Review

Book Review: “Little Failure” — Gary Shteyngart’s Memoir is Amusing But Thin

July 14, 2014
Posted in , ,

Gary Shteyngart’s memoir proffers the rhetorical zest and caustic wit of his novels, but it lacks their satiric edge.

Read More

Book Review: “Becoming a Londoner” — A Record of a Charmed Life or A Life Made Charming

July 14, 2014
Posted in , ,

David Plante’s non-fiction and fiction are of a piece. There is the honesty of a writer who is willing and able to, first, face himself, then, write what he sees, and then, allow the world to see his seeing.

Read More

Theater Review: “Annapurna” — A Lyrical Look at Living With Terrible Choices

July 12, 2014
Posted in , ,

Chester Theatre Company productions often remind me of concerts in a chamber music series that feature musicians who have worked together for long periods of time.

Read More

Film Review: “Life Itself” — The Roger Ebert Story, Told Brilliantly

July 11, 2014
Posted in , ,

Film critic Roger Ebert was a complicated man and this documentary does a superb job of exploring his different sides, detailing the evolution of his personality over the decades.

Read More

Visual Arts Review: Red Writ Large — Soviet Propaganda from the Cold War Era

July 11, 2014
Posted in , ,

Darker Shades of Red focuses on the Soviet Union’s creation of internal propaganda, its array of striking posters aimed at keeping those in the Motherland and the satellites in line.

Read More

Film Review: “A Coffee in Berlin” — A Funny Film From Germany?

July 11, 2014
Posted in , ,

A Coffee in Berlin is described accurately in its publicity as “a slacker comedy.”

Read More

Theater Review: “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” — Comic Froth Infused With Gravity

July 10, 2014
Posted in , ,

Neil Simon’s Last of the Red Hot Lovers wears surprising well after nearly half a century, with the help of minimal, subtle updating of topical references.

Read More

Film Review: The 19th Annual Boston French Film Festival — “Love Is the Perfect Crime,” “Abuse of Weakness”

July 10, 2014
Posted in , ,

This year’s Boston French Film Festival (July 10 through 27) proffers a just-about 50-50 mix of male and female directors.

Read More

Theater Review: Are the Iraqis “Waiting for Gilgamesh”?

July 9, 2014
Posted in , ,

Playwright Amir Al-Azraki is in the camp that believes that the Iraqis themselves bear much of the responsibility for the chaos in their country.

Read More

Classical CD Review: San Francisco Symphony’s “West Side Story” — A Brashly Invigorating Performance

July 9, 2014
Posted in , , ,

The music of West Side Story sounds grippingly urgent and colorful as ever in the hands of one of America’s best orchestras and conductors.

Read More

Recent Posts

Popular Posts

Categories

Archives