How to resolve AdBlock issue? Arts & Life
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Film noir for contemporary times is the easiest description to put on the violent, gritty “Street Kings,” an exercise in the search for the darkest corners of the brutish, nasty landscape of urban Los Angeles.
This brutal action film has a fine pedigree in its creative team. Director David Ayer was the writer and co-producer for “Training Day,” notable for how it turned Denzel Washington into a real tough, troubled character. Moreover, the “Street Kings” screenplay is based on an original story by James Ellroy, who has made a name for himself by uncovering the dark side of Los Angeles in crime novels that were adapted for the big screen, including “L.A. Confidential” and “The Black Dahlia.”
“Street Kings” wastes little time jumping into the fray of the mean streets of the City of Angels. The conflicted, tortured central character is veteran LAPD cop Tom Ludlow (Keanu Reeves), who wakes up each morning with a seriously disturbed stomach and an almost insatiable desire to start sipping vodka from little airline bottles.
This is a guy living on the edge, tormented by his inner demons. After all, Ludlow finds life difficult to navigate after the sudden, mysterious death of his wife. At the film’s opening, Ludlow is flying solo in a dangerous sting operation with a nasty bunch of Korean thugs. Mainly, he’s in search of their hideaway, which appears to be the nerve center for the trafficking of drugs, guns and young victims of a sex slave operation.
In keeping with his apparent rogue status, Ludlow busts into the suspects’ abode with his guns blazing. He doesn’t bother with Miranda warnings or other niceties. But to make the crime scene look good, Ludlow leaves evidence behind that he acted in self-defense while rescuing some underage girls.
Meanwhile, his former partner, Detective Terrence Washington (Terry Crews), appears on the scene for the investigation and immediately suspects that Ludlow has something to hide. Before things get messy, Ludlow’s boss, Captain Wander (Forest Whitaker) steps in to back up his protégé.
Tension rises when it is apparent that Washington may have implicated Ludlow in unsavory conduct that has drawn the attention of Internal Affairs investigators. Soon, Ludlow finds himself being scrutinized by Internal Affairs Captain Biggs (Hugh Laurie), who grows suspicious that something rotten is happening. Biggs’ skepticism increases exponentially when Washington is gunned down in a liquor store by masked gang bangers. What’s worse is that Ludlow becomes implicated in the detective’s death because he was on the scene when the shootings occurred.
At this point, Captain Wander draws the wagons in a circle, getting members of his unit to help Ludlow clear his name of wrongdoing. For his part, Ludlow is troubled by the violent murder of his former partner, even though he had become a snitch. He sets out to find the killers, while others on the force seem too eager to hamper the pursuit of a serious investigation.
Even if he’s turned into a renegade cop, Ludlow wants to do the right thing, and so he teams up with young detective Paul Diskant (Chris Evans) to go after the truth. An investigation by Ludlow and Diskant takes this unlikely duo into the meanest neighborhoods of the city.
In the rough and tumble world of chasing down street toughs, Ludlow and Diskant hook up with criminal figure Scribble (Cedric “The Entertainer” Kyles), who guides them to a pair of very unsavory characters. Needless to say, the encounter with thugs leads to a blazing gun battle, which happens to be just one of many.
“Street Kings” thrives on a cavalier explosion of gruesome violence, somewhat reminiscent of “Training Day” and any number of brutal cop films where the constant bursts of carnage and bloodshed are palpable.
“Street Kings” is stoked by so much energy and thrills that there’s barely enough breathing room, and the obvious deficiencies of the plot are easily glossed over. But for action junkies, the payoff is just too good to care much about the absence of logic and reason.
DVD RELEASE UPDATE
There are “small films,” sometimes underrated or failing the attention of blockbusters, that demand our attention because they are unusually good. “Little Miss Sunshine” was such a gem. A good case can be made to put “Juno,” the story of an unwed teen who decides to carry her pregnancy to full term, in this class.
Hailed with well-deserved critical acclaim, “Juno” is a witty and smart comedy that is lifted by the performance of Ellen Page as the title character, a quirky teen with an offbeat personality.
Apropos of nothing, it is interesting to note that screenwriter Diablo Cody is a former stripper, who seems to have a really good ear for dialogue.
“Juno,” being released in two different editions, will have the usual plethora of deleted scenes, commentaries and special features.
For some strange reason, I feel compelled to tell you that the press release says “Juno” will be the first Fox Home Entertainment DVD at Starbucks company-operated locations in the United States.
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
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- Written by: Editor
In a brand new pictorial history book by Arcadia Publishing, local author K.C. Patrick sets out to portray the fascinating story of these tribes, through the stories, artifacts and images collected by its inhabitants.
Retiring journalist K. C. Patrick, a fourth-generation Californian, returned to her Lake County home only to find there were stories left to tell, and none too soon, as the living memories of an ancient culture were dying out amid the pressures of modern living and casino revenue sharing.
Highlights of The Pomo of Lake County:
Reveals numerous unseen vintage photographs from both public and private collections.
Features little told and unreported stories.
Shows how the Pomo lived a war-less culture, based on consensus and an almost pure democracy with leaders, not rulers.
Captures the impact that land-seeking Europeans had on the culture, and how the tribes survive today, mainly through casino revenue.
Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or www.arcadiapublishing.com.
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- Written by: Editor
CLEARLAKE – Wild About Books welcomes author William Edmunds to talk about “All Roads Lead to Zion” by Paracletus Press, on Saturday, April 26, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
A story that provides an intricate picture of the events that surrounded the time preceding and following the day when a young Galilean rabbi was executed from a unique point of view – that of the Roman Commander of Fort Antonio in Jerusalem.
“Rome would not have sat on its hands,” Edmunds speculated. “A Roman seal had been broken and the unit charged to guard the tomb upon which it had been placed was compromised. What would Rome have done?”
“All Roads Lead to Zion” is his answer to that question.
“Restore order and keep the peace ...” So read the orders of Emperor Tiberius to a veteran Roman officer assigned to the rebellious nation of Judea.
More than 1,400 miles from the seat of government, undermanned and under financed, Centurion Gaius Julius Cominus struggles to maintain order. As tens of thousands of Jews gather in Jerusalem for Passover, a madman haunts the roads to Zion bent on the murder and plunder of Roman citizens, while a young rabbi, heralded by many as the Messiah, spurs political intrigue and mutterings of rebellion. Peace is not going to come easy.
William (Bill) Edmunds, a retired police command officer and freelance Christian author has done an extensive study on the Passover traditions practiced at the time of Christ. Bill and his wife Joan lead the Healing Rooms of Lake County each Thursday evening at the Neighborhood Christian Fellowship in Clearlake and every first and third Monday at the New Life Foursquare Church in Lakeport.
Wild About Books is located at 14290 Olympic Drive in Clearlake, next door to Lisa's clothing store.
For an updated list of times and dates for upcoming events, stop by and call the story today at 994-WILD (9453).
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- Written by: Sandra Wade
The event was sponsored by the California Arts Council, California State Library, California Poets in the Schools, Poets and Writers, Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission and the Sacramento Poetry Center.
Both Sandra Wade (PL 2006-8) and her predecessor Carolyn Wing Greenlee were able to represent Lake County at this exciting event for sharing of experience, ideas and mutual encouragement.
At the evening reception in the Fragrance Garden (next to the New California State Library), current PL of California Al Young performed some of his work accompanied by Dan Robbins on jazz bass. Al is an accomplished jazz singer as well as an awe-inspiring poet.
Due to the chill air and encroaching darkness, each poet present read only one poem that evening, after a tasty barbecue. But on the next afternoon, by the Capitol Fountain in warm sunshine, each had five minutes to give a representative sample of hir work.
On Thursday morning Al Young gave an inspiring keynote address "Line Breaks and Tax Breaks: Poetry and Democracy." The PoetryOutLoud program was introduced by Chelsea Hunt of SMAC. Then three consecutive panels provided time for poets to discuss successful projects, challenges and opportunities they have had as laureates of their respective communities.
The first panel, moderated by Connie Post (first PL of Livermore, now in her second term), discussed how to get other organizations (schools, libraries, business) involved in poetry programs, and reported on some successful collaborations. Jack Hirschman, fourth PL for SF, Geri Digiorno of Petaluma, Garland Thompson of Pacific Grove, Velma Ginzberg of Healdsburg and Perie Longo of Santa Barbara were panelists.
Next, Sam Pierstorff of Modesto (first state city to have a PL) led the topic of funding, visibility and the most pressing needs of poetry and the poetry community. Panelists were Dorothy Lee Hansen of Napa, Joel Fallon of Benecia, Diane Lando of Brentwood, Martha Meltzer of Pleasanton and Carolyn Greenlee, PL of Lake County 2004-06.
Lake County was represented again, when Sandra Wade took part in the third panel with the topic, “What can poets laureate do to help each other? What tasks should we, as a group, focus on?” Julia Connor, fourth PL for the City and county of Sacramento (2005-09), officiated. Other panelists were Mary Rudge of Alameda, Rod Clark of Pacifica, Meredith Laskow or Placentia and David Smith-Ferri of Ukiah.
Some catchy phrases:
Random Acts of Poetry (in the library) – Martha Meltzer
a library room to “commit poetry” – Joel Fallon
“think postcard (DaDa-style)” – Julia Connor
'Poets on deck' (of cards) – Julia Connor.
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