dirac

I also cast my vote for Pavlova. I haven't seen the footage in years, but I remember it as extraordinary - she really seemed to die right in front of you. It was spooky. Thank you for that vivid recollection, FauxPas.

Yup, it's true: This Variety review gives an idea of how the adaptation was approached: http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117932225...egoryid=31&cs=1

I agree - I have hopes for this in a way that I certainly didn't for 'Chicago,' which lived up to my low expectations, alas. I was initially put off by the notion of Spacey as Darin, but I went anyway and was glad I did - a very underrated picture. Hadn't heard that Dee had seen it and liked it, but I'm glad to know that.

The buzz on the new movie version of ‘Dreamgirls’ is very good, or so says The New York Observer. http://www.observer.com/20061204/20061204_...coverstory1.asp

I hope people who see this production will report on it. I'm reading the reviews with great interest.

Well.....I wouldn’t go that far. Buyouts and departures are happening all over the industry, but I doubt that the Times would eliminate the position of chief dance critic. I wasn’t crazy about the choice of Rockwell and look with hope toward his successor, but the paper still sends Rockwell out to Oregon to review PNB and elsewhere to review other regional companies, and there’s also Kourlas, Dunning, et al., as backup. The appointment of Rockwell always had a kind of interim feel in any case. (I can’t imagine it was his dream job.)

His tenure has been brief, true. Well, I imagine it's a tough gig in some ways, even if it is the Times.

Thanks, sandik. Perhaps the anthology is in the nature of a summing-up; Rockwell plans to leave The New York Times at the end of the year.

I forgot to add the "Tanner" series for cable starring Michael Murphy, Pamela Reed, and a very young Cynthia Nixon. Some of the best work he ever did, IMO, with a powerful assist from Garry Trudeau.

Sad news. He was one of those actors you greet like an old friend. Another obit.

I have to differ a little, I’m afraid. The only Altman movie that I really love is ‘McCabe and Mrs. Miller.’ (Others I like: ‘Thieves Like Us,” “Short Cuts”) For some of the others I have admiration combined with mixed feelings, and of course no director as prolific as Altman is going to avoid stuffing a few turkeys. “M*A*S*H” has fallen from critical favor somewhat in recent years but it still looks remarkably good and the things that were fresh about it when it first came out are still striking. Thanks for the comments, everyone - keep them coming!

He's like a master juggler, keeping so many things in the air at once. (However, there were times when this virtuosity seemed like not much more than a superior form of traffic management - I'm thinking specifically of "A Wedding" - with not much to show for it in the end.)

I agree (although I'll read the new one, of course). However, I suppose neither of the earlier books could be characterized as definitive in spite of the bloat that afflicted both volumes IMO, so there may be more to be said.

An obituary for Robert Altman, who has died at age 81.

I remember that interview well. The expression on Sills' face was priceless; that was obviously not her line of thought!

Why stop there? 'Mayerling," anyone? I try to avoid making little 'remarks' in the Links, but I couldn't restrain myself today.

Sacha Baron Cohen’s casting as Pirelli is confirmed. http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=540616 Off the top of my head, I recall that Logan wrote The Aviator and The Last Samurai -- interesting prep for ST. I wonder how close they’ll stay to Hugh Wheeler’s book. (How close should or can they stay? Opinions?)

Thanks -- I didn't know that! papeetepatrick writes: She was especially good in 'Safe,' IMO, and she was an interesting contrast to Jodie Foster as Clarice in 'Hannibal.'

Thank you for the review, atm711. I've never seen a live production of one of Hare's plays, but they make fine reading. Elia Kazan said that as a rule he didn’t like working with movie stars in the theatre because they were either unschooled in voice projection or unpracticed in it. (He was reluctant to cast Deborah Kerr in ‘Tea and Sympathy’ for that reason, but she was excellent as it turned out.) The reviews of Julia Roberts in her recent Broadway debut also indicated that she had trouble making herself heard. If this role is as long and taxing as it sounds, that may be a factor as well. It’s a different set of skills. Also, Moore has theatre experience, but it’s not her basic training – she started out in the soaps. I like her a lot, too, even in movies I don’t much care for. She hasn’t had much luck lately (and she’s in her forties, that dangerous time for female movie stars). Maybe she’ll improve as the run continues. How was Bill Nighy, atm711?

Yes, that's right. ViolinConcerto, perhaps the book you're thinking of is Gennady Smakov's book 'Great Russian Dancers,' which has a section devoted to Ivanova?

Yes, ‘compared to whom’ is an important consideration here. Moira Shearer, who was raised in a musical family and I think played the piano herself, although I’d have to double check, said that during rehearsals of ‘Ballet Imperial’ Balanchine was not satisfied with how the pianist in rehearsal was playing it, and he sat down at the instrument himself and demonstrated just how he wanted the passage done. Shearer was greatly impressed. Perhaps Milberg meant something like that. (Too bad Tallchief wasn't pressed to elaborate.)

Thank you for the link, ViolinConcerto - great reading. I’m looking forward to reading her book, too. I’m a little confused, though, about the ‘griping’ she mentions in the recollections of others?? There’s Gelsey Kirkland’s book, of course, but apart from her most of what I’ve read about Balanchine that I can think of offhand has been at the very least respectful. (Edward Villella had some things to say, but I’d not call them gripes, exactly.) Many if not most have been highly protective of the man and his memory.

I plan to go if I can but the one theatre that's showing it is playing it at 10:00 pm only. Normally I wouldn't be deflected by this, but the theatre's not too close by. I'm hoping it runs through this weekend and I can catch it Friday or Saturday. If I do I will report back.

I think you're correct about music rights. Securing rights to songs is a major roadblock, and not only for DVD releases. Overall, the series is a Good Thing IMO, for all the reasons mentioned by miliosr above. It's true that some people may get the wrong idea, but those who are inspired to look into the matter a little further will soon find that out.

Thanks for the tip, carbro -- it was a good interview and I hadn't seen it before. This piece in Slate focuses on Styron’s book on his experience with depression, ‘Darkness Visible.’ Apparently Styron was devoting most of his time in later years to talking about depression and helping fellow sufferers. I knew he had done that kind of thing but didn’t realize the scope of his activities.