‘UPGRADED’ Rated R

An original movie on Amazon Prime, “Upgraded” is billed as a romantic comedy, and yet, thematically it also has much in common with “The Devil Wears Prada” as parallels exist where young assistants labor for diabolical bosses.

Beyond Meryl Streep’s despotic fashion editor Miranda Priestly’s treatment of Anne Hathaway’s beleaguered assistant, Melanie Griffith’s struggling secretary taking advantage of her boss in 1988’s “Working Girl” would appear to offer thematic inspiration as well.

“Upgraded” benefits enormously from the very likable central character of Ana Santos (Camila Mendes), an auction house assistant with a master’s degree in art history who dreams of opening up an art gallery.

Meanwhile, Ana is up to her neck in credit card debt and is bunking at her sister Vivian’s (Aimee Carrero) cramped studio apartment that is shared with Vivian’s fiancé Ronnie (Andrew Schulz), a stereotypical Brooklynite who wishes Ana would go back to Florida.

Anxious to climb the corporate ladder at the upscale Erwin auction house, Ana must contend with autocratic boss Claire (Marisa Tomei) who treats underlings with unbelievably callous disdain.

Even worse for Ana is the condescension from Claire’s malicious personal assistants, Suzette (Rachel Matthews) and Renee (Fola Evans-Akingbola), both of whom have the haughty attitude of runway models.

Stepping up to save her boss from embarrassment at an auction, Ana is invited to join Claire and the assistants on a spontaneous business trip to London. With no thanks to her employer, Ana scores a first-class upgrade.

While hanging out in the airline’s private lounge, Ana encounters a handsome Brit traveler, Will (Archie Renaux), and in meet-cute fashion they flirt during the flight after ending up as seatmates.

During the course of the flight, Ana gives the impression that she holds an executive position at the auction house, which obviously leads to complications. It’s bad enough she’s relegated to staying at a seedy hotel.

Ana’s fortunes rise when she meets Will’s actress mother Catherine (Lena Olin), who is planning to have her collection of exquisite art put up for auction and wants Ana to handle the details.

“Upgraded” finds its humor in the challenges for Ana as the lowly assistant gamely tries to keep up a very tenuous charade. A few twists and turns add to the charm of this film.

TRUE CRIME STORIES ON PEACOCK

During the pandemic lockdown, Australian author Liane Moriarty listened to true-crime podcasts which inspired her latest best-selling novel “Apples Never Fall,” leading to an adaptation for a limited series to premiere in March on Peacock.

The native of Sydney, Australia found her New York Times best sellers “Big Little Lies” and “Nine Perfect Strangers” adapted into successful series for HBO and Hulu, respectively.

“Apples Never Fall” centers on the seemingly picture-perfect Delaney family. Former tennis coaches Stan (Sam Neill) and Joy (Annette Bening) have sold their successful tennis academy and are ready to start what should be the golden years of their lives.

While they look forward to spending time with their four adult children (Jake Lacy, Alison Brie, Conor Merrigan-Turner and Essie Randles), everything changes when a wounded young woman knocks on Joy and Stan’s door, bringing the excitement they have been missing.

According to the novel, the four grown children, who all endured paternal discipline of being coached to professional tennis glory, have settled into lives far removed from sports, where they found either their own successes or failures.

Tension aside from an apparent dysfunctional household, when Joy suddenly disappears, the children are forced to re-examine their parents’ so-called perfect marriage as their family’s darkest secrets begin to surface.

Naturally, in such cases of disappearance, suspicion falls upon the spouse. An interesting statistic out of Australia, is that on average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner. How things turn out in “Apples Never Fall” will be left to be revealed in the series.

True crime manifests itself in the Peacock documentary “Pathological: The Lies of Joran van der Sloot,” a story told through rare interviews with victims’ family members, eyewitnesses and experts on the criminal mind.

The documentary reveals new insights into how Joran van der Sloot’s lifelong pattern of violence and pathological lying leads to the deaths of two young women that attracted pervasive media attention.

Few killers have ever murdered again after they became famous for another killing, but on the fifth anniversary of Natalee Holloway’s disappearance, Joran murders 21-year-old Stephany Flores in Peru.

Hauntingly, Joran’s trip to Peru is financed by money he extorted from Natalee Holloway’s mother, Beth, after falsely promising to reveal where to locate Natalee’s body for a price.

In 2023, 18 years after Natalee’s vanishing, Beth Holloway finally gets her day in court with Joran, who admits for the first time that he murdered her daughter.

The Dutch native’s admission brings some long-sought comfort to Natalee’s family, but Joran’s history of deceit and manipulation leads some to question the details in his latest story. The documentary looks to unpack some of the details.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

CRESCENT CITY, Calif. — Redwood Parks Conservancy, California State Parks and the National Park Service announced that Lauren Godla of Gasquet, California, and Jenny Hersh of Princeton, Massachusetts, have been selected as Redwood National & State Parks’ Spring 2024 artists-in-residence.

Beginning in April, Godla and Hersh will spend one month creating artworks surrounded and inspired by the incredible landscapes of Redwood National & State Parks.

Stay tuned for updates on public presentations from the artists over the course of their residency.

Lauren Godla is a dance artist, director and educator based out of Gasquet. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in exercise biology and a minor in dance from UC Davis in 2012 and spent the better part of the following decade living and working in the Bay Area.

She co-directed and performed for FloorPlay Dance Comedy, choreographed for Theater Bay Area award-winning productions, and toured and performed nationally with BANDALOOP during her time in the Bay.

In 2020 she moved home to Del Norte County and in 2021 she founded DiRT & Glitter, an environmental art organization that produces site-specific productions. Her dance film “Drop” was included in the 2021 San Francisco Exhibition Showcase “Three Turns” and her dance film “Two Suns” debuted in the 2022 San Francisco Dance Film Festival.

She is currently serving as the artistic director for DiRT & Glitter and working on a collaborative dance film project to celebrate the Klamath Dam removal process through funding awarded by the Upstate California Creative Corps.

Her work aims to inspire connections, honor the body as part of our living planet, and explore our inner and outer wilderness. Learn more about Lauren Godla and her work on Instagram @laurengodla @dirtandglitterco or visit dirtandglitter.org.

Jenny Hersh is an artist and educator with roots in the East Coast but always on the move to wherever art, community and teaching take her. While she has a background in sculpture and printmaking, she is currently deepening her practice of hand cut paper works.

She is excited to explore parallels between the delicate and striking medium of cut paper and the fragile and awe inspiring ecosystems in the Redwoods National and State Parks. Hersh is looking forward to connecting with the land and learning from the communities that protect, revere and intertwine their lives with the natural world.

Learn more about Jenny Hersh and her work on Instagram @hershjenny or visit jennyhersh.com.

To learn more about Redwood National & State Parks’s artist-in-residence program, visit https://www.nps.gov/redw/getinvolved/artist-in-residence.htm.

Redwood Parks Conservancy supports events and programs, coordinates volunteers, raises funds, and helps to welcome over one million visitors annually to Redwood National and State Parks. Learn more at www.redwoodparksconservancy.org.

‘MADAME WEB’ Rated PG-13

A reasonable judgment about a film’s possible appeal may be discerned from watching a trailer. After all, the studio releasing the movie has invested heavily in the production and hopes for a box office win.

In the case of “Madame Web,” the trailer offers little incentive to rush to a theater. A singer wails “What do you want from me?” The thought comes to mind that the recurring tone of the lyrics couldn’t be more irritating.

The idea of Dakota Johnson in the role of Cassie Webb to become a superhero is not off-putting on its own. If anything, Johnson’s Cassie is failed by a script that too often makes little sense.

The story begins with a flashback to the Amazon jungle in 1973 when Cassie’s pregnant mother Constance (Kerry Bishe) is a scientist doing research into rare spiders. Her guide, Ezekial Sims (Tahar Rahim), has his own agenda.

Tragedy strikes when Cassandra’s death occurs just about when she gives birth to Cassie. With her mother bitten by a mystical spider, Cassie develops paranormal powers as an adult.

Thirty years later, Cassie is a New York paramedic, working alongside her best friend Ben Parker (Adam Scott). If Ben’s last name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s the future uncle to Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man.

A work-related accident causes Cassie to realize her hidden superpower of being able to see into the near future. Falling into the East River is a near-death experience that triggers clairvoyant powers.

Meanwhile, Ezekiel is on a hunt for three teenage girls in New York. It has something to do with Cassie having visions that Julia (Sydney Sweeney), Mattie (Celeste O’Connor), and Anya (Isebela Merced) are marked for death.

A feasible bet to make is that “Madame Web,” for all its spider-related wish fulfillment, does not seem destined for another superhero franchise. Lacking any psychic powers, I am unwilling to place a wager because anything can happen in show business.

You may get the idea that Dakota Johnson didn’t want to be in this movie, and if so, a sequel would be nothing more than another payday. Sadly, studios have no aversion to turning out an inferior product to cash in with a sequel.

If there is going to be another arachnid-themed installment, the genre would be best served by another Tom Holland turn as the web-slinging Spider-Man, and the next chapter is reportedly in the works.

Depending on how far the appetite for more Spider-Man films exist, it wouldn’t take much effort to make a connection between Madame Web and Peter Parker/Spider-Man. A strong bond exists between Cassie and Ben Parker, but then Ben gets killed during a robbery, as we already know.

One can only speculate on the future of Sony Pictures so-called “Spider-Verse,” and this reviewer has neither the bandwidth nor desire to figure out anything more than “Madame Web” lacks merit for a sequel.

‘LAND OF BAD’ Rated R

“Land of Bad” is a high-octane action picture of a daring military operation that is almost certain to have far more public appeal than it does with many critics tired of the genre.

The awkward title reflects the title card introduction of a Southeast Asia island in the Sulu Sea that is home to “violent extremist groups” that are at war with us but we just don’t know it.

A rescue mission by a quartet of Special Forces to extract a CIA asset being held hostage by terrorists will undoubtedly discover that the war will come at them hard and fast.

Liam Hemsworth’s Sergeant J.J. “Playboy” Kinney is not battle-tested when he joins the team at the last-minute to handle communications with Sergeant Eddie “Reaper” Grimm (Russell Crowe), who is the drone pilot tracking the squad’s moves and launching missiles when needed.

Playboy’s teammates consist of tough, hardened veteran comrades, including Milo Ventimiglia’s Captain John “Sugar” Sweet, Luke Hemsworth’s Sergeant Abel, and Ricky Whittle’s Bishop.

The bad guys are personified by Islamic terrorist Hashimi (Robert Rabiah), the sadistic leader of Abu Sayyaf radical group who decapitates a woman in front of her husband, in a move designed to terrorize other innocent victims.

Getting caught up in the effort to save the village people, the team ends up in a merciless firefight where it appears that Playboy is the only survivor who then flees into the jungle while being chased by heavily armed thugs.

On the run, Playboy relies on Reaper to guide him to a spot for a helicopter rescue, but things are hardly that simple. At the Air Force base in Nevada, Reaper is so committed to the mission that he risks insubordination by arguing with an arrogant superior officer.

“Land of Bad” belongs to Hemsworth for his battlefield heroics and to Crowe for his cocky, amusing self-confidence and unwavering commitment to his job, spending his time mainly confined to a chair staring at a screen.

Easily dismissed as formulaic, “Land of Bad” is nevertheless replete with thrilling, tense action sequences for action fans to enjoy.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

LAKEPORT, Calif, — The Soper Reese Theatre will host the popular Pianists Benefit Concert on Sunday, March 3.

The performance will feature six professional pianists combining their diverse musical styles to raise funds for the theater’s Renovation Fund and scholarship programs of the Lake County Friends of Mendocino College.

The event begins at 2 p.m. with a no-host reception followed by the concert at 3 p.m.

Premium reserved seat tickets may be purchased for $30; general assigned seats are $25 and youth 18 and under are admitted free of charge.

Tickets are available online at www.soperreesetheatre.com or by calling the box office at 707-263-0577.

Performers from Lake and Mendocino counties include Spencer Brewer, Elena Casanova, Tom Ganoung, Elizabeth MacDougall, Barney McClure and Ed Reinhart.

The concert will feature all the pianists on stage throughout the performance as they converse about their life experiences and play a variety of musical selections, ranging from classical to jazz, boogie woogie to Cuban, original compositions to popular favorites.

Jennifer Strong of Strong Financial Network, a financial planning firm based in Lakeport, will be the host and Mistress of Ceremonies.

Sponsors of this eleventh benefit concert include the Law Office of Mary Heare Amodio, the Law Office of Judy Conard, Lakeport Furniture, Strong Financial Network, Steve and Carol Schepper, Brock Falkenberg, Wilda Shock, Pat and Lori McGuire, Susie LaPointe, Peggy Campbell and Educational Leadership Solutions.

Jennifer Strong of Strong Financial Network, a financial planning firm based in Lakeport, will be the host and mistress of ceremonies.

Major sponsors of this 11th benefit concert include the Law Office of Mary Heare Amodio, the Law Office of Judy Conard, Peggy Campbell, Community First Credit Union, Lakeport Furniture, Strong Financial Network, Steve and Carol Schepper, Tallman Hotel/Blue Wing Saloon and Tomkins Tax Consultants.

Contributing sponsors are Educational Leadership Solutions, Brock Falkenberg, Jon and Annette Hopkins, Tim Karas, Susie LaPointe, Harry and Roberta Lyons, Natalie Marino, Pat and Lori McGuire, and Wilda Shock.

Proceeds from the event will be dedicated to the Renovation Fund of the Soper Reese Theatre for continuing efforts to modernize and expand its facilities, and to the annual scholarship fund of the Lake County Friends of Mendocino College which also supports the summer production of Shakespeare at the Lake in Clearlake and Lakeport.

The Soper Reese Theatre is located at 275 S. Main Street in Lakeport. Autographed CDs and other materials by the artists will be available for sale during the reception and intermission.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The stage is set, the music is queued, and Lake County Theatre Co., or LCTC, is thrilled to announce a community interest meeting for the upcoming lip sync, “Lip Sync — Music That Moves” show.

This event promises to be a celebration of music, creativity, and community spirit.

The lip sync interest meeting will take place on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Drinx, located at 370 S. Main Street, Lakeport.

The doors will be open from 2 to 5 p.m., providing aspiring performers with a flexible time frame to drop by and learn more about this exciting opportunity.

Attendees will have the chance to mingle with the enthusiastic LCTC team, gain insights into the music selection process, and discover how they can become a part of this entertaining showcase.

Whether you're a seasoned performer or someone looking to try something new, the Lip Sync — Music That Moves is open to all.

Can't make it to the meeting? No problem. LCTC encourages interested individuals to visit their website at www.lctc.us, navigate to the "shows" section, and complete the online interest form.

This ensures that even those with scheduling conflicts can express their interest and be part of the upcoming extravaganza.

“We are thrilled to bring the community together for this unique and entertaining event,” said Larry Richardson, director of lip sync at Lake County Theatre Co. “The Lip Sync — Music that Moves is not just a show; it's an opportunity for individuals to showcase their creativity, connect with fellow community members, and be a part of something truly special.”

Don't miss the chance to be a star on the lip sync extravaganza stage.

In the world of streaming services, Apple TV+ may be considered a relative newcomer that had to survive in its formative years the disruptive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.

Of course, last year’s strike by actors and writers in the entertainment industry posed even more challenges for production of new movies and television programs, affecting all facts of the business for streaming services.

A sign of recovery and good health is that Apple TV+ recently highlighted new programs at the winter press tour of the Television Critics Association, where critics from around the nation gathered to learn about new series.

Kicking off a full day of panels, Rita Lee Cooper, Head of Communications and Publicity for Apple Worldwide Video and Apple TV+, noted that limited series “Masters of the Air” from Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, was just one of their “high-quality, culture-moving Apple Originals.”

A sure mark of continuing quality programming arrives with the historical drama “The New Look,” a 10-episode drama that tells the fascinating story of how fashion icon Christian Dior and his contemporaries in Paris navigated the horrors of World War II during the Nazi occupation and then the- post-war years.

Inspired by true events and filmed exclusively in Paris, the first episodes focus on the tyranny of the Nazi subjugation of life in the French capital where the Vichy government collaborated with the German enemy.

Emmy Award winner Ben Mendelsohn’s Christian Dior weaves a narrow path of having to reluctantly accommodate the occupiers with fashionable clothes for the spouses of German officers headquartered at the Ritz Hotel.

Meanwhile, Dior’s younger sister Catherine (Maisie Williams) was active in the French Resistance, and as the days of the Nazi occupation of Paris near an end, she’s captured by the Gestapo and shipped off to a concentration camp until being liberated by Allied forces.

A parallel story involves Juliette Binoche’s Coco Chanel, who ends up living at the same hotel with the high-ranking Nazi officers and having an affair with German diplomat Baron Hans von Dincklage (Claes Bang).

Due to collaboration with the Nazis, Chanel’s reign as the world’s most fashion designer is put into jeopardy, and she goes into exile in Switzerland after the war for nearly a decade before returning to Paris.

During the war, Dior is connected to the fashion house of Lucien Lelong, working with the eponymous owner (John Malkovich), before rising to prominence on his own with groundbreaking, iconic designs.

Besides the wartime drama, “The New Look” centers on the saga of Dior’s equals and rivals from Chanel to Balmain, Givenchy, Balenciaga, Pierre Cardin, and others reviving Paris as the fashion capital after the war.

During the press conference, John Malkovich observed that Lelong’s “principal importance in the series is that he was someone very involved with keeping the French fashion industry in France, in Paris, and not in Berlin.”

Another historical drama is the eight-episode “Franklin,” the thrilling story of one of the greatest gambles of Benjamin Franklin’s (Michael Douglas) career.

At age 70, without any diplomatic training, Franklin convinced France, an absolute monarchy, to underwrite America’s experiment in democracy. A persuasive character with an extraordinary career and life, Franklin was a decisive figure on the world stage.

As Michael Douglas observed at the press tour, Franklin’s undercover trip to France to get support was driven by the fact that “we desperately needed them to supply us with weapons and cash and everything.”

By virtue of his fame, charisma, and ingenuity, Franklin outmaneuvered British spies, French informers, and hostile colleagues, all while engineering the Franco-American alliance of 1778 and the final peace with England of 1783.

Douglas remarked that Franklin was “a little bit of a philanderer, liked to imbibe, big flirt, and yet, had a wonderful ability in terms of his idea of negotiating which was sort of a seduction.”

The essence of “Franklin” was not so much a history lesson, according to Douglas, but more a story of “the intrigue and the gamesmanship” that was part of the gamble without which Franklin’s eight-year French mission would not have resulted in America winning the Revolution.

The Apple TV+ schedule is not all about historical dramas, but the upcoming “Manhunt” that premieres on the Ides of March (that would be the 15th) has nothing to do with the assassination of Julius Caesar, but sadly it’s about the killing of one of our greatest presidents.

Based on the bestselling non-fiction book by James L. Swanson, “Manhunt” is a conspiracy thriller about one of the best known but least understood crimes in history, the astonishing story of the hunt for John Wilkes Booth in the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.

In the role of John Wilkes Booth, star Anthony Boyle noted that since he grew up in Ireland, his introduction to the character was “through an episode of the ‘Simpsons’ where Bart plays” Booth and says “Hasta la vista, baby.” Fortunately, he and others did a lot of serious research.

Apparently, Apple TV+ offers a free seven-day trial.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.