Julia (Tv Series, HBO 2022)

 Before there was the Food Network, Emeril Lagasse and Rachel Ray, there was the founding mother of tv cooking, Julia Child. The new HBO series Julia takes a look at how Julia started teaching America that they too could master the art of French cooking. The series opens with Julia publishing her first cook book, Mastering The Art Of French Cooking in the early 1960s. She is invited onto Boston's PBS WGBH television station to be a guest on a program whose stuffy host makes it clear he thinks it's absurd to be discussing a cook book. But Julia has the bright idea instead of discussing, showing how to make a French omelet.

Julia is played by Sarah Lancashire (Happy Valley) who brings us the loveable quirkiness of Julia Child which helped make her unforgettable to millions. We see the close relationship she and her husband Paul, played by David Hyde Pierce (Frasier) had. And how she has to win him over on the idea of being on tv. 

If you're a Julia Child fan or a fan of cooking shows, check it out. See how teaching us, while watching television, not to be afraid to get out a whisk and whip up something in the kitchen all began. Bon Appétit! Bebe Neuwirth also stars in this series.

Belfast (Movie 2021)

 Belfast is the Oscar nominated 2021 film that is written and directed by Kenneth Branagh. It stars Jamie Dornan and Dame Judi Dench.It is set in 1969 Belfast, Northern Ireland when as it is referred to, The Troubles began. The Troubles were Loyalist Protestants against Unionist Catholics. Though it might sound it's religion versus religion, it really involved those who wished to stay under British rule and those who wanted Northern Ireland to be independent of the UK. It is inspired by Branagh's own early childhood in Belfast. We are following through the film 9 year old Buddy as he and his family find themselves in the midst of the eruption of this conflict. It opens with Buddy playing with his friends in a lively, family oriented neighborhood of both Protestants and Catholics. While heading back to his home for lunch all hell breaks loose as the rioting begins. Buddy's family is Protestant but even they are in danger. You either help the Loyalists or you are considered the enemy. 

First I just have to comment on how beautifully this was filmed. True art. I was impressed with the angle of the camera shots and the crispness of the images. It is in black and white except for some moments where color flashes in like when the family is watching movies in a theater or seeing a play. 

There is such feeling and emotion in this story. Moving scenes of fear, sadness, humor and love. You are drawn into this family and the street they live. There's nothing extraordinary about them. Just a family living their lives, trying to pay bills, or like Buddy wondering how he can talk to the girl he likes in class. And then their world turned upside-down by a conflict they want no part of. 

Dispatches From Elsewhere (Tv Series, AMC 2020)

It's been a while since I felt compelled to write about something I've watched. Dispatches From Elsewhere has drawn me out. It is an AMC Tv series created by and stars Jason Segel. It follows 4 people who get drawn into a game that sends them on a hunt to find places and events that should lead them to a "missing girl". Or is it a game?

We are introduced to this marvelous world by the ever talented actor Richard E. Grant (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Can You Ever Forgive Me?). He acts as our guide on this adventure and also plays the part of Octavio Coleman who we try to discern whether is he good or evil. Jason Segel plays Peter who is just an ordinary guy who gets up in the morning, goes to work, comes home, goes to bed and does it all over again. One day blurs into another. I think we can all relate. One evening he notices a man posting flyers. He reads what's posted. It says if you have seen the man pictured to call the number on the pull off tabs. Well the man who pinned up the flyer is said man. And Peter becomes intrigued and calls the number. So it begins...

I will confess the first 10 minutes I let it go. I thought this was going to be too odd. But now with the pandemic and not so busy, etc,  I decided to go back and give it another chance. I'm so glad I did. It most certainly is odd. But I haven't been so moved by something in a long time. It made me smile, tear up, question and think. Honestly this couldn't have come at a better time. This time of reset in the world gives one pause for thought. And this series with it's characters can help us to think about our society and our place in it. What our differences are but more importantly what we all have in common-fears, the desire to be understood, to be loved for who we are, to love ourselves.

Peter feels like he doesn't feel anything. We get to know Simone (Eve Lindley), a transgender woman who is afraid to let people into her life, Janice (Sally Field) an older woman wondering if she lost herself along the way in life, and Fredwynn (Andre Benjamin), a self made man who has built up walls with always having to be right and brutally honest. And even though we, ourselves may not be a white male data engineer, a transgender museum employee, and elderly white woman, or a self made black man, there is something in each of these individuals in all of us.

This is very surreal to be sure. But give it a try. Take an adventure out of the ordinary. Now is most certainly the time for that. Dig down deep into yourself. It's well worth the discovery.

Blinded By The Light (Movie 2019)

For me music has always been so important. When times are good I’ve had certain songs that spoke of the same joy I was feeling. When times were bad there was something someone wrote that expressed exactly what I was going through and made me feel like someone out there understood. Some of my favorite artists blow me away with the insights of their lyrics. So I could totally appreciate the movie that came out this past weekend Blinded By The Light. It is based on the true story of a  British teenager of Pakistani heritage in the 80s who becomes completely inspired by Bruce Springsteen’s music. Javad Khan is a boy who is dealing with a lot in his life. His family is going through financially hard times, wanting a future he wants conflicting with what his traditional father wants for him, dealing with racism in his neighborhood, and the typical coming of age dreams of first romance. A soon to be friend introduces him to The Boss. Once he pops in the cassette of Bruce Springsteen into his Walkman he is completely over taken by what he hears. Even though Bruce is an American from New Jersey the songs of feeling like an outsider, struggle and desire resonate with Javad. It gives him courage to move forward and deal with things in his life. This movie has heart and humor. It shows how powerful music is and how it can transform someone’s life. The movie is based on the book Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion, and Rock N’ Roll by journalist Sarfraz Manzoor. It is directed by Gurinder Chadha who also directed Bend It Like Beckham.

Gordon Lightfoot, The Wilbur Theatre Boston, MA 05/19/2019

1970s music was not all about Disco. It also had the folksy mellow side going on as well. Gordon Lightfoot was the quintessential singer/songwriter of that scene. Last night at The Wilbur Theatre in Boston he brought us back to the times when we heard his songs on AM radio. At 80 years old Gordon was able to perform a 2 hour show with only a 10 minute intermission. The sound quality of the concert was excellent. And he and his band are what all musicians aspire to achieve in performance. So many great songs from his catalog we were treated to. There was Beautiful, Carefree Highway, Cotton Jenny, and  The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald. He sang Early Morning Rain which he is very proud that Elvis had done a recording of it. We heard Rainy Day People and Baby Step Back. Everyone was excited for Sundown and the beautiful If You Could Read My Mind. It was a wonderful evening. I would recommend to the younger generation that sometime when you have an hour free, sink into a chair and fall under the spell of the peaceful voice and storytelling of Gordon Lightfoot.

Cher, TD Garden Boston, MA 04/28/2019

Cher brought the Here We Go Again Tour to TD Garden Boston. Again the masses came out for the ageless diva. I mean ageless! Seriously, who is in that great shape at 73?! Wow the costume changes! I lost count with how many different outfits she changed into. There was an Indian inspired costume, a 60s look and many others. Yes, there was even a see-through catsuit like the one in the If I Could Turn Back Time video. This concert felt more like a Broadway musical. The band was set far back and barely visible. It was all about Cher, her dancers and the stage sets. She opened with her 2013 single Woman's World. Next was the get you moving Strong Enough. After performing Gayatri Mantra and All Or Nothing, she did a beautiful tribute to her late ex-husband and singing partner Sonny Bono. This brought us back to the 1960s part of her career with The Beat Goes On and the iconic I Got You Babe. Oh my, we were entertained with a slightly risque dance sequence of Welcome To Burlesque. From her new cover album of ABBA hits she did Waterloo, SOS and Fernando. There was the sweet love song After All that had been a duet with Peter Cetera in 1989. Since she is a fan of the King of Rock and Roll she honored Elvis with Walking In Memphis. From the 1990 movie she starred in, Little Mermaids, she performed The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss). Her set was completed with I Found Someone, If I Could Turn Back Time. The encore was the dance hit Believe. She started the evening with Woman's World but by the end we were all sad to leave Cher's world. Truly an amazing choreographed show and Cher's voice is ever the same.

Muse, TD Garden Boston, MA 04/10/2019

Muse's Simulation Theory Tour came to Boston's TD Garden last night. It was big. It was loud. And it was a blast! The opening act was Walk The Moon. They performed well and I enjoyed their set. They are known for their hit Shut Up and Dance. When Muse came on I felt like I had entered the movie Tron. Matthew Bellamy was sporting his neon flashing eye gear and behind him were stage performers who were in lighted costumes as robots. This concert wasn't just music. It was performance art. A show of mesmerizing visuals and hard rocking sound. The concept of this tour is alternate realities in the digital world. There was a mini stage set out further in front of the main stage which Matthew frequently came on to. The audience really got pumped when the band performed Uprising. For me, rock doesn't get any better than their 2006 single, Supermassive Black Hole. It is amazing to hear live. From the new album we heard Thought Contagion as well as the inspirational, gospel like Dig Down. Matthew Bellamy is definitely one of the best and most creative guitar players. And I dare you not to listen to him on Madness and not be reminded of the late, great Jimi Hendrix. Every one of their singles that I am a fan of they did it justice such as Time Is Running Out. There is so much yearning in Matthew's voice in the beautiful Starlight. Of course this band has 2 other members. Chris Wolstenholme on bass was fierce and Dominic Howard on drums made us feel the beat to our very cores. You know you are at a spectacular show when near the end a giant half human robot creature is on stage trying to grab the lead singer. Last night was what rock concerts need to be.