August Favorites

Love, Antosha: This film makes it clear that Anton Yelchin was a special, gifted, and bright young man who had a profound effect on anyone who knew him. As I watched this film, I was reminded of the meditation sessions I attended last year and the timeless lesson that it's important to do things with intention. No matter what challenges life hands you, it's always possible to find purpose and happiness in the finite time we are all given. Director Garret Prices sums it up well in an article from Vulture: "The audience is not only learning about Anton and all his work, but it’s a very self-reflective film. People start questioning how they’re spending their time here on earth. Living life to the fullest, he was the definition of that.” I couldn't agree more.

The Peanut Butter Falcon: This is a very sweet film that blends personal journeys with physical journeys. All three lead actors -- Zack Gottsagen, Shia LaBeouf, and Dakota Johnson -- give deeply felt performances. Gottsagen (and Zak, the character he plays) has Down Syndrome, and while this does factor into the plot, it is not central to who his character is, nor is it central to how the other characters treat him. Rather, he is simply a young man who is unhappy with his circumstances and sets out to change them. LaBeouf is excellent as a man working through his own issues, who warms up to Zak's infectious optimism and belief that anything is possible. LaBeouf and Johnson have surprisingly good chemistry, and the three main characters make a compelling and likable "family" of their own choosing. Ultimately The Peanut Butter Falcon is an uplifting story that captures the unique and authentic atmosphere of the Outer Banks, via a bit of Southern Gothic, a hint of Twain, and a pinch of Conroy.

Tuxedo III, Tuxedo: On their last album, Tuxedo  thought it would be better the second time around, but I am here to say that the third time is definitely the charm. With Mayer Hawthorne and Jake One as the brains behind the funktastic magic that is Tuxedo, it's really no surprise that each new album is better than the last, but they've truly exceeded themselves on Tuxedo III with songs like "On a Good One", "If U Want It", "Extra Texture", "You & Me", and "Vibrations." The only bad thing about this album is that it's way too short, so I have to give it at least two spins every time I listen to it.

Moulin Rouge! The Musical: This musical is far from perfect, but it is so much damn fun! From the minute you walk into the theatre and are surrounded by fairly lights, a red windmill, and a huge blue elephant, you are transported to a vibrant, magical version of the Paris of Baz Luhrmann's fever dreams that we all know so well. My main issues with the show are (a) the first act is much better than the second; (b) they used part of "Gimme Shelter," which is such a dark song, and did not create the right vibe for anyone familiar with the lyrics to the entire song; and (c) that while Karen Olivo has a fantastic voice (her version of "Diamonds Are Forever" is right up there with Shirley Bassey's), I did not for one minute believe that she was delicate or consumptive. But let's be real: no one else can embody the star-crossed chemistry of Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, so I went in not expecting this stage musical to be anything like the classic movie that I used to watch so much that I wrote a paper about it for my college film class. That being said, if you don't compare the musical too closely to the film, and just enjoy the music, it's hard not to have a good time while bopping along to songs like "So Fresh, So Clean," "Royals," "Shut Up and Dance With Me," "Raise Your Glass," "Bad Romance," and a mash-up of "Crazy" with "Rolling In The Deep" that works much better than it should. I was also delighted by the one line of "Never Gonna Give You Up" that makes a quick little cameo. For a music geek such as myself, the number of song snippets packed into this show was delightful. This is a show I wouldn't mind seeing again if a friend wanted to go, but it's not one that I would go out of my way to see a second time on my own (mainly because Aaron Tveit doesn't even rate on the list of actors I adore).

Lenny Kravitz at Radio City Music Hall: The last time I saw Lenny Kravitz was back in 2006 when he was opening for Aerosmith. I've always liked Lenny Kravitz and his music, but never got super into him until I picked up Raise Vibration, the album that he released last year. I really connected with this album and thought it would be fun to see him in concert. I lucked out and got a seventh row seat at Radio City, so seeing this show was like being inside the music. No matter if it's a rock anthem like "Fly Away," "American Woman," and "Are You Gonna Go My Way" or a slow jam like "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over," "Can't Get You Off My Mind," and "Low," Lenny's songs are full of passion, vibrancy, and positive energy. He believes in beauty and the power of love, which he sends out though his music and his words. Named after his most recent album, this show was part of the Raise Vibration Tour, and that's exactly what this show did. It's one of the few shows this year that allowed me to fully get lost in the music and forget about all the stresses of my world outside the venue for a full two hours.