Dizzy Gillespie & Charlie Parker – Town Hall, New York City, June 22, 1945 (2005)

Apr 06, 2007 by Mr. Nau A watershed moment in the history of music happened when Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker got together to perform this new musical style they’d invented, called “bebop.” This astonishing recording from 1945, lost for 60 years and only recently remastered, is a spectacular outing that warrants lots of repeated […]

Pleasantville (1998)

Apr 06, 2007 by Mr. Nau Two modern day teenagers magically find themselves in a sitcom set in the 50s in this unexpectedly beautiful fantasy. The use of color as a metaphor for changing times is endemic throughout and the quaint world is richly imagined and competently created. Great acting performances make this an unforgettable […]

3-Iron (2004)

Apr 04, 2007 by Mr. Nau Korean director, Kim Ki-duk, crafts a beautiful story about a guy who squats in the homes of random strangers and meets the abused wife of one of these strangers. A spectacularly envisioned film, this masterpiece features two unforgettable central characters who never speak a single word to each other. […]

Bobby McFerrin – Spontaneous Inventions (1985)

Apr 04, 2007 by Mr. Nau In terms of sheer vocal technique, it is hard to imagine how anybody could top Bobby McFerrin. This outing is no exception. His dizzying talent for vocal improvisation is on display here. Joining him in this quirky set are names like Manhattan Transfer, Wayne Shorter, and Robin Williams. Grade: […]

The Departed (2006)

Apr 03, 2007 by Mr. Nau This Oscar-winning police drama features an extraordinarily talented cast, a keep-you-guessing story, and a gritty set of characters. Martin Scorsese directs, winning his first Best Director Oscar, a satisfying and complex thriller, full of exciting twists and turns. The middle act lags, but brings us to an unpredictable conclusion. […]

Michael Crichton – Timeline (1999)

Apr 03, 2007 by Mr. Nau Michael Crichton imagines an interesting story, where a group of anthropologists travel back in time to rescue a professor trapped in the 14th century. The exposition takes a while, the action is fast and hard, and the conclusion seems rushed. The characters are realistic and the story is cleverly […]

« go back