Here’s a fine poem about family love and care by Janet Eigner, who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. You can feel that blessing touch the crown of your head, can’t you?
Isaac’s Blessing
When Isaac, a small, freckled boy approaching seven, visits us for Family Camp, playing pirate with his rubber sword,
sometimes he slumps in grief, trudging along, his sacrifice and small violin in hand, his palm over his chest,
saying, Mother is here in my heart. Before he leaves for home, we ask if he’d like a Jewish blessing.
Our grandson’s handsome face ignites; he chirps a rousing, yes, for a long life. We unfold the prayer shawl,
its Hebrew letters silvering the spring light, hold the white tallis above his head, recite the blessing in its ancient language
and then the English, adding, for a long life. Isaac complains, the tallis didn’t touch his head, so he didn’t feel the blessing.
We lower its silken ceiling to graze his dark hair, repeat the prayer.
Sometimes all you need to know about the prospects for your enjoyment of a movie is the source material upon which the screenplay is written.
For example, the citation of J.K. Rowling conjures the vision of Harry Potter. What image comes to mind at the mention of the author Nicholas Sparks?
Admittedly, I have never read a Sparks novel and probably never will, thanks to what I know about film adaptations of “The Notebook,” “Nights in Rodanthe” and “A Walk to Remember,” just to name a few.
Nicholas Sparks is a very successful, bestselling storyteller, but I would say that I am not the target audience, unless I undergo a change of gender and shave off a few years.
“The Lucky One,” starring Zac Efron (“High School Musical”) of all people, is the latest adaption of Sparks’ novel, with a screenplay credited to Will Fetters.
Subjectively speaking, “The Lucky One” appears to be an average romantic drama, not quite as good as Sparks’ devotees would argue, but then not really as bad as many critics would believe.
The formulaic ingredients for romantic melodrama are all place. Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling (NBC drama series “Mercy”) are appealing, attractive leads, against the backdrop of scenic, bucolic small-town bayou Louisiana.
The story begins in a setting far removed from a tranquil rural environment. Efron’s Logan Thibault is a Marine Sergeant on his third tour of duty in the Iraq War.
Nearing the end of his last tour, Logan spots a photograph sticking out of the rubble during a fierce battle scene. Stooping down to pick it up saves his life from a nearby explosion.
The unidentified photograph of a pretty blonde becomes his talisman, a good luck charm that Logan carries everywhere, even back home to Colorado.
Determined to locate the mystery woman, Logan sets out on foot with his dog and ends up in Hamden, Louisiana in search of the woman who identified by locals as Beth (Schilling). You may wonder, as did I, why he just didn’t take the Greyhound bus.
Beth, along with her sassy grandmother Ellie (Blythe Danner), runs a family-owned kennel. Showing up at her door, Logan meets Beth, but is unable to tell her about the photo and instead takes a menial job at the kennel.
Now you may wonder, as did I, why he just didn’t announce the true purpose of his unexpected arrival. Of course, she would have gracefully accepted his gratitude and maybe shared a few stories. The movie could have been over in less than a half-hour.
Because Logan fails to explain himself, Beth instinctively distrusts the mysterious stranger. Moreover, her life is complicated by divorce from local deputy sheriff Keith (Jay R. Ferguson) and a struggle over custody of their young son Ben (Riley Thomas Stewart).
There are no surprises in “The Lucky One,” and thus over a period of time Beth warms to Logan, seeing how he is good with animals and especially with her son. Of course, grandma Ellie drops occasional words of encouragement or wisdom. That’s why Blythe Danner is in this film.
Still, there’s the lingering problem of Logan holding back the secret of the true reason he ended up in Louisiana. As the romantic connection between Beth and Logan inevitably unfolds, the unrevealed confidence remains the nagging impediment.
Unavoidably, “The Lucky One” will pursue some important questions. Will brutish sheriff Keith get drunk and threaten someone? Will Beth get mad when she finds out about the photo? Will your popcorn go stale before the end credits roll?
The question you may want to ask yourself is whether this is the right movie for you. In the end, it won’t matter what grumpy critics think. A Nicolas Sparks-inspired film has its ready audience.
TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL
What is the golden age of Hollywood? The answer is subjective, depending on the taste of a varied audience clamoring to see great films on the big screen.
The recent TCM Classic Film Festival provided a lot of opportunities for film buffs. Thankfully, there will be a fourth annual festival around this time next year.
One of the biggest highlights was “How the West Was Won” being screened in the wide-screen Cinerama format. Fan favorites like “Casablanca” and “Singin’ in the Rain” got the star treatment at the fabled Grauman’s Chinese Theater.
One treat was getting to see the still beautiful Kim Novak introducing the classic Alfred Hitchcock “Vertigo.” Mind you, Novak made this great film in 1958.
I particularly enjoyed seeing Mel Brooks introduce “Young Frankenstein.” He told the story of how Gene Wilder was a last minute replacement in “Blazing Saddles” and that during the filming the two of them came up with the story for “Young Frankenstein.”
The festival also featured some great film noir, including “Cry Danger,” with an appearance by star Rhonda Fleming, and “Gun Crazy,” with co-star Peggy Cummins.
British actress Cummins left Hollywood in 1950, and the TCM festival marked her visit in 62 years. It was great to hear her tell stories about a bygone era.
Film buffs should make every effort to attend next year’s TCM Classic Film Festival, which keeps getting better.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Arts Council will host its next First Friday Fling on May 4.
The fling will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Main Street Gallery, 325 N. Main St., Lakeport.
Besides, enjoying the work of new artists showing at the First Friday Fling and reviewing the work of artists continuing in the show, you will be able to enjoy the talent of singer/song writer Tom Xavier, whose music captures the spirit of Northern California.
Xavier's original music captures country life style and blends in the beauty of nature while combining his works with Jim Croce, John Denver, Harry Chapin, Hank Williams and Waylon Jennings as major influences.
Xavier prefers performing in intimate surroundings, as acoustic as possible, and sharing a good story and interactive evening with the audience.
As a singer/songwriter he writes about the events and experiences that have most influenced his life – sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but always with truth and, hopefully entertaining.
For more information call the Main Street Gallery at 707-263-6658.
E.B. White, one of my favorite writers, used to say, “Simplify, simplify, simplify,” but that doesn’t mean that writing has to be simple, which is a different matter.
Here’s a fine poem by Laurel Blossom of South Carolina that’s been simplified into a pure, clean beauty.
Red Balloon Rising
I tied it to your wrist With a pretty pink bow, torn off By the first little tug of wind. I’m sorry.
I jumped to catch it, but not soon enough. It darted away.
It still looked large and almost within reach. Like a heart.
Watch, I said. You squinted your little eyes.
The balloon looked happy, waving Good-bye.
The sky is very high today, I said. Red went black, a polka dot,
The Farrelly Brothers (Peter and Bobby) have been pushing the comedic envelope ever since their first feature film, “Dumb & Dumber,” and right up to the recent “Hall Pass.”
Given their affinity for uncultured humor, it seemed only fitting that the Farrellys would be drawn to the unique style of physical comedy found in the wacky misadventures of Larry, Curly and Moe.
Surprisingly, “The Three Stooges,” which does not compromise the iconic slapstick physical antics of the cinema’s most famous knuckleheads, is at its core a heartwarming story.
Set to three episodes, the first one involves their childhood story, starting from the day that three little tykes in a duffel bag were tossed on the doorstep of a Catholic orphanage.
Even as babies, Larry, Curly and Moe had the same distinctive physical features carried to adulthood, from bad haircuts to the complete lack of physical dexterity and agility.
The orphanage is run by the no-nonsense Mother Superior (Jane Lynch), assisted by the singing nun Sister Rosemary (Jennifer Hudson) and the tyrannical Sister Mary-Mengele (crusty comedian Larry David in drag).
From day one, the good nuns of the Sister of Mercy Orphanage try to get the boys placed with adoptive parents, but to no avail, though Moe comes awfully close to being adopted by a wealthy couple.
At the start of the second episode, the boys are fully grown, at least physically, but they still live at the orphanage, serving as handymen, performing the type of jobs that take comic advantage of their misuse of hammers, mallets, saws and ladders.
The bossy, overbearing Moe (Chris Diamantopoulos), the dark-haired leader with the ridiculous bowl-style haircut, constantly expresses his intolerant indignation.
Will Sasso’s rotund, bumbling Curly is a spot-on imitation for the original Stooge whose trademark “nyuk-nyuk-nyuk” speech and outrageous physical mannerisms made him stand out from the rest of the trio.
Even in childhood, the sour-faced Larry (Sean Hayes) had two shocks of bushy hair sprouting from a bald pate, and his sad sack demeanor grew gloomier with age.
Sadly, the only place they have ever known as home is about to be foreclosed unless someone comes up with $830,000 by the end of the month.
The troika of lunkheads heads off to the Big City in search of quick cash to save the orphanage. Hilarity ensues as they try to cope with a world completely foreign to them.
Then, the bumbling buffoons encounter a hot tamale named Lydia (Sofia Vergara, oozing sexuality), who offers the Stooges a chance at some easy money; all they have to do is put her poor suffering husband out of his misery.
Despite their relentless valuelessness, the Stooges smell something fishy in Lydia’s scheme, especially when they find out that the mark is their boyhood friend Teddy (Kirby Heyborne), a former orphan adopted by a wealthy family.
In typical boneheaded Stooge fashion, the involvement of Larry, Curly and Moe in an oddball murder plot leads to so many complications and misdirection that you can’t help but laugh at the fallout.
Another strange bit of happenstance is when Moe is mistaken for a brilliant actor and is enlisted as a new cast member of “Jersey Shore,” where he gets to slap around Snooki, the Situation and the others. Now, that’s truly rewarding and funny stuff.
The history of the cinema has brought us many great comedy teams, from the Marx Brothers to Laurel and Hardy as well as Abbott & Costello. In this pantheon, the Three Stooges stand out for their brutal physical antics.
What the Farrelly Brothers have achieved with “The Three Stooges” is a loving homage as well as a contemporary take on the trio of time-honored boneheads.
Causing innumerable laugh-out-loud moments, this film brilliantly recreates the classic and iconic Stooge sound effects, including “boinks,” finger snaps and Curly’s nyuk-nyuk-nyuking.
One may be tempted to claim that the original Three Stooges invented lowbrow comedy, but their slapstick antics were hilarious. The new guys live up to this great tradition and deliver a truly funny entertainment.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
UKIAH, Calif. – Hip hop, contemporary, jazz, Mexican Folkloric, Middle Eastern, traditional Chinese dance – just a handful of dance forms that will delight those who attend Mendocino College’s Spring Dance Festival.
The festival will be held on Friday, May 4, and Saturday, May 5, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 6, at 2 p.m. in the Mendocino College Center Theatre.
“Our Spring Dance Fest has become one of our most popular performing arts events at Mendocino College,” said Leslie Saxon West, director of the dance program. “The production this year will not be as expansive as it has been in recent years, however the show will include a wide variety of dance that will surely be enjoyed by all ages.”
Diversity is a key component of this annual event. In addition to the theatrical forms of dance that most people are familiar with, such as jazz and modern dance, the production will feature many forms of dance that represent the diverse populations in our communities, the college and the world.
This year’s festival will include traditional Chinese dance presented by the Developing Virtue Boys and Girls Schools.
The boys' school will perform the spectacular Dragon and Lion dances which feature huge dramatic costumes with moving eyes and tails.
The girls' school will present three beautiful dances reflecting traditional Chinese dance fused with elements of martial arts and storytelling.
One dance, entitled “Compassion,” explores compassion as the eternal state of the spirit. Elly Shulee, who choreographed the piece, said, “Guanyin is the manifestation of great kindness and great compassion. Her thousand hands rescue beings from the ocean of suffering, and her thousand eyes behold all beings.”
College instructor Bernadette Alverio-Gray has choreographed five dances for this year’s festival. Her dances include a wide variety of accompaniment and flavor.
“'Old School' is a fun upbeat piece that explores hip hop at an older age in life,” she said. “From wheelchairs to walkers, these folks know how to get down!”
In a lyrical contemporary dance that she has choreographed, entitled “Letting Go,” she explained that the piece represents a collection of personal stories.
“In our journey through life, we all have to let go of things,” she said. “The duets in this piece were choreographed by the dancers and represent their personal stories related to letting go, especially of significant people in their lives.”
Many Mexican Folkloric dances also will be featured in this performance. Under the direction of college dance instructor Juvenal Vasquez, a variety of festive and colorful dances will be performed by many of his students.
These festive and colorful folk dances are a highlight of the shows and this year include La Moda, El Gusto and Luz y Sombras.
Another highlight of this year’s show will be Troupe Satya, a Middle Eastern Dance group directed by Janice Re, who will be appearing as guests in this performance. This exquisite group of dancers will be performing two dances, “Unknown Hand II” and “Saplak II.”
All tickets are $5 for everyone and may be purchased in advance at the Mendocino Book Co. in Ukiah, the Mendocino College Bookstore on the Ukiah campus or by calling 707-468-3079.
Tickets also may be purchased at the door, if available.
The Mendocino College main campus is located at 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah.
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