Koehler on Cinema: Clips
A week’s run of the deliriously cataclysmic and violent “Drug War” by Johnnie To is simply not enough. But Cinefamily, bless ‘em, has it through Sept. 26. It’s easily the best of the week’s new releases—and certainly one of the year’s most essential movies. To’s incredible achievement in action mise-en-scene must be seen to be ...
‘Round and ’round with Jacaranda
Sep
21
2013
Santa Monica’s Glow, the all-night cultural experience, will include classical music with “The Rest Is Noise: A Carousel Ride Through 20th Century Music,” produced by Jacaranda, the classical music series known for rarely heard, new and modern music. The project, conceived by Jacaranda’s artistic director, Patrick Scott, will take place in the historic Santa Monica carousel building ...
Koehler on Cinema: How to watch movies in Los Angeles and how to watch Los Angeles at the movies 1
The most important film screening in a weekend full of interesting ones (see this week’s “Clips” column for more on that) is the American Cinematheque’s Friday night presentation of Thom Andersen’s new and improved version of his influential, paradigm-shifting and pretty damn funny essay film, “Los Angeles Plays Itself, ” on how the city has ...
Choreographers move “on camera” at Sunday’s Emmy award show
Sep
20
2013
In an historic first, the Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography (nominees here) has been moved to the Primetime Emmys, that is, the on-air show, widely broadcast this Sunday evening, giving the art of choreography yet another creative boost in Hollywood. In past years, the choreography Emmy has been presented during the “Creative Arts” Emmys the ...
A la française: food & fashion films
If you are me, you’re going to the movies this weekend. You’re going to skip “Rush,” but there are two oh-so-French movies opening, one which I have seen and recommend highly. I loved “Haute Cuisine.” Hortense Laborie (Catherine Frot), a renowned chef from Perigord, is astonished when the President of the Republic (Jean d’Ormesson) appoints ...
Koehler on Cinema: “Rush” It Ain’t
In lieu of original material, Hollywood continues to borrow (Spike Lee’s “Old Boy”), copy (the sequel tsunami that never ends), or adapt better non-Hollywood writers (“Life of Crime”). Or, in a favored mode of where we are right now, which is the start of the official Oscar season, turn actually interesting true stories into hopefully ...
Dance historian Nancy Reynolds to be recognized with Bessie Award
It is with great personal delight that I share the wonderful announcement that the New York Dance and Performance Awards (The Bessies) will honor dance historian Nancy Reynolds with the 2013 Bessie Award for Outstanding Service to the Field of Dance.The ceremony will take place on Monday, October 7, at the Apollo Theater in New ...
George Chakiris, choreographer’s assistant for Judy Garland’s 1956 Vegas revue 2
An amazing zoom back in time with George Chakiris, who is not only Hollywood dance royalty but a gifted actor and recording artist. George, who celebrates his birthday today, worked with major talent over his long career in stage, film, television and nightclub. He shared memories of assisting choreographer and dance-director Robert Alton in staging ...
Visit Spain, Czech Republic, both on Wilshire Boulevard
Sep
10
2013
Two European films, both from a similar era, will enjoy screenings soon, along the Wilshire corridor: “Goya” at the Goethe Institut and “Closely Watched Trains” at the Academy. Having attained boundless wealth and iconic status as a painter in the court of King Carlos IV, Goya falls head over heels for a beautiful princess while ...
Best of the West: Sam Francis retrospective @ Pasadena Museum
Sep
8
2013
The exhibition celebrates internationally acclaimed California abstract painter Sam Francis (1923–1994). A highly coherent survey approach to his career has been organized by curators Peter Selz and Debra Burchett-Lere around key periods of the artist’s ouevre, starting from early works made in the Bay Area in the 1940s, and leading through works made in the ...