Arts and Entertainment

I know most movie goers don't care about three-year-old movies, but if they have a chance to see "Rachel Getting Married" and pass it up they are making a mistake. This film by Jonathan Demme is perhaps the ultimate tribute to American originality with its jazz-like, free-moving cameras and background music made up as the film was shot.

It's the way the film was made and the way it comes to life that is important. It's like real life in accented syllables that lift it out of the ordinary.

I'm afraid that I haven't got a lot to say about the horror film "The Woman in Black," currently on display at the Fandango Galaxy movie house in Carson City. I read the book on which it is based years ago and only recall that the Lady in question was not very happy.

So watching the dour film I was a little lost as Arthur Kipps (Daniel Redcliff of "Harry Potter" fame) set off on his lawyerly duty to evaluate a mansion now in disrepair. His firm is to wind up the estate and depending on how well he does Kipps may keep his job.

Carson City's own Slim and Minnie are your musical hosts for folk music night at Grandma Hatties Restaurant, 2811 S. Carson St. on the 2nd Wednesday of every month. It's an evening of familiar tunes and songs including many sing along songs. The show is family friendly with singing along and dancing encouraged. There's also room for wheel chairs, walkers and children in Grandma's big dining room.

The thriller "Man on a Ledge," running in Carson City a the Fandango Galaxy movie house, is a neat little thriller with a solid cast headed by Sam Worthington as jailbird Nick Cassidy and Elisabeth Banks as cop Lydia Mercer.

Movie opens with Nick checking into a New York hotel, having a meal with champagne before he goes out the window and stands on a ledge.

Flashback to Nick in Sing Sing prison for the heist of a giant jewel (he was framed). He escapes in a nice car chase after the funeral of his supposed father. He makes some plans and we get back to the man on the ledge.

The action-thriller film "The Grey," currently on view at the Fandango Galaxy theaters in Carson City, is a stark story of men in wilderness and their efforts to survive.

The Academy Award nominated film "The Descendants," now playing at the Fandango Galaxy movie house in Carson City, is a hard-eyed romantic comedy with an ensemble cast headed by George Clooney, the only name star aboard.
Doesn't matter, this is a fine cast from Clooney as Matt King to Judy Greer as Julie Speer, wife of a real estate salesman who … but let's let that wait.
The film opens with a scene of an attractive woman riding a boat. She's laughing in the wind. This is before an of the opening credits. No explanation given or needed.

(Press Release) On the heels of its most successful year, MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa at Lake Tahoe continues its popular top-contemporary entertainment with the addition of Sublime with Rome and special guest Everlast; George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic; and comedian Rob Schneider.

The movie "Haywire,"currently screening at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City, is a spy thriller with a twist. The top spy is a woman, Mallory Kane, played by Gina Carano, in her first major starring role.

Those who know the Northern Nevada area might recognize the name Carano from the casinos the family owns and operates. Gina's father Glenn Carano was a backup quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, and no doubt passed on some toughness to his daughter.

Mallory opens the movie with a expletive that is repeated at the close. Can't say director Steven Soderbergh isn't neat.

Join us for a tasting of wines from the Michael David Winery out of Lodi, CA.

You may have seen some of their great wines; 7Deadly Zins, 6th Sense Syrah...stop in as we explore Lust, Incognito and others. Don't miss this tasting of some fantastic wines with light appetizers. 6pm to 9pm
Price $20pp.

The Bella Family
224 So. Carson St ,Suite #8
Corner of 3rd & Curry Sts, Carson City
775-888-9463 (WINE)
bellafiorewines@yahoo.com
www.bellafiorewinesbar.com

The New Shanghai Circus performance scheduled for Tuesday night has been canceled, according to the Brewery Arts Center. Those who purchased tickets with a credit card will be automatically reimbursed. If you purchased tickets by other means, contact Brewery Arts Center for refund information.

"The Accelerating Expansion of the Universe - 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics"

First in the 2012 Reno Skeptics Science Cafe' series, presented in association with NOVA ScienceNow.

Physicist Dr. Thomas Herring of Western Nevada College will discuss the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the universe. This is widely considered the most important scientific discovery of the last quarter of the 20th Century.

The presentation begins at 3:00 pm, is free and is open to the public. Science Cafes' are participatory events, so bring your inquisitive mind and invite your friends.

The new film "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" by director Stephen Daldry ("The Hours") playing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City a story about a 9-year old boy Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) who loses his father in the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. He suffers perhaps from Asperger's and a clear case of overwhelming anxiety.

The sci-fi-horror film "Underworld Awakened" screening at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City is the fourth iteration of the series, in this case starring Kate Beckinsale as Selene for the third time.

Selene hs been in suspended animation in a freezer for 12 years bust breaks out to find that humankind is at war with the vampires in the population a well as the werewolves.

Well, she isn't going to sit still for this and with super athleticism leaps off buildings and bumps of a bunch of cop-soldiers (hard to tell them apart but they all have machine guns).

After all the stress of the last couple of days, maybe we need a little Diana Krall to help us relax:

There are several things wrong with the music comedy "A Joyful Noise," now playing he Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City and elsewhere.

But those faults are outweighed by the music, a contemporary kind of gospel that moves nicely but lacks the true feeling of gospel singing. And the leads are just fine — Queen Latifah as Vi Rose Hill, Dolly Parton as G.G. Sparrow and the exuberant and lovely Keke Palmer as Vi's daughter Olivia.

The action-thriller "Contraband," now playing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City, stars Mark Wahlberg as Chris Farraday, a reformed former ace smuggler living in New Orleans with with wife Kate (Kate Beckinsale) and two sons (largely ignored) making home burglar alarms as a business.

Then his brother-in-law Ben Foster (Sebastian Abney) screws up a drug deal and Chris has to step in to save him and his family from the drug boss Tim Briggs' (Giovanni Ribisi) murder threats.

Carson Performing Arts presents "Hiroshima: Crucible of Light" at the Carson Community Center. Showtime: Fri, Sat. 1/20-21 at 7:30 PM; Sundays 1/15,1/22 at 2 PM. A spectacularly artistic montage piece the likes of which Carson City does not see! Please support us!

The Brewery Arts Center is the place to be St. Patrick’s Day weekend when a bit of Ireland and Scotland come to town. The folk duo Men of Worth will bring Celtic music to life in the Performance Hall on Friday, March 16th at 8pm.
Scotsman Donnie Macdonald and Irishman James Keigher blend music and storytelling to take audiences on journey to their homelands. The self described Extreme Traditional Celtic Musicians have preserved the emotion and tradition of their homeland songs while at the same time telling new stories.

The Artist's WayThe Artist's Way is a 12-week long free course in discovering and recovering your creative self, it is designed for anyone experiencing creative block, or who would like to self-explore and discover their own unknown creativity within. The Artist's Way was developed and authored by Julia Cameron about 20 years ago. The best selling book has inspired millions to overcome the limiting beliefs and fears that can inhibit the creative process. 

The Carson City Visitor and Convention Bureau has a contest on their Facebook page to win a night's stay at the Gold Dust West and two ticket to The Proscenium Players' "Dealt a Deadly Hand - Murder at the Carson City Casino Royale" murder mystery dinner theater.

The first person to answer ALL three trivia questions below wins. Entry deadline: midnight, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012. The winner will be announced Friday, Jan. 13.

1. Name the Casino in Casablanca?
2. What is the current Powerball amount as of today?
3. What is the name of Gold Dust West’s Sports Book?

Go to the Facebook page to post your answers.

CW AND MR. SPOONS

The "found footage" film (whatever that means) "The Devil Inside" now playing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City and elsewhere, is another exorcist adventure of sorts — mostly disparate parts.

A quick warning: if you suffer from motion sickness that is one good reason to skip this movie. Most of it was shot by handheld cameras, resulting in nausea in some cases, like mine. There are other good reasons to see "Hugo" or even Desi and Luci reruns instead.

Enjoy an afternoon of wine, art and music in the Brewery Arts Center’s Artisans Store Saturday, January 7th from Noon to 5:00pm. Resident artists and teachers will demonstrate their crafts as part of the Downtown Carson City Wine Walk. Sip wine and nibble hors d’oeuvres while watching the artisans create new works of art. Plus, accomplished Dulcimer musicians will provide music throughout the afternoon. You don’t need to take part in the Wine Walk to join in.

The Carson City Symphony conducted by David Bugli will begin rehearsals on Wednesday, January 11, at 7:00 p.m., in the Carson High School band room, 1111 N. Saliman Road in Carson City, for a February concert, "Russian Treasures."

Carson City Symphony is a volunteer, community organization, and auditions are not required. Registration, however, is necessary. Current openings are for strings. For information, call the Symphony at 775-883-4154.

Direcor-producer Steven Spielberg's film "War Horse," currently showing at the Fandango Galaxy cineplex in Carson City and elsewhere, is fine movie making, with a splendid cast. If it sinks into sentimentality at times, bear with it because the story, from a British children's book of 1982.

In pre-WWI Britain, Albert Narracott (Jeremy Irvine, well cast) is out to buy a plow horse for his father's farm but winds up with a stallion of beauty and intelligence. Albert teaches the horse, named Joey by Albert, to comae when he hoots a signal.

The film "The Darkest Hour," flickering at the Fandango Galaxy in Carson City and elsewhere, is a desperate stab at making a movie. It had little intelligence, a poor cast and a lot of scientific hokum that apparently depends on audiences being to poorly educated to know when the science is all goofy.

Join the BAC to Broadway Kids for a fun-filled evening full of music and dance. All your favorite family-friendly Broadway shows from the past 10 years all together in a magical evening of song and dance. Featuring show-stoppers from “Wicked, Shrek, The Lion King, Billy Elliot, Hairspray, Mary Poppins” and much more!
Performances are January 20th and 21st at 7pm and January 22nd at 2pm.
Tickets are $10.00 General Admission, $8.00 Students/Seniors, $6.00 BAC Members.

Enjoy the acoustical sounds of Tyler Stafford, February 4th from 2 – 5pm in the Brewery Arts Center’s Artisans Store. The Reno native has been impressing audiences with his smooth voice and guitar playing talent. Stafford will perform songs from his newly released album “On a String”. The Reno Gazette Journal named it one of the 10 best albums released by area artists this year.

After gaining experience playing open mics around Reno, Stafford became a regular performer at area restaurants and bars. His musical talent, low key stage presence and good looks earned him a large following.

Stop wondering what you are going to do to celebrate the New Year....

Come celebrate at Bella Fiore Wines and dance the night away with the DJ Bebop playing from 9:00pm to Early AM. There will be Wine and Drink specials all night and a complimentary Champagne toast at midnight. Remember there's never a cover charge!
So get your Masquerade costumes ready and your dancing shoes on, come spend New Year's Eve at Bella Fiore Wines.

The Bella Family
224 So. Carson St ,Suite #8
Corner of 3rd & Curry Sts, Carson City
775-888-9463 (WINE)
bellafiorewines@yahoo.com

Director David Fincher's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," currently showing at the Fandango Galaxy multiplex in Carson City, is an exciting thriller with dramatic overtones. It's based on the novel by Stieg Larsson which was a big best seller.

Daniel Craig stars as a Swedish journalist facing a big fine over slander in an article he wrote about a Swedish industrialist. Rooney Mara plays Lisbeth Salander, computer wizard and extreme individualist tendencies.