Latest news with #Boston-set
Boston Globe
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
In her latest novel, Barbara Shapiro mixes Manet, Boston, and a possible haunted painting
But the Connecticut native, who writes as B.A. Shapiro, cut her teeth as a novelist writing Boston-set ghost stories and thrillers with paranormal elements. In her latest, ' Advertisement 'I actually published five novels very Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The book in a nutshell: Boston resident Tamara Rubin — great-great-great-great granddaughter of Impressionist Tamara hangs 'Party' in her Tremont Street home and becomes so obsessed with it she must leave the house to get work done, 'to avoid the lure, like an addict who can't be anywhere near her drug of choice.' Advertisement The plot shifts between current-day Boston and 19th century Paris, where readers meet members of the famed impressionist circle, including Manet, Degas, Monet — and 'Party' apparently holds some kind of magic power. It somehow survives major disasters; it seemingly can't be destroyed. Tamara sees a character wink. The artist's signature at the bottom of the painting changes before her eyes. She begins to have nightmares about the painting. She wonders if Morisot's ghost haunts it. The historical story unperpinning the plot is compelling, well-researched and at least loosely true. While 'Party' is fictional, it sparked me (and likley more readers) to Google: Morisot really was to Manet's brother. Manet really did With events upcoming at What sparked this book? I'd read about Berthe Morisot when I was working on 'The Art Forger.' I'd scribbled her name down and threw it into my file of ideas. When I was thinking about the next book, I saw that note, and got totally fascinated with her. The whole idea of this unsung talent grabbed me. The quality of her work, the misogyny, what it was like for a woman in those days. I felt she really got screwed, and that if I wrote a book, people might Advertisement Was there really a romance between her and Manet? There was. Historians acknowledge that she and Manet were in love, but no one knows for certain whether they had a physical affair. But, hey, I'm writing novels, so of course they're going to have a physical affair– and they're also going to have an illegitimate child. Right. What draws you to the lives of artists? When I was little, I wanted to be an artist. My parents were very supportive. My mother signed me up for classes. My father built me a studio in the basement. It was great, except for the fact that it became clear really quickly I had no talent. So I became an art-appreciator. You earned your Masters from Tufts in Sociology in '75 and your PhD in Sociology from there in '78. You said you never studied art history. How do you begin researching? I read piles of books, [research] online. I go to lots of museums. Like Tamara, I discovered that a lot of museums have tons of paintings by Degas, Manet, and Monet. While most museums have at least one or two Berthe paintings, the numbers don't match at all. You've written about Abstract Expressionists, Post-Impressionists, Impressionists. What group of artists would you write about next? I'm actually working on a novel about Advertisement What caused the pivot from ghost stories/mysteries to artist-based historical-fiction? Once our kids finished high school, we moved back from Lexington to Boston [in 2005]. We were in the South end and just surrounded by artists. I could walk to different museums. I decided to take a chance on writing a book about art. And I loved it. I switched from murder-mystery/ supernatural into art-mode. You said you painted as a kid. Do you paint now? I actually tried taking watercolor classes recently, and once again – ehhh. I'd love to sing, but I can't do that either. Lauren Daley can be reached at ldaley33@ Follow her on Twitter and Instagram a . Lauren Daley can be reached at
Tom's Guide
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Netflix just got an intense crime thriller movie with Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner — and it's an adrenaline-fueled watch
Ben Affleck might be best known to some for playing Batman, but to me, he's at his most compelling when he steps behind the camera and gives us something a little darker. Case in point: 'The Town,' a gritty Boston-set crime thriller that Affleck not only directed but also starred in, and it's just landed on Netflix U.S. Now, I'll be honest: I didn't fully appreciate this movie the first time I streamed it at home. Maybe I was expecting more action or something flashier, but rewatching it recently was different. This isn't just a heist movie but a surprisingly emotional story about loyalty, regret, and trying (and failing) to escape the life you were born into. And it's got one of Jeremy Renner's best performances ever. 'The Town' arrived alongside a wave of great crime movies, and it holds its own as a standout in the genre. Whether you missed it when it first came out or just want to experience it again with fresh eyes, now's the perfect time. Here's why this intense crime thriller deserves a spot on your Netflix watchlist. 'The Town' is set in Boston's tough Charlestown neighborhood, where bank robbery runs in the blood of many locals. The story follows Doug MacRay (Ben Affleck), a skilled and smart leader of a close-knit crew of lifelong friends who pull off daring heists. Doug has always dreamed of leaving his criminal life behind, but his loyalty to his crew, including Jem (Jeremy Renner), and the pull of his past make it difficult to break free. After a botched bank robbery, Doug unexpectedly forms a connection with Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall), the bank manager they took hostage during the heist. As their relationship deepens, Doug finds himself torn between his life of crime and the hope for a fresh start with Claire. Meanwhile, the FBI, led by the determined agent Adam Frawley (Jon Hamm), intensifies its efforts to bring Doug and his crew down. I'll admit when I first heard about 'The Town,' I expected a high-octane heist movie packed with non-stop action and explosive shootouts. After all, it's a crime thriller set in Boston with Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner — how could it not be? But what I got was something much more nuanced and surprisingly emotional. 'The Town' isn't just about the heists or the tension of evading the law (although that's still interesting to watch). It's about the messy fallout that comes after the adrenaline fades and the personal cost of a life lived on the edge. Instead of glorifying the gunfire and getaways, the movie zeroes in on the characters and their struggles. Doug might be a criminal mastermind, but he's also just a guy struggling with loyalty to his friends, his past, and the hope that he can make a fresh start. When he gets involved with Claire, the movie shifts gears from crime caper to emotional drama and it really works. I found myself genuinely invested in their relationship and what would come of it. The movie doesn't shy away from showing the fallout of violence, either. These characters are incredibly flawed and weighed down by guilt and fear. Jeremy Renner as Jem, the unpredictable friend who's always one step away from blowing everything up, makes those emotional moments even more intense and real. Ultimately, 'The Town' lingers long after the heists end because it's as much about the people behind the crimes as the crimes themselves. Affleck showed he's got serious chops as a director here, managing to mix intense, adrenaline-fueled moments with some really emotional storytelling. He nails the gritty Boston vibe but never loses sight of the characters and their messy relationships. Of course, I won't spoil the ending, but it's bittersweet enough to give the story meaning. Action fans won't be disappointed either. Even though it focuses more on being a character study, there are plenty of action-packed sequences (especially in the final act) that will keep you on edge. Now that 'The Town' is streaming on Netflix, it's the perfect time to give it a watch. Ben Affleck delivers a strong performance both in front of and behind the camera, crafting a story that's more than just a heist movie. 'The Town' might not be flawless, but Affleck gets a lot right especially when it comes to casting. He surrounds himself with strong actors and gives them the space to really shine. Amid the gripping action scenes, the movie also breaks the tension with some sharp, funny moments that add a bit of warmth (so it's not entirely melancholy). I'm not alone in my praise, because this thriller earned a solid score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes back in 2010, with the site's critics consensus reading: 'Tense, smartly written, and wonderfully cast, The Town proves that Ben Affleck has rediscovered his muse — and that he's a director to be reckoned with.' If I haven't quite convinced you to watch 'The Town' on Netflix, or you're just interested in checking out some other options, here's a quick look at everything new coming to Netflix this month.
Boston Globe
18-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Donnie Wahlberg to reprise ‘Blue Bloods' role in Boston-set spinoff
Advertisement While there's no word yet on whether Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynahan, or any other 'Blue Bloods' alum will show up on the new series, Wahlberg is pulling double duty on 'Boston Blue' as both its star and an executive producer. The spinoff isn't Wahlberg's first foray into Boston-set cop shows either, as he previously served as a narrator and executive producer on the short-lived reality series Related : It's been a busy February for the 55-year-old actor and 'Hangin' Tough' singer, who kicked off the month by making a cameo appearance in the Matt Juul can be reached at
