American Made

I saw American Made last night and I have to say that I really liked it.  I am not a big fan of Tom Cruise but Barry Seal is the kind of role that he excels at playing and he gives an outstanding performance, one of his best in years.  After a while I stopped wondering how much of the story was actually true and I stopped thinking about the consequences of Seal's actions and just enjoyed the wild ride!  The film tells the true story of TWA pilot Barry Seal (Cruise) after he is recruited by a CIA operative (Domhnall Gleeson) to take aerial photographs of Sandinista bases in Central America.  Seal is so good at getting into and out of Central America he eventually becomes the bag man for General Noriega and begins running guns to the Contras for the CIA while smuggling cocaine for the Medellin cartel on the side.  Seal makes so much money he can't launder it fast enough in some highly amusing scenes.  However, the CIA eventually disavows him and he is cornered by local and state law enforcement, the DEA, and the FBI in another highly amusing scene.  He eludes prosecution by becoming an informant against the Medellin cartel for the White House in its war on drugs (with some great footage of Nancy Reagan) which leads to the inevitable conclusion.  Through it all Cruise gives his high-wattage smile and struts across one airport tarmac after another.  Director Doug Limon uses actual footage from the 80s, close-up shots, and hand-held camera work to create a gritty documentary-style film that feels very nostalgic and the 80s music keeps the adrenaline pumping (I loved "Wah-Wah" by George Harrison in the credits).  To be sure, there are flaws in this movie (don't get me started on how Seal's wife Lucy, played by Sarah Wright, is portrayed) but it is just so entertaining that I would definitely recommend it!

Tangled

AMC Theatres are sponsoring a film festival entitled Dream Big, Princesses which include screenings of the following Disney (and Pixar) classics:  Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, Tangled, The Princess and the Frog, and Brave.  (Go here for more information).  I am rather late to the party because I've been so busy and missed Beauty and the Beast and Mulan but I made sure to make time to see Tangled last night because I absolutely love it.  It is one of my very favorite Disney animated movies (along with The Lion King and Moana).  It was so much fun for me to see it again on the big screen and I think I liked it even more than I did the first time I saw it!  Tangled tells the story of Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) and how she leaves her tower to discover her true identity with the help of Flynn Rider (Zachary Levi).  Both Rapunzel and Flynn are fantastic characters, Mother Gothel (Donna Murphy) is one of the best Disney villains ever, and Pascal just makes me smile!  I love all of the songs, especially "I See the Light."  It is visually stunning and I get goosebumps during the lantern scene every time.  I love practically everything about this movie and I loved having a chance to see it again on the big screen (I watch it all of the time at home because it makes me so happy but it isn't the same).  I highly recommend revisiting Tangled which will be screened at AMC Theatres until Oct. 5.

Note:  I have so many fun memories of seeing Tangled for the first time in the theater.  We were staying in St. George in the motor home over Thanksgiving break.  My sister, a family friend, and I decided to see it Thanksgiving night and the tiny theater in St. George couldn't handle the massive crowd.  It was kill or be killed to get a seat and someone spilled their drink on my sister trying to climb over us but we had so much fun!

Frozen The Musical in Denver

My friend Rachel and I decided to drive to Denver over the weekend to meet our friend Larry to see the new musical Frozen, which is having its premiere in Denver before it transfers to Broadway next spring.  I had Friday off as compensation for parent teacher conferences so we left mid-morning and got in to Denver right at rush-hour (my favorite).  We saw the matinee on Saturday afternoon, went to my very favorite place to eat in Denver in the evening, and then drove home yesterday.  It was a quick trip but it was so much fun (it was really great to meet up with Larry who is awesome) and I am so glad that we did it!

I am a big fan of the movie so I was excited to see the show and it definitely didn't disappoint!  I loved it (we all did)!  The story does not veer too far from the movie but there are a few new songs which I really loved, especially "Dangerous to Dream" and "Monster" because I think they both really help to add a deeper layer to Elsa's character.  Even though I loved the new songs, my absolute favorite moment in the show was "Let It Go" which is just spectacular.  Caissie Levy has an amazing voice and she really belted it out to the rafters of the Buell Theatre.  It gave me goosebumps!  The special effects are incredible, especially when Elsa waves her arms and ice crystals flash across the stage in perfect synchronization.  She also has a really quick costume change into a beautiful blue dress covered in sparkles (all of the costumes are wonderful, very much informed by the movie).  I also really loved the special effects after Elsa's coronation, particularly when she touches objects and they freeze.  It is mesmerizing!  As previously mentioned, Levy, as well Patti Murin who plays Anna, do a really great job with their characters and I also loved the actresses who play the young Elsa and Anna (Brooklyn Nelson and Audrey Bennett, respectively).  My other favorites were Jelani Alladin as Kristoff and Greg Hildreth as Olaf (who sounds exactly like Josh Gad).  However, I would have to say that my very favorite character in the whole show is Sven (much like in the movie), played by Andrew Pirozzi.  Sven reminded me a lot of the animals in The Lion King.  I loved everything about this show and I'm so glad that I got to be one of the first to get to see it (we are already planning to go to New York and see it on Broadway).  It was another amazing adventure (one more road trip to go this year!).

Note:  Rachel dressed up as Elsa and it was fun to watch the reactions of all the little girls around us!

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at PTC

I wasn't sure if I would be able to see PTC's production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time because of my crazy schedule right now.  But I have heard nothing but rave reviews from everyone I know who has seen it!  I decided I better try to squeeze it in and I am so glad that I did last night!  It is absolutely wonderful and I loved it.  In fact, you should stop reading right now and go here for tickets to one of the few remaining performances (it runs through Saturday, Sept. 30).  Christopher Boone (Harrison Bryan) is a fifteen-year-old math prodigy with an amazing memory who is also autistic.  He has difficulty in social situations, doesn't like loud noises or having his routine disrupted, and cannot abide having anyone touch him.  When he is wrongly accused of killing his neighbor's dog, he decides to solve the murder himself (and write a book about it).  As he uncovers clues to the mystery, he discovers secrets about his own family which leads to a journey, literally and figuratively, of self-discovery where he learns that he can do anything.  It is also a very powerful story about two parents, Ed (Tom O'Keefe) and Judy (Stephanie Howell), trying to find an emotional connection with their special needs son and some of their interactions with Christopher are heartbreaking.  The story is told as Christopher reads his book aloud with some excerpts read by his teacher Siobhan (Melissa Miller).  The staging of this play is brilliant!  The set looks like a series of building blocks placed together with items such as tables, beds, chests of drawers, and even a rat cage (I loved when Christopher introduced his pet rat to people by saying that it doesn't have the bubonic plague), pulled out from a block when needed.  There are six actors who play all of the rest of the supporting characters who enter and exit the stage with clever choreography and blocking.  I was especially impressed with the choreography and sound design during scenes in train stations and on the underground because they mimic the sensory overload that Christopher is experiencing.  The entire cast is excellent but Bryan gives a deeply affecting performance.  The role is emotionally and physically demanding and he nails it!  Christopher's behavior is often very frustrating and Bryan is somehow able to make him into a likable character that you cheer for in the end.  I cannot praise this production enough and I only wish I had time to see it again!  Do not miss it!

Note:  If you go, stay in your seat through the bows.  Trust me on this!

Stronger

Last night I went to see Stronger, the incredible true story of Jeff Bauman's triumph over adversity after losing both legs in the Boston Marathon bombing.  This movie is so inspiring with outstanding performances by Jake Gyllenhaal (who is very hit or miss with me) and Tatiana Maslany.  Bauman (Gyllenhaal) is an average working-class guy who likes to drink with his buddies and watch the Boston Red Sox.  When he finds out that his on-again off-again girlfriend Erin (Maslany) is running in the Boston Marathon, he decides to wait at the finish line in an attempt to win her back.  After the explosion, both of his legs are amputated above the knee and he must adapt to his new physical limitations amidst the adulation he receives as the embodiment of "Boston Strong" all while dealing with PTSD from the explosion.  This film does not shy away from showing the reality of Bauman's situation and there are definitely some scenes that are difficult to watch such as when his dressings are changed for the first time, when he falls out of bed and breaks his nose, and when he passes out in the bathtub covered in his own feces.  Gyllenhaal does a great job at showing Bauman's free falling emotions, particularly at a Boston Bruins game where he is made the honorary captain and paraded out in front of the fans.  His family and friends practically force him to participate so they can get free VIP seats to the game but he has a panic attack out on the ice that is incredibly affecting.  I cried multiple times, especially when he is left to crawl across a parking lot in one gut-wrenching scene.  I really appreciated the fact that Erin is a fully realized character and Maslany does a good job at showing her tremendous guilt over the fact that he was at the race for her and showing the difficulties she faces in being a caregiver especially in light of her strained relationship with his mother (an excellent Miranda Richardson).  This movie contains quite a bit of gruesome violence, particularly when he begins remembering the events right after the bombing, and there is a lot of profanity so keep that in mind.  However, I would highly recommend this wonderful film.