News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Saturday December 27th 2025
La La Land
By Howard McQuitter II
For March 2017, I refer to my highly recommended movie the highly touted musical/romance/drama “La La Land” (received 14 Oscar nominations) directed by Damien Chazelle (“Whiplash” [2014]). Chazelle became the youngest Person (at age 32) to win the best director award at the Golden Globes. Only two other movies in Oscar history have received 14 nominations: “All About Eve” (1950) and “Titanic” (1997).
Chilean director Pablo Larrain was fortunate to bring two films to the silver screen in 2016: “Jackie” (about Jackie Kennedy after President Kennedy”'s assassination) and “Neruda” (high ranking senator in Chile, famous poet, flees for his life because he”'s a Communist) (Spanish in English subtitles).
And a must see film (I thought about putting it in my top 10 list), a true-to-life story about a young man during World War II who refused to carry a gun in battle but saved several dozen lives without firing a shot in intense battle scenes. That movie “Hacksaw Ridge” starring Andrew Garfield, directed by controversial Mel Gibson.
I cannot forget the sci-fi/drama “Arrival” starring the unforgettable Amy Adams, along with Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker. (Amy Adams was not nominated this year.) If there”'s an oddball film of 2016 I think one of the top of the list “The Lobster,” directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, yes, starring Colin Farrell.… Read the rest “La La Land”
Announcing the 2017 Puppet Lab Performances
By Stephanie Rogers
Week 1:Â
Chamindika Wanduragala:Â Fulfillingness”' Rebirth
Madeline Helling:Â Brothers
Friday, March 17 ”“ 7:30pm
Saturday, March 18 ”“ 7:30pm
Sunday, March 19 ”“ 2:30pm
Week 2:
Patty Gille:Â Bipolar LiteÂ
Allison Osberg:Â Mythomania
Friday, March 24 ”“ 7:30pm
Saturday, March 25 ”“ 7:30pm
Sunday, March 26 ”“ 2:30pm
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Keep citizen journalism alive!
Tony and Fidel
By Peter Molenaar
In their February 2017 issue, our friends at Southside Pride saw fit to publish an article by Tony Bouza, a former Minneapolis chief of police. In this piece, Tony fondly recalls his youthful encounter with the charismatic Fidel Castro, but sadly, at midpoint he advises: “socialism doesn”'t work.”
Before launching any rebuttal, readers should take an online look at both Tony Bouza and the editor of Southside Pride, Ed Felien. To his credit, Brother Bouza has, for many years rendered critical commentary on policing problems. Moreover, Friend Ed (the “unrepentant Maoist!”) frequently has submitted astonishing insights into the maneuvers of capitalists here and abroad. So, Tony and Ed are honorable guys.
However, according to Tony, socialism “lacks the competitiveness, greed, energy and wealth producing genius of capitalism.” Oh, wow. Regarding capitalism, let us skim from the surface the horrific genocides, the brutal enslavements, the colonial subjugations, the unjust wars”¦in order to see through to the truth! Should we disregard the systemic exploitation which ultimately produced the “1%” whose massive theft might now be repatriated in the form of toll roads and bridges for the nation? Greed is good. Right?… Read the rest “Tony and Fidel”