Raging Rourke
Wrestler, Revolutionary Road deal in American despair
(Jan. 29, 2009) Previews
Opening Friday, Jan. 30, is the French film Taken, featuring Liam Neeson as a retired secret agent who returns to action when his teen daughter (Maggie Grace) is kidnapped by sex traffickers. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing thematic material, sexual content, some drug references and language. 94m. At the Broadway, Fortuna and Mill Creek.
The Uninvited is a remake of the 2003 Korean horror film A Tale of Two Sisters. Anna (Emily Browning) becomes upset when her father (David Strathairn) becomes engaged to her recently dead mother’s nurse (Elizabeth Banks) and joins forces with her sister (Arielle Kebbel) against the possibly evil fiancée. Rated PG-13 for violent and disturbing images, thematic material, sexual content, language and teen drinking. 87m. At the Broadway and Mill Creek.
New in Town features Renée Zellweger as upscale Miami businesswoman Lucy Hill who is sent to backwater Minnesota to supervise the restructuring of a plant. In a typical romantic comedy development, she falls for local worker and union rep Ted, played by Harry Connick Jr. Rated PG-13 for brief strong language. 96m. At the Broadway.
Reviews
THE WRESTLER: As readers may know, I tend to privilege acting over other film elements. In that regard, this has been a very good weekend even leaving aside Milk and Slumdog Millionaire, which I had seen out of town.
Certainly acting is the chief virtue of the very good (if a little sentimental) The Wrestler. In the title role of Randy “The Ram” Robinson, Mickey Rourke found the perfect pathway back to film prominence and, unlike Stallone in the most recent Rocky film, Rourke uses his somewhat worn body to perfect effect and he can act.
The plot is simple on the surface: Randy was a pro wrestling star in the 1980s but is just hanging on now, both personally and professionally, when a chance to relive his glory days with a rematch against The Ayatollah (pro wrestler Ernest Miller) arises. At the same time, Randy is pursuing a relationship with single mom stripper Cassidy (Marisa Tomei) as well as attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood).
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Today
Open Celtic Music Session
music / 3 p.m. Cafe Veritas/Mosgo's, 180 Westwood Center, Arcata. Informal monthly gathering of musicians playing Irish and other Celtic music. Hosted by Seabury Gould. seaburygould.com. 845-8167.
Nonviolence Action Camp
etc. / 10 a.m. Chinmaya Mission near Piercy. Weekend-long direct action orientation features workshops, role playing, seminars, ceremonies and field trips. Bring food, bedding, warm clothes, signs, banners, bikes, drums, acoustic instruments. Pre-register. saverichardsongrove.org. 932-5898.
Audubon Society Field Trip
outdoors / 9 a.m. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 1020 Ranch Road, Loleta. Meet at Refuge Visitor Center off Hookton Road. Leisurely, two- to three-hour trip intended for people wanting to learn birds of Humboldt Bay area. 822-3613.
Look Back in Anger Matinee
theater / 2 p.m. Ferndale Repertory Theatre, 447 Main Street. John Osborne’s sharply funny, fiercely honest exploration of political disillusionment and basic human yearning. Directed by John Heckel. $15/$13 students and seniors. ferndale-rep.org. 800-838-3006.
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