Category: Movies


Who are “The Avengers”? Confessions of a Marvelly-challenged reviewer.

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May 8, 2012

Doesn’t it seem completely illogical and frankly wrong on so many levels that I, someone who has never picked up a Marvel comic, should get to see an advance screening of The Avengers? It certainly did to my kids who peppered me with accusatory questions like: “Do you even know who Captain America is?”, “Do you know what’s special about Thor’s hammer?”  My response: “Nope, but I guess I’ll find out when I see the movie before you, sucka’s!”  I’m such a good mom.

Oh, I knew a little. I used to watch The Incredible Hulk with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno. And I did watch the first two Iron Man movies only because I have a crush on Robert Downey Jr.  I didn’t feel bad going into this most-anticipated movie wearing my cluelessness on my sleeve. As I figure it, I am a unique test case. If my only reason for being drawn to this movie is because of my giddiness over getting to see Robert (that’s what I call him in my dreams), then if I liked the movie, that’s testament to its power as a purely entertaining movie, separate from loyalty to the Marvel dynasty or love of certain characters.

So what did this comic-book-deficient reviewer think? Awesome! Yes, I had to close my eyes a few times because the action was just too much for my pounding heart to take and it was really, really noisy sometimes but, dang, it was a good ride! There was a good, strong storyline, gobs of action, moments of humor (thanks mostly to Marvel-ishis Robert), excellent effects except for stuttering movements on Hulk and good acting.

The many references to back-story of the Marvel characters was likely understood by loyal fans. For me, they made me curious about each of the character’s histories. I asked my kids lots of questions when I got home like “what’s the deal with Black Widow and wiping her slate clean?” and “How did Captain America get frozen?”  They rolled their eyes and then excitedly filled me in.

I won’t bother retelling any of the plot because, by now, anyone who wanted to see “The Avengers” likely did on opening weekend, judging by the record ticket sales.  Let me just tell you – if you aren’t a Marvel-worshipper, go see it. It’s cool. And if you are a Marvel-worshipper, well, to quote my kids who did get to see it on opening day, “That’s the best movie EVER!!!!!”

Oh yeah, and if you haven’t seen it yet, be sure you stay all the way through the credits to the last scene. Then go out for Greek food – trust me.

Graphic courtesy “The Avengers” website

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“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” – Movie Musings by Phil Noir

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May 4, 2012

Q: When is it too late to live fully?                                   

Contemplating one’s life experience can be an uncomfortable journey into the past. Exploring failures, joys, dashed dreams, lost loves… It can devour your present state of being, and cloud the possibilities of What Is and Could Be.

In The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, we share such a journey with a random cluster of British retirees, tossed together by fantasy, fear, desperation and need. From the misty gloom and predictable traditions of comfortable old England – they jump off the cliff into an unknown world of brilliant discomfort. Respectfully, gently, and with honesty, the film introduces them and invites you to share their personal discoveries. Gradually emerging, naturally as if we joined them in personal conversation, you connect and care.

Richly contrasting with this group of misfits is the country they landed in. The lens follows them through a wonderland of glorious ruins draped with filth and chaotic, colorful splendor. Much as the film’s characters, I wondered how human beings could possible exist under such conditions? Yet they don’t just exist- they thrive. Energy, love, and life pulses intensely and joyously in the streets. By film’s end I found myself asking the opposite question- how can Americans exist in such disconnected, isolated loneliness? Are not humans social creatures? This ancient culture confidently looks you in the eye and offers an alternative to the American Dream of mini-ranchettes and “Rugged Individualism”.

The film occasionally stumbles with gimmicky edits and some predictable “Americana” feel good story lines prevent this from achieving perfection. Forgive these mistakes; this film rewards many times over with a beautiful, stirring, funny story that satisfies long past the Exit.

A: Never.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel opens May 4, 2012. It is rated PG-13.  For a full review of the film, see http://ingoodtastedenver.wordpress.com/2012/05/04/the-best-exotic-marigold-hotel-a-review-by-thea-tagower/.

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“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” – A Review By Thea Tagower

Filed under: Movies, Theater, Travel — 2 Comments
May 4, 2012

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel gives you mixed feelings about growing older.  On one hand, it makes you worry that you could reach old age and be in a precarious position financially, physically and emotionally.  On the other hand, it gives you hope that there is still plenty of love, pleasure, beauty and fun awaiting you.

Judi Dench and Celia Imrie star in “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”

Seven British retirees find themselves at a cross-roads in their lives and all end up “outsourcing” their retirement in less-expensive India at the “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful”, run by the youngest of three sons (Dev Patel – “Slumdog Millionaire”) who is determined to make a success of the shell of a hotel is father left him. He’s also determined to marry a girl who his mother doesn’t approve of.  But that’s just a separate little storyline to keep younger whipper-snappers interested.

The seven people quickly form bonds, tied together by their uncertainty about their decision to move to India, their interconnected relationships and their desire to carve out a good life for themselves, for whatever time they have left.

When I watch a movie or TV show, I play a little game with myself in which I try to guess the outcome of the story within the first 10 minutes. When my guesses turn out to be correct, I admonish the show for being totally predictable. When I’m wrong, I delight in being taken along on an unpredictable ride.  The latter was the case with The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

The cinematography deserves special mention in this film. On the up side, they captured the colors and mood of India very well. They

Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy star in “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”.

also knew how to treat their characters, placing them in very specific lighting to convey the tone, mood, and their personality.  Judi Dench got the best treatment, being given beautiful colors to wear, gorgeous colors of painted wall to stand beside and flattering lighting that played up her white hair, light blue eyes and the darkness of her life she is emerging from.  Many of her scenes were like pieces of artwork. On the down side, the scenes of travelling through the streets of India, narrowly escaping cars, semi’s and cows was unnecessarily frenetic. We wanted to shout:  “Okay, okay, it was crazy and dangerous! We get it!”

The acting in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was excellent but how could it not be with actors such as Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie, Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy, who, between them have recently appeared in the Harry Potter series, Pirates of the Caribbean,  Bridget Jones’ Diary and Downton Abbey, often times together?

See The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel with a date, the person you intend to grow old with, your dear friends or your elderly parents. You’ll laugh, cry, be inspired, feel adventurous and pretty hopeful about what life holds in store.

For a unique perspective on the movie, read “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: Movie Musings” by my fellow film critic Phil Noir, immediately below this blog.

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/thebestexoticmarigoldhotel/

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel opens May 4 and is rated PG-13.

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Who should see “Friends with Kids”? A review by Thea Tagower

Filed under: Family, Movies — 1 Comment
March 9, 2012

You should go see “Friends with Kids“, the new movie opening March 9, if you:

  • are single and annoyed by all of your friends who have kids and report on every move (including bowel movement) they make
  • are single parents, divorced or not
  • are thinking about having kids
  • babysit and think the parents are idiots and the family dysfunctional
  • sat next to a family with annoying kids at a nice restaurant that shouldn’t even allow kids
  • are married, exhausted, sleep- and sex-deprived and “living the dream” of parenthood

There’s no escaping the stark truth – marriage is difficult, parenting is really difficult and mixing the two together is…pick your adjective: ridiculous, soul-sucking, a gosh-darned-good-challenge, a recipe for disaster. Your answer will depend on your outlook and personal experience. Personally, I lean more toward “soul-sucking” but that’s just me.

The trick of the title is that the movie is about friends who have kids and then two friends who decide to HAVE a kid. After seeing the downward slide of their friends once they have children, two platonic friends, Julie (Jennifer Westfeldt) and Jason (Adam Scott) decide they can buck the system by having a child but avoiding marriage and therefore all of the fallout on the romantic relationship.  It all seems so logical and works for a while –  until it doesn’t.

The reason it works for a while is what should also be taken as a lesson to all couples contemplating or who have kids: Be respectful and kind to each other, offer the other parent help when they need it, maintain a sense of humor and give each other breaks from parenting on a regular basis. Brilliant!

But then, things start to fall apart for the co-parents when they start to have pesky feelings that mess everything up.  That’s when the movie starts to get predictable:  Two people care for each other platonically and then one starts to have feelings for the other. The other hooks up with someone else. Then, just when the first person has come to terms with never being with the second, the second develops feelings for the first only the first isn’t available anymore. And then there’s usually a realization of love followed by driving fast or running frantically to the other person and we have a happy ending. Sound familiar? Sure it does because it is a frequently-used storyline and we love it, again and again.

I found that storyline extra familiar because it was so similar to another Jennifer Westfeldt film, “Kissing Jessica Stein” (Westfeldt write, produced and starred in both), a film I love.  So redundancy aside, I still rooted for the couple to get together in the end, even though it was so predictable. What wasn’t predictable was filling the final love scene with unnecessary swearing.  It just gave a bitter taste to a happy ending. In fact, most of the swearing in the movie was just not necessary and was distracting.  Yet when one of the couple’s children repeats swear words, the parents just roll their eyes instead of getting the lesson that kids will repeat what you say so watch what you say. There, I’m off my soapbox.

“Friends with Kids” stars many of the actors from “Bridesmades” including Maya Rudolph, Chris O’Dowd, Jon Hamm and Kristen Wiig. Megan Fox and Edward Burns are thrown in there for good measure.  The acting was very good, especially Jon Hamm’s breakdown scene in a Vermont lodge and Adam Scott’s realization scene at the end.  I never managed to feel much for the husband and wife team of Hamm and Wiig. Rudolph and O’Dowd’s performances were the highlight, following the range of relationship typical for couples adding children to their lives.

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“John Carter”: Fun, but it’s no “Star Wars” By Phil Noir

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March 9, 2012

Full disclosure – I measure all space fantasy movies by the pre-teen memories I have from seeing the first Star Wars. Like a first love, it impacted me in ways that no others could ever. Had John Carter been released 30 years ago, I might have fallen head over heels for all the action, special effects and imaginative creatures. It might have been an ideal escape movie. Yet the movie falls short and feels heavily borrowed from Star Wars.

Despite my nostalgic preferences, 2012 viewers deserve a fair appraisal so I’ll do my best to review it from that perspective. Based on the book, “A Princess of Mars” by Edgar Rice Burroughs, it is nicely framed as a story told by an uncle to his favorite nephew (Burroughs) and cleverly jumps back and forth between planets and time periods.

The film is jam-packed with fast-moving thrills, yet the story telling is rushed. The very first Star Wars unfolded slowly enough to envelope the viewer in another world -  you had time to think and enjoy the views. Watching John Carter is exhausting as you try to follow the story details and identities of the shape-shifting aliens.

Visually, it is like trying to take in the view from a roller coaster -  you get a glimpse, then WHOOSH off you fly to the next busy scene. You’re never given quite enough time to savor the special effects, which are rich and deserving of lingering contemplation. Too bad Disney expended so much on the film’s landscape artistry, then prevents the viewer from enjoying the brilliant results.

The story needs editing – a good 30 minutes should be cut to improve the pace and story quality.  The lingering close-up shots of the beautiful Princess’ body and glowing blue eyes somehow get tedious -  there is little range of emotion. And where’s the HUMOR?! It appears in a few sporadic scenes, but not consistently or adequately. Enough of the story is so dark and heavy that a bit of humor would really enhance the entertainment value of the film. Slowing the pace even more is the drawn out love interest between Carter and the Princess. Lacking  humor and real passion (a la Princess Leia and Han Solo), their passion for each other is forced and their first kiss is no surprise.

I should mention that my date, who rolled her eyes when I said we were going to a space-adventure flick, thoroughly enjoyed herself. She didn’t even try to remember who was who and which planet was which. With the flashbacks to the late 1800′s, romance and heroism, she said “if I ignore the battling space aliens, it’s actually a good chick-flick”.  Fair enough.

I doubt that “John Carter” will be embraced as this generation’s outer space fantasy. John is too beefy, dark and humorless for teenage boys call their own. Already near superhuman on Earth, Carter’s great jumps on Mars are not so thrilling. Luke Skywalker was my hero because he was average, vulnerable, and uncertain. He came into his own during the movie, and gave me hope that I could survive being a scrawny, geeky, pimple-faced teen. John Carter just made me want to go to the gym and work out.

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Review of W.E.

Filed under: Movies, Theater — Leave a comment
March 2, 2012

Andrea Riseborough as Wallis Simpson and James D'Arcy as Edward in Madonna's W.E.

There are always at least two sides to every story.  In the real life romantic tale of King Edward’s VIII’s abdication of the British throne for the woman he loved, American divorcée Wallis Simpson, Simpson is often portrayed as manipulative to Edward’s pliable nature.  The fact that his brother had to then take over the throne is memorably portrayed in “The King’s Speech”.   “W.E.” gives the twist, the point of view of Wallis and how difficult the relationship was ON HER, from start to end.

The big surprise in this film is that it is co-written and co-produced by Madonna. Love her or hate her, she has an artist’s soul and a flair for theater that certainly comes through in the film.  Why “W.E.”? It is, supposedly, the abbreviation Wallis came up with for “Wallis” and “Edward” and the way they lovingly signed their joint name in love letters.

Wallis’ story is told in flashbacks, mirrored by Wally Winthrop, a young woman who, like her mother and grandmother were obsessed with Wallis Simpson, even naming Wally after her.  Abbie Cornish stands out as the beautiful, sad, longing Wally whose marital troubles and emotions run parallel to her idol’s. She even conjures up visions of Wallace for comfort and guidance.

The storyline is confusing at first with the two Wallace’s and reflections on Wallace Simpson’s first of three marriages (her first two husbands

Abbey Cornish is Wally and Oscar Isaac, Evgeni in W.E. Photos by Anthony Souza.

look a lot alike).  Once you get into the initial groove of who is who and which time periods you are slipping back and forth into, you are hooked. The pacing is very good and you get sucked in easily.  The only annoying thing remaining, and it was a big one for me, is the cinematography. I know it’s supposed to be very artsy to do tight, fast close-ups of things and 360 degree pans of people and places to create a sense of urgency, confusion and fear but c’mon! Let the actors and the scenery do some of that work all on their own without making our heads spin.

Sometimes beautiful, sometimes dizzying cinematography in W.E. Photos by Anthony Souza.

Cigarette smoking and its sensual, curling wafts almost become a character in both storylines, evoking the suffocation of the situations in the lives of these two women.  The clothing and room interiors are gorgeous. The music is perfectly suited.  Madonna’s behind-the-scenes work is impressive and gives credence to this next chapter in her career.

W.E. is Written by Madonna and Alek Keshishian, produced by Madonna and Kris Thykier and stars Abbie Cornish, Oscar Isaac, James D’Arcy, Andrea Riseborough, Natalie Dormer, Richard Coyle, James Fox and Laurence Fox.

The film opens today. 

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“To Kill A Mockingbird” By Thea Tagower

Filed under: cookbooks, Cooking, Movies, plays, Recipes, Restaurant Reviews, Theater — Leave a comment
October 13, 2011

As I walked out of the theater, wishing I’d worn water-proof (i.e. tear-proof) mascara, a woman behind me complained that in this version of To Kill A Mockingbird, the narrator was on stage the whole time.  She explained to her date that in the movie, Jean Louise as narrator was never seen, only heard and that this version just ruined it for her.

John Hutton in the Denver Center Theatre Company’s production of To Kill a Mockingbird. Photo by Terry Shapiro

It was all I could do not to turn around and say “get over it, lady. This isn’t the movie and it’s another interpretation of how the story should be handled. And it was wonderful!”  I said nothing but it was a reminder to be open-minded and look at every adaptation of books, plays and movies with fresh eyes lest a wonderful production such as this one, playing at the Stage Theater of the Denver Center, not be seen for what it is.

I found it fascinating that a woman, Harper Lee, wrote the book To Kill A Mockingbird during the 1950’s at a time when it wasn’t the norm for a woman author to be writing about topics like rape much less taking on issues of racism. However, her timing was perfect. Even though the book takes place in the 1930’s of the south, she was writing it as race relations and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr,’s movement was just getting started, so it was incredibly relevant.  To me, a woman’s touch comes through not only in making Scout such a strong female character (at a mere 10 years old) but also in the lilting language she used such as “Finders were keepers unless title were proven. Plucking an occasional camellia, getting a squirt of hot milk from a neighbor’s cow on a summer day was part of our ethical culture…”  Gorgeous!

Maurice Jones, Matthew Gary, Caroline Rosenblum, Thomas Russo, Kim Staunton and Charles Weldon in the Denver Center Theatre Company’s production of To Kill a Mockingbird. Photo by Terry Shapiro

This production of To Kill A Mockingbird is as gorgeous as the words being spoken. The simple set  consisted of wood planks are adorned only with a screen door and large mossy tree.  The set only changes from a porch swing at the Finch home to the courtroom where Tom Robinson’s trial takes place. The lighting is dim and dappled. The frequent mopping of men’s brows and ladylike fanning in the courtroom as well as the intimate seating of the theater gives the sense of the air being still, heavy and close. It makes feeling the tension rising throughout the play even more palpable.

Some of my favorite local actors are in this play including John Hutton as Atticus Finch, Philip Pleasants as both Walter Cunningham and Judge Taylor, Kathleen M. Brady as wretched Mrs. Dubose and Kathleen McCall as Jean Louise (narrator). John Hutton gave his Atticus the perfect blend of compassion but firmness.  And I loved the way Kathleen McCall’s grown up Jean Louise sometimes mirrored actions  and facial expressions with her childhood self, played by young Caroline Rosenblum.  A narrator off stage couldn’t have given the sense so clearly of being an adult looking back at oneself as a child and remembering so clearly.

Caroline Rosenblum and Kathleen McCall in the Denver Center Theatre Company’s production of To Kill a Mockingbird. Photo by Terry Shapiro

Although the subjectmatter is difficult and the language can be rough at times, feel confident taking older children to this production. It is an education in great writing, American history, sociology and top notch theater.

To Kill A Mockingbird plays the Stage Theatre through October 30. For tickets call 303-893-4100 or visit www.denvercenter.org.

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Welcome to: In Good Taste Denver By Courtney Drake-McDonough

Filed under: cookbooks, Cooking, Movies, plays, Recipes, Restaurant Reviews, Theater — Leave a comment
October 3, 2011

Welcome to my brand  spankin’ new blog, In Good Taste Denver.  This blog is the more chatty sister to a column I have written for five years in “The Lowry News” here in Denver.   I have had the joy and privilege of writing reviews of local restaurants, theater productions, travel destinations both local and not on a monthly basis.

That’s fine and dandy except I am limited by space and by time.  So many great things are going on in the world of food, travel and entertainment but I just can’t write about all of them because of the monthly format of this fine newspaper.  So now that I am a little more savvy about such things, I can use this blog to expand on topics I’ve written about in the newspaper as well as remain more current with new things I hear about. Oh, and just to amuse myself, and hopefully you too, I will write these blogs as my alter egos which will also serve to better categorize the topics.

Here’s what you’re in for with this blog:

  • Reviews of local restaurants written by Edan Goode, who, by the way, writes a family food blog for Colorado Parent magazine.
  • Recipes that I’ve tried, succeeded and sometimes failed at (you get to learn from my mistakes) written by Cookie Baker.
  • Reviews of cookbooks I’ve come across because I read cookbooks like other people read novels (and I know I’m not the only one), also by Ms. Baker.
  • Reviews of travel destinations both near and far by T. Ravlin Lyte.
  • Reviews of local theater productions from Thea Tagower as well as movies that are about to hit the theaters as provided by Ms. Lotta Butter.
  • News bits on each of these. If I hear of something you might want to know about, I’ll let you know here as well as on my Facebook and Twitter sites.
A word about what it is to be a reviewer:
  • I am the first to admit that I am no expert on anything but I know what I like and what I don’t
  • I feel I am just typical enough to have my finger-on-the-pulse of what the general public might like or not
  • The role of a reviewer is to be honest, from their point of view. I will not rake anyone over the coals in a condescending, cruel way nor will I kiss anyone’s behind just to make them happy. What you can count on from me, is that I will tell it like it is.
  • Please know, because I certainly do, that my opinions are my own and should be taken into consideration (and nothing more) before you plunk down your hard-earned money on a meal, cookbook, theater production, movie or travel spot.  Soon enough, if you are a loyal reader (and I hope you will be), you’ll know whether or not we agree on things or whether we couldn’t be more opposite, yet you find my blogs so charming, you just have to keep reading.  (I’m hoping for a little of both).
So there you have it.  Please do read my columns in The Lowry News and if you don’t receive it, fear not, you can always find the “In Good Taste” column on page 10 online.  Then tune in here to read more of the story (if there is any more to tell, as well as photos, if there are any to show).  Find me, Like me and Follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InGoodTasteDenver and Twitter at www.twitter.com/InGoodTasteDen and I’ll keep you apprised of news tidbits as worth well as, well, anything that shows up on Facebook and Twitter on a given day.
Thanks for reading!
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