Weekend Event Planner

These are the 10 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

As July comes to a close, you can enjoy the beginning of the end of summer with a trio of big-name concerts, an unnerving new theater production, a visit with a Real Housewife, or two events with some of the funniest people on the planet.

Below are the best options for your precious free time Thursday through Sunday. Don't like what you see? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, July 28

The Tribe presents Hypochondria
The latest production from The Tribe, Hypochondria, is an off-beat play that lives at the intersection of healthcare, health insurance (or lack thereof), young women’s bodies, young women’s voices, everyone’s anxiety, trying to fall in love, and pop music. There are four performances at Margo Jones Theatre in Fair Park through Sunday.

Friday, July 29

Texas Rangers Hall of Fame Luncheon
There have been many beloved players in Texas Rangers' history — Nolan Ryan, Pudge Rodriguez, Adrian Beltre — but Michael Young leads the way for a lot of fans. The shortstop/third baseman/all-around good guy is officially being inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame at this luncheon at the Arlington Convention Center, and he's being honored before the Rangers' game against Kansas City on July 30.

Clotheshorse Anonymous presents Stephanie Hollman of The Real Housewives of Dallas
The first season of The Real Housewives of Dallas was a love/hate relationship for many. For those who fall on the "love" side of things, you can come to this event at Clotheshorse Anonymous for a meet-and-greet with Stephanie Hollman, and the opportunity to shop Hollman's closet right off the showroom floor while enjoying food, drinks, giveaways, and a City + Sky trunk show.

Blink-182 in concert with A Day To Remember and All-American Rejects
Of all the bands to still be going strong after 20 years in the music business, Blink-182 doesn't automatically come to mind. Yet here they are, scoring only their second No. 1 album with the just-released California. They are playing at Gexa Energy Pavilion alongside opening acts A Day to Remember and All-American Rejects.

Improv Arlington presents Mo'Nique
Academy Award-winning actress Mo'Nique was fierce in her performance in 2009's Precious, but her career has otherwise been based on laughter. She starred on the sitcom The Parkers and on her own talk show, The Mo'Nique Show, and has continued to tour as a stand-up comedian. She's performing four times over two days at the Improv Arlington.

Saturday, July 30

Reunion Lawn Party
The second Reunion Lawn Party of the summer has a sporty feel, as Texas Motor Speedway takes over the lawn at Reunion Park, bringing games, giveaways, and crazy cars like a bathtub car, recliner chair, and 1970s gold van. The party also features live music from former Voice contestant Hannah Kirby and the jazzy crowd-pleaser Tin Man Band.

Rascal Flatts in concert with Kelsea Ballerini and Chris Lane
Sometimes it seems like country group Rascal Flatts gets taken for granted. There are bigger or flashier country artists out there, but few have been as consistently great as this trio, who have a streak of eight No. 1 albums going, including their latest, 2014's Rewind. While fans wait patiently for new music, they can enjoy the hits at this concert at Gexa Energy Pavilion. Up-and-comers Kelsea Ballerini and Chris Lane serve as opening acts.

AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company
Founded by Amy Poehler, the Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company performs a night of provocative sketch comedy and absurd improv. A veritable incubation lab for comedy talent, the Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company cast is hand-picked from the best improv comedians in the country. The touring company is performing at Dallas City Performance Hall.

Sunday, July 31

Texas Theatre and Majestic Theatre present Rock 'N' Roll Summer Series
The Rock 'N' Roll Summer Series comes to a close with yet another classic music documentary, Don't Look Back, by D. A. Pennebaker. Playing at the Texas Theatre, the film covers Bob Dylan’s 1965 tour of England, which includes appearances by Joan Baez and Donovan. It's a must-see for any music or movie buff.

Meghan Trainor in concert with Hailee Steinfeld and Common Kings
In a period of just two short years, Meghan Trainor has gone from an unknown to something close to a superstar. Based on the ubiquity of "All About that Bass," her 2015 debut album, Title, went to No. 1. Striking while the iron is hot, she's quickly followed that up with her sophomore album, Thank You, which she's highlight in this concert at Allen Event Center. She's be joined by singer/actress Hailee Steinfeld and Common Kings.

Blink-182 plays at Gexa Energy Pavilion on July 29, with support from A Day To Remember and All-American Rejects.

Photo courtesy of Live Nation

Blink-182 plays at Gexa Energy Pavilion on July 29, with support from A Day To Remember and All-American Rejects.

event-planner comedy theater luncheons movies sports concerts

Movie Review

Andrew Garfield leads peasant rebellion in medieval film The Uprising

Photo by Betina La Plante/Focus Features

Andrew Garfield in The Uprising.

Writer/director Paul Greengrass made his name with a cinéma vérité style of filmmaking that brought immediacy and depth to three Jason Bourne films, United 93, Captain Phillips, and more. In The Uprising, he uses those skills to tell the story of the so-called Peasants’ Revolt in 14th century England.

Greengrass wastes no time starting the main plot as Ploughman (Andrew Garfield) and his fellow villagers object to onerous taxes put on them by the country’s nobility, led by the young King Richard II (Woody Norman), to fund an ongoing war. Ploughman initiates a violent response over the tone-deaf — and unseemly — way the king’s guard go about their business, and the rebellion soon starts to spread across the countryside, with the citizens looking for a degree of autonomy.

The ever-expanding group makes their way toward London to try to make their case to the king himself. Meanwhile, the king’s top advisors, including Archbishop Sudbury (Stephen Dillane) and Treasurer Hales (Tom Hollander), try to usurp power from the inexperienced monarch even as the king’s mother (Katherine Waterston) tries to get him to be more assertive.

The history of the English monarchy is long and lurid, as Shakespeare detailed in multiple plays, including Richard II. Though the events in the film took place almost 650 years ago, it’s easy to see parallels between what the peasants were fighting for and modern-day politics. Greengrass’ storytelling intent is solid, and the righteous anger the citizens feel is initially relatable and palpable.

But the populism theme of the story soon gets bogged down in drudgery and minutiae that is difficult to understand, especially when the details are lost in the thick regional English accents. The leaders of the rebels — including John Ball (Jamie Bell), Wat Tyler (Cosmo Jarvis), and Alyce (Thomasin McKenzie) — are shown doing a lot of planning, but the strong feelings they have about their quest don’t come across well, leaving the audience as passive observers.

When there is action, Greengrass and his team employ a frenetic style that is not great for comprehension. While the gist of what is happening and what side is winning is legible, individual moments go by so quickly so as to be nearly meaningless. Save for Ploughman, any connection that has been made with various characters proves futile, as Greengrass doesn’t seem to have any time for emotion. Scenes that should feel thrilling or heartbreaking instead come off as empty.

Garfield is a two-time Oscar nominee who has done great work across multiple genres. He’s fine in this role, but whether it’s the story, the filmmaking, or something else, he’s not as captivating as usual. The same goes for other strong actors like Bell, McKenzie, Dillane, Hollander, and Waterston, who each seem to be giving their all to their performances but are somehow muted in the process.

Done right, The Uprising could have been a rip-roaring account of people standing up against their oppressors. What Greengrass has made, though, is a film that can’t translate its medieval story for a modern audience and concentrates too much on unexciting elements and too little on thrilling ones.

---

The Uprising is now playing in theaters.

movies film reviews