Friday news and reviews
Here's a look at the arts stories making headlines...
Art
A rare 500-year-old map recently bought by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts offers a bird's-eye view of Renaissance Venice.
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- Mary Abbe, Star Tribune
Dance
Lightsey Darst reports back with some critical reflections on this year's Dance Film Project offerings, part of the annual Minnesota Dance Film Festival (organized by John Koch and Vanessa Voskuil) that took place December 11 - 18.
- mnartists.org
Movies
The boys take their tongues out of their cheeks for this one
- J. Hoberman, City Pages
Hear, hear to "The King's Speech"
Colin Firth wins our hearts in the tale of a tongue-tied king who, thrust into history's spotlight, learned how to roar.
- Colin Covert, Star Tribune
'The King's Speech' is crowning achievement
The acting honors in "The King's Speech" belong to Geoffrey Rush, who crackles with intelligence as Lionel Logue, the unorthodox vocal coach to whom the king and his wife turned for help.
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press
Even the laughs are tiny in "Gulliver's Travels."
- Colin Covert, Star Tribune
'Gulliver's Travels' not worth leaving home to see
When stars make kids' movies, it's often because they want to give their own children a chance to see them at work. So, hats off to Jack Black for doing something his two children can see. But nobody else should have to.
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press
Nicole Kidman is powerful as a mother struggling after the death of her young son.
- Colin Covert, Star Tribune
The subject is grief, but 'Rabbit Hole' is definitely not a downer
If you enjoyed the play, "Rabbit Hole," you may be surprised how different the movie version is. Either way, I'd recommend it.
- Chris Hewitt, Pioneer Press
Music
Here, there & Lord knows where in 2010
A tour of the best, worst and wildest highlights of the year in Twin Cities music.
- Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune
Texas-based pianist Dan Cavanagh returns home to celebrate a CD with his old St. Olaf teacher, Dave Hagedorn.
- Tom Surowicz, Star Tribune
In his fourth essay on jazz for mnartists.org and the Walker, Jeremy Walker gives a free-wheeling rumination on what makes a truly "great musician" - from Beethoven, Thelonious Monk and Ornette Coleman to the legends playing right here in the Twin Cities.
- mnartists.org
Theater
Billy Elliot the Musical at the Orpheum
Show plays it big, loses the heart
- Ed Huyck, City Pages