Leisure

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

Leisure

Concert Preview: Ariel Pink, November 5, 9:30 Club

Following the release of his most recent album, Dedicated to Bobby Jameson, American songwriter Ariel Pink is touring North America and will be playing at the 9:30 Club in Washington,... Read more

By November 3, 2017

Leisure

Suburbicon is a Paradigm of Directorial Disaster

When you cross a Coen Brother screenplay with a race-relations subplot set in the 1950s, things are bound to get a little interesting. However, in the case of Suburbicon, this... Read more

By October 31, 2017

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Concert Review: Louis the Child, Oct. 25, 9:30 Club

Chicago-based DJ duo Louis the Child have come a long way since their first hit “It’s Strange” was recommended personally by Taylor Swift on Instagram. After numerous shows at intimate... Read more

By October 30, 2017

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Oaxaca meets Wisconsin Ave: Luis Pablo at The Phoenix

Boutiques parade up Wisconsin Avenue. Slick acrylic furniture and uninteresting floor-lamps grow up into the windows with looming price tags—reminders of empty wallets. In the window of the Phoenix, one... Read more

By October 30, 2017

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“The Utopian Projects” Combines Fantasy and Post-Stalinist Russia

“The Utopian Projects,” an exhibition which will be on display at the Hirshhorn Museum from Sept. 7 to March 4, is a culmination of works by two of the most... Read more

By October 29, 2017

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Concert Preview: Flying Lotus in 3D, Nov. 5, Echostage

Since releasing his debut album, 1983, eleven years ago, Flying Lotus (born Steven Ellison) has rocketed to the elite of a very distinct and unorthodox community of musicians, directors, and... Read more

By October 29, 2017

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Murder at the Renwick: An Exploration of Forensics Pioneer Frances Glessner Lee

A doll hanging from a noose is exactly the sort of image that sends a shiver down the spine — after all “dolls and death” are a pretty unsettling duo... Read more

By October 27, 2017

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“What Absence is Made Of” Proves that Less is More

During a cursory walk around “What Absence is Made Of,” it’s easy to become confused or disoriented by the artwork’s variety of styles.  This is because as the title suggests,... Read more

By October 27, 2017

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Nomadic Theatre Balances Comedy and Domestic Violence in Exit, Pursued By a Bear

A figure struggles against the duct tape that binds him to a sofa-chair. A stripper and a man dressed as a cheerleader console a conflicted woman. The floor is littered... Read more

By October 27, 2017

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Concert Review: LCD Soundsystem, October 17, The Anthem

LCD Soundsystem is back. After playing their “last show ever” at a legendary Madison Square Garden concert on April 2, 2011, the band decided they would rather be liars who... Read more

By October 26, 2017

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Critical Voices: King Krule, The Ooz

British artist Archy Ivan Marshall debuted the stage name King Krule with his album Six Feet Beneath the Moon (2013). Despite the generally positive reception of the album, it was... Read more

By October 24, 2017

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Jackie Chan Deserves Better in The Foreigner

Action thriller The Foreigner marks the return of Jackie Chan to the silver screen. His last large role was in 2010 with The Karate Kid, but he’s had minor roles... Read more

By October 23, 2017

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Critical Voices: Pink, Beautiful Trauma

From start to finish, Pink’s latest album Beautiful Trauma is a proud declaration that she has matured but hasn’t lost a single ounce of the unapologetic brashness that put her... Read more

By October 20, 2017

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Colorful Worlds and Colorful Faces at the Touchstone Gallery

The Touchstone Gallery in downtown DC has two new exhibits for art lovers to immerse themselves in. The exhibits: “beg borrow + steal: works on cardboard by Dana Brotman” and... Read more

By October 19, 2017

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Goodbye Christopher Robin Grapples With War and Public Persona

Goodbye Christopher Robin tells the story of A.A. Milne (Domhnall Gleeson), the former playwright and creator of Winnie the Pooh. Going into the movie, one may think that this subject... Read more

By October 15, 2017

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Happy Death Day Kills It As A Comedy

Calling Happy Death Day a horror movie is a bit of a stretch. It has its fair share of jump scares, screams, and murder, but when the entire audience erupts... Read more

By October 15, 2017

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The Infinite Wrench Tackles Modern Issues in Innovative Ways

The Infinite Wrench brings a new form of theatre to Georgetown which is truly contemporary, both pushing back against and moving with the modern preference for quick and brief entertainment.... Read more

By October 13, 2017

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Critical Voices: Sleeping With Sirens, Gossip

There comes a time in the career of countless artists when they decide it’s time to go mainstream in a maybe disappointing though understandable move to keep their music relevant.... Read more

By October 13, 2017

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Critical Voices: Miley Cyrus, Younger Now

The world’s favorite sledgehammer licker, Miley Cyrus, has returned with the release of her latest album, Younger Now. After a few years of reshaping her identity and scarring the world’s... Read more

By October 13, 2017

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American Made Fails to Address Sensitive Issues

From the very first scene, viewers of American Made know what they are getting themselves into as Barry Seal (Tom Cruise) deliberately startles the sleeping passengers on board by taking... Read more

By October 11, 2017