The Taming of the Shrew (The Public Theater) (2016)

This all-female production of a rather misogynistic play was interesting, but certainly strange. It is a twist to make outdated Elizabethan gender roles tolerable and accessible to a modern audience. Janet McTeer as Petrucchio is excellent. She plays a man well. And Cush Jumbo is versatile as Katherina both unruly and tamed. But what was weirdest about this production is the transposition of the Italian-set play to America, specifically Texas. They don't change any of the place names, but the costumes include cowboy hats and leather jackets and plaid. The set looks carnival themed. They read Shakespeare with a twang. Shakespeare is meant to be read with a British accent.

There is an inexplicable beauty pageant in the beginning and end of the play that definitely wasn't written by Shakespeare. It is used to cleverly jab Donald Trump. And maybe a knock at Steve Harvey too? But I'm not entirely sure where it fits into the play. The production is supposed to move away from Shakespeare's original reading of gender stereotypes, but a pageant seems to reinforce them. Unless it's all just to set up the very last moment when tamed Katherina has the title stripped away from her. Maybe that is the intention. I don't know, but it's kind of bizarre.

Maleficent (2014)

This movie is part origin story, part retelling of Sleeping Beauty, part altering the original story.  The movie attempts to Wicked-fy Maleficent, remaking the traditional villain into a morally ambiguous character.  However, whereas Wicked does not mess with the original source material, Maleficent takes lots of liberties in modifying the plot line of the classic Disney movie.

The movie has a really great look with a nice combination of CGI and practical effects.  This takes place in a dark, angular, and thorny fairy tale world.  Angelina Jolie is transformed into the iconic dark fairy with the aid of some intense makeup and a stylish pair of horns.  She has the presence of an ominous giant, filling the room or the forest.  She is so entertaining to watch because at times she can scare you and yet there are other times in which she shows vulnerability, a side of Maleficent we are not used to seeing.  Lastly, Lana del Rey's haunting rendition of Once Upon a Dream sends chills down the spine--a perfect arrangement for a powerful singer.