jones's career. Click here for my contribution to the Times's coverage after his death.
A chat with Norman Reedus
Saturday, September 07, 2024
Ending August with some science fiction
Anchoring my latest sci-fi column, which came out at the end of August, is the South Indian epic Kalki 2898 AD. It is as much of a spectacle as you would expect it to be. Click here for the details.
Profile of Zoe Sarnak
Galileo, The Lonely Few, Empire Records in 2024, and at least four more shows in development: I don't know if Zoe Sarnak is the single busiest musical-theater composer-lyricist right now, but she must be up there. Thataway for the profile.
10 Alain Delon movies
I had to make sure the movies were streaming in the US so there are a couple that I couldn't include, but overall this list is very much what I'd recommend to someone who's never seen any of Alain Delon's work. And people who have seen the biggies will discover some gems, like Once a Thief. The list is here.
Saturday, August 17, 2024
Looking back at the Alien franchise
Caligula: The Ultimate Cut
If you search this blog, you'll find a couple of entries about the 1980 movie Caligula. I'm back into the fray for this "Ultimate Cut": review thataway.
Ivo van Hove interview
Ivo van Hove has taken the reins of the Ruhrtrienniale for three years. We talked about the programming for his inaugural edition, putting on shows and whether we'll see him originate a show on Broadway again. Thataway for the interview.
Once Upon a Mattress on Broadway
A trip to Wisconsin
Before my weekend in Chicago I'd spent a few days discovering American Players Theater in Spring Green, Wisconsin — and the resulting article is here. I'm already making plans to return on vacation next year, possibly in August when they have more shows in rep and I can really binge!
Thursday, August 08, 2024
A trip to Chicago
Science fiction for early August
The well of science fiction never runs dry! Here are five more movies to stream when it's too hot outside.
Introducing team handball
For the New York Times Audio, I spoke about team handball. Hint: it's not played against a wall and there are teams and goalies. Click here then put on your headphones.
Pre-Existing Condition
I spoke to all the actresses — Tatiana Maslany, Maria Dizzia, Julia Chan, Deirdre O'Connell, Tavi Gevinson and Edie Falco — who have or are playing the character A in the play Pre-Existing Condition, as well as the author, Marin Ireland. Quite a feat, if I may say so myself, to manage to quote everybody in such a relatively short piece. Click here for the story.
Monday, July 15, 2024
A Quiet Place Day One
A Quiet Place is emerging as one of my favorite franchises and even when a movie has problems, like the new prequel, I have a good time. More, please! I reviewed A Quiet Place: Day One for the Times.
Thursday, June 27, 2024
A trip to the Jimmys
The Jimmy Awards have become a major scouting ground for casting directors, and the 15th edition did not let anybody down. Check out my report and see what the kids are up to.
Babylon Berlin primer
The great German historical series is finally back to the US with new episodes! It's been a while since the last time we met with Gereon, Lotte et al., so I wrote a primer to prep viewers for Season 4. Click here.
Find Me Here
Crystal Finn's play is middling but its cast is absolutely sterling so I'd say it's a go. My review is here.
Musicians on Broadway
Please, let's have more stories about musicians on Broadway! Not biomusicals — stories about made-up musicians. They give writers, directors and actors a lot more leeway than the hagiography and mimicry required by biographical material. I wrote about a positive new trend for the Washington Post.
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
R.I.P. Françoise Hardy
How Suffs changed for Broadway
I wasn't crazy about Suffs at the Public Theater but the Broadway version may well be my favorite musical of the year, tied with Dead Outlaw. I talked to Shaina Taub and Leigh Silverman about the changes they made to their show over the past two years. Click here for my story.
What to see during Pride month
I rounded up some theater performances of interest for Pride month. Some of them are settled on Broadway but others have short runs so don't sleep on them. Go for it!
Godzilla leads the sci-fi pack this month
Godzilla Minus One is finally streaming so of course I had to lead the latest installment of my sci-fi column with it! What a great movie. The column can be found here.
The Watchers
Ishana Shyamalan's debut feature has a lot of issues but Dakota Fanning is, as always, a compelling screen presence. Click here for my review.
Becoming Karl Lagerfeld
The Great Lillian Hall
Sunday, May 26, 2024
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Julia Masli's Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha is impressive in many ways, which is why I wanted it to cut so much deeper. She stops just short of where it becomes really interesting. My review is here.
Nobody Cares
Yes, that title sounds a bit like Laura Benanti is fishing for compliments but she pulls off a really fun show at Minetta Lane, produced by Audible. Click here for my review.
Dungeons and Dragons
Crying at Broadway shows
Monday, May 13, 2024
Science fiction for May 2024
Here's another batch of under-the-radar sci-fi movies that are new (or at least newish) to streaming and VOD this month.
Eurovision 2024
Once again I joined the New York Times team covering Eurovision. World news have really intruded on that pop stage in the past few years, even more so at this year's edition. You can find our live commentary at this link. I also had separate articles touching on some specific aspects: a guide to the 2024 contest, how the voting works, the pop powerhouse known as Sweden.
Tuesday, May 07, 2024
The Miser
I ventured — and by that I mean that I walked —to Prospect Park to check out Molière in the Park's production of The Miser. Like pretty much everybody who grew up in France, I read Molière in school, so I'm always excited to see one of his plays here in the US. You can check out my review here.
Monday, April 29, 2024
Stars on Broadway
Four screen stars, four Broadway shows: I wrote about Rachel McAdams, Steve Carell, Jessica Lange and Eddie Redmayne for the Washington Post — article here.
The Heart of Rock and Roll
Hell's Kitchen
Friday, April 19, 2024
Suffs
The Outsiders
Science fiction for the spring
Under the radar no more: I've unearthed another quintet of obscure or semi-obscure sci-fi movies for you to enjoy this month. The list is here.
It's Only Life After All
Thursday, April 04, 2024
An appreciation of Christopher Durang
We lost a good one this week. I threw a few thoughts together for the Washington Post, and you can find them here.
Friday, March 29, 2024
The Who's Tommy
I got to tackle the Broadway revival of The Who's Tommy for the Washington Post. Come for Pete Townshend, stay for the Daft Punk joke! Click here for the review.
Friday, March 22, 2024
Water for Elephants
My first byline in The Washington Post! I am beyond psyched, and honored. It's a review of the new Broadway musical Water for Elephants and I liked the production a lot. Click here for the review (gift link).
Limbo
Meet Elsbeth…again
Saturday, February 24, 2024
A Sign of the Times
I actually love Petula Clark songs, especially the ones she recorded with the brilliant Tony Hatch, but if you're going to do a jukebox of her hits, just do one and not this mishmash. My review is here.
Juliette Binoche interview
Juliette Binoche is of a generation and a personality with no patience or interest in media training, which makes her a wonderful person to interview. As you can read in my piece here.
Science fiction for February
The latest installment of my science-fiction column is out, with more under-the-radar flicks. Thataway!
I Love You So Much I Could Die
Lucas Hnath's staging is inventive and bold but Mona Pirnot's play and songs just aren't sturdy enough to support it. My review of the New York Theater Workshop production is here.
Interview with Nina Conti
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Some mighty fine Chita Rivera videos
As part of the Times's multi-pronged tribute to Chita Rivera, I pulled nine videos from YouTube. They will keep you entertained for while — a mini hommage to topflight American entertainement. Click here for the goods.
Once Upon a Mattress
Call it typecasting if you will: Sutton Foster, Harriet Harris and Michael Urie are terrific in this Encores! production. It was a pleasure to review it for the Times.
Skiing Wolf Creek
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Super-duper late post about my return to Creede
I had to look at some of my old articles for a project and realized I hadn't posted my piece about returning to Creede, Colorado, in the summer of 2022! Better late than never, so here it is.
Sunday, January 21, 2024
Friday, January 19, 2024
For All Mankind
I talked to Ben Nedivi and Matt Wolpert, the For All Mankind showrunners, about the series's fourth season. I've got to say, Apple TV+ is making some of my favorite sci-fi series right now: For All Mankind, Halo and Invasion — good stuff. Click here for the interview.
Time to settle down with some sci-fi movies
My latest column is out with five sci-fi movies. The least expected one is probably Meet Cute, starring Pete Davidson and Kaley Cuoco, which is definitely not cute. Click here for the goods.
Friday, January 05, 2024
Why women love Reacher
Jack Reacher, we meet again! I looked at some of the reasons women love reading Reacher books and watching the "Reacher" series. It's not what you think. Click here for an article I had a lot of fun writing.
Edited to add a link to the audio story!