Though it’s being promoted as an action film, Bart Layton’s Crime 101 is actually a triptych of character studies. Adapted from the novella by Donald Winslow, the film focuses on three people who’ve each reached the end of their respective ropes, which compels them to make some rash, desperate decisions. Propelled by an ever-increasing sense […]
Arts & Culture
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
“Teach them diligently”
A non-Jewish acquaintance, who grew up knowing very few if any Jews, recently confided in me that he had been taught by his father to admire the Jewish people because of our reverence for and pursuit of knowledge. The Jewish respect for knowledge and appreciation of its value has ancient roots going back to the […]
Posted inIT Picks
Building site of historic banquet with Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Long Nine Museum Open HouseFri., Feb. 13, 1-5 p.m.200 S. Main St., Athens Celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s 217th birthday and his enduring legacy by attending this open house at the Abraham Lincoln Long Nine Museum. The museum is located inside the historic Col. Matthew Rogers Building. It’s where Lincoln and his fellow “Long Nine” […]
Posted inArts Features
The Trojan Women, a Greek tragedy
In one of those rare but welcome departures from local norms, a play is being performed in Springfield that probably hasn’t been done in years, if ever. While Greek tragedy might not be high up on everyone’s list, I hope you make the time to see this one. The story and the production expertly explore […]
Posted inArts & Culture
STC’s The Addams Family – An ooky love story
The Addams Family musical is based on a 1964 sitcom which was inspired by the cartoons of Charles Addams. All feature Gomez Addams, his wife Morticia and children Pugsley and Wednesday. They share their home on Cemetery Lane with Uncle Fester, butler Lurch, helping hand Thing and someone’s grandma. They are a close-knit family with […]
Posted inFilm
Dracula shows some life, Send Help doesn’t end well
Cast finds life in flawed Dracula Estimates as to how many times Dracula has appeared on film range from approximately 200 to 500. The low number is tabulated by purists who only count productions that feature a version of Bram Stoker’s character while the latter figure included parodies or knock-offs of the seminal vampire. He’s […]
Posted inPoetry
Probably True (Uncle George Trever)
Great uncle George Trever was pastor of the Beloit Methodist Church maybe 1890. He was an explosive speaker, and the family story goes that he shot out his false teeth, which landed in the lap of a congregant, Uncle George calmly lisped to the woman, “would you be so kind as to pass the plate?”
Posted inIT Picks
Legacy Jam
Event celebrates Lincoln’s love of reading Celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s love of reading and lifelong learning with the Lincolns4Lincoln Literacy Jam, benefiting Compass for Kids’ afterschool program. This special kids’ event in the museum plaza features celebrity story readers, musical entertainment, a magician, local sports mascots and interactive children’s activities. Tater Tots Rock gets things rolling […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
Save one life at a time
“Whoever saves a single life is considered by scripture to have saved the whole world.” (Talmud, Sanhedrin 37a). These words were among the scriptures quoted last Friday at an interfaith prayer vigil held at First Presbyterian Church by Faith Coalition for the Common Good (FCCG) – an emergency gathering in response to the state-sanctioned violence […]
Posted inFilm
Wrecking Crew needs innovation, The Morrigan a worthwhile shocker
Bautista, Mamoa nearly salvage Wrecking Crew With the coming of sound to the film industry in 1927, the movie musical was born. Studios were so eager to promote the new technology through song and dance, there was a glut of musicals that nearly killed the genre before it could gain a head of steam. In […]
Posted inPoetry
Train Wreck
There has been a recent awful train wreck, here’s one that didn’t happen. My great aunt, then, a young woman worked alone in a country radio shack in Wisconsin. She listened in to the Morse code though against the rules, she discovered a train was coming on the wrong track and would collide with another […]
Posted inIT Picks
Photographer to discuss his images of local bald eagles and more
In two short programs, local wildlife photographer Brian Bowles will present his images and talk with participants about how they can find and identify local wildlife themselves. Bowles has been photographing wildlife for about 15 years and is interested in eagles, hawks, blue herons and turkey vultures. Bowles describes what he does as “drive-by photography” […]
