Arts

Arts

Interview | Will Forte

December 2

While promoting his new film “Nebraska,” Will Forte took some time to sit down with the Daily and answer questions about the new Alexander Payne drama.

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Arts

TV Review | 'Doctor Who' special honors show's history

By Anjali Nair | December 1

Simulcast in 94 different countries and in more than 1,500 theaters to millions of viewers around the world, the BBC's "Doctor Who" 50th Anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor," was an absolutely spectacular treat for the show's dedicated fans. This record-breaking special has certainly earned its place as one of the greatest science fiction episodes of all time.

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Arts

'Philomena' entertains, tugs at heartstrings

December 1

A film that lionizes and questions religion in the same breath, and moments later, has us cracking up about "effing" Catholics, "Philomena" will undoubtedly leave audiences in tears - tears of profound sadness and from sidesplitting laughter.

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Arts

TV Review | ‘Doctor Who’ special honors show’s history

December 1

Simulcast in 94 different countries and in more than 1,500 theaters to millions of viewers around the world, the BBC’s “Doctor Who” 50th Anniversary special, “The Day of the Doctor,” was an absolutely spectacular treat for the show’s dedicated fans. This record-breaking special has certainly earned its place as one of the greatest science fiction episodes of all time.

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Arts

‘Philomena’ entertains, tugs at heartstrings

December 1

A film that lionizes and questions religion in the same breath, and moments later, has us cracking up about “effing” Catholics, “Philomena” will undoubtedly leave audiences in tears — tears of profound sadness and from sidesplitting laughter.

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Arts

'Catching Fire' is compelling, entertaining

November 25

When we last left Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), she had just won her dystopian state's Hunger Games, where she defied the rule of the totalitarian Capitol by saving her fellow contestant Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). In "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," the forces of the Capitol - led by President Snow (Donald Sutherland) - are forced to celebrate Katniss' victory, while simultaneously attempting to suppress the revolutionary sparks she has ignited. Now the political powers of the Capitol have decided to send Katniss and Peeta into yet another Hunger Games, hoping that this time the population will see her as a conniving opportunist rather than the revolutionary hero she has inadvertently become.

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Arts

‘Catching Fire’ is compelling, entertaining

November 25

When we last left Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), she had just won her dystopian state’s Hunger Games, where she defied the rule of the totalitarian Capitol by saving her fellow contestant Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson). In “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” the forces of the Capitol — led by President Snow (Donald Sutherland) — are forced to celebrate Katniss’ victory, while simultaneously attempting to suppress the revolutionary sparks she has ignited. Now the political powers of the Capitol have decided to send Katniss and Peeta into yet another Hunger Games, hoping that this time the population will see her as a conniving opportunist rather than the revolutionary hero she has inadvertently become.

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Arts

TV Review | ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ still strong in 10th season

November 25

When “Grey’s Anatomy” premiered in March of 2005 as the midseason replacement for “Boston Legal” (2004-2008), hardly anybody could have predicted that the show would still be on the air eight years later. But as the medical drama wraps up the first half of its 10th season, it shows no signs of stopping. Despite several seasons plagued with ill-conceived storylines and unpopular characters, “Grey’s Anatomy” has been experiencing somewhat of a creative renaissance in the past few years. Fans who abandoned the show when it went downhill are missing out; “Grey’s” has rebounded nicely and is now — arguably — better than ever.

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Arts

Daughtry’s new release is tired, offensive

November 25

Just when you thought that Chris Daughtry had disappeared from the music scene completely, he’s decided to reinsert himself in not-so-spectacular fashion. Attempting to justify the fame that accompanies a stint on reality TV is a predicament unique to the modern age. Indeed, for many of the contestants from the various talent shows that have become so integral to the American television experience, this is an insurmountable challenge. So, it’s no surprise that “American Idol” (2002-present) fifth season finalist Chris Daughtry has struggled to reach mainstream audiences ever since the initial excitement surrounding his music began to wane. Known for his hard rock persona — of course, only on “American Idol” is Chris Daughtry considered hard rock — Daughtry’s band, ingeniously called Daughtry, released their similarly self-titled debut in 2006. Since then, the band has been relegated to universal scorn, second only to Nickelback and Dane Cook.

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Arts

Feel-good 'Delivery Man' is campy, full of heart

November 24

It's fair to say that when we go to the movies, all we're really doing is picking a particular brand of the make-believe - be it action, comedy, romance or fantasy - to immerse ourselves in for a few hours. Of these options, feel-good movies are certainly some of the phoniest. This is why it is surprising that "Delivery Man," every bit a feel-good movie, works as well as it does. Granted, the film isn't perfect. But in the realm of campy cinema, it is a gem.

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Arts

Dev Hynes delivers solid album in 'Cupid Deluxe'

November 24

Dev Hynes - recording under his latest moniker, Blood Orange - has set out to capture the spirit of the streets of New York in his latest album, "Cupid Deluxe." By combining musical influences from the '80s with innovative, forward-thinking pop, the album embodies the feel of the city - where anything and everything can happen after sundown - with style and poise.

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Arts

TV Review | Meyers is commanding as ‘Dracula’ lead

November 24

NBC’s new series, “Dracula” — filled with plenty of intrigue, gorgeous mansions and beautiful people — would be a middling success were it not for its star. The handsome and charming Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays the eponymous character, and he brings enough mystery -— and more than a hint of danger — to keep both his character and the show interesting. The talent Meyers possesses is undeniable, and he commands every scene he is in, playing the legendary vampire with intensity and charm.

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Arts

Feel-good ‘Delivery Man’ is campy, full of heart

November 24

It’s fair to say that when we go to the movies, all we’re really doing is picking a particular brand of the make-believe — be it action, comedy, romance or fantasy — to immerse ourselves in for a few hours. Of these options, feel-good movies are certainly some of the phoniest. This is why it is surprising that “Delivery Man,” every bit a feel-good movie, works as well as it does. Granted, the film isn’t perfect. But in the realm of campy cinema, it is a gem.

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Arts

Dev Hynes delivers solid album in ‘Cupid Deluxe’

November 24

Dev Hynes — recording under his latest moniker, Blood Orange — has set out to capture the spirit of the streets of New York in his latest album, “Cupid Deluxe.” By combining musical influences from the ’80s with innovative, forward-thinking pop, the album embodies the feel of the city — where anything and everything can happen after sundown — with style and poise.

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Arts

‘The Book Thief’ mired by structural issues

November 21

Hollywood, it seems, will never tire of adapting beloved young adult novels into films. With “The Hunger Games” (2012) sequel “Catching Fire” expected to roar into theaters this weekend, “Ender’s Game” in the midst of its run and titles like “Divergent” and “The Fault in Our Stars” scheduled to be released in 2014, young adult fiction has never been more in vogue. “The Book Thief” is simply another item on this very long list.When Australian author Markus Zusak published “The Book Thief” in 2005, he captured the imagination of young readers and, with more than 230 weeks on the New York Times’ Best Seller list, “The Book Thief” catapulted to commercial success.Unfortunately, the movie is less worthy of such high praise. Like the novel, the film tells the story of Liesel Meminger (Sophie N?lisse), a young girl growing up in Nazi Germany, who is sent to live with foster parents after her mother is no longer able to care for her. Liesel cannot read when she arrives, but her kindly adoptive father, Hans Huberman (Geoffrey Rush), soon teaches her. As Liesel becomes enamored with books, she also adapts to her new home. She makes friends with a neighborhood boy named Rudy (Nico Liersch), learns a family secret and participates in her local Hitler Youth organization.Although “The Book Thief” offers beautiful cinematography and delightful performances by the adult actors, it ultimately fails to reproduce the magic that made the novel so compelling. Of course, it’s not fair or particularly reasonable to judge the merits of a film simply by comparing it to the novel on which it is based, but the principal flaw of “The Book Thief” is not poor adaptation but rather structural choices that do not work well on screen.“The Book Thief” is a sprawling work and, consequently, struggles with the same problems that often plagued the Harry Potter films: The movie attempts to cram so many storylines into its 131 minutes that no single plot is sufficiently explored or developed. “The Book Thief” leaves viewers feeling somewhat unsatisfied, and significant relationships — especially the integral one between Liesel and the mayor’s goodhearted wife (Barbara Auer) — lack natural or believable development. The movie also follows the novel’s example by using Death as its narrator — yet this technique falls flat, confusing an audience who may be unfamiliar with the source material. Voiceovers rarely work well on screen, and “The Book Thief” is no exception to the rule.“The Book Thief” was directed by Brian Percival, who has helmed several episodes of the acclaimed “Downton Abbey” (2010-present), which may explain why the film feels, at times, excessively neat. The cinematography is just a bit too beautiful, unable to effectively capture the bleakness and distress of life in Nazi Germany. The movie, however, appears to occur in a perpetual winter, which may have been Percival’s attempt to depict the grim circumstances. While making “The Book Thief” extremely graphic would not have been appropriate given its young target audience, the movie certainly should have spent more time showing instead of telling. Rosa Hubermann (Emily Watson), Liesel’s new mother, frequently mentions how little food the family has, but there are no visible manifestations of this. Liesel seems perfectly healthy and robust — as do other children — and there is always food on the kitchen table. Surely it would not have been terribly difficult to make a few small changes in order to present a more believable and consistent image.However, “The Book Thief” does have its redeeming qualities. Rush and Watson are charming as odd couple Hans and Rosa — and their relationships with Liesel, which progress in vastly different ways, are depicted with endearing sweetness. Liesel’s character, while less developed than it could be, is lovable and her journey is an important one for young audiences to witness. As she grows up in these grim circumstances, Liesel comes to understand that the world can be an unhappy place — even an evil place — filled with hurt, confusion and loss. This point is driven home unforgivingly in the film’s conclusion, which fans of the book will remember as a tragic one. Though the didactic message is taken to an extreme, Liesel’s story still remains appropriate for young viewers.12

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Arts

'The Book Thief' mired by structural issues

November 21

Hollywood, it seems, will never tire of adapting beloved young adult novels into films. With "The Hunger Games" (2012) sequel "Catching Fire" expected to roar into theaters this weekend, "Ender's Game" in the midst of its run and titles like "Divergent" and "The Fault in Our Stars" scheduled to be released in 2014, young adult fiction has never been more in vogue. "The Book Thief" is simply another item on this very long list.When Australian author Markus Zusak published "The Book Thief" in 2005, he captured the imagination of young readers and, with more than 230 weeks on the New York Times' Best Seller list, "The Book Thief" catapulted to commercial success.Unfortunately, the movie is less worthy of such high praise. Like the novel, the film tells the story of Liesel Meminger (Sophie N?lisse), a young girl growing up in Nazi Germany, who is sent to live with foster parents after her mother is no longer able to care for her. Liesel cannot read when she arrives, but her kindly adoptive father, Hans Huberman (Geoffrey Rush), soon teaches her. As Liesel becomes enamored with books, she also adapts to her new home. She makes friends with a neighborhood boy named Rudy (Nico Liersch), learns a family secret and participates in her local Hitler Youth organization.Although "The Book Thief" offers beautiful cinematography and delightful performances by the adult actors, it ultimately fails to reproduce the magic that made the novel so compelling. Of course, it's not fair or particularly reasonable to judge the merits of a film simply by comparing it to the novel on which it is based, but the principal flaw of "The Book Thief" is not poor adaptation but rather structural choices that do not work well on screen."The Book Thief" is a sprawling work and, consequently, struggles with the same problems that often plagued the Harry Potter films: The movie attempts to cram so many storylines into its 131 minutes that no single plot is sufficiently explored or developed. "The Book Thief" leaves viewers feeling somewhat unsatisfied, and significant relationships - especially the integral one between Liesel and the mayor's goodhearted wife (Barbara Auer) - lack natural or believable development. The movie also follows the novel's example by using Death as its narrator - yet this technique falls flat, confusing an audience who may be unfamiliar with the source material. Voiceovers rarely work well on screen, and "The Book Thief" is no exception to the rule."The Book Thief" was directed by Brian Percival, who has helmed several episodes of the acclaimed "Downton Abbey" (2010-present), which may explain why the film feels, at times, excessively neat. The cinematography is just a bit too beautiful, unable to effectively capture the bleakness and distress of life in Nazi Germany. The movie, however, appears to occur in a perpetual winter, which may have been Percival's attempt to depict the grim circumstances. While making "The Book Thief" extremely graphic would not have been appropriate given its young target audience, the movie certainly should have spent more time showing instead of telling. Rosa Hubermann (Emily Watson), Liesel's new mother, frequently mentions how little food the family has, but there are no visible manifestations of this. Liesel seems perfectly healthy and robust - as do other children - and there is always food on the kitchen table. Surely it would not have been terribly difficult to make a few small changes in order to present a more believable and consistent image.However, "The Book Thief" does have its redeeming qualities. Rush and Watson are charming as odd couple Hans and Rosa - and their relationships with Liesel, which progress in vastly different ways, are depicted with endearing sweetness. Liesel's character, while less developed than it could be, is lovable and her journey is an important one for young audiences to witness. As she grows up in these grim circumstances, Liesel comes to understand that the world can be an unhappy place - even an evil place - filled with hurt, confusion and loss. This point is driven home unforgivingly in the film's conclusion, which fans of the book will remember as a tragic one. Though the didactic message is taken to an extreme, Liesel's story still remains appropriate for young viewers.12

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Arts

Tufts Middle Eastern Dance ready for fall show

November 20

The members of Tufts Middle Eastern Dance, a campus group dedicated to performing various folkloric and regional dance styles from the Middle East are performing their first fall show this evening. The show, titled “One Thousand and One Nights of Music” will feature six dances, and include an improvisational piece to live music by Tufts percussion group B.E.A.T.s.

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Arts

Concert Review | Kanye West delivers stellar live show

November 20

Kanye West's "Yeezus" was, to say the least, one of the year's most disputed experiments in minimalist industrial hip-hop. The supremely bizarre record was purposefully designed to be divisive, much as its potent predecessor, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" (2010), was designed to please West's followers after the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards Taylor Swift incident that threatened his reputation.

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Arts

‘Sacred Pages: Conversations on the Qur’an’ exhibits Bostonian interpretations

November 20

Hidden in the depths of the Art of Asia, Oceania and Africa wing of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston , “Scared Pages: Conversations on the Qur’an” provides visitors with the opportunity to explore the teachings of the Quran within rich artistic and historical contexts. The exhibit features an informative written and audio commentary provided by the curator, Laura Weinstein, as well as members of the Boston Islamic community.

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Arts

Weekender | Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair in 37th year

November 20

It’s better than a trip to any esteemed museum, ancient library, antique store or flea market — combined. The Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair returned this past weekend to the Hynes Convention Center, bringing with it over 120 dealers of rare books and artifacts from around the world. Unlike the volumes typically housed in a museum or library, these publications aren’t merely on display under thick panels of glass. Here, attendees can actually touch the covers and leaf through their pages. Many will even opt to purchase these precious pieces of history for their own personal collections. And, unlike objects from a local antique shop or secondhand bazaar, every item for sale at the fair is authenticated, so consumers can be sure what they’re getting is the real deal.  History  Last weekend marked the fair’s 37th year in Boston. Originally hosted at the Copley Plaza Hotel, it later moved to the Park Plaza Castle before eventually relocating to the Hynes Convention Center in Back Bay. According to Betty Fulton, the fair’s producer, this is one of the oldest and largest book fairs in the country.“There’s a New York fair every spring and there’s a fair in California every February ... that alternates between San Francisco and Los Angeles,” Fulton said.These three events are the only ones officially sanctioned by the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America , a national organization dedicated to helping people preserve and collect old, valuable books.Chairman of the Boston Book Fair Committee and Brattle Book Shop dealer Ken Gloss explained that the fair was established by ABAA members for a variety of reasons, but especially to provide sellers with a physical space where they can display their stock.“A lot of dealers do not have open shops,” he said. “They deal out of offices, out of their homes — a number of different locations ... so they don’t have a way to actually get out [and] see the public. A show like this offers a lot of opportunities to meet new customers ... to promote the business. It’s a way to present yourself to the public for many of the places that don’t have that ability.”Not only does it provide visibility for vendors who would otherwise remain relatively obscure, but it also brings sellers from around the world together under one roof — something that is positive both for the collector, who may have limited access to foreign trade, and for the actual dealers, who often exchange items among themselves. This year, dealers flocked to Boston from countries across the globe — including the Netherlands, Australia, France and Germany — making this year’s book fair a truly international event. CommPromo An event that attracts so many international participants seems like it would require a huge number of behind-the-scenes coordinators. But for the past 26 years, the Antiquarian Book Fair has been largely produced by a one-woman team. Since 1987, Fulton — the president of the strategic marketing and event promotion company, CommPromo — has been in charge of organizing the entire weekend. Though she has singlehandedly orchestrated the event for more than half of its history, Fulton recently brought Julie Roper on board to manage social media. In her five or six years at CommPromo, Roper has become increasingly involved in the fair, taking on additional production responsibilities.Together, Fulton and Roper handle almost all of the planning for the book fair. Occasionally, they will outsource one part of the work and hire independent contractors to help at the actual event. Other than that, though, they manage the rest of the operation on their own.“[We] basically act as general contractors for the event,” Fulton said. “All elements that need to be addressed like catering, [booking the] hall, tickets, any equipment rentals, all publicity and promotion, running the box office, supervising the load-in and load-out ... audiovisual [and] putting together all the programming.”In addition to the weekend itself, CommPromo also helps arrange extra events that occur in conjunction with the fair. This year, for example, there was an exhibit featuring Isabella Stewart Gardner’s little-known book collection, as well as various other lectures and panels on specific niches within book collecting.“We’re the 600-pound gorilla, and because all the dealers are in town that might patronize these other events, certain satellite events also spring up around the ABAA,” Fulton said.Fare at the fair So, what exactly are these dealers peddling? Ironically, Gloss notes that there are no qualifications for any of the items sold at the fair.“I don’t think there’s any one description [of an antiquarian book],” Gloss said. “It’s more a general term. ... If you get down to an exact definition, there probably isn’t one. It’s probably not new books ... although there are some exceptions to that rule, too. But the book that you think of when you walk into a Barnes and Noble probably isn’t going to be here — at least [not] for a few years.”And he’s right. Most of the items are old and valuable, but besides that, the titles run the gamut. Books range from leather-bound masterpieces crafted in the 1400s to literary classics of the 20th century, from autographed children’s stories to first editions of relatively recent bestsellers like “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel. Various authors from different epochs, genres and nationalities are all represented in one room — writers like Mark Twain and Oscar Wilde see just as much shelf space as Dr. Seuss and Roald Dahl. And books are only half the equation. Among the racks upon racks of yellowing pages, visitors will also find pamphlets, manuscripts, letters, vintage issues of magazines and newspapers, fine art, photographs, maps and atlases and even various types of ephemera and memorabilia.12

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