Review

Concert Review: Boston Symphony plays Williams, Bach, Montgomery, and Holst

September 23, 2022
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Jessie Montgomery’s Rounds is a testament to her impressive compositional chops. Let’s have more from her here, and often.

Film Review: “Blonde” — The Life of Marilyn Monroe, Art House Version

September 22, 2022
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Crucially, Blonde lacks a sense of joy. As Marilyn Monroe crumbles into an alcohol and drug haze, this expressionistic version of her life disintegrates into a succession of discomforting, sometimes laughable, scenarios.

Visual Arts Review: “Robert S. Neuman: Works on Paper” — An Academic’s Odyssey

September 21, 2022
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Robert S. Neuman used modernism’s interest in abstraction and material accident to shape lively compositions that riffed on urbanization, biblical themes, war, the space race, indigenous rights, mental illness, and other topics.

Film Review: “Goodnight Mommy” — A Disappointing Redo

September 21, 2022
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This American remake does not have the power, the confidence of tone, or the aesthetic artistry to measure up to the horrifying original.

This American remake does not have the power, the confidence of tone, or the aesthetic artistry to measure up to the horrifying original.

At 2022 Toronto International Film Festival — “The Whale” and Two Excursions into History

September 20, 2022
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The Whale is a bracing two hour battle against destiny.

Concert Review: Roxy Music — A Stylish Pioneer of Art-Rock Celebrates its 50th Anniversary

September 20, 2022
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Once the original Roxy Music core took the stage with their nine supporting musicians, most concerns melted into 100 sublime minutes of music.

Book Review: “The Color of Time: Women in History, 1850-1950” — The Past, Colorized

September 20, 2022
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This coffee table book scan of women’s history is visually striking and consistently informative.

Television Review: Disney’s Live-Action “Pinocchio” — A Necessary Remake

September 20, 2022
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There are cringe-worthy moments as well as scenes of mesmerizing beauty in Disney’s live-action Pinocchio. But I’ll go against the critical grain and argue, for several small reasons, and for one big one, that it was necessary to make it.

Film Review: “Don’t Worry Darling” — Land of the Living Dolls

September 19, 2022
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As a satire on the power of male-dominated corporations to manufacture consent and conformity, Don’t Worry Darling is devilishly amusing. Though credibility is not its strong suit.

Book Review: Colette’s “Chéri” and “The End of Chéri” — Tales of Love and Morality

September 19, 2022
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A superb new translation in one volume of the two Chéri novellas, regarded as Colette’s masterwork.

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