Theater/Film Reviews
-
The Book of Mormon
"The Book of Mormon" opened Tuesday night at the Fox. Is there anyone interested in St. Louis theater that doesn't know it's sort of the anti-"Sound of Music"? It's packed to the earlobes with jokes, both verbal and non-, of the sort that will leave almost everyone in the audience thinking, "I can't believed I
-
Lincoln
Regular readers know that our film and theater reviews stopped when Joe passed away in early March. Those well-polished loafers of his are ones I choose not to fill. But sometimes I find things that are too good not to discuss. There's been a lot of ballyhoo about "Lincoln", as there is about all Steven
-
Circus Flora: The Wizard
Circus Flora remains irresistible. Even in this age of reality television – and shouldn't that word have quotation marks surrounding it, indicating its dubious accuracy? – an even that brings spectators so close to living, breathing excitement is more than worthwhile. This year's edition sparkles. Titled "The Wizard", the Arthurian theme allows for some splendid
-
We Need to Talk About Kevin
The title of this very disturbing movie, "We Need to Talk About Kevin," is about 15 years late. We, or his parents, should have been talking about Kevin at least a decade ago. It's far beyond solution now. The damage has been done and we, or his parents, are not only paying for it,
-
Friends With Kids
Young people often take an unrealistic, or downright negative, approach to the fact that one always must take responsibility for his/her actions. Avoiding it only moves pay-up day down the road. And not realizing that it will happen, come what may, is a sure sign of arrested development. Of course, it happens, and "Friends With
-
Corman
Roger Corman, long known as "the king of the B's," for hundreds of shlocky movies that he produced and/or directed, and which filled drive-ins and grind houses for decades, was noted for the many people who got their start with him and went on to fame and fortune. Of course, they were young and eager
-
Rampart
The tale of the sadistic, psychotic policeman is not a new one, but Woody Harrelson is fierce and frightening as a rogue in “Rampart,” a police district in Los Angeles, its own, real history rabid enough to earn its own movie. Harrelson, his face a series of reddish-tan angles sticking out from behind aviator sunglasses.
-
Declaration of War
The use of the word "war" may be a touch of hyperbole, but when a mother discovers there's something wrong with her child, she's quick to go into warrior mode against whatever and whoever is keeping him from being the icon of perfection she demands. So it is with Valerie Donzelli, director, co-writer and star
-
Cry-Baby
Were some of the music different, it might have been Mickey and Judy out there — yep, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland — singing and dancing, she the nice girl from the right side of the tracks, he the boy who used words like "swell," and sometimes "damn." The good kids and the ruffians were
-
The Glass Menagerie
Tennessee Williams’ famed “memory play” about his days at the International Shoe Company warehouse on 15th Street in downtown St. Louis, “The Glass Menagerie,” is a searing look at the playwright’s family. It’s made even harsher by the fact that while he wrote, looking backward a decade or so, his anger seemed to grow. The