Word: effective
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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...splendid spectacle of the holiday season. More than a showcase for dancing, The Nutcracker is a sensory experience--from scenery to costumes to the memorable Tchaikovsky score. And the Boston Ballet production (with a first act that was entirely revamped last year) succeeds admirably in realizing a beautiful overall effect guaranteed to convert even the most cynical grinch to the holiday spirit...
...Adding to the evening's overall dazzling effect are the costumes produced by designer David Walker. Whether outfitting a corps of ballerinas or of mice, his costumes are spectacular. Particularly amusing is Mother Ginger (Tony Collins) in his last transvestite performance after 34 years as the massive lady with eight children tucked away under her skirt. And the four children dressed as marzipan sheep are just cute enough to elicit some gasps otherwise forbidden in the restrained world of ballet audience protocol...
...Having said this, however, it is a pity that the dancing does not always live up to the enchanting effect produced by the scenery, lighting and costumes. Luckily, dancing alone is not the focal point of this classic holiday performance. It is a long ballet, longer than most at two hours, and includes a continuous change of scenery and characters, posing a particularly difficult feat for choreographers. Also, a large part of the action relies on children, who despite their training at the Boston Ballet School, inevitably lack the precision that comes with years of training. Perhaps a reflection...
...recording of the epic concert they held with the San Francisco Symphony last April. It's a risky experiment, but the double disc, which sprawls over 21 tracks, shows that the gambit paid off. The sheer lyrical power of the orchestra blends seamlessly with Metallica's music to staggering effect, as the booming brass and ghostly strings give songs like "Wherever I May Roam" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls" eerie new dimensions. Blistering epics like "Bleeding Me" and "The Outlaw Torn" become even more grandiose in scale, while melodic ballads such as "Until It Sleeps" and "Nothing Else Matters...
...over, the complexities of a man whose only legacy was his music. Allen says of his creation: He was funny. Or if funny is the wrong word, sort of pathetic in a way. I mean he was flamboyant and he was boorish and obnoxious. The documentary conceit has the effect of making the story feel distant and made-up, but it also allows the screenplay to be uninhibited about making the characters into pure flights of fancy, without worrying too much about contradiction or consistency. The movie is more interested in portraying what we might imagine the life...