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

The winners of the 88th Academy Awards have been announced. Herein, the full list of winners. (Winners are notated with an asterisk and bold typeface.) Best Picture The Big Short Bridge of Spies Brooklyn Mad Max: Fury Road The Martian The Revenant Room Spotlight * Yes! What a fabulous choice! This is everything a Best Picture should be: well-crafted, substantive, fantastic cast, and with something to say about our society. Excellent.   Best Actor in a Leading Role Bryan Cranston, Trumbo Matt Damon, The Martian Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant * Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl Y'all, I love Leo. It was all but a foregone conclusion that he was (FINALLY) going to win, and so the smart, thoughtful, passionate actor took the opportunity to craft a speech ahead of time. He not only spoke nicely about the professional achievement, but wove his work as an actor seamlessly into his work as an activist. Perfect speech for the best...

The 73rd Golden Globe Awards were handed out on Sunday in a Ricky Gervais -hosted ceremony. Herein, the full list of winners. (Winners are notated with an asterisk and bold typeface.) Film Best Motion Picture, Drama Carol Mad Max: Fury Road The Revenant * Room Spotlight Best Motion Picture, Comedy The Big Short Joy The Martian* Spy Trainwreck Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama Cate Blanchett, Carol Brie Larson, Room* Rooney Mara, Carol Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama Bryan Cranston, Trumbo   Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant * Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl Will Smith, Concussion Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical Jennifer Lawrence, Joy* Melissa McCarthy, Spy Amy Schumer, Trainwreck Maggie Smith, The Lady in the Van Lily Tomlin, Grandma Best Performance...

Revenant is from the French, and refers to someone who returns, often a spirit or ghost who returns from the dead. Those who believe in ghosts (friendly or otherwise) will tell you that they return in order to take care of unfinished business. Such was the case with 1820s frontiersman Hugh Glass, who, after being left for dead after a bear attack, returned to avenge his son's death. The Revenant  is, as the advertisements say, inspired by a true story, and it's truly unbelievable. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Glass, who, along with his adolescent son Hawk (Glass is American, Hawk's mother is Native American), is part of a fur-trapping expedition. The American fur-trapping clan are continually at odds with Native Americans, as well as rival French fur companies. (There will be several skirmishes among the three cohorts in different combinations throughout.) When Glass is mauled by a bear, two of his "colleagues" and his son stay behind under the auspices of seein...