2071: The World We’ll Leave Our Grandchildren at Episcopal Actors’ Guild

Ripple Effect Theatre Artists’ mission is to get the audience members who come see their show to take action. This one man show is written by Duncan MacMillan and Chris Rapley and talks about the disastrous effects our dependence on fossil fuels is to the planet. It is filled with facts and does bring on concerns for the future.

This is a “documentary” for the stage. It can be overwhelming and some may find it difficult to understand due to all the scientific terms. Director Carin Zakes did a good job in making it easier to understand. Chris Rapley (portrayed by Robert Meksin) stood at his podium for the majority of the hour long play. Behind him were screens portraying pictures and videos of the events he mentioned.

Rapley is an actual scientist who has spent his career studying Antarctica. As climate change began affecting the Antarctic, he began to study climate change and its effects. He is concerned for the world and what will be left of it for his grandchildren. At the rate we’re going, there won’t be much left for future generations.

Climate change can be used in an emotionally manipulative manner by some people, but in this show
 everything is dealt and backed up with facts. Rapley started by showing the audience the planet and how it looked only a few years ago. He continued by presenting the audience what was occurring at the time this play was published (2014) including glaciers breaking off and melting causing sea levels to rise and thus messing up the delicate balance needed to keep the planet’s temperatures from rising.

Rapley gave us the facts. He also translated these facts into layman terms. Some of the information is slightly outdated, but this is nothing to celebrate. An update at the end of the show let the audience know that in the five years since the play premiered, things have only gotten worse. 

As Rapley is British, he stated that the world can only increase 2C in overall temperature. Any more than that and things will only get progressively worse. 

It is hard to hear these facts especially since we are close to reaching that temperature threshold and few people seem to care. Still Rapley is hopeful that people will begin to collectively make changes that will ultimately help the planet. 

He did offer solutions. The biggest one was being more energy efficient by relying more on wind and solar power. Many countries are already making the switch, while others are stubbornly refusing to do so. 

It is a lot to take in, but unfortunately the majority of people who would want to see this show are those who are already trying to do their part in lowering their carbon footprint. Meksin did a fantastic job as Rapley especially in conveying all the facts in an engaging manner. Still, the people who deny 

climate change or are apathetic to it, probably won’t get their minds changed. 

I’m hoping I’m wrong obviously. This is an important piece of theatre and sometimes the arts speak to people in a way that other subjects can’t. I seriously hope this inspired someone to give a damn. It was hard for me not to make any personal statements in this review because I care about this subject so much, but I will finish by saying at least read this play and make as educated a decision from there. 

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

3 stars
Runtime: 161 minutes

Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) is an engaging character. Perhaps it’s because we know what ultimately happens to her.

She goes to the movies to watch “The Wrecking Crew”, which happens to be the second to last film she worked on before her life was cut short. 

It’s heart breaking to see Tate in the theatre enjoying the fact that the audience is enjoying her performance and probably thinking about the opportunities headed her way. Tarantino does not focus on Tate though, she is simply part of the Hollywood background in 1969.

Tarantino’s ninth film sets his story in the real world of 1969 and surrounds it with real people who lived during that era, but ultimately it is a fictional story. This is something he is known to do, but in this instance I wanted to learn more about the people who actually existed and not the fictional ones he created.

The story follows Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). In the early 60s, Dalton was the star of his own TV show, but now years later, he’s struggling to find steady work.

Dalton has now turned to drinking and doubts his career can go any further. It’s a sad reality for any actor. 

Booth is tough and cool and his only true friend is Dalton. Rumors swirl around Booth’s past that 

make people in the industry distrust him. Dalton’s word is the only thing that will allow Booth on set.

Dalton lives in a house he won’t be able to afford much longer next door to Tate and her husband Roman Polanski (Rafal Zarwierucha). 

The audience knows what to expect at some point during the film as Tate and others with her lose their lives because of Charles Manson (Damon Herriman). 

It’s this balance between fact and fiction that the world lives in. The film is mostly devoid of the violence Tarantino is known for, coming in during the final moments of the film. 

It’s an entertaining film. I found the more interesting aspects of the film coming from the people who actually existed and I wish the film had focused solely on them.

The ending isn’t the one expected and while I appreciate that, I did not like it and wish it had gone in a different direction. 

This is standard Tarantino fare and while it did keep me entertained, I do believe it could have been cut way down. I’m also not sure what Tarantino’s ultimate goal was in telling this story. 

I also wasn’t as invested in Booth and Dalton’s story as I think Tarantino wanted the audience to be. I wanted more of Tate, Manson, and his followers. 

The Farewell (2019)

“The Farewell” is a funny film based on an actual lie. 

The film masterfully mixes comedy and drama bringing the right balance to both elements. The entire cast has a dynamic chemistry with each other allowing to believe every emotional aspect while playing off of each other brilliantly. 

Awkwafina stars as Billi, a Chinese born New Yorker who discovers that her Nai Nai (Shuzhen Zhao)  has been diagnosed with cancer and only has three months left to live.

Nai Nai lives in China and the entire family decides to lie to her about her diagnosis as they believe that telling her the truth would kill her faster and prevent her from living to the fullest. The family reunites to say their final farewell under the pretense that Billi’s cousin Hao Hao (Chen Han) is getting married.

“The Farewell” is written and directed by Lulu Wang who based it off of what she and her family did to her grandmother and perhaps because it’s personal to her, she handles the material well.

The film also deals with the yearning many immigrants feel between the country they live in now and the country they left behind and still have fond feelings for. Much of the comedy comes from the family and the misunderstandings they face between the differing cultures. The film also ends on a positive note so whether or not you disagree with the family’s decision you can’t be mad about it.

The Farewell
4 stars
Rated PG
Run time: 98 minutes

The Lion King (2019)

“The Lion King” is the first film I remember watching in theatres at the age of three. I remember we went to the movie theatre that was inside Cielo Vista Mall at the time and I loved it. I’ve always loved watching films and while not my Disney favorite, “The Lion King” holds a special place in my heart. This is what grew my love for the movies.

It’s sad that the original “Lion King” now has to be referred to as the original. It’s sad that many of the films I loved growing up now have to be referred to as the original. I was excited for the first few remakes or retellings, but not anymore. The last one I watched was “Beauty and the Beast”. I didn’t hate it upon initially watching it, and even now I don’t hate it, but I don’t understand why it was remade. The animated film was pretty much perfection so why try to improve on it?

I know the primary reason is money. The remakes continue raking in huge amounts of money for Disney. “The Lion King” was no exception. People were excited to see arguably the most popular Disney film brought to life in an extraordinarily realistic looking way.

Right from the start I was peeved. The opening shot (and most of the rest of the film) was a shot for shot remake of the original. The animals looked like they were real, but their faces conveyed absolutely no emotions. I didn’t realize how bland the film would become once those emotions were unable to be conveyed.

There is no reason whatsoever for this film to exist. It added nothing new to the story, extended scenes that didn’t further the plot and rushed scenes that did. Most of the voice acting was bland so combined with the lack of emotional expressions on the faces of the characters and I felt nothing. “Be Prepared” one of the best villain songs in existence was cut down to practically nothing and spoken instead of sung. The song Beyoncé wrote was out of place. I’m not saying it’s a bad song, I simply think it would have done better as the end credit song.

Disney remakes are inevitable at this point. They do not compare to the originals, but clearly people are still watching to my disdain. Changes are made that make absolutely no sense like “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” being sung in broad daylight. It seems like I’m part of the remake minority. Most everyone else I know is absolutely loving these dang remakes. I hope that eventually more people join my remake fatigue and they can finally come to a much deserved end.