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    Beyoncé and Jay Z mix it up

    Insider's guide to summer's biggest concert: Beyoncé and slimmed-down Jay Z mix it up in tour opener

    Patrick Ryan
    Jun 26, 2014 | 2:24 pm

    MIAMI — Unfortunately my travel schedule meant I will be unable to attend the Beyoncé and Jay-Z "On The Run" tour stop in Houston on July 18. Fortunately, however, my work schedule had me in Florida for the tour's opening night at Sun Life Stadium. Here is what fans can expect when the show comes to Houston:

    Playlist: A delicate balance

    I'll be candid, having seen Jay-Z, my favorite artist, five times already (with three of those shows being from the fourth row or better), I set my expectations for seeing him in a gigantic football stadium very low. Furthermore I was concerned with how the show would flow having to mesh the two different musical styles of him and his wife.

    My attitude greatly improved four songs in when it was apparent that Jay and Bey would be alternating songs.

    The show started to fail my already low expectations by starting late (due to stormy weather), the heat, and the fact security wasn't policing people from filling the aisles and standing on seats that weren't their own. But my attitude greatly improved four songs in when it was apparent that Jay and Bey would be alternating songs.

    I won't spoil the specifics of the order of the songs (Google it if you must) I was very pleased with how they balanced one another's hits by alternating every couple of songs and making cameos when applicable on each other's tracks.

    The highlight for me was "Holy Grail," which Jay-Z originally recorded last summer with touring partner Justin Timberlake. Well, Beyoncé stole his verses and made the song hers. Their interaction all night was great but especially so during this song. I'm glad to know that I was fortunate enough to witness the first time they performed this song for an audience.

    Wardrobe: Dual style icons

    By regularly taking turns on the stage, it enabled both performers to have more wardrobe changes than usual. While I'm not quite the fashionista I will say that Beyoncé's look was impressive and I'm sure will be fodder for the many fashion bloggers. I am guessing almost all of her outfits were created or inspired by high designers such as Versace and Alexander McQueen. (Editor's note: You're right about Versace.)

    Jay Z changed his look multiple times and incorporated a leather jacket, a nylon pullover, a sleeveless hoodie, a football jersey and a few fashion forward T-shirts.

    Regarding Jay Z, I knew he was going to stick to black and white. What was refreshing this time is that he changed his look multiple times and incorporated a leather jacket, a nylon pullover, a sleeveless hoodie, a football jersey and a few fashion-forward T-shirts.

    Jay-Z has always been a trendsetter when it comes to hip hop accessorizing and therefore I'm glad he ditched the played-out Cuban link chain and alternated between wearing multiple (as in six at a time) diamond necklaces and wearing at other times a simple single gold chain.

    He borrowed a play from Pharrell and wore an old school style felt hat at one point. That choice was then countered by a "trapstar" SnapBack, which is obviously much more in line with street culture.

    I was also glad to see him ditch his black Timberlands at one point for a pair of Air Jordan XII's ( aka "taxis").

    Performance: Athletic prowess

    The first thing I noticed about Jay was that he looked trimmer than usual. He clearly slimmed down to be sure he could physical handle the rigors of an outdoor summer tour. He did not disappoint and was not once winded, unlike times during his multi-night residency to open the Barclays Center in Brooklyn two years ago.

    Beyoncé was, as expected, in perfect shape and her dedication to her body paid off as her choreography, despite the heat, was phenomenal. To be honest, her performance was one of the most athletic feats I have witnessed in person.

    Stage design: Basic look, great speakers

    The stage was very basic, so while tour sponsor Live Nation saved money there, they more than made up for it by having very high-quality speakers and video screens. I was impressed by the sound quality considering we were in a football stadium. I therefore imagine the sound in Minute Maid, especially if the roof is closed, will be great.

    I imagine the sound in Minute Maid, especially if the roof is closed, will be great.

    There was a break every few songs, where they would show clips from the faux "On the Run" movie that this tour was based on. At first I thought this was corny, especially when compared to the heavily symbolic visuals Jay Z and Kanye employed during their "Watch The Throne" tour.

    But eventually these vignettes won me over because they did blend together well and provided entertainment while giving the performers ample time to rest and change wardrobe.

    Be sure to do some research beforehand on "symbols of the illuminati" because these clips definitely won't dispel rumors of Beyoncé and Jay's ties to that secret society that allegedly controls our economy, media, and government.

    Merchandise: Creative misses

    This was probably the most disappointing aspect of this concert experience. We all expect the shirts, hats and other various items to be overpriced, but I just didn't see any creative designs or "can't miss" merchandise. I did pick up a tour branded do-rag to help me manage the sweat I was dealing with because of Miami's humidity. It was beyond stifling — and that's saying something coming from a Houstonian.

    Seating recommendation: Join the club

    Due to the number of VIPs the tour needed to accommodate, the floor seating chart was greatly altered. Meaning some fans bought tickets they thought would be closer to the stage or more center than they actually were. That coupled with the fact that the floor became a free-for-all by the second song and people were standing on chairs and not in their assigned seats, it is hard to justify spending a lot of money on floor seats.

    That coupled with the fact that the floor became a free-for-all by the second song and people were standing on chairs and not in their assigned seats, it is hard to justify spending a lot of money on floor seats.

    I recommend getting club level seats so as to ensure you have great access to concessions, restrooms and the bar. This will provide a good angle plus a comfortable setting to enjoy the show at a more reasonable price.

    That being said, there is a "VIP" general admission pit section which was actually on a special platform right in front of the stage and above the floor. If you can score these tickets you have a chance at touching Beyoncé as she interacted with fans in this area a few times.

    Unique to Miami: A nightclub in the stadium

    Sun Life Stadium has a nightclub inside its confines and in my experience these types of premium areas can be really hit or miss. While I'm skeptical of the need for such accommodations during a football game, the club was the perfect place to hang out and people watch both before and after the show. Does this set-up make sense in every venue? No. But in a city like Miami it was perfect.

    Final take

    Beyoncé is definitely the headliner as the screams were always louder for her. However she and Jay balanced one another perfectly and ultimate the concert was a good experience for a fan of either. This show is worth seeing so long as you stay within a reasonable ticket budget and have realistic expectations about your view because the tour is in stadiums and not more intimate arenas.

    As co-owner of The Ticket Experience, Patrick Ryan sees a lot of top concerts and sporting events.

    unspecified
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    Movie Review

    Heartfelt movie The Life of Chuck adapts optimistic Stephen King story

    Alex Bentley
    Jun 13, 2025 | 5:30 pm
    Tom Hiddleston in The Life of Chuck
    Photo courtesy of NEON
    Tom Hiddleston in The Life of Chuck.

    Just like actors, once a filmmaker becomes known for a certain genre, it can be difficult to escape that pigeonholing. Writer/director Mike Flanagan has worked for 20 years in both film and television, and literally every project he’s done has been related to horror. He’s finally breaking out with The Life of Chuck, which is ironically based on a short story of the same name by Stephen King.



    Told in three chapters in reverse order, the film is almost impossible to describe without giving away its magic. The first section centers on Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a teacher grappling, like everyone around him, with what seems to be the world falling apart. He’s comforted to a degree by reuniting with his ex-wife, Felicia (Karen Gillan), but is also baffled by multiple ads touting the retirement of Charles “Chuck” Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) after “39 great years.”

    The second section consists of little more than a slightly younger Chuck happening upon Taylor (The Pocket Queen), a drummer busking on a street corner, giving Chuck and a younger woman, Janice (Annalise Basso), the inspiration to start dancing. The final section goes back to the childhood of Chuck (Benjamin Pajak), where he’s raised by his grandparents (Mark Hamill and Mia Sara), discovers dance as an outlet, and wonders about various small mysteries.

    Flanagan finds a way to deliver a lot of story with relatively little effort. Using a wry narrator (Nick Offerman), a limited number of locations, and a series of great small performances, he creates an intriguing premise with few straightforward answers. The structure of the film is designed to confuse the viewer until just the right moment, and the revelation forces you to reexamine everything that came before.

    The biggest accomplishment by Flanagan is making what are essentially three short films and having each of them resonate equally. The film contains elements of science fiction, although the first section may hit a bit too close to home for some of those watching. All three sections, though, have a heartwarming bent to them that sells their central idea without becoming overly saccharine.

    To do so, each of the characters have to connect in a short amount of time. The casting of the film is crucial, and not only does that department succeed with the main roles, but a series of small roles are filled expertly as well. Carl Lumbly as a funeral home owner, David Dastmalchian and Harvey Guillen as parents of students, Matthew Lillard as Marty’s neighbor, Q’orianka Kilcher as Chuck’s wife, and Jacob Tremblay as a teenage Chuck are just a few of the recognizable actors that do yeoman’s work in their brief time on screen.

    Hiddleston is only prominently featured in the second chapter, but his performance there and in small glimpses throughout makes a big impression. Ejiofor is given the star turn in the first chapter and he absolutely kills, both in moments by himself and in scenes with Gillan, with whom he has great chemistry. Hamill, making a rare non-voiceover appearance outside of the Star Wars universe, and Sara, in her first notable role in 11 years, are also very memorable in the final chapter.

    The Life of Chuck is a film that’s filled with emotion, but the full impact of the story is not felt until the final moments. It has a mysterious journey that is initially frustrating, but the performances keep the film going until it gets to its satisfying payoff.

    ---

    The Life of Chuck is now playing in theaters.

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