By Max Gelber
Kylie Minogue, Boombox: Jan. 5
With every rule comes that one, glorious exception. Kylie Minogue’s newest release, Boombox, fits that profile: It’s a collection of Minogue remixes generated in the past decade, but not just smash-hit second takes. Variations on lesser known tracks make this more than another thoughtless cash-grab. Featuring the infamous “Can’t Get Blue Monday Out Of My Head” bootleg, the album boasts household names in dance music like the Chemical Brothers and Fischerspooner, plus some you may not recognize.
The Wrestler: Jan. 9
Witness the resurrection of Mickey Rourke in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler,” the story of a pro-wrestler fallen from grace. Once a headlining star of the sport’s early-’90s heyday, Randy “the Ram” Robinson finds himself performing for sparse crowds in high school gymnasiums. When a life-threatening heart attack forces the Ram into early retirement, the prospect of one last flirtation with fame and glory in the ring inspires him to reevaluate his life. “The Wrestler” has already taken the prized Golden Lion Award at the Cannes Film Festival.
Europe’s Grand Operas: Jan. 8
That dollar doesn’t stretch like it used to, and if you can’t afford to fly to Europe, the Coolidge Corner Theatre has the next best thing: high-definition screenings of some of the modern world’s most heralded opera productions, straight from the best opera houses. The series kicks off with Verdi’s tragic opera, Otello, filmed at the renowned Salzburg Festival in Austria. Coolidge continues the series with showings of Gounod’s Romeo Et Juliette and Verdi’s Don Carlo.
Katzenjammer Kabarett, Grand Guignol and Varietes: Jan. 13
Imagine if Siouxsie and the Banshees flirted more with ’80s new wave, and you’ll get an idea of how the latest release from Katzenjammer Kabarett sounds. The French four-piece – self-described Baroque Kraut-pop – takes on classical, death rock, pop and even tango. While some bands simply pay homage to a bygone era, Katzenajmmer Kabarett are set to redefine the decadence and sound of Weimar Berlin cabaret for a new generation.
