You only ever see your own life fully. We are ignorant of any moment, large or small, that occurs beyond our limited eyesight. It is a breadth of ignorance too enormous to ever be acknowledged. There are billions of human lives, living and dying, and we can only feel one. Yet, inevitably, those other lives will push and pull on our own. Collisions between lives, then, are unexpected. You will never know who is significant until your self-centered perspective, so carefully cultivated, is in shambles all around you. In the film Parasite, the Kim family hope to use that same egocentric, obliviousness to trick the rich Park family and climb up the economic ladder. But they are, after all, subject to that same blindness. The collision between the two families, then, is a fascinating one, even more so because of the director and writer of the film, Bong Joon-Ho (Snowpiercer). Parasite is currently showing at the State Theatre. Tickets can be bought online or at the box office ($8.50 with a student ID).
REVIEW: The Lighthouse
A24’s newest film follows two lighthouse keepers in 1890s New England. Director Robert Eggers chose to shoot with vintage cameras and a constricted aspect ratio, all in black and white. To further enhance the setting, Eggers took great care to ensure all of the dialogue was period-accurate. As a result, the audience truly feels like they are on the island with the two characters. The Lighthouse is unique in the sense that it is more about the viewing experience rather than its technical elements.
That being said, while the film successfully brought the audience into the story, it was almost too successful. As the film progresses, the characters spiral more and more into madness, and it is easy to feel lost and overwhelmed. The film feels stagnant while Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe spout pure lunacy at each other and envision inexplicable and disturbing images. It is clear that the characters are developing more and more towards insanity, but it feels like the story is not progressing at all.
The issue with the pacing and plot development largely arises from the fact that the film is very predictable. Dafoe’s character often speaks in cryptic superstitions and warnings that are actually not at all cryptic, instead laying out what will happen in the film. The viewer knows exactly in what direction the story will progress, but it takes the film a while to build up to the climax. The viewer is left feeling restless and impatient, and the just-under-two-hour runtime feels much, much longer.
Simply put, watching The Lighthouse is exhausting. I personally would rather be exhausted by a film because I was emotionally invested in it rather than because I was also being driven towards hysteria. Still, it is very impressive that Robert Eggers was able to craft such an engaging and enthralling experience. Both Dafoe and Pattinson give masterful performances as well, as Dafoe expertly weaves comedy with authority and intensity. He starts at 100%, and ends at 100%. On the other hand, Pattinson starts with a more subtle performance, one that hints at an edge to his character. It is how he is able to underplay what is deep inside his character that makes the moment when his character snaps so enrapturing.
Ultimately, The Lighthouse is not for everyone, but I would still recommend seeing it. It is a very unique kind of experience, and it would be a shame to miss out on it.
REVIEW: Westbound Situation Album Release
This past monday, the Ark stage was brought to life by a new, young chambergrass group called Westbound Situation. The quartet, comprised of Grant Flick on violin, viola, mandolin, and nyckelharpa (ooooh), Matt Davis on banjo, Zach Brown on cello and Jacob Warren on bass, released their first album titled “Pilot.” The eleven track album features ten new compositions and one cover, a jazz big band piece titled “Kogi.”
The band laid down the album for the first half of the show, starting with “Griffin,” one of Grant Flick’s compositions. I found myself grooving with the chops and I still have the opening melody stuck in my head (it also probably does not help that I have not been able to stop listening to this album since Monday). Their tunes were charming but full of layers that combined to create a full sound. There was not too much chatting between numbers, but Zach did elaborate on the story behind “Upstairs Coffee,” a tune inspired by poor insulation, buckets and friendship;)
For the second half, the band played some new tunes they had recently worked up, and Grant brought out the nyckelharpa which he described as, “a viola… only not.” They also invited Kristen Engebretson, singer, to join them for a number on stage. Her voice was sultry and warm and balanced well with the band. After a standing ovation, the group came out for an encore. They chose “Nocturne,” one of the only slower tracks on the album. The contrast from the upbeat tunes beforehand made the concert that much more intimate and was a sweet send off.
Westbound charmed the audience with their natural charisma and stage presence. They are a group that truly enjoys themselves when they play. It was almost like they were in their own musical world, inviting us in for an hour or two to share the experience with them. The crowd, huddled into the middle of the seating area to get the best view of all four musicians, was very involved, cheering at tune changes and impressive improv (which there was a lot of!!!) It truly seemed like they were just friends making music for the fun of it, and as an audience member, I enjoyed watching them interact and perform.
Westbound’s album is released and available for purchase on bandcamp as well as streamable on spotify.
Links are below:
Artist Website:
https://www.westboundsituation.com/
Artist Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0UwUiw5AEUiYcB6ELJR025?si=EkRKfXLXSLaQ_rchWRoMbQ
Purchase Album:
PREVIEW: Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a movie first released in 2001 about the life of a German emigrant living in a trailer in Kansas. She is the victim of a botched sex-change operation, and the movie follows her, as an “internationally ignored” rock singer, as she searches for stardom, and maybe even love.
The movie originated as a Broadway musical, and was eventually translated into film. John Cameron Mitchell starred in and wrote the musical, and he also stars in and directed the movie as well. I have always had this musical on my bucket list, especially after Darren Criss became the star. And if I can’t see the musical, the movie is the next best option!
Hedwig and the Angry Inch is playing at the State Theater on Friday (Nov. 8) and Saturday (Nov. 9) at 10 pm.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p9mPhGo1j0
Friday tickets: https://secure.michtheater.org/websales/pages/TicketSearchCriteria.aspx?evtinfo=647021~c76be4f4-22b5-4bed-a89c-7def863b8c53&
Saturday Tickets: https://secure.michtheater.org/websales/pages/TicketSearchCriteria.aspx?evtinfo=647022~c76be4f4-22b5-4bed-a89c-7def863b8c53&
Just a side note: This movie is rated R for sexual content and language.
PREVIEW: Department of Jazz Showcase
Tired of the relentless droning on of the work week? Can’t quite wait for the weekend to release yourself from monotony’s cruel grip?
Then head on down to the Blue Llama Jazz Club tomorrow, Thursday, November 7, at 7-10pm to witness a spectacular performance by Michigan students and faculty of the Department of Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation! The group will be showcasing both their own compositions and classic jazz songs by some of the old greats.
The cover is free with the purchase of food or drink, though there will be a spot on the check for you to offer a tip for the night’s entertainers. Show up when the mood strikes, or stay for the whole evening. Due to the popularity of the establishment, it is recommended that you make a reservation ahead of time, which can be done here: https://www.bluellamaclub.com/event/u-m-school-of-music-jazz-showcase-2?fbclid=IwAR1Wo3BvqFEDqP5g_F6bYudYogisFpNsWsv9ET2nayrF5ZudCzUwTdZeLLQ
Hope to see you there!
REVIEW: Ann Arbor Symphony – Liszt & Tchaikovsky
The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra’s Saturday evening performance at the Michigan Theater was a musical tour de force showcasing a variety of styles and textures.
The concert opened with Wang Jie’s Symphonic Overture on “America, the Beautiful.” A fugue on the iconic patriotic song that evokes “spacious skies,” “amber waves of grain,” and “purple mountains majesty,” Ms. Jie’s rendition is fittingly also inspired by Pike’s Peak. This mountain in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado is the location that inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write the poem that would be set to the tune we know as “America, the Beautiful”. However, Ms. Jie’s composition was quite a contrast from the style of the original tune that was written in 1882 by Samuel A. Ward. It was dynamic, fresh, and very much alive. Although it was short in length, it managed to get a lot across in that short span of time, and as a listener, I enjoyed every minute and was not ready for it to end when it did. Even more of a treat was the fact that Wang Jie was present in the audience, and when she came onstage at the end of the piece, the audience received her with enthusiastic applause.
In the second piece on the program, Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2, soloist Anton Nel dazzled the audience, even garnering calls for an encore, which he obliged to. His playing, which was light and technically brilliant, drew me out of my seat in the hall and into the world of the music for the duration of the piece.
Last on the program was Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64. The orchestra overall was excellent, but it was the solo players that shone through in this piece. I was especially impressed by the clarinets at the very beginning of movement 1, the Andante – although they were playing as a pair for most of the time, their blend was such that they sounded like a single instrument. Furthermore, the solo horn in the second movement was exquisite.
The Ann Arbor Symphony’s concert, entitled “Liszt and Tchaikovsky,” was one not to be missed. At the end of a stressful week, it was the musical escape that I needed
