Tag: Keira Knightley

‘The Nutcracker and the Four Realms’ is not as fun as it looks

Jeff Mitchell

“The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” – Santa Claus at the nearest shopping mall, big-box store sales, holiday music, and television broadcasts of “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) and “A Christmas Story” (1983). These are sure things that one can expect at Christmastime each year, and add ballet productions of “The Nutcracker” to this exclusive holiday list.  In fact, Phoenix’s Symphony Hall will host “The Nutcracker” performances beginning on Dec. 13. Get your tickets! On Nov. 2, one can also purchase movie tickets to “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms”,…

‘Colette’ excels as a fresh tale of ‘He said, She wrote’

Jeff Mitchell

“Colette” – The phrase “He said, She said” has pushed to the front of the country’s consciousness during the last week of September, and millions of Americans have staggered to the month’s finish, looking forward to the weekend and October.  Anything to turn the page. Director Wash Westmoreland’s picture is a figurative page-turner about the world-famous writer Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette or Colette (Keira Knightley) in a film defined by a troubled and colorful story of “He said, She wrote.” Opportunities for women at the turn of the 20th century were limited,…

Get musical with three John Carney gems on Netflix

Jeff Mitchell

It is no secret that some of director John Carney’s films own musical themes.  This former bass player from The Frames has carried his musical beat to the big screen, and the transition from stage to movies has been seamless. If you are sitting at home, your toes are a tapping and the wish for a great movie is rushing over you, look no further than Netflix and these Carney gems.  All three pictures are not traditional musicals, but their central themes revolve around music and song.   Oh, after viewing…