Movie Review: Gravity

This recently released movie is about two astronauts, George Clooney as Matt Kowalski and Sandra Bullock as Ryan Stone. They are set adrift in orbit after disaster strikes a shuttle mission. Initially, they are tethered together and tumble out of control. After regaining their composure, they try to conserve oxygen and find the resources to survive their ordeal. Clooney plays a seasoned space veteran with a great deal of composure, quick wit and the ability to calm Bullock’s character. Sandra Bullock plays a biomedical engineer who is new to space and somewhat reluctant to be in her position. The performance of both is over the top. The plot is well developed and appropriately suspenseful. The cinematography and special effects are breath-taking and innovative. I viewed it without the benefit of the 3D format. Probably one of the finest movies I have seen this calendar year.

Review: Broad Avenue Arts District

The stretch of Broad Avenue starting at Parkway has undergone quite a renaissance in the paste year or two. Several fine eateries are now located on the south side of the street. Memphis longtime favorite, Broadway Pizza, serves up custom pizzas with Elvis memorabilia along the booth lined walls. The owner of Midtown Bari Ristorante recently opened the Three Angels Diner. They serve an eclectic mix of plate lunches, sandwiches and spicey daily soups. T. Clifton Art is a gallery specializing in art glass pieces and custom framing. Stop by and visit with the friendly proprietors, Tom, Pat and their friendly giant St Bernard Argus. Their website is: www.tcliftonart.com. Metalworks creates custom furniture, yard art and banisters. Some of their work can be seen lining Broad Avenue. Jerry Couillard is the designer and metalsmith in residence. Their website is: www.mtlwriks.com My personal favorite is the gallery of local artist, Nancy Judy Woods. An Orange Mound native, she frequented her grandparents home outside Byhalia, MS while growing up. While working in a daycare and as a home nursing assistant, she started painting pictures of her childhood experiences in Mississippi. Despite any formal art training, her acrylics bring to life the joy and excitement of a young girl growing up in a Southern rural setting. It’s worth the stop at her gallery to see her work and meet her. Her website is: http://www.njwoods.com.

Review: Picturing America: Signature Works from the Westmoreland Museum of American Art

The Westmoreland Museum of American Art is located in Greensburg, PA. For over 50 years, this museum has collected works from American artist from the mid 18th through mid 20th century. The exhibit is fairly well organized. The first group on display is representative portraits- including a famous portrait of George Washington by Rembrandt Peale. A large exhibit of still lifes included some by John Singer Sargent and members of the Hudson River School. About a third of display included bird prints by John Audubon. This showing will end Sunday, October 6.

Movie Review "RED 2"

This the 2nd installation of the adventures of retired clandestine operatives that are (R)etired (E)xtremely (D)angerous. Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) reunites his unlikely team in a worldwide pursuit of a portable nuclear device. This film splendidly mixes great comedy, action, special effects and plot. Anthony Hopkins, normally cast in dramatic roles, plays the part of an absent minded scientist. Bruce Willis, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren did a great job extending their roles from the 1st movie in the series. The film runs a little under 2 hours. Aside from from a few mild profanities, it could have rated a G rating.

Movie Review: "Pacific Rim"

This latest action Sci-fi movie is about man’s fight for survival against alien monsters that rise from a break in the earth’s crust at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Gigantic robots are employed to battle the aliens. Because of the robots’ size, two humans are required to join their brains digitally to pilot the robots. The plot is painfully thin- kind of Iron Man meets Godzilla. The acting is at best mediocre. No stars of merit were in the movie. The volume of the sound track was barely below ear-damaging 120 decibels. Several times I found myself covering my ears for comfort sake. The running time was a painful 2 hours and 10 minutes. Without question, one of the worse movies I’ve seen in recent memory.

Movie Review "World War Z"

This story revolves around UN investigator Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) who travels the world in an attempt to discover the cause of cure of a disease that is rapidly turning the world’s population into zombies. It’s a combination of “I am Legend” and “Zombieland”- without the humor. Because of the nature of the film, there is some gore, but not excessively so. This film has no sex and a minimal amount of profanity. The special effects are quite good. The story line is modestly developed. Surprisingly, the scientific notions of disease, population and cure are surprisingly sound. Brad Pitt’s acting talents outclass this type of movie. It was of appropriate length.

Movie Reivew "Mud"

This drama involves two 14 year old boys in De Witt, Arkansas who discover a fugitive, Mud, hiding on a small island in the Mississippi River. His hideout is an abandoned boat resting in the branches of a tree. Mud enlists the two to help escape the island and rescue his girlfriend who is waiting for him in De Witt. It’s a little of “Swing Blade” meets “Stand by Me.” The entire story is viewed from the perspective of the two 14 year olds. Until the end of the film, it is difficult to determine what Mud really is and whether his perspective on the conflict is entirely true. Mathew McConaughey, Reece Witherspoon and Sam Shepherd give stellar performances.

Movie Review: “Star Trek Into Darkness”

This 12th movie installation of the “Star Trek” series starts with James Kirk breaking the The Federation’s cardinal rule of non-interference in order to save his best friend Spock. Kirk is temporarily relieved of his command by his mentor, Admiral Pike. The Federation headquarters are damaged by a suicide bomber who is in the employ of one of their own commanders. The film’s theme is the pursuit of this traitor into Klingon territory. Kirk and Spock’s unbreakable friendship is the anchoring relationship that stabilizes the efforts of this pursuit. The story line is predictable. The special effects are superb. Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Karl Urban do a wonderful job portraying Kirk, Spock and Bones. Except for the occasional mild profanity, this film could have been rated G.

Review: Bijoux Parisiens: French Jewelry from the Petit Palais, Paris

This recently opened exhibit at the Dixon Museum features an eclectic collection of French jewelry, art prints, paintings and drawings from the 17th to 20th centuries. Most of the collection is from the Petit Palis in Paris, but also included are pieces from private collections. A fine review of the organization of the pre-revolution French jewelry guilds accompanies the earliest works. Also included is the history, evolution and representative pieces of famous jewelry businesses such as Boucheron, Cartier and Lalique. The exhibit is well organized and displayed. A color catalogue of everything shown is available at the museum gift shop.

Movie Review "Iron Man 3"

This latest installment of the Iron Man series should be more appropriately entitled “Iron Man Suits.” Tony Stark has developed anxiety disorder after the last movie’s alien encounter. The latest villain is “Mandarin” (played by Ben Kingsley) is an international terrorist bent on the destruction of the US President and American power. In the midst of this crisis, Tony Stark meets up with a young boy from middle Tennessee who helps him regain his confidence. Some attempt is made at tying past episodes with the current crisis. The plot is not well developed, but does have some closure at the end. Ben Kingsley does a superb job portraying the apparent story villain. The best relational development of the story is between Stark and the young Tennessean boy, well portrayed by Ty Simpkins. As with the previous movies in this series, the special effects are top flight- despite not viewing it in 3D

Movie Review: "Oblivion"

This Sci-Fi Action film stars Tom Cruise who plays “Jack,” a veteran assigned to guard over machinery that is extracting Earth’s remaining resources in the near future. The earth has been invaded by aliens. Humans have won the war, but are extracting water for a mass migration to the Saturian moon of Titan. He and his team member remain on earth to prevent sabotage of machinery by remaining aliens hiding on earth. Not unlike Total Recall, Jack’s struggle awakens doubts about who he is and what he is fighting for. The special effects are spectacular. The movie is suspenseful, but not frightfully so. The plot if fairly sophisticated and has an end with closure. Morgan Freeman makes more or less a cameo appearance mid and end movie.

Movie Review: "Quartet"

This British comedic drama takes place in a home for retired opera singers and musicians. The home is on the brink of insolvency and must come up with a financially successful public performance of a Verdi piece to stay open. The harmony of the home is disrupted when Jean, played by Dame Maggie Smith, an eccentric diva, arrives in the home. She was previously married to one of the residents, Reggie, a retired operatic tenor. The bulk of the plot involves the reconciliation of the two. The musical score contains many familiar pieces. The acting, plot and character development are sophisticated and proceed at an interesting pace. Interestingly, almost the entirety of the cast is retired opera performers. Were it not for a couple of obscenities, the movie could have earned a “G” rating.

Movie Review: "Jack Reacher"

This movie is based on a series of books by British author Jim Grant that centers around Jack Reacher, a former US Army Military Police Major. Five people are apparently gunned down in public by a recently discharged Army sniper. The evidence is overwhelming. The local DA’s daughter acts as the suspect’s defense attorney. Jack Reacher, played by Tom Crews, is dispatched at the request of the suspect. The dialogue between the DA and Reacher is quick, intelligent and full of innuendo- not unlike an old Mickey Spillane Who Dunnit. The plot is fairly sophisticated. The fight scenes are of tolerable length. The car chase scene features Crews driving an old fashioned GTO muscle car that was reminiscent of Steve McQueen in Bullitt. If not for a few profanities, the movie could have earned a “G” rating.