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Arts & Life
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- Written by: Tim Riley
‘FLIGHT RISK’ RATED R
With a lean running time of ninety minutes, “Flight Risk” manages to deliver mindless popcorn entertainment, at the hands of director Mel Gibson, that provides thrills in a uniquely claustrophobic atmosphere.
Another interesting feature to this thriller is the focus almost exclusively on three characters riding on a single-engine Cessna through the Alaskan skies over snow-capped mountains with nary any other visible landscape in sight until the climactic end.
The film opens briefly on the ground at a seedy motel room where Topher Grace’s mob accountant Winston is apprehended by U.S. Marshal Madolyn Harris (Michelle Dockery) and some cohorts. Fearing for his life, Winston is a reluctant witness for the upcoming trial of his mob boss.
Mark Wahlberg’s Daryl Booth is a bush pilot who has been hired to fly Madolyn and her prisoner to Anchorage to connect on a timely flight destined to New York in time for Winston’s testimony.
Shackled to the back seat of the Cessna, the garrulous, nervous Winston is a source of humor for his sarcastic wisecracks that soon begin to grate on the Marshal, while serving to lighten the mood in a turbulent ride, if that’s possible.
Not long into the flight, Daryl with his exaggerated Southern drawl turns out not to be the person he was supposed to be. That he’s not the good guy is obvious in the film’s trailer, so revealing this information is not a spoiler.
One question that everyone might consider is what is the deal with Daryl’s wig getting knocked off, revealing his balding pate that makes him look like a deranged Franciscan monk.
Aside from the trio of travelers on a possibly doomed flight and after tasing Daryl into submission, Madolyn connects by satellite phone with her superior (voiced by Leah Remini), which leads to another element of intrigue.
The other unseen player is the flirty Hassan (Monib Abhat), a pilot who’s engaged to help Madolyn land the plane once Daryl has been knocked unconscious even though the tension is palpable that he may rise once again as an immediate threat.
The confined space of a small plane created challenges for the storyline, but despite any of its flaws “Flight Risk” managed to keep the suspense afloat, mainly because Mark Wahlberg’s psychotic hitman was deliciously over-the-top with his maniacal turn.
As an actor with wide range, Wahlberg appears to have been directed to be just as outlandishly insane as possible, to the extreme point where to him having been the man of droll humor in films like “The Other Guys,” “Ted,” and Netflix’s “Spenser Confidential” seems improbable.
Coming most likely as a shock to very few, an overwhelming number of movie critics have savaged “Flight Risk” on Rotten Tomatoes for a variety of artistic reasons. They should know that films typically released in January are unlikely to garner any awards.
On the other hand, a giant step removed from film snobbery is the realization that “Flight Risk” is exactly what it obviously aspired to be, namely just fun that doesn’t tax the brain.
Quoted in the press notes, Mel Gibson explained that with the film’s claustrophobic setting, “We’ve played into everyone’s fear of flying, high altitudes, falling, and crashing.” Unless you are about to start flying lessons, this movie could be an entertaining outing.
‘GOING DUTCH’ ON FOX NETWORK
Denis Leary’s trademark angry rants are most fitting for his role in FOX’s “Going Dutch” of U.S. Army Colonel Patrick Quinn, who has run afoul of military brass and gets reassigned to a useless Army base in the Netherlands, hence the show’s title.
In the first episode, decorated combat veteran Colonel Quinn arrives at USAG Baumholder, Germany with his executive officer, Major Abraham Shah (Danny Pudi) in the belief he will be given command of the Army base.
General Davidson (Joe Morton), with good reason to hold a grudge, tells Quinn he’s being sent to command USAG Stroopsdorf, an insignificant service base that’s known for its laundry service, bowling and making cheese.
Arriving with Major Shah at the Dutch-based garrison, Colonel Quinn’s first encounter is with overweight, long-haired Corporal Elias Papadakis (Hal Cumpston), riding a bicycle, which prompts the Colonel to call him “a fat hippie on a bike.”
Sgt. Dana Conway (Luci Mosley) welcomes Quinn to the fromagerie and a tour of the other amenities, including a teen center on a base where there are no kids and which exists only because the budget allowed for a teen center.
The biggest surprise in store is when the Colonel meets the interim base commander, Capt. Maggie Quinn (Taylor Misiak), his estranged daughter, whose method of operation is the polar opposite of her father’s exacting style. That conflict between them is inevitable should be a source for humor.
With a military base full of misfits seemingly armed only with cue sticks and bowling pins, “Going Dutch” may yet find its footing as an entertaining off-beat comedy if the potential displayed in the early stage of the series is fully realized.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
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- Written by: Lake County Theatre Co.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Rehearsals are underway for the Lake County Theatre Co.’s highly anticipated production, “Matilda the Musical,” coming to Lakeport in March.
With a dynamic cast of 30, including over 20 talented children, the energy in the rehearsal room is electric as the cast gears up for their big debut.
At the helm of this production are directors Tim Barnes and Jenna Rodgers. They are supported by a dedicated team, including Dave Sammel as assistant music director, and choreographers Laura Sammel, Sarah Dutra, Nicole Flora, Danielle Meader and Marah Bandit.
The entire crew works together to ensure that each rehearsal runs like clockwork. Behind the scenes, Laura Barnes dots the i’s and crosses the t’s as the show’s producer.
“We’re running a tight ship,” said Barnes. “But I like to think it’s a fun ship! The excitement and enthusiasm of the cast, especially the kids, is contagious. Although,” he laughs, “we do have some exceptionally energetic adults! The talent in this cast is amazing. We’re pushing them to bring their best to the stage every day, and we’re already seeing the show come together in some incredible ways.”
The rehearsals are a whirlwind of activity, with high-energy dances, comedic musical numbers, and moments of theatrical brilliance coming together as the cast prepares to bring Roald Dahl’s beloved story to life. The show’s mix of heartwarming moments wrapped in the perfect mix of light and dark humor are sure to captivate Lake County audiences.
“We’ve got a group of really hard-working kids who are putting in their all,” said Rodgers. “The level of talent and passion on display is inspiring. Most of these kiddos are performing in their very first major production and they are rising to the challenge. We can’t wait for everyone to see what we’re creating.”
“Matilda the Musical” hits the Soper Reese stage on March 7 and continues through March 16. Tickets are on sale now for only $17. At the door, ticket prices will increase to $22. Visit www.soperreese.com to purchase your tickets today!
For more information, visit www.lctc.us, contact Laura Barnes at
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- Written by: Tim Riley
‘DOC’ ON FOX
There is no lack of medical dramas on network television and streaming services. ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” remains a long-running series, along with NBC’s “Chicago Med.” New to the scene is MAX’s “The Pitt,” starring Noah Wyle as a doctor.
This review focuses on FOX’s new series “Doc,” which fascinates from the point of view that it derives its premise from an Italian series based on the true-life story of Dr. Pierdante Piccioni.
For anyone knowing Italian, the title of the fictionalized version of Dr. Piccioni’s story of serious injury to the cerebral cortex is “Doc – Nelle tui Mani,” which translates as “Doc – In Your Hands.”
The Italian medic suffered a coma during an accident in 2013, and upon waking up from a lesion on his brain, his last memory is that of the day of his son’s birthday in 2001. He lost all memory of the previous twelve years of life.
Set in the year 2024, the first episode of “Doc” finds Molly Parker’s Dr. Amy Larsen, a hard-charging, brilliant Chief of Internal Medicine, engaging colleagues as well as patients in a brusque manner. She exudes no warmth and lacks a fuzzy bedside manner.
The series opens with a horrific car crash when Amy is driving home from a late night at the Westside Hospital where her unsparing workaholic attitude rubs most of the staff the wrong way. The accident leaves her with partial retrograde amnesia.
After the opening credit, the story shifts to 24 hours earlier, allowing us to witness Amy in action, bossing the medical staff around and treating a very pregnant woman suffering an undiagnosed life-threatening malady with the compassion of a dead fish.
Flashbacks will be frequent so that we know more about Amy’s past than she does, considering how she now has no memory of the past eight years, yet remembering that she was married and had an estranged daughter.
Amy is shocked to learn that she’s been divorced for four years from her beloved husband, Dr. Michael Hamda (Omar Metwally), who also works at the hospital. In fact, her entire family is not what she remembers, rocking her sensibilities to a distressed state of mind.
Fueling a greater sense of bewilderment is the strained relationship with her resentful teenage daughter Katie (Charlotte Fountain-Jardim) who can only be remembered as an innocent nine-year-old.
Even worse for her than the marital discord and estrangement, Amy is traumatized to learn the passing of her son, which turned her into a cold and callous person who grated on colleagues and patients alike.
She also can’t remember her secret romance with handsome Dr. Jake Heller (Jon-Michael Ecker), who is evidently younger. This creates an awkward situation for Jake who fondly remembers the intimacy they once had, including a sexually-charged passionate moment in a parked car at the hospital.
Amy’s remaining best friend at the hospital, neuropsychiatrist Dr. Gina Walker (Amirah Vann), has little guidance to provide for her new reality since matters of the brain are, even to the experts, still a big mystery.
Gina may be hopeful for recovery, but it’s uncertain if Amy will regain her memories. In Amy’s fragile state, Gina must choose carefully what information from the past eight years to reveal, lest too much too soon could prove more harmful than good.
Meanwhile, just before the accident, Amy was waiting for an autopsy report that might reveal that fellow doctor Richard Miller (Scott Wolf), may have been responsible for a medical decision gone horribly wrong that could be a career-ending move.
In an ironic twist, Richard is promoted as the interim Chief of Internal Medicine, a position he has coveted and would hate to forfeit should Amy’s memory return. One can wonder what tricks might Richard have up his sleeve in desperation to avoid further scrutiny.
Adding to the drama is Amy’s predicament with her previously contentious and harsh behavior that left her with more than a few enemies at the hospital, including Dr. Sonya Maitra (Anya Banerjee).
Pleasantly, Amy fondly remembers intern Dr. TJ Coleman (Patrick Walker), an orderly eight years ago who was inspired by her to pursue a promising future in a medical career.
Unaccustomed to being merely a patient, Amy starts to meddle in the affairs of other patients, giving advice that may run contrary to the primary attending physician’s diagnosis, but may show that she hasn’t lost her touch, as she desperately seeks to convince superiors of a desire to return to practice.
The Italian doctor rebuilt his life and began treating patients again. Will “Doc” take a path for Amy’s redemption and return to medicine? Where the storyline may possibly go warrants watching more episodes.
Medical dramas often feel overextended with a basic storyline. “Doc” moves on a different path outside the standard genre, by concentrating its attention largely on the struggle of one doctor to recover from serious injury and return to the practice of medicine.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
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- Written by: Middletown Art Center
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — The Middletown Art Center has opened its latest exhibition, “Entanglement.”
This vibrant exhibition brings together a diverse group of twenty local artists in a compelling display that delves into personal, community and global experiences of entanglement.
From the physical and emotional to the scientific and surreal, the exhibition explores entanglement in all its forms — connections that bind, unravel, and redefine our understanding of the world and our relationships with one another.
As MAC’s 10-year anniversary approaches, this 56th exhibit highlights a decade of creativity and community.
Among the featured artists is Darren Jekel, showcasing his new large, movement-filled paintings “Circus of the Sun” and “Elen’s Circus,” both completed in the past few weeks.
Jekel’s gridded, painterly charcoal and oil paint engage both artist and viewer in a dialogue with Henri Matisse’s La Danse, the dancer/model Elen, and the interplay of color, shape, line, frameworks, and boundaries.
Entanglement offers a rare glimpse into Jekel's captivating work, revealing the evolution of his artistry and the themes driving his creative vision.
Most works are on view locally for the first time, with some returning works that are integral to the show and the thematic meaning. There are a breadth of approaches to the theme from artists both familiar and new to MAC.
Free to the public, “Entanglement” will be on view through early/mid April, Thursday through Monday, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment.
The Middletown Art Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging the public in art-making, art education, and art appreciation.
It provides a platform for diverse voices and perspectives, fostering an inclusive and accessible space for all.
The MAC is located at 21456 State Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29 in Middletown.
To learn more about MAC’s programs, events, and ways to support their efforts to weave arts and culture into the fabric of life in Lake County, visit www.middletownartcenter.org, text or call 707-355-4465.