Movie Review "Woman in Gold"

This movie fairly accurately recounts the real life story of Maria Altman, a WWII Austrian Jewish refugee’s quest to restore a portrait of her Aunt that was confiscated by the Nazi’s before the war. The almost priceless portrait- along with other family owned works of art by the same painter, reside in a national Austrian art museum. The story follows Maria Altman, and her inexperienced nephew’s, quest to return the “Woman in Gold” to its rightful owner. The quest for justice and the evolving relationship between Maria and her nephew are the central part of the plot. The Holocaust and war serve only as a backdrop. Both Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynold’s portrayal as Maria and her nephew are superb. In the midst of drama there are also moments of humor and self discovery. There is only a single profanity in the entire movie. The Plot is well developed. The cinematography above average. Movie length is appropriate for the subject.

Movie Review: "Hidden Universe"

This recently released movie is currently showing at the Pink Palace Imax Theater in 3D format. A portion of the film chronicles the lives of the people who man and service the featured telescopes. Most of the earth bound telescope action takes place in the high arid Atacama Desert in northern Chile. Part of the story details of the location, operation and mechanics of the interesting variety of telescopes based there. Stars, galaxies and quasars are sumptuously projected in this great format. The film also overviews theories regarding the birth, life and death of featured celestial bodies.

Movie Review "Into The Woods"

An evil witch (Meryl Streep) assigns a childless baker and his wife (Emily Blunt) with finding four magical items that are needed to break a spell placed on the couple. The fairy tale story characters of Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack in the Beanstalk and Rapunzel all have tasks that requires their entering “into the woods.” This film is a combination of Broadway style musical, fantasy and comedy. The story develops in an interesting way until about thirty minutes before the end of the movie. The movie would have been well served to have stopped short of it’s ending. The last thirty minutes were puzzling. It seems as if a different playwright added his own notions of how the stories should have ended. Characters suddenly mysteriously disappeared and did things that were not in keeping with the movie’s story line. Overall, this deconstruction of otherwise wonderful stories was a disappointment and missed opportunity.

Brooks Museum: "Soulful Creatures" & "Fredrico Castellon: In Print"

“Soulful Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt” Nearly 70 pieces from the Brooklyn Museum are currently on display at the Brooks Museum. Many of the animal mummies were unearthed near Saqqara near Memphis in Egypt. The wide range of animals that were mummified include Ibus’, cats, dogs, shrews, baboons and a variety of birds. Many of the displays also include CT scans and xrays of the contents of each mummy and its coffin. Also included are several sumptuous sculptures depicting the relationship of the mummies and the royal household of ancient Egypt. "Fredrico Castellon: In Print" Spanish native Fredrico Castellon immigrated to New York City when he was eight years old. After completing a traveling fellowship from the Spanish government and the Guggenheim Museum, he taught art at Columbia University and Pratt Institute. He initially worked as a painter, but later transitioned to printmaker and lithography. His prints are probably most appropriately termed surreal. His prints are realistically depicted figures who all appear to be in a trance. The best piece on display is “The Bride.” This print shows a somber faced woman whose veil almost appears to flow off the display.

Movie Review: "Interstellar"

Mathew McConaughey plays Cooper, an engineer by education who toils away as a farmer in the Midwest in a somewhat dystopian near future where the earth is blighted by a dusty changing environment. Mankind is barely able to survive on this planet due to climate changes that are affected a tenuous food supply. A worm hole if discovered near the planet Saturn that will allow explorers to quickly explore three potentially inhabitable planets. The best descriptor of this very long movie is “lost opportunity.” This very interesting setting, superb cinematography and special effects were squandered on a story line that could have had limitless possibilities. The flow of events lacked cohesion. The film ended without definite complete closure of the story.

Rodin: The Human Experience

An impressive showing of over fifty sculptures by Auguste Rodin are on display at the Dixon Gallery until 1/4/2015. All of the pieces are part of and funded by the Iris & B Gerald Cantor Foundation. Before entering the gallery, the massive “The Three Shades” of Dante’s Inferno are on display in front of the main door. The “Large Hand of a Pianist” is one of the most memorable displays. The two female forms of “The Illusionist” appear to almost fly off its mount. In a small gallery, two large Shades appear to melt around the heavy loads they are cursed to carry. This is definitely one of the finest, most ambitious display ever at the Dixon. It should not be missed.

Movie Review: "Magic in the Moonlight

This mystery stars academy award winning Colin Firth who plays the world’s foremost illusionist Stanley Crawford in 1920’s Europe. He is called on by a fellow illusionist to unmask an American spiritualist played by Emma Stone. Most of the story takes place in beautiful villas and their surroundings on the French Riviera. Crawford is initially convinced that his subject is a fake and charlatan. Over time, he begins not only to doubt his opinion of her but also his concept of man’s place in this world. Stone and Firth’s acting is top flight. The plot is sophisticated and well developed. The ending is somewhat surprising and uplifting.