Now this is a Broadway musical in every sense of the word. And who would have ever thought that Disney’s flop musical movie from 1992 — starring an 18-year-old Christian Bale in only his fourth theatrical film — would have developed such a cult following that the studio saw enough potential in it to bring it to the stage? Adding music by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman, who wrote six new songs for the show while keeping several from the movie, and a book by Harvey Fierstein helped shape the film into the stage extravaganza that has wowed audiences since its Broadway debut (the show was intended to run for only 101 performances, but demand kept it going for 1005).

The story of Newsies is based on an actual event: the “Newsboy Strike of 1899″ which saw a band of orphans and runaway newsies (the kids who sold newspapers on the streets for the major publishers) go on a two week strike against publishing giants Pulitzer, Hearst and others in New York City. The show tells the story of the fictional Jack Kelly, the leader of the ragtag group of newsies, who dreams of a better life in Santa Fe. When Joseph Pulitzer raised the distribution prices on the newsboys in order to sell more papers, Jack rallies the newsies from across the city to strike for what’s right … even when romance, double-crosses and a sweet deal get in the way.

The moment the orchestra hits its first note, you know this is what a big Broadway musical is all about, and when the massive cast of “newsies” takes to the stage and raises their voices together in perfect harmony, it is one of the most beautiful sounds in the world. Add to that the acrobatic choreography by Christopher Gattelli and you have something magical taking place before your eyes.

And the cast is massive, led by Dan DeLuca as Jack. DeLuca can put on a tough exterior when dealing with the newspaper people, but he shows us his heart too when he’s trying to look out for his boys. He has a real soft spot for Crutchie (Zachary Sayle), and you believe their brotherly relationship. DeLuca also has a wonderfully unique voice full of emotion and power, depending on the situation. Sayle, whose character sadly disappears for much of the second act, is the show’s bit of comic relief as he has to navigate the stage dragging his leg and hobbling with a crutch (hence his name). But when he’s attacked, we also feel for him because he can’t defend himself. That’s the proof of a good performance.

But it’s not all men on stage all the time. Stephanie Styles, as a girl reporter who butts heads with Jack and then begins to fall for him, has the perfect pluckiness for the part and a powerful voice as well. Angela Grovey, as cabaret owner Medda Larkin, pretty much steals any scene she’s in (unfortunately, not many) and her one musical number, “That’s Rich,” is a showstopper. Steve Blanchard also stands out as Pulitzer with his deep, powerful voice whether speaking or singing.

Towering over everyone is a wondrous set consisting of three 24-feet towers with three levels that are fully automated and can move 14 feet up and down the stage, rotate 350 degrees and reconfigure to create tenement fire escapes, a theatre’s backstage, the Brooklyn Bridge and the basement of Pulitzer’s building. The towers also have screens which raise and lower for the lighting and special projections that help set the scenes. The 33 cast members run up and down the stairs to perform on any and all of the three levels throughout the show, making this one of the most physical productions I’ve ever seen. It really is a wonder they’re all not exhausted by the end of the first act.

If you like your Broadway musicals big and flashy, then Newsies is the show for you. Great story, great performances, great singing and dancing, great production all around, this is the show to see when it comes to your town. Newsies is at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre through Sunday, December 7 (it will be in Washington, D.C. June 9-21) and will hit major cities across the country including Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, Charlotte, Miami, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dallas and more (alas, not Santa Fe). To get more details about the show and ticket information, click on the banner below.

[easyazon_image add_to_cart=”default” align=”none” asin=”B007OA0XCO” cloaking=”default” height=”160″ localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61Mo4qmbZxL._SL160_.jpg” tag=”cliqueclack-20″ width=”160″] [easyazon_image add_to_cart=”default” align=”none” asin=”B007JNR3K6″ cloaking=”default” height=”160″ localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zhw2LAG%2BL._SL160_.jpg” tag=”cliqueclack-20″ width=”120″] [easyazon_image add_to_cart=”default” align=”none” asin=”B00005OCMS” cloaking=”default” height=”160″ localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JN182SCXL._SL160_.jpg” tag=”cliqueclack-20″ width=”112″] [easyazon_image add_to_cart=”default” align=”none” asin=”0345802977″ cloaking=”default” height=”160″ localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511fmO%2BqY3L._SL160_.jpg” tag=”cliqueclack-20″ width=”104″]

In 2006, a small Irish movie made some big waves, becoming a sleeper hit and earning an Academy Award for Best Original Song. That movie was Once, the tale of an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant who meet, discover a common ground with music and begin writing songs together that express their growing relationship. While the plot may have been a bit thin, the movie succeeded on the back of the music by film’s stars Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, including the Oscar winning “Falling Slowly.”

The film seemed an unlikely choice to be transformed into a Broadway musical, but writer Enda Walsh and director John Carney (who also directed the film) found something magical about the music and created a show that went on to win eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. Now Once is touring the North America and has made its second stop (of thirty-three engagements) at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre.

Unnamed Guy (Stuart Ward) is a struggling musician who fixes vacuum cleaners in his dad’s shop while pining away for the girl who got away … far away to New York, leaving Guy ready to ditch his music because it all reminds him of her. A chance encounter with Girl (Dani de Waal), a Czech immigrant with a young child and marital issues, ignites the musical spark in Guy once again as they become collaborators with the dream of producing a CD. Girl keeps pushing Guy to take off for New York to find his lost love, but Guy’s feelings for Girl are deepening, causing complications for them both.

I didn’t know what to expect from the show – not having seen the movie – and the TV commercials made it seem like a melancholy love story, but I was pleasantly surprised by how funny the show really is. In fact, the audience is a part of the show upon entering the theatre as members are welcomed on stage to mingle with the cast, have a drink from the on stage bar, and enjoy a few musical numbers before the actual show begins. You actually feel like you’re a part of the story by the time the lights dim and the actual story gets started.

The show works around a single set that become many different locations through the movement of the cast, various props and lighting. One minute it’s a music shop, the next it’s Guy’s bedroom and then a recording studio. The production is brilliantly designed to move from place to place as smoothly and quickly as possible without ever actually moving anything more than a few chairs or tables.

Contributing to the show’s many charms is the company of actor/musicians who rarely leave the stage, usually lined up and seated on either side of the stage when they’re not part of a scene, but also contributing to the music when needed. Each of them also has a specific character as well, so they all get a pretty good workout with acting, dancing and playing an instrument (in some cases, several different instruments).

But the stars of the show are Ward and de Waal. Ward is perfectly angsty and angry as the show begins but he never goes into a caricature. He is a real person with real feelings and frustrations over his situation. He also has a magnificently raw and powerful voice that can deliver the sweetest melodies and powerful, aggressive vocals sometimes in the same song. He gives Guy a lot of heart and we as an audience want to see him succeed. De Waal is absolutely charming with her Czech accent and dry humor (“I’m always serious. I’m Czech.”). Her Girl is almost like an angel sent to give Guy the kick in the butt he needs, and even without saying as much, we can tell she’s falling in love with him as he is with her. De Waal has a solo late in the second act that will just make your heart ache as she privately expresses her feelings in song. It’s a remarkable performance all around.

I don’t think it’s possible for anyone to not fall in love with Guy and Girl by the end of the show. The music is terrific, the performances are magnetic, and the production just draws you in to this world of love and music. The story uses the film’s framework as a starting point, but giving Guy the lost love as the impetus to create his music is a bit stronger for storytelling than the movie’s Guy who just doesn’t have the confidence to perform his songs. Overall, Once is just a lovely show to savor if it comes to a venue near you.

Once runs through September 14 in Baltimore, then heads across the country with stops in Nashville, Charlotte, Madison, Memphis, Cincinnati, Dallas, Tulsa, Detroit, Austin, Houston, New Orleans, Tucson, Sacramento and more, concluding at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in July 2015. Visit the show’s official website for more details.

[easyazon_image add_to_cart=”default” align=”none” asin=”B006ZKAG3U” cloaking=”default” height=”159″ localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ggmcGUd3L._SL160_.jpg” tag=”cliqueclack-20″ width=”160″] [easyazon_image add_to_cart=”default” align=”none” asin=”B000X1Z0BU” cloaking=”default” height=”160″ localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51hYiOISA%2BL._SL160_.jpg” tag=”cliqueclack-20″ width=”110″] [easyazon_image add_to_cart=”default” align=”none” asin=”B00I6OVHHM” cloaking=”default” height=”160″ localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51s85QHcynL._SL160_.jpg” tag=”cliqueclack-20″ width=”120″]

It seems like it’s been forever since we last saw the Ewing clan on TNT’s updated version of Dallas, but apparently it’s only been about 12 hours! If you’ve been following the show, you know that we lost TV icon Larry Hagman midway through the second season. His passing left producers scrambling to wrap up some storylines (which seem to have curtailed appearances by Ted Shackleford and Joan Van Ark, reprising their roles as Gary and Val Ewing) and create a new “Who Shot J.R.” plot that actually gave us a resolution by the end of the season (his right hand man Bum shot him because J.R. was dying and he wanted to frame Cliff Barnes) that united the Ewings and put Cliff Barnes in a Mexican jail. But Cliff had a bombshell for Christopher’s on again/off again girlfriend Elena — J.R. had switched deeds to the property which gave him the oil that belonged to her family.

The new season picked up 12 hours later and the biggest surprise so far is the fact that Christopher can grow a full beard in half a day! But there is more drama ahead for the Ewing, Barnes and Ramos families as Elena confirms that what Cliff told her was true (or was it?). The Ewings basically became rich by stealing her family’s oil, and she’s now out for revenge. The question is — do Bobby, Christopher or John Ross even have a clue to what J.R. did those many years ago? She’s plotting to bring down the Ewings, who gained control of Barnes Global when Cliff was thrown in prison, by working as Cliff’s proxy (he still owns a third of the company, even if it has been renamed Ewing Global), but is she going to find she’s just become Cliff’s pawn in his never-ending quest to destroy the Ewings?

Dallas has always been a show with ever-changing allegiances, and for the moment it’s nice to see cousins Christopher and John Ross working together … at least it seems like John Ross is playing nice. You can never tell if he’s a team player or just looking out for himself, but the fact that he’s now in possession of, and proudly wearing, his daddy’s ginormous J.R. belt buckle is probably a telling indication of where things will go later in the season. He’s already having an affair with arch rival Harris Ryland’s daughter Emma (whom he successfully brought into the fold after revealing her daddy was involved in some kind of Mexican drug cartel … more on that) minutes after eloping with and re-proposing to his new wife Pamela. His antics are bringing back some bad memories for his mother Sue Ellen, and it looks like she’s about to take up with an old friend of hers … booze. Everyone loves a drunk Sue Ellen.

We’ve seen a couple of new characters introduced in the first two episodes, including a new ranch hand, Heather (AnnaLynn McCord), who may be a possible new love interest for Christopher (or will most likely be one side of a triangle between him and Elena … well, at least until he finds out Elena’s working for Cliff), and a mysterious man who claims to be Cliff’s proxy, Nicholás Treviño (Juan Pablo Di Pace), but who has ties to the Ramos family and is actually Elena’s proxy. I was wondering how she’d march into the Ewing board room and tell them she was working for Cliff, but she simply marched in and got herself re-hired and can now sneak around and hack into their computers while telling Nicholás what to do. Except, that is, until Christopher does his own digging about Nicholás’ background.

One of the more gleeful twists in the first two episodes was the release of Harris Ryland from prison under mysterious circumstances. Was a judge bought off by the cartel? Something seemed fishy, and Emma was surprised to see daddy home and even more surprised when he threatened to have her put away for psychiatric evaluation for screwing up his business (and giving the Ewings the use of his ice breakers so they could drill in the Arctic). But Emma surprised him by springing his mother Judith (the delicious Judith Light) from the rehab facility he had her locked up in after he pushed her down the stairs. Mama is back and taking over, making new deals with the cartel. Without J.R., the writer have not had anyone to write some juicy bon mots for, and Light can pull them off with aplomb. Best moment of the second episode had Judith testing the Mexican cocaine. She actually did a line and said, “Hot damn! Mama like.” Had to be the first real OMG moment of the season.

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t seen the episodes yet, read no further as we will discuss the big twist involving Harris Ryland.

The season’s biggest bombshell had to be the revelation that Harris Ryland in fact isn’t a drug lord but has been working with the Feds to bring down the Mexican cartel! When Emma found his ledger and got him arrested, she had no idea these were records of transactions for the government (she still doesn’t). Not even Judith knows, and in a possible twist of fate — and to be rid of her once and for all — Ryland let her think she was in total control of the company, took her to meet the Mexicans and then recorded their conversation, possibly to frame her as part of the organization! Bobby’s digging into Ryland’s release from prison nearly put the operation in jeopardy, and Harris had to bring Bobby and Ann in on the secret … and to warn them that if anything went bad that Ann and Emma were both in mortal danger.

I don’t know how long this plotline will stretch out, or how long Harris will be a “good guy,” but between this, Cliff Barnes and Elena’s possibly misguided attempt at revenge, season three of Dallas is going to sizzle! And I almost forgot to mention, but whoever it was that decided to finally do the opening titles and cast credits like old school Dallas … I tip my Stetson to you!

Last year there was a lot of acclaim for the based on a true story movie Dallas Buyers Club, in particular the performances of Jared Leto as a transgender woman and Matthew McConaughey as a man slowly dying from AIDS. The movie tells the story of Ron Woodruff, a real life rodeo cowboy who contracted AIDS but began smuggling drugs to help sufferers with medicines not available in the US due to the FDA not approving their use. Although the movie can at times be difficult to watch, it is truly is an excellent film that successfully dramatizes Ron’s struggles against corporatism, bureaucracy, and bigotry.

Much has been said especially on Jared Leto, deservedly so, as his performance as Rayon, a transgendered individual suffering from the disease is truly extraordinary. Naturally, McConaughey and the other actors do more than okay here, although there are one or two mildly cartoonish caricatures. The story feels both inspirational and depressing, but it is certainly a movie worth your time if you can take the difficult subject matter and some mildly graphic scenes in hospitals. Jennifer Garner does mostly decent work here as a doctor who is trying to toe the line between good practice and ethics.

If this was the sort of film that was entirely fictional, the turn of homophobic Ron to becoming more accepting of others might seem pat or cliched, and the idea that it takes AIDS to “fix” that is offensive. But the fact that this is all based on reality lends a heavy, dramatic weight to the arc of the character. It becomes a story of willpower and strength not to accept fate, fighting against “the man” and helping out those less fortunate. McConaughey is really just dynamite as the lovable rogue type who starts out as not that lovable at all. He and Jared Leto become dangerously skinny as the movie continues, showing that legitimately life threatening acting technique is certainly impressive, if ill advised in the long term. Starting with a bang and with a fast pace, this is a movie that makes you feel uncomfortable straight off the bat, and doesn’t let up.

This is also somewhat of a black comedy, with two winning leads who aren’t afraid of the material. There is certainly a message here, an overarching theme about government interference literally killing people, so I wouldn’t call it subtle. Still, this is a movie that starts with the hero being told “you will die” and then you watch as he makes the most out of what he has left. I really enjoyed it, although there’s a bit of nudity and plenty profanity with “adult themes” for those too squeamish to handle such things.

As for the Blu-Ray itself, the picture is sharp and the sound crisp, but there’s not as much point to extreme quality in a movie like this where the visuals aren’t meant to impress, just be the seamless part of any movie. The extras are sparse. They include:

1. Deleted Scenes (4:55) — Three deleted scenes at under five minutes, including an extended scene with the doctor and Ron helping a strung out Rayon, and two short others that were deleted for a reason. Honestly, it’s not much in the way of deleted scenes.
2. A Look Inside Dallas Buyers Club (3:56) — A criminally short “about the movie” piece that has a few cast interviews and the barest hints of background information on the story.

What all this adds up to is that the movie certainly should be seen if you want to see some of the best performances of 2013, or barring that, just one of the better films of last year. But don’t go out expecting a boatload of exciting extras or a commentary track to shed more light on the proceedings. None of that here, nope! Might be better to wait for it on NetFlix, but it’s extremely watchable.

[easyazon_image add_to_cart=”default” align=”none” asin=”B00GUO3C3W” cloaking=”default” height=”160″ localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Ke1rlKyPL._SL160_.jpg” tag=”cliqueclack-20″ width=”128″][easyazon_image add_to_cart=”default” align=”none” asin=”B00GUO2SKA” cloaking=”default” height=”160″ localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IXxLGbmVL._SL160_.jpg” tag=”cliqueclack-20″ width=”114″][easyazon_image add_to_cart=”default” align=”none” asin=”B00I8H6MGS” cloaking=”default” height=”160″ localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51rcX5SQOtL._SL160_.jpg” tag=”cliqueclack-20″ width=”120″]

Sherlock‘s third season just ended, and now it’s coming to home video! Just how did Holmes survive that fatal second season finale? All will be explained on the home video release. New seasons of The Americans and Dallas are about to start, so you can catch up with the past season of each this week as well. WWE’s Shawn Michaels gets a couple of video releases as well, and the acclaimed French zombie series The Returned comes widely to home video after a run on the Sundance Channel. Animation fans of all ages can enjoy new video releases for Regular Show, Looney Tunes and DC Super Heroes, as well as an all-new Scooby Doo release with puppets! Classic TV fans can rejoice in the long-awaited second season of Newhart finally coming to DVD, as well as mini-series Windmills of the Gods and The Last Days of Pompeii (cleverly tying in with the new theatrical release). These and more are available February 11th. You can find out more or make a purchase through our handy shopper’s guide … and remember, any purchase made through our links helps support CliqueClack. And we thank you for your support!

A few major titles are coming to home video this week, including the multiple Oscar nominee Dallas Buyers Club. The film is nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. Matthew McConaughey has already won several awards for his performance (or weight loss) so he seems a shoo-in for the Oscar … although many would love to see Bruce Dern win for his performance in Nebraska. Jared Leto has also won some awards for his touching, sympathetic portrayal of transsexual Rayon, and my money is on him for the Oscar win as well. With the home video release, you’ll have time to judge for yourself before the ceremony on March 2. Be warned, it is a tough film to sit through, especially if your life has been touched by HIV/AIDS in any way.

Also out this week is the anticipated team-up of Stallone and Schwarzenegger in Escape Plan, the animated Free Birds, Baggage Claim and another version of Romeo & Juliet. Early digital releases include Thor: The Dark World, Austenland and The Armstrong Lie. Fans of classic action and horror will be happy with new Blu-ray releases of Night of the Demons, Witchboard and Death Wish, and Napoleon Dynamite celebrates its 10th anniversary! These titles and more are available February 4, and you can see all of the major highlights in our shopper’s guide. Click on a link to get more information or to make a purchase from Amazon.com.

2013 was a pretty good year at the movies. Of the 37 films I saw this year (and I still have to see some biggies like 12 Years a Slave and The Wolf of Wall Street), I’ve only got a handful that go in the “Worst” column … and mostly because they were major titles that ended up being pretty disappointing. Most of the films I saw fall into the “Good” category, so to determine the “Best” films of the year, I chose the ones that I would definitely want to see again.

Topping the list as my favorite movie of the year is David O. Russell’s American Hustle. The 70s period piece that uses a real operation – Abscam – to create a fictional story is perfectly cast with great actors, dressed and coiffed to perfection, with a twisty, turny script that will have you alternately disgusted by and empathetic with the characters. By the end, good guys are villains and villains are (somewhat) redeemed, and through it all Russell keeps his camera moving fluidly through each scene. It’s simply master filmmaking at its best, and many are calling it the best Scorsese film he never made (and there is a major nod to Scorsese late in the film).

The other “usual suspects” (i.e. Oscar bait movies) are on the list as well. Saving Mr. Banks is practically perfect as a movie, even if its storytelling is a bit too Disneyfied. Emma Thompson, however, deserves all the accolades she’s getting for playing the difficult author of the classic Mary Poppins books (and the audio tapes played during the film’s credits demonstrate that her performance is not far off from the real thing). Tom Hanks gives us a too-genial Walt Disney, but it’s still a good performance. Like American Hustle, the period production design is impeccable, the rest of the cast is excellent (I loved the relationship between Thompson’s P.L. Travers and her driver Ralph, played by Paul Giamatti), but the ending is as far from reality as you can get. Despite that, this is Thompson’s movie and is well worth seeing.

August: Osage County is playing in limited release to qualify for Oscar consideration and will open in wide release on January 10. (Our full review will be available on January 10.) This is the kind of movie that you think “these actors took these roles to win an award,” and true or not, it certainly brings out the best in everyone to have this kind of material. Based on the Tony Award winning Broadway play (also Pulitzer Prize winner for Drama), the movie focuses on the Weston family who gather back at the parental home in Osage County following a death. Meryl Streep stars as the pill-addled, chain-smoking mother (who also has mouth cancer) who knows everyone’s dirty little secrets and isn’t shy about revealing them, usually at the dinner table. Julia Roberts is the daughter who was the apple of her daddy’s eye and has the worst relationship with her mother. Fireworks fly as these two forces of nature collide, and their verbal (and physical) sparring is amazing to witness. The rest of the cast has their moments to shine, but they wisely stay out of the way when Streep and Roberts go at it. It’s a movie filled with laughter and tears and should live up to all the awards chatter.

Gravity was a high-concept story executed perfectly by director Alfonso Cuarón with a stellar (no pun intended) performance from Sandra Bullock who has to basically carry the entire film after a disaster in space leaves her alone and stranded with very limited time and resources to try to get home. The film was originally touted for its realist depiction of what it would be like orbiting the earth, but most of those things have turned out to be little more than fantasy (famously debunked by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson). The film hinges completely on Bullock’s performance and she pulls it off with aplomb (comparisons to Tom Hanks in Cast Away are inevitable). And points to Cuarón for keeping space a silent void, even if someone at Warner Brothers got a little over-zealous with the sound effects in the trailer. It’s a white-knuckle ride from start to finish, and is served extremely well by the IMAX and 3D process.

Disney hits another one out of the park with the animated “princess movie” Frozen. The story seems typical with two princesses and the men who are apparently there to save one, the other, or both of them (and let’s not forget the wacky reindeer and animated snowman sidekicks, thankfully used sparingly and to great comic effect), but the story has a deeper twist as it truly becomes about family and trusting in the love that comes with it even when events transpire to tear that family apart (yes, this is a Disney movie so the parents must die early in the film). The snow-covered landscapes are rendered gorgeously in CG and the film is also served extremely well by 3D. And as a bonus, the film starts with a brand new Mickey Mouse short that looks like a classic cartoon but becomes an eye-popping experience in 3D. Frozen is definitely a film for all ages.

Also on my list of favorite movies of the year that may or may not garner much award consideration includes The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, the much, much better follow-up to the first Hobbit movie. Where that one dragged interminably, this one moves at a crisp pace, interweaving several storylines, and keeping things moving without resorting to “look what we can do” scenes of CGI battles and singing trolls and dwarfs. Martin Freeman again gives a terrific performance as Bilbo Bagging, but this chapter of the story belongs to Richard Armitage as Thorin, who finally steps up as the leader of the group of travelers. Director Peter Jackson indulges himself with a terrifying giant spider attack and a comical escape scene with dwarfs in barrels, but he saves the best for the last act as we finally get to encounter the dragon Smaug. Voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch with a honeyed gravelly growl, he makes it all worth the wait to get to that point. And unlike the first movie, this two-and-three-quarter hours actually flies by, leaving us with a huge cliffhanger that will make you want more.

(This post contains 4 pages. Please visit the website to continue reading. Thank you.)

If you’ve been alive for the past 71 years, then you are certainly more than familiar with Irving Berlin’s most popular song, “White Christmas.” You may even be familiar with the Christmas movie perennial White Christmas, but you may not know that the song was first sung by Bing Crosby in the film Holiday Inn (of which White Christmas is a remake), for which it won the Best Original Song Academy Award. In fact, Crosby sang the song again in 1946’s Blue Skies before turning it into a bona fide classic as the title song of the 1954 film.

Those other films may languish only in the memories of real movie buffs, but White Christmas is sure to turn up on classic movie networks and your local channels during the holiday season. But what if you could see the movie brought to life on stage with even more songs from the Irving Berlin catalog? You no longer have to dream of that white Christmas, because there is an all-new stage musical currently touring the US until the end of December!

The stage version of White Christmas is based on the 1954 film and follows the plot of the movie to a point but adds a little bit of showbiz to the story to allow for more of Berlin’s songs to be incorporated. The show opens in 1944 with Army men Bob Wallace (James Clow) and Phil Davis (David Elder) entertaining the troops on Christmas Eve with a song and dance revue. General Henry Waverly (Joseph Costa) barks at them to knock it off, thanks them for what they’re doing, then muses about where they’ll all be in ten years.

Flash forward ten years to Davis and Wallace on The Ed Sullivan Show, and preparing to take their act to Florida for the holidays. They want to incorporate a sister act into the show, and one of their Army buddies just happens to have sisters in the biz, so the guys take in their show at a local nightclub. They love the act, but the girls are contracted to play an inn in Vermont for the holidays, so Phil switches their train tickets to the same train to Vermont without Bob’s knowledge but with his dismay as he and Betty (Trista Moldovan) haven’t exactly hit it off. Meanwhile, Phil and Judy are setting off sparks, and conspire to get Bob and Betty to at least tolerate each other.

As they arrive in an unseasonably balmy Vermont, all of the inn’s guests have checked out for colder climes, leaving the inn empty and facing bankruptcy. Turns out the inn is owned by General Waverly, so Bob and Phil decide to put on a big show with their dancers and Betty and Judy, while secretly inviting the General’s former platoon and their families to the inn. But who wants to spend Christmas in Vermont without snow? As you can guess by the show’s title, it will snow before the final curtain falls.

White Christmas is my favorite kind of Broadway-style musical, one with major set changes, flashy costumes, always grinning chorus dancers, beautiful lighting, and a lead cast that can sing and dance with the best of them as well as give charming and authentic performances. Clow has the more serious role as Bob, who is a little more uptight than Phil and is more concerned about their careers than he is about his personal life. Elder’s Phil is the happy-go-lucky one, a skirt chasing cad who finds he may have met his match in Judy (Meredith Patterson). The sisters pretty much mirror their male counterparts, with Betty on the verge of making it big on her own. All four of the leads are wonderful, but Clow and Moldovan get to bring more growth to their characters over the course of the show.

The show features many of Berlin’s songs from the movie White Christmas, as well as other nuggets from his catalog including “I Love a Piano,” “Blue Skies,” and “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.” The second act opens with “I Love a Piano” and it is truly a showstopping moment as Phil, Judy and the chorus tap dance their way through the song and into our hearts. Everyone earned the extended ovation they received from the opening night audience. I also have to give a shout out to our hometown girl Ruth Williamson, who played the General’s concierge. I recognized her voice from the movie “Die Mommie Die” (she did the singing for Charles Busch’s Angela Arden), and she gets a chance to shine on stage with her solo number “Let Me Sing and I’m Happy.”

The scenic and set designs, by Kenneth Foy and Anna Louizos, are spectacular, ranging from two small dressing rooms to a crowded train car, to the lobby and barn of the inn, and a Manhattan nightclub complete with sparkling chandelier. It’s just amazing to see how quickly each set piece is changed from scene to scene, hidden from view by a curtain and suddenly revealed. Of course, the real star of the show is the snow, and by the time we get to the big production in the barn, it has started snowing as the barn doors are opened to reveal the falling flakes. It’s a wonderful effect, but that’s not the end. The curtain comes down, the set is quickly changed again to showcase the chorus dancing outdoors with snow falling over the entire stage … and into the first ten rows or so of the theater! It was such a magical experience that it brought tears of joy to my eyes especially as the audience, who are now playing the roles of the General’s former troops, are encouraged to join in on “White Christmas.”

White Christmas is a wonderful treat for the holidays that should appeal to all ages. It may be more old school Broadway musical than younger audience members are accustomed to today, but all of the talent on stage and behind the scenes should be more than enough to entertain and impress even the most Scrooge-like audience member. White Christmas is currently playing at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre through Sunday, December 8, then the show heads to Des Moines, December 10-15 and Dallas, December 17-29. Being a seasonal show, White Christmas has a shorter run than most touring productions, but here’s to the show becoming an annual event that brings holiday cheer to audiences across the country and the world!

[easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B000ICLTFA” locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/517euZ%2B8nvL._SL160_.jpg” width=”160″] [easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B002MU4NN6″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519OkOLsLSL._SL160_.jpg” width=”113″] [easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B001UHOWX8″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51U0pux0apL._SL160_.jpg” width=”126″] [easyazon-image align=”none” asin=”B000I0QL82″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61JAqAf8Y6L._SL160_.jpg” width=”112″]

There are some movies that you want to see but worry they’ll be too harrowing to sit through. But you know they are those prestige, Oscar bait films with a great cast and a powerful message that need to be seen. Sometimes, they turn out to be not so bad as you’d thought and other times they meet your expectations depending on how closely you can relate to the subject matter. For me, Dallas Buyers Club was one of those movies that I’m glad I saw, but could never sit through again. Even as I write this review I get filled with emotion.

The story, a true story, centers around Ron Woodruff (Matthew McConaughey), a good ole Texas boy who loves the rodeo and women in equal parts. After an on the job accident sends him to the hospital, Ron is told that he has tested positive for HIV (keep in mind, this movie takes place in 1986) and in his current condition he only has 30 days to live. Ron refuses to believe the diagnosis because, well, he’s no “f—-t” but it’s never really confirmed as to how he contracted the disease. As Ron continues to get more ill, he starts doing research into the new drug about to begin trials, AZT. With no way to buy it, Ron bribes an orderly who gets him a bottle on a regular basis until the hospital starts putting it under lock and key. Ron continues to do research, learns that the AZT is more toxic to the system than helpful and is given information about a clinic in Mexico where he can find help.

In Mexico, Ron discovers safe, non-toxic but not approved by the FDA vitamins, proteins and supplements that help extend his life and curtail the illness. Ron then hits upon a brilliant plan — bring the drugs back from Mexico and sell them to those in need. While in the hospital, Ron had been befriended by Rayon (Jared Leto), a patient participating in the drug trial, and after Ron’s homophobic vibe resulted in no success in peddling his wares, Rayon cuts himself in for a quarter of the profits and becomes the main seller. But as their success spreads, the FDA catches on and shuts them down. Ron then sets up the Dallas Buyers Club, where the members pay a monthly fee to belong and get all of their drugs for free. It’s a surefire way to get around the law, but when you’re fighting against the Feds and big pharma, it’s a losing battle. Or is it?

McConaughey, as is widely known at this point, lost a huge amount of weight to play Woodruff. He’s already scary skinny when the movie starts, but starts looking a little better as the cocktail of supplements he’s taking kicks in, and then goes downhill again as the Feds confiscate everything. He makes Woodruff a very difficult guy to like as he spews anti-gay epithets, but once he’s welcomed into Rayon’s circle and starts going to any lengths possible to help people in his condition, you have to admire the guy. And then you remember he’s really only doing it for the profit and his own health … but he’s still helping people who otherwise have no other option but to enter a trial and hope they get the AZT, or go on the AZT once it’s approved by the FDA. It certainly was brilliant casting (Brad Pitt and Ryan Gosling were early contenders for the role) and McConaughey’s devotion to the character will almost certainly nab him some awards notice.

Another cast member almost certain to get nominations for supporting actor (and probably a few wins) is Jared Leto as the transgendered Rayon. Leto spends most of the movie in makeup and women’s clothing, but he never lets the character become a caricature. Rayon can deliver a withering glare and a scathingly funny comment or two, but she’s always a down to earth human being who just happens to be battling a ravaging disease (Leto also lost a lot of weight for the role) and a drug addiction. Leto makes Rayon the more sympathetic of the two, who jumps into the business with Ron to help his brothers and sisters and to make a little money on the side.

The film certainly is a “message” movie that, even though it takes place three decades ago, still resonates today as the country has become divided over the issue of health care and how it all boils down to money. The film squarely points the finger at the FDA and the pharmaceuticals being in bed together, looking to see how much profit can be made (AZT was the most expensive drug in the world when it was finally approved) rather than how alternate treatments — which would cut into the AZT profits — could be more beneficial to patients. It also casts a glaring eye at the hospitals that were being paid to administer the AZT, even over the objections of some of the doctors on staff (Jennifer Garner plays one such doctor). As our current battle over health care wages today, you can still see how most of the resistance to a universal plan comes from insurance providers and pharmaceuticals who worry about their bottom line. The film’s message is powerful, and perhaps will help open eyes to our current health care plight.

As I stated earlier, Dallas Buyers Club is a good movie with terrific performances from the leads and all of the supporting actors. But it’s not the feel good movie of the year, especially if your life has been touched by the tragedy that was and is the AIDS crisis. My best friend passed away from the disease in 2008. It was tough to see him deteriorate while he wasn’t getting the care he needed, and good to see him improve as he finally got the right combination of meds and care. He survived for 14 years, but all of us who knew and loved him still miss him to this day. It was very, very difficult to watch this movie and not think of him, and if you’ve been touched in some way by this disease, you may want to prepare yourself mentally before seeing it.

This offer is closed. Please follow @CliqueClack on Twitter for alerts on contests, news and reviews. And be sure to “Like” us on Facebook!

CliqueClack has partnered with Focus Features and Allied Integrated Marketing to offer readers in the Baltimore and DC areas an opportunity to attend an advance screening of the highly anticipated Dallas Buyers Club, starring Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner and Jared Leto. McConaughey is Ron Woodroof, an electrician and rodeo cowboy. In 1985, he is well into an unexamined existence with a devil-may-care lifestyle. Suddenly, Ron is blindsided by being diagnosed as H.I.V.-positive and given 30 days to live. Yet he will not, and does not, accept a death sentence.His crash course of research reveals a lack of approved treatments and medications in the U.S., so Ron crosses the border into Mexico. There, he learns about alternative treatments and begins smuggling them into the U.S., challenging the medical and scientific community including his concerned physician, Dr. Eve Saks (Garner).

An outsider to the gay community, Ron finds an unlikely ally in fellow AIDS patient Rayon (Leto), a transsexual who shares Ron’s lust for life. Rayon also shares Ron’s entrepreneurial spirit: seeking to avoid government sanctions against selling non-approved medicines and supplements, they establish a “buyers club,” where H.I.V.-positive people pay monthly dues for access to the newly acquired supplies. Deep in the heart of Texas, Ron’s pioneering underground collective beats loud and strong. With a growing community of friends and clients, Ron fights for dignity, education, and acceptance.

Screenings of Dallas Buyers Club will take place as follows:

• Thursday, November 7, 7:00 PM, AMC Mazza Gallerie, Washington, DC
• Thursday, November 14, 7:00 PM, AMC White Marsh, Baltimore, MD

You MUST read and follow the instructions in order to secure your passes. Failure to follow the instructions will result in disqualification.

• Leave a comment on this post with either BALTIMORE or DC as your comment. We will scan comments for either of those two words.
• Passes will be distributed by email on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Make sure you enter your email address correctly in the required box — NOT in the comment.
• Make sure your email spam filters are set to accept mail from @cliqueclack.com.
• Multiple comments will be accepted. However, unique comments will be serviced first and duplicates will be fulfilled closer to the screening date if any remain.
• This offer will end when all of the passes have been claimed, or at noon on the day of each screening.
• Note that passes do not guarantee you a seat. Advance screenings are often overbooked to ensure a full house, so please plan to arrive early. CliqueClack has no control over the number of passes distributed or seating at the theater.

Have a look at the film’s trailer, and then let us know where you would like to see Dallas Buyers Club.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ety5kOjlXoU