On screen
Gone in 60 Seconds
 A much-hyped Jerry Bruckheimer (The Rock, Armageddon, Enemy of the State) production hit the local screens last week. Nicholas Cage plays a retired car thief who quits the job to avoid his younger brother getting involved. But when his brother picks up the profession anyway, and gets in trouble with a nasty gang leader, Cage finds himself forced to step in and save the day. His heroic mission: stealing 50 cars in one night to make up for his brother's shortcomings. This plot, common to more films than you can remember -- The Patriot is an example close at hand -- is executed with enough exciting twists and lush production to justify the hyped-up publicity.
Reviewed by Mohamed El-Assyouti
At the opera
This weekend, Cairo Opera House's Main Hall will host the Greek National Opera's classic ballet Zorba the Greek. The show is based on N Kazantzakis's 1943 novel about a man with a unique philosophy of life and his relationships with the people of his village. Held under the auspices of Suzanne Mubarak, some of the proceeds will be donated to charities assisting Egyptian and Palestinian children.
Preview by Reham El-Adawi
On stage
Currently playing at the National Theatre, Al-Abb (The Father) is a daring and serious one-hour performance featuring dialogue that is both natural and clever. The plot revolves around a husband who believes that women are naturally prone to cheating on their spouse. His nagging suspicions about the paternity of his only daughter eventually bring tragedy to his small family. Playing the father, Mahmoud Mas'oud's expressive gestures reveal an exceptional talent that compensates for the overly simple decor.
Reviewed by Mustafa El-Minshawi
See listingsfor venue and show-times.
Around the galleries
Currently on display at the Picasso Gallery are recent paintings by Gaber Nassar. A multi-talented artist, his other creative occupations include set designing, documentary film directing and lecturing at the Cinema Institute. Nassar's paintings are particularly interesting because of his portrayal of movement -- a general motif of his work -- which he achieves with such a light brush that one barely perceives the strokes touching the canvas. Another impressive feature of Nassar's work is his employment of colour which, on his palette, often range the entire spectrum of the same pigment.
Reviewed by
Nagwa El-Ashri
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