Arts & Life

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Written by: Tim Riley

Published: 15 January 2023

In the Paramount Pictures production notes for “Babylon,” this epic film is described as a tale of outsized and outrageous excesses that traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of “unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.”

This description of the period in 1920s Los Angeles is on the mark as well as oddly candid for the usual adulatory promotion that oozes out from a studio’s publicity machine. In fact, absorb the idea of rampant decadence and depravity as a warning.

From the beginning moments when an elephant defecates on a worker transporting the animal to the debauched party set for that evening at the mansion of a Hollywood mogul, you should know it’s not the only grotesquerie that awaits.

The party scene introduces the primary characters whose lives will intersect in different ways as the silent film era transitions to the talkies. The top star is dashing Jack Conrad (Brad Pitt), who evokes the likes of Douglas Fairbanks, John Gilbert and Rudolph Valentino.

Jack arrives at the party with his soon to be ex-wife Ina (Olivia Wilde) and partakes in so much alcohol that he needs a ride home from Manny Torres (Diego Calva), a wide-eyed dreamer desperate for a spot in the film industry.

As a Mexican-American outsider, Manny needs all the help he can get for a break, but a series of circumstances will find him reaching the upper levels of studio management.

Another partygoer is Margot Robbie’s free-spirited Nellie LaRoy whose rise to stardom will be marred by her gambling addiction and inability to maintain a sense of dignity and poise in certain social situations.

Interesting minor characters include Jean Smart’s gossip columnist Elinor St. John, Tobey Maguire’s creepy gangster and Eric Roberts as Nellie’s dodgy money-grubbing father who fights rattlesnakes.

Writer and director Damien Chazelle (“La La Land”) spent years researching the darker side of the story of the shift from silent film to the talkies, and what he delivers in his film causes one to wonder what was his target audience.

“Babylon” revels in the depraved, hedonistic folly of the movie business in a way that will disturb many. The opinion of the critics as well as the audience seems to be split, at least according to Rotten Tomatoes.

In my view, “Babylon” is a three-hour-plus slog that is such a struggle to endure that if it had an intermission the temptation would have been to leave and cut my losses.

EPIX REBRANDING AS MGM+

The premium and commercial-free linear and streaming service EPIX is rebranding as MGM+ with a launch on January 15th timed with the Season Three premiere of the acclaimed series “Godfather of Harlem.”

MGM has always been an archetypal brand in the world of cinema, and Michael Wright, head of MGM+ stated that the streaming service is a place for viewers to “find television that reflects and celebrates the legacy of the iconic MGM brand.”

Simply stated, “MGM is television for movie lovers,” according to the streaming service’s desire to trade on its legendary brand to deliver “cinematic programming with sophisticated storytelling.” Current EPIX subscribers will be transferred to this new platform.

One of the first programs to air on February 5th is the new true crime four-part docuseries that pulls back the curtain on America’s most infamous jewel thief Jack Roland Murphy in the provocatively titled “Murf the Surf: Jewels, Jesus, and Mayhem in the USA.”

In October 2019, the New York Times published an article celebrating the 150th anniversary of New York’s American Museum of Natural History. One of the most momentous events to take place on site was an epic jewel heist.

This was the biggest caper in American history, mastered by a band of “surfer dudes” from Miami in 1964. The key to the operation was Jack Roland Murphy, otherwise known as Murf the Surf, whose name was propelled into pop culture after the heist.

The heist created a notoriety that would stretch far beyond the caper. What followed Murf’s meteoric rise is a spiraling tale of unspeakable crime, murder, deception and mayhem which, to this day, remains shrouded in mystery.

The documentary series explores the tumultuous life of the man behind the legendary nickname. Featuring exclusive access to Murphy himself prior to his death in 2020, the series addresses the blurred line between fact and fiction, faith and delusion, sanity and madness.

The six-episode series thriller “A Spy Among Friends,” based on the New York Times best-selling book written by Ben Macintyre, dramatizes the true story of two British spies and lifelong friends, Nicholas Elliott and Kim Philby.

Intelligence officer Philby became the most notorious British defector and Soviet double agent in history. His deeply personal betrayal, uncovered at the height of the Cold War, resulted in the gutting of British and American intelligence.

Although a premiere date for “A Spy Among Friends” has not yet been set, it’s good to know that the cast features Emmy-winning actors Damian Lewis (“Billions”) and Guy Pearce (“Mare of Easttown”).

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

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Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 12 January 2023

UPPER LAKE, Calif. — The dynamic blues and popular vocalist and guitarist Alvon Johnson will perform at the next Tallman “Concert with Conversation” on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 22.

Johnson will be backed by blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter David Landon.

This intimate and informal series of “house” concerts takes place in the Meeting House next to the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake.

“Alvon, backed by David’s band, starred at our outdoor Blue Wing Blues Festival last September,” said Tallman owner Bernie Butcher. “In the middle of their rollicking set, the band took a rest, with Alvon and David doing a captivating acoustic set. At that moment I knew they would be perfect to have back for our Tallman concert series. And fortunately they said yes!”

Formerly a vocalist with the rock and roll Hall of Fame group The Coasters (“Yakety Yak,” “Poison Ivy,” etc.), Alvon Johnson went out on his own and was voted 2005 Blues Guitarist of the Year.

A polished musician and engaging personality, Alvon travels the world singing and swinging blues and jazz standards with various big bands.

When he performs in Poland and other European countries, he’s referred to as the “King of the Blues.”

Singer, songwriter and guitarist David Landon brings over 20 years of experience from the stage and studio to every note he plays.

In the early days of Landon’s professional career, he lived and performed in Paris and was a fixture in the European club and festival circuit.

Since his return to the United States, Landon has formed his own band, released five solo CDs, and played in countless recording sessions.

The events run from 3 to 4:30 p.m., offering plenty of time for a late lunch or early dinner at the Blue Wing Restaurant.

Tickets, which cost $30 each plus tax, can be purchased online at www.eventbrite.com or by calling the Tallman Hotel at 707-275-2244, Extension 0.

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Written by: Tim Riley

Published: 08 January 2023

‘GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY’ on NETFLIX

The challenge of writing about a whodunit is to impart enough information about the characters and the basic setup without divulging too much about the twists and surprises.

A murder mystery should be peeled back like the layers on an onion. The title alone, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” suggests the same, even though the onion in question is an architectural feature of an island estate.

“Glass Onion” may be considered a sequel to Rian Johnson’s 2019 “Knives Out” in the same way that the James Bond franchise was launched when “From Russia with Love” followed “Dr. No.”

Just as Sean Connery was the common thread of the 007 character in those early films, Daniel Craig is the Hercule Poirot-type detective Benoit Blanc holding together a budding new whodunit franchise.

The fun begins with longtime friends and associates of tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) receiving puzzle boxes containing invitations to a weekend on his lavish private estate on a Greek island.

The guest list includes Miles’ former business partner Cassandra “Andi” Brand (Janelle Monae), Connecticut governor Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn) who’s running for the senate, and cutting-edge scientist Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr.).

Fashion designer and ditzy former model Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson) and her assistant Peg (Jessica Henwick), and Twitch influencer Duke Cody (Dave Bautista) and his sidekick girlfriend Whiskey (Madelyn Cline) round out the party.

Not in the circle of Miles’ group is world famous detective Benoit Blanc, but here he is on the dock with the other guests for the boat ride to Miles’ hideaway. Since the event is a game about the billionaire turning up “dead,” why not involve a real sleuth?

On our first glimpse of Benoit, he’s in his bathtub playing an online murder mystery game with friends Angela Lansbury, Stephen Sondheim, Natasha Lyonne and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Suffering from ennui and lack of a challenge from a great case, Benoit tells his gaming buddies that his “mind is a fueled-up racing car, and I got nowhere to drive it.” This is all the more reason for the famed sleuth to join the eclectic group for the murder mystery game.

Miles is fond of calling his guests “disruptors” and in a sense, some of them seem more so than others. Claire appears to be an idealistic candidate for higher office, but she’s being bankrolled by Miles.

Others have a connection to Miles’ bounty as well. Lionel actually works as a scientist for Miles. Former partner Andi has been estranged from Miles due to bad blood over their business breakup.

As in all the best murder mysteries, where writer-director Rian Johnson has crafted a really good one with thrills and humor, each character harbors their own secrets, lies and motivations.

Here’s hoping that Netflix will deliver another crowd-pleasing “Knives Out” installment, and that we will learn more about the enigmatic Benoit Blanc and how he came to be as resourceful as Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes.



‘SPECIAL FORCES: THE ULTIMATE TEST’ ON FOX

Presented as the ultimate celebrity social experiment, “Special Forces: The Ultimate Test” is an all-new series on FOX television in which ostensible household names endure some of the harshest, most grueling challenges from the playbook of the actual Special Forces selection process.

Unlike other survivor reality shows, there are no votes and no eliminations in the expected sense. No one will be voted off the island. These celebrities, who are so used to being in the spotlight, quickly learn the meaning of “no guts, no glory.”

Selection for the Special Forces is a test unlike any other. Sixteen celebrities from all genres will take on, and try to survive, demanding training exercises led by Directing Staff (DS) agents, an elite team of ex-Special Forces operatives.

In this unique series, the only way for these recruits to leave is to give up on their own accord, through failure or potential injury, or by force from the DS agents.

Viewers will see the recruits face the harshest of environments that simulate the highly classified selection process.

The celebrities will push themselves in a way they never have been challenged before. They face the ultimate test of their physical, mental and emotional resilience, revealing their deepest and truest character.

Who are these celebrities? Who will quit, who will survive? Some of the celebrities are known better than others. Mike Piazza, a Hall of Fame catcher mostly with the Mets and Dodgers, played for 16 seasons in the MLB.

Dr. Drew Pinsky, known nationally as “Dr. Drew,” has been a ubiquitous figure both on television and radio for the entirety of his career. Kate Gosselin might be remembered for the reality series “Jon and Kate Plus 8.”

Anthony Scaramucci was the Communications Director in the Trump White House for a day or two. No, actually it was a full ten days before he was caught up in controversy.

He’s authored five books, so that should go a long way in making him fit, or not, for the Special Forces challenge.

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