CONTAGION (Rated PG-13)

After watching “Contagion,” I may never again grab a fistful of nuts from a bowl sitting on a bar counter. It’s also not a good idea to shake hands with a butcher.

Many life lessons are to be found in the scientific thriller “Contagion,” the story of the fast spread of a deadly global plague.

The well-known actors that play pivotal characters are essentially accessory to the central story, and in some cases they prove expendable to boot.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Beth Emhoff, based in Minneapolis, travels the globe for her business. We spot her in Hong Kong, hobnobbing with executives at a party.

On her return to the states, Beth has a layover in Chicago, which has personal ramifications, but nothing central to the epidemic plot.

It’s upon her return home to her husband Mitch (Matt Damon) and young son that Beth’s health rapidly declines. She goes from feverish sweating to a brain hemorrhage and quick death in relatively short order.

Though the virus quickly takes the life of Beth and then Mitch’s son, it appears that Mitch is somehow immune to the disease and maybe the same holds true for his older daughter.

Meanwhile, reports are coming in from around the world, from major metropolitan cities to provinces in China about a lethal flu-like virus.

The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, supervised by Dr. Ellis Cheever (Laurence Fishburne), is the command center for coordinating emergency response teams around the country.

Kate Winslet’s Dr. Erin Mears is dispatched to Minneapolis to investigate the mysterious death of Beth Emhoff, the apparent first victim.

On the other side of the world, the World Health Organization dispatches Dr. Orantes (Marion Cotillard) to Hong Kong, which is suspected as the point of origin for the fast-spreading toxic disease.

Back in the states, Dr. Cheever is put in the unenviable position of dealing with news media reports which call into question his integrity after it is learned that he advised his wife (Sanaa Lathan) to get out of Chicago before it is quarantined.

Adding to the public turmoil is the involvement of a popular but annoying blogger named Alan Krumwiede (Jude Law) who stokes fear and confusion with his unfounded conspiracy theories.

Is the rabble-rousing Alan serving a public purpose to alert everyone to the immediate dangers or are his motives steeped in opportunity to cash in for a big payday?

As panic takes hold, the inevitable chaos and mayhem follows. Looting and vandalism occur in markets and convenience stores. Riots break out when the government runs short on medical supplies. The nightmarish scenario seems all so plausible.

Director Steven Soderbergh does an excellent job of building tension with the lingering sense of trepidation that grips the public and medical community.

Matt Damon plays a masterful role as the persevering, resolute symbol of the common man trying to make sense of the world shattering and crumbling all around him.

As a matter of fact, CDC director Dr. Cheever and his staff are also doing their level best to race to find a cure amidst the usual bureaucratic bickering.

“Contagion” plays out a rather plausible scenario for a global pandemic, even if all of its parts are not entirely convincing. Moreover, it entertains as an unsettling medical thriller.

When somebody starts coughing in a nearby row at the theater, you may find it sensible to think about moving away to a safe distance.

Yes, “Contagion” should engender panic, fear and loathing, and even hypochondria. In recent memory, we have SARS, the swine flu and bird flu to thank for that.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

Since we are on the topic of thrillers this week, it is an opportune time to note that the action-packed “Hanna” has been released on DVD and Blu-ray.

Saoirse Ronan stars as Hanna, a 16-year old girl raised in the desolate, icy wilds of Finland by her ex-CIA agent father Erik (Eric Bana) and trained to become the perfect assassin.

Every moment of Hanna’s childhood and adolescence has been spent building up the strength, stamina and survival instincts she needs to prepare for the day she must strike out on her own.

That day has now come; armed with the skills her father has imparted to her and the mantra “adapt or die,” Hanna must cross Europe and face her family’s longtime enemy, lethal intelligence operative Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett).

Both the DVD and Blu-ray feature an alternate ending and deleted scenes, along with commentary from director Joe Wright.

Naturally, the Blu-ray edition has more bonus features, including a look at the Chemical Brothers’ creative process of writing and scoring all of the music in the film.

In the spirit of Alan Krumwiede, let me just say there is a conspiracy to put the better bonus features on the Blu-ray editions, so that you’ll buy the more expensive product.

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

From left, Bert Lams and Tom Griesgraber will perform at the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake, Calif., on Sunday, September 11, 2011. Courtesy photo.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake hosts a periodic series of informal “Concerts with Conversation” for 40 to 50 guests in the Meeting House next to the Hotel.

This popular series continues this Sunday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 p.m. with Tom Griesgraber, who is recognized as one of the world’s true masters of the magical but complicated instrument called the Chapman Stick. He will be appearing along with classical guitarist Bert Lams.

Tom Griesgraber, whose father John is a longtime Kelseyville resident, tours widely performing on the Chapman Stick, a 12-stringed instrument built around the idea of tapping on a fretboard with the fingertips of both hands with the resulting amplified vibrations producing a full range of unique sounds.

“I’m proud to see one of my instruments used in such a creative way,” said Emmet Chapman, inventor of the instrument.

Griesgraber is an active composer and arranger for the instrument and his shows include a mix of original material as well as arrangements ranging from Bach to the Beatles.

Lams initially gained notice in 1980 as first laureate in a youth music contest in Brussels. He then went on to earn an honors degree in the study of classical guitar, eventually teaching at the Brussels Academy of Music.

Since 1993, he has toured the world and released six albums with the California Guitar Trio.

Coffee and cookies will be served at the performance.

Tickets at $25 plus tax are available by calling the Tallman Hotel reservation desk at 707-275-2244. People interested in the show can get a preview at www.thossounds.com and www.bertlams.com.

Second Sunday Cinema believes that those who died then, and those who have died since due to exposure to many toxic chemicals, and the citizens of the US deserve the truth about what happened that day.

The movie “9/11: Explosive Evidence – Architects and Engineers Speak Out” will be shown on Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Clearlake United Methodist Church, 14521 Pearl Ave., Clearlake, near Mullen in Clearlake

Doors at 5:30 p.m., with the film at 6 p.m.

If you arrive early, you can grab a snack and get to know your neighbors (or network, if you like).

The film provides understandable, extremely interesting science-based information to correct the deeply-flawed "official explanation" produced by the 9/11 Commission.

The physics and chemistry are very clear: Towers One, Two and Seven fell at virtually free-fall speed. In other words, if you dropped a ball off the top of any tower, it would land at the same speed as those buildings disappeared into dust.

The 47-story Building 7 is of particular interest because it was not hit by an airplane. There were a couple of small fires – and down it went. In fact, no steel buildings on fire have ever collapsed anywhere on the globe, even when fires have raged within them for days. All of the evidence points to a carefully planned demolition. The facts are compelling.

This is not a conspiracy theory documentary. More than 1,540 architects and engineers are behind this film and say the buildings could not have collapsed as they did without being formally demolished.

As one reviewer said, "The question is not one of politics or nationalism or loyalty, but one of simple physics. Does steel melt in open-air fires? What caused the core to vanish in seconds? No agenda. No finger-pointing. Just the facts and the questions."

Please note: There is a small chance that SSC will screen another film, “9/11 Mysteries, Part 1: Demolitions instead of Explosive Evidence.” The reason? “Explosive Evidence” is brand new (SSC is part of its world premiere). It's only being shipped out on Sept. 6, so we can't be sure we'll get it in time.

“Explosive Evidence” is a riveting film, from the long trailer we've seen. Demolitions is a superb, science-based film as well. Both are fascinating, well-made and fact based, and very highly recommended.

For more information call 707-889-7355.

I am talking about the US Open tennis tournament and the incredibly great weather that followed in the wake of Hurricane Irene’s sweep through New York the day before the tournament’s official start.

To be expected, attendance dropped by a few thousand on the opening day, but by the end of the week a new record was established when 62,062 showed up on Friday, Sept. 2.

Like many others, I had planned to be in New York on the first day of the tournament, but the tropical storm and the airline schedule dictated otherwise.

Arriving on the second day of the US Open proved to be rewarding, the balmy, sunny weather contrasting nicely with the oppressive heat that I endured at this time last year.

Better than the weather condition at the Flushing Meadows complex was the opportunity to witness one of many first round upsets.

In a first in the Open Era, none of the three Grand Slam women’s champions from this year advanced past the first round of the US Open.

Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters, the two-time defending US Open champion, was forced to pull out with an injury, a most unfortunate way for someone to exit.

The day before I arrived, Petra Kvitova, from the Czech Republic, who won the women’s title at Wimbledon in July against Maria Sharapova in straight sets, was defeated soundly by Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania.

On the second day, I witnessed the stunning upset of French Open champion Li Na of China, who was knocked out of the tournament in straight sets by unseeded Romanian teenager Simona Halep.

Another pleasure of visiting the US Open in the early going is the chance to watch the unseeded perennial New York crowd favorite, James Blake.

Blake, who has never advanced past the quarterfinals, has a style of play that is great fun to watch, but he’s also erratic and prone to mistakes that can prove costly.

Fortunately, Blake didn’t do himself in on the first round, as he dispatched, though not easily, Jesse Huta Galung from the Netherlands in three sets to one.

Not attending the first day caused me to miss Roger Federer, the previous winner of five US Open titles. But seeing him in a contest with an unknown is like watching a cat swat at a mouse.

The guy I really wanted to see on the first day was the highest ranked American. Mardy Fish, who won this year’s US Open Series, is poised for a deep run this time.

Ranked No. 8 in the world, Fish has come a long way, because in the past he has never gone beyond the quarterfinals of a major tournament. In 2008, Fish was defeated in the quarterfinals of the US Open by Rafael Nadal.

So far, as I write this story, Fish has won his first three rounds in straight set victories. If he keeps winning, Fish would likely have to face Roger Federer in the semifinals.

Rafael Nadal, the talented Spaniard, is defending the US Open title he won last year. Though he won at the French Open in June, Nadal is now struggling after burning his hand on a hot plate.

On the second day, I got a chance to watch Nadal in his first round victory. Beating Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan should have been easy, but Nadal had to rally to win the second set in a tie-breaker.

The best match that I had a chance to see pitted two highly-ranked women, Australian Samantha Stosur and Russian Nadia Petrova, in a marathon slugfest.

The third round match between Stosur and Petrova clocked in a three hours and 16 minutes, making it the longest women’s singles match in recorded US Open history since the advent of the tie-break in 1970.

On a disappointing note to men everywhere, the reigning beauty of the court, Maria Sharapova, seeded third, did not survive the third round. Sadly, she has struggled since her championship run in 2006.

The US Open concludes this year with the men’s singles final on Sunday, Sept. 11, a momentous day for reasons having nothing to do with tennis.

Fittingly, upon the tenth anniversary of the attack on America, a 9/11 memorial ceremony will take place on the tournament’s final day.

Queen Latifah will preside over the memorial tribute. For both the women’s and men’s singles championships “9-11-01” will be painted on the stadium court as part of this memorial tribute.

In the few days remaining before the end of the US Open, you can catch the action on CBS, ESPN or the Tennis Channel. Better yet, make your travel plans for next year.

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

The concert begins at 7 p.m. with local favorites Without A Net opening for Rogers.

Rogers' recording and performance resume reads like a record label catalog.

The list includes Carlos Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Steve Miller, Allen Toussaint, Miles Davis, Taj Mahal and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott.

In a professional career spanning four decades, Rogers is the consummate musician and producer.

He has produced two Grammy nominated albums for Elliott. For four years he toured with the legendary John Lee Hooker and produced four Grammy nominated albums for the Boogie King, two of which were awarded the top accolade from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Roy Rogers’ movie soundtrack contributions include “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” and “The Hot Spot.”

This year Rogers has two CD releases, “Translucent Blues” with Doors co-founder Ray Manzarek and “Slidewinder” featuring duets with Allen Toussaint and John Lee Hooker.

Tickets for this concert, a benefit for Lake County Community Radio, are $25 and are available at the Soper Reese box office, 707-263-0577 or www.SoperReeseTheatre.com; and at Catfish Coffee House, 14624 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake, 707-995-0470.