‘Arts’ Archives
Levi Strauss: You”'ve Left Your Mark on the Ass of America
Roy McBride was born Dec 29th, 1943 with innate poetic instincts that became enhanced by his natural and family surroundings. Roy was a “love” poet because he loved all humanity. He added the vicissitudes of urban life, becoming a much loved urban poet. He was a spoken word performer, poet, journal keeper, visionary, master improviser, teacher, musician, and visual artist. He passed away on July 29th 2011. Secret Traffic, a posthumous publication of some of his poetry very appropriately gives an extensive poetic biography of this gentle man and his accomplishments, publications, and tributes. BY ROY McBRIDE 1. America is starting to believe in herself. She is painting her sky a skyer blue. Latex white clouds float above her Beneath improved sun paisley trees flutter harmlessly in the air of giant wind machines America is going beyond her own mind Monday Wednesday and Friday everyone is white in America Tuesday and Thursday are black days Chicano brown [...]
“La La Land”
By Howard McQuitter II ****1/2 out of five stars “La La Land” (2016) Liongate Drama/Musical/Romance Sebastian has that same passion for jazz as did Andrew (Miles Teller) did in “Whiplash”(2014), by director Damien Chazelle, who directed both “Whiplash” and “La La Land”. In both cases, Sebastian, the pianist, and Andrew, the drummer, have uphill battles, not to mention Chazelle”'s “subtle” love of jazz. (I”'m sure, Mr. Chazelle listens to some of the jazz greats Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Coleman Hawkins, and more.) The best dance number is at the beginning of the film when people stuck in Los Angeles traffic decide to leave their vehicles temporarily to either jump on tops of their vehicles or stay on the ground to dance and sing. And at first when Sebastian and Mia meet on that highway there is no love at first sight. In time the romance will grow, [...]
“Hacksaw Ridge”
**** & 1/2 stars “Hacksaw Ridge” Summit Entertainment Biography/War (R) I envision climactic moments in war films going back decades; when I see soldiers coming over the threshold with guns in hand, bullets and bombs sounding all around them, as they face their enemies. War movies, such as Steven Spielberg”'s “Saving Private Ryan” (1998), Ken Annakin and Andrew Marton”'s “The Longest Day” (1962), Francis Ford Coppola”'s “Apocalypse Now” (1979), Raoul Walsh”'s “Objective, Burma” (1945), to name a few, that left me hanging on to my seat. “Hacksaw Ridge” is no different. Andrew Garfield, as Desmond Doss, a Seventh-day Adventist and a conscientious objector, feels it”'s his duty to serve in the Army during World War II except without touching a gun. Of course, this stance of refusing to carry a gun is in direct conflict with the Army”'s policy. However, Doss”' stance [...]
