How to resolve AdBlock issue? Arts & Life
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- Written by: Tim Riley
“WOLFS” Rated R on Apple TV+
As some may surmise that the incipient decline and potentially eventual doom of network and cable television might actually be a thing, streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime may strive even harder to satisfy the need for home entertainment.
These two behemoths of streaming options may be challenged to a greater extent in the future, but for now Apple TV+, approaching the fifth anniversary of its launch in 2019, is impressive for its catalog and ongoing production of original television and films.
During television press tours, critics have witnessed Apple TV’s presence at our biannual meetings to tout their new programs, and only this past winter was there an ostensible “executive session” that served not much greater purpose other than to recap past hits and provide a quick preview.
But who really needs executives spewing the party line like Baghdad Bob when the product speaks for itself? Apple TV+ has delivered popular hits like “Ted Lasso” and “Slow Horses” along with Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks’ limited series “Masters of the Air.”
What could Apple TV+ do to generate more traffic than pick up the crime thriller film “Wolfs,” starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney in roles as incognito fixers who seem to require little more than acting like they did in “Ocean’s Eleven” and the two sequels that followed?
Apparently, “Wolfs” had a very limited theatrical run that seemed to escape widespread public notice, at least because of the telltale sign that the box office receipts weren’t found on a website devoted to imparting that information.
Would signing up for Apple TV+ be worth the cost just to view “Wolfs” at home? The answer depends on how much you want to see Brad Pitt and George Clooney as rivals who wink, banter and trash-talk for just shy of two hours.
“Wolfs” is a bit convoluted in its plot and storyline of a thriller tinged with comedic elements that come from Pitt and Clooney, whose characters’ names are never revealed, bickering over their assigned roles in a messy clean-up operation.
The film opens with Amy Ryan’s Margaret, a district attorney with a public image to protect, distraught over the fact that she’s in a luxury New York hotel suite with the body of a half-naked, presumably dead young man.
In a situation like this, high-profile people resort to hiring a professional to clean up the mess to cover the tracks of what would be a scandal not only for Margaret but also a hotel seeking to avoid bad publicity.
Enter Clooney’s fixer with a luggage cart and a duffel bag of considerable size to save the day. Wearing surgical gloves, Clooney seeks to calm his client with a stiff drink, reassuring her that he has everything under control.
But then things get interesting when Pitt’s nameless character shows up, knocking on the door, at the behest of the unseen hotel owner, Pam (the voice of Frances McDormand), as a matching fixer. That the situation was captured on a hidden camera creates another puzzle.
The hotel room scene includes blood and broken glass, with the body of a character only referred to as Kid (Austin Abrams) on the floor, who is presumed to be a male prostitute, contrary to the protests of Margaret who insists otherwise.
Awkwardly, Clooney and Pitt have no choice than to work together, which results in two leading men with easy charm to trade oblique glances and sarcastically whimsical insults.
The body disposal gets more complicated in a number of ways, and more so than the discovery that Kid had a backpack with bricks of heroin presumably belonging to some crime lord.
As the action goes, a chase through Chinatown is exhausting for everyone, followed later with Clooney and Pitt crashing a wedding party. An intense shootout with Albanian or Croation (who can be sure?) gangsters a burst of unexpected violence.
For lack of a better description, “Wolfs” is disposable entertainment, one that has a glossy superficial appeal but ultimately is as forgettable as watching a Chicago White Sox game as the team flails away at setting a record for the most losses ever in a season for a major league baseball team.
The best bet for watching Brad Pitt and George Clooney at their finest as a team for a thriller is to watch “Ocean’s Eleven” for their gold standard of a snarky buddy film. You can skip the sequels.
Nevertheless, it’s fair to say that Pitt and Clooney acquit themselves decently enough as their initial hostility, driven by some nice rebukes, gradually fades to a grudgingly joint effort that makes the whole enterprise reasonably watchable.
A nice touch comes near the end when Clooney says to his fellow fixer, “I never did catch your name,” and Pitt’s reply about surviving a shootout hints a sequel could be in the works. Nothing is certain, but if there is a next installment, it should be a more sophisticated caper.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
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- Written by: Caltrans
Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters, as well as work in Del Norte and Humboldt counties.
Caltrans advises motorists to drive with caution when approaching work areas and to be prepared to stop at traffic control stations.
The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes unless noted otherwise.
For updates to this list check QuickMap at www.dot.ca.gov or 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).
LAKE COUNTY
Highway 20
Route 20 (1.1/2.4) – Construction work from Blue Lakes Road to Irvine Avenue will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 15-minute delays. LC#P20KA
Route 20 (9.2) – Traffic signal work in Upper Lake at Government Street continues. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#P20FA
Route 20 (13.5) – Traffic signal work in Nice at Sayre Avenue will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#P20FA
Route 20 (13.7/13.8) – Traffic signal work in Nice from Keeling Avenue to Howard Avenue continues. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#P20FA
Route 20 (14/16.8) – Traffic signal work from Hudson Avenue in Nice to First Avenue in Lucerne continues. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#P20FA
Route 20 (25.5/25.7) – Utility work in Clearlake Oaks from Spring Road to Olson Road will occur on Monday, October 7. Lane closures will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#P20CA
Route 20 (28.5) – Traffic signal work in Clearlake Oaks at Butler Street continues. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#P20FA
Highway 29
Route 29 (0/5.8) – Utility work from Route 175 in Middletown to the Napa County Line will begin on Monday, October 7. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#C29LA
Route 29 (16.8/17.5) – Paving work will occur in Twin Lakes from A Street to B Street on Friday, October 4. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#C29EA
Route 29 (45.1/48.6) – Paving work in Lakeport from the Park Way Overcrossing 14-73 to north of the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff continues. Lane closures will be in effect and motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#C29DA
Route 29 (47.8) – Paving work at the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff continues. A full southbound onramp closure will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. LC#C29DA
Route 29 (48.4/50.8) – Paving work from the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff to the Robinson Creek Bridge 14-30. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays. LC#C29DA
Route 29 (50.8/52.5) – Paving work from the Robinson Creek Bridge 14-30 to Jct Route 20 in Upper Lake continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays. LC#C29DA
MENDOCINO COUNTY
Highway 1
Route 1 (41.6/42.5) – Road work from south of the Navarro Point Preserve to north of Navarro Ridge Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays. LC#P1CA
Route 1 (51.4/51.9) – Bridge work north of Mendocino at the Jack Peters Creek Bridge 01-43484 from Lansing Street to south of Road 500D. One-way traffic control will be in effect and motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. LC#C1VA
Route 1 (74.4/75.4) – Culvert work south of Westport from the Bruhel Point Vista Point to the Blues Beach Trailhead continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 20-minute delays. LC#C1CB
Route 1 (75.4/76.1) – Emergency work south of Westport from the Blues Beach Trailhead to the Overlook will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 20-minute delays. LC#C1TA
Route 1 (77.7/78.1) – Culvert work from the Black Sand Beach Vista Point to the Westport Cemetery will begin on Friday, October 4. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays. LC#C1CB
Route 1 (87.8/103.2) – Road work north of Rockport from Usal Road to Jct Route 271 in Leggett. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#C1QA
Highway 20
Route 20 (3.4/4.1) – Tree work east of Fort Bragg near the Wildwood Campground and RV Resort will occur on Thursday, October 10. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#P20AA
Route 20 (13.1/13.5) – Culvert work at Three Chop Road continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 p.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays. LC#C20QA
Highway 101
U.S. 101 (30.7/33.8) – Road work north of Ukiah from Route 20 to Uva Drive continues. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#C101RB
U.S. 101 (30.8) – Bridge work at Route 20 will continue. A full northbound offramp closure will be in effect from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays. LC#C101WC
U.S. 101 (33.7/43.2) – Road work south of Willits from Route 20 to Uva Drive in Redwood Valley will continue. Lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#M101QD
U.S. 101 (48.9/55.2) – Paving work near the North Willits Railroad Crossing to Big Trails Drive continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 20-minute delays. LC#C101SA
U.S. 101 (49.6/50.8) – Bridge work north of Willits at Reynolds Highway will occur on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 8-9. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. Motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#C101YB
U.S. 101 (59.3/59.9) – Bridge work south of Laytonville at Jct Route 162 continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 15-minute delays. LC#C101SB
U.S. 101 (63.4/64.6) – Culvert work from the Long Valley Creek Bridge 10-98 to Shamrock Ranch will begin on Friday, October 4. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 15-minute delays. LC#C101ED
U.S. 101 (93.6/93.9) – Road work will occur from the Cal Fire Leggett Fire Station to the Standish Hickey State Recreation Area on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 8-9. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 5 p.m. to 6 a.m. Motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#P101YB
Highway 128
Route 128 (7.2/7.3) – Road work at Mustard Gulch continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays. LC#C128HA
Route 128 (36.1) – Tree work at the Maple Creek Bridge 10-55 will occur on Tuesday, October 8. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 5-minute delays. LC#P128BA
Highway 162
Route 162 (.7/2.2) – Culvert work from the Outlet Creek Bridge 10-233 to the Corral Creek Bridge 10-234 will occur on Friday, October 4. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. LC#C162FA
Route 162 (7.9/8.4) – Bridge work at the Eel River Bridge 10-236 continues. Lane closures will be in effect and motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. LC#C162HA
Route 162 (8.8/10.6) – Paving work from east of the Eel River Bridge 10-236 to east of the Rodeo Creek Bridge 10-237 continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays. LC#C162EA
Route 162 (11/12.6) – Road work south of Dos Rios near the Rodeo Creek Bridge 10-237 continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. weeknights. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. LC#C162IA
Route 162 (12.3/14.1) – Paving work from east of Division Creek to west of the Middle Fork Eel River Bridge 10-252 continues. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. LC#C162EA
Route 162 (28.1/30.7) – Road work in Covelo from Howard Street to Mina Road will conclude on Friday, October 4. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays. LC#C162AA
Highway 253
Route 253 (1.7/2.3) – Road work near Boonville at Bald Hills Ranch will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect and motorists should anticipate up to 10-minute delays. LC#C253DA
Highway 271
Route 271 (1/4.9) – Culvert work south of Leggett at various locations between Squaw Creek and the Big Dann Creek Bridge 10-30 continues. One-way traffic will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 10-minute delays. LC#C271BA
DEL NORTE COUNTY
Highway 101
U.S. 101 (27.9) – Ramp work at E. Washington Boulevard Overcrossing will occur on October 8 and 9 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Northbound onramp work will occur Tuesday and southbound offramp work will occur Wednesday. Motorists should expect minor traffic slowdowns. LC#C101LA
U.S. 101 (30.8) – Ramp work at the Route 199 interchange will occur on October 8 and 9 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Northbound 101 offramp work will occur Tuesday and southbound 101 onramp work will occur Wednesday. Motorists should expect minor traffic slowdowns. LC#C101LA
U.S. 101 (35.8/36.5) – Construction at the Dr. Fine Bridge near Smith River will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. LC#C101WA
HUMBOLDT COUNTY
Highway 36
Route 36 (0.0/2.8) – Construction near Alton from U.S. 101 to Rohnerville Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should expect 15-minute delays. LC#C36AA
Route 36 (11/11.5) – Bridge work near Pamplin Grove will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. LC#C36UA
Route 36 (13.5/21.3) – Striping work east of Bridgeville will begin on Monday, October 7. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should expect 15-minute delays. LC#C36BA
Route 36 (25.3/25.4) – Bridge work east of Bridgeville will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. LC#C36UA
Route 36 (25.6/25.7) – Emergency work near the Caltrans Bridgeville Maintenance Station will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should expect 5-minute delays. LC#C36DA
Highway 96
Route 96 (16.8/18.8) – Drainage work north of Hoopa will begin on Monday, October 7. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect minor traffic delays. LC#C96AA
Highway 101
U.S. 101 (15.3/17.7) - Drainage work north of Garberville will occur on Monday, October 7. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should expect minor traffic slowdowns. LC#M101PA
U.S. 101 (27.7) – Bridge work near Myers Flat continues. Lane closures will be in effect and motorists should expect minor slowdowns. LC#C101CF
U.S. 101 (50.6) – Construction work at South Scotia will continue. Northbound lane closures will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should expect minor traffic slowdowns. LC#P101HA
U.S. 101 (74.8/78.5) – Sewer work along Broadway Street in Eureka will conclude on Friday, October 4. Lane closures will be in effect overnight from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Motorists should expect minor traffic slowdowns. LC#P101HA
U.S. 101 (82.7) – Construction work at the Indianola Cutoff will continue. Southbound 101 access is currently unavailable due to a median closure. Southbound motorists should choose an alternate route. LC#C101FD
U.S. 101 (112.5/119.9) – Paving work south of Orick will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should expect up to 15-minute delays. LC#C101QA
Highway 169
Route 169 (32.4/32.6) – Construction work west of Lower Weitchpec School Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. LC#C169BA
Highway 254
Route 254 (41.8) – Tree work at Helen High Daniels Grove will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect 5-minute delays. LC#P254CA
Route 254 (44.5) – Tree work at Pepperwood will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect 5-minute delays. LC#P254CA
Highway 299
Route 299 (11/11.4) – Construction about 11 miles from U.S. 101 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. LC#C299FA
Route 299 (21.5/22.2) – Drainage work near Redwood Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. LC#C299QA
Route 299 (22.3/24.6) – Utility work between Redwood Creek Bridge and Chezem Road will conclude on Friday, October 4. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. LC#P299BA
Route 299 (26.8/27.4) – Emergency work near Berry Summit Vista Point will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Travelers should expect 10-minute delays. LC#C299OA
Route 299 (31.4/33.1) - Construction work west of the East Fork Campground will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays. LC#C299LA
Route 299 (37.2/38.7) – Utility work west of Willow Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. weeknights. Travelers should expect 10-minute delays. LC#P299BA
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- Written by: Tim Riley
The “NCIS” franchise has blossomed over the years. “NCIS: Los Angeles” had a fourteen-year run. The “New Orleans” version, starring Scott Bakula, notched seven years. “NCIS: Hawai’i” tapped out after three seasons.
To fill the void of disappearing “NCIS” franchises with the name of a city or state, the fall season brings “NCIS: Origins,” starring Austin Stowell as a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs and narrated by flagship “NCIS” series star Mark Harmon.
“NCIS: Origins” quite naturally, as implied by its title, brings us to the starting point of Harmon’s career, with a young Gibbs a newly minted special agent at the fledgling NCIS Camp Pendleton office where he forges his place on a gritty, ragtag team led by NCIS legend Mike Franks (Kyle Schmid).
Young Leroy Gibbs will get an assist from Mariel Molino as Special Agent Lala Dominguez, Tyla Abercrumbie as Field Operation Support Officer Mary Jo Sullivan, and Diany Rodriguez as Special Agent Vera Strickland.
“Matlock” is on the fall schedule, and other than being a legal drama, it seemingly bears little resemblance to Andy Griffith’s folksy and yet cantankerous barrister who had a knack for exposing actual perpetrators of crime.
The new “Matlock” stars Kathy Bates as the brilliant septuagenarian Madeline “Matty” Matlock, who, after achieving success in her younger years, decides to rejoin the workforce at a prestigious law firm where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases.
In watching the first episode, you may get the sense that this is a relatively slow-moving journey for Matty to ingratiate herself with superiors. A reveal at the end of the episode holds a surprise as to her true motives.
At the firm, Matty is assigned to Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), a senior attorney and key rainmaker with a thirst for justice, while Olympia’s ex-husband, Julian (Jason Ritter), the son of the head of the firm, is intrigued by Matty and her clever skills.
Matty works alongside the firm’s younger associates – the charismatic Billy (David Del Rio) and the uber ambitious Sarah (Leah Lewis) – as she endeavors to establish herself in her new high-stakes world.
Based on the first two episodes, “Matlock” takes time to build the intrigue of Matty’s quest to use her position to right some wrongs and root out perceived corruption. Judging by the early going, some twists and turns inevitably lay ahead.
“Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” the sequel to “Young Sheldon,” follows Georgie (Montana Jordan) and Mandy (Emily Osment) as they raise their young family in Texas while navigating the challenges of adulthood, parenting and marriage.
This new sitcom comes with a pedigree of being created by Chuck Lorre, the “King of Sitcoms,” and is the third television series in the “The Big Bang Theory” franchise. At the very least, it merits a look to see if it’s worthy of its comedic lineage.
“Poppa’s House,” starring Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr., features Wayans Senior as legendary talk radio host and happily divorced “Poppa” who has his point of view challenged at work when a new female co-host (Essence Atkins) is hired.
At home, Wayans finds himself still parenting his adult son (Damon Wayans Jr.), a brilliant dreamer who is trying to pursue his passion while being a responsible father and husband.
The “Hollywood Squares” game show, which got its start in the mid-Sixties, featured many celebrities who became regulars. Paul Lynde was frequently asked questions to which he responded with outrageous jokes (which you can probably find on YouTube).
Come January, the revival of this classic game show will star actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore taking her place as the famed “center square” answering questions for the contestants.
Two contestants will play tic-tac-toe to win money and prizes. The “board” for the game is a vertical stack of open-faced cubes, each occupied by a celebrity seated at a desk and facing the contestants.
The celebrities are asked questions and the contestants judge the legitimacy of their answers to win the game. In the old days, you could mostly count on Paul Lynde to have playfully misdirected his answers.
One new mid-season drama waiting in the wings is “Watson,” which is set seven months after the death of the titular character’s friend and partner Sherlock Holmes at the hands of Moriarty.
Dr. John Watson (Morris Chestnut) resumes his medical career as the head of a clinic dedicated to treating rare disorders. Watson’s old life isn’t done with him – Moriarty and Watson are set to write their own chapter of a story that has fascinated audiences for more than a century.
“Watson” is a medical show with a strong investigative spine, featuring a modern version of one of history’s greatest detectives as he turns his attention from solving crimes to solving medical mysteries.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
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- Written by: Tim Riley
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE” RATED PG-13
Arriving 36 years later, the “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” sequel serves to allow Michael Keaton, originally named Betelgeuse, to be as demented and mischievous as he was originally in haunting the Deetz family.
In 1988’S “Beetlejuice,” the young married Maitland couple (Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis) end up being killed in a car crash and awaken to become aware that they are ghosts in their own home.
Taking possession of the Maitland house was Charles Deetz (Jeffrey Jones), his wife Delia (Catherine O’Hara), and teenage daughter Lydia (Winona Ryder), and the ethereal Maitlands were unsuccessfully determined to scare away the Deetzes.
For the sake of continuity, Keaton’s demonic ghoul is reunited with Catherine O’Hara’s Delia and Winona Ryder’s now middle-aged Lydia, the latter the mother to her own teenage daughter, Astrid (Jenna Ortega).
The death of Charles Deetz brings Lydia back to Winter River. Lydia is now the host of her own paranormal reality TV series, which her estranged daughter Astrid thinks is a lame attempt to communicate with her deceased father, Richard (Santiago Cabrera).
Delia, Lydia and Astrid represent three generations of Deetzes, and their return to the Connecticut town where they previously resided is for the funeral of Charles, who turns up in the afterlife as a headless body.
Meanwhile, Lydia is apparently looking at tying the knot with her unctuous boyfriend Rory (Justin Theroux), the producer of her “Ghost House” TV show who uses grief counseling as the occasion to plant the idea of marriage.
Filling the void of missing characters from the original film are several types of weird and interesting persons one would expect to emerge from the vivid and bizarre imagination of Tim Burton.
Most peculiar, Monica Bellucci’s Delores turns up as Beetlejuice’s estranged wife, who pulls herself together by using a staple gun to reassemble her severed body parts so that she can proceed as a soul-sucking stalker.
While out riding a bicycle, Astrid stumbles upon the Maitland house after crashing into the backyard’s tree house, where she meets Jeremy (Arthur Conti), a teen for whom she develops a crush.
Jeremy is not exactly the innocent boy-next-door that he appears to be, as he literally has a closet in the attic that opens the portal to another world that puts Astrid in the kind of danger that Lydia fears.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” allows Tim Burton to unleash his playful sense of the macabre and madcap anarchy that is sure to delight his die-hard fans, who should enjoy how Michael Keaton still rocks with a bad wig and the pasty ghoulish complexion of a well-preserved vampire.
THE TELEVISION NOMINEE LOUNGE EXPERIENCE
Swag is a big deal in the entertainment world. Gifting suites connected with industry award shows provide opportunities for companies to shower guests with products ranging from cosmetics and accessories to clothing and the latest gadgets.
An invite landed in our inbox from Secret Room Events to attend a gifting suite party on the rooftop of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Having never been asked before, how could this experience be resisted?
Celebrities and media were invited, and my guess is that a lot of visitors were influencers and bloggers, as well as talent that was likely TV actors.
Interestingly, the products on display were not familiar. That’s not surprising, because the purpose of what was billed as the “Television Nominee Lounge” is the introduction of new brands.
A product being promoted doesn’t necessarily have to derive from a large corporate entity. Local artist Rachel Tribble displayed her dreamlike paintings suitable for hanging on walls, and handed out greeting cards with her artwork.
In the gadget department, Scosche was the standout. Their catalog highlights gear for off-roaders, race car drivers, sports fishermen, rodeo riders, and rock crawlers. For the rest of us, a useful gadget is a cell phone power bank that also functions as a flashlight and jumper cables.
Tea Voila is a unique concept in that the product is packaged in a box with 6 biodegradable cups with built-in tea leave infusers that eliminate tea bags. Each cup may be used three times, and the cup may be disposed with no worry that it harms the environment.
Watching a subpar film or TV show may induce pain in the cranium, and MiGuard comes along to provide samples of its eponymous product for migraine and headache relief with an organic, vegan, and non-GMO over-the-counter supplement containing vitamins, minerals, and herbal compounds.
After feeling better, you could try Andersen’s Crazy Candy which transforms classic sweets into crunchy, freeze-dried candy that is touted as turning “favorite treats into a party in your mouth.”
Poppin’ Love, an online only gourmet popcorn shop, redefines the staple of a movie theater concession with a range of incredible flavors, from a caramel favorite and cheddar jalapeno to garlic parmesan and cookies & cream.
I passed on samples of skin products and lip balm, but it was interesting to see a company coming from Australia to promote their SenQuil line of moisturizers and face cleansers.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
