By Jenny Alvarez

Photos by Alfonso De Elias

The Piano Guys were in a great concert at Greek Theater which has excellent acoustic, audio and friendly management help. These four talented dads from Utah, have climbed the Great Wall of China for their craft, landed a top Billboard charts, sold out tour dates around the world, accrued a massive social media following and scored YouTube viewership at 500 million views with their brand new album, Wonders!

Their concert was full of film music videos, with successful single/video releases from the past year such as, “Let It Go,” “Kung Fu Piano: Cello Ascends,” and “Story of my Life.” It also includes new songs with strong familiarity that incorporates melodies from Dave Matthews Band’s huge hit “Ants Marching / Beethoven Ode to Joy,” they continued with more beautiful songs such, “Epic,”“Bourne,””Upside Down,””Father’s Eyes,” until the intermission.

As spectator, I realized these talented artists have a real connection through their little chats with the audience. After the intermission, they continued with “Secrets,” “Snoopy,””Story of My Life,” “1000 Years,”“Mashup,””Rockabell,””Beautiful” and in some songs were hilarious because Jon was dancing with a particular and unique style. If he weren’t a musician, he would’ve made for a fantastic comedian.

The Piano Guys – Steven Sharp Nelson, Jon Schmidt, Al Van der Beek and Paul Anderson included a well structured concert, dynamic and worthy. For me, this concert might be the best show of the year.

By Jenny Alvarez

Photos Agency

“The Connection” was  directed and co-written by Cédric Jimenez and is a stylish, 70’s-period crime thriller inspired by true events, it tells the story of real-life Marseilles magistrate Pierre Michel (Academy Award® winner Jean Dujardin) and his relentless crusade to dismantle the most notorious drug smuggling operation in history: the French Connection. In his crosshairs is charismatic and wealthy kingpin, Gatean “Tany” Zampa (Gilles Lellouche), who runs the largest underground heroin trade into the States. Though the fearless and tenacious Michel, aided by a task force of elite cops, will stop at nothing––including boldly orchestrated drug raids, devastating arrests, and exacting interrogations––to ensure the crime ring’s demise, Zampa’s “La French” always seems one step ahead. As La French mounts its retaliation, Michel will be forced to make the most difficult decision of his life: to continue waging his war, or ensure his family’s safety.

Definitely you will have new perspective on a familiar story in French style. Full of dialogues and scenes taken from previous crime classics with an intense fighting among his generals and by the eventual revelation of police corruption. During 135 minutes, the viewer will see how French police is organized and the most remarkable part of this film was shot on 35mm film, even making note of where screenings will be shown in 35mm. Dujardin with early seventies sideburns looks great and very realistic in his role. Good photography and ambience with tragic end but viewers will have their own point of view for it.

By Jenny Alvarez

Photos Agency.

During 95 minutes, director and writer Chris Dowling show us an inspiring story about Calvin Campbell (Kristoffer Polaha), a professional baseball player who was sent to an early retirement due to panic attacks at the plate.  Even though he had all the talent for the big leagues, he struggles with the curveballs life has thrown him. Today, Calvin sleepwalks through his days and copes with the challenge of raising his teenage daughter (McKaley Miller). As his life heads in a downward spiral, it is suddenly awakened and invigorated by the most unlikely person – Produce (David DeSanctis), a young-man with Down syndrome who works at the local grocery store.

It’s related to a deep friendship form in an authentic, real, full of hope and encouragement. Despite Mr. Polaha plays the role with enough self doubt and confusion, David DeSanctis (who plays “Produce”) provides hope. It’s obvious the series has given him a foundation to make this role much deeper than most but together work, here and there, and Polaha is perfectly believable as an ex-jock and ex-jerk who lets a little child lead him out of the darkness and with the help of potential future soulmate Amy (Burns), it appears that things are looking up. Definitely a watchable film that becomes a kind of spiritual role model toward lost souls.

By Jenny Alvarez

Photos Agency

During 95 minutes, most people will love this movie even it would be a romance for seniors but this reflects something different. All begins with a widow in her seventies, who  discovers that life can begin anew at any age. After the death of her beloved dog, Carol (Blythe Danner) finds the everyday activities that have given her life structure – her regular bridge game, gardening, a glass of wine or two – have lost their luster. With the support of three loyal girlfriends (June Squibb, Rhea Perlman, and Mary Kay Place), Carol decides to embrace the world, embarking on an unlikely friendship with her pool maintenance man (Martin Starr), pursuing a new love interest (Sam Elliott), and reconnecting with her daughter (Malin Akerman).

Danner (Meet the Parents) heads up a star-studded cast that includes Martin Starr (“Silicon Valley” ), June Squibb (Nebraska), Rhea Perlman (“Cheers”), Mary Kay Place (The Big Chill), with Malin Akerman (“The Comeback”) and Sam Elliott (“Justified,”), in a gently humorous and deeply touching look at life, loss, and love that bridges generations.

The film is directed by Brett Haley (The New Year) from a screenplay by Haley and Marc Basch. Sam Elliott plays a romantic interest for Blythe Danner, who portrays a former singer in this film but his role is fill up her days with something different, both main roles got laughs out of the audience with merely a glance and  make their characters human with happiness and sadness in the way that life is. Definitely is a genuine and effective film for believers and faithful viewers to real love.