‘Arts’ Archives
“Hacksaw Ridge”
**** & 1/2 stars “Hacksaw Ridge” Summit Entertainment Biography/War (R) I envision climactic moments in war films going back decades; when I see soldiers coming over the threshold with guns in hand, bullets and bombs sounding all around them, as they face their enemies. War movies, such as Steven Spielberg”'s “Saving Private Ryan” (1998), Ken Annakin and Andrew Marton”'s “The Longest Day” (1962), Francis Ford Coppola”'s “Apocalypse Now” (1979), Raoul Walsh”'s “Objective, Burma” (1945), to name a few, that left me hanging on to my seat. “Hacksaw Ridge” is no different. Andrew Garfield, as Desmond Doss, a Seventh-day Adventist and a conscientious objector, feels it”'s his duty to serve in the Army during World War II except without touching a gun. Of course, this stance of refusing to carry a gun is in direct conflict with the Army”'s policy. However, Doss”' stance [...]
La Natividad Returns to Minneapolis An urgent plea to open homes, cities, the world, and hearts with love.
BY STEPHANIE ROGERS This Holiday season, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre and St. Paul”'s Evangelical Lutheran Church reprise the popular, bilingual La Natividad performance and celebration with performances from December 15 to December 22. It”'s an event that has become a tradition for many in the neighborhood, and is more relevant than ever as we look towards 2017. La Natividad is a modern-day retelling of the Nativity story, brought to life on the streets of Minneapolis. Drawing on the theatre”'s long history of collaboration, socially relevant theatre, and community participation, La Natividad frames the Christmas story within the context of a Mexican-American Immigrant experience. The pregnant Maria and her fiancé José (portrayed by both live actors and giant puppets) lead the audience along 15th Avenue in South Minneapolis. Who will offer them shelter? In a traditional Mexican Posada, actors portraying Mary and Joseph guide a [...]
“The Accountant” & “Moonlight”
** out of 5 stars “Accountant,” “R” Rating Ben Affleck”'s character Christian Wolf in “The Accountant” lives in an Airstream trailer in the hinterland where he stocks weapons, money, paintings by Renoir and Jackson Pollack (bought on the black market). He”'s involved with some nefarious organizations and some of assignments are completed by his expertise as an assassin. Christian”'s activities draw Treasury Department Director Ray King (J.K. Simmons) to track him down using unethical means by forcing a department analyst, Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addal-Robinson) to find The Accountant in one month or be exposed for serious crimes in her past. A hit man from Chris”' past Brax (Jon Bernthal) appears to be a thorn in his side. But Christian goes to Living Robotics where he meets a kindly inventor Lamar Black (John Lithgow) and his sister Jean Smart (Rita Blackburn) before Mr. Wolf starts to investigate millions of dollars [...]
