“Mamma Mia!” - Here we go again!
Ok, so I agree that the film loses something in its translation from the wildly successful stage musical - specifically, the direction is overrun with close-ups, so we lose the panoramic experience of group joy in the dance scenes (and this movie is about joy and simple happiness); also, it’s more difficult to just stand up and dance in a movie theatre, especially when the music is recorded, and not live.
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. What a wonderful ode to simplistic, joyful, “in the moment” fantasy living that creates new realities and new opportunities. The music of Abba has been panned over the decades for being fluff pop with pitiful lyrics. But, let me ask you to reconsider. There is a reason these songs stick in your mind and don’t let go. I just have to say “Money, money, money” and you think “it’s a rich man’s world”; I say “Voulez-vous” and you think “ain’t no big decision” and throw in an “a-ha”. My point is that these songs are melodiously extremely inventive and have hidden harmonies that make you feel good as you hear them. You want to bounce up and down - and that is what this movie is about.
It’s also about living in the “NOW” moment, taking risks, being spontaneous, and hence enjoying life. And this is where the lyrics of the Abba songs come in - they might seem like fluff but that is because we are trying to over-intellectualize them. Sometimes messages are simple. The movie begins with Sophie on the threshold of her wedding sends out missives to three men her mother Donna (the amazing, is-there-anything-she-can’t-do Meryl Streep) slept with over one summer, any of whom could be her father. Sophie sings to a starlit sky, “I have a dream, a fantasy…if you see the wonder of a fairty tale…you could take the future, even if it fails”. She is setting the stage for the themes (yes, themes!) of the movie. In the fantasy world the movie creates, you create your future by believing in a positive reality and acting from your heart at the right moment. When Julie Walters comically sings “Take a chance on me”, she is taking a risk, putting herself out there, but without her asking and imagining this future, the man she fancies (the excellent Stellan Skarsgard) will never consider it. The follow up lyrics to “Voulez-vous” are “ain’t no big decision” because indeed we shouldn’t over-think our positions but act spontaneously to generate happiness. Without revealing plot details, let me just say that because of spontaneous (and surprising) decisions both Sophie and Donna make about marriage in the final scenes of the movie, they set the stage for their own happiness.
I now have to talk about the amazing turn I witnessed by Meryl Streep that had goosebumps flowing through my body. Some critics just don’t get it, wondering why an actress famous for her flawless character studies and accents would take on such a frivolous role. Well, because to play Donna like Streep does is pretty damn hard. Her accents come through in her beautiful singing voice - she actually uses the different pitches and keys in her voice as she sings Abba to suggest depths of character and waves of emotion. Her body and physicality expresss as much as her face. And she looks beautiful and radiant at 59. Streep makes the movie work - the audience is transfixed on her (although the director does try and upstage her by giving her goofy sight directions to mimic some of the lyrics).
At the movie’s closing credits, Streep, in platform shoes and an Abba 70’s costume leads the cast in two final concert songs - she is having the time of her life and so should we! Her courage to let herself go and dramatically reinvent the Abba musical should be an inspiration to us to live our lives in the “NOW” and take risks; to have fun and enjoy ourselves!
“Beppe” has come a long way
An underperformer over the last year, Beppe surprised us with food that was delicious and playful. I started with a sausage and beans specials which was amazingly tasty and much better than it sounds. P. really enjoyed his halibut (picture 1) and the fries (picture 2) which pretty much disappeared before you knew it (notice the hand in the picture). A. had the lamb, and it was apparently fantastic. Both A. and M. had the minestrone soup which they were extolling, although I find it hard to believe that minestrone can be anything other than boring. My pork dish was good (picture 3) but a bit disappointing in that the spring onions had been replaced with potatoes - when I pointed this out, the waitress was apologetic and got the spring onions on the side! M. had ravioli as a main, which she loved.
Although overshadowed by Tamarind next door (where P. and I once sighted Julia Roberts), Beppe is coming into its own. Recommended.
A singular experience at “One Market” in San Francisco
A wonderul, leisurely lunch at “One Market” in SF seems to justify the Michelin star the restaurant received this year. The restaurant, overlooking the Ferry Building is a handsome one, with floor to ceiling glass windows allowing diners to look at the bustiling scene outside. The place was packed, as they were having a special - all wines on the menu for half price (and they have a fantastic list!) We ended up having a wonderful California Chardonnay, which was appropriate to the mood and place.
I had a great seasonal soup (picture 1) followed by a vibrant fish dish. P. had crabcakes and an assortment of fresh vegetable (picture 2), which included chickpea fries! I cannot eulogize enough about the chocolate dessert (picture 3) - it was simply mindblowing.
Highly recommended for a visit next time you are in SF.
Smiling, happy people at “Blue Smoke”
“Blue Smoke”, a relative veteran in the recent barbecue restaurant trend in Manhattan, is a breezy, popular east-side restaurant on 27th street, that was bustling with beautiful people happy to be eating ribs, drinking beer and enjoying their summer (on a weekday).
The calamari appetizer (picture 1) was unusual in that the crust had a spicy twist which was delicious - also, the pieces were crisp, dry and not oily at all. The wings (picture 2) were absolute delicious. I only wish we got more. I was in a non-meat mood, so I had the salmon (I know, I know at a barbecue restaurant, what’s up with that); but, I have to say, the fish, on a bed of summer pea puree, and surrounded by healthy artichokes and baby carrots (picture 4), was one of the more refreshing salmon entrees I have had in what has become the ubiquitous necessity dish on most Manhattan menus (like steak or a burger).
Visit “Blue Smoke”, smile and be happy.
A sultry night at “Azul Bistro”
The cool summer breeze flitted through the open windowed-doors as we ate a refreshing Argentinian bistro meal at Azul Bistro, a LES hangout with a definite casual, downtown vibe that makes you crest.
I was out for dinner with P., L., and H., and we were all blown away with the great dining experience we had. The openness of the restaurant and the coolness of the night had something to do with it. So did the food. We had appetizers for the table that included sweetbreads, baby octopus and eggplant stuffed with goat cheese. All were delectable; P. had a hard time sharing the eggplant!
For main courses, L. had the lamb chops (picture 1), and enjoyed them. H. and I had the hanger steak (picture 2), a wonderfully moist piece of meat surrounded by crisp, salty fries and salad, all to be dipped in a garlicky chimichurri sauce. The steak did not feel heavy at all. P., unfortunately did not like his trout entree too much (picture 3) - he felt it was too bland, in spite of the salt crust; but, then P. generally does not like trout, so I am not sure why he ordered it!
But, the desserts made him happy. The molten chocolate cake was oozing chocolaty goodness, and we all dove in (picture 4). The caramel dessert was also good (picture 5).
We’ve been going here for a few years now, and are glad to report that Azul Bistro has maintained very high standards - it’s on Stanton and Suffolk in the Lower East Side.
Italian classics at pre-theatre veteran “Bello”
Bello, a traditional pre-theatre Italian on 9th and 56th is a solid, satisfying option before a Broadway show.
Both of my dishes were excellent, suggesting the truth that although in Manhattan we always look for the latest chef and the best new dishes, sometimes old flavor combinations have survived for a reason.
My appetizer was a very simple prosciutto and melon plate with cracked black pepper and lemon (picture 1). This dish has been around for ages - but for a reason: the sweet melon interacts with the salty, lemony prosciutto to create a nutritious, delicious harmony. Sometimes simple dishes are the most satisfying.
My entree was Chicken Marsala - again, probably available at hundreds of Italinan restaurants in Manhattan and around the world. But, when properly executed, as it was here, the rich sauce bubbling with tasty mushrooms around a perfectly tender, succulent piece of chicken is classic, non-carb comfort food (picture 2).
I was pleasantly surprised at my Bello experience.
Visceral “Spring Awakening”
The usually barren post-Tony summer theatre season in New York is a great time to catch up on shows from prior years that have had great success and are still running.
The intimate, powerful, stirring 2007 Best New Musical Tony winner, Spring Awakening is a great bet. The show, adapted from a story about teenage angst in late 19th century Germany in a society which represses sexuality and individual expression, is an amazing blend of rock, intimate singing and raw energy. The theatre is small, so the audience very much feels that they are a part of this soul baring that is happening on stage. I felt the audience members around me reacting, clapping almost every five minutes. There was electricity in the air.
The show combines witty dialog with great music, vocals and strong performances by Alexandra Socha as Wendla, the girl who dying (literally) to express her sexuality, and Blake Bashoff as the effervescent, wild, spike-haired Moritz. Alexandra’s performance is especially noteworthy as her sinuous physicality echoes her plaintive songs and her face expresses depth of emotion that might rival Meryl Streep!
The story about societal repression is certainly applicable today - it might not be sexuality in present day U.S. (although certainly sex and sexuality are repressed in so many parts of the developing world); but the show is a metaphor for how conservative elements in society cause harm by repressing free spirits they don’t understand. We can laugh at how silly it seems that the German adults in the show are alarmed at adolescent hormones, but the point the show wants to make is that what seems crazy today might be perfectly normal a few decades from now. So if a social conservative rails against specific “out-of-the-box” behaviour, the world might be laughing at the stupidity of this person a few years later.
My one complaint about the show is that the staging of the one gay love scene is set up for laughs, as the boys act overly effeminate, playing into stereotypes. Although the scene adds comic relief, perhaps another, more serious scene to balance the comic one out would have been a clearer depiction of gay sexuality.
See it - one of the best shows on Broadway!
“Olives” redeems itself
After a bad experience at Olives last year, P. and I stayed away till last night. Friends had told us that the new chef at this restaurant at the W Union Sqaure was much improved and back to its former glory.
And we had an exceptional experience! The food was delicious and surprising in the flavour combinations. I started with a Spanish mackerel special which was paired with juicy watermelon and cole slaw (pictured above). The combination was unusual and quite satisfying: the rich mackerel was given a light undertone by the watermelon, while the coleslaw brought the ocean and land together via comfort food. This is obviously a thinking chef who is not afraid to experiment. They also make wonderful flatbread pizzas - P. had one and thoroughly enjoyed it. For the main course, I had a Mahi Mahi dish with lentils and carrots - it was, again, delicious.
The service was solicitious - in fact, the chef sent over a complimentary mid-course pasta dish (spaghetti with cuttlefish) for each of us which was simple, yet very satisfying.
Glad to have another quality restaurant in the Flatiron/Gramercy neighbourhood.
See Wall-e!
What a fantastic movie for kids and adults! Wall-e, the cute, insouciant, futuristic robot hero in this movie has a heart of gold and courage to boot. He encounters a new robot, Eva, on a deserted planet earth piled high with vertical towers of trash. Eva, programmed to search and destroy, is initially resistant to Wall-e’s romantic selfless love that rhapsodizes the holding of hands or dancing. Most of this part of the movie is without dialogue, but instead punctuated with expressive robot sounds (think of R2D2 and C3PO in the original Star Wars). The plot moves forward when Wall-e follows Eva to a remote spaceship where humanity is marooned in a self-contained, somnambulent isolation. I won’t reveal more except to say that integrity and a courage to change the world against all odds win the day. What a great message for kids. Take them - they’ll love it!