Phil on Film: "Kaepernick & America"

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Phil on Film: "Bullet Train"

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PHIL ON FILM: "Uncoupled"

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Book Report: "Fire & Blood"

Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Martin's history book-narrative hybrid occasionally touches on his past greatness, but overall feels like a brain dump of ideas half-formed.

There are gems here, and nothing is dull, but there is an uncharacteristic laziness and reliance on cliches that don't pop up in the mainline "GOT" books.

"Fire & Blood" reads like an outline that Martin would, in a perfect world of unlimited time and ambition, write "A Storm of Ice and Fire"-style saga.

Still, I appreciated the depth and breadth of Martin's vision. There are tons of historical parallels to explore. His political mind is astute, and his romantic mind is wild and borderline perverted. The combination is what ignites his brand.

Those looking for something comparable to his mainline series will be mildly disappointed. But some Martin is better than none. At least he's still writing.

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Review: T-Mobile REVVL 6 Pro 5G

Deep pockets aren't necessary to dive into the 5G smartphone world. Not with budget-friendly options such as the $220 T-Mobile REVVL6 Pro 5G.

Somehow immune to inflation, the device is a rock-solid effort that works well for those seeking a low-overhead entry into the 5G realm. Its slick, easy-to-access interface is also less intimidating than those of the superphones of the world, making the device an excellent pick for older adults or young students.

Feeling solid, durable and well-built in-hand, the phone carries an admirable craftsmanship and appealing look. It can easily be mistaken for an iPhone.

A quantum leap over the REVVL 2 -- the last phone in the series I reviewed -- the phone is meant to hang as a suitable replacement for the likes of the OnePlus 8T 5G or even the Google Pixel 6 Pro.

The 6.82-inch screen shimmers with depth and clarity, and the phone operates at satisfying speeds.

The 6GB of RAM works in concert with the MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G processor for a fluid, fast experience, especially when connected to T-Mobile's 5G network.

Boasting 128GB internal storage, which you can expand via SD card, you have plenty of space to dwonload pictures, music, movies and apps.

The 50MP rear-facing and 16MP front-facing cameras are workmanlike, if unimpressive. It will get the job done for anyone who doesn't need bells and whistles on higher-grade phones.

To keep the price tag down, minor corners were cut, but the lack of water resistance or inductive charging could nag those who are used to such benefits.

Still, the pros outweigh the cons considerably, particularly for those looking to cut down on costs while not sacrificing much in the way of performance or quality.

T-Mobile sent product for review.

PHIL ON FILM: "The Gray Man"

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Broadway in Tucson Review: "Pretty Woman"

Easygoing, free-spirited and fun, "Pretty Woman" is a joy to behold. 

Its cast sparkles with an overpowering sense of fun that makes it seem as though they can't believe they're getting paid to do what they do. The infectious sense of joy wafts through the audience, which is filled with giggles and applause. 

Effervescent and boisterous as call-girl-with-a-heart-of-gold Vivian, Olivia Valli buoys the show with a charismatic and tireless lead performance, powering nearly every scene with her arresting performance.

Intentionally stiff and proper as wealthy businessman Edward Lewis, Adam Pascal is her apt counterpoint. His staid, proper persona melts away for occasional bursts of joyous energy, underlining the character's transformation.

The script hews close to the film, including the giant cell phone 1990 Los Angeles setting, but changes things up in a few key places to add some welcome flourishes. Although the landmark performances of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere set the template, Valli and Pascal make the characters their own. Also making her mark is Keyonna Knight as Kit De Luca, Vivian's friend who supports her unlikely rise to the high life.

Vivacious ensemble performances by the likes of Nella Cole, Natalie Bourgeois, Carissa Gaughran, Matthew Stocke and Christian Brailsford pace the show's myriad set swaps and costume changes, taking the scene from ritzy dance halls, dingy street corners, to country clubs and the opera.

The most impressive addition is that of Happy Man (Michael Dalke), a mulleted burst of sunshine who plays myriad characters, including a hotel manager, homeless star maps distributer and even a band pit composer. The magical realism-infused character serves as the spiritual North Star of the production, signifying a self-belief in defiant dreams that leads to success and fulfillment.

Although bursting with positive messaging and boundless romance, "Pretty Woman" never strays into preachy territory. Its upbeat, heart-lifting tone gets your heart thumping along to its beat.

"Pretty Woman" plays at Centennial Hall through July 24. For tickets, click here.

Book Report: To the Lighthouse

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This book was extremely dry, and lacks the biting wit and observational skill of some of her better work. It was agonizing to get through, with no real plot development or sense of storytelling momentum. Its characters are slim and perfunctory. A foreboding sense of gloom hangs over the entire tale. The book was slow, arduous and unchallenging. It wallows in unnecessary detail and struggles to find a voice. Just miserable.

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PHIL ON FILM: "Thor: Love and Thunder"

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PHIL ON FILM: "The Princess"

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PHIL ON FILM: "Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down"

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Book Report: "Madame Bovary."

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Flaubert tells a tragicomic satire of social excess, focusing on a respected, moneyed woman who squanders her livelihood and family fortune on whims and excesses.

Slow-moving yet commanding, the author's storytelling blossoms into stunning revelations and watershed denouements. She strives to deceive her husband, lover and shopkeeper with whom she racks up credit bills, but ends up only punishing herself. There are definite parallels to our time of easy credit and rapid inflation.

I left fulfilled but somewhat disappointed. I expected to be shaken and moved by a classic of such a reputation, but instead got the equivalent of a solid but unastonishing beach read. I recommend reading it but with dampened expectations.

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PHIL ON FILM: "Murder at Yellowstone City"

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Book Report: "The Importance of Being Earnest"

 

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oscar Wilde is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. Even though "The Importance of Being Earnest" feels like a somewhat phoned-in, consequenceless work, it's a fun ready due to his lively -- if somewhat formulaic -- wordplay, and hilarious context codes that reference the gay subculture of 19th century Britain.

Above all, Wilde prizes entertainment and pacing. His tale of wily bachelors who masquerade under fake names as they tiptoe around social conventions to preserve their confirmed bachelorhood as long as possible.

If there's a fault to Wilde's writing, it's that every character speaks in the same voice. It didn't bother me much, because what they have to say is so clever and amusing. This is a fun and wildly entertaining play that I would love to see live.



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PHIL ON FILM: "Lightyear"

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Book Report: "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire"

 

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An essential, if thoroughly labored, rundown of the myriad factors that toppled the Jenga tower that was the Roman Empire, Gibbon's long-winded, dry tome dutifully lays out a compelling narrative.

Sorting through mountains of fact, fiction and conjecture to delve at a semblance of the truth, Gibbon explains how a combination of inner strife, the spread of Christianity and Muslim and marauding barbarians created a headwind that blew the whole house down.

Coloring barely-known characters with intriguing anecdotes while cutting away the noise to get at the truth of such figures as Nero, Gibbon accomplishes an authoritative work that bears significant warnings for the American political-cultural empire to heed.

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PHIL ON FILM: "Jurassic World Dominion"

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Broadway in Tucson Review: "Come From Away"

 It's a tough prospect to turn a story based on 9/11 into a feel-good extravaganza, but that's exactly what "Come From Away" succeeds at pulling off.

Set in Gander, Newfoundland, where several planes were grounded immediately following the attacks, the vivacious, incessantly positive musical captures joy and delight in the interactions of people from varied walks of life and parts of the world who were thrust together for the better part of the week.

The core ensemble of Sharone Sayegh, Harter Clingman, Marika Aubrey, Julia Knitel and James Earl Jones II oozes with enthusiasm, chemistry and polish. They make up a troupe of true believers who are locked into their cause of replicating the magic of the original Broadway production, which took home a Best Director Tony in 2017.

From the outset, with the show-starter "Welcome to the Rock" revving up the audience in the manner of Lin-Manuel Miranda's "In the Heights" and "Hamilton" openings, the show soars with irreversible energy. 

The 105-minute production, which has no intermission to trip it up, delivers a stream of related anecdotest that coalesce into poignant moments of truth and understanding. A particularly resonant moment has characters of varied faiths praying in harmonic unison.

While the show courageously tackles racism and homophobia, it embraces a neighborly glee that one would like to think is at the center of all facets of humanity. The magical tendency to make a little more space, rustle up a little more food or lend a bit more of understanding to your fellow man is certainly present in the residents of Gander.

The choreography is adorably hokey, as though derived from a square dance, and the rhythm dares the audience not to clap along. The orchestra matches the cast in high-energy enthusiasm throughout, note for note and beat for beat.

With ample good-natured humor and romance, "Come From Away" guides the shared hearts of the auidence and lifts them airborn to stratospheric heights. Would that we all could be as giving appreciative as the Newfoundlanders on 9/11.

"Come From Away" plays at Centennial Hall through May 29. To buy tickets, click here.

PHIL ON FILM: "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness"

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Book Report: "The Bell Jar"

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sylvia Plath's autobiographical novel is chilly, incredibly smart and observant.

A breakthrough in feminist literature, the book feels vital and relevant despite the passage of more than half a century. Maybe its significance continues to grow as society evolves to match the work, which was considerably ahead of its time.

Plath's sardonic mentality reveals how much of an influence she was on Lisa Simpson, who carries on Plath's satirical perspective today.

The protagonist struggles with turmoil brought on by harsh social expectations pressed on her by the patriarchy, as well as inner struggles with her optimism and ability to find a reason to keep pressing forward.

On the downside, the book does read a bit Liver Journal-y, but its navel-gazing tendencies also help demonstrate the askew perspective of life trapped in the bell jar.

In all, the novel is a glorious and vital accomplishment that makes me want to read the rest of Plath's work.

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