Category Archives: Cinema, video & DVDs

Adapting Martin Chuzzlewit

Posted on January 24, 2014 by barczablog

Just had the first run of Martin Chuzzlewit which I am directing at Ryerson. It is by Charles Dickens in a great adaptation by Michael Hollingsworth. The text has sixty seven scenes and forty characters. Dickens thought the novel his … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, Dance, theatre & musicals, University life | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Tcherniakov’s Don Giovanni

Posted on January 13, 2014 by barczablog

Dimitri Tcherniakov has been seen a fair bit on TFO lately.  After recent productions of Il trovatore and Ruslan und Ludmilla, tonight’s broadcast had special importance, a co-production with several companies including the Canadian Opera Company.  COC General Director Alexander … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Thinking about snobs, with Baz Luhrmann and Jay Gatsby

Posted on December 8, 2013 by barczablog

I’m thinking about two competing narratives lately, as I alluded at the beginning of my review of Singing the Earth.  Is transcendent activism possible? Nelson Mandela seems to say yes.  Rob Ford would agree, although he sees himself as an … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays, Politics, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

And after Rota

Posted on December 4, 2013 by barczablog

The concert was titled “The Unknown Chamber Music of Nino Rota”. How could I resist, being already a fan of Rota’s film compositions?  This is the man who gave us the iconic Godfather music.  My favourite is his score for … Continue reading →

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

A messed-up pattern

Posted on December 1, 2013 by barczablog

I  used to think I was normal.  But when you see the same pattern over and over in several films you start to wonder.  Every comedy seems to be using the same template. I saw it in Bridesmaids.  I saw … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Reviews | 4 Comments

JFK: Choose your conspiracy

Posted on November 22, 2013 by barczablog

November 22nd?  It’s Saint Cecilia’s Day, the patron saint of music.  It’s Benjamin Britten’s birthday, which this year means his centennial. Okay, those are all in the fine print.  Written on my psyche since childhood?  November 22nd 1963.  Every other … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Politics, Popular music & culture, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tcherniakov’s Serendipitous Trovatore

Posted on November 11, 2013 by barczablog

Having seen a small local production of Verdi’s Il trovatore in Richmond Hill Saturday night, the tunes & situations were very fresh in my head tonight for a broadcast of a 2012 production of the very same opera with big … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Opera, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Symbolic Meatballs II

Posted on October 20, 2013 by barczablog

Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs II continues more or less where the first left off.  The story resumes a short time after the end of the first film, that I saw (and reviewed) just a little while ago.   I … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Reviews | 2 Comments

Cloudy with a chance of symbolism

Posted on October 10, 2013 by barczablog

It’s such a silly title that i couldn’t resist having some fun with it. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is the best children’s film I’ve seen in a very long time, one of those films full of lines & … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Reviews | 1 Comment

Believe It

Posted on September 8, 2013 by barczablog

In The Greatest Story Ever Told, an assortment of Hollywood icons share the screen with lesser known talent, to give the audience a well-known tale.  Some of the film works, while other parts are wooden, especially because we’re so busy … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments