Woodstock Bildungsroman
Plus: Gabrielle Chapin’s stunning big-screen debut
(Sept. 3, 2009) Previews
Opening Friday, Sept. 4, Sandra Bullock stars as a crossword puzzle designer who has designs on newsman Steve (Bradley Cooper) after one blind date in All About Steve. Her growing obsession with Steve is encouraged by reporter Hartman (Thomas Hayden Church), for his own purposes. Rated PG-13 for sexual content including innuendos. 98m. At the Broadway.
In the comedy Extract, Jason Bateman plays the owner of a firm that manufactures food extracts who has to face all sorts of crises, including a possible lawsuit from an injured employee, a frigid wife and a best friend (Ben Affleck) urging him to have an affair. Gosh. Rated R for language, sexual references and some drug use. 91m. At the Broadway.
Set in the near future, Gamer is a thriller with the concept that gaming has evolved into a sophisticated genre that lets people control other people. The latest? A game called Slayers. With Gerard Butler, Kyra Sedgwick and Alison Lohman. Rated R for frenetic sequences of strong brutal violence throughout, sexual content, nudity and language. 95m. At the Broadway and Mill Creek.
Ponyo is an English language version of the Japanese animated film about a goldfish who wants to be human. Voiced by Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchett, Lily Tomlin and others. Rated G. 103m. At the Broadway.
Reviews
HALLOWEEN II: According to Wikipedia, Rob Zombie originally passed on directing a sequel to his 2007 remake of the classic John Carpenter film because he believed he had no energy for another Halloween film. He should have listened to his feelings. Halloween II is so lame I was limping when I left the theatre. The film is a one-note bore that is completely lacking in horror film imagination.
As the film opens, we see Deborah Myers (Sheri Moon Zombie) in a flashback visiting her young son, Michael (Chase Vanek), in a sanitarium, where she gives him a white horse sculpture. Jumping ahead 15 years, we watch Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton) shoot the adult Michael (Tyler Mane), apparently killing him. Taken to the hospital, Laurie is followed by a very alive Michael, who kills everyone in sight except Laurie. The rest of the film is one long bloodfest culminating in an obvious and largely telegraphed climactic scene.
→ post a comment
preview
Changing Modern Dance: One Minute at the Time
23 Dances / 23 Minutes
And the Beat Goes On
Cupid’s Coquettes: a burlesque event
Recent filmland
Feb. 2
Danger Abounds
From Freud's method to speedboats, wolves and a ledge, it's a perilous week at the movies
Jan. 26
Sweet, Serious, Smart and Silent
The Artist, Haywire soar but Underworld Awakening snoozes
Jan. 19
Angry Parents, Yes, Gospel Goodness, No
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.
More →
ONE Comments
Comment / By Anthony Pomes / Sept. 3, 2009, 7:38 a.m.
On behalf of the publisher of the book TAKING WOODSTOCK, I feel it is important to point out here that while there are a few composite characters in the Ang Lee film of Elliot Tiber’s memoir (which would be interpreted correctly as “fictional”), the film is based in the memoirs of Tiber and therefore this is most certainly NOT a fictionalized account of the August 1969 Woodstock Arts & Music Festival … without Elliot Tiber, there would not have been a Woodstock concert in Bethel - and the beauty of his story is the fact that this is how things really happened back in the Summer of ‘69 …