Weekend Event Planner

Here are the top 11 things to do in Houston this weekend

January is shaping up to be a busy month in Houston, and this weekend is no different. Eclectic happenings include breathtaking breakdancing, several concerts, wine tasting from the Basque region of Spain, and a Southern Sunday Supper.

Here are 11 of the top events happenings around the city this weekend, but you can check out the full list of events on your CultureMap Events Calendar.

Thursday, January 19

Camerata presents ¡TXOTX! Basque Weekend

This weekend-long event celebrates the ciders and wines that are native to the Basque region of Spain with a pouring competition and educational seminars Wine lovers will also enjoy the opportunity to sample wines paired with traditional small snacks (pintxos) from Camerata. The celebration continues at Public Services and 13º Celsius.

The Johns

Mildred's Umbrella Theater Company's production of Mary Bonnett's play offers an eye-opening look at human trafficking and its continuing prevalence in today’s society. The locale has been change from the Chicago area to The Woodlands, but the theme remains topical as since Houston has one of the highest rates of sex trafficking in the nation. The play continues on weekends through February 4.

What a Joke Comedy Fest

In response to the President-elect’s repeated threats on human rights, comedians in over 20 cities are coordinating shows to raise money for the ACLU on Inauguration Day Weekend with the What a Joke Comedy Fest, organized and produced by New York comedians Jenn Welch and Emily Winter.

Friday, January 20

Red Bull Flying Bach

The Flying Steps take over The Hobby Center this weekend to perform to a genre-bending mix of classical, hip hop and electronic music as they bring their internationally successful tour stateside for an extended run of dates across the country. Their theatrical modern adaptation of Johannes Sebastian Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier" combines classical musical with break dance.

Yaga's Chili Quest & Beer Fest

The Galveston Strand is ground central for the 8th Annual Yaga's Chili Quest & Beer Fest this weekend. A night party on Friday kicks off the celebration at Yaga's Cafe. It continues on Saturday with live music, a cook off, a 5k run, and many more fun activities. The Ronald McDonald House of Galveston is the beneficiary.

Romero Britto Exhibition

Art enthusiasts and fans of the Brazilian neo-pop artist, painter, serigrapher, and sculptor will delight in the opportunity to see and acquire collections of his work on exhibit at Off the Wall Gallery. Britto combines elements of cubism, pop art and graffiti painting in his work, using vibrant colors and bold patterns as a visual expression of hope and happiness. The exhibit also features a series of live artist appearances throughout the weekend.

Pancakes & Booze Art Show

Houston's largest underground art show features more than 100 emerging local artists, live body painting, a free pancake bar, live audio performances, and live art battles. The event at Warehouse Live is only for those 18 and over.

Saturday, January 21

Kane Brown in Concert

The 23-year-old country music singer, who shot to fame thanks to videos on social media, stops by the House of Blues as a part of his Ain't No Stopping Us Now Tour. Brown will perform songs from his self-titled debut album, including "Thunder in the Rain" and "Hometown."

Mahalia

The life and music of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson is celebrated in this regional premiere from the Ensemble Theatre. Standing at the side of her close friend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jackson became the musical voice of the civil rights movement. This harmonious tribute includes music by various gospel composers as well as hymns and spirituals made famous by Jackson. The production continues through February 26.

Sunday, January 22

Miranda Sings

YouTube sensation-turned-Netflix star Colleen (Haters Back oFF) Ballinger brings her comedy tour, "Miranda Sings Live...You're Welcome," to Cullen Performance Hall at the University of Houston. The 80-minute show features Ballinger’s signature blend of live comedy, songs, and countless applications of her signature lipstick.

Southern Sunday Supper at Lucille's

Celebrate National Southern Food Day at Lucille's for a Southern Sunday Supper featuring off-the-menu items such as a whole Cajachina roasted local hog, paired with classic Southern cocktails. This family-style dinner benefits the Recipe for Success Foundation.

Red Bull Flying Bach takes over The Hobby Center this weekend.

Photo courtesy of Red Bull Flying Bach

Red Bull Flying Bach takes over The Hobby Center this weekend.

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Movie Review

Over-the-top acting and incoherent plot drag down Her Private Hell

Photo courtesy of Neon

Sophie Thatcher in Her Private Hell.

Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn is not someone who plays nice with the general film world. His 2011 film Drive introduced him to American audiences in a big way, but that pulsating thriller was followed up with artier films like Only God Forgives and The Neon Demon that eschewed coherent plots in favor of moody, atmospheric pieces.

Winding Refn, who hasn’t made a feature film in 10 years, has gone fully down the rabbit hole with Her Private Hell. Taking place in a liminal space that kind of resembles Earth but also feels like someone’s dreams/nightmares, the film focuses on Elle (Sophie Thatcher), an actor currently starring in a sci-fi film. Staying at a hotel with newcomer Hunter (Kristine Froseth), the two bond over their shared passion and the legend of Elle’s father, Johnny Thunders (Dougray Scott), who’s now married to Elle’s friend Dominique (Havana Rose Liu).

After spending a good amount of (mostly incomprehensible) time with that group, Refn introduces Private K (Charles Melton), who seems to be living in post-World War II Japan. He is looking for his daughter, who might have been taken by a mysterious figure known as “Leatherman,” and he will stop at nothing to find her, fighting whoever stands in his way.

It becomes clear almost right away that Winding Refn has no desire to engage in traditional storytelling in this film. The main characters wander through neon-drenched streets and buildings, which are often surrounded by a mist that is referred to on multiple occasions but never explained. Everyone speaks as if in a constant state of wonderment, and there are many moments where it’s unclear if events are actually happening, part of a movie-within-a-movie, or something else entirely.

Unlike his previous films, Winding Refn has taken the characters in this film completely out of the real world, with every scene taking place in a sparsely decorated room or street that is obviously a movie set. While there are moments where this decision really works, especially the striking first shot of a human-like figure mixed in with a cityscape and clouds, most of the time it only adds to the stilted nature of the film as a whole.

In fact, the entire movie has the feel of an avant-garde theater exercise. Every actor seems to be trying to outdo the others with awkward performances and out-sized reactions. Two very specific characters make appearances in both sides of the story for seemingly no reason other than to inject their weirdness into both spaces. The shocking violence that crops up on occasion would have more of an impact if it was related to anything intelligible.

Thatcher (Companion) and Liu (Tuner) are among the young stars who have had breakout moments in recent years, but neither of them is served well by this hot mess of a movie. They, along with Melton, still demonstrate the talent they possess, but the oddity of the film weighs them down. Scott makes an impression for all the wrong reasons, while Froseth is called upon to play a character who might as well not be there at all.

If there’s any kind of message that Winding Refn was trying to convey with Her Private Hell, it’s lost among the flashing lights, overload of pink, and jewel-like structures. Filmmakers who try to make art for art’s sake have a place in the world, but this film too often feels like people are making things up as they go, with no real goal in mind.

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Her Private Hell opens in theaters on July 24.

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