Monthly Archives: January 2011

Bardem the Magnificent

By Victoria Looseleaf This soulful Spaniard has always gotten my vote, so if there is a better actor on the planet at the moment (aside from the always wonderful scenery-chewing Al Pacino and The Big Lebowski’s iconic dude, Jeff Bridges), … Continue reading

Posted in AL PACINO, ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ INARRITU, BIUTIFUL, CANNES FILM FESTIVAL, COLIN FIRTH, JAVIER BARDEM, JEFF BRIDGES, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, OSCARS, Pénelope Cruz, THE KING’S SPEECH | Comments Off on Bardem the Magnificent

Weighing In On Body Fascism

By Victoria Looseleaf It’s Oscar season and feathers have been ruffled. While Darren Aronofsky’s ballet thriller Black Swan received five nods, terpsichorean talk has again turned to the issue of weight. Best actress nominee Natalie Portman reportedly lost 20 pounds … Continue reading

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Bolshoi Means ‘Big’…

By Victoria Looseleaf Too bad in this case, it also means big…disappointment-wise. Who doesn’t love that bastion of beautiful ballet, the Bolshoi, the iconic Russian troupe that’s been around for nearly 250 years. I certainly do. And taking their cues … Continue reading

Posted in ASZURE BARTON, BALANCHINE, BOLSHOI BALLET, DANCE MAGAZINE, KAROLE ARMITAGE, LUCINDA CHILDS, NATALIA OSPIVOA, POLINA SEMIONOVA, THE KINGS OF DANCE, THE THREE TENORS, TONY SOPRANO | Comments Off on Bolshoi Means ‘Big’…

Tango: The Dance of Obsessive Love

By Victoria Looseleaf Having traveled to Buenos Aires to cover dancer Julio Bocca’s farewell performance for the Los Angeles Times (he was a superstar with American Ballet Theatre for two decades as well as having founded his own troupe, Ballet … Continue reading

Posted in ASTOR PIAZZOLLA, BAJOFONDO, ELECTRONICA TANGO, GUSTAVO SANTAOLLA, JULIO BOCCA, Los Angeles Times, MARIA DE LOS BUENOS AIRES, SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, TANGO BUENOS AIRES | Comments Off on Tango: The Dance of Obsessive Love

What She Is

Edie Brickell and friend. Photo by Miss McGillicuddy. By Mary Lyn Maiscott On the eve of Edie Brickell’s release of two new CDs, Edie Brickell and The Gaddabouts (January 11 and 25, respectively), I interviewed the singer—still best known for … Continue reading

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The Dude Abides

By Victoria Looseleaf Move over, Jeff Bridges, there’s a new guy in town. Okay, he’s been here a coupla years already, but he still rocks. Indeed, for those who aren’t yet familiar with Gustavo Dudamel, the Venezuelan-born hotshot music director … Continue reading

Posted in 60 MINUTES, Beethoven, DEBORAH BORDA, DISNEY HALL, FRANK GEHRY, GUSTAVO DUDAMEL, JAY LENO, JOHN ADAMS, LEONARD BERNSTEIN, LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC, MAHLER, NICHOLAS SLONIMSKY, PINK’S, THE DUDE | Comments Off on The Dude Abides

Actress’s Daughter

By Mary Lyn Maiscott I found Gwyneth Paltrow’s rendition of “Country Strong” (the theme from her upcoming movie of the same name) on the CMA awards a couple of months ago rather endearing. She was obviously nervous—despite, according to a … Continue reading

Posted in Country Strong, Faith Hill, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kelly Canter | Comments Off on Actress’s Daughter

O, Blog Divine: Ring Out the Old, Bring On the New

By Victoria Looseleaf Greetings, blogophiles, and welcome to my second annual best/worst list (with less on the latter, in keeping with my new positive ‘tude). In any case, I’m thrilled to say that since I finally learned how to post, … Continue reading

Posted in BLACK SWAN, COLIN FIRTH, DAVID FINCHER, DIAVOLO, FACEBOOK, JACQUES HEIM, JESSE EISENBERG, JULIE TAYMOR, KUSC-FM, L.A. OPERA, MARK TAPER FORUM, Natalie Portman, NEW YORK TIMES, TILDA SWINTON, TRUE GRIT | Comments Off on O, Blog Divine: Ring Out the Old, Bring On the New