Stage Play Review:  THE BOOK OF MORMON (2013)  DDD

I usually don't review live theater plays , but this play required special attention.  IT WAS HORRID. A formula play that had the token gays, blacks, weakling men, ugly vulgar curse words and references to parts of men's and women's genitalia that were there only to shock the audience . . . and all the other stuff that you would find in the average low end sitcom including unfunny jokes.

It essentially attempts to ridicule the Mormon practice of sending naive young male missionaries to all parts of the world to spread the word of the positive elements of their belief system.  But it could just as well ridiculed Jews, Christians that believe in the New Testament, Hindus, Buddhists, et.al.  Despicable.

The only redeeming aspect of the play was that the staging, music and dancing and singing were good.

From the NY POST

. . . . Throughout the evening, we get colorfully cartoonish peeks into the origins and tenets of Mormonism. No wonder it was the most successful faith to come out of the United States: Prophet Joseph Smith originated an action-packed saga, which the show places on the same continuum as “Star Trek,” “Star Wars” and the Disney universe.

So, yes, you can read a very clever subtext into “The Book of Mormon,” but you can also relax and enjoy the avalanche of filthy gags, butt jokes and wickedly catchy show tunes. These last incorporate everything from squealing guitar riffs to jazz-hand tap, and range from mock-inspirational ballads to Meat Loaf-style epics, . . . .

TV Series: HOMELAND SEASON 4 (2014) AAA

The ongoing seasons of HOMELAND and THE AMERICANS continue to break new ground in adult entertainment.   HOUSE OF CARDS and IN TREATMENT . . . plus the SOPRANO'S . . . and some of the KILLING were breakthroughs as well. 

As an aside, it is apparent that most of these series provide insightful psychology and/or violent action (or both), which is the obvious direction of the modern ADULT edutainment . . . that sells.  They are not like THE BELLS OF SAINT MARY, THE BOOK OF MORMON,  MAMA MIA, and THE SOUND OF MUSIC which are basically produced for adults who are looking for feel-good children movies . . . which also have their place in the spectrum of the entertainment world (and earn the producers big bucks). 

I am a believer that these various forms of entertainment vehicles should never be compared to each other in an award competition.  It's like comparing a baseball game to a football game. Or Harvard to George Washington High School in upper Manhatten.  It makes no sense whatsoever. 

I honestly can't remember all of the drama and action during of the 12 episodes of HOMELAND, Season 4, but some of the intricate and creative plots combined with super acting takes this series beyond regular Hollywood awards.  These newer TV Series have brought Cable TV to a new level of entertainment and edge-of-your-seat thrills and excitement.  These dramas have also been immeasurably enhanced by the new High Definition 60 inch screens. 

Movie Review: JERSEY BOYS (2014) D-

This one was REALLY BAD.  I would have walked out after 15 minutes but Sandy wanted to stay.  It was like two or three movies patched together. Got a little better as it went along.  Probably had two or three writers. (But it was at least better than the  Book of Mormon).

First the stereotyping of these unfortunate kids that were brought up in Newark NJ was pitiful.  Absolutely no characterization . . . AT ALL. They weren't people.  They were just school dropouts that were bums.  At least Robert De Niro in Taxi was a person.  Christopher Walken, who was supposed to be some sort of mob boss should be ashamed that he took a part in this movie.

Then the bums make good because they meet a songwriter who's songs click with the times. 

Not worth going on with this mess of this movie except the ending was stolen from the movie FAME.

I gave it a D- and not an F because the redo of the music, the Four Seasons sang, was the only good part of the picture.

Some comments from Rotten Tomatoes:

• At times the movie version of "Jersey Boys" captures the electric excitement of the musical, but for every soaring moment, there are 10 minutes of bickering or brooding.

• [The movie] hauls out just about every showbiz cliché in the catalog.

• Some of [characters'] recklessness is so reminiscent of imbecilic television personalities that, by the end of the film's 2 hour 15 minute runtime, they can get a bit grating, which is enhanced by a story that gets progressively heavy-handed as it goes on

• The film doesn't work as a drama, it doesn't work as a comedy and it sure as heck doesn't work as a musical...In all, Jersey Boys delivers the one thing we never expect to see from the latter-day Clint Eastwood: mediocrity.

• At best, it's a watchable mess (right down to its prestige-picture muted color and Eastwood's trademark bad old-age make-up), but it is a mess.