“Terrible things sometimes have their own beauty.”
This line, spoken in Spanish, is one of the best in Tom Ford’s new film A Single Man. While the highlight of the film is its lushness—it really is quite beautiful to look at—there is some very good dialogue as well.
Adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s book of the same name, the plot takes place in one day, aided by flashbacks. Colin Firth plays George, a British professor living in Los Angeles during the sixties. We learn that his lover died a few months before, and he is still recovering. While the one day is supposed to be George’s “typical day” (as all the synopsis’ for the film say) it becomes a tipping point for George’s mental state.
I am a lover of visually rich films—some of my favorites are Marie Antoinette, the Kill Bills, Do the Right Thing and The Royal Tenenbaums. But Ford took it a bit too far, even for me. At times the beauty was too stilted.
This brings me back to the quote I opened with. When a truly devastating event happens—like losing a loved one—perception is changed. While nothing of this magnitude has ever happened to me (knock on wood), I can imagine someone becoming super aware and sensitized to the surrounding world—and its lack of that loved one. But I think Ford’s personal history has more to do with his choices for visuals. Ford, for those who don’t know, is coming to film from fashion. He is one of the most famous fashion designers from the last twenty years, revitalizing Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent in the nineties and then moving on to his own brand.
I think this is why the film became a little stiff. A fashion photograph is one image: you take a minute to consume the whole thing; gasping at the different intensities your eye travels to. To take this same approach for creation and apply it to film, it becomes too much. Too many shots were aiming for this high level of beauty. So its highlight also became its shortcoming.
On top of that, some of the filming tricks were a little bit corny. George is surprised by an owl in front of his window, and then owl flies off in a slow motion shot. This ruined the audiences’ ability to share in George’s surprise: the initial sight of it jerked us, but to keep us off balance, the shot should have been done in real time. On the other hand, there were a few scenes that used choppy cutting. This can be cool, but there were too many cuts, so that the build-up to an illicit outdoors kiss (it is the sixties, after all! What will the neighbors think?) between George and his lover Jim is too drawn out.
All in all, though, it was a solid start for Ford, and I’ll be very interested to see what he does (if he does) for his second film.
Byram Hills High School Winter Concerts
Musical performances were held throughout the holiday season under the direction of Band Director Marna Weiss. Photoed above is the combined Concert and Symphonic Bands performing Coldplay on Stage.
Barak Obama's Family in Honolulu, Hawaii. Photo Courtesy Tom Boyle.
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Click reel above to watch
SMALL SCREEN
presentation of
Madelyn Dunham and Barak Obama The American Dream produced by Tom Boyle
Next to Normal wins two Tony Awards.
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Byram Hills Graduate Tom Kitt Makes it Big on Broadway
June 14, 2009 By Amanda Jean Boyle & Michelle Boyle
A Long Island piano teacher warned Judy Kitt that
she was verging on stage mother territory. Mrs. Kitt, an Armonk
resident, had brought her five-year-old son in for lessons. But Mrs.
Kitt was not an overzealous and blindly proud mother, she knew her son
Thomas had real talent. At four Thomas had been stringing together
notes and chords on his own; he needed special attention to grow. She
insisted that Gloria, the teacher, at least listen, and when she did,
Thomas’ natural talent was undeniable.
And then last week, Tom Kitt won two Tony Awards. Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) written for the Theatre – “Next to Normal” Music: Tom Kitt, Lyrics: Brian Yorkey and Best Orchestrations - Michael Starobin & Tom Kitt, “Next to Normal”. This second Tony was awarded as a tie with Martin Koch, “Billy Elliot”.
Gloria contributed to the beginning of Tom’s musical journey, teaching him until he was seven, after which there was nothing new she could help him with. So Tom moved on, taking lessons with Joel Rosen, a celebrated pianist with the Benny Goodman Band.
Rosen at the time ran a music school at his personal music studio in Ardsley and Joy Rosen, the late Mr. Rosen’s wife, fondly recalls the time the young boy spent there, “Tom was quite a boy, he was very focused. He and my husband became very close. They were in the living room on a Friday afternoon when the visiting nurse arrived. Lessons were usually one hour, the nurse encouraged the two to finish the piece they were working on since Tom was doing so well. That two hour Friday session was their last and because of those two hours, Joel left us on a high note on that Monday when he died in 1998. Tom absorbed so much from Joel over the four years they worked together.”
Engagement Rules presented by The Small Town Theatre
The Small Town Theatre
"Donna and I are delighted that this program has more than exceeded our expectations. Our North Castle residents, and beyond, are beginning to make a pilgrimage to Hergenhan every third Thursday evening along with their family, friends, and neighbors to enjoy an evening of plays in a warm and intimate environment, " says Sam Morell, producer of Small Town Theatre. "Donna and I are thankful for the loyalty and support of our audience members and we will do everything we can to ensure quality programming and responsiveness to our patrons needs."
Recent testimonials received from audiences:
"Thanks so much for bringing these (shows) to us here in Armonk. The town is richer for it."- Bob
"Thank you for so much delightful fun.Wonderful Show- last night ....can only give rave reviews. Thank you."- N
"What the Small Town Theatre Company is providing for Armonk is really exciting. Thanks for bringing all this wonderful culture to us. Hope to make it to a few of the play readings over the winter."-Carol
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Fostering Sense of Community
August 16, 2009
As the sunset tonight The Small Town Theatre Company brought us a really big show at the gazebo. Music at the Brook’s event was Broadway in the Park, where tunes from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Camelot, Little Shop of Horrors, Les Misérables, Jesus Christ Superstar and more were performed. A couple of hundred people attended and enjoyed the evening of music and entertainment of Broadway show tunes.
Bob Romano said, “The sense of community and neighbor to neighbor contact here is priceless. This is what North Castle is all about.” Jane Wyker thought, “The concerts are a tremendous boost to the community. It’s really so good that families and people of all ages gather together.”
As usual Beascakes Bakery graciously offered free coffee and homemade doughnuts.
Derek Maslin, Spencer Schilsky and Dom Lagravinese of Interrobang!
Rock for Relief: A Benefit for Haiti
January 18, 2010 By Caryl Hahn
Last night the community of North Castle came together to raise money for relief and rescue efforts in Haiti. Rock for Relief: A Benefit for Haiti featured six different musical acts, including The Velcrows, a local cover band. The other musical acts were all students from Byram Hills High School and were made up of: Samantha Birkenholz and Jeff March, Michael Stein and Ben Strick, Interrobang: Spencer Schilsky, Dom LaGravinese, Derek Maslin and Evan Hahn, The Tim Gallagher Sextet: Tim Gallagher, Jeff March, Mike Cziner, Zander Weiss, Sasha Abramowitz and Matt Birkenholz, Subject to Change: Kaila Allison, Nikki Allison, Matt Birkenholz, Sam Birkenholz with special guests: Ali Hahn, Zach Berro and Jeff Hahn.
“It was a great night for everyone,” said Randi Nielsen, lead singer for the Velcrows and one of the organizers of the evening. “It was a chance for the community to come together and do something for people in an unimaginable situation. There were so many of us who felt helpless and really wanted to do something. It also gave the local young musicians a place to play and be part of a great cause." The event raised nearly $4,000 through donations and raffles. Route 22 Restaurant generously donated a portion of the evenings sales from food and beverages. The raffles were provided by local restaurants and community members: Route 22 Restaurant, Made In Asia, David Chen, Broadway North Pizza, as well as the Birkenholz and Allison families. The monies will be divided among three charities: AmeriCares, Save The Children and Partners in Health. Randi Nielsen explains, "the charities were selected as they already had organizations in Haiti and could get the relief to the neediest quickly." Photos by Bob Romano
Chamber Music at the Library
November 15, 2009
Baroque and Classical music filled the magazine room on Sunday afternoon. The acoustics were very good with the wood shelves and furniture complimenting the instrumental musical trio of the cello, flute and violin.
Cellist Jay Shulman said, "We are here because of my Syracuse friend Fran Davies, Library Program Director. We are happy to be back to play this program for such an appreciative audience."
Violinist Linda Finegan said, "It was a pleasure for us to play to such a big crowd. This is a nice venue for Chamber music. You can feel us breathing, see us sway and feel the music. It's a whole different experience than when we play in a hall."
Flutist Pamela Sklar composed the closing piece "Wood". She said, "It has to do with the properties of sound and feeling of wood and the way it breathes. One of my favorite instruments includes the cello and the open sound of the strings. You can hear the quality of the sound because of the resonance of the wood."
Sunday Music sessions continue free at the library with sponsorship by the Friends of the North Castle Public Library, Inc.
The Armonk Players Presents Georges
Feydeau's A Flea in Her Ear Directed by Pia Haas
With:
Miguel Acevedo, Nina Biancardi, Beth Brandon, Daniel Carlino, Christine
Dannic, Doug DeMarco, Charles Hallock, Dana Laite, James Lugo, Jeff
Miller, Chris Rudy, Mark Snyder, Marci Stearns-McCormick and Missy Stone
A classic of French* farce, A Flea in Her Ear begins with Madame
Chandebise's mistaking her husband Victor's lack of passion for her as
evidence of an affair he is carrying on behind her back. To prove her
suspicions, Raymonde writes an anonymous letter to him requesting a
romantic rendezvous at a disreputable hotel. Victor misinterprets the
letter and sends his friend Tournel, a notorious womanizer, in his
place. This results in a series of misunderstandings, misplaced
jealousies, mistaken identities and numerous side-splitting
complications.
