Film Review 2

                                          Anonymous 

Cast:

• Rhys Ifans as Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford
• Vanessa Redgrave as Elizabeth I of England
• Sebastian Armesto as Ben Jonson, poet and playwight
• Rafe Spall as William Shakespeare
• David Thewlis as William Cecil
• Edward Hogg as Robert Cecil
• Joely Richardson as young Queen Elizabeth
• Paolo De Vita as Francesco
• Robert Emms as Thomas Dekker, dramatist
• Tony Way as Thomas Nashe, poet and satirist
• Helen Baxendale as Anne de Vere

Directed by Roland Emmerich.

   Synopsis:Anonymous is a historical film that that suggests Shakespeare was a fraud.Edward de Vere was an aristocrat who had a great talent to write the wonderful plays,but due to social and political constraints he couldn't mention his name as the author.That's why drunken, illiterate, fame-hungry actor William    passed off the plays as his own.Shakespeare however, having discovered the real author's identity, extorts money from de Vere to build the Globe Theatre.The film is full of intrigues that happened at Elizabeth's court.
  Review: Throughout the ages experts have debated, books have been written, and scholars have devoted their lives to protecting or debunking theories surrounding the authorship of the most renowned works in English literature,especially works of Shakespeare. Anonymous poses one possible answer, focusing on a time when cloak-and-dagger political intrigue, illicit romances in the Royal Court, and the schemes of greedy nobles hungry for the power of the throne were exposed in the most unlikely of places: the London stage.
The cast is strong. And the most pleasing aspect of ‘Anonymous’ is its sheer sense of humour. Anonymous is an historical thriller because it was a battle for power between Tudors on one side and the Cecils on the other.
 To my mind the film is great!I was absorbed in the atmosphere of Elizabethan England,got to know a lot about the culture.This is a visually stunning movie with wonderful costumes and incredible set dressings. I don't agree with the history of   Shakespeare that have shown in the film,but costumes,music and acting are worth of seeing. 

Pleasure Reading.Part 6

   Gatsby told Nick the story of his first meeting with Daisy.  Gatsby and Daisy first met in Louisville in 1917; Gatsby was instantly smitten with her wealth, her beauty, and her youthful innocence.Realizing that she would reject his proposal  Gatsby determined to lie to her about his past and his circumstances.Before he left for the war, Daisy promised to wait for him.The had a sexual affair as though to seal their pact.In fact Daisy did not wait; she married Tom, who was her social equal and the choice of her parents.
    Nick learned about Myrtle's death.George Wilson told Michaelis that he confronted Myrtle with the evidence of her affair and told her that, although she could conceal her sin from her husband, she could not hide it from the eyes of God.Wilson assumed that the driver of the fatal car was Myrtle's lover, and decided to punish this man for his sins.He asked Tom Buchanan about the driver's identity.Tom told him that Gatsby was the driver.Wilson drove to Gatsby's mansion,killed him and killed himself.
   We got to know that Daisy was driving the car when it stroke Myrtle – but he was prepared to sacrifice himself, to let everybody think that he was the one driving the car.

Pleasure Reading.Part 5

   Nick told the reader truth about the Gatsby's past.All the facts about him were outrageous lie,even his personal name was lie.His real name was James Gatz, and he was born to an impoverished farmer in North Dakota, rather than into wealth in San Francisco. He didn't grow up wealthy; he grew up poor.He had his named legally changed to Jay Gatsby at the age of seventeen.He did attend St Olaf's, a small college in Minnesota and dreamed about successful career and self-improvement.Some time later Gatsby met Dan Cody,a man of 55,a self-made millionaire who had made his fortune during the Yukon gold rush.  Cody took Gatsby in and made the young man his personal assistant. When Cody died, Gatsby inherited a large sum of money and vowed to become a success in his own right.
  Nick visited Gatsby in his mansion and shocked to find Tom Buchanan there.The next Saturday, Tom and Daisy both come to Gatsby's party.Tom wanted to find out "the truth" about Gatsby – mostly how he had got his money.Daisy was extremely certain that Gatsby's money came from drugstores.Nick realized that Gatsby wanted Daisy to tell Tom that she had never loved him.

Rendering 7.Theatre

    The article under consideration is headlined "Сhoreographer Gillian Lynne says 'Reality TV is harming the theatre".It is published on the website of the newspaper "The Guardian" on March 24,2013.The author of of the article is Vanessa Thorpe.In the current article the author draws attention that television is really danger to theater.
    Gillian Lynne is famous cheoreographer in London. She worries about the future of the theater.Gillian Lynne, the doyenne of live dance as choreographer of Cats, The Phantom of The Opera and Aspects of Love, is to receive an Olivier award for lifetime achievement next month.According to her opinion television, especially reality TV, is a danger because producers drop someone into a role who has been on television. It's not healthy. They want only instant fame.
     The author underlines that Lynne is the most successful choreographer of several generations. Lynne worked most recently on the West End show Dear World, but her life in dance started in London's East End at the age of 16. Later, she danced with Sadler's Wells Ballet and at Covent Garden, before turning to acting, choreography and directing.
   The author stressed Her Olivier award means she joins an elite list of previous recipients, including Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim, Dame Maggie Smith.Lynne danced the Black Queen in Checkmate, among other leading roles, at the Royal Opera House, where Dame Ninette de Valois picked her out as a rebel.
   The article reports that eventually, Lynne left Covent Garden, returning much later to choreograph and dance in opera interludes.She considered that people must work hard in order to become very famous.Infant fame for her is not very bad.

  To my mind,in spite of the many challenges of the theater,this ancient type of art  would never die. 

Rendering 6.Theatre

    The article published on the website of the newspaper "The New York Times" on March 20,2013 is headlined 71 Years in New York City is enough for Elaine Stritch.The article is written by Patric Healy.In the current article the author speaks about Ms. Stritch, the husky-voiced actress who, decided to finish her career and return home.
    Ms. Stritch is a beloved cabaret star at the Carlyle Hotel.She arrived in New York 71 years ago to become a star, and enrolled in finishing school on the Upper East Side - studying acting. Within four years she was making her Broadway debut, in the 1946 flop play “Loco” and soon after appeared in her first Broadway musical, “Angel in the Wings.”
     The author underlines that Ms. Stritch   became an interpreter of Stephen Sondheim, earning a Tony nomination for singing “The Ladies Who Lunch”  and battled alcoholism and diabetes while embodying the grittiest of gritty broads on television.Her last turn on Broadway was in 2010, as Madame Armfeldt in the revival of the Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical “A Little Night Music.”
     The author stresses  that   Ms. Stritch is tired of performances and she is sick of the competition in New York.However she loves being on Broadway.It must be admitted that she has no energy now.
    The article draws a conclusion that before finishing the career   Ms. Stritch performs one last show, “Elaine Stritch at the Carlyle: Movin’ Over and Out.” A final tribute show would be the perfect way to announce she is moving and give her fans the chance to say farewell up close and personal.
  Unfortunately I have never heard about this actress before,but now I think she is very talented and clever woman.It is a very right decision to finish your career if you are not be able to manage with the work.

Rendering 5.Theatre

    The article under consideration is headlined 'UK playwright plans musical of Anders Breivik's Norway killings'.It It is published on the website of the newspaper "The Guardian" on March 24,2013.The author of of the article is Vanessa Thorpe.In the current article the author speaks about a new a musical show based on the murders in Norway committed in 2011 by Anders Breivik.
    One of Britain's acclaimed writers for the stage, David Greig, has created this show.He also the author of the book for the new Sam Mendes film musical of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Greig has called his new show "The Events",which  examines the limits of human empathy.It will be premiered this summer at Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre, before it travels to London for a run at the Young Vic.
   The author of the article underlines that Greig was most interested in how Norwegian society was feeling. David visited Oslo before the writing and  some people asked him not to write or talk about Breivik. However he wants to understand him and his actions and show his thoughts about it in the musical show.
   The article reports that Greig spoke to many who had lost friends and relatives.As a result, the writer eventually decided not to name Breivik in the show and to relocate the atrocity to his native Scotland.His story centres on a woman, described as being "at the centre of the events", who has to try to decide on her response to the impact of a politically and racially motivated mass murder.
    The author stresses that  Greig was interested in how people responded.Because Breivik's violence was done to an entire society. The writer said he hoped the show would give the audience an experience almost the opposite of a Greek tragedy, which follows a character's thirst for revenge.
     The article draws a conclusion that the playwright's earlier work Dunsinane was recently produced for the Hampstead Theatre by the Royal Shakespeare Company and he is working on plays for the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Court in London. Greig hopes "The Events" will make audiences wonder whether a mass murderer such as Osama bin Laden is so different to a lone killer such as Breivik.
     To my mind it is not a good idea to write the whole play about the person,who is a murder of 77 people.He is not deserved it!Also this musical show is painful for many people who has lost their friends and relatives.

Pleasure Reading.Part 4

    When Nick arrived home after his talk with Jordan, Gatsby was waiting for him, excited as a little kid but  tried to hide it.Gatsby asked Nick to arrange  his meeting with Daisy.Nick agreed to do so.It was a rainy day when  Daisy and  Gatsby met,they both were very nervous.The meeting took place at Nick's house and, initially, their conversation was stilted and awkward.Nick left the couple alone for a few minutes. When he returned, they seemed luminously happy.
    They made their way over to Gatsby's mansion, of which Gatsby proceeded to give them a carefully rehearsed tour. Gatsby showed Daisy newspaper clippings detailing his exploits.When he showed her his vast collection of imported shirts, she began to weep tears of joy. Nick wondered whether Gatsby was disappointed with Daisy,with her behaviour. Gatsby imagined her as a goodness,she couldn't  possibly live up to so grandiose an ideal.  

Rendering 4.Art

    The article published on the website "Mutual Art.com"on March 6, 2013 is headlined “Women who Changed Art”. The article is written by Lihi Raviv.In the current article the author speaks about the life and work of six influential women who were great and famous artists.The article was published in honor of International Women’s Day.
   The article is divided into 6 sections.In the first one the author draws attention to a great American artist of the 20th-century Georgia O'Keeffe.She liked to experience with visual edges that have metaphysical implications: between night and day, earth and sky, life and death.O'Keeffe's flower paintings have often been called erotic,she used erotically charged imagery.
  In the second the author gives information about Ella McBride.She was an internationally noted fine-art photographer environmentalist, and civic leader at a time when women were expected to be home keepers.She was a feminist and a working artist.
    Another very famous women,whom the author tells about, is Mary Cassatt.Cassatt's paintings have been most admired for her sensitive and realistically observations of women, often with their children.Cassatt’s world was dominated by the feminine.As for the subjects of her works,they are focused on mothers and their children.
   The article reports about Louise Bourgeois.She was a French-born American artist who gained fame only late in her career.In her works, she focused on the human body’s need for nurture and protection.Her career was an example for a successful woman artist.
   The author underlined that Frida Kahlo has become one of the leading icons in women’s art today. She is one of the first twentieth century fine artists to paint in detail about childbirth, miscarriages and other women's issues.
And the last but not least woman  that the author has listed is Marina Abramovich. She is one of the most exciting contemporary performance artists in the world. Her work explores the relationship between performer and audience, the limits of the body and the possibilities of the mind.
   No doubt,these women are worthy of admiration!

Rendering 3.Art

     The article under consideration is headlined "Louvre hails Mexican school".It is published on the website of the newspaper "The Art Newspaper"on March 6,2013.The author of of the article is Gareth Harris.In the current article the author speaks about the new exhibition that takes place in Louvre.
     The author underlined that the Louvre plans to widen its geographical remit and acquire more paintings by Latin American artists, starting with the Mexican school. The Paris museum has just one work by a 17th-century Mexican artist and wants to enlarge their collection.
    The author stresses that the quality of many Mexican paintings are poor.That's why the organizer of the   exhibition“Mexican Art at the Louvre: Masterpieces from the 17th and 18th Centuries”was very selective.
     The article reports that ten of the works due to go on show are drawn from Mexican museums and public collections, including the Museo Nacional de Arte in Mexico City. According to many specialists, the public will be impressed by the large size of some of the works, such as paintings by Cristóbal de Villalpando.
   Also the author draws attention that the works will be displayed among Spanish paintings of the same period that are shown as part of the permanent collection.The Louvre is interested  in Latin American art of the colonial era.
   The article draws a conclusion that this year is the Year of Mexico in France.So,with the help of these exhibitions, people in France will be able to sturdy Mexican Art.
    To my mind it will be good exhibition,this is an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with new works of art and new famous artists.

Pleasure Reading, Part 3

   One morning, Gatsby invited Nick to lunch in the city. He proudly displayed his Rolls-Royce, then abruptly asked Nick what he thought of him.During the meting  Gatsby told the long history about his past experiences.At lunch, Gatsby introduced Carraway to Meyer Wolfsheim, who proudly called their attention to his cufflinks, which were made from human molars. Wolfsheim was an infamous gambler, and claimed responsibility for fixing the 1919 World Series. Nick began to suspect Gatsby of underworld dealings, due to his association with the sinister Wolfsheim. During Nick's next encounter with Jordan Baker, he got to know the  remarkable news: Gatsby was in love with Daisy Buchanan.According to Jordan, Gatsby bought his house in West Egg just in order to be close to Daisy.It was at this moment that Nick realized that the green light, toward which he saw Gatsby so plaintively gesturing, was the light that marked the end of the Buchanans' dock. Jordan informed Nick that Gatsby wanted him to arrange a reunion between himself and Daisy.

Rendering #9

     The article under consideration is headlined"Jennifer Lawrence: how Hollywood fell in love with this perfectly imperfect star".It is published on the website of the newspaper "The Guardian" on February 25,2013.The author of of the article is Catherine Shoard.In the current article the author speaks about a brilliant victory of Jennifer Lawrence.She won Oscar in the nomination for the Best Actress role.
   The author underlines the young age of the winner.It is remarkable to win Oscar at the age of the 22.She is so young and at the same time so talented.
    The article reports that the reaction  to the victory of  Jennifer Lawrence was different.Some can't understand how became the best actress.However Lawrence actually went into the ceremony as bookies' favourite.Academy members felt she was the most skilled of the bunch. It was because they'd fallen in love with her.
   The author stresses that Hollywood doesn't adore any young star as much as they do Lawrence. According to the academy members' opinion she is incredibly good-looking, immediately charismatic, confident, witty and capable of maturity far beyond her years.Last year she didn't only carry a grownup screwball comedy; she also starred in a teen film which led to her being named the highest-grossing female action hero of all time.
   In addition the  author draws attention to her confusing situation during the award ceremony. Jennifer Lawrence made it a hat-trick: tripping on her dress, falling on her face, then picking herself off, dusting herself down and delivering a speech of killer self-deprecation.
   The article draws a conclusion that  Lawrence is a  beautiful girl and talented actress.Photos show her amiably flipping the bird at photographers; a perfectly imperfect star, she's got Hollywood wrapped round her middle finger.
   I think she is a wonderful actress and in spite of the fact that she is so young, Jennifer Lawrence deserved this award.  

Film Review 1

                        Girl with a Pearl Earring(2003)

Cast:

• Colin Firth as Johannes Vermeer

• Scarlett Johansson as Griet

• Tom Wilkinson as Pieter van Ruijven

• Cillian Murphy as Pieter

• Judy Parfitt as Maria Thins

• Essie Davis as Catharina Bolnes

• Anna Popplewell as Maertge

• Alakina Mann as Cornelia

Directed by Peter Webber .

Synopsis: This film, adapted from a work of fiction by author Tracy Chevalier, tells a story about the events surrounding the creation of the painting "Girl With A Pearl Earring" by 17th century Dutch master Johannes Vermeer. Little is known about the girl in the painting, it is speculated that she was a maid who lived in the house of the painter along with his family and other servants, though there is no historical evidence . This masterful film attempts to recreate the mysterious girl's life. Griet, played by Scarlett Johansson, is a maid in the house of painter Johannes Vermeer, played by British actor Colin Firth. Vermeer's wealthy patron and sole means of support, Van Ruijven, commissions him to paint Griet with the intent that he will have her for himself before it is finished. She must somehow secretly pose for the crucial painting without the knowledge of Vermeer's wife, avoid Van Ruijven's grasp, and protect herself from the cruel gossip of the world of a 17th century servant.
Review:Seventeen year old Griet became the servant of painter Johannes Vermeer after her father,a good artist,had  gone blind and was unable to work and support his family financially.Griet worked hard,almost wordlessly,her primary duty was to clean the master's studio.On a routine shopping trip outside the house she met a butcher's son Pieter,who fell in love with her.In the studio Griet became casually acquainted and he encouraged her appreciation of painting, light and color. Vermeer gave her lessons in mixing paints and other tasks, taking care to keep this secret from his thin-lipped wife.As Vermeer secretly worked on the eponymous painting, Catharina's growing jealousy of Griet became apparent.While Griet suffered through her fascination with Vermeer and his paintings, she also had to fend off Van Ruijven's attempt to rape her.At the end of the film,she left the house where she had worked and received a gift- that very earrings she wore while Vermeer was painting her.
   As for the actor’s performances, Scarlett Johansson earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for Girl with a Pearl Earring.She was so beautiful,innocent,she was perfect for this role.
  As for me,this film impressed me deeply!This film is so strange and differs from those I usually watch.I enjoy the film because it is showed the ordinary things in the extraordinary way.A trip to the butcher or a walk across the city is so beautifully detailed that it really transported me to a landscape that is very different than my own. It is also worth noting that Griet experiences the pain of unrequited love, a universal emotion, with her master.Throughout the film, she experiences the jealousy of other women, the burden of her parent's expectations, and the pain of moving away from home. All of the details made the film is very colourful, touching and wonderful.