'Hidden Figures" (movie critique)

HIDDEN FIGURES
movie poster

The Friday Movie Mavens and The Travelling Toe went to see the new movie "Hidden Figures".  It is the story based on actual events concerning the lives of three
African-American women who worked for NASA at Langley.  Their efforts ensured the safety of the much-acclaimed astronauts going into space, while advancing equal rights for women of all races.

As the movie opens, the space race with Russia is in full swing. Russia was winning the race and the US was experiencing one failure after another.

The overview of the movie from the internet is as follows:

Three brilliant African-American women at NASA -- Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) -- serve as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn (Glen Powell) into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation's confidence, turned around the Space Race and galvanized the world.

We found the movie to be very entertaining and interesting.  The three leading ladies were excellent in their roles.  Also the young actor who played John Glenn was a cute pie. At the end of the movie, photos of the real women were shown on the screen.  They all achieved success against overwhelming odds!

CAST:

Taraji P Henson
Katherine

Janelle Monae
Mary

Octavia Spencer
Dorothy

Kevin Costner
Al

Kirsten Dunst
Vivian

Jim Parsons
Paul

John Glenn

Glen Powell
John Glenn

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 big toe up and 1 second toe up with a vintage school desk as you may need to learn to duck and cover!

"La La Land" (movie critique)

LA LA LAND
movie poster

The Monday following Christmas, The Travelling Toe and Dear Friends decided to go to the movies rather than fight those sales return crowds.  The movie chosen was "La La Land". Even back in December it was receiving a lot of hype and of course you know by now, that the movie walked away with numerous Gold Globe Awards. 

If you have seen it then you know the story and if you have not seen it, then you probably do not intent to.

The following overview is provided by the internet:

The story of Mia, an aspiring actress, and Sebastian, a dedicated jazz musician, struggling to make ends meet while pursuing their dreams in a city known for destroying hopes and breaking hearts. With modern day Los Angeles as the backdrop, this musical about everyday life explores what is more important: a once-in-a-lifetime love or the spotlight.

CAST:

Ryan Gosling
Sebastian
 

Emma Stone
Mia

John Legend
Keith

For the most part, the group consensus was that the movie was pretty entertaining.  But there were a couple of naysayers who were disappointed as it could not compare to the classic romantic musicals of the 1940's - 1950's.  That is sad but true as those type of musicals are long gone but at least there has now been one successful attempt to emulate the genre. The Travelling Toe found the music lovely and enjoyable.

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 big toe and 1 second up with a pair of tape shoes as you might just need to do a "shuffle off to Buffalo" routine on a deadlocked freeway system.

"Fences" (movie critique)

FENCES
movie poster

Several of the Friday Movie Mavens and The Travelling Toe went to the movie this past Wednesday, to see "Fences".  The movie stars Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. Denzel is one of the producers and he also directed the film.

The screenplay was written by renowned playwright August Wilson.  He received the Pulitzer Prize, in 1987,  for the play.  Mr. Wilson passed in 2005 but had completed the movie screenplay before his death.

AUGUST WILSON
playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner

The following overview of the movie is from the internet:

Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) makes his living as a sanitation worker in 1950s Pittsburgh. Maxson once dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, but was deemed too old when the major leagues began admitting black athletes. Bitter over his missed opportunity, Troy creates further tension in his family when he squashes his son's (Jovan Adepo) chance to meet a college football recruiter.

This movie is shot more as a stage play than as a movie, because most of the action takes place at the Maxson home and in the backyard.  This is a very emotional and even sometime vicious movie about a dysfunctional family that is ruled by a violate father.  

The acting is what makes this movie so strong.  Denzel and Viola are totally in their element as husband and wife, Troy and Rose.  It is rather a long movie at 139 minutes and the "n" word is used often.  

CAST:

Denzel Washington
Troy Maxson

Viola Davis
Rose Maxson

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 big toe up with Gabe's bugle, calling the Grim Reaper out.

"Monet The Early Years" exhibit at the Kimbell Art Musem

KIMBELL ART MUSEUM
brochure 

The Travelling Toe and a Dear Friend went to the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth to see the latest exhibit, "Monet: The Early Years".  This popular exhibit is on display at the Kimbell until January 29, 2017. Impressionist painting are always a draw.  The day we went was somewhat crowed with a school tour and other groups on site, so we had to work around the groups in order to view and study the paintings.  Photos were not allowed.  There are about 60 paintings in the exhibit that range from about 1858 -1872.

Claude Monet
November 1840 - December 1926

Monet was born in Paris and died at age 86 at his beloved home in Giverny, France. There using his garden as inspiration, he painted his lovely water lilies series. 

As you enter the gallery, to your right is his first painting exhibited from 1858, when he was just 17 years old, The painting."View Near Rouelles", was loaned by Marunuma Art Park, Japan.  The copy of the painting below is courtesy of: 


                             Courtesy Noortman Master Painting via AP for the Kimbell Art Museum.

As you walk around this exhibit you see his young talent taking shape,  All the paintings were interesting views of everyday life in France. They were all so enjoyable to see plus you discover how his technique was amazing even at an early age.

The following painting, "The Light At The Hospice" 1864,  was included in the promotional materials from the Kimbell Art Museum

The Light House At The Hospice
1864
Kunsthaus, Zurich

There is still time to see this exhibit before it leaves so do take the time to enjoy these lovely paintings, as we may never get to see again.

Kimbell Art Museum

Au Revoir

"Nocturnal Animals" (movie critique)

NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
movie poster

The Travelling Toe and a Dear Friend stated the new year with a very unusual movie.  We went to the multiplex to see Tom Ford's "Nocturnal Animals".

Tom Ford
director, producer, screenwriter

There are 2 stories going on at the same time and somewhat interconnected.  In one scene we are in the real world and the next scene were are in a fictional world.  OK, how does that jell?

In the real world, Susan Morrow is a rich gallery owner living in LA with her husband, who is played by Armie Hammer.  He is probably having an affair and their marriage is strained. He takes off on a business trip to New York leaving Susan alone She receives a package in the mail and it is a manuscript of a novel, "Nocturnal Animals" written by her ex-husband, Edward Sheffield, who is played by Jake Gyllenhall.  She begins to read the story and the scene shifts to the novel setting.

Tony Hastings, also played by Jake Gyllenhall, is on a road trip with his wife, Laura and daughter India.  They have driven many hours, it is dark and they are in desolate West Texas. They come up on a car that begins playing chicken with them and forces them off the road.

As Susan is reading the story, noises break her concentration and we come back to the real world with her. But every time she picks up the book we are transported to the awful story of the Hastings family. They were forced off the road by the 3 thugs and Tony's wife and daughter are kidnapped.  He is beaten and taken out to a remote area and dumped. He eventually makes his way to civilization seeking help to find his wife and daughter. Detective Bobby Andes is assigned to the case.  Andes is played by the wonderful actor Michael Shannon.

There is a lot to this story both in real time and in the novel.  Isla Fisher plays Laura Hastings and she and Amy Adams favor each other so that makes the novel and the real world seem to be parallel in some respects.  Susan begins to see this novel as a revenge tale written by her ex about her betrayal in their marriage.   

So how does the story end, in real time and the novel?  The Travelling Toe is not a spoiler so you will just have to find our for yourself.  

This is not a movie for everyone.  There is violence, some nudity and bad language, so be aware.  Tom does a great job of building the suspense of what is going to happen next using music, loud heart beats and other sounds that escalate, then soften, then escalate. 


CAST:

Amy Adams
Susan Morrow

Armie Hammer
Hutton Morrow

Jake Gyllenhaal
Edward Sheffield (real world)
Tony Hastings (novel)

Isla Fisher
Laura Hastings

Ellie Bamber
India Hastings

Michael Shannon
Detective Bobby Anders

Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Ray Marcus

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 2 middle toes up with a map of West Texas cause you just might not have GPS or Cell reception way out yonder!

Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.

"Mannheim Steamroller" at Bass Hall

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER
at Bass Hall

It was just 5 days after Christmas but The Travelling Toe and Dear Friend were still in the festive mood.  We were so lucky to be able to attend the 32nd annual Christmas tour of Mannheim Steamroller presented at Bass Hall In Fort Worth.  It is possible that the Angels that adorn Bass Hall also joined in the music program by playing their trumpets !!  One never knows for sure!!!

Bass Hall

We have seen several of their shows and Dear Friend admitted that she had all their CD's. The Travelling also must admit her personal collection is growing too.

Mannheim Steamroller has 2 touring groups and the ensemble we saw was the Red Tour Cast.  We saw some familiar faces on stage.

The first part of the program was devoted to all Christmas music, both secular and sacred. All the selections played were excellent but a few favorites were:

                                       We Three Kings

                                       O Tannenbaum

                                        Faeries from "The Nutcracker"

The first half of the program ended with a lovely rendition of "O Holy Night".

After a short intermission, the orchestra took stage and opened the second half with "Hallelujah". Then, an interesting rendition of "Greensleeves" followed.  The next seven selections played were from the Fresh Aire experience. The program closed with other Christmas favorites and ended with the "Carol of the Bells".  

Ovations were given and the players took center stage again to play several more songs.

Just a side note - the two percussion players were working all the time and not just playing the drums as they played other instruments as well.  Additionally the oboe player was excellent!

What a glorious night!!!!  We thoroughly enjoyed the performance!!!!  Hope they return to Fort Worth!! 

"Passengers" (movie critique)

PASSENGERS
movie poster

The Friday Movie Mavens and The Travelling Toe hit the local multiplex to see the sci-fi movie "Passengers".  

This movie is about long term space travel and what can happen while you are sleeping in suspended animation, awaiting to be awoken many years in the future to homestead on a new planet. However, Jim a passenger on the spaceship "Avalon", accidentally wakes up early.  It takes a while for him to come to gripes with his situation.  But he takes advantage of all the privileges that the spaceship offers, including the bar. There he finds Arthur an android bartender who provides a listening ear and words of wisdom - or are they?  After over a year alone on the spaceship another passenger, Aurora, wakes up. Jim helps Aurora adapt to the new norm and they form a close relationship and eventually fall in love with each other. But Jim is hiding a secret and if he tells Aurora she can never forgive him. Little by little the spaceship starts to malfunction and Jim is unable to locate the problem.  By chance a crew member, Gus Mancuso, accidentally wakes up  and he helps Jim determine the cause of the problem.  But can Jim fix the malfunction in time to save Aurora, the space ship, the passengers and crew members? Well, Dear Readers, you will just have to see this movie yourself to find out.

The Travelling Toe must admit that Michael Sheen as the android bartender was delightful!


CAST:

Chris Pratt
Jim

Jennifer Lawrence
Aurora

Michael Sheen
Arthur

Laurence Fishburne
Gus Mancuso

The Travelling Toe awards this movie 2 middle toes up with your own hibernation pod just in case you want to explore space yourself!

Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.