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Cara Recine, Lifestyles and special products editor cara.recine@thesouthern.com / ext. 5075 Brent Stewart, Section coordinator, Lifestyles writer brent.stewart@thesouthern.com / ext. 5074 Brenda Kirkpatrick, lists, live music brenda.kirkpatrick@thesouthern.com / ext. 5089 Rhonda Ethridge, cover designer rhonda.ethridge@thesouthern.com / ext. 5118 The Southern Illinoisan (USPS 258-908) is published daily at a yearly subscription rate of $178. It is published at 710 N. Illinois Ave., Carbondale, IL 62901. It is owned by Lee Enterprises of Davenport, Iowa.
INSIDE Theater . . . . . . . .3-5 Things to do . . . .4-5 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Coffeehouses . . . . .6 Live music . . . . . . .6 Music . . . . . . . 6, 8-9
Wineries . . . . . . . . .6 Cover story . . . . . . .7 Concerts . . . . . . . . .8 Country Scene . . . .9 Movies . . . . . . .10-11 Still Playing . . . . . .11
Chuck Shepherd
C
ommercial testpreparation courses are already popular for applicants to top colleges and graduate schools, and recently also for admission to prestigious private high schools and grade schools. Now, according to a November New York Times report, such courses and private coaching are increasingly important for admission to New York City’s highachiever public kindergartens, even though the applicants are just 3 and 4 years old. Basic coaching, which may cost more than $1,000, includes training a child to listen to an adult’s questions and to sit still for testing. Minimum qualification for top-shelf kindergartens are scores at the 90th percentile on the Olsat reasoning test and the Bracken School Readiness knowledge test.
Police report z In the past three years, at least 39 drivers in Dallas have been ticketed by police officers for the “offense” of being “a nonEnglish speaking driver,” according to a Dallas Morning News investigation in October. The software for officers’ in-car computers features a check-off box with the phrase, perhaps leading officers (and their sergeants) to believe it constituted a separate traffic offense rather than merely an indication that the motorist might not have understood an officer’s instructions. The police chief expressed shock at the report and
Page 2 Thursday, December 10, 2009 FLIPSIDE
promised to end the practice. z Justifiable felonies? (1) Five people were arrested in Los Angeles in October and charged with kidnapping and “torturing” two “loan modification” agents who had taken fees while promising to save their home from foreclosure but had allegedly failed to help. (2) Daniel Adler, 61, was arrested in October in Stony Point, N.Y., and charged with assault. Police said Adler had been solicited by a Sears Home Improvement telemarketer and had agreed to an appointment but that when the employee arrived, Adler allegedly punched him in the face. Adler said he had scheduled the appointment only to “advise” Sears, in person, to stop calling him. z Oops! In an October incident, an off-duty Jacksonville, Fla., sheriff’s deputy forgot to leave her service weapon outside when accompanying her mother to Shands Jacksonville hospital for an MRI. The powerful magnet sucked her Glock away in a flash, trapping the deputy’s hand between the machine and the gun. Repairs, plus the lengthy powering-down and repowering of the machine, was said to have cost the hospital $150,000.
Government in action z Google 1, FBI 0: In September, Nebraska prison guard Michal Preclik, 32 (who had been on the job for a year and had just been promoted), was discovered to be on the lam from Interpol for drug and fraud crimes in the Czech Republic. The Corrections Department’s background check, on the FBI’s National Criminal
Information Center database, had turned up nothing, but when officials subsequently Googled Preclik, the Interpol wanted poster was one of the top results. z Promoting the general welfare in Malaysia: (1) The government of the state of Terengganu initiated a campaign in November to halt the growing divorce rate by offering pre-marital classes in sensuality. Also, because newlyweds have identified spousal body odor and ugly pajamas as turn-offs, the government invited cosmetics firms and lingerie sellers to improve their offerings. (2) The chairwoman of the family and health committee of Malaysia’s Kelantan state suggested in October that male legislators should take, as additional wives (permitted under Islam), some of the 16,000 unmarried mothers now dependent on state support. z U.S. Homeland Security officials confirmed in October that an estimated 200,000 temporarily admitted foreign visitors to the U.S. since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks are still in the country illegally, with overstayed visas, and that there is still no system in place to catch them. The problem had surfaced in September when a 19-year-old Jordanian man (legally admitted on a since-expired tourist visa) was arrested and accused of plotting to blow up a Dallas skyscraper. He had been arrested two weeks before that on a traffic violation, and even though he was on an FBI watch list because of visits to a jihadist Web site, he had no immigration “record” and thus was released after
paying the traffic fine.
Democracy in action z When the DRP party candidate for president of Mexico City’s most populous borough lost in the primary this year, party officials hatched a plot to elevate a street peddler, “Juanito” Angeles, to run in the general election, with the “understanding” that he would step aside if victorious, in favor of the original candidate, Clara Brugada. Helped by his “everyman” image (according to a New York Times dispatch), Angeles won the election. However, his sudden power and celebrity apparently went to his head, and he refused to relinquish the presidency. (He finally agreed, in September, but only after receiving concessions from the party.) z Florida Democracy in Action: (1) When a Broward County Republican club held its scheduled meeting in October at a local gun range (according to a South Florida SunSentinel report), among the shooters was the congressional candidate trying to unseat the Democratic incumbent, and on his target as he fired away, someone had written the Democrat’s initials. (2) Also in Broward County in October, the father (a Democrat) of County Mayor Stacy Ritter was arrested and charged with threatening his daughter at gunpoint. The father is running for mayor of Tamarac and was upset that his daughter had endorsed his opponent. SEND ITEMS to weirdnews
@earthlink.net.
z MOVIES z POP CULTURE z MUSIC z ART z WINERIES z THEATER z THINGS TO DO z BOOKS z
The Stage Co. has a prescription for holiday blues got a lot of plays out there, and he’s not an avantgarde writer. He basically wrote many plays just his Friday begins a dealing with human life two-weekend run of and human frailty, that The Stage Co.’s production of “The Good sort of thing. So, he’s very Doctor” by Neil Simon at sellable, if you will. From a Varsity Center for the Arts business standpoint, it’s in Carbondale. something that audiences In this particular play of are attracted to. Simon’s, a favorite of The The other thing that Neil Stage Co., the playwright Simon did, most of his combines several short plays are designed for stories of Anton Chekhov fairly simple presentation, into one night. Through i.e., the sets are not the eyes of “The Writer,” complicated. So, that’s played by Kenny Collins, a why he’s quite popular— cast of 25 brings to life people like his work, they such short narratives as are simply presented, they “The Sneezer,” “The are about human life, and Seduction,” “The Drowned they are easy to produce Man,” “The Defenseless from a community theater Creature,” and “The standpoint. Arrangement.” Flipside spoke with director Lee Brackett about Simon’s work and the task of having such a large ensemble to work with. BY BRENT STEWART THE SOUTHERN
T
There’s such a huge cast and you’ve got all these vignettes, how big of a task is it to keep things together? Actually, the original Broadway production was done with only five actors. But in a community theater setting, one of the big things we strive for is public involvement. We want to get as many people involved in the theater as possible. So, I decided early on that I would go ahead and put up with the confusion and the chaos of having so many people involved to give lots of people an opportunity to be on stage.
context of Neil Simon’s plays? It’s a little bit different than what he normally writes. Well, it’s an oddball. I would assume Simon was enamored with the writing of Anton Chekhov and maybe read some of his short stories, and it gave him an idea as a playwright of how he could present it. It’s almost a little bit autobiographical. Most of Simon’s works are set in modern times in the United States, so it does stand out as something that is strikingly different for him.
Where would you place “The Good Doctor” in the
brent.stewart@thesouthern.com 618-351-5074
Why is Neil Simon a playwright that works so well for The Stage Co. and, perhaps, community theater BRENT STEWART / THE SOUTHERN in general? First of all, he wrote Kenny Collins is ‘The Writer’ in The Stage Co. production of wonderfully funny and ‘The Good Doctor.’ Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and poignant plays that Saturday and Dec. 18-19, and at 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 20 at became very famous and Varsity Center for the Arts, 418 S. Illinois Ave. in Carbondale. several of them were made Tickets are $15 and can be reserved by calling the box office at 618-549-5466 or visiting the Varsity ticket office from into Hollywood movies. 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, from noon to 4 p.m. Number one, they’re quite Saturdays. Tickets can also be purchased one hour before all famous. Number two, he performances at the box office. was very prolific, so he’s
Scrooge descends on Park Avenue HERRIN— Ebenezer Scrooge will be making an appearance in Southern Illinois this weekend, hopefully helping audience to get into the Christmas spirit. Park Avenue Productions will present
“A Christmas Carol” at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Performing Arts Center, 321 N. 13th St. in Herrin. The beloved adaptation of the Charles Dickens’ classic features the
curmudgeonly Scrooge, who is visited by three ghosts and learns the true meaning of Christmas. Admission to the show is $8. To reserve tickets, call Cynthia at 618-942-2996. — Brent Stewart
FLIPSIDE Thursday, December 10, 2009 Page 3
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‘Annie’ comes to SEMO River Campus CAPE GIRARDEAU — “Annie,” one of America’s most beloved musicals, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall in the Cultural Arts Center at Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus. In it’s 30th anniversary tour, “Annie” chronicles 11-year-old Annie’s hardknock life at a New York City orphanage under the strict rule of director Miss Hannigan. Annie is determined to find her parents, who left her with nothing but half of a silver locket and a written promise to return. Along the way, she becomes friends with Sandy, an abandoned mutt who becomes her constant companion, and wins the hearts of billionaire Oliver Warbucks and his staff. The original Broadway production of PROVIDED “Annie” won seven 1977 Tony Awards. ‘Annie’ and her dog come to Cape Girardeau Tickets may be purchased 9 a.m. to for a performance at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the River Campus Box Office in the Cultural calling 573-651-2265. — The Southern Arts Center, 518 S. Fountain St., or by
There are no boundaries to distance education courses offered by Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The Office of Distance Education offers online semester-based, print and web-based, and 2-way interactive video courses. These courses are developed and taught by SIUC faculty in the colleges of Business, Education, Liberal Arts, Agriculture, Applied Sciences and Arts, and Science. A wide range of cour ses are offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels. All distance education courses carry full SIUC academic residential credit applicable toward a degree. Students interact with the instructor via e-mail, telephone, chat rooms, discussion groups and during regularly scheduled electronic office hours. Students may register by phone, by mail, or online at www.dce.siu.edu/siuconnected. SIUC students need an advisor’s approval.
Check out these options! Individualized Learning Program (ILP) Baccalaureate completion degree in Information Systems Technologies Behavior Analysis & Therapy (BAT Online) Core Curriculum Courses Master-level courses in Workforce Education and Development University Studies - Design your own undergraduate Liberal Arts degree SIUConnected Online Semester-Based
www.dce.siu.edu/siuconnected Page 4 Thursday, December 10, 2009 FLIPSIDE
refreshments; 618-524-9321. Life of a slave: Presented Burl Ives Classics: 2 p.m. by Darrel Dexter, 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Liberty Theater, Sunday, John A. Logan 1333 Walnut St., College Library, Carterville; Murphysboro; suggested presentation on the life of donation $5; proceeds to the Harry Daugherty, who lived as restoration fund; 618-684a slave in Union County in the 5880 or murphysboro 1800s and died as a free man libertytheater@gmail.com. during the Civil War; Dexter is Stranger With A Camera: a history teacher at Egyptian 7 p.m. Monday, Maiden Alley Community School in Tamms Cinema, 112 Maiden Alley, and the author of several Paducah; film examines a books including, “Bondage in murder that took place in Egypt: Slavery and the eastern Kentucky in 1967 Underground Railroad in when a local resident shot a Southern Illinois,” which will Canadian documentary be released soon by maker who had just finished Southeast Missouri State filming poor tenants who lived University in Cape Girardeau. on the landowner’s property; question and answer session Holiday Happenings after film; 270-441-7007; www.maidenalleycinema.org. Candy Cane Lane: Drive through neighborhood decorated with Christmas History lights and holiday scenery in The Cherokee Trail of West Frankfort beginning at Tears: Presentation by Mary Main Street past the high McCorvie, archeologist, school; 5-10 p.m. Monday7:30 p.m. today, Carbondale Thursday; 5-11 p.m. FridayTownship meeting room, 217 Saturday; 5-10 p.m. Sunday; E. Main St.; overview of the through Dec. 31. Cherokee removal and a A Holiday Affair: 7-11 p.m. travelogue of the trail as it Friday, Carbondale Civic passed through Southern Center, 200 S. Illinois Ave. Illinois; McCorvie is the forest Carbondale; food, live archaeologist for Shawnee entertainment and dance; National Forest; dinner, 5:30 $20; proceeds benefit Thelma p.m., Tres Hombres, 119 N. Gibbs Walker Scholarship Washington St., Carbondale. Fund; 618-549-5302. Olde Tyme Christmas: Open House: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Fort Massac Saturday, Union County State Park, Metropolis; Museum. 119 S. Appleknocker, decorations from 1700s with Cobden; special exhibit period music and features a NOEL collection;
Films
refreshments; free; sponsored by Union County Historical and Genealogy Society; 618-893-2865. Christmas Craft Fair: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Cambria Community Center in the old Cambria School, South Richart Street; also, Fire Dept. grill: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and chili dinner, 5-8 p.m.; 618-925-2523. Homes tour: 1-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, Old Firehouse Event Center, West Frankfort; open house, 2 p.m. Sunday; $10; 618-937-2205 or 618-937-3364. Golconda Christmas: Tour of historic homes, 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Golconda; tickets and map at Golconda Pope County Museum on East Main Street for $8; Christmas in the courtyard begins at 6 p.m.; depart from museum for candlelight walk and caroling to courtyard for bonfire, hot chocolate, live nativity, cookies and Santa; 618-683-5037. Seventh Annual Christmas Bazaar: Sponsored by Union County Historical and Genealogy Society, 117 S. Appleknocker Drive, Cobden, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; new and used holiday-related items, including pre-lit trees, trim, wreaths, dinnerware, Lenox and Mikassa glassware, Dept. 56 village pieces, yard items, china and collectibles; proceeds benefit Union County Museum; 618-8932567 or 618-893-2865.
Fort Massac State Park to host ‘Olde Tyme Christmas’ The annual Fort Massac State Park Olde Tyme Christmas will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Christmas will be celebrated by a representation of the holidays throughout the history of Fort Massac. Re-enactors will be showcasing Christmas traditions of the French Colonial period, American
Revolutionary, Lewis and Clark, War of 1812 and Civil War periods in the barracks and various other areas of the fort. The Olde Tyme Christmas would not be complete without holiday music. The group Heritage will perform selections that were known to be favorites during Christmas seasons
of the 1800s. The decorations at the park are prepared each year by Fort Massac staff and Friends of Fort Massac volunteers. Hot spiced tea and homemade cookies will be served. For more information about this event, call Fort Massac State Park, 618-524-9321. — The Southern
z MOVIES z POP CULTURE z MUSIC z ART z WINERIES z THEATER z THINGS TO DO z BOOKS z Holiday Lights Fair: 5:30-9:30 p.m., Du Quoin State Fairgrounds; holiday tree display and visits with Santa; $5 per family vehicles; $8 on nights exposition hall is open; through Dec. 30; 618-314-2272 or www. duquointourism.org.
Theater The Good Doctor: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and Dec. 18-19 and 2 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 20, Varsity Center for the Arts, Carbondale; written by Neil Simon; directed by Lee Brackett; 618-549-5466; www.stagecompany.org A Christmas Carol: 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Performing Arts Center, 321 N. 13th St., Herrin; presented by Park Avenue Productions; $8; reserve tickets at 618-942-2996. The Quest: Madrigal Feaste, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Marion Junior High West Gym, 1609 W. Main St.; presented by the Marion High School Choir; $15; 618-9938196. Annie: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Southeast Missouri State University, River Campus, Cape Girardeau, Mo.; 573651-2265; www.semo.edu/ rivercampus. Cirque Dreams Illumination: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 18-19, Carson Center, Paducah; acrobats, contortionists, daredevils, musicians; $27.50-$49; 270-450-4444; www.thecarsoncenter.org. Pirates! AAAARGH!: Christmas madrigal, 3 p.m., 7 p.m. Dec. 19, Egyptian High School, Tamms; directed by Lee VanAlstine, Jane Adams and Rachel Honey; afternoon performance, wassail and dessert only, $8; evening includes dinner, $15; advance ticket purchase only; 618-776-5251. Jerry Seinfeld LIVE: 7 p.m. Jan. 8, Carson Center, Paducah; stand-up comedy; $75; 270-450-4444; www.thecarsoncenter.org.
Off the Wall: A group artist holiday exhibition, anthill gallery and vintage Do U Glass Hot Shop Holiday curiosities with the Yellow Moon Café, event: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Front Street, Cobden; through Douglass School Art Place, Sunday, Dec. 20; 618-457-7641. 900 Douglass St., Murphysboro; Renee Mavigliano: Exhibit of glassblowing demos, food, drink; paintings, Varsity Center for the Arts items for sale; 618-687-3791. Gallery, 418 S. Illinois Ave., Carbondale; through Wednesday, Dec. 30; 618-457-5100. Classes, Workshops Marilyn Boysen: Masking Nature, Little Egypt Arts Centre classes: Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Beginning photography, drawing, art 2600 E. Richmond Road, Mount history classes and more beginning Vernon; hours, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. January at 601 Tower Square, Marion; Tuesday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. register at 618-998-8530. Sunday; free; through Thursday, Student Center Craft Shop: Dec. 31; Call 618-242-1236 or go to Variety of crafts and classes offered, www.cedarhurst.org. SIUC; 618-453-3636, www.siuc Benton display: Brenda McCollum studentcenter.org. of Benton and Marlene Webb of Ewing are displaying original works in the front lobby of CASA and FREDCO, Displays, Exhibits Benton square; oil, watercolor and Karen Linduska and students: pencil mediums; through December; Fantasy Garden art quilts along with a 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday; selection of Linduska’s student’s 618-927-2804 or 618-438-0608. works, The Gallery Space at the Law George Ions: Orlandini Vineyard, Office of Joni Beth Bailey, 1008 410 Thorn Lane, Makanda; Italian Walnut St., Murphysboro; closing landscapes compliment vineyard reception, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 30; décor; through Dec. 31; 618-995-230; linduskaartquilt@galaxycable.net. www.orlandinivineyard.com; Quilts with a Kick: The National george.ions@yahoo.com. Quilt Museum, 215 Jefferson St., We 3 Small Works Show: Leaping Paducah; wall quilts; hours, 10 a.m.Trout Studio, 723 Madison St., 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; through Paducah; exhibits by Lowertown Feb. 2; 270-442-8856 or www. artists Keyth Kahrs, Wil MacKay and nationalquiltmuseum.org. William Renzulli; landscapes in oil, MFA Candidates Preview: acrylic, and watercolor; open 1-5 p.m. University Museum, SIUC; hours, Wednesday-Saturday; noon-8 p.m. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and second Saturdays; through Dec. 31; 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; through 270-441-7050. Dec. 18; free; www.museum.siu.edu. Book exhibit: “In the Beginning Around The Edges: The Pathos Was the Word: A History of the Book, and Humor of Everyday Life by 1450-1960,” Morris Library, SIUC, the cinematographer and photographer Hall of Presidents and Chancellors; Steven Poster, University Museum, presented by The Special Collections Faner Hall, SIUC; through Friday, Research Center; through December; Dec. 18; www.stevenposter.com; 618-453-2516. 618-453-5388; www.museum.siu. One World, One Family: edu. Photojournalist Darcy Kiefel, the Enduring Transience: By Paducah Beck Family Center Gallery, School of Art instructors Alison Hahn Cedarhurst, 2600 Richview Road, and John Hasegawa, The Yeiser Art Mount Vernon; traveling exhibit from Center, 200 Broadway St., Paducah; the Arkansas Arts Center in Little digital photographs by Alison Hahn Rock; Kiefel travels the world, and ceramic vessels by John photographing and writing about Hasegawa; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. TuesdayHeifer International projects which Saturday; through Saturday, Dec. 19; work to end hunger and promote 270-442-2453 or www.theyeiser.org. care for the earth; through Dec. 31;
Art Event
‘For Kids’ Sake’ art show to support schools, orphanages in Bangladesh CARBONDALE— The closing reception for the 10th annual fundraiser “For Kids’ Sake” art show, a silent auction to support schools and orphanages in Bangladesh, is from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Longbranch Coffeehouse, 100 E. Jackson St. The reception will include live entertainment and hors d’oeuvres. The fundraiser has more than 140 pieces including artwork by children from Bangladesh and Southern Illinois, as well as professional artists. The silent auction also includes products and services donated by local businesses, such as weekend getaways and theater tickets. “For Kids’ Sake” sponsors fundraising events that support more than 3,000 children in Bangladesh. All of the proceeds from the show will benefit orphanages and schools in Bangladesh. For more information, contact Shema Jamaluddin at 618-5295044 or by e-mail at forkidssake@dayemi.net. — The Southern
free; 618-242-1236 or www. cedarhurst.org. Wil Maring: Rustle Hill Winery, U.S. 51, Cobden; through Dec. 31; 618893-2700 or www.rustlehillwinery. com. WICADIA: Fiber art exhibit by Diana Wicai, Tribeca Gallery, 127 Market House Square, downtown Paducah; wall hangings, hand-woven fabrics, and wearable fiber art; through Jan. 7; plumbart@ bellsouth.net or 270-210-1753. Emily Booth: Transitions Spaces Series 09.2: Rosemary Berkel and Harry L. Crisp II Museum, Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus, Cape Girardeau; through Jan. 17; www.semo.edu/museum/ or 573-651-2260. Masters of Photography: University Museum, SIUC; highlights from the museum’s permanent collection; includes photograph of silent film siren Gloria Swanson; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; through May; free; www.museum.siu.edu. A Warrior’s Story: Oglala Sioux Buffalo Robe, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. TuesdayFriday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, University Museum, SIUC; through May; free; www.museum.siu.edu.
Remembering Old Main: 10 a.m.4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, University Museum, SIUC; through 2010; free; www.museum.siu.edu. Ongoing art exhibit: Featuring photographs of Juhree Veach, mosaics from Janet Altoff and sculpture from Tom Horn, StarView Vineyards, 5100 Wing Hill Road, Cobden; 618 893 9463 or www.starviewvineyards.com.
Receptions Richard Lawson: Central Showcase at Realty Central, 1825 W. Main St., Murdale Shopping Center, Carbondale; opening reception, 4-6 p.m., Friday; gallery hours, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday; variety of prints including hand paining of the prints; through Jan. 9; Call 618-457-4663. For Kids’ Sake Art Show: A silent auction to support schools and orphanages in Bangladesh, Longbranch Coffeehouse, 100 E. Jackson St. , Carbondale; through Friday; closing reception, 6-8 p.m. Friday; 618-529-5044 or forkidssake@dayemi.net.
See Flipside online at www.thesouthern.com/entertainment FLIPSIDE Thursday, December 10, 2009 Page 5
DIRECTIONS & DIGITS
CRAVING KARAOKE?
WEEK OF DEC. 10-16
WANT TO BE LISTED?
Karaoke and DJ lists are online at flipside online.com.
Call 618-351-5089 or e-mail brenda.kirkpatrick@thesouthern.com
Wineries Charlie Norman: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Rustle Hill Winery. Carlos Alberto: 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Blue Sky Vineyard. Larry Dillard: 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Von Jakob Orchard. Blu Caps: 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Von Jakob Vineyard. Jack Hinson: 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Rustle Hill Winery. Darling Parade: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Rustle Hill Winery. Carlos Alberto: 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Blue Sky Vineyard. Dave Caputo: 2-5 p.m., Sunday, Von Jakob Orchard. Phil & Chuck: 3-6 p.m. Sunday, Rustle Hill Winery. Blue Sky Vineyard: 3150 S. Rocky Comfort Road, Makanda; 618995-9463 or www.blueskyvineyard.com. Rustle Hill Winery: US 51, Cobden; 618-893-2700 or www.rustlehillwinery.com. Von Jakob Orchard: 230 Illinois 127, Alto Pass; 618-893-4600 or www.vonjakobvineyard.com. Von Jakob Vineyard: 1309 Sadler Road, Pomona; 618-893-4500 or www.vonjakobvineyard.com.
Coffeehouses, Cafés and Eateries Danny Amschler, Willie Geiger, Kenny Carr: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Crazy Joe’s Fish House, 693 Suchman Road, Ava; 618-7634417; no cover. Small Potatoes: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Cousin Andy’s Coffeehouse, Fellowship Hall of the Church of the Good Shepherd United Church of Christ, 515 Orchard Drive, Carbondale; www.cousinandy.org; $10 suggested donation, $5 students/low income
Page 6 Thursday, December 10, 2009 FLIPSIDE
z TONIGHT
z FRIDAY
BENTON Duncan Dance Barn: Spring Pond Band, 6:30-9:30 p.m. CARBONDALE PK’s: These Magnificent Tapeworms MOUNT VERNON The Tavern on 10th: Live Blues Trio, 7-11 p.m. WEST FRANKFORT WB Ranch Barn: Little Egypt Country Band 6:30-9:30 p.m.
z SATURDAY CARBONDALE Pinch Penny/Copper Dragon: Hairbangers Ball PK’s: Brian Martin and Andrew Anderson Tres Hombres: Sam West and the Brothers on the Sly, Brainchild, 10 p.m. MARION Black Diamond Harley Davidson: Lynn Drury, 1-3 p.m. Marion Eagles: Salty Dog, 8 p.m.midnight MCLEANSBORO McLeansboro Eagles: Southern Pride, 8 p.m.midnight
CARBONDALE Boobys: Los Ojos Rojos, 10 p.m. Pinch Penny/Copper Dragon: Mike and Joe PK’s: Napsack Problem MARION Desperado’s: Naked Turtles, 8-11:30 p.m. John Brown’s on the Square: Big Jim Slade, 8:3011:30 p.m. INA Ina Community Building: Friday Night Jam Band, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
ROYALTON Enrico’s: JJ, 10 p.m.-3 a.m. THOMPSONVILLE Lion’s Cave: Rebel Country, 7-10 p.m. Old Country Store Dance Barn: Country Sidekicks, 7-10 p.m. WHITE ASH The White Ash Barn: The Heartland Country Band, 6:30-9:30 p.m. WHITTINGTON Corner Dance Hall: Classic Country Band, 7:3010:30 p.m.
z SUNDAY MOUNT VERNON Double K’s Kickin Country: Oscar Shew and Classic Country, 7-10 p.m. z ROYALTON Enrico’s: Blackout, 10 p.m.-3 a.m. THOMPSONVILLE Lion’s Cave: Weekenders, z 7-10 p.m. Old Country Store Dance Barn: Lil’ Boot & Classic Country, 7-10 p.m. WHITTINGTON Corner Dance Hall: Nice & Easy Band, 7:3010:30 p.m. DU QUOIN z The Wet Spot: The Naked Turtles, 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
CARBONDALE Key West: Ivas John Blues Band
MARION Marion Eagles: Salty Dog, 6-10 p.m.
MONDAY HERRIN Wit and Wisdom: As Time Goes By, 7-10 p.m.
TUESDAY WEST FRANKFORT WB Ranch Barn: WB Ranch Band, 6:309:30 p.m. MOUNT VERNON Double K’s Kickin Country: Jacks R
Better, 7-10 p.m. CARBONDALE PK’s: Whistle Pigs WHITE ASH The White Ash Barn: The Heartland Country Band, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY DU QUOIN Ten Pin Alley: Piano Bob, 6-9 p.m.
Booby’s: 406 S. Illinois, Carbondale / 618-549-3366 Corner Dance Hall: 200 Franklin St., Whittington 618-303-5266 Desperado’s: 412 S. Court St., Marion, 618-751-2720. Double K’s Kickin Country: Illinois 37, Mount Vernon 618-359-0455 Duncan Dance Barn: 13545 Spring Pond Road, Benton 618-435-6161 Enrico’s: 208 S. Main St., Royalton, 618-984-2071. Herrin American Legion: 213 E. Madison St., 618-942-3313 Ina Community Building: 504 Elm St., Ina / 618-315-2373 John Brown’s on the Square: 1000 Tower Square, Marion 618-997-2909 Key West: 1108 W. Main, Carbondale / 618-351-5998 Last Call Tavern: 28143 Illinois 15, Ashley 618-485-6723 Linemen’s Lounge: 100 E. Broadway, Johnston City Lion’s Cave: South Street, Thompsonville 618-218-4888 Marion American Legion: Longstreet Road, Marion 618-997-6168 Marion Eagles: Rural Route 3, Marion / 618-993-6300 Old Country Store Dance Barn: Main Street, Thompsonville 618-923-2432 Pinch Penny Pub/Copper Dragon: 700 E. Grand, Carbondale / 618-549-3348 PK’s: 308 S. Illinois Ave., Carbondale / 618-529-1124 Steelhorse Saloon: 202 Dewmain Lane, Carterville 618-985-3549 The Tavern on 10th: 224 S. 10th St., Mount Vernon 618-244-7821 The Wet Spot: 13 S. Mulberry St., Du Quoin 618-542-2994 The White Ash Barn: 207 Potter St., White Ash 618-997-4979 Timeout Sports Bar: 200 E. Main St., Du Quoin 618-542-6000 Trackside Dance Barn: 104 Rock St., Spillertown 618-993-3035 WB Ranch Barn: 1586 Pershing Road, West Frankfort / 618-937-3718 Whisker Willy’s Bar & Grill 13510 N. Illinois 37, Marion 618-983-5300 Xrossroads: 101 Rushing Drive, Herrin 618-993-8393
Holiday movie preview! BY BRENT STEWART THE SOUTHERN
Southern Illinois hasn’t officially had its first snow, but it’s getting pretty doggone cold out there. Ideally, it might be the best time to curl up by the fire with a book or even catch one of the many holiday airings of “Christmas Vacation,” but then again, you may just need to get out of the house or find something to do while the rest of the family is out shopping.
By the end of the year, there will be several new movie releases that may make up for the last several months of stinkers. The studios usually put their best feet forward during the holiday season to get their films in the heads of Oscar voters and end up with the most nominations. So, in the next few weeks you might be looking for something to do with all the family and friends who have come into town. Here’s a pretty good tip sheet from McClatchy-Tribune News of what you might find. Keep in mind that some of these may only initially open in limited release.
Christmas season has something for everyone Dec. 25
‘Broken Embraces’ The latest collaboration between Pedro Almodovar and Penelope Cruz (so brilliantly entwined for “Volver”) is the twisty tale of a blind movie director and the woman who inspires him. ‘It’s Complicated’ Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin form a potentially delicious romantic triangle in this comedy from Nancy Meyers (“Something’s Gotta Give”). ‘The Lovely Bones’ Alice Sebold’s novel, narrated by a murdered child, comes to the screen starring Saoirse Ronan (“Atonement”), Mark Wahlberg and Rachel This week Weisz. Peter Jackson, in a dramatic departure from “The Lord of the Rings,” directs. ‘Invictus’ Clint Eastwood will turn 80 in the spring, ‘Nine’ Hold on to your fishnets — Rob Marshall but he’s still making a movie every year, and usually a (“Chicago”) is back, with singing and dancing and a good one. This drama, set in 1990s South Africa, stars Morgan Freeman (as Nelson Mandela) and Matt Damon. whopper of a cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Judi Dench, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Kate ‘Me and Orson Welles’ Richard Linklater directs this Hudson, Sophia Loren and, yes, Fergie (the singer). 1930s tale of a young man (Zac “High School ‘Sherlock Holmes’ Elementary, my dear Watson. Musical” Efron) who lucks into a role in a play Robert Downey Jr. dons the detective’s cape in Guy directed by Orson Welles. Ritchie’s period adventure, with Jude Law on hand as ‘The Princess and the Frog’ Disney’s latest foray into hand-drawn animation, set in New Orleans, the master’s sidekick. ‘A Single Man’ There’s Oscar buzz for Colin Firth in features the voices of Anika Noni Rose this tale of a professor mourning his lover in 1960s (“Dreamgirls”), Terrence Howard, John California, directed by fashion designer Tom Ford. Goodman and Oprah Winfrey. ‘Up in the Air’ George Clooney, in full-on movie-star ‘The Private Lives of Pippa Lee’ Rebecca Miller mode, plays a corporate downsizer in the new comedy wrote and directed this tale of a May-December from Jason Reitman (“Juno,” “Thank You For marriage, starring Robin Wright and Alan Arkin. Smoking”). Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick ‘Serious Moonlight’ Meg Ryan goes a bit dark, so I co-star. hear, in this comedy about a woman who takes ‘The Young Victoria’ Emily Blunt (“The Devil Wears revenge on her cheating husband (Timothy Hutton). Prada”) plays the British monarch in her early years, Cheryl Hines directs. alongside Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany and Miranda ‘The Slammin’ Salmon’ The Broken Lizard troupe Richardson. Fun fact: Fergie (the duchess) is a (“Super Troopers”) returns with a comedy set in a producer. Miami restaurant.
Dec. 18 ‘Avatar’ Yes, this is that blue movie. James Cameron’s muchbuzzed 3D space adventure, with Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver. ‘Did You Hear About the Morgans?’ Well, no, I didn’t. Never fear: this romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker just might be cute enough to help lift the genre out of its slump.
Dec. 23 ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel’ They’re baaaack.
SD
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z MOVIES z POP CULTURE z MUSIC z THEATER z THINGS TO DO z BOOKS z midnight, Saturday, old Centralia High School; part of Southern Illinois the Outback Tour which plans to feature a variety of talent A Midwinter’s Eve: With each weekend; classic Nathan Clark George, Mark country to classic pop; 618Stoffel and A Band, 7 p.m. 244-9410. Friday-Saturday, Liberty Holiday concerts: John A. Theater, 1333 Walnut St, Logan College Community Murphysboro; donation Band, 7 p.m. Saturday, Du suggested; 618-559-1412. Robert Schumann’s 200th Quoin Holiday Lights Fair, Expo Hall, Du Quoin State Fair birthday concert: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Old Baptist Foundation Grounds, admission, $8 per carload. Also, Sunday Recital Hall, SIUC; free. Holiday Hop: 7 p.m. Friday- concerts by the Logan Singers, 12:30 p.m., the JALC and Saturday, John A. Logan Community Orchestra, 2 p.m., College, Carterville; features and the JALC Community the Logan Choral Ensemble; Band, 3 p.m. Sunday, Illinois hits of the ’50s and ’60s; adults, $8; students, $5; 618- Centre mall, Marion. Dixie River: 9 p.m., 985-3741. Saturday, Dec. 19, old Crossroads: 9 p.m.-
Concerts
Page 8 Thursday, December 10, 2009 FLIPSIDE
Centralia High School; The Outback Tour; 618-244-9410.
$65; 270-450-4444 or www.thecarsoncenter.org.
Cape Girardeau
St. Louis area
Zac Brown Band: 7 p.m. Dec. 30, Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo.; $31-$37; 314534-1111; www.family arena.com. Lady Gaga: With Kid Cudi, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 7, Fox Theatre, 539 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis; $52.50-$42.50; 314-534-1111. Paducah BB King and Buddy Guy: Holiday POPS: Concert by 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18 the Paducah Symphony, 7:30 performance, The Family p.m. Saturday, Carson Center, Arena, St. Charles, Mo.; $50.50-$92.50; 314-534-1111. Paducah; holiday tunes;270Frankie Valli & The Four 444-0065 or www.paducah Seasons: 8 p.m. Feb. 27, Fox symphony.org. Foreigner: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Theatre, St. Louis, $44.50Jan. 22, Carson Center; $25- $59.50. Neal E. Boyd: America’s Got Talent winner will appear with the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra, 8 p.m. Feb. 5, Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall, River Campus., Cape Girardeau; 573-651-2265.
z MOVIES z POP CULTURE z MUSIC z ART z WINERIES z THEATER z THINGS TO DO z BOOKS z
Gene Watson still cranking out classic country tunes COUNTRY SCENE Vince Hoffard
T
rue country music fans have every right in the world to be concerned about the hapless condition of the industry. Any doubt the fear was not justified was quickly erased during the recent Country Music Association Awards, Watson when priceless national airtime was inexplicably given to Daughtery and Dave Mathews. Charlie Rich had to be rolling in his grave. It would’ve been much wiser to allocate the time showcasing the accomplishments new Hall of Fame members Roy Clark and Barbara Mandrell, instead of wasting it on a rock acts. My faith was slipping fast, but was restored over the weekend during a jaunt to Nashville. Just looking at the Ryman Auditorium, where Hank Williams shocked the world with electrifying performance in the 1940s, should give a traditional country music lover goosebumps. Across the alley is Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, where Patsy Cline was a waitress and Little Jimmy Dickens would frequently enjoy a beer between Grand Ole Opry sets. Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Roger Miller and Willie Nelson hung
out at the establishment. Across the street from Tootsie’s is the Ernest Tubb Record Shop, where the late Texas Troubadour would perform his Midnight Jamboree live on WSM radio following the Saturday night Opry. The store is loaded with classic recordings by Johnny Cash, Webb Pierce and Charlie Pride, as well as more obscure acts like Mel Street and Little David Wilkins. Flipping through the vast selection of compact discs, I found a new release by Gene Watson, the most under-rated talent in the history of the genre. His “Farewell Party” inspired many of today’s biggest stars, including Alan Jackson and Joe Nichols. “Love In The Hot Afternoon,” “Paper Rosie” and “The Old Man And His Horn” are just a few of his classics. It was truly exhilarating to find the 69-year-old Texas veteran is still cranking out his classic sound on “A Taste Of The Truth,” released on Shanachie Records. After battling health problems for several years, I feared Watson’s voice would be weak, but it is rock solid. In light of the CMA debacle, there is a song on the CD that should reenergize Watson’s career. A duet with Trace Adkins, “We’ve Got A Pulse” is about the current status of country music. Backed by fiddle and steel guitar, Watson moans as long as he’s still breathing, country music will be alive in his songs about love and grieving. “I think people are going to listen to this whether or not it’s a single,” Watson
said. “I think they’re going to hear it out because the song really has something to say about country music, and contrary to ‘Murder On Music Row’ there’s still a pulse in traditional country music.” Adkins is one of the hottest acts on radio today. The fact he is willing to appear on the record gives the project credibility. The current queen of bluegrass, Rhonda Vincent, also duets with Watson on “Staying Together,” about a couple honoring commitments despite falling out of love. Top-shelf songwriters like Shawn Camp, Harley
Allen, Billy Lawson and Billy Yates contributed to the album. Rebecca Lynn Howard wrote the title track. Watson even included the Hank Cochran ballad “I Know An Ending,” originally record by Merle Haggard. If there is a true country music fan on your Christmas shopping list, this album would make a perfect gift for less than $20. Wanting to spend a little more? Starting at $1,575 per person, fans can see Watson perform live on the Opry Country Classic Cruise. He will be joined by Larry Gatlin and Jeannie Seely from Jan. 24-31. The cruise
departs from Miami and travels to Grand Cayman, Belize and Cozumel. To book a cruise or for more information, call Corporate Travel Service at 866-653-6779. Watson has the best pure voice in country music. He
deserves to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry and inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. VINCE HOFFARD can be reached at 618-658-9095 or vincehoffard@ yahoo.com.
FLIPSIDE Thursday, December 10, 2009 Page 9
z MOVIES z POP CULTURE z MUSIC z ART z WINERIES z THEATER z THINGS TO DO z BOOKS z
Eastwood makes full use of clichés for feel-good ‘Invictus’ Invictus
election to the presidency. His solution is Hollywoodsimplistic. Make the national rugby team, the Springboks, hated by blacks as a symbol of apartheid, into all of South Africa’s team. And when the world comes to South Africa for rugby’s World Cup in 1995, show everyone a nation coming BY ROGER MOORE together behind a sports MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS team. Morgan Freeman takes Predictable and on Mandela and Mandela’s manipulative, “Invictus” is a movie Clint Eastwood charm, showing Lincolnesque dignity, the could make in his sleep. simple good manners that Despite that — and helped calm a bitterly judging from this often inspiring if generic sports divided populace. “The rainbow nation drama — he was too professional to ever sneak starts here,” he tells white in more than a nap. civil servants, asking them It begins with the day to stay on the job. Nelson Mandela was “Reconciliation starts released from prison, but is here.” mainly about his efforts to His gestures, he knows, unify black and white won’t be enough. That’s South Africa after his when he locks in on the
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief strong language; starring Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon; directed by Clint Eastwood; opens Friday at University Place 8 in Carbondale.
embattled rugby team, led by Francois Pienaar. Matt Damon, with a rugby player’s build, ennobles this star athlete, making him symbolic of white South Africans who accepted the change in power. The team isn’t great, but if they get better in time for the World Cup, they could help the nation heal, Mandela suggests. Pienaar gets the message, and we settle into the classic “Big Game” sports movie headed toward that defining moment of truth on the field. The title comes from a 19th-century poem Mandela memorized during his decades as a political prisoner — “I am the master of my fate.” Eastwood doesn’t beat that to death, sparing us the obvious “Win one for Mandela” speech. But that’s the only cliche he
avoids in “Invictus.” Mandela is made saintly — a statesman who speaks in slogans. Black-andwhite tensions are mirrored on his security detail and Eastwood never shies from showing a black bodyguard paired with a white one, exchanging grins at the Springboks’ latest glory. But Eastwood, returning to race as a theme, has made a timely film about a nation of many races rallying around a leader who understands symbolism. “If I can’t change when circumstances demand it,” says the newly formed First Fan of the Springboks, “how can I expect others to?” Heavy-handed, with eye-rolling moments in the middle acts as Clint slides a little limp pop music into the training montages, “Invictus” still works as
STUDIO
‘Invictus,’ starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, opens Friday at University Place 8 in Carbondale.
another Warners feel-good that could hit on your blind side if you aren’t too movie with sports as its backdrop, a touching story cynical to let it.
‘Boondock Saints’ sequel continues bad acting in gritty, violent saga The Boondock Saints: All Saints Day
Troy Duffy; opens Friday at University Place 8 in Carbondale and Illinois Centre 8 in Marion.
Southern ones, lesser characters plainly played by people related to or Rated R for bloody friends of the director. violence, language and Even the shoot-outs seem some nudity; starring Sean BY ROGER MOORE 10 or 12 rehearsals shy of a Wild Bunch. The lighting Patrick Flanery, Norman MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS is awful. The staging, Reedus, Billy Connolly, sloppy. The script? A Julie Benz, Judd Nelson, The acting is bad — bad hodgepodge of feeble (and Irish accents, worse Peter Fonda; directed by obvious) attempts at tough-guy action movie catch phrases and movie references with characters that are violent comic cartoons. But at least with Troy Duffy’s movies, he and his audience are in on the joke together. He’s over-thetop, making a B movie because really, that’s all Hollywood will let him STUDIO make. They’re laughing at every eye-rolling moment, ‘The Boondock Saints: All Saints Day’ opens Friday at Illinois Center 8 in Marion and University Place 8 in Carbondale. every silly flourish of a
Page 10 Thursday, December 10, 2009 FLIPSIDE
pistol, every pair of sunglasses, every bad performance. And Duffy seems to be laughing with them, or at least inviting the mockery. “All Saints Day,” his “Boondock” sequel, brings the murderous “Saints” hit-men Connor (Sean Patrick Flanery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus) back from Ireland, where they’re living with Dad, Il Duce (Billy Connolly) to Boston for a wee bit of revenge. Somebody has assassinated a priest, Saints style, plopping two Lincoln pennies over the eyeballs. And they want to know who. They assault gangsters in tanning salons and bars and panic rooms, hoods and mob bosses played by
guys like Judd Nelson, a Breakfast Club thug with a potty mouth and a pistol. The plot is an afterthought, the performances given with a wink and a clip-emptying flourish. Duffy stages a good game of Russian roulette, gonzo dream sequences (the shoot-out reconstructions, with Benz sashaying through the gunfire, explaining who shot whom) and baldly and badly rips off bits of better movies — botching utterly the Orson Welles “Scorpion and the Frog” anecdote from Confidential Report. But it’s fun to see Collins, sans any restraint, eyes bugging out of his narrow skull, complain to a hostage that he can’t
begin a shootout without having a ready “tag line” for the scene — “You know, like ‘We’re gonna need a bigger boat’ or ‘Hasta la vista, baby!’” Duffy is a B-grade horror director working in the gangland genre, with his “Bible banging psychos” blazing away, a pistol in each hand in imitation of early ’80s John Woo, struggling to come up with another Eastwood-BronsonStallone-Schwarzenegger punch line to every bloody, bullet-riddled scene. It’s not pretty, something of a drag to sit through (pacing is another thing his movies lack), but at least, watching it with Duffy’s audience, you get it. It’s supposed to be dumb.
z MOVIES z POP CULTURE z MUSIC z ART z WINERIES z THEATER z THINGS TO DO z BOOKS z Anderson, whose movies often flirt with the fantastical, Armored Matt Dillon, Jean takes the plunge with this Reno, Laurence Fishburne stop-motion animation and Fred Ward are among the adaptation of the Roald Dahl employees of an armoredstory about a fox who must transport security firm who protect his wife and kids from cook up the ultimate scam. three mean farmers. Starring But everybody knows there’s the voices of: Owen Wilson, no such thing as the perfect George Clooney, Jason crime. Rated PG-13 for Schwartzman, Bill Murray, sequences of intense Wallace Wolodarsky. Rated PG violence, some disturbing for action, smoking and slang images and brief strong humor. language. Men Who Stare At Goats Blind Side Sandra Bullock George Clooney, Jeff Bridges stars as a Southern woman and Ewan McGregor star in who takes a destitute teen this nutty based-on-true-stuff into her home. Based on a farce about a gang of psychictrue story. Also starring: powered military men going Quinton Aaron, Kathy Bates, about their “remote viewing” Lily Collins, Tim McGraw. business during Operation Rated PG-13 for violence; Iraqi Freedom. Also starring: drug and sex references. Kevin Spacey, Rebecca Brothers Jake Gyllenhaal Mader. Rated R for language, stars as a man who comforts some drug content and brief the wife (Natalie Portman) of nudity. his older brother (Tobey Ninja Assassin The hero Maguire), a U.S. Marine (South Korean action star reportedly killed in Rain) must battle the secret Afghanistan. But the reports clan of killers that raised and turn out to be wrong, and trained him. Also starring: after the missing soldier Rick Yune, Naomie Harris, Ben returns home, the brothers Miles. Rated R for strong must readjust their lives. bloody stylized violence Rated R for language and throughout, and language. some disturbing violent Old Dogs Two middle-aged content. business partners’ lives are A Christmas Carol Robert turned upside down when Zemeckis’ animation of the they find themselves in the Charles Dickens evergreen care of 7-year old twins. features “motion capture” Starring: John Travolta, Kelly performances by Jim Carrey, Preston, Ella Blue Travolta, Gary Oldman and Robin Robin Williams, Matt Dillon. Wright Penn. Lost in the Rated PG for some mild rude video-game effects and humor. ghostly grotesquerie is the Planet 51 Captain Charles redemptive saga of the man “Chuck” Baker, lands on who learns that his stinginess Planet 51 thinking he’s the has spiritually deformed him. first person to step foot on it. Rated PG for scary sequences To his surprise, he finds that and images. this planet is inhabited by Everybody’s Fine Robert little green people who are DeNiro attempts a role he happily living in a white picket hasn’t played in ages — that fence world reminiscent of a of an ordinary man — in this cheerfully innocent 1950s story about a widower who America, and whose only fear heads out on a road trip to is that it will be overrun by reconnect with his three alien invaders—like Chuck! children (Sam Rockwell, Kate Starring: Gary Oldman, John Beckinsale and Drew Cleese, Dwayne Johnson, Barrymore). PG-13 for Jessica Biel, Justin Long. Rated PG for mild sci-fi action thematic elements and brief and some suggestive humor. strong language. Twilight: New Moon Bella Fantastic Mr. Fox Wes
Still Playing
STUDIO
‘The Princess and the Frog’ opens Friday.
Disney sticks to classic formula to focus on Cajun food, Southern accents and Dixieland jazz rather Rated G; starring the than on skin color. In voices of Anika Noni fact, although Tiana (voiced by Broadway Rose, Bruce Campos, Keith David; opens Friday singer Anika Noni Rose) begins the film as a at Showplace 8 in hardworking waitress, Carbondale, Illinois she spends most of her Centre 8 in Marion and screen time as a frog. The Grand Theatre in That’s the result of her chance meeting with DuQuoin. Prince Naveen (Bruce BY RAFER GUZMAN Campos), a freewheeling MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS playboy hoodwinked by the local voodoo man, Dr. “The Princess and the Facilier (Keith David, Frog” is a fairly familiar delightfully wicked). story. And because this Naveen manages to animated musical comes charm Tiana into a kiss, from Walt Disney but after that backfires, Pictures, you can expect the two amphibians talking-animal sidekicks, travel the bayou to find a perilous journey, a their voodoo fairy budding romance and a godmother, Mama Odie moral to the tale. (Jenifer Lewis). Along the What’s new is the debut way, they’ll befriend a of Disney’s first African- trumpet-playing gator, American princess, Louis (Michael-Leon Tiana. She adds another Wooley), and a gapdash of color to a ninetoothed Cajun firefly member lineup of inknamed Raymond (Jim and-paint Caucasians, Cummings). such as Snow White and With songs by Randy Cinderella but also the Newman (himself raised Arabian Jasmine in New Orleans) and (“Aladdin”), the Chinese some visually fizzy Mulan and American animation styles, “The Indian Pocahontas. Princess and the Frog” By setting “Princess” sticks to a dependably in the New Orleans of the pleasing Disney early 1900s, Disney gets template.
The Princess and the Frog
Grint, Emma Watson, Jim Broadbent. PG (scary Harry Potter And The images, some violence, Half-Blood Prince (Warner profanity and sensuality) Home Video, ’09) $28.98. Julie & Julia (Sony 153 mins. As Harry Potter Pictures, ’09) $28.96. 123 enters another year at mins. Cooking connects Hogwarts School, the lives of two women — Professor Dumbledore — decades apart — as they with help from the try to find themselves and unsuspecting Professor their niches. With Meryl Slughorn — prepares the Streep, Amy Adams, young wizard to defeat Stanley Tucci. PG-13 (brief Lord Voldemort. With strong profanity and some Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert sensuality)
New on DVD
Swan is devastated by the abrupt departure of her vampire love, Edward Cullen, but her spirit is rekindled by her growing friendship with the irresistible Jacob Black. Suddenly she finds herself drawn into the world of the werewolves and finds her loyalties tested. Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning, Chaske Spencer. Rated PG-13 for some violence and action. 2012 Never before has a date in history been so significant to so many cultures, religions, scientists
Grand Theatre Du Quoin 542-3120 Adults $6 • 12 & Under $250 Students w/ ID & Seniors $4 Matinees Students w/ID & Under 12 $250 Adults & Seniors $4
and governments. A global cataclysm brings an end to the world and tells of the struggle of the survivors. Starring: John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Danny Glover, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt. Rated PG-13 for intense disaster sequences and some language. — McClatchy-Tribune News and kerasotes.com
SHOW TIMES FOR DEC. 7TH - 10TH
Twilight New Moon (P G-13) 4:00 6:20 7:00 9:20 1 0:00 A Christmas Carol 3D (P G) 4:10 6:40 9:10 Ninja Assassin (R) 5:00 7:50 10:30 2012 (PG-13) 3:50 **6:30 7:20 9:50 Brothers (R) 4:50 7:40 10:20 Everybody’s Fine (PG-13) 4:30 7:10 9:40 **Glen Beck’s Christmas Sweater: Encore Thursday 12-10 at 7:00 ONLY
Showtimes Good 12/11 - 12/17
All Digital Sound in All Theatres
Fri: 5, 7, 9 Sat: 1, 3, 5,7, 9 Sun: 1, 3, 5, 7 Mon-Thur: 5, 7
Planet 51 (PG) 4:00 6:20 9:10 Blindside (PG-13) 3:50 4:30 6:50 7:30 9:40 10:20 Old Dogs (PG) 4:20 5:15 6:40 7:45 9:30 10:00 Men Who Stare At Goats (R) 4:50 7:15 10:10 Armored (PG-13) 4:10 6:50 9:40 Fantastic Mr. Fox (PG) 3:40 6:10 9:00
Fri: 7, 9:30 Sat: 1, 7, 9:30 Sun: 1, 7 Mon-Thur: 7
Fri: 5 Sat: 3:15, 5 Sun: 3:15, 5 Mon-Thur: 5
Fri: 5, 7, 9 Sat: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 Sun: 1, 3, 5, 7 Mon-Thur: 5, 7
$$
GRAND BUCKS NOW AVAILABLE
$$
Twilight New Moon (P G-13) 4:00 7:00 Planet 51 (PG) 3:50 6:05 Blindside (PG-13) 3:40 6:50 A Christmas Carol (PG) 4:30 7:10 2012 (PG-13) 4:10 7:30 Old Dogs (PG) 4:20 6:40 Ninja Assassin (R) 5:00 7:40 Brothers (R) 4:45 7:20
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