Prayer for the French Republic
PRAYER FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC by Joshua Harmon directed by David Cromer: Joshua Harmon doesn’t just write plays; he makes theater. That may not be apparent at first in this Broadway transfer at the Friedman (Broadway’s most comfortable and accessible theater). The play opens with a long monolog expertly delivered by Anthony Edwards, who, according to one patron, now dabbles in acting. It’s followed by a lengthy dialog scene in which his sister (Betsy Aidem), a prominent Jewish psychiatrist living in Paris, meets a distant American cousin (Molly Ranson) doing a year-long study abroad. The language is witty, with humor based strongly in character. Then it takes off visually when Aidem’s more devout son (Aria Shahghasemi) comes in bloodied after being attacked by antisemites. That sets up the play’s central question: where can Jews feel safe. Harmon contrasts this with scenes involving Aidem’s great grandparents, who stayed in Paris during the war, and the return of their son and grandson (Aidem and Edwards’ father) from Poland, where other family members died in the camps. It’s hard to believe such a serious topic could generate so much humor, but Harmon has a keen sense of character, so he knows how to mine the family members’ foibles and inconsistencies. But he also knows when it’s time to get serious, and there are some shocking, electric family fights. He and Kromer have also created some striking stage images, many built around the modern family’s observance of Shabbat, Hanukkah and Passover. There are a lot of monologues, but this isn’t death by monologue. They’re all earned and beautifully performed. The great grandmother’s (Nancy Robinette) celebration of the fact that she survived the war brings the house down. The entire ensemble is terrific, though it was a revelation to see Richard Masur on stage in a a role I’d never have imagined him playing.
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Alone in the still unfinished house in Washington, Rachel has turned on the television set. And as she switches channels, everything she sees seems to be an echo of her own dilemma.
Heartburn, Mike Nichols (1986)
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Encino Man (1992)
This is a Movie Health Community evaluation. It is intended to inform people of potential health hazards in movies and does not reflect the quality of the film itself. The information presented here has not been reviewed by any medical professionals.
Encino Man has one brief scene showing a music video on a TV with rapidly-changing images, creating a moderate strobe effect for a few seconds.
There is a brief scene using some disorienting camera angles to depict confusion, including a moderately-shaky POV shot. The camera shakes violently during earthquakes. One montage intercuts shots on board a roller coaster. Outside of these brief moments, all of the camera work is either stationary or very smooth.
Flashing Lights: 2/10. Motion Sickness: 4/10.
TRIGGER WARNING: There is violent schoolyard bullying throughout the film. One scene depicts aggressive gaslighting of parents by a child. There is a brief joke about suicide, and one homophobic slur. During a dinner scene, as a disgusted reaction, a man spits into a napkin, which may be a suppressed urge to vomit.
Image ID: A promotional poster for Encino Man
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Now showing on my Spooktober Filmfest...It (1990) on glorious vintage VHS 📼! #movie #movies #horror #it #stephenkingsit #stephenking #pennywise #pennywisetheclown #timcurry #sethgreen #tonydakota #EmilyPerkins #BrandonCrane #AdamFaraizl #OliviaHussey #dennischristopher #RichardMasur #annetteotoole #RIPHarryAnderson #HarryAnderson #johnritter #ripjohnritter #jonathanbrandis #ripjonathanbrandis #richardthomas #vintage #vhs #90s #spooktober #halloween #october
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HEARTBURN (1986)
Grade: C-
The lead acting saves it from being dull. I thought a Mike Nichols film will have more depth. The set design was very plain as well.
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W A T C H I N G
My mom is having a real ball with this movie.😂😅
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Heaven’s Gate
directed by Michael Cimino, 1980
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