Film
Yes, Ben Affleck took some liberties in “Argo” for the sake of the dramatic arc and a kickass, intense finale. But mostly, the story is so bizarre that it hardly needed enhancement.
The director of THE MASTER, Paul Thomas Anderson, runs toward Scientology as fast as he runs away from it and its top guns (Tom Cruise did visit the set to lodge a few complaints).
Director Paul Thomas Anderson doesn’t provide answers nor does he pose questions: the ambiguity of his characters and his confounding storytelling style are what drive “The Master.”
[Update: Tonight’s performance at Scullers by Mozik and special guest Rebecca Parris is still on. Rumor has it that the set will include Herbie Hancock’s “The Eye of the Hurricane”.] All treats, no tricks —it’s a great month for jazz in New England. The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra turns forty, and so does NEC’s Contemporary Improvisation department. Meanwhile, a raft of musicians make deep dives into electronica.
The month features a number of ambitious film festivals and the predictable cinematic excursions, classy and crass, into the spooky.
“The Master” is not easily pigeon-holed as a film but one can argue that it is, at its core, a brilliant anti-war movie.
Musician Patty Schemel’s slow climb to sobriety and wellness serves as the gripping backbone of the documentary “Hit So Hard,” to the point that it is difficult to believe that someone thumped so severely lived to tell her story.
“Ruby Sparks” is more than a sweetly moving love story with a happy ending; to their credit, the filmmakers add some disturbingly nightmarish edges to its “Pygmalion” meets “Frankenstein” plotline.
A list of unusual and compelling films coming up in September that you may not have a second chance to experience if you don’t plan your evening ahead!
Todd Solondz’s lack of commercial appeal as a filmmaker is understandable. His movies deal overtly with some of the most uncomfortable aspects of American life.
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