MICKY DOLENZ IS THE 2014 FAVORITE ON TOP TEN LIST
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
Story By: G. H. HARDING
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| Micky Dolenz |
NYE THOUGHTS --- I thought instead of doing the de rigueur Top Ten Lists and all, we'd give you our favorite moments of 2014 – and my, it did seem to fly by – here we go:
*Birdman with Michael Keaton and an amazing direction by Alexander Inarritu. The script is just off the charts and while not for everyone, Keaton is magically captivating – certainly one of the best roles he’s ever done. Also, Emma Stone and Edward Norton are superb …. an award winning performance if you ask me. Seemingly dropped from heaven; this will, I predict, win Best movie of the year.
*Monkee-Micky Dolenz's dazzling everyone with a brilliant comedic acting turn in Mike Reiss’ Comedy Is Hard at Connecticut’s Ivoryton Theatre. Playing an 84-year old Borsch Belt comedian; he was simply sensational. And, super direction by Jacqueline Hubbard. I'd love to see the play staged in NYC … we deserve it!
*The David Bowie Is show in Toronto. Simply one the best shows of this type I've ever seen. Interviews with key-collaborators, like Tony Visconti and very, very detailed information on his shows and writing. Utterly terrific. Plus, his comeback The Next Day album is still a fave!
*Alan Cumming in Cabaret. Just an astonishing performer (we loved him in last year’s Macbeth). An actor of brilliant depth ... we loved this one.
*Todd Rundgren at B. B. King’s in NYC … with Prairie Prince and Kasim Sulton. Vintage Rundgren for sure. He didn't do “Black Maria,” but did do some amazing covers (“Muskrat Love,” “Lady Madonna”) … and, they were good too. As irreverent as ever, but, utterly brilliant as I had wished for. Thanks Peter Abraham for this one!
*Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman in Sharr White’s play Annapurna. Two terrific talents in a great show.
*Steve Miller, Lawrence Juber and Marty Stuart at The Met in NYC. I had never seen country legend-Stuart before and he was stellar. Juber, from McCartney’s Wings, was amazing too ... especially on an instrumental of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Awesome show.
Highlight: When they all joined in together at the end for Miller’s “Fly Like An Eagle.” I had wondered if this show would work and it did … brilliantly.
*The Flash and Gotham on TV. Both brilliantly conceived and executed. Donal Logue, in Gotham, was exceptional, as was his TV-partner Ben McKenzie (from Southland). We also kept digging The Blacklist with James Spader. With an odd first few episodes of Season two, it got right back on track … with an exploding Alan Alda in their fall finale.
*The Glen Campbell documentary (directed by James Keach) I’ll Be Me. Tough going from start to finish, I saw an early preview with the hardened press in attendance and believe me, they too were moved. As a fan for years, it serves as a perfect historical complement to an unbelievable career. Stellar!
*HBO’s True Detective with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. Seemingly a gift from a place far, far way; this show just dazzled in every which way. From the atmospheric theme music, to stellar direction (Cary Joji Fukunaga), writing (Nic Pizzolatto) and acting … it was unlike anything ever on TV. With new stars and director for season two, I doubt it will be able to re-capture the magic of season one, but I'm in. My favorite line from the show: Time is a flat circle.
*Fargo. Martin Freeman has been a presence on the entertainment scene for quite some time (The Hobbit; Love Actually) but, here he blew the roof off the sucker. I loved the original movie and never would have believed it could be re-imagined like this, but Noah Hawley did it and his take was sterling indeed. Short and sweet … and, brilliant. Season 2 will go back in time and I can't wait.
*Star Wars: Episode VII—The Force Awakens – was the trailer just perfect? Can't wait for this one.
*Bill Cosby. The fall of an icon? Terribly hard to believe (and, sad) but the proof was apparently right there in front of us for years. He did a lot for the civil rights movement, but this was truly shocking and sad. Fatherhood indeed!
*The Sony Hack. When we last glanced at the news, some hot-shot security firm said it was an inside job. Whoever, or however, it was stunning year-end development. Is this what the future holds?
RIP --- Robin Williams; Joan Rivers; Mickey Rooney; Casey Kasem; Mike Nichols; Philip Seymour Hoffman; Elaine Stritch; Lauren Bacall; Harold Ramis; Bobby Womack; Bobby Keys; David Brenner; Don Pardo; Dave Madden; Oscar De La Renta; James Garner; Sid Caesar; Joe Cocker; and, Ben Bradlee.
We're back Monday - have a Happy New Year!
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