Category Archives: Cinema, video & DVDs

Deep Inside Out

Posted on June 21, 2015 by barczablog

There I was in a theatre full of children for Father’s Day. As we got deeper into Inside Out the small ones were often silent. The small unrepresentative audience survey I conducted suggests that the kids enjoyed themselves but couldn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Psychology and perception, Reviews | 3 Comments

Melissa McCarthy and the F word: Spy vs Spies

Posted on June 7, 2015 by barczablog

For more than half a century we’ve been watching various bodacious hunks enacting our fantasies of control at a time of great anxiety. Cold War jitters made the heroics of James Bond and his ilk extra attractive no matter how … Continue reading →

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“Location location location”

Posted on April 18, 2015 by barczablog

The saying goes like this: “‘There are three things that matter in property: location, location, location.’” It’s also true in theatre. I have a subscription to the Canadian Opera Company, a pair of seats in the second row. When I … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Psychology and perception | 2 Comments

Based on a True Story: Big Eyes and The Theory of Everything

Posted on January 18, 2015 by barczablog

A new production of Don Giovanni opens at the Canadian Opera Company next week, followed shortly by Die Walküre.  Neither one bears the epithet “based on a true story”, as so many current films seem to (thinking for instance of … Continue reading →

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2014 CD and DVD reviews

Posted on December 16, 2014 by barczablog

I am way behind in reviewing the CDs & DVDs i have been receiving in the mail, or the ones i have been buying.  This little summary may be too late for Christmas shopping although there are also the gifts we … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 1 Comment

Don’t miss Stanley Kubrick at TIFF

Posted on December 7, 2014 by barczablog

Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition is currently on at TIFF Bell Lightbox until January 25th. You know it’s a happening when you see people dressed in special costumes. When the droog is actually a polite gentleman sharing quips with no threats … Continue reading →

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Maleficent’s traumas

Posted on November 24, 2014 by barczablog

Spoiler alert: this discussion requires me to give away a bunch of plot points, so if you haven’t seen this film & want to, don’t read this OR don’t complain if I give it all away.   (OH AND YOU … Continue reading →

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Stewart Goodyear and Czerny’s four boxes

Posted on November 13, 2014 by barczablog

Do you read liner notes?  I always begin to do so.  If there’s something of substance, not only do I read them but I cherish them, making them part of the big conversation that is the work of art.  Nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture | Leave a comment

Gerald Finley on the shelf

Posted on November 11, 2014 by barczablog

It’s November. October was Gerald Finley month in Toronto, as his Falstaff jumped up on the table that was our collective experience (and for the final scene of the opera). Don’t let the headline (“Finley on the shelf”) scare you, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, Music and musicology, Opera, Reviews | 1 Comment

Robin Williams trailers

Posted on September 3, 2014 by barczablog

Our cable provider’s pay-per-view offers trailers for many of the films that are available to watch.  For the last few weeks there’s been a category called “Robin Williams”.  It’s a broad assortment of films even if it really only scrapes … Continue reading →

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