It seems a bit strange to think of poverty as having subcultures. Poor is poor, right? Yet in Jose Casas heavy, message-bearing play, Somebodys Children, its clear that poverty isnt only about the unkempt beggar on the palisades. Interestingly, the film The Pursuit of Happyness touched on the plays issue briefly. In several quickly passing scenes, Will Smiths character, based on the real-life Chris Gardner, is evicted from his apartment and forced to live in a motel with his son before melodrama forces him to move. In Somebodys Children, however, there is no rosy path from rags-to-riches as the play exposes and explores the plight of children whose families cannot afford to live in anything other than run-down motels. Unlike Smiths movie, there are no shifting gears to take the tragedy from bad to worse and then back up again in a melodramatic attempt to jerk tears. Somebodys Children reveals instead a grimmer picture: Children living in relentless, unchanging poverty with no obvious or lucky way out.
Courtyard Fare Tonight: Afro-Cuban and a Touch of Salsa
Afro-Cuban music wit a touch of salsa spices the live entertainment menu tonight at 7 in the Courtyard of City Hall in the next-to-last weekly concert in the Culver City Music Festival summer series.
On the eve of the climactic 3-day weekend of live entertainment at Veterans Park for the 57th annual Fiesta La Ballona, the sounds will be purely exotic.
Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca return to Culver City, accompanied by a dynamic 10-piece band that is known for heating up ther dance floor, capturing all elements of African and Cuban music.
The world music ensemble blends African soukous and rumba with Cuban salsa.
Forget Sunshine, and Stick with the Dark
Question: Is Sunshine like a house in that it cant stand without a solid foundation?
Before getting to that, lets consider the films strong suits. Theres Danny Boyles direction, which commands beautiful imagery of space, the Sun and spaceships named Icarus. As with 28 Days Later, Boyle also displays a masterful technique that is as sensitive to the actors as to their environments, although hes prone to overdoing those lingering, self-loving shots when theres a beautiful special effect to show. Then theres the ensemble cast, which succeeds to some extent in overcoming script limitations to convey their characters personalities and the overall group chemistry.
Swingin Gypsy Jazz on the Concert Menu for Tonight
Going into the last 3 weeks of summer, the John Jorgenson Quintet performs swingin gypsy jazz this evening at 7 in the Courtyard of City Hall as part of the Culver City Music Festival.
Produced by Gary Mandell of Boulevard Music, the weekly Courtyard shows, at 9770 Culver Blvd., are presented by the Redevelopment Agency.
The Ultimate Bourne
With revelations of extraordinary rendition practices, enhanced interrogations, ever-increasing spying on just about everybody, and all the secrecy and unaccountability that comes with the package, films like The Bourne Ultimatum prove to be topically on the mark. Granted, its not a message movie. The condemnation of torture, assassination and secrecy is assumed rather than preached, giving the film an idealism that would be quaint in this day and age if it werent so sorely needed. But it does have a moral dimension to elevate the film above the usual espionage/action thriller.
Latin Rhythms Will Waft Across the Courtyard Tonight
Changing the pace sharply from the swing bands last week, the Culver City Music Festival returns exotic sounds to the makeshift stage in the Courtyard of City Hall this evening at 7.
This is the fifth of eight free Thursday night concerts on the summer schedule, produced by Gary Mandell of Boulevard Music and the city of Culver City.
Actors Gangs Resumes Its Play-in the-Park on Saturday
The National Endowment for the Arts has awarded The Actors’ Gang of Culver City $15,000 to support its second annual summer-in-the-park show for families, starting Saturday morning at 11 in Media Park.
The play is Titus the Clownicus, a very funny revenge drama.
It will run every Saturday and Sunday at 11, through Sept. 2, the day before Labor Day.
Media Park is adjacent to the Ivy Substation, the year-around indoor home of The Actors Gang.
Admission is free.
In the hands of The Actors’ Gang, Shakespeare’s bloodiest and most macabre drama becomes very entertaining family fare.
Not an Oxymoron Writer Is a Hollywood Star
Writer, film critic, producer and occasional actor Charles Champlin was honored last Friday with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. According to the press release by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, his star, at 7076 Hollywood Blvd., across the street from Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is the 2,344th star awarded to an entertainment celebrity.
After the ceremony presided over by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Leron Gubler, Champlin, along with friends, family and colleagues from the Los Angeles Times went over to Social Hollywood. At the old Hollywood Athletic Club on Sunset Boulevard, his son, Charles Jr., and the legendary producer A.C. Lyles hosted a reception and luncheon.
Swingin’ Times of the 1930s and ’40s Make a Comeback Tonight
Nostalgia takes center stage tonight at 7 in the Courtyard of City Hall.
The Culver City Music Festival offering 8 free outdoor concerts reaches the halfway mark of the summer season when two swing ensembles fill the soothingly warm early evening air with the sounds of the 1930s and ’40s.
This one is for the bobby soxers of 60 years ago.
No Reservations A Tasty Soufflé
Start with a solid romantic comedy premise. Throw in a twist by setting the story in the kitchen of a posh restaurant. Mix in a chemically reactive cast that pair lovely performances with equally lovely looks. Spice with heartfelt drama. Garnish with a cloying sauce. Serve on crisp bone-white china. Voila! A flavorful little soufflé that delivers sweet without the guilt.
I cant speak for the film of which No Reservations is a remake the German film Mostly Martha but this Hollywood fare serves the genre of romantic comedies well by delivering exactly what is expected. That it doesnt succeed in getting beyond the genre is what keeps it from being compared to a more substantial dessert. Carol Fuchs script, though very genial and witty, offers a syrupy contrast of comedy and drama that cant quite commit to either flagrant melodrama or restrained realism. Result: a dish with a slightly unbalanced mix of flavors.