The Girl In The Spider's Web (Movie 2018)

The Girl In The Spider's Web is the follow up to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I had such high expectations for this but it just didn't deliver. Whereas the first had such depth and complexity The Spider's Web was so simplistic and dull. Claire Foy ( The Crown) takes the role this time of Elisabeth Salander. She puts in a decent enough performance though there wasn't much for her to work with. In this film Elisabeth is hired to steal a computer program that can access nuclear weapon codes by the creator of it. But soon the NSA and the Russian underworld come searching for it. There was so much that could have been tapped into here that only touched the surface. They could have played more on the obvious attraction and tension between Elisabeth and Mikael Blomkvist but that was just a glance here or there. They should have expanded more on her sister Camilla. Her character was as good as a cardboard cutout. I couldn't hate her or feel bad for her. There wasn't anything to see or give me any investment in these characters. And I didn't even have the action sequences to fall back on for excitement. Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive in a movie trailer. I was promised so much in that preview but it didn't happen.

Paul Anka, Chevalier Theatre Medford, MA 11/04/2018

Tonight the Chevalier Theatre was host to legend Paul Anka. He brought with him not only his hits, but tributes to Frank Sinatra as well as many memories of famous artists he has known throughout his long career. I was lucky to be seated near the right side entrance where he walked in to begin the show. He was wearing a black suit, tie and a red handkerchief in the pocket. He performed You Are My Destiny. He did a faster paced tempo on Diana which I really enjoyed. There was his 1974 #1 hit You're Having My Baby, Lonely Boy, Puppy Love and Put Your Head On My Shoulder. He sang the hits he wrote for others like She's A Lady which Tom Jones is known for and the monster hit for Frank Sinatra My Way. Since this tour is Anka Sings Sinatra: His Songs, My Songs, My Way! he did some other Sinatra hits. He did a poignant cover of It Was A Very Good Year. Before he did Strangers In The Night he recollected how Frank was telling him how he was given this song and he didn't think much of it. Well Frank of course gave in and the rest is music history. Paul paid tribute to his late friend Sammy Davis Jr with Sammy on screen singing the song Paul wrote for him I'm Not Anyone. He finished off the night with New York, New York. Paul Anka has such a powerful voice. The sound of the orchestra transported me right out of Medford. When music is that good it's hard to come back.

Bohemian Rhapsody (Movie 2018)

Killer Queen! Bohemian Rhapsody turned out to be a true celebration of the late Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon who made the legendary rock band Queen. Casting in this film was superb. When there was talk this story would be made I was nervous over some possible choices to play Freddie. I am so grateful it eventually came to Rami Malek (Mr. Robot). Rami came on the screen and reminded all of us what a tremendous performer and talent Freddie Mercury was. Malek was very convincing even in the quieter moments. This is definitely an Oscar worthy performance. Gwilym Lee (Midsomer Murders) was impressive as Brian May. If I didn't know better I would have thought it was Brian. You will hear some detractors say they don't show the real dark side to Freddie's life. It does get acknowledged but the movie doesn't get gritty. It was done with tact. Before he had come out as gay he did have a long term-relationship with Mary Austin and they always remained close.The dynamic between Freddie and Mary was moving. There are some glaring inaccuracies in Bohemian Rhapsody. One is the band didn't reunite for the Live Aid benefit concert that raised millions for relief of the Ethiopian famine in 1985. They had already played several shows a few months before the international live broadcast. But by far the biggest timeline problem is showing Freddie diagnosed with AIDS before Live Aid. According to his partner Jim Hutton, he was not diagnosed until April 1987. Despite these issues in the story this biopic of the band is amazing! I loved watching their creative process. It really was a group effort. Each one wrote songs. These four guys had a sense of humor with each other. They loved and respected one another. Being in the theater, hearing the music on that scale made me wish they'd take one of the Queen concerts and have it in the cinemas for a while. It would be the closest I could get to a Queen concert and that's how their music should be heard-big and loud!  

A Simple Favor (Movie 2018)

It's been out for a while but I finally saw A Simple Favor. It is a fun little mystery/ thriller. Anna Kendrick plays Stephanie who is the over achieving mom. She will out do all the other parents at her kid's school by volunteering for everything. And in walks Emily played by Blake Lively who it's obvious in her high fashion clothes and shoes could care less about such mundane things as events at her son's school. She befriends Stephanie and the contrast between the two is really night and day. You definitely know something is off with Emily when she overreacts to Stephanie taking her photo. As the story goes on a lot of secrets come out and you start to wonder who's in on what. For me the stand out in this was Blake Lively. She plays this part with style, panache and you sense the wicked in her. The humor is slightly dark. A Simple Favor also stars Henry Golding.

The Old Man & the Gun (Movie 2018)

The Old Man & the Gun is an interesting character study based on a real life career criminal. It starts out in 1981. Movie legend Robert Redford plays 70 year old Forrest Tucker who has built a life on robbing banks and escaping from prisons. While making his get away from a bank robbery, he helps a woman played by Sissy Spacek with car trouble. He ends up forging a bond with her. You begin to see that for Forrest it is not about the money. For him it's the excitement and adventure of living this life. It's ingrained in him. He never used the gun. It was just a threat which of course still doesn't make it right. But even though he is criminal you end up, like Jewel (Sissy Spacek), liking the guy. I do enjoy seeing a resurgence of these smaller, lower budget movies where it's about storytelling and not special effects. This film also has a great supporting cast with Casey Affleck, Danny Glover, and Tom Waits.

A Star Is Born (Movie 2018)

A Star Is Born is not a new tale. The first big screen version was in 1937. Judy Garland starred in the 1954 movie. The one most remembered was from 1976 starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristoffeson...until now. Bradley Cooper has brought the story to 2018 by co-writing, directing, and starring with Lady Gaga. What all these versions have in common is the basic premise of a young, struggling female artist who gets taken under the wing of a male artist who has made it but has seen better days. In 2001-2006 I watched Bradley Cooper in the tv series Alias. Back then I had no idea he would one day turn in this kind of a solid performance. He really transformed into this singer Jackson Maine who is battling so many demons inside of himself. Lady Gaga has become a revelation. I knew she could sing and write songs which sometimes in the beginning did get a little over shadowed by some of the interesting ways she liked to present herself. But in this movie she has been able to show just what an incredible talent she is. Her acting was effortless. It was natural for her. Her singing was powerful. A great soundtrack for this film. What this film spoke to me about was love and all that comes with it-the joy, the agony, and the sacrifice. And more importantly, how we'll do anything for it.This movie also stars Sam Elliott, Dave Chappelle, and Andrew Dice Clay.

Phil Collins, TD Garden Boston, MA 10/09/2018

Phil Collins brought the Not Dead Yet Tour to TD Garden. There's no doubt this man has a sense of humor about his physical limitations these days. He walked on stage slowly using a cane and sat in a chair that was down center stage. Phil greeted the crowd and explained that he would be sitting most of the show because of his back and pointed down and said "the foot is fucked." This candor got the audience laughing. He opened the show with Against All Odds (Take A Look At My Now) with his band behind him still concealed somewhat by a sheer curtain.The curtain went up and the band came in hard on Another Day In Paradise. This song moves me now more than years ago being more aware of just how many homeless there are and how so many of us live paycheck to paycheck. We got the song I Missed Again and he had fun with Who Said I Would. He did a beautiful duet of Separate Lives with one of his back up singers and the sweet You'll Be In My Heart from the Disney animated feature Tarzan back in 1999. Since Phil isn't up to playing the drums anymore we got the proverbial chip off the old block. Behind the drum kit on this tour is his 17 year old son, Nicholas Collins. And when he got to do a drum solo this kid could give veteran drummers a run for their money. It was great to hear Something Happened On The Way To Heaven. And Phil only stood up to sing for one song the entire concert and that was In The Air Tonight. With the lighting on him and the power he gives that song it had all the drama and dark atmosphere you'd expect. The crowd had so much fun with You Can't Hurry Love, Dance Into The Light, Invisible Touch, Easy Lover, and of course the one and only Sussudio. And for the encore Phil took us home with Take Me Home. At the end it showed up on the giant screens someone holding a sign that said "Thanks for doing the tour Phil." Have to agree there. He mentioned at the beginning how he had said he wouldn't do this again but changed his mind because he missed all of us. We missed you. The body may not be as strong Phil but damn you can still sing those songs we love.