Compelling “Molly’s Game” Seems Incomplete
More martyr than manipulator, Molly Bloom comes off as a fall gal for the rich and famous in Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut Molly’s Game, a true-life tale of high rollers, lowlifes, movie stars and other untrustworthy sort who get called on the table when they all get involved in the titular weekly poker match. As…
Ponderous “Last Key” Crawls Towards Scares
Defying the notion that crisp pacing is essential to the success of any movie, particularly a horror film, Insidious: The Last Key meanders along without a care in the world, seemingly caring not a whit as to whether it engages its audience or not. Directing for only the second time, Adam Rotel employs no sense…
Breakfast and beer
Let’s talk about two daily essentials: breakfast and, of course, beer. Mass marketers of breakfast cereals have been in a downward sales spiral for about a decade, so they’re getting back to their roots (sort of). Few folks know that some of the oldest and biggest brands of today’s artificially flavored, neon-colored, empty-calorie cereals started…
Under the camouflage in the tax cut bill
Politicians are masters of legislative camouflage. By this I mean that they are very good at making you think legislation is doing one thing when in reality it accomplishes another goal. One of the easiest ways to do this is to have different parts of the bill become operational at different times. This is done…
new year’s poem 2018
new year’s poem 2018 when granddaughter cressidaasked what to do I suggested shedraw me some cards get well soonhappy new year etc she went towork produced two before tiringof the task “glad about your dog”“sorry about your cat” I’ve toldyou that before I think – she didn’tdo a new years card I could use ithere…
Springfield, reimagined
The Springfield city council has before it a draft of a new comprehensive city plan, City of Springfield Comprehensive Plan, “Forging a New Legacy,” intended to guide development in the capital city until 2037 or until a growing Chatham annexes it, whichever comes first. Compiled by the clever Santa’s elves at the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional…
Letters to the Editor 1/4/18
MENTALLY ILL INMATES I just wanted to make sure you and your readers know that this administration and the Illinois Department of Corrections have taken considerable steps to enhance the delivery of care for offenders who are on the mental health caseload (“A medieval state,” Bruce Rushton, Illinois Times, Dec. 21). The following statement can…
Editor’s note 1/4/18
Mayor Jim Langfelder’s end-of-year selection of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s plan for a park on the YWCA block, renamed the North Mansion block, fell on Springfield’s holiday season like a lump of coal. It could turn out to be a nice park, as it was designed by an internationally known landscape architect, but that’s not why…
Silver screen surprise
Beginning Jan. 8 and continuing on the first Monday of each month through May 2018 is the new Mystery Movie Monday series at The Legacy Theatre. The series will feature films spanning a variety of decades from a wide mix of genres, ranging from comedy, drama, suspense, musical, western, romance or documentary. Films created prior…
Introducing independent films
Film fans, rejoice, for the Springfield Art Association has added an additional event to the annual Molly Schlich Film Series, the SAA Film Series Preview Party. Held on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m., in the Springfield Art Association, the preview party provides an advance opportunity for guests to purchase or pick up season passes.…
Celebrate our state
Celebrate the 200th birthday of Illinois with themed crafts and activities that teach children about the prairie state and its state symbols, such as plants, animals and food. Super Saturday events are hosted by the Illinois State Museum on the first Saturday of each month. All Super Saturday activities are geared towards children ages 5…
Venus envy
I’m a 30-something woman, tall and thin, whom friends describe as beautiful. Perhaps for this reason, I’m often confronted with rude social assaults by people who assume things are handed to me on a silver platter. I am financially independent and have a full-time job and own a home and car. I dress and act…
Movies 2017: A very good year
While I wouldn’t call 2017 a great year at the movies (that distinction goes to 1939 or 1968), it was a very, very, very good year, one of surprises, diversity and a sense of steadiness, as there seemed to be something worthwhile to see most of the time. It was a year in which Marvel…
The 10 best film scenes of 2017
Movies are about moments – big moments that erase our cynicism about cinema and remind us of its capacity to dazzle as well as touch us. This happens in a way only possible with a medium that seamlessly combines so many other art forms. There are instances that prompt us to consider things in a…
Film series fights winter doldrums
For more than 25 years, the Molly Schlich Independent and International Film Series – presented each winter by the Springfield Art Association – has brought acclaimed and lesser-seen movies to Springfield. From January through early March, each Sunday (matinee) and Tuesday (evening showings) one of the screens at AMC’s Parkway 8, 3025 Lindbergh Blvd., is…
A reporter’s novel brings alive characters and the Klan
Mark Twain’s often quoted observation, “write what you know” is often debated by writers. Some are critical, some supportive. But St. Louis author William Stage is a true believer in Twain’s adage. For two decades Stage worked for the weekly St. Louis newspaper, Riverfront Times. During that period, he wrote 11 books including one, Street…
It’s the economy, stupid
Springfield city officials blame the state and the internet for sagging municipal finances. Online purchasing, which produces no municipal sales taxes, has cut into tax collections, the city says. And the state last summer installed a fee for collecting the city’s portion of income taxes. “There are two main problems: Consumer behavior and state action,…
Smoke ’em if you got ’em
The city of Springfield has sued the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, hoping to overturn an arbitrator’s decision that bars the city from drug testing building and housing inspectors. The arbitrator’s ruling came after the union went to bat for Vincent Romanotto, an electrical inspector who tested positive for marijuana in 2014. Romanotto blamed that…
BICENTENNIAL MINUTES
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, in conjunction with the Mid-West Family Broadcasting Group and the Illinois State Museum, is producing daily radio spots called “bicentennial minutes” which will be broadcast throughout 2018 to help celebrate Illinois’ 200th birthday. The spots will highlight key people, events and dates in Illinois history, spotlighting triumphs such…
KING EXHIBIT OPENS
The Springfield & Central Illinois African American History Museum (1440 Monument Ave. in Springfield) will host the opening of a new exhibit honoring the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King on Thursday, Jan. 4, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The exhibit was developed in collaboration with the Illinois State Museum to…
Del Toro’s Water an instant classic
On paper, it sounds ridiculous. Then again, most parables do, and Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water is just that: a poignant, powerful fairy tale for our times that speaks to universal concerns – the alienation of the unique, the dangerous power spawned from needless paranoia, and the importance of acceptance in a world…
New year music
With New Year’s Eve behind us, we can now comfortably head into 2018 with a full January weekend on the books. Let’s start off the new year with a look at some of the many area artists and local venues that make our community a better place to be. On Thursday night, singer and guitarist…
Dylan Scott
This Louisiana native headed for Nashville with a dream in mind, and he’s chasing it, reaching it, and becoming a major force in the country music business. Dylan spent his early days hanging around with his dad, a professional backup guitarist to national touring acts, and recently scored a number one hit on Billboard’s Country…
Pimp your veggies!
Every morning as the clock approaches 7 a.m. the folks in my CrossFit gym cluster in little groups to socialize for a few minutes before the workout begins. I hang out with the Fasters. We are the ones who get motivational text messages from our coach at 3:30 every morning reminding us not to eat…
