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Review: Phish mounts a human-scale spectacle at Las Vegas Sphere

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Review: Phish mounts a human-scale spectacle at Las Vegas Sphere

The massive LED video screen that forms the interior surface of Sphere can be used to transport audiences to the tops of mountains, to outer space, to beneath the feet of an elephant standing as tall as a 20-story building.

On Friday night, Phish turned the place into a car wash.

Playing the second date in a sold-out four-night stand at this state-of-the-art venue just off the Las Vegas Strip, the veteran jam band from Vermont took full advantage of the technological capabilities that cost the building’s mastermind, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Chief Executive James Dolan, five years and more than $2 billion to bring to life last fall.

At one point in the nearly four-hour gig, the 160,000-square-foot screen — said to be the highest-resolution in the world — became a starry night sky so crisply rendered that you could almost believe the roof had retracted; at another point, Sphere transformed into an underwater kelp forest with sunlight streaming down from the top of the dome. The venue’s sound system was just as impressive, with a finely detailed mix and seatback haptics that allowed you literally to feel the oomph of bassist Mike Gordon’s low notes.

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Phish’s show Friday was the second date in a sold-out four-night stand at Sphere.

(Alive Coverage)

Yet Phish’s production — the second by a band to play Sphere after U2’s opening engagement — wasn’t about excess or grandiosity; it was homey, friendly, deeply quirky. After the car-wash bit, which replicated the experience of crawling through one, a gigantic dog appeared and proceeded to lick what looked like the other side of the screen in slow motion as the band performed its song “You Enjoy Myself.”

The approach certainly differed from that of U2, whose 40-date residency launched in September and ended last month. Built around the Irish group’s 1991 album “Achtung Baby,” U2’s show riffed on big ideas about celebrity and media and the intersection of politics and capitalism; it used Sphere’s eye-popping tech to uphold the band’s distinct brand of rock-star heroism, reasserting U2’s place in a cultural lineage stretching from Frank Sinatra to Elvis Presley to the Beatles to Prince.

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For Phish, perhaps music’s biggest cult band, Sphere wasn’t a means of self-glorification but of community-building: One thing you thought about over the course of the band’s two sets and an encore was how tiny the players looked onstage — the same size, in other words, as any of the 18,000 or so people in the crowd. Even when the screen would show a close-up of one of the players — Gordon, singer-guitarist Trey Anastasio, keyboardist Page McConnell and drummer Jon Fishman — the image would be warped almost beyond recognition.

Jam bands, of course, have a long history of elaborate visual presentations. Ahead of Phish’s run in Vegas, fans of the band wondered online whether its lighting designer, Chris Kuroda, would have the space to do his thing properly amid Sphere’s digital overload. (The answer was kind of.) So it makes sense that Sphere might become a destination for other acts in the tradition; indeed, next up at the venue is Dead & Company, which will begin a 24-show stint in May after saying that its 2023 tour would be its last.

Phish surrounded by visuals at Sphere in Vegas.

Phish performs.

(Rene Huemer / MSG Entertainment)

With no fear of being overshadowed by the room, Phish leaned into Sphere’s immersive potential with an assortment of water-themed visuals: hundreds of swimmers floating in doughnut-shaped inflatables atop the waves of a rippling sea; marine life darting through the columns of a vast sunken monument; a psychedelic waterfall pouring over a cliff that seemed almost untouchably far away from wherever you were sitting in the steeply raked amphitheater. As part of a production team parked behind dozens of glowing monitors in the middle of the room, Abigail Rosen Holmes, Phish’s creative director, manipulated these images in real time, responding — sometimes subtly, sometimes dramatically — to the twists and turns of the band’s improvisations.

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In a funny twist, Phish’s lack of anxiety about being upstaged by what was happening on Sphere’s wraparound screen — the members themselves seem well aware that they’ve never been much to look at — meant that Friday’s show actually felt like it was about music, which was clearly the point for a band that famously never repeats a set list.

“Bathtub Gin” was jaunty and playful, with McConnell threading a bit of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” into the song’s fabric; “Lonely Trip” was a lilting ballad with one of the evening’s few convincing vocal turns from Anastasio. “Split Open and Melt,” which came just before the evening’s intermission, was the highlight of the concert: a demented boogie-rock freak-out that landed somewhere between early Sonic Youth and electric-era Miles Davis.

For its encore, Phish played the plaintive “Wading in the Velvet Sea” as photos stretching back to the band’s beginnings in the mid-1980s flickered across Sphere’s screen, and for a moment the musicians seemed to be indulging in the kind of rock-god mythologizing the rest of the show resisted. Then you realized that most of the pictures depicted these guys in various humble backstage scenarios: just four lifers getting ready to go to work for their people.

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Movie Reviews

Movie Review – Tarot

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Movie Review – Tarot

Read Time:1 Minute, 16 Second

Tarot, the name of this movie, can be credited as the best thing about it. While the movie had a healthy pace and an interesting storyline, the acting was forced at best, and it was exceptionally predictable. I’m all over these types of movies, and I couldn’t leave fast enough.

If you are looking for an edge of your seat, nail biting horror movie you are going to be sorely disappointed. If you’re cleaning your house and need some background noise, then you’ve found your match. Unless you have to pay for it, then I would skip it.

——Content continues below——


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I hate dogging movies like this, however it’s warranted here. Tarot is simply not worth your time, there’s other options out there.

Grade: D+

About The Peetimes: I recommend the 2nd Peetime. It’s pretty long and most of the Peetime was shown in the trailers. The 1st one works just as well but it is a little bit shorter.

There are no extra scenes during, or after, the end credits of Tarot.

Rated: (PG-13) Horror Violence | Drug Content | Bloody Images | Some Strong Language | Terror
Genres: Horror
Starring: Avantika, Olwen Fouéré, Jacob Batalon
Director: Spenser Cohen, Anna Halberg
Writer(s): Nicholas Adams, Spenser Cohen, Anna Halberg
Language: English
Country: United States

Plot
When a group of friends recklessly violates the sacred rule of Tarot readings, they unknowingly unleash an unspeakable evil trapped within the cursed cards. One by one, they come face to face with fate and end up in a race against…

 

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Don’t miss your favorite movie moments because you have to pee or need a snack. Use the RunPee app (Androidor iPhone) when you go to the movies. We have Peetimes for all wide release films every week, including Fall Guy, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Civil War and coming soon Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, IF, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and many others. We have literally thousands of Peetimes—from classic movies through today’s blockbusters. You can also keep up with movie news and reviews on our blog, or by following us on Twitter @RunPee.
If there’s a new film out there, we’ve got your bladder covered.

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Britney Spears twisted her ankle but is safe at home after Chateau Marmont 911 call

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Britney Spears twisted her ankle but is safe at home after Chateau Marmont 911 call

Britney Spears had a fight with her boyfriend at Chateau Marmont this week, resulting in paramedics being called to the vaunted Hollywood establishment and the pop star leaving the hotel with her own security team, The Times has confirmed.

The “… Baby One More Time” singer injured her foot and was not treated by medical personnel but is fine and safe at home, The Times confirmed Friday.

Spears, 42, appeared to address the incident Thursday, declaring on Instagram that “the news is fake” after a wide-reaching TMZ report about her and boyfriend, Paul Soliz, cited sources who feared that she had a “mental breakdown” at the hotel. The Grammy Award winner confirmed that she twisted her ankle and alleged that paramedics “showed up at my door illegally.”

“They never came in my room but I felt completly [sic] harassed. I’m moving to Boston !!! Peace,” wrote Spears, whose past erratic behavior resulted in her infamous 13-year conservatorship that was terminated in 2021.

Late Thursday, Spears posted a video showing her swollen ankle and saying that she injured it while she was trying to do a leap in the living room of her hotel suite. She said she “fell and embarrassed herself” and that the paramedics’ arrival “caused this huge scene, which was so unnecessary” when all she needed was ice.

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“It is actually pretty bad, but s— happens,” the “Toxic” and “Hold Me Closer” singer said in the video.

Spears’ personal attorney Mathew S. Rosengart declined to comment Friday when reached by The Times. A Chateau Marmont spokesperson did not immediately respond to a message requesting comment.

It’s unclear who called authorities.

Brian Humphrey, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department, confirmed Friday that the agency had received a 911 call to the Chateau Marmont at 12:42 a.m. Thursday but, citing medical privacy rules, could not identify the person the call was made for.

Humphrey confirmed that paramedics were dispatched to the hotel after a caller requested aid for an adult female who had been injured. He said the caller did not offer specifics about the injury.

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“At this time it is not clear if the crew encountered the injured person or offered any medical assistance,” he said, adding that the ambulance left Chateau Marmont at 1:17 a.m. without transporting the person and that there was no law-enforcement response.

Humphrey had no comment on the allegations Spears made on social media.

In the caption of Spears’ Thursday video post, she alleged that her mother, Lynne Spears, was probably involved in the incident, which was documented in part by paparazzi. She also complimented Rosengart, who spearheaded the effort that released her from the conservatorship of her personal and financial affairs that was installed in 2008 after a spate of high-profile incidents.

“I know my mom was involved !!! I haven’t talked to her in 6 months and she called right after it happened before the news being out !!! I was set up just like she did way back when !!!” Spears alleged in the post. “I wish I had grandparents !!! I can’t stand her !!! I honestly don’t care I will say it 👍🏻🤷🏼‍♀️ !!!”

Then, posting a photo of Rosengart, Spears added: “Psss this man is wonderful !!! He’s like a father to me and he got me through last night !!! I adore you and admire you mister Mathew !!!”

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Last week, Rosengart helped wrap up the singer’s years-long dispute with her father and former conservator, Jamie Spears, over payment of his legal fees and how he managed his daughter’s finances during the controversial legal arrangement.

“The Woman in Me” author also reached a divorce settlement agreement with estranged third husband Sam Asghari that was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court earlier this week.

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Movie Reviews

Prasanna Vadanam Movie Review – Gulte

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Prasanna Vadanam Movie Review – Gulte

2.75/5


2 Hr 26 Mins   |   Thriller   |   03-05-2024


Cast – Suhas, Payal Radhakrishna, Rashi Singh, Viva Harsha, Nitin Prasanna and others

Director – Arjun Y K

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Producer – Manikanta J S, Prasad Reddy T R

Banner – Arha Media, Little Thoughts Cinemas

Music – Vijai Bulganin

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Suhas has become one of the bankable actors in Tollywood. He is now out with his latest film, Prasanna Vadanam, based on a man with face blindness. Directed by Arjun YK, let’s review the film here.

Plot

Surya(Suhas), a Radio RJ meets with a terrible accident and ends up with a rare disease named Prosopagnosia. Due to this, he gets face blindness and cannot identify the faces of people around him. One fine day, he witnesses the brutal murder of a young girl. He informs the cops but instead gets embroiled in the case. Left with no choice; he approaches top cop Vaidehi(Rashi Singh) for assistance. But things turn on its head and multiple cases are now filed on Surya. The rest of the story is about how Surya proves his innocence with the help of his girlfriend Adhya(Payal Radhakrishna).

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Performances

Suhas is known for his versatile characters gets a tailor-made role in Prasanna Vadanam. As he has a unique disease, the scope for him to perform uniquely is high in the film, and Suhas lives up to all the expectations. His performance in the second half is highly impressive and arrests you till the end. Nithin Prasanna, who was last seen in Ambajipeta Marriage Band, delivers yet another bankable performance. The various shades he showcased in his performance were impressive. Rashi Singh, who played the top cop, was decent, but she should have worked more on the expressions in the latter part of the film. Viva Harsha was okay, and so was Payal Radhakrishna.

Technicalities

Vijay Bulganin composed the music for the film, and his songs are quite ordinary. None of the songs register with the audience, but the background score is quite impressive. The sound design neatly elevates the proceedings and is composed in a stylish manner. The camera work is so-so and one cannot complain keeping the budget in mind. The production values are also okay, and there is nothing much to rave about. The editing is perfect as the narrative is crisp and to the point.

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Suhas
Interval twist

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Lag in the second half
Songs
Flashback

Analysis

Making thrillers is one of the biggest tasks for any writer-director. But newcomer Arjun YK has chosen a story with face blindness which is something new for Telugu cinema. So, this itself makes things interesting for Prasanna Vadanam. Prasanna Vadanam starts on a very interesting note, and the best part is that director Arjun does not waste any time entering the conflict point in the film.

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Once the heroine is introduced, the love track gets a bit boring, but that too passes, and things become interesting for the audience. Once the crime is committed, the concentration shifts towards the cops and how they will deal with the case. But the way director Arjun brings in the half-time twist is superb and unexpected. As the director reveals the man behind the murder, things become a bit difficult for the director to handle the proceedings.

This is when the proceedings become slow and a bit dull. Also, the reason behind the motive of the murderer is not showcased convincingly. Also, the way Suhas behaves in the second half looks a bit odd. As he has face blindness, the director could have added more drama and played with the effects, but that does not happen, and things move slowly until the pre-climax.

Director Arjun has potential and narrates the film well for the most part. However, way too many cinematic liberties and a lack of hold on emotions are some of the drawbacks. Prasanna Vadanam has decent moments that hold your attention. However, one needs to prepare for the pace and lack of depth in the proceedings as well.

Bottom Line – Passable Thriller

Rating: 2.75/5

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