Leisure

Reviews and think pieces on music, movies, art, and theater.

Leisure

Vice: a Cautionary Tale Muffled by a Partisan Echo Chamber

Phenomenal acting and a compelling storyline make Vice worth seeing, but its otherwise unrealized potential prevents this good film from being a great one. Ultimately, Vice’s greatest downfall is how... Read more

By January 22, 2019

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Capernaum Depicts Life in Lebanon with Haunting Realism

In December, Capernaum (2018) broke ground by becoming the first Lebanese film to be nominated for Best Foreign Language Motion Picture at the Golden Globes. Although the prize was taken... Read more

By January 18, 2019

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Pulse is a Clever Expression of Biometric Data

For Mexican-Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, the human heartbeat fulfills its poetic potential best when heard as one among many. Lozano-Hemmer’s introduction to his newest exhibit at the Hirshhorn Museum, Pulse,... Read more

By January 18, 2019

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Mary Poppins Returns Brings Heart and CGI to an Old Classic

Mary Poppins is back, and she is ready to enchant a new generation of children. After months of Disney-generated anticipation by new and old fans alike, the sequel to one... Read more

By January 17, 2019

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Concert Preview: Panic! At The Disco, Jan. 20, Capital One Arena

From its formation in 2004, Panic! At The Disco has maintained its presence as one of the biggest faces of rock in the 21st century. Their debut studio album A... Read more

By January 16, 2019

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At Arena Stage, Indecent is a Requiem for Art’s Endurance

Ghosts come alive at the start of Arena Stage’s production of Indecent, the dust rising from the actors’ heavy overcoats in poetic plumes. Lemml (Ben Cherry, bearded and earnest) serves... Read more

By January 15, 2019

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Epic Adventure Aquaman Reaches for Greatness

For DC Comics fans, it has been a rough few years. Between the cliffhanger ending of Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War and the cultural significance of Black Panther, DC seems to... Read more

By January 8, 2019

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Mary Queen of Scots is an Uneven, but Enjoyable Period Drama

Mary Queen of Scots is an entertaining, but ultimately uneven period drama. It has gorgeous costumes, a wonderful pair of lead actresses, some genuinely compelling palace intrigue, and a few... Read more

By January 4, 2019

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Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Reinvents the Classic Hero

On top of a New York City skyscraper, a teenager clad in the blue-and-red Spider-Man suit hangs over the edge, gazing at the cars on the streets below. This is... Read more

By January 3, 2019

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If Beale Street Could Talk is a Celebration of Black Love

“The thing that grabbed me about this book is that these guys are soulmates. They are just soulmates. And I just hadn’t really seen or read many narratives about young,... Read more

By December 28, 2018

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Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is Some Kind of Glitterful and Wonderful

With lights that sparkle and costumes that dazzle, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical works like magic onstage. Based on true events, Beautiful chronicles the life of singer-songwriter Carole King as... Read more

By December 13, 2018

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Best of 2018: Albums

Sweetener – Ariana Grande Ariana Grande has faced unimaginable tragedy and loss in the last two years, and yet, the singer has prevailed as one of the most positive and... Read more

By the December 7, 2018

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Best of 2018: Movies

Black Panther Black Panther is more than just a movie—it is a cultural phenomenon. The film bolsters an incredibly talented and predominantly black cast that breathes new life into the... Read more

By the December 7, 2018

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The Favourite is a Carnal, Comical Survival of the Fittest

Beneath layers of starched pleats and prim petticoats, the trio of well-stationed women who animate the ornate corridors of director Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest have claws. But this is no mere... Read more

By December 6, 2018

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Critical Voices: Fleetwood Mac, 50 Years – Don’t Stop

In 1968, the iconic folk rock band Fleetwood Mac was formed in London. The group has had 18 different members, and endured half a century of drug abuse, bitter breakups,... Read more

By December 4, 2018

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Anything Goes at Arena Stage Provides a Delightful Rendition of a Timeless Classic

After a two-minute dance break, featuring almost every actor in the cast engaging in an array of wildly complex, yet precise tap routines, the dancers triumphantly returned to singing the... Read more

By December 3, 2018

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With A Duo of Superb Performances, Green Book Warms Your Heart

Today’s films are often judged by how nuanced they are at presenting their central themes. They must be direct, but not overtly obvious; thought provoking, but not contradictory; open to... Read more

By November 30, 2018

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Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is All Setup and No Payoff

With Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), the new Harry Potter prequel series, set over 50 years prior to the events of the original series, was off to... Read more

By November 28, 2018

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Concert Preview: Travis Scott, Nov. 29, Capital One Arena

The past two years have been busy for Travis Scott, to say the least. While he has been slowly building a name for himself since 2013 with the release of... Read more

By November 27, 2018

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Ian MacKaye’s New, Unnamed Group Makes Debut

“Punk show?” said the man standing in the opening to the nave of St. Stephen’s church. “Around back,” he continued. Still confused by the sanctified venue of the hard rock... Read more

By November 20, 2018