Before the Fall: 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes'

Caesar (Andy Serkis) is the chimpanzee that Will Rodman (James Franco) brings home to live with him in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." Photo from 20th Century Fox.

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes," the prequel to "The Planet of the Apes," centers around the experiments that lead to the domination of primates over humans. James Franco heads a cast including, John Lithgow, as a scientist who creates something very unexpected. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" opens nationwide today. See trailer at: http://www.apeswillrise.com/.

Brian Cox, David Oyelowo, Freida Pinto, James Franco, John Lithgow, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Rupert Wyatt, Tom Felton, Gun Hill Road, Rashaad Ernesto Green, Esai Morales, Harmony Santana

Opening exclusively in New York today (next Friday in Los Angeles) is “Gun Hill Road,” the feature film debut of Rashaad Ernesto Green. “Gun Hill Road” had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and closed out NewFest: NY’s Premier LGBT Film Festival last month. (See: http://www.bit.ly/p1aliu)

Harmony Santana, Esai Morales and Judy Reyes in "Gun Hill Road." Photo by Mykwain Gainey.

Though multi-layered, at the heart of the film is Latin machismo. Enrique Rodriguez (Esai Morales) returns home after two years in the big house to a changed family. The biggest change is in his son, Michael (Harmony Santana), who has morphed into Vanessa.

Believing that Michael's behavior casts him in a bad light, the volatile Enrique is enraged and sets out to make a real Nuyorican man out of his son the only way he knows how. (See trailer at: http://www.gunhillroad.com/trailer)

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is rated PG-13 for violence, terror, some sexuality and brief strong language; “Gun Hill Road” is Rated R for strong sexual content, profanity, violence).

Old Glories in 'That Championship Season'

Brian Cox, Jason Patric, Jim Gaffigan, Chris Noth and Kiefer Sutherland are coach and winning team in "That Championship Season." Photos by Joan Marcus.

BY TAMARA BECK

IN 1973, Jason Miller won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a Tony for “That Championship Season.”

Nearly 40 years later, the revival starring his son, Jason Patric, and a team of all-stars is still winning, intense and relevant. JP is joined by Chris Noth, Brian Cox, Jim Gaffigan and Kiefer Sutherland.

No one in this cast stands out, because everyone is outstanding! Under the direction of Gregory Mosher, and playing through 29 May, “That Championship Season” lights up the stage at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre with the promise and disappointments that are at its heart.

In “That Championship Season,” four players from a trophy-winning high school basketball squad meet at their Coach’s (BC) house for a 20th-year reunion. As a team, they were completely in sync, catching passes and making crucial plays. In the course of the alcohol-fueled evening, however, their dissension and disloyalty to each other becomes evident. (See videos at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giIGEmqbvXE&feature=relmfu and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0WyzzgLaSc)

In "That Championship Season," the night wears on, the drinks flow, tongues loosen, and the painful truth comes out.

George Sikowski (JG) needs Phil Romano’s (CN) support in his re-election campaign for mayor of their small Pennsylvania town. Phil, who was born to riches and has amassed more by strip-mining his hometown, has yet to kick in the $30,000 George anticipates.

James Daley (KS) is a junior high school principal and George’s campaign manager – his future is in politics. Here is a man of many discomforts: he is uncomfortable with his dentures; his lack of sleep; his unfulfilled ambitions, etc. As KS plays him, James is an aggrieved man undeserving of any better.

All these years later, Coach continues to orchestrate the lives of the “championship” team, as he did on the court. For instance, he advises George about his campaign and his family. He ignores the fact, though, that these Jesuit-educated boys have grown up to be less than successful men; to do so would diminish him, for Coach has had far more influence on them than the brotherhood of priests.

Coach (Brian Cox, right) snaps a photo of his boys with the prized trophy in "That Championship Season."

Only James’ brother, Tom Daley (JP), a drunk who lives elsewhere and has “fallen down in 10 states,” sees the winning season and the winners clearly. Outsider Tom chides them for their hypocrisy, bigotries and ill-will. “The Jesuits will really be mad at you,” he warns as the evening winds down.

In “That Championship Season,” the victory is well-deserved. It is a rare pleasure to see an ensemble this good on stage.

Visit http://www.thatchampionshipseason.com/ to learn more about “That Championship Season.”