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Hollywood loves its gangsters

'Chorus Line' is a must 
see at Marcus Center

What is it about the gangster that has always captivated our public imagination? In America, since the very first black-and-white silent films, we’ve been mesmerized by the fedoras, the guns, the women and the nightlife. These were the men who broke all the rules - when they weren’t writing their own rules - and lived the good life as a result. Dancing requires grace, coordination, a good sense of rhythm, strength, endurance, agility and pizazz - no small feat. And when you’re competing with the best of the best in auditions for a Broadway show, an onlooker with any capacity for empathy realizes the depth of disappointment when a given dancer doesn’t make the cut.

Made in Wisconsin
It was five years ago that I chaired a panel at the Wisconsin Film Festival in Madison, talking about the importance - both economic and artistic - of independent film production in Wisconsin. In some ways, that 2004 panel feels like it was just yesterday, but in others, it feels like an eon ago.

Brilliant film gets brilliant treatment 
with Blu-Ray release
It is rare that a war movie offers commentary on a time and place while the issues it is satirizing are still taking place.

Comedian Tosh brings act to TV
Daniel Tosh has long been one of my favorite comics - timely, tawdry and deceptively intelligent on a wide swath of subjects.

'Pelham' remake an escape from reality, insight into social struggles
"The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3," a remake of the original (in which "One Two Three" was spelled out) is an efficient, capable thriller, a yarn that can be enjoyed both as an escape from reality as well as an insight into the social struggles of the here and now.

'Hangover' falls short of what you'd expect
Oh does "The Hangover" want to be a naughty little film. And oh did I want to like it.

'Land of the Lost' succeeds 
despite no true plot
Every so often we're given a movie that tries to pay tribute to the B-movie thrillers and sci-fi fantasies and film noir capers of old.

'Revolutionary Road' 
not what you might expect
"Revolutionary Road" didn’t make that much money in the movie theater, and perhaps that’s understandable. The story here - and believe me, it’s a dark one - is about how two young lovers in 1950s New York have been led astray by the expectations and the conditioning of a society that’s wildly out of balance.

Community theater shines 
in '42nd Street'
The musical "42nd Street" by Harry Warren (music) and Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble (book) has had a long successful history since its inception as a movie in 1933. 

McGivern, Tarjan bring flair 
to 'Shear Madness'
If you have never encountered John McGivern and Christopher Tarjan in tandem, you have missed a pair of the most gifted comedic improvisers to ever hit a stage.

'Noises Off' delves behind the scenes
I am not a big fan of farces, but I can appreciate the skill involved in weaving one together. 

Ensemble shines in 
'Pirates of Penzance'
Gilbert and Sullivan’s "Pirates of Penzance" is a frenzy of movement, a panoply of color, a generous sprinkling of wit, and a banquet of merry music. One’s senses are bedazzled throughout.

'Regrets Only' delves into gay marriage
RSVP Productions, a small theater company run by director Ray Bradford, performs at various sites in the area.

Waukesha Civic Theatre 
lights up city’s downtown
Waukesha Civic Theatre becomes more and more of a contributor to the renaissance occurring in downtown Waukesha. This summer, it is again offering its extensive program of theater arts education programs for kids and adults alike.

'42nd Street' is a smashing spectacle
If you love a spectacle - lavish costumes, snappy tap dancing, sparkling sets, competent acting and strong solos and ensemble numbers - then Waukesha Civic's production of "42nd Street" is calling you. 



Other reviews

'Predator X' makes the impossible 
seem possible
It's been a while since archaeologists have had the chance to expand our collective imagination. Every once in a while a discovery is made - from lost cities to the Dead Sea Scrolls - that causes us to sit up and scratch our chins.

'NOVA' intrigues after all these years
If you’re anything like me, you love all those nifty cable shows that dig into science, history and nature. I fell in love with "Planet Earth" a little while back and have since been entranced by just about everything I’ve seen on Discovery, the History Channel, the Military Channel and Animal Planet.

Soundtrack helps 'Slumdog' 
explore all senses
There was no more powerful movie soundtrack in 2008 than that of "Slumdog Millionaire" - a fact which made itself clear during last weekend's Academy Awards.

 


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