Vaya Con Muñoz 11.5.16

With just three days to go before Nov. 8 election, the most harrowing of a presidential campaign season in generations will conclude, and I had to rant and rave about what we need to do: Hillary haters, hold your nose and vote. Trump supporters: Not cool to vote for someone who spews hate against blacks, Latinos, Muslims, women and anyone else who does not agree with him.
Also, my excellent views on the 4 ballot questions in Massachusetts.
Filmmaker Larry Hott reviews Life Animated (trailer here: lifeanimateddoc.com/) about how the movies can be more than an event, they can transform lives.
We are sung out by Wilkins (¡!) singing “Cantares de Navidad” because as all Puerto Ricans know, November starts the Christmas season.
“MorePerfectUnion” by Natalia Muñoz 2016

Vaya Con Muñoz 10.29.16

Today we talk with our fabulous correspondent, my aunt Melo aka Victoria Muñoz Mendoza, who was a senator and gubernatorial candidate in Puerto Rico in 1992, about the US presidential election. She is hopeful that we in the US do our simplest and one of my most hallowed actions on Nov. 8: Voting.
Filmmaker Larry Hott reviews a funny documental about Carrie Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, called “Bright Lights.” Trailer here: https://deadline.com/2016/05/hbo-documentary-bright-lights-debbie-reynolds-carrie-fisher-cannes-video-1201755169/
And we get sung out by La India, the Princess of Salsa, singing “Nunca Voy a Olvidarte.”
Photo of the recent polls courtesy of RealClearPolitics.com

Vaya Con Muñoz 10.22.16

Filmmaker Larry Hott is one of the judges behind the scenes for the annual presentation of nominees at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, AKA The Oscars, which will be aired on Feb. 26, 2017.
Larry shares intel on how he judges the movies and documentaries that may make it to the final nominations list, and winners. More info about the Oscars here: oscars.org/
We are sung out by the great Lolita Flores singing “Sarandonga,” which I’ve played before but it felt right to play it again because it’s so much fun to listen to a song that is essentially, about eating delicious food. ¡Olé!
In the picture, Lolita, courtesy of Wikipedia.

Vaya Con Muñoz 10.15.16

10.15.16 Vero González, a teacher at the Paulo Freire School of Social Justice, talks about how people like GOP presidential candidate still are suported by millions despite his bigotry, the most recent display being his boasts about his sexual predatory conduct. What needs to change how women and girls are treated? Better education is a start, she says.
Filmmaker Larry Hott review Miss Sharon Jones! a documentary by Barbara Kopple [trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7eNSgCQzCI] about a singer those of us who do not know her will be thrilled to know. Larry promises she will have you dancing. The movie is playing at the Amerst Cinema.
And we are sung out by the big bang star, Benny Moré, singing a rousing ballad, “Mucho Corazón.”

Vaya Con Muñoz 10.8.16

This week filmmaker Larry Hott and I talk about the implications of empty movie theaters as more people favor solitary movie-going experiences on mobile phones, virtual reality devices, online subscriptions and computers. Oh, and I go on a rant about the protest vote in the presidential elections. We are sung out by Juan Luis Guerra & 440 of the Dominican Republic singing, “A Pedir Su Mano,” a fast merengue with a joyful horn section

Vaya Con Muñoz 9.17.16

9.17.16 Marie Grady, journalist, lawyer and journalism ethics professor, talks about the media coverage of the presidental candidates.
Lawrence Hott reviews “Major,” showing at the Outfest on The Road Film Festival this weekend. Moore about the LGBT festival, sponsored by the Program for the Study of Women and Gender at Smith College and Outfest, through tomorrow Sept. 18, is here: http://www.aomtheatre.com/event/outfest-on-the-road-presented-by-smith-college/
And we get sung out by Chambao and Estrella Morente singing “Lo Bueno y Lo Malo,” one of my favorite songs of al time. In the picture, Estrella at left and Chambao.

Vaya Con Muñoz 9.10.16

Kent and Caryn Hesse have two signs on the front porch of their Northampton home: Black Lives Matter and the Northampton Police Department also has their support. They talk about the decision to show support to both the movement and the city’s police.
Cultural commentator Waleska Santiago makes a case for not looking at labels when you go to an exhibit, but instead look at the art and have your own reaction without being influenced by the title of the work nor how the curator wants you to experience the journey.
Larry Hott advances what will be presented at the Outfest on the Road, an extension of the prestiiopus Los Angeles Outfest. Smith College is sponsiring, the Academy of Music is showing, some terrific films Sept. 16-18. More info here: http://www.aomtheatre.com/event/outfest-on-the-road-presented-by-smith-college/

Vana Con Muñoz 9.3.16

Longtime journalist Diane Alverio, founder and publisher of CTLatinoNews, talks with us about Donald Trump and Republicans with no good option in November.
Larry Hott reviews “The Music of Strangers,” a documentary about cellist Yo Yo Ma and his ensemble and invited musicians as they travel the world. This isn’t a concert movie, though; this is about how music defines us and our times and transforms cultures. Larry says it’s an astonishing film in both content and even frame by frame. I believe him.
We are sung out by Colombian singer-songwriter Carles Vives singing a happy song, “Quiere Verte Sonreir,” I want to See You Smile.”
🙂

Vaya Con Muñoz 8.27.16

This week Eloisa Gordon Mora, vice president of academic affairs at Sagrado Corazón University in San Juan, Puerto Rico, talks about how the economic crisis in Puerto Rico is destroying education at all levels from elementary to university schools.
Then we go positive with our esteemed colleague Liz Román of El Pueblo Latino/MassLive.com/TheRepublican, who tells us about the big giant fiesta taking place next week in Chicago, where the Puerto Rican community there is honoring Holyoke and Springfield, the cities with the largest concertrations in our region.
Larry Hott review four films: Ticked, Tales of the Grim Sleeper, The Young at Heart Chorus and Don’t Think Twice. The first two are investigate documentaries, while The Young at Heart is about Northampton’s much beloved chorus and the fourth, Don’t Think Twice, a comedy playing at Amherst Cinema.
And singing us out is El Topo with his song called “Verde Luz,” considered the unofficial anthem of Puerto Rico because rather than gloryfing Columbus as is done inthe official “La Borinqueña” song, his is a love to song to the beauty of our island.

Vaya Con Muñoz 8.20.16