New Jersey Stage 2016: Issue 1 | Page 21

Wiener-Dog The controversial Todd Solondz has carved out a cinematic world all of his own, one populated by characters that somehow manage to be as endearing as they are pathetic. Wiener-Dog sees him return to the protagonist of his early masterpiece, Welcome to the Dollhouse. Dawn Wiener, then a troubled high-schooler, is now a thirty-something, played here by Greta Gerwig. NewJerseyStage.com Rogue One While I was disappointed by the lack of originality in The Force Awakens, this first spin-off holds more promise. It’s in the hands of Gareth Edwards, who blew us away a few years ago with his lo-fi sci-fi debut Monsters, before showing he could handle a big budget with the under-rated Godzilla. And then there’s the possibility that Darth Vader could play a role in this tale. How can you not be excited? 2016 - ISSUE 1 Table of Contents 21