The Hurt Locker:  I wanted to see this film when it came out, but it disappeared quickly. Now it’s back as it’s on the Oscar lists for nine awards.  It’s a film about the war in Iraq seen through the eyes of a bomb defusing squad, or more particularly, through the eyes of Staff Sgt. William James ((Jeremy Renner) and Sgt. J.T. Sanborn (Anthony Mackie)..

James ‘lives’ for his job and nothing is more important in his life than approaching and diffusing bombs.  He is ‘supported’ by Sanborn who is also skilled but is not as reckless/obsessed as is James. 

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow and shot largely in Jordan, The Hurt Locker was written by Chris Hedges, a NY Times correspondent who was embedded in a bomb squad in Baghdad.  At times the film feels like a documentary, but it is not.  Actually, it is filled with suspense, good acting, and gives you some understanding about one part of the war in Iraq.

There is some controversy about some of the details and how realistic they are, but I think those are minor quibbles. While The Hurt Locker may not be the best war film ever made, I found myself riveted and fascinated. This is not a film about killing people. It does not preach for or against war. While it tells the story of one aspect of the Iraq war, it is primarily a story about two individuals and their approach to their ‘job,’  which happens to be defusing bombs to save lives.

Definitely a movie to see.

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The Second City’s Barack Stars: The Wrath of Rahm at the Woolly Mamoth Theatre  in Washington, DC is a return of the Chicago improv company’s ‘Obama revue’ that was here last summer.

According to the program handout, “it was such an enormous hit, we decided to brink it back for a reprise.”

I can’t attest to how good it was last year, but I can say I was enormously disappointed two nights ago when I saw it.

I have been a fan of Second City for years and remember the last visit I had to see them in Chicago a number of years ago as one of the funniest evenings I can ever remember in the theater.

Not so this time.

Tho the ‘Ensemble,’ as actors are called, were clearly talented, the material was at best mildly amusing. The one line, short scenes were the only truly funny aspects of the evening for me.

I can’t but wonder what has changed since last summer.

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The DC Studio Theater’s production of  In the Red and Brown Water, on the other hand, was a good evening at the theater, the best of the productions I have seen there this year.

The play, part of the “Brother/Sister” trilogy by 29 year old playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, takes place in ‘the distant present’ and follows the misfortunes of a young black woman in the projects in Louisiana. 

A promising track star, the young Oya (wonderfully played by Raushanah Simmons) makes a decision that seems selfless and perhaps admirable  at the time (turns down a university scholarship to ‘State’ in order to be close to her mother who is ill and dying).

But the fallout from this decision and others she makes as well as her eventual inability to have a child lead to a downfall that doesn’t seem quite fair.

What sets this play apart from some of the other modern day tragedies is McCraney’s weaving of myth, music, poetry, humor, and story-telling into the play.

The actors announce their own stage directions, which initially seems awkward but gradually draws the audience into the mythical nature of the play.

By the second act, the audience is aware of the impending tragedy, and Oya’s infertility seems a cruel punishment, if that’s what it is, for someone who deserves better.

Oya is surrounded by a number strong characters, some who contribute to her downfall and some who try to help her.  But ultimately it is her tragedy that leaves the audience with the feeling of life’s unfairness.

The supporting actors and actresses and Serge Seiden’s directions all contribute to the success of this production, which has been extended until Feb. 28th.

A good evening at the theater.

And I suspect we will hear and see more of McCraney.

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For those of you who live in the Washington, DC area and have been deprived of Hollywood East Cafe’s excellent dim sum for the last nine months or more, there is hope.

According to my sources, they are now within realistic sight of reopening in Wheaton Plaza.

My sources are Hollywood East’s own website and twittering, and according to a tweet just two days ago, they have passed their final electrical inspection and are awaiting final ceiling close-in inspection.

You can follow them for yourselves by Clicking Here.

And you may recall that I offered to buy a dim sum lunch for the first person who correctly informs me of the day they reopen. But you may have to share said splurge with me, and maybe my father too.