Review: “Jean Louis Forain: La Comedie Parisienne”

This current exhibit at the Dixon Museum includes over 130 works of Impressionist artist, Jean Louis Forain. This assemblage of water colors, paintings, and prints produced in partnership with Paris’ Petit Palais includes museum and private holdings. His works include numerous late nineteenth century Parisian theater scenes, periodical illustrations, war scenes, prints of biblical stories and even commercial mosaics. Of interest, is his style change and focus after his “rediscovery” of Christianity. My personal favorite is the sketch of Christ on the road to Emmaus. The exhibit will be ending October 9.

Movie Review: "Seven Days in Utopia"

A young professional golfer, Luke Chisholm, washes out during his professional debut. He unexpectedly ends up stranded on the small hill country Texas town of Utopia. There he encounters an eccentric rancher, Johnny Crawford, played by Robert Duvall. Over the period of one week, he learns about life, golf and faith. Lucas Bear gives a stellar performance in his portrayal of Luke Chisholm. Duvall, as usual, is as good as his recent roles in “Get Low” and “Second Hand Lions.” Unlike many “faith based” movies, this has a fairly good script, good production quality and great performances.

Movie Review: "Buck"

This film is basically a documentary about horse trainer Buck Brannaman. He is the inspiration for the book and movie “Horse Whisperer.” He also served as technical director to Robert Redford in the movie of the same name. I am not really a horse enthusiast, but found the movie fascinating. Buck and his brother were child prodigies in the 1960’s and 1970’s in trick roping circles. After his mother died, he and his brother were removed from their abusive father and raised by foster parents.

Horse breaking and training methods are often a result of the owner’s personality and conflicts. How Buck interacts with owners is as interesting as his almost magical way with horses.

Movie Review: "Super 8"

This movie is best described as “Goonies” meets “ET.” A group or peripubescent friends get together in a Middle American town in 1979 to make a movie about zombies. In the course of the movie making, they witness a mysterious train crash. A series of mysterious and catastrophic events follow. The child acting is superb- especially Elle Fanning. The plot is fairly predictable. Special effects are good, but are not used to carry the story line. If you’re looking for simple summer entertainment that will not shock your sensibilities, this movie is worth seeing.

Movie Review: X-Men: First Class

This latest installation of the X-Men series chronicles events leading to the formation of X-Men. The movie starts during and immediately after WWII. Charles Xavier meets the future Mystique, graduates from Oxford and then forms the collection of mutants known as X-men. The future Dynamo is discovered in a Nazi concentration camp by a Mengele type character played by Kevin Bacon.

Unlike many sequels, this film is probably the best of the series. Similar in talent, scope and story line to the latest Star Trek sequel.

Movie Review: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

This is the fourth installation of the Johnny Depp and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Jack Sparrow and his sometimes nemesis, Barbossa, embark on a quest to find Ponce de Leon’s fountain of youth. Penelope Cruz plays Blackbeard’s daughter. She and Blackbeard struggle with Captain Jack Sparrow, Barbossa and now the King of Spain for the waters of the legendary fountain.

This episode has similar elements of the original movie. Unlike the third film of the series, this film does not rely as heavily on special effects to carry the plot. There is considerably more closure at movie's end than the last movie.

Movie Review: "Hanna"

This film is an action thriller about a 16 year old girl, played by Saoirse Ronan (Atonement), who is raised by her assassin father in an isolated wilderness near the Arctic Circle. After being separated for the first time from her father, their reunion takes her on a mission across Europe. Cate Blanchett plays an evil, formidable CIA officer who is bent on the destruction of Hanna and her father. The choreography is creative and violence, which occurs often, is not vulgar.