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Beverly Hills Courier
Beverly Hills Courier
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Columnists

Neely Swanson

‘The Lonely Few’ — Both More and Less

‘The Lonely Few’ — Both More and Less

“The Lonely Few,” a musical premiering at the Geffen Playhouse in the tiny Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater, was commissioned by the Geffen. Ambitious and audacious, “The Lonely Few” is a play about hopes, dreams, successes, failures, disappointments and love in all its permutations and boundaries. 

Television: The Never-Ending Season

Television: The Never-Ending Season

March brings a bouquet of flowers (and weeds) and I will try to give you some viewing options and opinions. Buyer beware.

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Afraid of Subtitles? Get Over It!

Afraid of Subtitles? Get Over It!

Some of the very best television series available are in a language other than English. Granted, none of the streaming platforms make these foreign language gems easy to find, but a little perseverance and guidance can overcome all obstacles. Watch these shows in their original language. It’s worth it.  

“Independent Spirit Awards” — Always Distinctive

“Independent Spirit Awards” — Always Distinctive

The Independent Spirit Awards ceremony will take place March 4 under a tented pavilion in Santa Monica, provided the weather cooperates. Although they’ve survived rain in the past, the recent gale force winds might put a dent in the tent. But first and most important, what are they?

Family Defined in Different Ways

Family Defined in Different Ways

Two seemingly different films open in theaters on Feb. 24. The first, called “Juniper,” is universal in its subject matter—family, healing, growing. Director/writer Matthew Saville approached this story through the eyes of a resentful teen. The growth and change, as imperceptible as it seems to be, is seismic in the end, giving it even more resonance as we watch everyone change. The second film, “Cinema Sabaya,” written and directed by Israeli filmmaker Orit Fouks Rotem, is about a group of women, Palestinian and Israeli, who come together at a local community center to learn about filmmaking. As they begin their personal storytelling journeys, we watch them become a family, dealing with similarities and differences in order to grow.

‘The First Deep Breath’ – Leaves You Gasping

‘The First Deep Breath’ – Leaves You Gasping

Get thee to the Geffen Playhouse and get there before March 5. “The First Deep Breath” is a major play that analyzes what it means to be alone within a family unit in many of the same ways explored by August Wilson, Tracy Letts and Eugene O’Neil. Make no mistake, Lee Edward Colston II is an important playwright to contend with.

‘Bill Russell: Legend’

‘Bill Russell: Legend’

This two-part series on Netflix plays out chronologically beginning with his family’s move from Monroe, Louisiana to Oakland, California.

The Oscars: The Who, What and Why

The Oscars: The Who, What and Why

The Oscar nominations have been announced and there is as much hand wringing as celebrating. It’s really a game of “you never can tell.” We all understand Best Picture, the Best Acting categories, Best International Feature, and Best Animated Film. We also have our own favorites, some of which made the cut and others, in a teeth grinding sort of way, didn’t.

‘Close’ – Too Far

‘Close’ – Too Far

“Close,” winner of the 2022 Grand Jury Prize at Cannes and directed by Lukas Dhont who wrote the screenplay with Angelo Tijssens, is the intimate portrait of two close friends whose relationship is hit by the wall of adolescent misinterpretation.

‘When You Finish Saving the World’ — Is There Room for Me?

‘When You Finish Saving the World’ — Is There Room for Me?

Jesse Eisenberg, in his feature film writing and directing debut, has given us a remarkably insightful film about longing, miscommunication, emotional connection and disconnection, and the need for understanding.

With the Golden Globes, Awards Season Begins

With the Golden Globes, Awards Season Begins

Come January, awards season commences. And first up was the rejuvenated — or so they say —Golden Globes held at The Beverly Hilton on Jan. 11 and broadcast on NBC.

The Best Movies of 2022

The Best Movies of 2022

The beginning of the new year brings out all the lists for “best movies” of the previous year. I am no exception. One thing you will definitely notice is that so many of the “best movies” appeared in theaters beginning in late September. Awards season voters have short memories, so studios tend to release their best adult fare toward the end of the year. This year was no exception.

“Turn Every Page” – And Read Every One

“Turn Every Page” – And Read Every One

What a concept — a film about writing, a writer, and an editor told in an intelligent and compelling manner, using a visual medium to make it all jump off the page, so to speak.

“Corsage”- Full Frontal

“Corsage”- Full Frontal

Austrian Empress Elisabeth of the Habsburg Empire was originally young Sissi, Duchess of Bavaria, a carefree royal who enjoyed a rather unstructured life. Courtly protocol was often abandoned in her preferred countryside.

“Living” – There’s Always Time

“Living” – There’s Always Time

Today is the first day of Peter Wakeling’s new civil service job in the public works division. Boarding the train into London, he meets his colleagues, Middleton, Rusbridger, and Hart, all long-termers with helpful advice. Their boss, Mr. Williams, will soon board the train, but ride separately.

“The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari” – Breathtaking, Literally

“The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari” – Breathtaking, Literally

Written by the team of Mark Bailey and Dallas Brennan Rexer, Kennedy tells the story of the eruption of Whakaari, the White Island, on the north coast of New Zealand in what is called the Taupõ Volcanic Zone. Whakaari is an adventure tourism destination, long thought to be relatively safe even though the volcano on the island is active. 

“Empire of Light” – Dimmed

“Empire of Light” – Dimmed

Mendes apparently believed that it was enough to assemble a marvelous cast and that his incomplete concept would come together; that the performance would generate itself.

“Invincible” – Not Yet

“Invincible” – Not Yet

So many things these days start with the disclaimer “This is a work of fiction based on a true story.” “Invincible” should lead with the caution “This musical is a work of imagination loosely based on a famous play.”

The Journey of “EO”

The Journey of “EO”

EO is a donkey, but not just any donkey. EO is a circus performer in an act with Kasandra, his beloved and loving mistress who treats him as a friend.

“The Fabelmans”— Not a Fairy Tale

“The Fabelmans”— Not a Fairy Tale

So much has been made of Steven Spielberg’s newest film being autobiographical but dissecting the personal aspects of this wonderful movie diminishes its universal impact. The filmmaking is sly and misleading. Ostensibly his own origin story, undeniably it is that, but it is so much more.

“Love, Charlie” — Bittersweet

“Love, Charlie” — Bittersweet

Although this is not a “rise and fall” story because Charlie Trotter never really fell from the heights he worked hard to achieve, it is a “warts and all” tale about a perfectionist who expected the same from everyone around him.

“Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams”— Footlight parade

“Salvatore: Shoemaker of Dreams”— Footlight parade

Salvatore Ferragamo set the world on fire with his creations. He lived his motto: “A good foot is a masterpiece of divine workmanship.”

Holiday Movie Releases to Watch For: Part One of Two

Holiday Movie Releases to Watch For: Part One of Two

From funny to sad, sunny to dark, intellectual to mindless, there’s something for everyone during this Holiday season.

“Holy Spider” – Come Into My Web

“Holy Spider” – Come Into My Web

“Holy Spider” is the thrilling, complex, revealing story of a serial killer in Iran who targeted prostitutes and was hailed a hero.

“The Banshees of Inisherin” – Foretold

“The Banshees of Inisherin” – Foretold

“The Banshees of Inisherin,” written and directed by the incomparable Martin McDonagh and bringing back his dynamic duo of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson from “In Bruge,” is elegiac, humorous, and tragic, all at the same time.

“Reboot” — Again Please

“Reboot” — Again Please

“Reboot,” from the deviously clever mind of Steven Levitan (“Modern Family”), is one laugh out loud moment after another, played in front of the curtain of Hollywood and behind the wall of family dysfunction. And it all works!

How to Navigate the Emmys

How to Navigate the Emmys

With the proliferation of content, there has been what seems to be an exponential increase in the number of episodic submissions for Emmy consideration in an endless array of categories.

How to Navigate Streaming Services: Part Two

How to Navigate Streaming Services: Part Two

Part I of “How to Navigate Streaming Services” gave you the basics on what to look for and how to make your way through the most commonly watched streamers: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, HBO Max, Disney+, and Apple TV+. Here, we will go into a deeper dive on the plethora of services available. 

Must-See Family TV Viewing

Must-See Family TV Viewing

Today’s reviews are as different as they are alike. What do a nature documentary and a series about adolescence have in common? Both are terrific family viewing, although each stands alone across multiple demographics.

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