360 January 9 2013 full by Skagit Publishing

Enjoy some crab, the Seahawks and music on Saturday at the Camano Center PAGE 4

Skagit Valley Herald Thursday January 9, 2014

Music

Eagle Festival

Tuning Up

From Joan Jett to Stryper, the most overlooked albums of 2013

Annual event offers something for everyone this weekend

Mia Vermillion plays Washington Sips on Saturday in La Conner

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Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

E2 - Thursday, January 9, 2014

NEW ON DVD THIS WEEK “The Following: The Complete First Season”: It was beginning to look like cable was the only place to find great drama, with shows such as “Breaking Bad” and “American Horror Story.” But Fox showed in “The Following” that there is still some creative life in the networks. Kevin Bacon stars in his first TV series, playing burned-out FBI agent Ryan Hardy. He’s on the track of an escaped killer who has a huge cult following. The thriller is the most addictive network show to come along since “Lost.” But while the mystery is as thick, it certainly isn’t confusing. This is just a smart story about the battle between good and evil. It should be your next TV addiction. “Closed Circuit”: Two barristers must defend a man accused of masterminding a bombing. Eric Bana stars. A director’s done a proper job when the simple act of bringing a pitcher of water and glasses into a room triggers thoughts of subterfuge, espionage and sinister actions. That’s what John Crowley has accomplished in his legal/ spy thriller “Closed Circuit.” His deft ability to build suspense is Hitchcockian in nature, from the explosive opening to the unexpected ending. Give partial credit to writer Steven Knight, who has created a smart tale that gets amplified by the way Crowley put the movie together. His use of footage from the array of cameras that hang over London streets adds accents to the movie’s main theme that someone is always watching. The problem is that it’s often impossible to tell who’s being watched and who’s doing the watching. “Thanks for Sharing”: Most of the story is told through Adam (Mark Ruffalo), a successful businessman who has been “sexually sober” for five years. It’s not been easy. His battle with his urges are so tough that he can’t even have a television in his room out of fear he will watch — and react — to inappropriate material. His battle has been so consuming that he’s had little time for a social life. It’s a difficult challenge to start from a point of disgust and to win over an audience. But director and co-writer Stuart Blumberg does it by telling rich and powerful stories that cast a harsh light on the realities of addiction. He shows that there’s never any true winners, just those who manage not to fail for another day.

YOUR ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION GUIDE TO WHAT’S GOING ON IN SKAGIT COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS

Upcoming movie releases Following is a partial schedule of coming movies on DVD. Release dates are subject to change:

Eagle Festival / Page 9

JAN. 7 Closed Circuit - Universal Inequality For All - Starz / Anchor Bay Runner Runner - Fox Thanks for Sharing - Lionsgate

Check out all the 2014 Skagit Eagle Festival has to offer this weekend

JAN. 14 A.C.O.D. - Paramount Blue Caprice - IFC Carrie - MGM Enough Said - Fox Fruitvale Station - Anchor Bay Lee Daniels’ The Butler - Anchor Bay Riddick - Universal Short Term 12 - New Video Group The Spectacular Now - Lionsgate 20 Feet From Stardom - Starz/Anchor Bay You’re Next - Lionsgate JAN. 21 Best Man Down - Magnolia Blue Jasmine - Sony Captain Phillips - Sony Charlie Countryman - Millennium In a World … - Sony Instructions Not Included - Lionsgate Machete Kills - Universal JAN. 28 Bad Grandpa - Paramount Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 - Sony The Fifth Estate - Disney Last Vegas - Sony Rush - Universal

Inside

FEB. 4 About Time - Universal Baggage Claim - Fox Dallas Buyers Club - Universal Free Birds - Fox Escape Plan - Summit / Lionsgate Romeo & Juliet - Fox

Phone 360-416-2135 Hand-deliver 1215 Anderson Road Mount Vernon, WA 98274

n MCT Information Services

“House of Lies: Season Two”: Don Cheadle stars in the Showtime series. “To Love and To Cherish”: Modern woman tries to keep her marriage alive. “Linsanity”: Portrait of NBA player Jeremy Lin. “Copper: Season 2”: BBC America crime drama set in the 19th century. “The Act of Killing”: Filmmakers examine a country where Indonesian death squad leaders are celebrated as heroes. “The Virginian”: Trace Adkins stars in this made-for-TV western. “Duck Dynasty: Season 4”: More adventures of the Robertsons. “Murph: The Protector”: Documentary on Navy SEAL Lieutenant Michael Murphy. n Rick Bentley, The Fresno Bee

SUBMISSIONS Email features@skagitpublishing.com, vrichardson@skagitpublishing. com (recreation items) Deadline: 5 p.m. Friday for the following Thursday edition

Mailing address P.O. Box 578 Mount Vernon, WA 98273

This Weekend...................................... 5 Overlooked albums of 2013............6-7 Get Involved........................................ 8 At the Lincoln...................................... 9 On Stage, Tuning Up......................... 11 Travel............................................12-13 Hot Tickets........................................ 14 Movies..........................................16-17 Out & About.................................18-19

Online events calendar To list your event on our website, visit goskagit.com and look for the Events Calendar on the home page HAVE A STORY IDEA? w For arts and entertainment, contact Features Editor Craig Parrish at 360-416-2135 or features@skagitpublishing.com w For recreation, contact staff writer Vince Richardson at 360-416-2181 or vrichardson@ skagitpublishing.com TO ADVERTISE 360-424-3251

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Thursday, January 9, 2014 - E3

MOVIES

14 movie titles worth waiting for in 2014 By ROGER MOORE McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Everything old is new again at this movies this year. And we’re not just talking about sequels. Hollywood has taken its “rely on established ‘brand’ names” thing to the next level. So we have a new “Hercules” (this Friday) and a new Jack Ryan (Chris Pine, “Shadow Recruit,” Jan. 17). Aaron Eckhart is a new Frankenstein (“I, Frankenstein,” Jan. 24). There’s a new “Godzilla” (May) and a new “Annie” (December) to go along with that rebooted “SpiderMan” (May) duking it out for box office supremacy with those new “X-Men” (May). And if you think about it, “Divergent” (March) could be the new “Hunger Games,” with Shailene Woodley taking a sci-fi turn to match Jennifer Lawrence’s big bow-and-arrow payday. Skipping past the almost Biblical deluge of sequels, from “Captain America” (“The Winter Soldier,” April) to “Madagascar” (“Island of Lemurs,” April), “The Hunger Games” (“Mockingjay, Part 1,” November) to “The Hobbit” (“There and Back Again,” December), ignoring even the last desperate gasp of Jim Carrey and the Farrelly Brothers (“Dumb and Dumber To,” November), there’s still a lot to look forward to on the big screen. The engaging documentaries and breakout foreign films will find their way to us more indirectly. But here are 14 titles with firmer

10) is the new farce from the “This is the End” team of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. James Franco plays a talk show host, Rogen his producer and Lizzy Caplan is the C.I.A. agent who drags them into her assassination plot. Yeah, it’ll be dark, profane and, chances are, fiercely funny. “Interstellar” (Nov. 7) is Christopher Nolan’s latest thinking-person’s sci-fi epic, about wormholes and the possibilities of where humans can once we harness them. Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain are the headliners in the cast. “Exodus” (Dec. 12) has Oscar winner Christian Bale as Moses, leading the Chosen People out of Egypt. Joel Edgerton should make a fearsome where Melissa McCarthy Ramses, and Ridley Scott cashes in on her epic 2013 at the box office, co-writing found work for his old pal Sigourney Weaver and starring in this road trip comedy about a newly (“Alien”) for this, the final unemployed, newly ditched Bible epic of the year. “Unbroken” (Dec. 25) woman who hits the road is based on the true story with her foul-mouthed, of an American Olympic hard-drinking diabetic hopeful who survives being grandma (Oscar winner Kathy Bates). If McCarthy shot down in the Pacific and imprisoned and toris still a hot commodity, this will be the comedy that tured by the Japanese. Relative unknown Jack devours the summer. O’Connell won the role, “Magic in the Moonlight” (July 26) lets Emma and Angelina Jolie (“In Stone and Hamish Linklat- the Land of Blood and Honey”) directs this film er, along with Oscar winners Colin Firth and Marcia based on Laura HillenGay Harden, get their turn brand’s best-seller. “Into the Woods” (Dec. in a Woody Allen summer 25) offers up a little Sondcomedy. heim twist on classic fairy “Gone Girl” (Oct. 3) tales, a more highbrow gives us David (“Zodiac”) “Wicked” if you will, with Fincher’s take on Gillian Flynn’s best-selling thriller songs by one of America’s greatest Broadway composabout a missing woman ers. Meryl Streep, Johnny (Rosamund Pike) and the Depp, Emily Blunt, Chris husband (Ben Affleck) everybody thinks did her in. Pine and Anna Kendrick Hitchcockian? Count on it. are the stars of this Rob Marshall musical. “The Interview” (Oct.

Chris Pine stars in “Shadow Recruit,” which opens Jan. 17.

release dates, films tempting enough to tease us through 2014: “The Monuments Men” (Feb. 7) would have gotten lost among the other Oscar contenders over Christmas. So say good-bye to its Oscar chances, but “hello” to having a potentially artsy and cerebral action film with George Clooney leading John Goodman, among others, as they try to save Europe’s cultural treasures from the Nazis and combat damage in the last days of World War II. A true story. “300: Rise of an Empire” (March 7) is not the only sequel to have history (Greco-Persian conflict) as its subtext. But this brawny, two-fisted “How the Greeks Saved Western Civilization” could have more going for it than “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” where the mutants, um, save mutant Western civilization. “Veronica Mars” (March

14) could turn out to be the ultimate expression of fandom, a paradigm-shifting movie with implications for the future of film. Fans financed Kristen Bell’s return to the character that made her famous, going outside the studio system to get something they want to see on the screen. They paid to get a movie based on a TV show about a young, (now older), sassy private investigator made. And based on the trailer, they, and the rest of us, won’t be disappointed. “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (March 7) is Wes Anderson’s latest foxtrot into “twee.” And he takes Ralph Fiennes, in a rare comic turn, with him as Fiennes plays the legendary concierge at a legendarily daffy Old World hotel. Bill Murray and Jeff Goldlum are here, of course. Angela Lansbury, too. “Noah” (March 28) could be, if we’re pessimists, this

year’s “Lone Ranger” or “John Carter” or “Battleship,” that head-scratching fiasco that seemed like a hare-brained idea from the get-go. Darren Aronofsky (“Black Swan”) directing Oscar winner Russell Crowe in a no-expensespared Biblical epic? Then again, it could be great, and Hollywood is at least trying to reach that supposedly built-in Christian film audience, as evidenced by February’s “The Son of God” and April’s “Heaven is for Real.” “The Fault in Our Stars” (June 6) is a promising summer teen romance from the writer-director of “Stuck in Love.” The always-real Shailene Woodley stars as a cancer patient who falls for a lad (Nat Wolff of “Stuck in Love”) in her support group. We’re about to find out if teenagers will show up for a date movie that’s a weeper. “Tammy” (July 2) is

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

E4 - Thursday, January 9, 2014

MOVIES

Memorable moviemaking often is the result of learning from mistakes By JOHN HORN Los Angeles Times

They are among the season’s most acclaimed directors. But if you ask the six filmmakers who participated in The Envelope’s fifth annual Directors Round Table, all would say they learned more from movies that didn’t work than from movies that did. In our conversation, the directors also talked about how some of the best scenes in their films were made up on the spot. Here are edited excerpts from our conversation with J.C. Chandor (“All Is Lost”), Paul Greengrass (“Captain Phillips”), John Lee Hancock (“Saving Mr. Banks”), Nicole Holofcener (“Enough Said”), Spike Jonze (“Her”) and Steve McQueen (“12 Years a Slave”): Q: Do you learn as much from failure as you do from success? Greengrass: You learn much, much more from failure. Q: What do you learn? Greengrass: The depths of your own inadequacy. I made a film that was a staggering failure early on. I was brought up in the British documentary tradition, and I was very comfortable there. I sort of took my first steps there and started writing and making films. But I always felt that I was wearing a suit at a wedding, do you know what I mean? It was the moment when you’re at the wedding when you’re wearing the suit and you go, “This is just not me.” And it made me resolve to create the syn-

thesis in my mind between dramatic storytelling and the traditions that I grew up with, marrying that in a way that was authentic to me. Chandor: I came from a middle-class family, had a wonderful education, had every opportunity, came out of college with some momentum and then basically went 15 years of absolute mediocrity and failure. I’d been thinking about (“Margin Call”) for about two years, but I wrote an 82-page draft over four days and it was literally my last chance. I remember halfway through the first day of shooting on that movie, I walked around and I realized that, actually, I’ve learned so much over the last 10 years of kind of flopping around. You thought it was this colossal waste of time, and now I actually know what I’m doing. Hancock: It’s like there’s great power in understanding what pleases you and embracing that. You have to know what you want to say, because there’ll be lots of people telling you, “This is good. This is right for you,” and oftentimes — almost always — it’s not. Holofcener: I feel like I keep making some similar mistakes. I guess my mistakes are the things that don’t work or scenes, and I think, “Where was my head?” and “Next time I’m never going to let this happen again. I knew something was wrong.” Why do I keep moving on when I have that sinking feeling? So I clearly don’t learn, actually. Jonze: The worst failures are when you fail yourself.

And when you fail your intention. And I feel like I’ve sort of come to realize that what success is to me is how close did I get to that initial feeling that I started with. The first movie I worked on was a movie that didn’t get made, called “Harold and the Purple Crayon.” It was a children’s film that was going to go back and forth between live action and animation. I worked on it for a year and a half, and when we finally got the plug pulled, I had this amazing sense of relief. And we took this giant purple crayon and took it up to the roof of the 12-story building we were in and just threw it off and watched it shatter in the parking lot. I had let the studio keep giving me all their anxieties of, “It’s got to be funnier.” “It’s got to be snappier dialogue.” “It’s got to be this; it’s got to be that.” And it happened millimeter by millimeter, so by the time it was a year and a half later, I realized this thing is so far away from what I wanted to do. I got to learn that lesson without making the movie I didn’t want to make. Hancock: I think that the fact that you can get a movie made is not the reason to make a movie. The fact that you must make it is the only reason to make a movie, and you fight that fight. Q: If necessity is the mother of invention, is there a specific scene in your film that was more accident than design? Greengrass: Well, the last scene of my movie came because we were shooting a different scene

on the ship that didn’t work. And the clock ticks on, and we had a hard out. We had to be off that ship at 7, and I think it was about half past 5. We were talking to the captain. We said, “Well, you know, where else?” And he said, “When he first came on (back to the ship after being held in the lifeboat), he would have gone to the infirmary.” So I said, “Can we go down there and just try something there?” It’s kind of like a last throw of the dice, really. And he said, “Yeah, sure. There’ll be a medic on duty. You can use her.” Of course, at that moment, blind panic sets in. But what happens is you stop thinking about it and you start being entirely instinctive. Q: So this is the scene with Tom Hanks in the infirmary. You have no script? You have no dialogue? And you don’t have an actor to play the nurse? And you get what is probably the most memorable scene in the movie? Greengrass: The first take it all went horribly wrong. I said to the medical officer, “Imagine it’s a training exercise. Just ignore the fact it’s Tom Hanks.” And she went white. It was all just a disaster. But you could tell just in that moment, there was something in the room that was real. Holofcener: But how did Tom get to that place of blind panic? Greengrass: We had a conversation after the first take. He said, “Oh, it just feels different here because it’s tiny. And suddenly someone’s being nice to me after weeks and weeks and

Warner Bros. Pictures via AP

Joaquin Phoenix stars in “Her.” weeks of having a gun put in my face.” And it just all poured out. Q: Steve, there are those beautiful shots that “12 Years” cinematographer Sean Bobbitt and you created of Chiwetel just standing there. Were they planned? McQueen: I don’t do shot lists, really. I feel that sometimes you have to do a little bit of tai chi within the environment where it’s almost like the camera’s on a tripod and the wind blows it this way. I mean an example of that is Chiwetel Ejiofor with a close-up — I think it’s 2 minutes and 20 seconds. We shot it in a car park, toward the end of the shoot. Q: It wasn’t even on location? McQueen: He was the character at that point. It was a minimal crew. Just natural light. There’s no noise. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted, but I knew that I wanted his face on the camera. You switch the camera on and you find it. It’s just him in his head. And it holds you. Spike, was there something in the making of “Her,” whether unplanned

or unscripted, that you said, “This is beautiful, let’s keep it in the movie”? Jonze: There’s a scene at the end of the movie where (Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson) are having this very emotional conversation. We’d shot the scene, and I was really happy with what we got. And our script supervisor said, “Well, at one point you had mentioned wanting to do this (scene) with him not saying the dialogue verbally, just thinking it and hearing his dialogue.” Even as we were shooting, it was in the back of my head, but I was like, we’ve got to move on. And I went and I said, “Joaquin, actually, hold on. Let’s not wrap.” It was this take that we just didn’t cut. We just kept rolling, and he didn’t turn away. I was just so moved by him and so grateful that everything lined up to get us that. Greengrass: Isn’t that the sort of magical paradox of filmmaking? You’re doing two entirely different things all the time. One is having a plan, the other is you listening to what the actors are feeling, what the script supervisor says to you, what the weather’s like.

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Thursday, January 9, 2014 - E5

THIS WEEKENDin the area WINTER EXHIBITIONS AT MONA New

FIBER ARTS ON DISPLAY

exhibits will open with a reception from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, and continue through March 12, at the Museum of Northwest Art, 121 S. First St., La Conner. “North American”: Film installation by Robinson Devor and Charles Mudede. Working outside the traditional narrative structure, the film installation follows a mentally exhausted airline pilot wandering through a massive public park. Visitors will experience the pilot’s journey on multiple screens. The project was filmed entirely in Seattle’s Olmstead-designed park system. Devor and Mudede will introduce their film installation before the opening reception at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. “Shoreline from the Permanent Collection”: The exhibit offers a kaleidoscope experience of color, media and composition, including artwork by Guy Anderson, Bill Brennen, Kenneth Callahan, Richard Gilkey, Paul Havas, Charles Miller, Allen Moe, Mary Randlett, Jack Stangle, Mark Tobey and Hiroshi Yamano. Curated by Lisa Young. Museum hours are noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. $8 adults, $5 seniors, $3 students, free for members and ages 11 and younger. 360-466-4446 or museum ofnwart.org.

Three new exhibits will open Saturday, Jan. 11, and continue through March 23, at the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum, 703 S. Second St., La Conner. Meet Sue Spargo and members of the Surface Design Association during a reception and tours from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. “Creating Texture”: Self-taught stitcher, quilter and artist Sue Spargo is influenced by the beautiful, colorful work of primitive craft artists around the world. Spargo’s folk art style is rich with embroidery. “Out of the Blue”: The one-of-akind artwork created by members of Whidbey Island’s Surface Design Association blend many techniques — collage, weaving, felting, beading, basketry, hand-dyed fabric and contemporary quilting. Each artist was challenged to literally or figuratively create artwork with “Out of the Blue” as its theme. “Timeless Treasures: Crazy Quilts”: Each January, the museum features a selection of crazy quilts, a craze that became popular in America around the 1880s. While some Crazies might include fans or other recognizable patterns, the style often features random-sized patches sewn onto a foundation fabric with embroidery stitches around the patch edges. Patches also often include paintings, ink work or embroidery. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Admission: $7, $5 students and military, free for members and ages 11 and younger. 360-466-4288 or laconnerquilts.org.

Crab Fest

The Camano Center’s annual Crab Fest, including a live telecast of the Seattle Seahawks playoff game, will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at 606 Arrowhead Road, Camano Island. $30, includes one whole Dungeness crab, baked potato, salad, roll, dessert, two Seahawks brews and live bluegrass music by Blueberry Hill. $25 without the brews. Only 350 tickets will be sold. 360-387-0222 or camanocenter.org.

‘OCEAN PLANKTON: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF TINY MARINE ORGANISMS Dr. Jude Apple, marine scientist at the WWU Shannon Point Marine Science Center, will speak at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, at the NWESD Building, 1601 R Ave., Anacortes. Apple will discuss what life is like in the planktonic realm. Learn about the plankton’s bizarre shapes and sizes, ways they communicate and the survival challenges these organisms face, as well as the impact marine plankton have on all of us. skagitbeaches.org.

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

E6 - Thursday, January 9, 2014

MUSIC Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

A look at 2013’s overlooked albums

“Unvarnished”

Joan Jett is at her best when she sounds angry (which is most of the time), and on “Unvarnished,” she turns her ire on two targets: reality TV and the extent to which social media has rendered nothing about many people’s lives offlimits. “Reality Mentality” takes aim at trash TV: “Wanna be a star? We’ll just lower the bar.” And on “TMI” (as in too much information), she recoils in horror about what people will post about themselves for the world to see. “Soulmates to Strangers” is a wistful look at a relationship that withered and died, while “Make It Back” starts with insecurity that ends with certainty that things are going to be all right. The prototypical toughchick-with-a-guitar, Joan Jett has always been about straight-ahead rock anthems, sweetened with just enough melody to burn them into your brain. From her teen days with the ’70s girl group The Runaways through hits like “I Hate Myself for Lovin’ You,” Jett has delivered the goods and the attitude, stood back and not cared about what people thought. I wish there were 100 Joan Jetts, but since there’s niche with his unique only one, anytime she makes an album it’s worth brand of West Coast slang and relatable stories that a serious listen. entail street wisdom, and n Wayne Parry he continued to showcase his talent in 2013 with the three-disc independent set, E-40 “The Block Brochure: Wel- “The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 4, 5 & 6.” come to the Soil 4, It’s packed with 45 songs 5 & 6” featuring T.I., Chris Brown, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz and E-40 is one of the most Young Jeezy. respected rappers in hipThe cameos are enterhop. He’s carved out a

The Associated Press

of young, female singersongwriters in Nashville who are making today’s most interesting countryinfluenced music. Like most of those songwriters, Shires isn’t getting any attention from the country radio folks, and that’s a shame. She’s at her best on songs like “Bulletproof,” “Look Like a Bird” and “Wasted and Rollin’,” infusing short storylike lyrics with a playful sense of rhythm and experimentation that should make more people take notice. n Chris Talbott

Eldar Djangirov Trio “Breakthrough”

taining, from the Ross and French Montana-assisted “Champagne” and “Put It in the Air,” featuring Mac Mall and San Quinn. But when E-40 raps on a track alone, the 46-yearold, who has delivered 20 studio albums, is top-notch. That’s certainly apparent on “What Kind of World,” where the Bay Area rapper examines a variety of topics from failed marriages to

poverty. On “Don’t Shoot the Messenger,” the hiphop veteran talks about his childhood, life’s troubles and the afterlife. E-40 is enduring. n Jonathan Landrum

Amanda Shires

“Down Fell the Doves” Amanda Shires was a big part of two albums you

shouldn’t have missed in 2013. She plays the muse — and a little bit of fiddle to boot — on husband Jason Isbell’s “Southeastern,” an album inspired by all the changes in his life spurred by his new love. A few months later, she released her own “Down Fell the Doves,” further proving she should be counted among the group

Eighty-eight keys are a handful, but when jazz pianist Eldar Djangirov holds down the sustain pedal at the end of his original composition “In Pursuit,” every note seems to linger. Like a great home-run hitter, Djangirov touches ’em all, and often. His spectacular technique has never been displayed more impressively than on “Breakthrough,” a trio album that can barely contain the many ideas at Djangirov’s fingertips. Notes rise and fall in torrents, but his playing is always headed downhill. There’s astounding rhythmic complexity, with bassist Armando Gola and drummer Ludwig Afonso joining their bandleader in more stops and starts than a car chase. Djangirov’s hardly a showboat, however. The 26-year-old Soviet emigrant tackles the Great American Songbook on Gershwin’s “Somebody Loves Me” and Berlin’s “What’ll I Do,” never straying far from the melody but squeezing plenty of beauty from both chestnuts.

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Thursday, January 9, 2014 - E7

MUSIC Elsewhere there are hints of Ravel and Prokofiev, no surprise because Djangirov also released a fine classical solo album in 2013. This is jazz rooted in Europe, rather than the blues, but there’s nothing austere or conservative about these performances. Djangirov will pause over a sumptuous chord, then bolt in pursuit of another idea. On “Breakthrough,” he swings hard — and connects. n Steven Wine

recognizable sound that has become their trademark. “Saved by Love” is a full-speed-ahead rocker fueled by tasty solos from Fox, truly one of the most underrated metal guitarists of all time, and the obligatory power ballad “The One” has the same spirit as their ’80s hit “Honestly.” n Wayne Parry

Kim Richey

“Thorn in My Heart”

Kim Richey’s latest album finds beauty in Stryper heartbreak. The lovely “No More Hell to Pay” melodies throb with sadness, and the slight twang in For 30 years now, Stryper Richey’s gentle alto adds to has been mixing solos and the ache. scripture, volume and venWhile the tempos are eration, head-banging and mostly slow on “Thorn in hallelujahs, and the ChrisMy Heart,” the music has tian rockers are at it again an appealing variety, thanks on an album that preserves to imaginative instrumentatheir classic ’80s-metal tion. Trumpet, banjo, keysound while spreading the boards, mandolin, clarinet, word to a new generation. fiddle and pedal steel take You don’t have to be a turns altering the mood. Christian to love the wallThe blend is so sparse smashing power chords, and carefully considered rapid-fire guitar solos and that on “Angels’ Share” ground-pounding drums even the bass drum plays on “No More Hell to Pay.” a pivotal role. The vocal Nor do you have to be a arrangements are distincheavy metal fan to connect tive, too, with harmonies with the band’s message. on most of the 12 songs, Most of this album is ranging from two-part to a pure, distilled Stryper, gospel chorus on “Take Me circa 1986, as a number of to the Other Side.” tracks would have been as Richey sings about at home on “To Hell With pledging allegiance, separathe Devil” as they are here. tion, parting and bouncing That’s not to say Stryper’s back. Third-rate romance is music hasn’t evolved; it the reality on “No Means most certainly has. “SymYes,” while first-rate pathy” is more complex romance is the elusive goal than anything the band has elsewhere. “Thorn in My attempted in a while. But Heart” provides a seducStryper remains true to a tive soundtrack for the sound and substance that search. made it the darling of MTV n Steven Wine during the hair-metal days. Where other bands Craig Taborn Trio would be content to play “Chants” a power chord, Michael Sweet and lead guitarist Oz A musician’s musician, Fox play dueling, harmonic riffs to create an instantly pianist Craig Taborn has

appeared on more than 70 albums as a sideman in a 20-plus-year career, working with adventurous jazz musicians from saxophonists Tim Berne, Chris Potter, James Carter and David Binney to bassists Dave Holland and Michael Formanek. He stepped into the spotlight with his stunning 2011 ECM label debut, “Avenging Angel,” a risk-taking, spontaneously composed solo piano CD on which he coaxed all kinds of sounds out of his instrument. Taborn returned in 2013 with “Chants,” a long overdue recording featuring his trio with drummer Gerald Cleaver and bassist Thomas Morgan who have developed an almost telepathic interplay after playing together for eight years. Taborn takes the jazz piano trio tradition into new territory with nine thoughtprovoking compositions on which Cleaver and Morgan go beyond the role of supportive rhythm section to play a more equal part in shaping the melody and harmonies. The centerpiece is the nearly 13-minute “All True Night/Future Perfect” that begins with a delicate piano solo that builds in intensity once Cleaver and Morgan add their voices in a piece full of shifting tempos and changing dynamics.

ol’ country boy climate dominating radio and proves that finely crafted storytelling is still the backbone of country music. The stories delve into the traditional well for country songs, like falling in love, getting intoxicated, and cheating and/or being cheated on, but she avoids sounding derivative with her emotional-plying scenes, such as the weedsmoking housewife in “Get High” or the other woman in “What’ll Keep Me Out of Heaven.” And the Morton, Wash., native is a killer hook writer with lyrics like these from “Pray to Jesus”: “We pray to Jesus and play the lotto, ’cause there ain’t but two ways we can change tomorrow.” n Kristin Hall

Holograms “Forever”

Sweden is home to some of modern music’s greatest filters, taking sounds popularized elsewhere and feeding them back to us as both tribute and something new. In this case, Holograms has taken in the music of many mostly British postpunk bands of the 1970s and ’80s — think Joy Division, New Order and early Cure — and given us something back that’s pleasingly familiar but not paint-byn Charles J. Gans numbers revere. There’s nothing mopey Brandy Clark here, as you might think “12 Stories” from that list of influences. “Forever” comes not long Brandy Clark’s debut after the quartet released album, “12 Stories,” turns its self-titled debut in 2012, the spotlight on one of the and its 10 tracks are sufwittiest, most gifted songfused with a confident, writers in country music dark energy and a dancewho’s finally getting name able groove that wipes recognition after penning away any dreariness. hits for Miranda Lambert It’s mostly elemental. and Kacey Musgraves. Initial single “Flesh and Clark’s album is a fresh Bone” opens with the breath apart from the good words “fire and stone, steel

and cold, flesh and bone” and builds to a peak that feels constructed from those raw materials. And the chorus from “Meditation” is built around the chant-shout chorus “Destruction! Destruction! Destruction!” Put on “Forever” and go find something to break.

rapid-fire lines. There are only two covers, including the closing “Monk’s Dream” on which the two pay tribute to Thelonious Monk’s percussive playing, dissonant harmonies and quirky angular melodies.

n Chris Talbott

“Melbourne”

Fred Hersch & Julian Lage “Free Flying”

n Charles J. Gans

Jackson Scott With a dash of ’60s psychedelic and a whole lot of reverb, North Carolina college dropout Jackson Scott turned in one of 2013’s most memorable albums with “Melbourne.” Scott’s laid-back rock is constructed of various elements that threaten to interrupt but eventually meld into one another. His vocals lope along and are occasionally accompanied by a blistering fuzz of guitar when things begin to simmer. “Forever never wrong, it’s only just a song,” Scott sings on the brief but addictive track “Never Ever.” That’s the only lyric, yet it somehow fits perfectly amid a crash of hi-hats as he intones it over and over again. Scott eschews anger for a more accepting approach, helping the listener feel comfortable with themes coupling hope and despair. On “Sandy,” you can hear his influences the best. The song about destructed relationships is awash with a late ’60s, early ’70s, double-handclapped cadence. It is sad stuff, sung by a guy who sounds rejuvenated from a darker place.

This exquisite chamber jazz album matches rising guitar star Julian Lage and innovative veteran pianist Fred Hersch in a series of acrobatic duets recorded live in the intimate setting of New York’s Jazz at Kitano club. Lage has the virtuoso technique and deep knowledge of jazz history to keep pace with jazz masters like Hersch and Gary Burton, appearing on the vibraphonist’s Grammynominated jazz instrumental album, “Guided Tour.” Hersch is a Grammy nominee for improvised jazz solo for “Free Flying’s” opening track, “Song Without Words #4: Duet,” which has a Bach-inspired classical feel with complex contrapuntal playing mixed with jazz improvisation. Most of the nine selections are Hersch compositions, including “Down Home,” which playfully draws from folk, blues, gospel and early jazz styles such as stride piano, and the title track on which the duo draw on Latin-flavored rhythms n Ron Harris as they play intertwining

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Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

E8 - Thursday, January 9, 2014

GET INVOLVED ART

DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR SCULPTURE EXHIBICALL FOR ARTISTS: The TION: Northwest sculptors Mount Vernon Downtown are invited to submit entries Association is developing by Jan. 31 for La Conner’s a roster of artists from all ninth annual Outdoor media interested in showSculpture Exhibition, set ing their art in downtown to begin March 8. Artists Mount Vernon galleries from Washington, Oregon, and businesses during a Idaho, Alaska and British variety of 2014 art walks. Columbia should submit Art will be displayed during digital images or slides of open hours at participattheir work for jury review. ing businesses, with a gala Several sculptures will be opening advertised in print selected for display, and the and social media. Artists city will actively promote who respond by Jan. 10 will their sale during the tworeceive first consideration year public display period. for placement in the Febru- For a prospectus, entry form ary Art/Wine Walk, “The and more information, conArt of Romance,” set for tact Lori at 360-466-3125, Tuesday, Feb. 11. For inforemail planning@townof mation, email dep.mvda@ laconner.org or visit town gmail.com. oflaconner.org. RECYCLED ART CONTEST: Entries will be accepted through Jan. 23 for the fifth annual Recycled Art Contest, set for Jan. 25-26, at the Concrete Community Center. Entries must include at least 60 percent recycled or repurposed materials and should be easily portable. Entry forms are available at Annie’s Pizza Station or Northwest Garden Bling in Grasmere Village, Concrete. Prizes will be awarded by popular vote in youth and adult categories. No entry fee. For information, entry forms and rules, call Athena at 360-708-3279 or email pizzaannieb@ netscape.net. POSTER ART CONTEST: The Mount Vernon Farmers Market seeks submissions of artwork by Jan. 25 for its 2014 poster. Artists may submit up to three images in any medium. The winning artist will receive $500. Send images in jpeg format via email to mvfarmer1@hotmail.com. Snail-mail submissions should go to P.O. Box 2053, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. mountvernon farmersmarket.org.

SHELTER BAY CHORUS: Practices are held from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m. every Thursday at the Shelter Bay Clubhouse in La Conner. New members welcome. No need to be a Shelter Bay resident. 360-466-3805.

CLOG DANCING FOR BEGINNERS: Free lesson from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by regular clog dancing from 11 a.m. to noon Thursdays, at the Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland St., Mount Vernon. No fee, no partner needed. WOMEN SING FOURFirst three lessons are free. PART HARMONY: Harmony Wear comfortable shoes. Northwest Chorus, which For information, call Rosie meets from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at 360-424-4608. every Monday at the Mount Vernon Senior Center, ON STAGE 1401 Cleveland Ave., seeks ANACORTES OPEN MIC: women who like to sing a 9:30 p.m. Thursdays, Brown cappella music. All skill levLantern Ale House, 412 els welcome. Commercial Ave., AnaCALL FOR YOUNG MUSI- cortes. 360-293-2544. CIANS: The Mount VernonOPEN MIC: Jam Night, based Fidalgo Youth Symphony offers opportunities 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Thursdays, Conway Pub & Eatery, for ages 5 to 21 to study 18611 Main St., Conway. and perform orchestral AUDITIONS 360-445-4733. music. For information, “1776: A NEW MUSIincluding tuition costs and CAL”: Auditions will be BURLINGTON OPEN rehearsal schedules, contact held from 1 to 5 p.m. Satur- Sara Fisher at 360-682-6949 MIC: 7 to 10 p.m. Saturdays, day and 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, or Anita Tatum at 360-969- North Cove Coffee, 1130 S. Jan. 11-12, at the Whidbey Burlington Blvd., Burling1681, or visit fysmusic.org. Playhouse Star Studio, 730 ton. Hosted by Daniel BurnSE Midway Blvd, Oak Harson. Rock, blues, funk, folk, DANCE bor. Parts are available for ukelele, poetry and more. FOLK DANCING: Skagit- 360-707-COVE (2683) or 23 men ages 15 to 70, and Anacortes Folkdancers two women, one age 30 to northcovecoffee.com. meet at 7 p.m. most Tues50 and the other 18 to 35. Come prepared to sing 16 days at Bayview Civic Hall, OPEN MIC MOUNT VERbars of music; an accompa- 12615 C St., Mount Vernon. NON: 9 p.m. to midnight, nist will be provided. Wear Learn to folkdance to a Wednesdays, First Street comfortable clothing as a variety of international Cabaret & Speakeasy, 612 light dance will be required. music. Instruction begins at S. First St., Mount Vernon. Bring a resume and recent 7 p.m. followed by review Ages 21 and older. No photo. The play will run and request dances until cover. 360-336-3012 or riv April 4-27. 360-679-2237 or 9:30. The first session is free, erbelledinnertheatre.com. whidbeyplayhouse.com. $3 thereafter. No partners needed. For information, RECREATION CALL FOR THEATER contact Gary or Ginny at INTERPRETIVE CENTER: VOLUNTEERS: Whidbey 360-766-6866. The Skagit River Bald Playhouse seeks a team of Eagle Interpretive Center behind-the-scenes folks BEGINNER SQUARE will be open from 10 a.m. for its April 2014 producDANCE LESSONS: 7 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and tion of the Tony-award Tuesdays, beginning Jan. Sundays through Jan. 26 at winning musical “1776” 7, at the Mount Vernon that celebrates the birth of Senior Center, 1401 Cleve- Howard Miller Steelhead our nation. Assistance is land St. Couples and singles Park, 52809 Rockport Park Road, Rockport. The center needed for set-building and welcome. First two weeks will present speakers, birddecorating, lighting, prop are free, then $4 per lesing information and guided acquisitions and costuming. son. Sponsored by the Mt. walks along the Skagit For information, contact the Baker Singles and Skagit River through the park. theater at 360- 679-2237 or Squares. 360-424-4608, 360-853-7626 or skagiteagle. email director Gaye Litka at 360-424-9675 or rosie@ whidbey995@comcast.net. valleyint.com. org.

DEEP FOREST AND EAGLE HABITAT EXPERIENCE: Enjoy guided interpretive walks and other activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, though Jan. 26, at Rockport State Park, 51905 Highway 20, Rockport. Explore eagle habitat along the river as well as a variety of indoor displays and activities for families and children. Dress for winter hiking. A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to the park. For information, call 360-853-8461 or visit parks.wa.gov/events.

THEATER YOUTH THEATRE: McIntyre Hall is offering a series of performing arts workshops for ages 6 to 12 at 2501 E. College Way, Mount Vernon. All classes will be held at 1 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are free but required and available by calling 360-416-7727, ext. 2, or by visiting mcintyrehall. org. Jan. 19: I Like to Move it!: Learn about dance and movement from the Northwest Ballet Theatre artists. Feb. 9: Let’s Play: Explore a variety of theater games and improvisational exercises with Philip Prudhomme from the Anacortes Community Theater. Feb. 23: Global Rhythm: Discover music and basic music concepts with drummer Mary Ellen Hodges using drums, shakers and other instruments. FREE ADULT ACTING CLASSES: Anacortes Community Theatre offers free acting classes for adults from 10 a.m. to noon the third Saturday each month at 918 M Ave., Anacortes. Classes include scripted scenes and a variety of acting games, with a different topic each month. Each class is independent, so you don’t have to commit to

every session. 360-840-0089 or acttheatre.com. IMPROV WORKSHOP: Experience the art of improvisation from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 1308 E St., Bellingham. Build self-confidence, spontaneity, community and more through games, exercises and storytelling. Free. 360-756-0756 or improvplayworks.com.

WORKSHOPS MAKE A TUTU: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, An Artisan Craft Co-op, 808 Metcalf St., SedroWoolley. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. 360-618-3695. S-W PHOTO WORKSHOPS: Nationally known scenic photographer Andy Porter will offer photography workshops at the Sedro-Woolley Chamber of Commerce, 714-B Metcalf St., Sedro-Woolley. Bring your camera and instruction book to class. Point and Shoot Camera: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, or Thursday, Jan. 30. Digital SLR Camera: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, or Wednesday, Jan. 29. $25 per class, payable by cash or check. RSVP: 360809-0661 or email andyport erphotography@gmail. com. IMPRESSIONIST GARDEN PHOTOGRAPHY: 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 25, Christianson’s Nursery, 15806 Best Road, Mount Vernon. Photographers of all levels can learn how to “paint with their camera,” using shutter speed to reveal flows of motion and form not otherwise noticed or recordable with automatic camera settings. $8. RSVP: 360-466-3821.

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

Thursday, January 9, 2014 - E9

2014 Skagit Eagle Festival activities, Jan. 11-12 The 2014 Skagit Eagle Festival takes place every weekend during January, in and around Concrete, Rockport and Marblemount. Enjoy indoor and outdoor activities including eagle watching, free tours, walks and educational programs, arts and crafts, wine tasting, river rafting, music, dance and more. Bring your camera and dress for unpredictable January weather. For the latest information, contact the Concrete Chamber of Commerce at 360-853-8784 or visit skagiteaglefestival.com.

AT THE LINCOLN THEATRE 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon 360-336-8955 n www.lincolntheatre.org

‘About Time’

7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Jan. 10-11 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13

Saturday only

Hatchery are offered by Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group from 11 HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR BIRD NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY, a.m. to 2 p.m. at 8319 Fish Hatchery PHOTOGRAPHY: 10 to 11 a.m., ConSTORYTELLING, MUSIC & MORE: 10 Road, Marblemount. Learn about crete Theatre, 45920 Main St., Cona.m. to 5 p.m., Marblemount Comthe life cycle of salmon and other crete. Learn how to photograph the munity Hall, 60055 Highway 20, migratory bird of Skagit Valley. Free. Marblemount. Enjoy local and natu- wildlife through guided and selfguided tours. 360-336-0172, ext. 304 360-941-0403 or concrete-theatre.com. ral arts and crafts, bake sale and fry or skagitfisheries.org. bread tacos. DEEP FOREST TOURS: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: Sockeye Saga puppet EAGLE INTERPRETIVE CENTER: 2 p.m., Rockport State Park, 51095 show. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Skagit River Bald Highway 20, Rockport. Enjoy a 3012:30 p.m.: Rosie James, storyEagle Interpretive Center, Howard to 60-minute tour deep into some of teller and drummer. Miller Steelhead Park, 52809 Rockthe 670 acres of old-growth forest at 2 p.m.: Peter Ali, Native flutist. port Park Road, Rockport. Learn Rockport State Park at the foot of 3:30 p.m.: Paul “Che oke ten” about eagles, watershed issues and Sauk Mountain. Free. Discover Pass Wagner (Saturday), Flutist and stolocal natural and cultural history or $10 day-use fee required to access ryteller; JP Falcon Grady (Sunday), through guided walks and presenthe park. 360-853-8461 or rockport@ acoustic guitarist. parks.wa.gov. Free admission. Donations accept- tations. Free admission, donations appreciated. 360-853-7626 or skagiteed. 360-770-3173 or kathy_hunter@ agle.org. BLUEGRASS & BOX LUNCH: The hotmail.com. Prozac Mountain Boys will perform DRIFTBOAT EAGLE EXCURSIONS: at noon at the Concrete Theatre, EAGLE FESTIVAL INFORMATION: 45920 Main St., Concrete. Enjoy the Get free maps and visitor information Skagit River Guide Service offers a music along with a box lunch from from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Concrete three-hour tour in heated driftboats at 9:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Howard Washington Café & Bakery. $15. Chamber of Commerce, Concrete Music only: $7. 360-941-0403 or www. Center, 45821 Railroad St., Concrete. Miller Steelhead Park, 52804 Rockport Park Road, Rockport. $65. 888concrete-theatre.com. 360-853-8784 or 360-466-8754. 675-2448 or skagiteagles.com. COUNTRY HAYRIDE AND BONEAGLE WATCHER STATIONS: WINE TASTING: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., FIRE: 3 p.m., Ovenell’s Ranch, 46276 Staffed by volunteers from 10 a.m. to Eagle Haven Winery, 8243 Sims Concrete-Sauk Valley Road, Concrete. 3 p.m. at Howard Miller Steelhead Take a hayride through 250 acres of Park in Rockport and at the Marble- Road, Sedro-Woolley. 360-856-6248 or eaglehavenwinery.com. timber and see eagles, herons, deer, elk mount Fish Hatchery, 8319 Fish and more. Then enjoy cookies and hot Hatchery Road. Scopes and binocuEAGLE FLOAT TRIPS: Triad River drinks at the bonfire, children’s games lars available. Free. 360-854-2631. Tours offers a variety of eagle viewand historic ranch display. Activities ing float trips. Reservations required: are weather-dependent. Free. 360-853SALMON HATCHERY TOURS: 8494 or ovenells-inn.com. Free tours of the Marblemount Fish 360-510-1243 or triadrivertours.com.

Saturday and Sunday

At the age of 21, Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) discovers he can travel in time. The night after another unsatisfactory New Year party, Tim’s father (Bill Nighy) tells his son that the men in his family have always had the ability to travel through time. Tim can’t change history, but he can change what happens and has happened in his own life — so he decides to make his world a better place ... by getting a girlfriend. Moving from the Cornwall coast to London, Tim finally meets the beautiful but insecure Mary (Rachel McAdams). They fall in love, then an unfortunate time-travel incident means he’s never met her at all. So they meet for the first time again ... and again ... but finally, after a lot of cunning time-traveling, he wins her heart. Rated R. $10 general; $9 seniors, students and active military; $8 members; $7 children 12 and under. Bargain matinee prices (all shows before 6 p.m.): $8 general, $6 members, $5 children 12 and under.

NT Live: ‘Frankenstein’ 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12

National Theatre Live’s 2011 broadcast of Frankenstein returns to cinemas as part of the National Theatre’s 50th anniversary celebration. Academy Award winner Danny Boyle (“Trainspotting,” “Slumdog Millionaire”) directs a production with Benedict Cumberbatch (“Star Trek: Into Darkness,” BBC’s “Sherlock”) and Jonny Lee Miller (“Trainspotting,” CBS’s “Elementary”) alternating roles as Victor Frankenstein and his creation. Childlike in his innocence but grotesque in form, Frankenstein’s bewildered creature is cast out into a hostile universe by his horror-struck maker. Meeting with cruelty wherever he goes, the friendless creature, increasingly desperate and vengeful, determines to track down his creator and strike a terrifying deal. $15 general; $13 seniors; $11 students with $2 off for Lincoln members.

E10 Thursday, January 9, 2014

Thursday, January 9, 2014 E11

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

ON STAGE

in the Skagit Valley and surrounding area January 10-18

TUNING UP Playing at area venues January 9-16 WEDNESDAY.15 TRISH HATLEY 6 to 9 p.m., Rockfish Grill, 320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-588-1720.

Friday.10 MUSIC

Austin Jenckes: 7 p.m., Western Washington University Performing Arts Center main stage, WWU campus, Bellingham. $10, $7 WWU students. 360-650-6803 or tickets.wwu.edu.

Wednesday.15 MUSIC

Leonardo DiCaprio stars in “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Paramount Pictures via AP

Hedonistic high of ‘Wolf’ provokes debate By JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer

In “The Wolf of Wall Street,” out-of-control stock broker Jordan Belfort is initially furious when a Forbes magazine profile turns out to be a hatchet job labeling him a “twisted Robin Hood who takes from the rich and gives to himself and his merry band of brokers.” But Belfort (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) is quickly schooled on the rules of publicity. The next morning his office is overrun with rabid young brokers desperately waving resumes, dying to join his merry band. The reaction to Martin Scorsese’s portrait of Wall Street excess has been comically similar. It’s been judged by some critics and moviegoers as a glorification of unchecked greed. But the movie’s bad reputation as an orgy of drugs, sex and money

(not to mention a reportedly recordsetting 506 F-bombs) has also drawn eager crowds. In Scorsese two weeks, the film has made $63.3 million at the box office and will likely become if not an outright hit, one of Scorsese’s highest-grossing pictures. “The Wolf of Wall Street” has turned into easily the most debated film in an award season otherwise lacking much controversy, aside from some scattered fact-bending concerns. Scorsese and DiCaprio have been on damage control in recent days, defending their film as a thought-provoking portrait of decadence run amok. Nearly every film critic and countless moviegoers have

weighed in on the morality of “The Wolf of Wall Street”: whether the film enjoys Belfort’s hedonistic high a little too much, or if tapping into the thrill of self-indulgence is actually the point. “He does it because he can,” Scorsese said in an interview with The AP. “If you can do anything because you can, what are we as people? Can we easily fall into it? I think so.” The largest missive came when LA Weekly published an open letter by Christina McDowell, the daughter of a lawyer Belfort worked with, in which she described the hard realities of those victimized by the shady penny stock dealings of Belfort. “Your film is a reckless attempt at continuing to pretend that these sorts of schemes are entertaining, even as the country is reeling from yet another round of Wall Street scandals,” wrote

McDowell. To the critics of “The Wolf of Wall Street,” the nearly three-hour film fails to sufficiently judge the actions of its characters or depict the victims of Belfort’s recklessness. The Wall Street Journal’s Joe Morgenstern called the film a “hollow spectacle.” It should be noted, though, that the Journal’s dismissal might be considered a badge of honor for any movie about Wall Street. And since the movie is based on Belfort’s memoir, the former broker (who was convicted of fraud and served 22 months in prison) has profited from the making of the film. He also makes a brief cameo. The backlash, though, may be taking indignation for Belfort (who received a relatively soft sentence after giving evidence against his colleagues) and misplacing it on the movie. In an interview,

DiCaprio called the film “a biography of a scumbag.” “I understood how Jordan must have felt,” DiCaprio said. “These people idolizing you even though I’m preaching to them about screwing people over to its ultimate degree.” Much of the film focuses not just on Belfort’s rise from a lowly Long Island penny stock broker to a hugely wealthy and powerful figure, but on the panting excitement his audacity inspires. In one of the movie’s most famous scenes, one played frequently in advertisements, Jonah Hill’s character quits his job minutes after hearing how much money DiCaprio makes. The ominous concluding image of the film (spoiler alert) is of a rapt audience soaking up Belfort’s motivational speaking. More than anything, the film questions this innate allure of greed,

leaving moviegoers to question their own culpability in a system that rewards Belfort’s behavior. The New Yorker’s Richard Brody wrote: “Those who are decrying its extremes are maintaining their own innocence, protesting all too much their immunity to its temptations.” “I didn’t want to stand back and say, ‘This is bad behavior,’” says Scorsese. “It’s not for us to say, it’s for us to present. And obviously it’s bad behavior. Obviously the values are twisted and turned upside down.” It’s not every day that a 71-year-old filmmaker (whose “Goodfellas” shares much with his latest movie) releases a film that provokes like “The Wolf of Wall Street” has. Says Scorsese: “If it raises the ire of some people, that might be a good thing because it makes you think about it.”

Jazz at the Center: Miles Black Trio, 7 p.m., Camano Center, 606 Arrowhead Road, Camano Island. $20, $10 students. 360-387-0222 or camanocenter.org.

Friday.17 COMEDY

Comedy Night: Nate Jackson, 8 p.m., H2O, 314 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-755-3956 or anacortesH2O.com.

MAGIC

“Imagine”: Youth magician Elliott Hofferth, 7 p.m., Salem Lutheran Church, 2529 N. LaVenture Road, Mount Vernon. $5. Tickets available at Kids Stuff in downtown Mount Vernon or at the door. Proceeds will benefit Cub Scout Pack 4100.

SATURDAY.11 MIA VERMILLION 7:30 p.m., Washington Sips, 608 S. First St., La Conner. 360-399-1037.

THURSDAY.9

FRIDAY.10

Cheryl Hodge: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Jansen Art Center Piano Lounge, 321 Front St., Lynden. No cover. 360354-3600.

The Sardines: 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Big Lake Bar & Grill, 18247 Highway 9, Mount Vernon. 360-4226411.

Adam Miller (folksinger, storyteller): 5 p.m. Lopez Island Library, 2225 Fisherman’s Bay Road, Lopez Island. Free. 360468-2265 or lopezlibrary.org.

Tokul Road: 7:30 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/ Main, Conway. $7. 360-445-3000.

Solo Piano Night: 8:30 p.m., Edison Inn, 5829 Cains Court, Edison. 360-766-6266.

So Adult, SHORE, Girl Guts, Heavy Petting: 10 p.m., The Shakedown, 1212 N. State St., Bellingham. $5. 360-778-1067.

Jukebox Duo: 7 to 10 p.m., Mount Vernon Elks, 2120 Market St., Mount Vernon. Open to the public. 360-8488882.

SATURDAY.11 The Sardines: 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Big Lake Bar & Grill, 18247 Highway 9, Mount Vernon. 360-422-6411.

Andre Feriante: 7:30 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/ Main, Conway. $10. 360-4453000.

Saturday.18 MUSIC

Joyride: 9 p.m. to midnight, Varsity Inn, 112 N. Cherry St., Burlington. No cover. 360-755-0165.

The Randy Linder Band (high energy classic rock): 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Skagit Valley Casino Resort, Winners Lounge, 5984 N. Darrk Lane, Bow. No cover. 877-275-2448.

Scott Pemberton: 7:30 p.m., H2O, 314 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-755-3956.

Daddy Treetops: 8:30 p.m., Edison Inn, 5829 Cains Court, Edison. 360-766-6266.

1967: 9 p.m. to midnight, Longhorn Saloon & Grill, 5754 Cains Court, Edison. No cover. 360-766-6330.

SUNDAY.12 Gary B’s Church of Blues: Jam Night, 6 to 10 p.m., Conway Pub & Eatery, 18611 Main St., Conway. 360-445-4733.

Mia Vermillion (blues): 7:30 p.m., Washington Sips, 608 S. First St., La Conner. 360-399-1037.

WEDNESDAY.15 Ford Giesbrecht: 6 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. $5. 360-4453000.

File Gumbo, with Orville Johnson: 5:30 p.m., Edison Inn, 5829 Cains Court, Edison. 360-766-6266.

The Offshoots, the Ducks/Redux, Jasmine Greene: 7 p.m., The Shakedown, 1212 N. State St., Bellingham. $5. 360-778-1067.

Trish Hatley: 6 to 9 p.m., Rockfish Grill, 320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-5881720.

Biagio Biondolillo and Michael Harris: 6:30 to 8 p.m., Jansen Art Center Piano Lounge, 321 Front St., Lynden. No cover. 360-354-3600.

THURSDAY.16 Hjardar Bruun: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Jansen Art Center Piano Lounge, 321 Front St., Lynden. No cover. 360-354-3600.