Midsummer has brought an abundance of cinematic and theatrical thrills. From new twists on serial killer and alien invasion tropes, to a fantastic revival of a classic musical plus a new off-Broadway LGBTQ event, there is truly something for everyone available right now. Here is Reverend's rundown:
MaXXXine, now playing in theaters from A24 releasing.
Mia Goth's title scream queen turned murderess first made a splash in 2022's X, then became the retro Pearl in last year's gory throwback to an earlier era of filmmaking. Writer-director Ti West again proves himself to be a master at recreating cinematic eras with this new sequel, set in the excessive mid-1980's. Goth returns as now-porn star Maxine Minx, who is desperate for mainstream crossover success and will stop at nothing to achieve it.
Soon after being cast in the lead role of sequel-within-a sequel The Puritan 2, Maxine's friends start turning up dead and a creepy private investigator played by none other than Kevin Bacon begins trailing her. Could her imperious director, the real-life serial killer dubbed "The Night Stalker," and/or Maxine's religious fanatic father be behind things? No spoilers here. While MaXXXine doesn't quite reach the deliriously campy heights of Pearl nor the intensity of X, it is a worthy entry in this smart and lovingly self-aware series. Goth remains one of today's most exciting, unpredictable big-screen actors. And I really hope they release this movie's song soundtrack — featuring the likes of Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Kim Carnes, ZZ Top, New Order, Animotion, John Parr and more — on old school CD!
A Quiet Place: Day One, now playing in theaters from Paramount Pictures.
This engrossing prequel to actor-director John Krasinski's previous two sci-fi/horror films about blind yet sound-sensitive aliens decimating the human race revitalizes things in a rather ingenious way: It relates the beginning of the invasion from the perspective of a terminally-ill woman and her therapy cat. I'm not kidding. Eventually, they meet up with an anxiety-stricken young man who becomes an unexpected ally, but this movie definitely belongs to Lupita Nyong'o's Samira (or Sam for short) and the impressively loyal Frodo (played interchangeably by two real cats, Nico and Schnitzel).
Sam is making her anticipated final visit to New York City with fellow residents of her hospice on the day the vicious aliens arrive, which can be perceived as either unfortunate or fortunate timing. She subsequently makes her way through the devastated metropolis in single-minded pursuit of her dying wish: a slice of pizza from her favorite Harlem restaurant. Uniquely, the intervention of the aforementioned young man (Joseph Quinn of Stranger Things and the upcoming Gladiator II) threatens to upend her plans more than the aliens.
As written and directed by relatively new but gritty filmmaker Michael Sarnoski (Krasinki was apparently busy with his Jack Ryan series and charming, recent movie IF), Day One is unexpectedly thoughtful and moving. I can attest to its authenticity as a depiction of a dying woman's experience, since I work full-time with diverse hospice patients. Thankfully, most dying people don't have to contend with evil aliens in addition to their serious illnesses!
Cats: The Jellicle Ball, now being performed through August 11th at the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC) in New York City.
Speaking of cats, Frodo above isn't the only feline currently strutting their stuff in audience-pleasing offerings. The 40-year old stage musical Cats, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and inspired by the writings of T. S. Eliot, has been re-envisioned as an NYC-set queer ballroom story à la the classic documentary Paris is Burning and more recent FX-Hulu series Pose. This new interpretation is nothing short of sensational, and one of my all-time favorite theatrical experiences to date.
I was not a fan of the original production of Cats; in fact, I prefer the much-maligned 2019 film. I love actual cats and have 3, but the sight of adult dancers in feliney leotards plus ears and tails left me underwhelmed. Happily, there are few literal feline allusions in this new Jellicle Ball. Instead, co-directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch have re-defined the term cat as "slang for any queer person or ally who is part of the Ballroom scene," in the context of their production. They are aided delightfully by co-choreographers Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons, not to mention an amazing cast of LGBTQ performers and allies headlined by 78-year old Tony Award winner Andre De Shields as Old Deuteronomy. Best of all for fans of Paris is Burning like me is the participation of Junior LaBeija ("O-P-U-L-E-N-C-E!") as Gus, the Theatre Cat!
The palms of my hands were sore from applause by the end of the performance I attended, and I had cried at least twice. If you'll be anywhere near NYC this summer, you simply MUST attend Cats: The Jellicle Ball.
From Here, also being performed now through August 11th by Renaissance Theater Company at the Pershing Square Signature Center in NYC.
I closed out Pride weekend in NYC with a preview performance of this striking new musical inspired by the tragic shooting of 49 LGBTQ people and allies at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida 8 years ago. Donald Rupe wrote, scored and directed a semi-autobiographical and undeniably affecting story that focuses on a group of friends impacted by the massacre in various ways.
The engaging Blake Aburn leads the cast and holds center stage throughout as Daniel. While struggling for acceptance from his mother for being gay and having difficulty committing to a long-term relationship, Daniel nevertheless secures a chosen family of devoted friends. Although they all survive the June 12th, 2016 shooting at Pulse, they understandably bear emotional and spiritual scars. The musical gives almost everyone a literal spotlight in which to share their experience.
Rupe's book and songs are strong as are his cast members, who are mostly transplanted from Orlando and making their NYC stage debuts. His direction is at times too self-referential and threatens to become cloying but thankfully did not during the performance I attended. Most bothersome to me was the sound mix in a theater that is ultimately too small for this powerful production. Here's hoping From Here graduates soon to a larger venue in NYC and/or elsewhere.
Reverend's Ratings:
MaXXXine- B+
A Quiet Place: Day One- A-
Cats: The Jellicle Ball- A
From Here- B
Reviews by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film and stage critic of Movie Dearest and Rage Monthly Magazine.
