Devotion

In an attempt to get caught up on a few movies that I missed last weekend, I opted for another double feature yesterday.  I started with Devotion and I loved this inspirational true story about the friendship between two navy fighter pilots during the Korean War.  When Lieutenant Tim Hudner (Glen Powell) is transferred to Fighter Squadron 32 at the Quonset Point Naval Air Station in 1950, he immediately tries to befriend Ensign Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors), the first Black airman to complete the Navy's flight training program.  Brown has had a difficult time in the Navy, only able to achieve his position by being strong (he keeps a notebook of every racial slur used against him and repeats them to himself to psych himself up to fly) and occasionally by breaking the rules, so he keeps himself at a distance and initially rebuffs Hudner's attempts at friendship.  Brown eventually relents and invites him home to meet his wife Daisy (Christina Jackson) and daughter Pam.  However, as they are drawn into the conflict in Korea, Brown is angry when Hudner intervenes on his behalf after he disobeys orders in battle saying that he doesn't want Hudner to save him but to be his wingman when it really counts.  I really enjoyed the portrayal of friendship because it is incredibly poignant and Powell and Majors have great chemistry together so the emotion at the resolution feels very earned.  Both leads, as well as the rest of the cast, give great performances but Majors is especially powerful in several scenes which brought me to tears.  The action sequences, most of which involve practical effects with actual F4U Corsair planes, are absolutely thrilling!  I actually felt like I was in the middle of an aerial dogfight with anti-aircraft guns firing all around the planes (I found it comparable to the action sequences in Top Gun: Maverick).  Finally, it was really interesting to learn more about the Korean War because it definitely is America's forgotten war.  This movie got a bit lost in the shuffle over the long Thanksgiving weekend but I definitely think it is worth seeking out because it is really good!

Beethoven's Fifth

There was a huge crowd at Abravanel Hall last night because the Utah Symphony performed one of the world's most famous symphonies and it was amazing!  The orchestra began, however, with a piece called Fires by a young Lithuanian composer named Raminta Serksnyte.  It was moody and atmospheric (it sounded like the score of a movie set in space) and kept building and building in intensity.  I loved the chimes, the brass, and the dramatic timpani!  Next, the orchestra was joined by soloist Maximilian Hornung for Cello Concerto No. 1 by Dmitri Shostakovich.  I always think of music for the cello as mournful but the first movement of this piece was very lively and energetic.  The second movement was a bit more subdued, with beautiful themes played by the solo cello and the woodwinds, but the third and fourth movements returned to a more vibrant pace and the concerto definitely ended with a flourish!  Hornung was so much fun to watch and I loved it whenever he would bob his head in time with his bow!  As an encore, he performed a beautiful version of Cello Suite No. 1- Prelude by Johann Sebastian Bach (I was very proud of myself for recognizing it).  After the intermission the orchestra played the piece everyone was waiting for, Symphony No. 5 by Ludwig van Beethoven, and the performance was brilliant, especially since guest conductor Markus Poschner did not use a score!  Those iconic and instantly recognizable opening notes are incredibly dramatic (I have heard them referred to as fate knocking on the door) and I enjoyed listening to all of the variations of this theme throughout the first movement (and the rest of the symphony).  I also enjoyed the stately themes played by the whole orchestra, but especially the horns and the woodwinds, during the second movement.  Whenever I hear the third and fourth movements I always imagine goblins because there is a scene from the movie Howards End where one of the main characters goes to a lecture on music and meaning and the conductor describes goblins during this section (clearly I have seen this movie too many times).  Whether it is about goblins or not the symphony ends triumphantly and I loved hearing it!  I highly recommend getting a ticket for tonight's performance of the same program (go here for tickets).

Note:  I've said it before but the current Utah Symphony season has been absolutely spectacular!

Moulin Rouge at the Eccles

After seeing Hadestown, Jagged Little Pill, and SIX, the only show left on my must-see list was Moulin Rouge and I had the chance to see it last night at the Eccles Theater.  I was really excited for this because I love the movie (I have seen it an embarrassing number of times) and it certainly did not disappoint!  The musical is loosely based on the movie and tells the story of a courtesan named Satine (Courtney Reed) who is torn between the wealthy Duke of Monroth (David Harris), who can save the Moulin Rouge cabaret club where she performs, and the penniless songwriter Christian (Conor Ryan), who she loves, but many of the songs featured in the movie have been updated to more recent ones.  It was really fun to pick out all of the snippets of songs used in the musical numbers and my favorites were "Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love" which includes "Royals," "Children of the Revolution," and "We Are Young;" "The Sparkling Diamond" which includes "Diamonds Are Forever," "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," "Material Girl," "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," "Brick House," "Jungle Boogie," and "Diamonds;" "Sympathy For The Duke" which includes "Sympathy For The Devil," "You Can't Always Get What You Want," and "Gimme Shelter;" "Elephant Love Medley" which includes "All You Need is Love," "Just One Night," "Pride (In the Name of Love," "Can't Help Falling in Love With You," "Don't Speak," "I Love You Always Forever," "It Ain't Me Babe," "Love Hurts," "Love is a Battlefield," "Play The Game," "Such Great Heights," "Torn," "Take On Me," "Fidelity," "What's Love Got to Do With It," "Everlasting Love," "Up Where We Belong," "Heroes," "Your Song," and "I Will Always Love You;" "Backstage Romance" which includes "Bad Romance," "Tainted Love," "Seven Nation Army," "Toxic," and "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This);" and "Crazy Rolling" which includes "Crazy" and "Rolling in the Deep."  I also really loved the original song "Come What May" because Reed and Ryan (who are amazing) perform it with so much passion.  The choreography in this show is spectacular, especially in "Welcome to the Moulin Rouge" (I loved the Can-Can) and "Backstage Romance" (I loved the tango during "Bad Romance") and the ensemble is incredibly talented, particularly Nicci Claspell as Arabia, Libby Lloyd as Nini, Andres Quintero as Baby Doll, and Harper Miles as La Chocolat in "Lady Marmalade."  The costumes, which range from corsets and fishnets to top hats and tails, and the sets, including a cabaret with nesting filigreed hearts, a dressing room inside a papier-mache elephant, and a garret apartment in Montmartre, are fantastic.  The lighting, which bathes the stage in reds, pinks, and purples, is incredibly dramatic and I loved the neon green used to represent absinthe in "Chandelier."  This high energy spectacle is wildly entertaining and I loved it!  It runs at the Eccles Theater through December 11 (go here for tickets).

Note:  Now that I have seen everything on my must-see list, what new musicals should be added to it?  Nothing is really catching my eye at the moment except for maybe Beetlejuice.

Let's Go Jazz!

Last night I went to my first Utah Jazz game of the season with my friend Angela and I could not have been more excited!  When the two best players, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, were traded during the off-season I didn't really have a lot of hope for the team.  However, against all odds, the team had an outstanding start!  Jordan Clarkson has taken on a leadership role and some of the new team members, such as Lauri Markkanen, are playing very well.  At one point the Jazz were at the top of the Western Conference and they have been so much fun to follow!  Angela got a ticket package this season and very graciously let me pick a few games to see with her.  I have been looking forward to last night's game against the Los Angeles Clippers all month but the Jazz were on a five game losing streak so I didn't really know what to expect.  It ended up being a great game because all five starters were in double-digits!  Clarkson had a season high of 33 points, Markkanen had 23, Sexton had 21, Vanderbilt had 14, and Olynyk (he's Canadian) had 12!  The Jazz led by as many as twenty points in the first quarter but the Clippers went on a 12-0 run in the second quarter and eventually went up 60-58 to end the first half.  The Jazz responded with a 22-6 run in the third quarter and did not relinquish the lead for the rest of the game, although the Clippers came within three in the beginning of the fourth quarter.  Then the Jazz took control with some really great plays by Vanderbilt, Clarkson, and Sexton.  The lead was pretty much assured by the final two minutes so Coach Hardy put the entire bench in the game.  It was hilarious!  The Jazz ended up winning 125-112 and it was so much fun!  Angela said that I ended the losing streak by being at the game and I'm just going to go with that!

Fetival of Trees 2022

Yesterday I was a hostess at the Festival of Trees for the twelfth year (after a two year pause for Covid).  Various individuals and organizations decorate and then donate the trees (usually to commemorate someone who has been ill or died) for auction (this year the auction is a silent one and you can still bid on trees until 8:00 tonight) and then they are displayed for public viewing at the Mountain America Expo Center.  All of the proceeds go directly to Primary Children's Hospital!  In addition to the trees, there are centerpieces, wreaths, quilts, and gingerbread houses on display as well a lots of treats for purchase (I love the homemade cinnamon rolls) so it is a lot of fun!  Most of the following trees were in my area but I did walk around a little bit after my shift was over to see some of the others.

One of the main jobs of the hostess is to make sure that the trees are not harmed.  I had to remind several kids not to touch this particular tree!  I think they wanted to feel the fur!

I noticed that many of the trees were not as elaborate as those in years past and didn't have as many items surrounding them.  This tree was the exception!

This tree was my favorite one in my area.  I loved the old fashioned snowshoes!

The festival will continue at the Mountain America Expo Center through Saturday.  Go here for more information and tickets.