Reviewing the Drama: Broadway, Off-Broadway, Ballet, Movies, and TV Reviews

The winners for the 89th Academy Awards have been announced and honored. Herein, the full list of winners. (Winners are notated with an asterisk, and are in bold typeface.) Best Picture Arrival Fences Hacksaw Ridge Hell or High Water Hidden Figures La La Land Lion Manchester by the Sea Moonlight * Maybe the best moment and surprise of the night, the right movie actually won! And you know that "There's been a mistake. Moonlight , you guys won Best Picture," will be not only be remembered for years to come, but will also be part of the Oscars promo next year with a tagline like, "It's live. Anything can happen." Actor in a Leading Role Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea* Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge Ryan Gosling, La La Land Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic Denzel Washington, Fences Actress in a Leading Role Isabelle Huppert, Elle Ruth Negga, Loving Natalie Portman, Jackie Emma Stone, La La Land * Meryl Streep, Florence F...

The nominees for the 89th Academy Awards have been announced. Jimmy Kimmel is set to host the February 26 ceremony. Herein, the full list of nominees. Best Picture Arrival Fences Hacksaw Ridge Hell or High Water Hidden Figures La La Land Lion Manchester by the Sea Moonlight Actor in a Leading Role Casey Affleck , Manchester by the Sea Andrew Garfield , Hacksaw Ridge Ryan Gosling , La La Land Viggo Mortensen , Captain Fantastic Denzel Washington , Fences Actress in a Leading Role Isabelle Huppert , Elle Ruth Negga , Loving Natalie Portman , Jackie Emma Stone , La La Land Meryl Streep , Florence Foster Jenkins Actor in a Supporting Role Mahershala Ali , Moonlight Jeff Bridges , Hell or High Water Lucas Hedges , Manchester by the Sea Dev Patel , Lion Michael Shannon , Nocturnal Animals Actress in a Supporting Role Viola Davis , Fences Naomie Harris , Moonlight Nicole Kidman , Lion Octavia Spencer , Hidden Figures Michelle Williams , Man...

"If I feel it, someone's gonna know it." That's Strings McCrane in a nutshell. McCrane is the country music star and matinee idol at the center of Kenneth Lonergan 's latest work, Hold On To Me Darling . The title is the name of one of Strings' songs, and it's also what Strings is searching for. We first meet Strings (Timothy Olyphant) in a Kansas City hotel room. He's in KC to shoot a movie (which has already gone over due to Strings' "process"), but production has stopped so Strings can mourn the loss of his mother. Without her as his constant, he doesn't know where home is anymore. Strings has people around him, to be sure. He has, for example, his assistant, Jimmy ( Keith Nobbs ), who is at his beck and call. Jimmy describes himself as Strings' closest friend, but this doesn't do the trick. Strings is still longing for a connection. Playwright Lonergan ( This Is Our Youth , You Can Count On Me ) takes his time dev...

Set over 30 years ago; written about 20 years ago; feels totally current. The angst, the identity crises, the longing to rise above your parents and figure out what makes you happy... It's all the same. Methods, cultural references and technology might be different, but that's superficial. This is our youth. Set on the Upper West Side in March 1982, Kenneth Lonergan 's long-gestating This is Our Youth takes a look at disaffected, upper-middle class (maybe wholly upper class) Jewish young adults, who are not quite ready for the "adult" part of that descriptor. Lights come up on Dennis (Kieran Culkin), who is pulled out of his TV-watching trance when Warren (Michael Cera) rings his buzzer. Warren has been kicked out of his home by his father and is looking to crash with Dennis, who is definitely Warren's weed connection, and possibly his friend. The two pontificate on life, and think up Ponzi-like schemes to get money and girls. Enter Jessica (Tavi Gevins...