My Left Foot (1989)

This true story about Irish writer/artist Christy Brown is an inspiring and emotional vehicle for method actor Daniel Day-Lewis.  He plays a man born with cerebral palsy with limited mobility and speaking ability.  He learns to use his left foot to write and paint, and with some speech therapy he learns to talk.  Reportedly, Day-Lewis had difficulty using his left foot, and so he used his right foot and scenes were filmed in a mirror.  His mannerisms and speech are obviously the product of months of research and practice.  And this performance would earn Day-Lewis his first Oscar.  Brenda Fricker, too, won an Oscar for her performance as Christy's mother. She is strong despite poverty and a drunkard husband and perseveres to care for her many children.  

Penn and Teller on Broadway (Broadway) (2015)

In their 40th anniversary as a duo, Penn and Teller return to New York for a limited engagement at the Marquis Theater.  They present their classic tricks and illusions as a retrospective of sorts on their illustrious career.  Penn brings his signature comedy to magic, while Teller keeps up his mime persona throughout.  Teller conducts his acts in utter silence, commanding the room with nothing but masterful sleight-of-hand.  Penn shows off some of his other talents, singing on Broadway, and playing the double bass.

Their tricks are not big David Copperfield-style stunts.  The act is as much about comedy as it is about magic, and carnival tricks.  This is small magic that is difficult to see if you're not sitting in the first row. They use cameras sparingly, addressing this in one of the acts.  If they use a camera to show a close-up, then you won't pay attention to them, you'll just be watching the screen.  And they make a valid point.

After the show, Penn and Teller stuck around in the lobby of the Mariott Hotel to take pictures and sign autographs.  Teller speaks! and he is a master selfie-taker.  He is funny, approachable and personable. Surprisingly enough, Penn is the more reserved one.  Guess it is all just an act.

A Most Wanted Man (2014)

This is not your James Bond/Jason Bourne kind of spy movie.  There is little-to-no action, just the slow burn of an espionage thriller.  Real spy work is not glamorous, it is unrewarding and requires patience.  This movie requires the same of the audience--but patience is not my strong suit.

Philip Seymour Hoffman is excellent in his final role as a contemplative Gunther, a veteran in the spy game grappling with failure with the best German accent.  Compare this to Rachel McAdam's German accent that almost sounds dubbed. I don't think it sounds like her at all.  Robin Wright perfectly plays a role that is similar in demeanor to her House of Cards character.

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015)

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is not as good as the first, a little less charming. The first was a pleasant surprise that did well with an ensemble cast of older British actors, meriting a sequel.  The premise of the movie mirrors the success of the franchise; having done well with the first hotel, they are seeking to build a second hotel.  The focus is less on the exotic nature of India than it is on the new lives these retirees are building for themselves, complete with jobs and new love interests.  There is a detour in Mumbai, giving the audience a change of scenery from Jaipur, but we see little of the majesty of Mumbai.  The movie is really more character driven than the first, which is why it loses some of its charm.  With characters as old as these, death looms over the hotel, with constant reminders that time is limited.  Naturally, the best part of the movie, as with most Indian-themed movies, is the dancing scene towards the end.  Indian music and dance is so much fun to watch, especially Richard Gere trying to do Bollywood.    

Chris Tucker Live (2015)

Chris Tucker works sparingly.  He is known for his role as Agent Carter in the Rush Hour trilogy, because he made so much money from this franchise that he has not had to make many more movies. To his Netflix stand-up special, he brings the same flair.  He relies heavily on physical comedy and voices, portraying all involved parties.  The best part of his routine is a long bit doing a Michael Jackson impression.  But he also does vocal impressions of people we don't know, his family members. His stories are personal.  In Chris Tucker fashion, he does lots of high-pitched yelling (which can be attributed to the large size of the room, but is more likely just his style). Overall, there are some very funny bits, but the routine is way too long. The running time is about 90 minutes, which included too many unfunny bits.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Broadway) (2014)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is the most innovative play since War Horse. Based on the book by the same name that was long-listed for the prestigious Booker Prize, this play takes us inside the mind of a fifteen-year-old autistic savant named Christopher.  The book is told in the first person perspective in a diary of sorts, putting the reader in Christopher's shoes. The play cleverly gets around this, by casting his teacher as a narrator, reading directly from the source material as a play within a play.  Notably, the book chapters are numbered by prime numbers, and so this is integrated in the audience; prime numbered seats have a surprise envelope that got us a free pin.  

Another feature of the book is several diagrams and drawings, which appear on stage.  The stage has a back panel, two side panels, and a floor panel, each of which contain many LED lights and projections.  They are also blackboards, and Christopher draws on them in chalk, and these drawings magically replicate on the other walls so everyone can see no matter where you're sitting.  In a stirring scene, Christopher is overwhelmed by all the stimuli at the train station, and the audience is equally overwhelmed seeing all the lights and signs that Christopher sees, including the ones that he envisions.  This multimedia experience is incredible to behold.  The play very rightfully was awarded Tonys for lighting and scenic design.  The lights partition off houses and rooms in different colors aligned on the grid of LEDs.  And bright compartments appear in the walls housing a train set that Christopher assembles in parts in Act I building up to a climax.     

Alex Sharp plays the young Christopher, and he too is very young at 26.  Fresh out of Julliard, this is notably his first professional role, and he kills it.  He beat Bradley Cooper in Elephant Man for the Tony. He is so deserving and I am glad they took a chance on a rookie.  He has so many lines, and Christopher talks very fast and yells and screams when he feels uncomfortable. Christopher is awkward in social situations, and that comes through in every scene.  The play, thanks largely to Sharp and a great script, evokes tears and laughs equally from the audience. Sharp also maneuvers some intricate choreography bouncing off the walls and spinning through crowds which competed against traditional dancing in musicals at the Tonys.  

Mel Brooks: Live at the Geffen (2015)

Mel Brooks is a legend with a legendary career that has spanned television, film and theater. Brooks is an EGOT, a true entertainer who has earned the industry's highest awards.  In this stand-up special, Brooks goes through some of the highlights of his life, does a few songs (that he wrote in the course of his illustrious career), and even does a Q&A with the audience. Admittedly, some of the questions seemed staged.  Brooks has a surprisingly good singing voice, and his songs have the same wit that he brings to the microphone.  Now I have to go watch his films.