Cache Magazine
‘WINTER SONGS’ USU CHOIRS PRESENT TIMELESS HOLIDAY MUSIC
The Herald Journal
DECEMBER 9-15, 2016
contents
December 9-15, 2016
COVER 6 Utah State choirs join forces for ‘Winter Songs’ at St. Thomas Aquinas
THE ARTS 3 Bar J Wranglers coming
back to the Eccles Theatre
3 Christmas concerts now
ongoing at the Tabernacle
4 ‘Matchmaker’ moves
into Caine Lyric Theatre
4 David Archuleta coming
to perform at Logan High
5 Come get a taste of
a ‘Farley Family Xmas’
5 Four Seasons presents
‘Christmas Carol: Musical’
MOVIES 8 ‘Moana’ and ‘Fantastic
Beasts’ keep on bringing in money at the box office
9 Two stars: New ‘Office
Christmas Party’ totally lacks spirit of the holidays
COLUMN 8 Faking the real news really isn’t a new thing
CALENDAR 11 See what’s happening this week in Cache Valley
The USU Women’s Choir performs “Winter Songs” Tuesday night at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish in Hyde Park. On the cover: Members of the USU Chorale sing during the annual concert by choirs from Utah State University. (Eli Lucero/Herald Journal)
FROM THE EDITOR So, it dawned on me earlier this week that I have not properly embraced the Christmas spirit this holiday season. And with Christmas quickly coming up in just a couple of weeks, I decided that I need to do something this weekend that will help me turn things up a notch before 2017 arrives. First, I obviously need to put Dean Martin’s “Christmas with Dino” in my CD player and not take it out until New Year’s Eve.
Then I need to watch at least one holiday classic on TV. That probably means my childhood favorite, “Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer” inasmuch as its supposed to be on CBS Saturday night. And finally, I really need to take in a Christmas special in person. Fortunately for me, this weekend probably represents the highpoint of the holiday season as far as Christmas-themed local events. This issue of Cache Magazine is full of entertainment options, from the Christmas concert series at the Logan Tabernacle to Four Seasons Theatre’s production of “A Christmas Carol: The Musical.” There are also a lot of upcoming events in the calendar listings on Page 11.
However, being a resident of Nibley, if nothing else, I really should make the short trip down down the street to one of Cache Valley’s most appropriate holiday traditions: the Live Nativity at the Morgan Farm. Located at 2800 S. 800 West, this year’s nativity scene will be available for view from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Satuday and Monday nights. The nativity is free, but if you go, be sure to bring along a donation for the Cache Community Food Pantry. And just so you know, you’re not likely to see any fireflies as this very popular Nibley event. — Jeff Hunter
The Herald Journal, Logan, Utah, Friday, December 9, 2016
ALL MIXED UP Wranglers ready to bring holiday cheer The ever-popular December tradition at the Ellen Eccles Theatre returns! The Bar J Wranglers — the world-famous singing cowboys from Jackson Hole — will be in Cache Calley for the 17th year in a row to perform at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. The Bar J Wranglers entertain the entire family with Western harmonies straight from the range, cowboy stories and jokes that will have you laughing in the aisles, and an evening of inspiration that will continue to lift your spirits long after the show. Tickets are available at cachearts.org, at the CacheARTS ticket office at 43 S. Main St. or by calling 752-0026. Over 30 years ago, Babe Humphrey founded the Bar J Wranglers. Now his sons, Scott and Bryan, continue the family tradition, along with Tim Hodgson, Donnie Cook and Danny Rogers. The Bar J Wranglers perform in Jackson Hole seven nights per week during the summer months, entertaining 700 people
nightly at the acclaimed Bar J Chuckwagon. “As much as we enjoy playing on our home stage, we love taking the show on the road,” says Scott Humphrey. His brother, Bryan, concurs, “It gives us another opportunity to meet with the fans, and it gives them the opportunity to share the fun of the Bar J Wranglers with their families and friends.” Babe Humphrey, who has been known to make a surprise appearance from time to time while the Wranglers are on tour, adds, “We so enjoy giving folks the opportunity to experience our authentic western show in their own home town.” The Bar J Wranglers have performed with many Western music legends such as Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and Randy Travis and have been featured on numerous television and radio programs. Leave your cares behind, sit back and unwind while spending time with the Bar J Wranglers.
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Bar J boys coming to Eccles Theatre
Bryan Humphrey and the rest of the Bar J Wranglers will perform two shows on Saturday, Dec. 17, at the Ellen Eccles Theatre.
Christmas concerts underway at Tabernacle The Logan Tabernacle Christmas Concert Series continues this week. Entitled “Tidings of Comfort & Joy,” this year’s series is free and open to the public. Concerts begin each evening at 7 p.m. at the Logan Tabernacle, 50 N. Main St. Friday, Dec. 9 — The RED Trio The RED Trio is made up of Logan High School seniors Raymond Li (viola), Emma Cardon (cello) and David Kim (violin). This dynamic ensemble has been
performing together since 2010. The RED Trio was recently chosen as a winner of the 2015-16 Cache Valley High School Chamber Music Ensemble Project to perform with the Cecilia Quartet in February 2016, and the group won that competition in 201415, performing with the prizewinning Dover Quartet in March 2015. Saturday, Dec. 10 — TUBACHRISTMAS TUBACHRISTMAS is a registered trademark of the Harvey Phillips Foundation,
founded by renowned tuba player, the late Harvey Phillips, in 1974. Annual TUBACHRISTMAS events are held in various cities throughout the United States, as well as international locations. The purpose of these events is to promote tuba and euphonium music by providing an opportunity for players of all different ages and skill levels to get together and perform Christmas music arranged specifically for those instruments. Younger players benefit from playing with older, more
experienced players. The first TUBACHRISTMAS event held in Logan was in 2009, and events have been held in Logan every year since then. Sunday, Dec. 11 — Food Pantry Benefit Concert Each year all the churches in the valley come together for a cause to present a beautiful Christmas Concert and also benefit those in need in our valley. The concert is free but donations are accepted in the form of non-perishable food items or cash. There will be a non-denominational choir that
will perform, and Gary Griffin will emcee the event. Joseph Hawkes, a Cache Valley volunteer extraordinaire, will be speaking, and Karla Axtell will be at the organ. Tuesday, Dec. 13 — Cache Children’s Chorus The Cache Children’s Choir program aspires to be the best in the American choral tradition for young singers. Now in its 29th season, the program provides quality music education for the youth in three See CONCERTS on Page 11
The Herald Journal, Logan, Utah, Friday, December 9, 2016
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all mixed up ‘Best Christmas Pagaent’ comes to Old Barn The Old Barn Community Theatre in Collinston will present “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays Dec. 2-17. Evening shows begin at 7:30 p.m. with Saturday matinees starting at 2:30 p.m. Directed by Marc Jensen, “Christmas Pageant” tickets may be purchased by going to ww.oldbarn.org or by calling (435) 458-2276. The Herdmans were the worst kids in the whole history of the world. They lied and stole and smoked
cigars — even the girls — and they talked dirty and hit little kids and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain and set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s old brokendown tool house. Grace Bradley finds herself unexpectedly directing the Christmas pageant for the first time in her life, and the Herdmans, who have never been in church before and have never even heard the Christmas story, somehow have become her pageant’s main characters. It is
a disaster waiting to happen ... or is it? The church will never be the same and not just because of “the fire.” The congregation’s concept of Christmas will never quite be the same, either, after witnessing the well-known story through the fresh eyes of the Herdmans. Somehow, “the worst kids in the whole history of the world”, the first time director, and all the other kids survive all the mishaps and missteps and pull off “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”
‘Matchmaker’ at the Lyric “The Matchmaker” — the basis for the Tony Award-winning musical “Hello, Dolly!” — takes the stage Friday, Dec. 2, at the Caine Lyric Theatre. The production will begin at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2-3 and 7-10. “The Matchmaker,” written by one of America’s most beloved playwrights, Thornton Wilder, is a farcical delight set in 19th Century New York City. Ms. Dolly Levi does her best to “match” up all of the young lovers … and even perhaps herself. The situation quickly turns to utter pandemonium as everyone tries to sort through identities and relationships. Yet somehow Dolly negotiates all these complexities, bringing everything to a hysterical and happy conclusion. “I’ve never acted or directed a play by Thornton Wilder before, so I’m excited to direct this one,” said Richie Call, director of the show and assistant professor in the Caine College of the Arts at USU. “He wrote ‘The Matchmaker’ to poke fun at the style and conventions that were the norm in theater during his time. I’m very interested in it from a historical aspect of American drama.” In the 1950s, English theatrical director Tyrone Guthrie expressed interest in the play if Wilder could make some changes. The play then became a success at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland and in London’s West End before finally opening on Broadway in 1955. Tickets for “The Matchmaker” are $13 adults, $10 seniors/youth, $8 USU faculty/staff and free for USU students with ID. For more information or tickets, contact the CCA Box Office in room L101 of the Chase Fine Arts Center, call 797-8022 or visit cca.usu.edu.
Caine College of the Arts
Clarissa Boston plays Dolly Levi in the production of “Hello, Dolly!” at the Caine Lyric Theatre.
Archuleta to sing at LHS on Tuesday David Archuleta will stop in Logan on Tuesday, Dec. 13, during his Christmas Tour to perform at the newly renovated theater at Logan High School. The “American Idol” sensation from Murray will be joined by Nathan Pacheco for an evening filled with Christmas classics and originals. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the concert beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $34 to $59 and are on sale now at davidarchuleta.com. Archuleta became a star when he was just 16. In 2008, more than 30 million television viewers fell in love with his angelic voice and their 44 million votes made him runner-up in Season 7 of “American Idol.” Soon after, the young Utahan signed with Jive Records and his first single, “Crush,” debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart the week of its release. Three months later, his self-titled album, “David Archuleta” went gold, selling more than 750,000 copies in the U.S. A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Archuleta put his singing career on hiatus in 2012 in order to volunteer for a two-year stint as a full-time missionary in Santiago, Chile, at the La Misión Chile Rancagua. Archuleta returned from Chile in March 2014 eager to perform and record once again. Since his return, he‘s traveled to the Middle East to perform for U.S. troops, recorded the song “ Glorious” for “Meet The Mormons” and been busy writing songs for a new album. Pacheco is a classically trained tenor who has a passion for reaching out and uplifting people through music. In addition to being a television and recording artist, Pacheco completed his debut solo tour in 2013.
1:30 p.m. This year’s production marks the sixth anniversary of the creation of Four Seasons Theatre Company, Cache Valley’s newest community theater company. The company delights in producing highquality, family-friendly productions at a very affordable price. Tickets are $11 online at fourseasonstheatre. org. Family and group rates are also available Four Seasons Theatre Company will present “A Christmas Carol: The Musical” on select dates Dec. 2-10 in Smithfield. by calling 535-1432.
Holidays with the Farleys “A Farley Family Xmas” meets Laurel and Hardy in this hilarious mash-up of your favorite Farley family members, a sing-along and a black-and-white silent film accompanied by the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ on Dec. 9-10 at the Utah Theatre. Humorist and historian James Arrington returns to the stage to star as multiple members of the quirky Farley family, as he also interacts with a Laurel and Hardy silent film accompanied by Mike Ohman on the organ. The audience will get pulled into the gag and participate in holiday sing-along favorites in an evening of comedy and fun. Part of the holiday farce is a follow-up to the “Farley Family Reunion,” Arrington’s popular one-man show he’s been performing for more than 35 years. Arrington wrote, “The Farleys are a fabulous, fantastical, freakily funny family with Intermountain ties. I play all of the roles and treat the audience as the assembled family.” Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for youth under age 18. Tickets will be available at the Utah Theatre, 18 W. Center, the night of the show. Get tickets in advance online at theutahtheatre.org, by calling 7500300 or visiting the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre box office located in the Dansante Building at 59 S. 100 West in Logan.
Humane Society brunch
Please join us for a celebration of another great year at the Cache Humane Society. The Cache Humane Benefit Brunch will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Logan Golf & Country Club at 710 N. 1500 East. This year’s event will feature Hamilton’s Luxury Brunch Buffet, including prime rib carving station and omelet bar, a cash bar and a live and silent auction. Cost is $75 per person. To purchase tickets, email fundraising@cachehumane.org to reserve tickets for pick-up, or buy online at cachehumane. org. All proceeds from the Cache Humane Benefit will go to help shelter animals in Cache Valley. With your help, we have saved more than 1,600 companion animals so far in 2016. We’ve sent hundreds of wonderful dogs and cats into loving homes, along with a handful of rabbits, a few reptiles and a ferret named Mr. Cheese. Our affordable public clinic has spayed and neutered over 2,000 companion animals. Participation in our Youth Education Programs continues to grow, with our weekly, semester-long, Off-Leash After School program currently enrolling students for the Spring 2017 semester. Stay tuned for the 2017 Off-Leash Summer Camp schedule, with multi-day camps focused on positive animal training, careers in animal welfare and lots of play time with shelter animals For more information, visit cachehumane.org.
Parade of Gingerbread
With the holiday season here, it’s time again for the annual Parade of Gingerbread Homes in Downtown Logan. Starting on Saturday, Dec. 3 and continuing through December 31, everyone is invited to stroll downtown to vote on their favorite gingerbread creations. The event has grown into a much loved local tradition, not only for the architects who design gingerbread creations but for everyone who participates by voting on their favorite edible wonderland. This year, each architect will have a chance to win one of three $100 Grand Prizes for the “Best of Show.” The winning entries will be selected during the CVCA Gallery Walk between 6 and 9 p.m. Friday, Dec 9. Visit logandowntown.org for more information.
New Year’s Eve Dance
The New Year’s Eve Program and Dance for all Cache Valley singles 46 year old and older will be held Saturday, Dec. 31, at the LDS Logan South Stake Center at 350 W. 700 South. Musical entertainment featuring Kate Francis & Friends will begin at 7 p.m., followed by games and refreshJames Arrington will star in “A Farely Family Xmas” Dec. 9-10 at the Utah ments. Dancing will take place from 9 p.m. to midTheatre in downtown Logan. night. Admission is free.
The Herald Journal, Logan, Utah, Friday, December 9, 2016
Four Seasons Theatre Company presents the sixth annual production of a Cache Valley favorite holiday tradition, “A Christmas Carol: The Musical.” Charles Dickens’ beloved Christmas tale comes to life through music and dance Dec. 2-3, 5 and 8-10 at the Sky View High School Auditorium in Smithfield. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. with Saturday matinees beginning at
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Four Seasons presents ‘Carol’ COMING UP
USU choirs share ‘Winter Songs’ Annual Christmas concert aims to be ‘a little more traditional’
T
he Christmas season is heavily steeped in tradition, and every community develops its own holiday customs. One of Cache Valley’s annual traditions marked its 15th year Tuesday night, the “Winter Songs” performance by the combined choirs from the music department of Utah State University — the Chamber Singers, the University Chorale and the USU Women’s Choir. In recent years, including this year’s performance, the concert has called St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish its home. “It’s developed into quite a relationship between the church and the university,” Dr. Cory Evans, director of choral activities at Utah State University, said. “We do the concert free of charge, so we feel that it brings out a lot of people who wouldn’t normally hear stuff done up here at the university. And also it’s just a glorious place to sing, so we’re able to do a lot of repertoire that was perhaps composed for spaces like that and really give it a great experience for the students.” The church is a natural setting for “Winter Songs,” given that the concert aims to deliver to audiences the experience reminiscent of choirs singing in an Old World cathedral, but with some contemporary charms. “It’s a beautiful space,” Evans said. “It’s very live like the cathedrals that you would sing in in Europe, but it’s also a very warm, intimate space. So, we find it’s a great place, well, to record, for one thing, because of the great acoustics that are there. And yet the audience is able to feel that they’re not necessarily in a big, cold space, but a warm, friendly environment.”
Cache Valley, like many other places, has its fair share of holiday musical offerings that include a lot of the trappings that modern Western society has accumulated over the years, and while such extravaganzas certainly have their place, “Winter Songs” sets itself apart in a very different way. “One of the goals with this concert, there are certainly a lot of very glitzy performances through Cache Valley during the holidays, concerts with orchestras and decorations and Santa and all that kind of stuff,” Evans said. “And we try to make this one a little bit more, not subdued, because that sounds boring, but just a little more traditional, I guess you could say, and a little bit more with music that fits well in a very resonant space like (St. Thomas Aquinas). So we’ll do some early music, some Gregorian chant with a Christmas text, a lot of a cappella music that sounds so beautifully sung in a space like that.” But great acoustics and a warm atmosphere aren’t the only things St. Thomas Aquinas has to offer. “The other thing that’s so great about St. Thomas Aquinas is that it has this glorious organ, and so we’re able to do a lot of music with choir and organ that wouldn’t necessarily happen with most other venues here in Logan,” Evans noted. In addition to many traditional Christmas spiritual performances, this year’s “Winter Songs” concert also featured new arrangements, including the American premiere of “There is no Rose” by British composer Jonathan Lane, and a world premiere of “What Child is This?” arranged by USU Women’s
Choir Director Luke Shepherd. Selections from John Rutter’s “Magnificat,” performed by the University Chorale, and USU alum Brian Petersen’s rendition of “Joyfully Sing” were also on the program. “I think it went over fantastically well, Evans said. “It’s a challenge to choose music that fits the curricular requirements of a university choir, meaning stuff that’s maybe a little bit more high-browed, and then to balance that out with music that is pleasing to the audience, things that people want to hear at Christmas. And I think this year we captured a good balance between some beautifully sung new works that nobody has heard of before, but we also balanced that out with some beautiful traditional arrangements, so people left feeling that they had a great Christmas experience.” For those who missed the concert this year but would still like to hear Christmas music performed by the Chamber Singers as recorded at St. Thomas Aquinas, they have recently released a new album. “The ‘On a Cold Winter’s Night’ album features beautiful, even haunting arrangements of Christmas carols and Christmas music,” Evans said. “We feature the organ, several other instruments played by students here at the music department, and it’s a beautiful album. It’s received some national acclaim as of late, performed on some nationally syndicated radio programs that have featured it on their holiday programming these past few weeks. “On a Cold Winter’s Night,” is available either by contacting Evans by phone at 7973035 or via online music outlets like iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and YouTube.
STORY BY CHUCK NUNN • PHOTOS BY ELI LUCERO
The Chamber Singers, the University Chorale and the USU Women’s Choir joined forces for the annual “Winter Songs” concert Tuesday night at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish at Hyde Park.
The Herald Journal, Logan, Utah, Friday, December 9, 2016
I’m not sure what to think of the recent fake news scare, but I do know that 112 percent of people in over 53 states can’t recognize fake news. I don’t have any sources; everybody just knows this. According to a FOX news’ statistically supervised poll, five out of four of its viewers believe that the New York Times relies too heavily on facts. On a continuum, how fake does fake news have to be to be a problem? The news of fake news is not even new news; it has always been a part of our culture. Let’s take a look: • The National Enquirer and The
ed, or the revelation that Dick Cheney was a robot? I’m still fact checking the latter allegation. • The Onion is a favorite of most of my liberal friends. We love it because it ruthlessly makes fun of all the people we think are dumber than us which is pretty much 80 percent of the country. Oh man, those rednecks and trailer trash say the funniest things! And those stoner hippies Weekly World News have going to Burning Man are been around for decades. comedy gold. My grandparents sub • Who doesn’t delight scribed to both and based in the NASA radar reports most of their political of Santa’s sleigh flying decisions and dinner con- around the world at warp versations on them. These speed on Christmas Eve? publications made standDo you really want to flag ing in line at the grocery this as fake news when store checkout worth it. it is really just adorable Who can forget the alien cute news? Even Neil babies that Clintons adopt- Degrasse Tyson suspends
Slightly Off Center
WWW.CACHEARTS.ORG/GALLERYWALK
DENNIS HINKAMP
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Faking the news isn’t new ‘Moana’ stays his scientific-evidenceparty-pooper-persona to join in. • Are all these things fake, parody humor or outright lies? In short, what is real news? And what are we going to do about it? Well, it is free speech in the same way as Trump’s tweets are freerange, speech-like things. Free speech includes burning American flags and waving confederate flags. If I want to set up my own website and call it Off Center News You Can Use, I can. If you chose to believe anything that I blather, that is up to you. If you forward my blathering on email, share it on Facebook or reTweet it, all the better. I don’t really care if any of
in the top spot
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Audiences came back for a second helping of “Moana” and “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” this weekend. Both family-friendly films topped the postThanksgiving box office charts, with “Moana” bringing in $28.4 million and “Fantastic Beasts” earning $18.5 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. Disney’s animated “Moana,” in only its second weekend in theaters and second weekend at No. 1, has grossed $119.9 million, while Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter spinoff “Fantastic Beasts” has earned $183.5 million in three weeks. See NEWS on Page 11 Paramount’s sci-fi mindbender “Arrival” took third with $7.3 million, while the company’s
World War II spy thriller “Allied” placed fourth with $7.1 million. Disney and Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” rounded out the top five with $6.5 million, bringing its domestic total to $215.3 million. The weekend’s only new opener, the microbudget horror film “Incarnate,” fell short of modest expectations and took in only $2.6 million. The film, which stars Carice van Houten and Aaron Eckhart, was expected to earn in the $4 million range. “We are disappointed that we fell short of our goal and repeating the success of our previous releases,” BH Tilt executive John Hegeman said. “The low-cost nature of the BH Tilt films and See SPOT on Page 9
case, it requires Clay and Josh to throw a huge Christmas bash in order to woo a perspective multi-million-dollar client. There’s only one small problem, Carol has AP Photo specifically outlawed an Kate McKinnon, left, Jason Bateman, T.J. Miller and Olivia Munn share a scene from office Christmas party. “Office Christmas Party.” Uh oh! There’s nothing about CEO of Zenotek and the comedy here that she’s looking to cut jobs feels remotely genuine or right before the holidays, fun. We’re supposed to because there’s nothing believe Josh and Clay are more evil than end-ofDirector // Will Speck, Josh Gordon close, but there’s never a the-year layoffs for the Starring // Jason Bateman, Jennifer Anniston, T.J. moment where we really sake of profits. Miller, Kate McKinnon, Olivia Munn, Randall Park, get to believe them to Josh (Jason Bateman) Courtney B. Vance, Vanessa Bayer, Rob Corddry be best buds. Instead the is the company CTO and movie pinballs between Rated // R for crude sexual content and language throughout, drug use and graphic nudity Clay’s best friend. Like all sorts of distracting subplots that only add so many of these movthem to be happy no mat- in this story. Carol Vanmeaningful laughs in ies go, two dudes must stone (Jennifer Aniston) ter the cost. His sister, small doses. Most of the pull off the impossible chuckles come from Kate is the heartless, soulless to save the day. In this however, is the Grinch
★★
‘Office Christmas Party’
Spot Continued from Page 8 release model enables us to experiment and take risks, and we look forward to seeing what we can learn from this weekend for our future BH Tilt slate releases in 2017.” In limited release, the Jacqueline Kennedy biopic “Jackie,” starring Natalie Portman in one of the year’s buzziest performances, earned $275,000 from five theaters. Paul Dergarabedian, a
senior media analyst for box office tracker comScore, said that this postThanksgiving weekend is usually pretty slow. “The Thanksgiving holiday is a long, extended binge of eating food and watching lots of movies, and then this weekend is the diet. It is somewhat typical,” Dergarabedian said. The weekend overall is expected to be down about 3 percent from last year, which saw the Christmas-themed horror film “Krampus” rake in $16.3 million. The ques-
tion now is whether or not the 2016 box office will surpass last year’s record $11.135 billion. While there are still some big films on the horizon, including “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and the animated “Sing,” it remains to be seen whether or not they will compete with the lategame 2015 juggernaut of “The Force Awakens,” which earned $652 million in the last 14 days of the year. “It’s going to be a tight race,” Dergarabedian said.
McKinnon being Kate McKinnon. Sure, the movie is filled with Christmas trees, lights, holiday music and nativity scenery, but it just doesn’t feel like a Christmas movie. The one thing it promises it can’t even deliver. “Office Christmas Party” never really embraces its setting. Instead the holiday season feels tacked on, not integral to the story or its characters. Where “The Night Before” succeeded, “Office Christmas Party” falls woefully short in capturing the Christmas spirit. Sure it’s a vulgar comedy, but even those can embody holiday cheer. The thing about Christmas movies is that, if done right, they can become traditional. I couldn’t ever imagine watching “Office Christmas Party” voluntarily next holiday season. Christmas. It’s such a simple subject, but this movie treats it only as set dressing.
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The Herald Journal, Logan, Utah, Friday, December 9, 2016
The Reel Place Aaron Peck
The biggest problem with “Office Christmas Party” is that if you took “Christmas” out of the title, called it “Office Party” and set it at any other time during the year, you’d end up with the same movie. I have no qualms with raunchy Christmastime comedies. Last year’s “The Night Before” was exceptional in every way that it should’ve been. It impressed upon us the importance of the season, the importance of special feeling of spending it with the ones we love, and most important of all, the Christmas season was its heart — it’s reason for existing in the first place. That movie could not exist set in another time. That’s what makes it special. “Office Christmas Party” feels like an excuse to make an R-rated comedy and release it during the holidays. It has the stench of studio counter-programming, rather than a sincerely creative movie idea. Something that was cooked up in the marketing department even before the writers got involved. Zenotek is a high-end technology company of some sort. They sell servers, I guess. Clay Vanstone (T.J. Miller) is the Chicago branch president. His dad started the company, and now Clay oversees Zenotek exactly the way you’d expect a character played by T.J. Miller to run it. Miller basically reprises his role of Erlich Bachman from HBO’s “Silicon Valley” only nicer. Clay is a giver. He wants the best for his employees. He wants
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‘Christmas Party’ lacks holiday spirit
NEW YORK (AP) — In Hollywood’s early but rapidly solidifying awards season, two films — radically different in tone and tune — have separated themselves from the pack: “Moon-
light” and “La La Land.” “Moonlight,” Barry Jenkins’ lyrical comingof-age tale, added to its already hefty haul on Sunday, taking best picture from the Los Angeles Film Critics
Association. The group also gave best director to Jenkins, best supporting actor to Mahershala Ali and best cinematography to James Laxton. Those three awards mirrored the picks last
AP Photo
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone star in “La La Land.”
week by the LAFAA’s East Coast corollary, the New York Film Critics Circle. But the New York critics ultimately chose Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” as the year’s best film, whereas the LA critics had “La La Land” — a colorful ode to the group’s hometown — as runner-up for best picture and best director. Which film will have the edge in the coming weeks — when the more crucial industry groups begin ringing in with their awards — is an open question. “Moonlight,” which also triumphed at the Gotham Awards, is perhaps the year’s most critically celebrated film.
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Across three chapters, it follows a boy growing up black, gay and poor in Miami. But “La La Land,” starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, is only just hitting theaters (it opens Friday). It has widely been seen as the best-picture front-runner since winning the audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival. While “Moonlight” is bracingly intimate, the song-and-dance “La La Land” is a starry, show-stopping crowdpleaser. “La La Land” is also likely to dominate in sheer number of nomination, thanks to its lead performances, high-level of craft
and original songs. It was honored by the LA critics for the musical work of Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The only film that has rivaled either in the early awards is Kenneth Lonergan’s “Manchester by the Sea.” The National Board of Review bestowed its top award on the New England drama, and the film’s star, Casey Affleck, has been the most common pick so far. (The LA critics, however, went with Adam Driver for Jim Jarmusch’s “Paterson.”) And despite a crowded best-actress field, including Stone for “La La Land” and Natalie Portman for “Jackie,” the early favorite has been French actress Isabelle Huppert, star of both “Elle” and “Things to Come.” She was the choice of the LA and New York critics, as well as the Gotham Independent Film Awards. Other films have been singled out elsewhere. The British Film Independent Awards on Sunday gave four awards to Andrea Arnold’s road-trip odyssey “American See PACK on Page 11
The ImperIal Glee Club 101ST annual ChrISTmaS ConCerT
Cache Valley’s Historic Men’s Chorus, The Imperial Glee Club, will present its 101st annual Christmas Concert on Thursday December, 15, 2016 in the Logan LDS Tabernacle. The concert will begin at 7 pm. Nicole Vander Does, a celebrated soloist, will be the special guest artist. Bring the whole family for a wonderful evening filled with music that all ages will enjoy. Admittance is free.
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660 S Main St, Logan • (435) 213-3586 M-T 11AM–9PM • F-S 11AM-10PM • S 11AM-9PM
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The Herald Journal, Logan, Utah, Friday, December 9, 2016
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‘Moonlight,’ ‘La La Land’ separate from pack
Hardware Ranch WMA offers a unique opportunity to get up close to wild Rocky Mountain elk on a horse-drawn sleigh beginning Dec. 9, and running through Feb. 27, 2017. Hardware Ranch is open Mondays and Fridays from noon to 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets are sold in the visitors center. Tickets are $5 for ages 9 and up; $3 children ages 4-8 and children 3 and under are free. Visit wildlife. utah.gov/hardwareranch for more information. The Winter Gift Market will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Bullen Center, 43 N. Main St., Logan. Devoted to showcasing the original works of local artisans and “Utah’s Own” products, this year’s market features over 35 vendors offering unique gift ideas including pottery, fabric arts, toys, jewelry, woodworking, baked goods, jam, home décor and more. Live music both days, featuring Kelin Gibbons and 3-Sons Friday, and Sassafras Folk Band, Anne Winn,
and Relic Acoustic taking the stage Saturday. Admission is free, however donations are being accepted for the Cache Community Food Pantry. The Winter Gift Market is on Facebook, Twitter (@WinterGiftMarket) or visit the website at WinterGiftMarket.com. The Cache Valley Center for the Arts Gallery Walk will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9. Join us for a stroll around Logan’s Historic Downtown area. Each Gallery Walk features fantastic art from budding young talent to world class artists. The store fronts and historic buildings of Logan’s downtown make one large art gallery for the many fascinating art pieces that are displayed. Visit cachearts.org for more information.
SATURDAY Join us for our annual Elk Festival on Saturday, Dec 10, at Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area. There are lots of free activities for the kids, fish printing, habitat ornaments, mountain men and much more. Winter rides among the elk will be running at the regular
News Continued from Page 8 it is true; I just want to get my net metrics up. • The fake news scare is now escalating to the Russian Red Scare and UFO sightings combined. It is hard to say which candidates’ fake news might have helped or destroyed the other at this point, but I think we can all
Pack Continued from Page 10 Honey,” including best film. (It also chose “Moonlight” as its best international independent film.) Next week, the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nomina-
price: $5 ages 9 and up, $3 ages 4-8, ages 3 and under are free. Visit wildlife.utah.gov/hardwareranch for more information. The Stand Together For Action symposium will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Logan Library. There will be an exchange of ideas about what can be done locally to promote human rights and environmental awareness.
MONDAY The Logan Library Monday Movie will begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, in the Jim Bridger Room. This week’s movie is “Finding Dory,” which is rated PG. Popcorn and admission is free. The First Presbyterian Chancel Choir will present “Invitation to a Miracle” — a brand-new Christmas cantata by Joseph Martin — at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, at the First Presbyterian Church, 178 W. Center St. Take time out this busy season and come listen to the telling of the Christmas story through words and music. The event is free.
agree that we are all too smart to be fooled. Are there millions, billions or trillions of bad money things happening? I don’t know, “math is relative.” I think Einstein said that. I always say that 50 percent of success is just showing up. The other two-thirds is understanding and interpreting statistics correctly. ———
Everything that Dennis Hinkamp writes is only fake-ish.
tions will be announced, likely giving the current favorites additional momentum. But a lot could still change, but the Feb. 26 Oscars are increasingly coming into view. They finally have their host, in Jimmy Kimmel, announced Monday. And in “La La Land” and “Moonlight,” the night’s finalists might already be decided, too.
TUESDAY The Cache Valley Chapter of the Utah Watercolor Society will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 13, in the Jim Bridger Room at the Logan Library. Critique will begin at 6:30 p.m.; Christmas social will start at 7 p.m. Please bring food to share and a gift to exchange. Call Nancy at 753-4286 for more information. The Mountain West String Academy’s fourth- and fifthgrade orchestra students from Logan School District will perform a Christmas concert Tuesday, Dec. 13, at Mt. Logan Middle School. At 5:30 p.m., students from Adams, Bridger and Hillcrest elementary schools will perform; a second concert will follow at 7:30 p.m. with students from Ellis, Wilson and Woodruff elementary schools.
WEDNESDAY The Cache Valley Astronomy Society invites the public to a free lecture about the Star of Bethlehem by Dr. Hollis R. Johnson, emeritus professor of astronomy at Indiana Univer-
Concerts Continued from Page 3 levels of choirs, and two levels of early childhood classes, including training in OrffSchulwork and Kodaly. Orff training is provided by Leslie Timmons, acclaimed teacher and clinician, and member of the USU music faculty. Claudia Bigler is the new director coming with over 24 years of wide experience in children’s choral direction. Members of the American Festival Chorus will also be a part of the delightful evening. Wednesday, Dec. 14 — Rock String Quartet The Rock String Quartet will again dazzle us with their accomplished abilities as they share wonderful, traditional string quartet Christmas music. Players include John Knudson (violin), Candice Kempton (violins), Jayme Dunn (viola) and Jessica Russell (cello). They have recently come together to create a new sound to string music.
sity. The program will begin at 7 p.n. Wednesday, Dec. 14, in the Bonneville Room at the Logan Library. A question and answer session will follow. Representatives from the Logan Family Search Library will make a presentation to the Cache Valley Historical Society at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Historic Cache County Courthouse. They will share methods for preserving your own as well as your ancestor’s history.
THURSDAY The Mountain Crest High School Music Department presents “Christmas Fantasy” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at the MCHS Auditorium. Will the magical toy shop help Johnny and Lissy find the perfect gift in time for Christmas? Come find out at “Christmas Fantasy,” a band/orchestra performance of Christmas music set to an imaginative story for children. Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 students/children/senior citizens; immediate family tickets are $20.
Thursday, Dec. 15 — Imperial Glee Club Cache Valley’s historic men’s chorus, The Imperial Glee Club, will be performing traditional Christmas favorites including “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “White Christmas,” “Deck the Halls,” “God Rest You Merry Gentlemen,” “Silent Night” and other stirring and inspirational selections. The Imperial Glee Club was founded with a charter of service and brotherhood in 1916 making it one of the oldest continuously performing men’s choruses in the United States. Last year the IGC celebrated its centennial season of musical service to the community. The 25-30 club members come from throughout Cache Valley and perform choral music in a wide genre including show tunes, pop and holiday music, with an emphasis on patriotic and spiritual anthems. The club annually touches hearts and lives in northern Utah and southern Idaho with concerts in a wide variety of business, civic, church, service and charitable venues.
The Herald Journal, Logan, Utah, Friday, December 9, 2016
FRIDAY
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calendar
The Herald Journal, Logan, Utah, Friday, December 9, 2016
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CrossworD By Myles Mellor and Sally York Across 1. Wind 6. Arts companion 12. Blonde shade 15. Ended an argument amicably 17. Urge on with shouts, as hounds in a hunt 18. Sharpens a knife 21. Commercial little critter with shades 24. Chinese fruit 26. ___ Annie 27. Read (over) 28. Grannies, e.g. 30. Be rife (with) 31. Princesses from Mumbai 34. Hospital cry 37. Silent or Golden 38. SA aquatic rodent 39. Dork 41. Business-card paper stock 44. One who has powers of endurance 47. More 48. Frequently 49. Do a trick like Copperfield 57. Software program, briefly 58. Limited allotment 59. Function 60. Crowbar often 62. Metric unit 63. Set down 65. Quite big 66. Like some climates 71. Swallows 73. Mexican root 74. Falls 78. “If at first you don’t succeed...” is one 81. Israeli leader 82. Spa sound 83. Collaborates 85. Miss the mark 88. Fled fast in the city, perhaps 93. ___ of words 94. Makes a blunder 95. Cuban dance
Deadlines
96. Indian Ocean part 100. So-called “royal herb” 102. Bring up the rear 104. Epoch 105. Watch for 107. Jet 111. Norse goddess of fate 112. Spills 114. Sticky stuff 116. One way to change color 117. Kind of bolt 119. Sees red, as a rabbit perhaps? 124. Churchill’s “___ Finest Hour” 125. Teachers on the side 126. Poking (into) 127. Whistle-blower 128. Be that as it may 129. House of a minister Down 1. Butter bread 2. Bamboo-eating bear 3. Cineplex ___ (theater chain) 4. Over, old way 5. Kind of nut 6. Innocent 7. Pinker 8. White, in prescriptions 9. Winter inconvenience 10. Honky ___ music 11. Shakespeare work 12. They provide holes for leather enthusiasts 13. Like Bashful 14. Trojan War hero 16. Seed 19. “I thought ___ never leave!” 20. Ooze through a crevice 22. Demilitarized ___ 23. Bygone era 25. National bird of Australia 29. Prohibited 32. Tranquil scene
33. Promise 35. Carpentry groove 36. Former division of Germany 38. Shopper’s guide 40. Typos 42. Capital of South Korea 43. Out of sync 44. Place for a treatment 45. Head of a steam hammer 46. Yodeler’s perch 47. Inky 50. Make up for 51. Grain storage container 52. Chant by some Olympic spectators 53. Slightly less than a dozen 54. ‘...where, oh, where can ____ ?’ 55. Fifth and Park, briefly 56. Do lab work 61. Legal item 64. Deep-six 66. Unhappy 67. Nanjing nanny 68. Boxer last name 69. Having wings 70. Updated subscription 72. Observant people 75. “Phooey!” 76. Hotel feature 77. Wingtips 78. Dr. Phil or Quick Draw 79. ___ and aahs 80. Tit for ___ 84. Master in old India 85. Shade tree 86. Yiddish mister (title of respect) 87. Knotted weave 89. Smidgen 90. Legal investigation 91. Fertilizer ingredient 92. Break in the action 96. Jack Sparrow expression, perhaps
97. Impostor 98. Spellbound 99. Catnip 100. Test tissue 101. Above 102. Big bang creator 103. Tooth part 106. Ancient assembly area 108. Excess paperwork 109. Blues 110. Small anchor 112. Medieval laborer 113. Shock 115. Siblings 118. Equivocate 120. Slop spot 121. __ now brown cow! 122. ___ de guerre 123. Government department
Cache Magazine calendar items are due Tuesday by 5 p.m. They will also run for free in The Herald Journal one to two days prior to the event. Calendar items can be submitted by email at hjhappen@hjnews.com. Any press releases or photos for events listed in the first half of Cache Magazine can be sent to jhunter@hjnews.com. Poems and photos can also be sent to jhunter@hjnews.com and run on a space-available basis if selected.
answers from last week
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