The Darjeeling Limited. Wes Anderson, director

Not overly complex tale of three brothers who feel underloved by their mother and who cling to their grief after the death of their father. Through the extravagent orchestrations and manipulations of the oldest brother (Francis, played by Luke Wilson)--whom we come to discover is not unlike his mother (played by Angelica Huston)--the brothers travel by train through India in search of the mother whose become a nun at the base of the Himalayas. In the process, they "work through" their own hang ups and bond.

Visually, this movie was like watching an old Bob Hope and Bing Crosby travel farce--except I never laughed. At first I thought the timing was off; however, I now think that it had to do with the underlying meanspiritedness of each of the main characters. Hijinks that would have happened to more naive characters might have seemed less forced and therefore a funnier. Here, they are not. Same for what are supposed to be touching moments.

Very interesting soundtrack. Visual interest.

Hamlet, Shakespeare

Wooster Group reenacts Richard Burton's 1964 Hamlet with a video of that performance as a backdrop. Interesting but not revealing.

Recommend with caveats.

Die Zauberflote (Mozart)

Julie Taymor production with Joseph Kaiser (Tamino), Diana Damrau (Pamina), and Anna-Kristiina Kaappola (Queen of the Night).

Die Zauberflote, Mozart

Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Sidney Lumet

A great movie with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke. In the same dark crime-gone-awry vein as A Simple Plan (or even Fargo).

High recommend.

Sarah Vowell

Droll reading of her very funny essays.

Recommend.

Wall Street Chamber Players

Turina. Piano Quartet in A minor, Op 67
Dvorak. String Quarter in G major, Op 106
Brahms. Piano Trio No 2 in C major, Op 87

At Letha & Jack Sandweiss home.

Charles Ives Program

Trio for Violin, Violoncell, and Piano.
Performed by Adrian Slywotzky (violin), Katherine Kayaian (cello), and Stephen Porter (piano)