Cinematically, Yours
This Week’s Movie Reviews
Tanya & Brandi

As with opera and oysters, I never learned to appreciate country music. But I sure love THE RETURN OF TANYA TUCKER: FEATURING BRANDI CARLILE. The genuine reverence that Carlile feels for Tucker is palpable, and that's what lies at the heart of this profoundly moving portrait of two down-to-earth artists who find friendship through music. And the Starlight Room is the perfect place to share in their creative collaboration. "A fittingly unconventional portrait of a nonconformist." -Hollywood Reporter. [The film] "is about listening to great music getting made by two women representing two generations of country music...who genuinely seem to respect each other." -Washington Post

     And the great music continues this weekend with the live simulcast of LA TRAVIATA from the Metropolitan Opera. Soprano Nadine Sierra, in her role debut is a force of nature as the self-sacrificing courtesan Violetta - one of opera's ultimate heroines - in Michael Mayer's vibrant production of Verdi's beloved tragedy. [Sierra's] "performance set the benchmark high." -NY Classical Review

     One of my favorite concert movies - CONCERT FOR GEORGE - plays one-night-only, Tuesday, November 29th. It marks the 20th anniversary of the original concert at Royal Albert Hall celebrating the life and music of George Harrison. The incredible line-up includes Paul McCartney, Ringo Star, Sam Brown, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Jeff Lynne, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, and a beautiful set by Ravi and Anoushka Shankar. "The sweet, solemn music of George Harrison...has rarely sounded more majestic." -New York Times. Tickets are now on sale.

     Emilia Clarke (GAME OF THRONES) makes her West End debut in THE SEAGULL, a stirring 21st century retelling of Anton Chekhov's tale of love and loneliness. We present two showings: Saturday 11/12, and Sunday 11/20. "Emilia Clarke is irresistible." -Time Out"Brave, compelling and powerful." -Guardian"Another revelatory revival from Jamie Lloyd." -Financial Times

     This year we handed out 775 bags of popcorn at the annual Halloween Kiddie Parade. It's one of my favorite events of the year. What always impresses me is how polite the kids are; every one of them saying "thank you." In an era when civility is waning, it was one of those, I'm-glad-I-live-here moments.

Cinematically Yours,
Rocky