62 San Diego Reader February 9, 2017


demands a reckoning. 2016 — M.L. ★★ (LANDMARK HILLCREST)


MOVIES


fashions them into a freeform meditation on race and America, read masterfully and mutedly by Samuel L. Jackson. The notes are just that — beginnings, asides, details, generalizations. So it’s no surprise that they tend to sound imprecise in comparison to the clips of Baldwin’s far more polished public appearances, sometimes to the point of distraction. Wait a minute... But the inchoate character of the raw material gives Peck room to move: to bring the expatriate Baldwin back to America, to carry a 20th-century writer’s thought into the 21st Century, and to emphasize the fact that, like Baldwin’s book, America’s struggle with race remains unfinished. The direction is indulgent and at times overwrought: just because Baldwin regards Doris Day as a “grotesque appeal to innocence” doesn’t mean it works to play her lovestruck crooning over the image of a lynched corpse. But even if I Am Not Your Negro is not a great movie, it does have the feel of an important cultural artifact. As Baldwin notes, he was an American — bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh — and that simple truth


Jackie — Were it not for the giant blood stain on the lower-half of her fabled pink dress – a moment director Pablo Larraín takes his sweet time revealing in a startling pullback – and constant juxtaposition next to her husband’s casket, Jackie Kennedy could have just as easily been mistaken for a stewardess aboard Air Force One. Imagine a documentary portrait of a passive character set during the four most intensely intolerable days of her life and you’ll get an idea of the kind of emotional (and cinematic) wallop Jackie packs. Larraín places his subject center frame – she’s present in just about every shot in the film – while his star, Natalie Portman, takes us through a cauterized grieving process that at times borders on the surreal. Together they trap the character on film, like a rose frozen in a block of ice. Quite unlike any biopic that’s come before, but that’s no big shock given the director’s proven track record of originality. 2016. — S.M. ★★★★ (IN WIDE RELEASE)


John Wick 2 — Keanu Reeves is back as the unretired hitman with a dead wife, a beloved pooch, and a way with guns.


Review forthcoming at sandiegoreader. com. 2017 (IN WIDE RELEASE)


La La Land — Billed as a movie lover’s dream for a reason: the eye hasn’t seen this much color on screen since Vincente Minnelli passed. The songs and musical numbers are lively, the cast attractive, all attempts to transform city streets into expressionistically lit studio backlots successful, and the ending decidedly downbeat. And there’s this five-and- a-half-minute long take that starts in search of a parked car and ends with a slow and deliberate pan over to the Hollywood Hills at twilight time that found me struggling to pick my jaw up from off the floor. Ditto a lovely romantic walking tour of the Warner Bros. lot. But, and it’s a big but, any number of the movie musicals that director Damien Chazelle references (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Band Wagon, It’s Always Fair Weather, etc.) have more depth of characterization than either Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone’s comparative stick figures are assigned. But enough grouching. This is one crowd-pleaser


worth getting behind. 2016. — S.M. ★★★ (IN WIDE RELEASE)


The Lego Batman Movie — The Lego movie franchise dips a tentative toe


FILM FESTIVALS


DON POWELL THEATRE AT SDSU 5500 Campanile Dr., SDSU Best of the Best Film Fest This two- evening program features a variety of fiction and documentary short films by the students of SDSU’s acclaimed Television, Film, and New Media Production program. Each evening features 90 minutes of new work and highlights from past festivals. Thursday, February 9, 7:30pm, Friday, February 10, 7:30pm


FLEET SCIENCE CENTER 1875 El Prado, Balboa Park 619-238-1233 The Sky Tonight: The Beautiful Winter Sky The winter sky contains many beautiful celestial visions, such as stars, planets, and even distant nebulae. Join us for a tour of the won- ders of the winter sky. Get up close to the won- ders of our universe with planetarium shows on the first Wednesday of every month. Our astronomer will take you on a journey through the cosmos and guide you into the depths of space. The San Diego County Astronomy Asso- ciation provides free telescope viewing outdoors on the Prado in Balboa Park, weather and operational requirements permitting. 7pm and 8:15pm Wednesday, February 15, 7:00pm, Wednesday, February 15, 8:15pm, Wednes- day, February 22, 7:00pm, Wednesday, February 22, 8:15pm, Wednesday, March 1, 7:00pm, Wednesday, March 1, 8:15pm


GRAUER SCHOOL


1500 South El Camino Real, Encinitas 760-944-6777


The True Cost This is a story about clothing. It’s about the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and the impact the industry is having on our world. The price of clothing has been decreasing for decades, while the human and environmental costs have grown dramatically. The True Cost is a documentary film that pulls back the curtain on the untold story and asks us to consider, who really pays the price for our clothing? Filmed in countries all over the world, from the brightest runways to the darkest slums, and featuring interviews with the worlds leading influencers including Stella McCartney, Livia Firth, and Vandana Shiva. Proceeds benefit The International Rescue Committee’s Global Educa- tion Program. Bring an item of gently used cloth- ing to donate to the Malala Fund’s Used Clothing Fundraiser. Thursday, February 16, 4:30pm


HAPPY SCIENCE SAN DIEGO, 7841 BALBOA AVE., KEARNY MESA


Japanese Anime: The Laws of the Uni- verse Five high school students at a boarding school encounter alien abduction and realize that there are some malicious aliens hiding in the school. Info: sandiego@happy-science.org or 619-381-7615. Sunday, February 12, 1:00pm


HEADQUARTERS


789 W. Harbor Dr., Downtown San Diego 619-696-0025


Valentine’s Outdoor Movie: Bonnie &


LIBERTY HALL THEATER AT PARADISE VILLAGE


2700 E. 4th St., National City


Film Discussion Class: Saboteur 75th Anniversary. Alfred Hitchcock moves at breakneck speed on this high-octane lark about an L.A. aircraft worker (Robert Cummings) ensnared in a wartime espionage plot that takes him from L.A. to the Statue of Liberty. With Pri- cilla Lane and Otto Kruger. 1942. 109 minutes. With instructor Ralph DeLauro, in Liberty Hall, on the second floor of Paradise Village Senior Living. Wednesday, February 15, 7:00pm


Clyde In the Headquarters outdoor courtyard. The former Police Headquarters makes the perfect venue to watch this 1939 love and crime classic. With free admission — all you need to bring is blankets and chairs, a few friends, or that special someone. Tuesday, February 14, 6:00pm


LAWRENCE FAMILY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER


4126 Executive Dr., La Jolla


Jewish Film Festival This is the largest Jewish cultural event in San Diego, drawing over 17,000 attendees annually. The festival presents San Diego film premieres, guest artists, and local and international filmmakers. Screenings at five locations: Clairemont Reading 14, ArcLight Cinemas in La Jolla, Carlsbad Village Theatre, David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre at the JCC, and Edwards San Marcos Stadium 18. For 2017 the festival will showcase 60 contemporary Jewish-themed films from around the world “celebrating life, human rights, and freedom of expression.” Please see website for showtimes. Thursday, February 9, 7:00pm, Friday, February 10, 7:00pm, Saturday, February 11, 7:00pm, Sunday, February 12, 7:00pm, Monday, February 13, 7:00pm, Tuesday, February 14, 7:00pm, Wednesday, February 15, 7:00pm, Thursday, February 16, 7:00pm, Friday, February 17, 7:00pm, Saturday, February 18, 7:00pm, Sunday, February 19, 7:00pm


LHOOQ/EXREALISM, 755 CARLSBAD VILLAGE DR., CARLSBAD


Inglourious Bastards In the past our movies have leaned toward the classics, serious &/or avant-garde. We are an arthouse after all, but for our first movie night of 2017 we are going with something a little more current and something we can get the full use of our great theater sound system, all while still sticking to some important contemporary social commentary. Info: lhooq. exrealism.com. Thursday, February 9, 6:00pm


MISSION VALLEY LIBRARY 2123 Fenton Parkway, Mission Valley 858-573-5007


Hemlock Society of San Diego: Still Alice The story of a linguistics professor (Julianne Moore) who develops early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. As the once-vibrant woman struggles to hang on to her sense of self for as long as possible, Alice’s three grown children must watch helplessly as their mother disap- pears more and more with each passing day. Discussion to follow: What would you do? What if you could no longer keep your job? Would you try to take your life? How? How could you make sure it would be successful? Refreshments. Info: hemlocksocietysandiego.org or 619-233- 4418. Sunday, February 19, 1:30pm


SCHULMAN AUDITORIUM AT CARLSBAD CITY LIBRARY


1775 Dove Lane, Carlsbad 760-602-2049


tion. Movie special features begin at 5:30pm Wednesday, February 15, 6:00pm


TEMPLE EMANU-EL 6299 Capri Dr., Del Cerro Film Discussion Class: To Catch a Thief Alfred Hitchcock packs along his obsessions in this cheeky diversion shot in the French Riviera. A chilly American socialite (Grace Kelly) tests a reformed jewel thief (Cary Grant) to see if The Cat still prowls. 1955. 106 minutes. With instructor Ralph DeLauro. Sponsored by Jewish Family Service. For age 60 and older. Info: 858- 637-3270. Monday, February 13, 1:00pm


UCSD PRICE CENTER 9500 Gilman Dr., UCSD 858-534-6467


Manual Cinema: Lula del Ray Employing overhead projectors, shadow puppets, actors in silhouette, and live music, Lula del Ray is the story of a lonely adolescent girl who lives with her mother on the outskirts of a vast satellite array in the middle of the desert. After a chance encounter over the radio, Lula becomes obsessed with a soulful country duo. Encour- aged by their music, she runs away from home and into a world of danger, deception, and dis- appointment. Set in the mid-century American Southwest and inspired by the music of Hank Williams, Roy Orbison, and Patsy Cline, Lula del Ray is a mythic reinvention of the classic coming-of-age story. Audience members are invited on stage post-performance to interact with the artists. Join us for Valentine’s Day Dinner at The Loft. Appetizer: strawberry and arugula salad with lemon poppyseed vinaigrette. Entrée: honey and soy-glazed salmon with mushrooms and peppers. Vegetarian option: roasted portobello mushroom over sautéed spinach and peppers. Dessert: chocolate-covered strawberries. Tuesday, February 14, 6:30pm


Foreign Film Friday: Yojimbo A crafty ronin comes to a town divided by two criminal gangs and decides to play them against each other to free the town. This event is a part of Carlsbad Reads Together, a month-long celebra- tion designed to bring community members together and engage them in discussion about the same book at the same time. 1961. Friday, February 10, 4:00pm


Carlsbad Film Series: Lost in Transla- tion Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is a past his prime actor who forms an unlikely bond after crossing paths in Tokyo with a neglected young wife (Scarlett Johansson). Both are bewildered by cultural, social, and relationship disconnect they face but friendship needs no transla-


UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO 5998 Alcalà Park, USD 619-260-4600 Border Film Week 2017 An inspiring collection of films to about the border and the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico. Films include: Juan Perros (2016), Los Reyes del pueblo que no existe (2015), Undocumented (2016), fol- lowed by panel discussions and receptions. Info: 619-260-7919. Thursday, February 9, 5:00pm, Friday, February 10, 5:00pm


USS MIDWAY MUSEUM


910 N. Harbor Dr., Downtown San Diego 619-544-9600


Casablanca Movie NIght Valentine’s day themed movie night featuring the movie Casa- blanca. There will be food and beverages avail- able for purchase, photo opts, docent-led tours, and more. Saturday, February 11, 6:30pm


into the world of skewed, brick-based iconography with a spinoff from the delightful first installment, which was more meta-commentary on the Lego Universe than anything else. Batman is a good first choice: powerful, widely known mythology, but at the same time, a comic book character. Things should get more complicated when they take on the Bible. Oh, wait. Review forthcoming at sandiegoreader.com. 2017 (IN WIDE RELEASE)


Lion — I’d be lyin’ were I to express indifference to Lion, the story of a young man who, twenty years after an unexpected trip on an decommissioned train car deposited him 1000 miles from home, uses Google Earth to reunite with his long-lost family. The task of wringing overpowering visuals out of the simple act of watching characters interface with a computer display has proved daunting to most. Screenwriter Luke Davies and director Garth Davis bypass the cliches with the greatest of ease only to be briefly set off course with a repetitive third act. How many pensive shots of a Christ- like Saroo (Dev Patel) staring into space do we need? Nicole Kidman as Patel’s adoptive mother from down under and Rooney Mara as his supportive girlfriend leave one wanting more of both. The


same can be said of five-year-old Sunny Pawar, whose work as the young Saroo deserves major attention from Awards groups. 2016. — S.M. ★★★ (IN WIDE RELEASE)


Manchester by the Sea — Some films you watch to escape from the frequently painful and/or difficult reality of life. Pacific Rim, perhaps. Some films you watch to impose a satisfactory narrative onto the seemingly random chaos of life. Casablanca, maybe. And some films you watch to enter more deeply into life — the difficulty, the chaos, all of it. Writer- director Kenneth Lonergan’s masterful Manchester by the Sea, which tells the story of a penitent exile who is asked to give up both his penance and his exile, falls into the third category. And it does so without a hint of bravado or flourish, except perhaps for a single devastating scene between the exile (Casey Affleck) and his ex-wife (Michelle Williams). But even there, everything is earned and nothing is wasted in service to anything beyond the characters themselves. Williams’ is only one of the outstanding performances surrounding Affleck; Lucas Hedges also merits mention for his portrayal of a teenager who remains recognizably human — and what’s more, recognizably himself — in the midst of adolescent grief. But it’s Affleck’s movie to quietly own as layer upon layer of Irish impassivity is stripped away from his visage until the unspeakable can be spoken. (It’s tempting to add, “Until the marble angel standing atop a tombstone is once more a man,” but that’s precisely the sort of high-flown hooey that Lonergan avoids.) 2016. — M.L. ★★★★ (IN WIDE RELEASE)


Mifune: The Last Samurai — Steven Okazaki’s matter-of-fact documentary, narrated in matter-of-fact monotone by Keanu Reeves, displays a polite reticence toward is own tantalizing premise: that noted and prolific Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune had much in common with the samurai he so frequently portrayed. To wit: a man of great discipline and power, a strong, silent type willing to work insanely hard and take great risks, in part because of his fierce loyalty to his lord — in this case, director Akira Kurosawa. Together, they made Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Yojimbo, and many other landmark films, and we learn that Mifune risked live arrows for Kurosawa, but also that he would get drunk, drive by the master’s house, and shout, “Damn you!” (How’s that for a fruitful creative tension?) After they parted ways, both foundered, and Mifune wound up a ronin, a lordless wanderer who wound up in the deserts of television, playing an imitation of himself. Martin Scorsese shows up to opine that they may have used each other up artistically, but family members can only say that they’re “not sure what happened.” All we’re left with are hints and questions, plus workaday external observations from co-workers and relatives amid a thumbnail history of Japanese cinema. Also, a host of fantastic clips from their collaborations (the film works best as an appetite stimulant for richer cinematic fare). 2016. — M.L. ★ (LANDMARK KEN)


Monster Trucks — Animator Chris Wedge’s (Ice Age, Robots) first feature with a human cast successfully mixes live action and animation to produce a family film that isn’t a monstrous trek. High school senior Tripp (Lucas Till), eager to shake the dust of his crummy little town off his feet, spends his free time combing junkyards for the parts needed to slap together a janky pickup. An accident at the local oil-drilling company releases the good-natured


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