THE SOUTH SOUND'S ONLY LOCAL MAJOR FILM CRITIC >>>

As might be expected, the fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean films is eminently forgettable. Maybe this isn't the worst thing in the world. It is, after all, intended as brief popcorn entertainment (brief meaning over two hours, in this day and age). PotC seems as if it strives to take after those fluffy swashbuckling series of the early days of sound and color in film. But fluff shouldn't be charged a premium for bulls*** 3-D "effects" (please note that "effects" is dripping with all the sarcasm my body can muster), nor should it skimp on ridiculous action scenes and preposterous set pieces.

To read Rev. Adam McKinney's full review click here.

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2011 >>>

1. What's considered chic one week is trashed by the trend setters the next. It's in this blink-and-you-missed-it environment that Tacoma's Third Thursday ArtWalk has become something of an institution. Nothing more than an intermittent and amorphous congregation of people who enjoy original art, the monthly night has managed to snowball into a downtown Tacoma support system for the visual arts.  Or something like that. From 5-8 p.m., officially, galleries, museums, businesses and restaurants welcome the public to tour their hanging art with open arms. Be sure to check out the Oliver Doriss and Galen McCarty Turner Pr3v1ews & PrOtoTyp3s show at Fulcrum, the Invitational show at Brick House Gallery, the contemporary Native American Coyote Forward art show at B2 Fine Art Gallery, and the Seven Wonders of the West show at the American Art Company.

2. Tacoma's Little Engine That Could continues to chugs along offering another tour of Third Thursday ArtWalk via a yellow school bus. Pay your $10, jump on the Art Bus at 5:45 p.m. in front of the Tacoma Art Museum and tour Embellish Multispace Salon, Brick House Gallery, Jazzbones, Tacoma Art Place, Proctor Art Gallery, Evergreen State College and The Swiss Pub. Friendships are born. Flasks are passed. And an occasional sing-along busts out. RSVP here.

3. Community Cinema Tacoma hosts a free screening ofWelcome to Shelbyville - an inside look at America at a crossroad at 6 p.m. inside the Washington State History Museum. It's a fascinating look at a small Tennessee town grappling with changing demographics. Shelbyville's longtime African American and white residents are challenged with how to intergrate a burgeoning Latino population and arrival of Somali refugees of Muslim faith.

4. Similar to the famous A Great Day in Harlem photograph of famous jazz musicians snapped by Art Kane, A Great Sway in Tacoma was snapped of the famous Tacoma Thursday Runners at the Harmon Tap Room last year. A great day, indeed. And a helluva party. The drinking club with a running problem is back tonight, logging in a 3-mile jaunt beginning at 6:30 p.m. in front of said Stadium District watering hole only to return and pound beers until someone loses a shoelace. Bonus: United Way party animals Project:U will also be in the house.

5. The United States of America, as a nation, is perhaps the most charitable in the history of the world. Despite its flaws, the philanthropy that flows from our country is unmatched. Our country is full of folks just itching to pitch in and do their part to help their fellow man. We also love mud wrestling. At 9 p.m., at Surreal Ultra Lounge in Tacoma, the club is promising "a sexy night and an amazing cause!" And, yes, what they're talking about is chicks wrestling in mud to raise money for the leukemia. DJ Pedro will provide the jams - surely a gig he's dreamed about since childhood.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Try to tell us you don't like nightlife

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2011 >>>

1. An inspirational, real-life-story about a British royal overcoming a disability during wartime? Of course The King's Speech won top honors at the big Oscar shindig. Tom Hooper's film is a handsomely made, well-acted story that, for the most part, wins hearts by transforming a potentially mega-watt historical story into a low-key dramedy and mismatched buddy movie. The film hits the big screen again for a 9 p.m. showing at the Capitol Theater in Olympia. En-en-en-en-enjoy it.

2. A pile of Tootsie Rolls. Sliced bread and some bottles. A porcelain pig holding a lasso. Anything can be the subject of poetry if you just turn your head and point your ear at it. Poet Tim McNulty chooses natural history as his subject, and he's damn good at it. The Olympia Poetry Network welcomes McNulty to Traditions Café at 6:30 p.m. to share his words. And open mic will follow.

3. Sci-fi/fantasy author Robin Hobb is a lot like Sci-fi/fantasy author Megan Lindholm in that she. ... Now wait a minute ... Hobb is Lindholm! What the hell is up with both names on the novel The Inheritance & Other Stories?! "This is a story collection by both of my writing names," HobbLindholm write on her website. "I wrote as Megan Lindholm long before I became Robin Hobb, and to this day, I continue to write as Megan Lindholm. The short stories in this book are old and new, previously published and never before seen, and include a couple of Nebula finalists and a Hugo finalist." Oh. Well someone is showing up at 7 p.m. inside Garfield Books in Parkland to discuss and sign the damn thing. Drop by and discover which one shows up. Wait. What?

4. The Gruv Lounge hosts the Jerry Miller Band in a dinner show setting beginning at 8 p.m.

5. Jazzbones continues its Wednesday Sessions free shows with the righteous reggae band Northwest Sons beginning at 8:30 p.m.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Live music tonight

FINNIGAN'S FANTASTIC FILM >>>

Barely a month remains until The Grand Cinema's last call for Tacoma Film Festival entries (June 15), meaning right now moviemakers in the area are carefully reviewing and fine-tuning their works before sending them off. Since last catching up with Andrew Finnigan at the 2010 festival, the man has retreated into a seclusion of sorts this winter, single-handedly editing his debut feature Fantastic Confabulations. He co-wrote, directed and lent his acting ability to the tale of lifelong pals Ray (Finnigan) and Wes (David Harlos).

With a rough cut finished, Finnigan must finally deliver his baby to the rest of his post-production team, including sound designer Scott Waters (World's Greatest Dad). After many months immersed in a large-scale project throughout which he wore multiple hats, "I'm glad to hand the film off, and let others worry about it," Finnigan tells me with some relief.

He has also enlisted Revengers bassist Dustin Iacobazzi Riecan to compose a score for FanCon. They want music that blends well with a movie both inspired by and a reaction to the mumblecore movement - in other words, music that seamlessly gels the unpolished spontaneity of documentary with glossier cinematic conventions. Settling on a style has had its challenges. "We're still figuring it out," Finnigan says.

I hope we see (and hear) Finnigan's Confabulations this fall. Check out a scene from the film at www.oldloyalfilms.com.

MONDAY, MAY 16, 2011 >>>

1. Would it surprise anyone to learn that the better part of our childhood was spent glued to a television, watching just about every horrible film ever made? We didn't think so. But a life wasted scarfing up bad movies is not without its plusses - the chief one being the Tacoma Cult Movie Club welcomes us with open arms. The lovers of B-movies and such gather at 7 p.m. inside The Acme Grub Cage for a night of films, shorts and trailers under the theme "Tacoma Club Under Attack." We have no idea what that means, but EXCITING!

2. The Seattle International Children's Festival became Giant Magnet two years ago. It happened last week in Seattle - but today it condenses itself into a mini version and packs into the Pantages - for a day of kid-friendly fun featuring Doktor Kaboom!, Guangdong Province Puppet Troupe, and Andes Manta at 10 a.m.

3. From 5-7 p.m. The Hub hosts Bike To A Better Tacoma, a get-together with fellow bicyclists and City staff members to get happy and be updated on the Mobility Master Plan. If you bike to The Hub, you'll receive a free slice of pizza, and be entered into a drawing for a $50 Hub gift certificates. Bonus: enjoy Tacoma's only valet bike parking.

4. Broken Water, Nu Sensae, White Lung and Wet Hair rock the Dumpster Values store in downtown Olympia beginning at 7:30 p.m.

5. The Backstage Bar & Grill has given white trash a new home. Every Monday night, while DJ Lo spins Top 40, the Sixth Avenue rock club offers $5 40-ounce PBRs, $2 wells, $3 domestic pitchers, $1 Hamm's drafts, $2 mac and cheese and $5.95 steak dinners. Show your roots.

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Happy hour!

SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011 >>>

1. So, you survived Friday the 13^th. Time to celebrate with a great local rock show ... oh, like, I don't know ... maybe SATCHEL PLAYING HELL'S KITCHEN TONIGHT!!

2. OK, so you don't have a goatee? Satchel's not your bag? We catch your drift. Luckily, there's also this other great show at The Space with Cobirds Unite and Goldfinch. People will definitely be talking about this show tomorrow. Be one of the ones who saw it.

3. The Olympia Awesome Film Festival finally comes to fruition today. Get in on the action

4. In T-Town, the Evergreen Tacoma Spring Fair delves into "Food and Culture" today.

5. Take yourself back in time today with the TNW Model Train Show at Freighthouse Square. Be a kid again.

ONLINE CHATTER >>>

Today's comment comes from local filmmaker Kris Crews, in response to a string of commentary which he kicked off responding to a 2010 review by Volcano film writer Christopher Wood.

Crews writes,

Chris, I didn't realize that you are a regular film critic for the volcano. I'm sure you've had plenty of experience developing your skill. Otherwise, you wouldn't be doing it.
I apologize for suggesting that you no longer do your job. I simply request that you take it seriously. I will critique any critic on the basis of objective rationale.

I'm not concerned with your personal opinion. Let's just say the film was too slow for you. I do think that the film was misrepresented by the statement, "really, the whole 18 minutes of the film is just a montage of the 2 of them playing at different parks in Tacoma".

Steph, It is not about a negative opinion. Anyone can have an opinion, like that the plot was too slow for their taste, but the summing up of the film, "really, the whole 18 minutes of the film is just a montage of the 2 of them playing at different parks in Tacoma" is a gross oversimplification of the story.

I do not believe that is an opinion. The film either is or isn't a montage of allan and madeline playing in parks for 18 minutes. That says nothing of the scenes of regular daily activity backed by engaging improvasational dialogue delivered by a 3 year old.

I get that the film is not stellar (it was made in 72 hours), but it holds up in terms of communicating a solid message; one that speaks of the bitter/sweet reality of the human condition. There is dialogue & and it was captured and delivered cleanly. There is movement. It may seem mundane that the action that occurs follows the father and daughter as the wake, help a neighbor deliver drums to church, ride a bus, bathe, & play in a park. The story is about the dad's reconciliation of the misunderstanding that what he thought was his destiny was lost and he has to continue on in the absence of his partner and child's mother. That is enough.

THE SOUTH SOUND'S ONLY LOCAL FILM CRITIC >>>

The Judd Apatow universe - featuring movies like Superbad, Knocked Up and Forgetting Sarah Marshall - has been criticized for being too much of a boys' club, and not featuring interesting roles for women. Bridesmaids, co-written by and starring SNL's Kristen Wiig, attempts to correct this.

Like the stars of other Apatow-affiliated movies, Annie (Wiig) is an aimless thirtysomething who finds herself unlucky in love and just about everything else in life. Unlike other Apatow heroes, however, she isn't in this position because she is desperately clinging to youth. She wants to improve her life, but is utterly clueless about how to do it. She seeks a relationship with a man (Jon Hamm) who makes it clear every second he is with her that he'd rather be with someone else.

To read Rev. Adam McKinney's full review click here.

"A" FOR AWESOME >>>

I hope you haven't forgotten about OAFF. Back in March I reported on the first-ever Olympia Awesome Film Festival and the regrettable delay of its world premiere. Since the event's original venue, The Loft on Cherry, closed its doors earlier than expected, organizers had no choice but to postpone and scour the city for a new location.

Mission accomplished. The date: Saturday, May 14. The time: 6 to 11-ish p.m. And the place: The Olympia Ballroom (116 Legion Way, Olympia).

The only dancing going on there shall be your eyeballs after eating up hours of movie badassery.

Years from now, the story of OAFF's humble birth might make its way into the annals of cinematic legend, but the memory still burns clearly for those who witnessed its inception. A few members from the small film collective Mutually Assured Productions gathered at a bar one evening last summer. Not surprisingly for this group the conversation turned to movies, and someone nonchalantly suggested that MAP start its own festival.

Now, the bar milieu has a way of unlocking the greatest world-changing notions (or the most idiotic bullshit) from the human mind. Fortunately, the concept formulated that night belonged in the former category. And as a bonus, it didn't dissolve in a fog of cigarette smoke and next-day hangovers like so many before it. These brothers of film banded together to make their idea a reality.

Each member has offered their individual talents to OAFF's construction. Ken Carlson (whose short Senator Feelgood won the runner-up vote this past weekend at The Grand Cinema's 72-Hour Film Competition) and sometimes-actor Travis Blood spent months finding event sponsors. But would businesses take a chance on an all-shorts fest with no track record?

"It's actually been pretty easy," says Carlson. "Almost any local business that we approached ... was more than happy to sponsor."

He, Blood and others also formed a committee that ranked all the entries - most from Washington, several out-of-staters and even a film from Ireland. Similar to the Grand's contest, OAFF will hand out Judges' and People's Choice awards (immediately dubbed "the Oaffie" by yours truly). Olympia's Studio23 Metalworks handcrafted the trophy, which resembles a WWE belt. (I've always craved a prize that doubles as a fashion accessory to show off at parties.)

Besides this one, I can't recall any other festival assembled from scratch by actual moviemakers, folks who breathe creativity on a daily basis. While Kyle Scott prepares the program layout, Charles Chadwick conceptualized many of the bold retro graphics and built the website (oaff.org). There you can watch the highly informative and entertaining promo videos produced by Mutually Assured, which span a range of topics including What is OAFF?, Why OAFF, Why Now and Why Come to OAFF? To all these perplexing inquiries Johnathan Texidor has a succinct response:  "One word. Orgasm."

Awesome.

I spoke with Carlson about growing up in Oly, his lifelong passion for storytelling and making stop-motion movies starring his Ninja Turtle toys with Mom's VHS camera. OAFF simply grows out of this and the rest of Mutually Assured's mutual love of entertainment (emphasis on that last word). His team avoids at all cost both making and watching what Carlson calls "art films," an aesthetic he defines as "blurry camera work with some dissonant jazz music." Enough festivals already exist that eagerly embrace this style while snubbing the cinema Carlson enjoys.

It will offer certain filmmakers more exposure. It will serve up excitement and guilty pleasures to audiences seeking shelter from purposefully puzzling art. Most importantly, it seems OAFF will deliver on its promise of grade-A fun.  

[The Olympia Ballroom, Olympia Awesome Film Festival, Saturday, May 14, 6 p.m., $3 suggested donation, 116 Legion Way, Olympia. oaff.org]

DINING ON A SERIOUS SUBJECT >>>

Let's face it: suicide is a bit of a downer. It doesn't usually offer much in the way of entertainment. Making a movie centered on this depressing topic involves financial risk. But treating taboo with humor? That takes grit - and a good script.

At first, actor/producer/Tacoma resident Ashley Cozine couldn't imagine having her hand in a project as unconventional as Dessert and Suicide. In her view, "Filmmakers everywhere offend people all the time, but I'm not that kind of person."

Then a certain screenplay came Cozine's way, about an unlucky-in-love man who, disillusioned with the blind dating game, prepares to off himself. The story's delicate handling of its eponymous issue (not dessert, the other one) compelled Cozine to sign on as the film's producer.

Audiences may not always connect with D&S's darker aspects, but who can't relate to the comic madness of dating? Cozine praises the spot-on characterizations of the short's big ensemble. "You've probably met each person (in the cast) at some point in your life," she says, adding with a laugh, "I've met a couple of these people."

Besides producing the film, Cozine plays a waitress at the restaurant where the main action takes place. Tacoma's Pacific Grill provided just the right look and ambiance for the two-day shoot. If editing proceeds on schedule, we may see this bittersweet concoction at October's Tacoma Film Festival.