Arts

“A Star is Born” explores camp aesthetics

If you had told me that Bradley Cooper, whose last major onscreen role was Iraq veteran Chris Kyle in Clint Eastwood’s aggressively patriotic biopic American Sniper, would direct film’s newest camp classic only four years later, I would have called you crazy. However, Cooper’s A Star is Born, which came to Images Cinema last Friday, is just that – campy, unrealistic and (because of the former) thoroughly enjoyable if you don’t take it seriously.

Arts

Intercollegiate faculty, students convene to discuss “Dance We Must”

This past Saturday, I was invited to attend the 2018 Jacob’s Pillow College Partner Convening, held at the ’62 Center for Theatre and Dance and the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA). The Convening was held as a response to the controversy that has arisen out of WCMA’s exhibition Dance We Must.

Arts

“Colette” tells the novel truth of a controversial French author

Just a few weeks after showing The Wife, Images Cinema has showcased yet another tense character drama revolving around a prodigal young female writer whose talents are stolen by her husband. In a refreshing twist, Colette, based on the true story of French literary legend Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, delivers visceral satisfaction by proving that – in this case at least – a true story can provide a measure of unexpected triumph.

Arts

Plonskser lecture series surveys Cuban artistic production

Last Saturday, musicians Neil Leonard and Miguel Nuñez were joined by multimedia artist Nestor Siré in an unorthodox exploration of Cuban artistic production at home and at large. The event was organized as the annual Plonsker Family Lecture Series in Contemporary Art, established in 1994 by Madeleine Plonsker, Harvey Plonsker ’61 and their son, Ted Plonsker ’86.

Arts

“Microdramas” pushes boundaries

A series of five short plays under the collective title Microdramas premiered last Thursday in the ’62 Center’s Directing Studio, in a sold-out venue on both Friday and Saturday evenings. The featured plays included The Lesson by Eugene Lonesco – a comedic parable of the dangers inherent in indoctrination; 90 Days by Elizabeth Meriwether, which centers on Elliott, whose girlfriend calls to check up on him; 508 by Amy Herzog, in which two ex-lovers meet in the apartment they once shared; Springtime by Fiona Semi, about the complications of memory; and The Moon Please by Diana Son, in which a young married couple argues over who is going to work and who will stay with their newborn baby on the morning of September 11, 2001.

Arts

“Halloween” packs theater, remains just as popular on 40th anniversary

Rebooting classic film franchises has been a Hollywood staple for years, and the Halloween series is about to receive this treatment, with a critically acclaimed sequel on the verge of release. The line out the door at Images two Fridays ago, however, wasn’t for the latest Halloween film, but rather for a limited-run screening of the original 1978 slasher by John Carpenter.