In anticipation of his latest book Egghead: Or, You Cant Survive on Ideas Alone, Bo Burnham spoke with the Daily about his career, comedy, the book and everything in between.
Tom Hanks is easily one of Americas most beloved actors, but the past several years of his career with the exception of Toy Story 3 (2010) and Charlie Wilsons War (2007) have been marked by a series of middling films and mediocre roles. Its hard to believe that Hanks last won an Oscar nearly 20 years ago for Forrest Gump (1994) and has seen a mind-boggling 12 years pass since his last Academy Award nomination. With Captain Phillips, however, Hanks is back in fine form and with any luck, hell get some Oscar recognition for his masterful work.
The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) opened its doors on Oct. 4 to visitors ages 21 and over for its second "First Friday" event of the year. This month's "First Friday" - which featured a "Fashion Forward" theme - included a fashion presentation with pieces from Louis Boston, a preeminent Boston-based boutique, as well as an introduction to this season's fall trends from Boston Globe style writer Christopher Muther.
Following its American premiere in Pittsburgh on Oct. 2, the cast and crew of Kiss & Cry did a wonderful job bringing a moving performance to Boston from Oct. 10-12. Directed by acclaimed Belgian film director Jaco Van Dormael, Kiss & Cry follows an elderly womans memories of the five loves she has had throughout her life. The title refers to the bench where ice skaters wait to hear their score the area where television audiences can watch the elation or despair of the athletes on a small stage with an elaborate background. A poignant and emotional piece, Kiss & Cry is aptly named.
Fans and followers of the classic Alices Adventures in Wonderland story have never had a shortage of new material to feed their fantasy cravings. Lewis Carrolls 19th century novel has spawned countless movie, book and television adaptations that only seem to multiply as time goes on. The long-awaited Oct. 10 premiere of ABCs Once Upon a Time in Wonderland presented viewers with yet another Alice-rework, this time shaking up the classic tale with a hodgepodge of CGI-fueled action and unrelated Disney characters. Faced with Wonderlands overstuffed plot, fans may find themselves reluctant to travel down this new rabbit hole.
With big-name stars such as Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake, how could Runner Runner not generate intense anticipation? Despite the hype, the film fails to deliver and leaves audience members disappointed on many fronts.
CBS crime drama Elementary has returned with a spectacular start to its second season, complete with explosions, secrets and even an estranged brother. A modern New York version of Sherlock Holmes, Elementary is a fresh take on the detective persona, showcasing Holmes uncanny knack for details against the background of todays technology-dependent society.
The Tufts Drama Departments first production of the semester, Welcome to Arroyos, is debuting tonight in the Balch Arena Theater. Not only will the play showcase the acting and stage work of the student cast and crew, but it also promises to be a highly interactive and engaging performance for audience members.
If one had to guess which song would receive one of the strongest reactions at a Bruce Springsteen show in Europe, it probably would not be a haunting ballad about a working-class narrator struggling with a failing economy. Yet, whether it was in a plaza in Naples, a soccer stadium in Hannover or the famed San Siro stadium in Milan, the first chilling harmonica notes of Springsteens The River (1980) would, without fail, elicit some of the loudest cries of the night. Each crowd sang along word-by-word at times, the sound of cheering drowned out the band during the songs instrumental intro. Initially, the reason why this song which is arguably one of Springsteens most direct takes on the disillusionment of the American dream is such a hit overseas seems quite puzzling.But, in fact, the answer might not actually be so complicated. Many European fans attest that The River was Springsteens first big hit single in Europe, and for many of them, it represents their first interaction with his music (the subsequent tour was the first time Springsteen played in many Western European countries). Yet The River is not the only Springsteen song with strong American ties that often garners a warm welcome in Europe, which begs the question: How does American imagery and references in his songs translate across cultures? And to what extent do Springsteens political views play a role in his popularity in Europe? While last weeks Weekender explored the concept of what it means to be a diehard fan, particularly by looking at the fan community around Springsteens music, this weeks article will examine how his American themes and ideas are received across the Atlantic.For many European fans, their first introduction to Springsteen and his music came from the massive hype surrounding Born in the U.S.A. (1984). After its release, he achieved a level of popularity that laid the foundation for the large following he has overseas today. Despite its immense popularity, the albums overwhelming use of patriotic imagery such as the American flag stripes on the cover may have confused some foreign listeners about Springsteens intentions. Because of this blatant American iconography, it could be easy to misinterpret the music as having a jingoistic or excessively nationalistic connotation a notion that sharply contrasted the title tracks lyrical content. As Dutch fan Rachel Schoneveld noted, with many European fans speaking English as a second language, the subtext in the lyrics may have gone unnoticed.While 1984 established Springsteen as a formidable commercial presence abroad, his later albums, particularly 1995s The Ghost of Tom Joad, increased his credibility among critics who were skeptical that he had nothing left to say after U.S.A. Numerous European fans have cited Tom Joad a sparse, acoustic record portraying a somber take on life in America as a turning point for Springsteen, a moment when he began to amass a critical consensus comparable to his commercial success.Despite the increasingly political nature of his lyrics, one constant throughout Springsteens career has been the songs he pens about the surroundings of his life, with early albums name-dropping many New Jersey and New York area landmarks. But for many European fans, these images reference places most have never visited. How, then, can they relate to these American locales?Schoneveld said that when she listens to a song like Jungleland (1975), which frequently mentions the urban scenery near New York, she thinks of similar locations from her own experience instead to help her identify with the song.Its not only location in terms of physical location. ... Every location he sings about has an emotional level, she said.French fan Fabrice Szabo, who now resides in Canada, attributes the ability of Europeans to connect so easily with Springsteens American imagery to the prevalence of American culture overseas. Because of the popularity of American television and cinema abroad, Szabo argues that Europeans have already been exposed to various American settings and themes, giving them a framework through which to understand Springsteens work.[This] makes it easy for someone like Springsteen. ... Hes American but most of his songs are universal, Szabo said. It can work in both contexts. ... It articulates both local and global. You can listen to The River [(1980)] if youre from Pittsburgh, and if youre somewhere in Germany, ... you can have the same emotions.Dona Velluti, an Italian fan living in the United Kingdom, believes that Springsteens work can be interpreted through a variety of contexts, each illustrating different aspects of a song.I listen to Bruces songs in the context of the album, in the context of his development, in the context of America and with the kinds of things its been through. ... Things take their meaning from the context, and you cant take them in isolation, she said.When it comes to Springsteens political views, most foreign fans agree that this is a much bigger issue with his American fan base. After Springsteen delivered his first official presidential endorsement for John Kerry in 2004 and played a major role in the subsequent Vote for Change tour, he became an increasingly divisive figure in the United States, igniting controversy among fans. Most European fans agree, however, that the general political spectrum in Europe is so much to the left of that in the United States that none of Springsteens political stances are truly considered as controversial there. In fact, Springsteens increased tackling of political issues over the past decade seems to be embraced by certain fans.I think this has given new life and new points of interest to many fans of his here, Italian fan Paolo Ferraresi, who resides in Spain, said. Now, whether this has gained new fans, I dont know. I think its rather the [lifelong] fans who have found a confirmation of what they were seeing in his writing.12
If one had to guess which song would receive one of the strongest reactions at a Bruce Springsteen show in Europe, it probably would not be a haunting ballad about a working-class narrator struggling with a failing economy. Yet, whether it was in a plaza in Naples, a soccer stadium in Hannover or the famed San Siro stadium in Milan, the first chilling harmonica notes of Springsteen's "The River" (1980) would, without fail, elicit some of the loudest cries of the night. Each crowd sang along word-by-word - at times, the sound of cheering drowned out the band during the song's instrumental intro. Initially, the reason why this song - which is arguably one of Springsteen's most direct takes on the disillusionment of the American dream - is such a hit overseas seems quite puzzling.But, in fact, the answer might not actually be so complicated. Many European fans attest that "The River" was Springsteen's first big hit single in Europe, and for many of them, it represents their first interaction with his music (the subsequent tour was the first time Springsteen played in many Western European countries). Yet "The River" is not the only Springsteen song with strong American ties that often garners a warm welcome in Europe, which begs the question: How does American imagery and references in his songs translate across cultures? And to what extent do Springsteen's political views play a role in his popularity in Europe? While last week's Weekender explored the concept of what it means to be a diehard fan, particularly by looking at the fan community around Springsteen's music, this week's article will examine how his American themes and ideas are received across the Atlantic.For many European fans, their first introduction to Springsteen and his music came from the massive hype surrounding "Born in the U.S.A." (1984). After its release, he achieved a level of popularity that laid the foundation for the large following he has overseas today. Despite its immense popularity, the album's overwhelming use of patriotic imagery - such as the American flag stripes on the cover - may have confused some foreign listeners about Springsteen's intentions. Because of this blatant American iconography, it could be easy to misinterpret the music as having a jingoistic or excessively nationalistic connotation - a notion that sharply contrasted the title track's lyrical content. As Dutch fan Rachel Schoneveld noted, with many European fans speaking English as a second language, the subtext in the lyrics may have gone unnoticed.While 1984 established Springsteen as a formidable commercial presence abroad, his later albums, particularly 1995's "The Ghost of Tom Joad," increased his credibility among critics who were skeptical that he had nothing left to say after "U.S.A." Numerous European fans have cited "Tom Joad" - a sparse, acoustic record portraying a somber take on life in America - as a turning point for Springsteen, a moment when he began to amass a critical consensus comparable to his commercial success.Despite the increasingly political nature of his lyrics, one constant throughout Springsteen's career has been the songs he pens about the surroundings of his life, with early albums name-dropping many New Jersey and New York area landmarks. But for many European fans, these images reference places most have never visited. How, then, can they relate to these American locales?Schoneveld said that when she listens to a song like "Jungleland" (1975), which frequently mentions the urban scenery near New York, she thinks of similar locations from her own experience instead to help her identify with the song."It's not only location in terms of physical location. ... Every location he sings about has an emotional level," she said.French fan Fabrice Szabo, who now resides in Canada, attributes the ability of Europeans to connect so easily with Springsteen's American imagery to the prevalence of American culture overseas. Because of the popularity of American television and cinema abroad, Szabo argues that Europeans have already been exposed to various American settings and themes, giving them a framework through which to understand Springsteen's work."[This] makes it easy for someone like Springsteen. ... He's American but most of his songs are universal," Szabo said. "It can work in both contexts. ... It articulates both local and global. You can listen to 'The River' [(1980)] if you're from Pittsburgh, and if you're somewhere in Germany, ... you can have the same emotions."Dona Velluti, an Italian fan living in the United Kingdom, believes that Springsteen's work can be interpreted through a variety of contexts, each illustrating different aspects of a song."I listen to Bruce's songs in the context of the album, in the context of his development, in the context of America and with the kinds of things it's been through. ... Things take their meaning from the context, and you can't take them in isolation," she said.When it comes to Springsteen's political views, most foreign fans agree that this is a much bigger issue with his American fan base. After Springsteen delivered his first official presidential endorsement - for John Kerry in 2004 - and played a major role in the subsequent "Vote for Change" tour, he became an increasingly divisive figure in the United States, igniting controversy among fans. Most European fans agree, however, that the general political spectrum in Europe is so much to the left of that in the United States that none of Springsteen's political stances are truly considered as controversial there. In fact, Springsteen's increased tackling of political issues over the past decade seems to be embraced by certain fans."I think this has given new life and new points of interest to many fans of his here," Italian fan Paolo Ferraresi, who resides in Spain, said. "Now, whether this has gained new fans, I don't know. I think it's rather the [lifelong] fans who have found a confirmation of what they were seeing in his writing."12
The legendary Yo-Yo Ma paid a visit to Boston last week, performing as a soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). Its hard to imagine another musician who that has so fluidly bridged the worlds of classical and popular music, and few empty seats were seen in Symphony Hall proof of Mas superb reputation.
The massive explosion at the end of the season two finale of Homeland left fans anxiously awaiting the Sept. 29 premiere of season three. Now, two episodes in, fans and the CIA are still looking for answers about the attack that killed over 200 people right inside their own headquarters. Nick Brody (Damian Lewis) has been publicly blamed for the attack, but although he is discussed extensively in the first two episodes, Brody is currently in hiding and never seen. Again, Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) is on a mission to prove the world wrong, this time by exonerating Brody for the bombing viewers must once more decide if she is a genius or mentally unstable.
The Institute of Contemporary Art opened its doors on Oct. 4 to visitors ages 21 and over for its second First Friday event of the year. This months First Friday which featured a Fashion Forward theme included a fashion presentation with pieces from Louis Boston, a preeminent Boston-based boutique, as well as an introduction to this seasons fall trends from Boston Globe style writer Christopher Muther.
A.C.O.D (the acronym stands for Adult Children of Divorce) is difficult to categorize. It cant be classified as a romantic comedy because the romance is minimal, but its not exactly a comedy-drama, since it features only melodrama at best. As for comedy in spite of a plethora of top-notch comedians it simply falls short of funny.
Men in tuxedos and women in evening gowns flocked to the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre the night of Oct. 4 to attend the opening night gala for The Boston Lyric Opera's (BLO) premiere of "The Magic Flute." The black tie affair lent an air of easy elegance to the cool, early autumn evening. When four jean and hoodie-clad figures trooped in, the newcomers - to an outside eye - must have appeared hopelessly underdressed.
Waiting seven years between Justin Timberlake albums? Not so great. Lets be honest it was a bit rough seeing one of pop musics most innovative stars largely abandon music for a fairly mediocre film career in the interim between Future Sex/Love Sounds (2006) and Marchs The 20/20 Experience (2013). Infallible JT hits that once dominated middle and high school dances, like SexyBack (2006) and Rock Your Body (2003), started to feel pretty distant as time wore on.
Robert Rodriguezs Machete Kills begins with a mock preview of an even more ridiculous sequel, Machete Kills Again ... In Space. That should tell you everything you need to know about this film.
Men in tuxedos and women in evening gowns flocked to the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre the night of Oct. 4 to attend the opening night gala for The Boston Lyric Operas (BLO) premiere of The Magic Flute. The black tie affair lent an air of easy elegance to the cool, early autumn evening. When four jean and hoodie-clad figures trooped in, the newcomers to an outside eye must have appeared hopelessly underdressed.
Switchfoot, the popular Christian rock group that gained popularity in the early 2000s, played to a packed house on Oct. 8 at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston. With a lively and interactive set, Switchfoot proved that they can still deliver a heartfelt, meaningful and fun concert.
Diesel is a foolish story with a happy ending. It is a love story, not the typical kind necessarily, but every bit as epic. This phrase, on Diesels website, essentially sums up how the owners feel about their establishment. Diesel was founded by best friends Jennifer Park and Tucker Lewis in 1999. Though initially many doubted the duos vision of opening a quaint, hip coffee shop on bustling Elm Street in Davis Square, the eatery managed to defy odds. Fourteen years later, it is difficult to find a table on a Sunday at 10 a.m. a testament to Diesels success and longevity.
