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Arts & Life
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- Written by: Tim Riley
LONE SURVIVOR (Rated R)
The brutal realities of war in the rugged terrain of Afghanistan, as told in “Lone Survivor,” hits the audience right in the gut in this unvarnished tale of heroism and courage under the harsh light of Peter Berg’s direction.
The director brilliantly captures the unforgiving essence of a Navy SEAL operation that went horribly wrong when a reconnaissance team of four brave soldiers became trapped under fire in the mountains of the remote Hindu Kush region of Kunar province.
Based upon the first-person account of Marcus Luttrell, “Lone Survivor,” at least as a title, downgrades the element of suspense, but not enough that the ill-fated mission is relieved of all sense of shock and trepidation.
The opening scene is a fitting prologue that explores in excruciating detail the rigors of the intensely grueling training process, where only those with the greatest mental and physical toughness emerge as full-fledged SEALs.
The point of this exercise is to set the stage for what follows in 2005 when Marcus Luttrell (Mark Wahlberg) and three of his battle-ready fellow soldiers are dispatched on a mission to capture or kill a top Taliban leader responsible for slaying U.S Marines.
The other elite soldiers include commanding officer Lt. Michael Murphy (Taylor Kitsch), gunner Danny Dietz (Emile Hirsch), and sonar technician Matthew “Axe” Axelson (Ben Foster), all of whom report to Lt. Commander Erik Kristensen (Eric Bana).
Character development is somewhat limited by the circumstances of the wartime setting. We get a glimpse of the camaraderie between the men at the base camp, mostly the usual male bonding and joking around, but not a lot of perceptive insight.
On June 28, 2005, the four-man surveillance team of Operation Red Wings boarded a helicopter so that they could be dropped into a remote mountainous area with the mission to identify Ahmad Shah, a high-level Taliban operative that the American military was most anxious to neutralize.
The four SEALs arrive safely on the ground, but soon discover that their radio equipment and satellite phone are not functioning regularly, leaving them isolated when having to make key decisions or relay vital information back to headquarters.
Another immediate problem is that three goat herders grazing their flock stumble upon the men’s hiding place, plunging the mission into immediate jeopardy. The SEALS are forced to make an urgent life-and-death decision – how to treat the intruders under the rules of engagement.
In one of the film’s most compelling scenes, the soldiers debate the choices facing them. Instantly, they know that protocol dictates they must release civilian noncombatants, but these guys look more sinister and suspicious than simple farmers.
Still, killing the unarmed prisoners so that they could not alert the Taliban was morally objectionable, to say nothing of how the soldiers could be crucified by public opinion and the official rules if they killed innocent civilians.
Ultimately, the goat herders are cut loose, and the SEALs began an arduous climb to what they hoped would be safety. Soon, hellfire rained down on them.
The Taliban, bolstered by more than a hundred fighters, launch an assault that results in an intense firefight from machine guns, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. The Americans are seriously outnumbered and outmatched in firepower.
But the hardy band of Navy SEALs hold off the enemy hordes for quite some time, a blood-splattered affair that puts the Americans in a courageous last stand that offers no way out since help is not imminently on the horizon.
Even when the cavalry arrives, in the form of an assault helicopter, the Taliban have already gained the upper hand and blast the rescue team out of the sky, killing another 16 Marines.
Even after falling down mountainous hillsides, pummeled by rocks and falling debris, Luttrell, badly wounded, miraculously escapes to small village where he’s hidden by a tribe willing to stand up to the Taliban thugs.
For a war movie that seeks to put the audience in the thick of the action, “Lone Survivor” has adroitly accomplished the mission. Director Berg delivers an unflinching look at the brutality of warfare.
“Lone Survivor” is a significant war movie, and much like “Saving Private Ryan,” it highlights the heroism of our soldiers. But it is also much like “Black Hawk Down” insofar as recalling very tragic circumstances of grueling combat.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
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UKIAH, Calif. – The Ukiah Symphony Orchestra invites listeners to enjoy the bright beauty of Baroque masters Bach and Vivaldi in the third concert of the Symphony’s 2013-14 season.
On Saturday, Feb. 8, at 8 p.m. and again on Sunday, Feb. 9, at 3 p.m., concert performances featuring former first trumpet of the San Francisco Symphony, Glenn Fischthal, will take place in the intimate auditorium of the School of Performing Arts and Cultural Education, located at 508 West Perkins St. in Ukiah.
With two of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, the music features individual instruments and solo performances supported by a rich backdrop created by Ukiah Symphony musicians.
“Sound the Trumpet” includes the Concerto Nos. 3 and 5.
Concerto No. 3 showcases strings and harpsichord, and Concerto No. 5 features flute, violin and harpsichord.
The musical inventiveness of these pieces highlights the special skills of symphony members Rebecca Pollock Ayres, Margie Salcedo Rice and Tom Aiken.
The program is named for the two inspirational pieces that feature the trumpet.
First is a Vivaldi favorite: Concerto for Two Trumpets. Ukiah Symphony’s principal trumpet player Gary Miller will be joined by guest artist Glenn Fischthal, who served as principal trumpet with the San Francisco Symphony for 24 years. The trumpet concerto features the piccolo trumpet, masterfully played by both musicians.
“The instrument has a brilliant tone quality. It is a great joy to play,” said Fischthal.
The second trumpet piece will feature Fischthal as a soloist, again with the piccolo trumpet, this time playing Torelli's Sonata in D for Trumpet, Strings and Continuo in four movements.
Fischthal eagerly anticipates playing with the Ukiah Symphony Orchestra. “To be carrying this great melody as soloist is both a challenge and a thrill,” he said.
Fischthal has worked with Ukiah Symphony conductor Les Pfutzenreuter before, and said he looks forward to doing so again.
Fischthal spent 32 years with the San Francisco Symphony before retiring last year. Now he fills in as needed for several orchestras around the Bay Area.
Fischthal earned his bachelor's degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music and continued with graduate studies at the California Institute of the Arts.
His orchestral career began at age 21, when he joined the Cleveland Orchestra on tour under the direction of George Szell and Pierre Boulez, but he found his home in the Bay Area. His love of music is shared by his wife, Sheila, a French Horn player.
Tickets for “Sound the Trumpet” are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $5 for youth 18 and under, and are on sale at the Mendocino Book Co. at 102 South School St. in Ukiah; at Mail Center, Etc. at 207A North Cloverdale Boulevard in Cloverdale; or online at www.ukiahsymphony.org .
Concertgoers can mark their calendars now for this concert and the next one: a “very Russian” Shostakovich concert featuring pianist Aaron Ames on May 17-18.
“Sound the Trumpet” is made possible by support from Kathleen Kohn Fetzer Family Foundation and Near and Arnold's School of Performing Arts & Cultural Education.
For more information, call the Ukiah Symphony Box Office at 707-462-0236 or email
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- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Arts Council's Main Street Gallery is hosting a show this month of paintings depicting Lake County in winter.
The show will be held in the Main Street Gallery's Linda Carpenter Gallery at 325 N. Main St. in Lakeport through the month of February.
Entries will be accepted on or before Feb. 2 between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. for the February event.
There is a $5 entry fee and 20 percent commission to the gallery.
The theme is winter; paintings may show any or all winter “happenings” in the county.
Painting are limited to 16 inches by 20 inches in size, must be properly framed and is the original work of artist.
For more information contact the Main Street Gallery,
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UPPER LAKE, Calif. – In the first of its 2014 “Concerts with Conversation” series, the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake will host an informal concert by renowned singer and entertainer Andre Williams in the Meeting House next to the hotel at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25.
“Andre Williams is well known throughout Lake County as the proprietor and occasional showstopper at Silk’s in Clearlake,” said Tallman owner Bernie Butcher. “It’s fabulous that he and his Sacramento based trio have agreed to come up and do a show for us at the Tallman.”
Andre Williams is a singer, songwriter and producer with an engaging personality who captivates audiences not only with his own material but with vivid impressions of his many vocal influences. These include the likes of Stevie Wonder, Lenny Williams, Peabo Bryson and The Whisperers.
Williams is currently pursuing his passion for the Big Band influences of Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis Jr. as he performs with “The Dean O Holics” (Rat Pack Tribute Band) in theaters all over the world.
A native of San Francisco, Williams was an accomplished drummer, singer and songwriter when, in 1991, he organized and managed the background vocalist group for MC Hammer and his “Too Legit To Quit” World Tour. He has since organized five world tours with Hammer and continues to perform as his lead vocalist.
Backing Williams at the Tallman event will be pianist John Wilder and percussionist Peter Philis.
Wilder has been performing worldwide since 1968 and both he and Philis have been fixtures on the Sacramento jazz scene for decades.
Subject to limited availability, concert tickets at $25 plus tax may be purchased by calling the Tallman Hotel at 707-275-2244, Extension 0.
More about Andre Williams can be found at http://drewill.com/ .
