July 10, 2008
Wall-E
Pixar is amazing. They are taking movie making to new heights with their features and Wall-E is the best one yet. How they decided that making a film with virtually no dialogue was a good idea is beyond me, but I will trust them forever after this effort. I know it is aimed at kids because the previews included Thomas the Tank Engine but there was not one under-18 in our audience and the themes are ageless. It is science fiction with some heavy, but not heavy-handed, concepts about the future of our species, planet and galaxy and focuses on one of the most complex theoretical Artificial Intelligence debates: Can Robots Love? The movie certainly suggests it is possible, but also confirms that We Love Robots, especially the ones that clean up the mess we are making and the ones that animate said 'bot. Directive: See This Movie.
July 2, 2008
Cape Cod
I'll be reliving the summers of my childhood this weekend celebrating our country's birthday (232!) as well as my dad's (60!). Looking forward to golf and tennis, lobsters and fireworks, beach and family. And traffic.
Broadway
Two shows in a week. I feel like such a tourist! August: Osage County won The Tony for Best Show and Patti LuPone won the Tony for Best Female this year, so Alaina and I had to see what the fuss was about. While I have not seen much of the competition, I can appreciate the excellence demonstrated in both shows. They both honor tradition and indulge the audience in heavy drama and/or soaring song. It is Big Broadway.
Medeski, Martin and Wood
I opened my personal Prospect Park Bandshell season with a visit to MMW. They are true funkmasters and they always manage to get my wiggles out. I love electronic music, but there is nothing digital that matches the drop-your-drawers fuggedhaboudit funk of this Brooklyn crew.
The Head Set
Could this be the end? Guitarist and grade-school buddy Eliot is leaving NYC for the sunny shore in LA and although there was no mention of a finale, their show last week may be the last one for a while. Eliot, drummer Mike and bassist Brett have been playing together since freshman year at Harvard (12 years!) and will now be forced to move on. This band has been a staple for me since they formed 6 years ago and now I find myself with a similar void... I look to Takka-Takka to take up the slack.