Music takes time to impact the eardrums. The Kronos Quartet (“kronos” being the Greek word for “time”) has been making its impact across the world for 30 years. But the culmination of those decades of experience has moved beyond sonic experimentation and into the realm of visual imagery. Playing at Royce Hall on Saturday at […]
Author Archives: Howard Ho
Damon, Casey Affleck defy expectations, get some sun
When Matt Damon, Casey Affleck and Gus Van Sant went to the Sundance Film Festival last year, they were Hollywood folks at the independent film party. But you wouldn’t have known that from their un-Hollywood film, “Gerry.” “Even though we were Hollywood types crashing Sundance last year, I thought that our film over-sundanced Sundance,” said […]
Jackie Chan makes hits, rolls with punches
Doing his own stunts for years, Jackie Chan has dislocated his cheekbone, pelvis and shoulder. He’s also broken his nose, his head, teeth and ankle. “The ankle always comes out,” Chan said. “I have to put it back all the time. I’m used to it.” Though he’s putting his life on the line to entertain […]
Orchestra performs Russian piece with French works
Igor Stravinsky was Russian, but as far as the Orchestre National de Lyon is concerned, he’s French: if not by blood then at least by ear. Sunday night at Royce Hall Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” was programmed with two pieces by French masters, Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. For the smooth progression of musical […]
The Arditti Quartet live right on key
Classical musicians need to be seen to be believed, or at the very least, even satisfyingly appreciated. This was the driving force behind the Arditti Quartet’s virtuoso concert at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Monday night. Sure, the pieces would sound interesting on recording, but when performed live, they burst with bustling intensity. […]
Scorsese talks about
In “Gangs of New York,” Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis) gives a monologue about how the spectacle of violence maintains the social order, an idea which informs much of Scorsese’s film work. Films such as “Goodfellas,” “Taxi Driver,” “Casino” and “Mean Streets” are not exactly a civil cup of tea. So when Scorsese appeared at […]
Advice from filmmaker’s idols leads to Sundance debut
UCLA School of Theater, Film, Television and Digital Media alumna Desha Dauchan has a history of running into her idols. In fact, her decision to make films was influenced by “School Daze” and a chance meeting with the film’s director, Spike Lee. “I said, “˜I want to be a filmmaker. What would you advise?’ He […]