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what to do, hear, see, watch, read, listen to, visit and eat in Gwinnett and Atlanta Fisherman’s Bucket brings fresh seafood to Duluth......................................................................Pg. 4

Staff Photo: Rachel Shirey

Fisherman’s Bucket is located at 2205 Pleasant Hill Road, Suite 130, in Duluth.

Art Beat ....................................................................Pg. 6 By Venue ..................................................................Pg. 8 Movies.................................................................Pgs. 9-18 Showtimes ............................................................Pg. 15 Metro Calendar ....................................................Pg. 19 Gwinnett Calendar ............................................Pg. 19 The “Weekend” arts and entertainment guide includes select events in the coming week. To be considered for a listing, send a fact sheet to: Weekend, Features Department, Gwinnett Daily Post, 725 Old Norcross Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30045; or call 770-963-9205, email features@gwinnettdailypost.com or fax 770-339-8081. Weekend Design: Brian Giandelone

PAGE 2 • WWW.GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM • FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011

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THE DISH

Fisherman’s Bucket

2205 Pleasant Hill Road, Suite 130, Duluth BY KATHY-LEE CASSIE Staff Intern

• Open since: June • Location: Situated off Pleasant Hill Road between the intersection of Old Norcross Road and Satellite Boulevard amongst stores such as Toys ‘R’ Us and Staples. • Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 10 p.m. Sundays. • Owner: Bruce Lam is one of many partners at the Fisherman’s Bucket. As a second generation refugee, Lam came to the United States in 1980 and always had a passion for food. He began working in the food industry at the age of 11 and decided it was his niche. This led to him opening multiple food establishments across the U.S. • Atmosphere: Lam said not only did he want a family-oriented feel but also a casual one because “you have to get your hands dirty” when you eat at Fisherman’s Bucket. Upon entry customers are given the choice to dine inside or outside on the patio. The dining room is decorated according to a fishing theme with props such as fishing nets and

770-813-8122

www.fishermansbucket.com

ONTHEMENU Lunch Specials Grilled Shrimp Salad: Grilled jumbo shrimp, garden salad, tomato, cucumber, spring salad mix, baby spinach, Spanish onion, Parmesan cheese, and choice of dressing. Served with garlic bread and a beverage. $8.75 Grilled Chicken Tender Sandwich: Seasoned grilled chicken tenders, grilled mushrooms, Boston lettuce, tomato, Spanish onion, sliced pickle, lettuce, pesto dressing, ranch dressing. Served with garlic bread and a beverage. $7.25 Bucket Specials • Blue Crab (1 lb), Crawfish (1 lb), Shrimp (1 lb), Side (1). $20.95 • Dungeness Crab (1 lb), Snow Crab (1/2 lb), Shrimp ( 1⁄2 lb), Crawfish (1 lb), Sides (2). $36.95 Sides include French fries, cajun fries, sweet potato fries, cole slaw, corn on the cob, onion rings sweet corn puffs, garlic bread and baked potato.

Staff Photo: Rachel Shirey

The Fisherman’s Bucket in Duluth serves, front right, grilled shrimp salad, back right, the grilled chicken tender sandwich (seasoned chicken tenders with vegetables, pesto dressing and ranch dressing) and their bucket special (includes crab, shrimp and crawfish).

various sea critters. When you walk into Fisherman’s Bucket, you almost feel like you’ve walked off the beach into a seafood restaurant. Low and high-top dining tables and booths are spread throughout with enough windows to give it a comfy but intimate feel. The patio has low-top tables with an open view of the plaza.

• The menu: Fisherman’s Bucket offers fresh seafood at an affordable price. Lam said that a lot of seafood restaurants tend to use frozen or precooked items and felt that Gwinnett needed a place where people could get fresh seafood. What also makes this establishment different is the signature sauce used to boil the

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seafood, whereas, according to Lam, most restaurants steam their products which takes away a lot of the flavor and juices. The crabs, lobsters and shrimps are boiled in their special secret sauce. The most popular item is the Hot and Juicy Jumbo Shrimp. Lam said that the hardest part of the menu was

educating the customers on the concept of the Hot and Juicy sauce. He said that he wanted people to step out of their zone and so far they have been very receptive to the concept. The lunch menu is a little more diverse than the regular menu, offering more than seafood. It has a variety of salads, sandwiches and

burgers. • Things you might not know: Within the next 3 to four weeks, the restaurant will have obtained its liquor license. During this time, a concert will be held in the parking lot where free seafood will be available. Check out the website for more details.

THEATER Locals get chance to be rich men, and women, with ‘Fiddler’ BY RACHEL SHIREY Staff Intern

ATLANTA — The Tony Award-winning musical “Fiddler on the Roof” is coming to the Fox Theatre for eight performances starting Tuesday and will feature performances from Atlanta’s local youth. The play, which will also star Broadway’s Tom Alan Robbins and Susan Cella in Atlanta’s stage performance, has received critical acclaim for bringing to the stage a poignant story about the enduring bonds of family. It has been a hit since it opened in 1964. “Fiddler on the Roof” is

IFYOUGO • What: Theatre of the Stars’ presentation of “Fiddler on the Roof” • When: Tuesday through Sunday • Where: The Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St., Atlanta • For more information: visit www.theatreofthestars.com

casting 16 members of the local youth to partake in the musical production, which includes acting and extensive choreography. Robbins and Cella both agree that working with metro Atlanta youth is going to be challenging, but fun too. It is one of the larger groups they have

been able to work with. “Let me just say, challenge is an understatement,” said Cella, who will play the character of Golde. “We are going to have a good time, and it’s going to be fun. We have become a family in this short period of time, just in the rehearsal process, so we’ll get along and we’ll figure it out together.” Robbins, who will play the character of Tevye, said the youth will be working with theatrical coaches, Robbins and Cella for assistance. They won’t be carelessly thrown on stage without guidance. “I’m sure they’re looking forward to it, and

that’s part of the fun for us, is to see young people that really love the theater and are full of energy and having fun,” Robbins said. “That helps to give us energy too.” Following plenty of hard work and concentration, Robbins and Cella both believe the youth and “Fiddler on the Roof” will be prepared for the stage, despite short rehearsals. “At its most basic level, (“Fiddler on the Roof” is) about family, and about a family that belongs to a very strong culture, and how the passing of time and changing of traditions affects that family,” Robbins said. “It’s also a very interesting story about a

way of life that is now gone.” Cella said the score is also beautiful and engaging. The audience will be able to sing along to pieces like “Sunrise, Sunset,” “If I Were a Rich Man” and “Tradition.” “You see the kids grow up, and you see them leave home and in some cases travel far away,” Cella said. “You see the sadness that all the families feel

about seeing their kids go away, but also the love and the pride they have in their kids. It’s very identifiable. I mean, almost everybody is in tears in many parts because most people have been parents and gone through their own stuff with their own kid. It’s very identifiable and very human, and I think that that’s what keeps people coming back and back and back.”

‘Last 5 Years’ coming this weekend to Duluth BY RACHEL SHIREY Staff Intern

DULUTH — The Live Arts Theatre is hosting “The Last 5 Years” at the New Dawn Theater in Duluth on Saturday and Sunday. The musical, which is a two-person production, tells the story of the last five years in a couple’s marriage. “It’s a marriage that crumbled and they both started off young, idealistic and kind of went in separate ways,” said Sherry Ingbritsen, president and artistic director at the New Dawn Theater. “She

IFYOUGO • What: The Live Arts Theatre’s “The Last 5 Years” • When: 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday • Where: The Duluth New Dawn Theater, 3087 Main St., Duluth • For more information or to purchase tickets: visit liveartstheatre.org or call Becca Parker at 603-8672200

starts in year five which is where they are getting a divorce and he starts at year one where they are just getting ready to get married.” The audience can wit-

ness the couple’s woven history through their progression in the play. The man, named Jamie, begins when the couple is thrilled to start a life together, but progresses to where it all falls apart. The woman, named Cathy, starts off on the opposite side of the spectrum. She starts off at the end asking herself why they chose to get married, and regresses to when the couple first fell in love. “It’s an interesting show,” Ingbritsen said. “It has good music, and it’s a two person show. There (are) simple sets (because) the story revolves around

week end

the music, telling the story of the last 5 years.” The Live Arts Theatre is a new theater company out of Buford hosting their first production. Ingbritsen said the production has been successful so far and they are expecting a larger audience this weekend. “It’s just a way for people to get out and have something different to get away from the regular day-to-day things going on,” Ingbritsen said. “Live Theater is very different from going and watching a movie because live theater draws you in. You become a part of whatever is happening on stage.”

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ART BEAT

Lionheart ends summer with camps, ‘Velveteen Rabbit’ Lionheart Theatre has been active this summer with drama camps for kids of all ages, but it’s not too late to get in on the action. Two more weeks of camp will be held the week of July 25-29 at Lionheart’s facility at 10 College St. in Downtown Historic Norcross. The two camps being offered are Drama and Music Camp for ages 7-13 and Advanced Musical Theatre Camp for ages 11 to adult. The camps are held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for the younger group, and 1 to 3 p.m. for the more advanced set. Also in the works at Lionheart is a production of “The Velveteen Rabbit” which opened Thursday and runs through Sunday. Performed by children, teens and young adults, this heartwarming children’s classic tells the story of a stuffed rabbit that is loved so much that he comes to life. One of the young actors participating in “The Velveteen Rabbit” is a great example of how Lionheart’s drama camps and classes can benefit young people in many ways. Maggie Nicholl, a rising third-grader at Greater Atlanta Christian School, will portray the role of Teddy Bear. Maggie’s Mom, Nan Nicholl, is very pleased with how her daughter has taken to the stage. “For a little girl who has a great sense of humor and is full of creativity and imagination, drama has helped her to share her personality outside of home,” Nan Nicholl said. Maggie wasn’t always so outgoing. “Although Mag-

ART BEAT HOLLEY CALMES

gie is very fun-loving and outgoing at home, in public she would feel anxious and shy when approached by new people and situations,” Nan Nicholl said. “I had heard about the Lionheart camp led by Sean Casey and thought it might be fun for Maggie and her sister Gigi, who is 14.” Maggie attended her first camp in 2010. “I never dreamed it would influence her in such a positive way,” Nan Nicholl said. “The camp has such a

Special Photo

Maggie Nicholl, left, will portray the Teddy Bear in Lionheart’s “The Velveteen Rabbit” through Sunday. Maggie is assisted by director Tanya Caldwell.

relaxed, home-spun feel that it’s almost like playing in the basement. Mr. (Sean) Casey has a real flare for making each child feel that they are contributing to their production no matter how small. I think Mr. Casey treats each child as if they are a star already. I was amazed when Maggie stood on stage with ease and told

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a joke,” Nan Nicholl said. After two more drama camps, Maggie is now a featured actress in “The Velveteen Rabbit.” The experi-

ences she has had in drama camp have made a visible and positive difference in her young life. “As a mother who is always looking for ways for my children to gain self-confidence, the drama camp has been a great help. I have noticed Maggie now making eye contact with others, her voice becoming stronger, and she is becoming more outgoing. But most importantly, she’s had fun,” Nan Nicholl said. “The Velveteen Rabbit” will be performed today at 2 and 7:30 p.m. On Saturday it will be shown at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, it will be performed

at 2 p.m. The ticket price is $10 for all seats. A portion of each admission is donated to the Norcross Cooperative Ministries. All shows are expected to sell out, so to ensure a seat, visit www.lionhearttheatre.org or call 678-9388518. Group rates are available. To register for summer camps, download a registration form at the theater’s website, call Sean Casey at 404-314-0668, or email him at casey196@bellsouth.net. Holley Calmes is a freelance writer and public relations consultant specializing in the arts. Email her at hcalmes@mindspring.com.

FILM FANS Watching ‘Horrible Bosses’ fun for some, hard work for others EDITOR’S NOTE: Film Fans features local residents reviewing the film of the week: “Horrible Bosses.” Want to be a film fan? Email features@gwinnettdailypost.com.

Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis star in “Horrible Bosses.” Special Photo: Warner Bros.

★★★★

(Colin Farrell). With the help of M.F. Jones (Jamie Foxx), a plan is The theater was packed and for a good reason — this devised to kill each others’ movie was completely hilari- bosses, and what ensues is a film whose cast has excellent ous. The three main characters chemistry but has enough all share something in com- holes and a weak ending to leave a slightly bitter taste in mon, they hate their bosses and are totally fed up by the your mouth. — Eddie Chin, Buford way they are treated by them. They get together and create plans to “get rid of The premise of this movie their bosses for good.” The funny part about that idea is is that three friends each none of the three could even have a boss that is horrible and makes their lives miserharm a fly. able, so the friends decide to If you want to lose yourself for a couple of hours and kill their bosses. All three men can’t just laugh until your cheeks hurt, quit, according to the plot. this is the movie to see. It’s Therefore, their only option funny enough to see twice. — Kelly Cain, Lawrenceville

★★★ ★★

is to kill the bosses. The plot did not ring true. All of the situations were so far beyond belief to begin with that the twists and turns seemed silly and contrived. One could only hope that the writers poured in enough humor to make the recipe work, but evidently the writers define humor as vulgar language and sexual innuendo. The movie misses on wordplay, slapstick, timing and situational comedy, to name only a few devices. To sum it up: A great concept that was badly written and poorly executed. I wouldn’t recommend it. — Jenni McKinney, Buford

★★★★ ★

While at many times “Horrible Bosses” is hilarious and captivating, it just isn’t quite as fulfilling as the likes of “Office Space” or “Swimming with Sharks.” Nick Hendricks (Jason Bateman) is the middle manager of a financial cubicle farm that is run by the sadistic and boisterous Dan Harken (Kevin Spacey). Dale Arbus (Charlie Day) works as a dental assistant to the temptress Dr. Julia Harris D.D.S. who loves to cross the lines of sexual harassment. Kurt Buckman (Jason Sudeikis) is a philandering accountant at a chemical waste outfit who now reports to a real jerk in Bobby Pellitt FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011 • WWW.GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM • PAGE 7

MUSIC BY VENUE 37 MAIN 37 E. Main St., Buford 678-288-2030 www.37main.com

• Today: 12 ox. Prophets • Saturday: Appetite for Destruction • Sunday: Rock Mafia • Thursday: Sin at 37 • July 22: Fly By Radio 40 WATT CLUB 285 W. Washington St., Athens 706-549-7871 www.40watt.com

• Today: Carla LeFever and The Rays, The Georgia Healers • Saturday: Zumba After Dark AARON’S AMPHITHEATRE AT LAKEWOOD 2002 Lakewood Ave., Atlanta 404-443-5000 www.livenation.com/venue/aaronsamphitheatre-at-lakewood-tickets

• July 27: Kings of Leon • July 28: Rascal Flatts with Sara Evans, Easton Corbin and Justin Moore ARENA AT GWINNETT CENTER 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth 770-813-7500 www.gwinnettcenter.com

• July 30: Ke$ha • Aug. 4-5: Keith Urban PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT GWINNETT CENTER 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth 770-813-7500 www.gwinnettcenter.com

CHASTAIN PARK AMPHITHEATER 4469 Stella Drive N.W., Atlanta 404-233-2227 www.livenation.com

• Sunday: Britney Spears • July 28: Bob Dylan and His Band with special guest Leon Russell • Aug. 2: Selena Gomez • Aug. 9: The Go-Go’s with special guest Tom Tom Club • Aug. 14: INXS with special guest Nikka Costa • Aug. 15: Stevie Nicks COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta www.cobbenergycentre.com 770-916-2800

• Today: Randy Travis • July 28: Bon Iver

BUFORD VARIETY THEATER 170 W. Main St., Buford 770-271-7878 www.bufordvarietytheater.com

• July 28: A View from the Cheap Seats starring Al Ernst, Mark Evans and Jed Fearon CENTER STAGE 1374 W. Peachtree St. 404-885-1365 www.centerstage-atlanta.com

• July 23: Ellie Goulding • Aug. 22: Matisyahu

RED LIGHT CAFE 553 Amsterdam Ave., Atlanta 404-874-7828 www.redlightcafe.com

• July 22: Lauren Fareira, Kyle Lacy and Cory White RIALTO CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 80 Forsyth St. N.W., Atlanta 404-651-4727 www.rialtocenter.org

• Wednesday-July 27: Feed Your Senses • July 29-31: God Give Me the Grace

JUSTIN BEIBER: NEVER SAY NEVER

Saturday, JULY 16 The Mike Veal Band in Concert beginning at 6:30 PM

The Village Amphitheatre

EDDIE’S ATTIC 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur 404-377-4976 www.eddiesattic.com

• Today: Larkin Poe Neulore • Saturday: Michelle Malone Banned • Sunday: Yonrico Scott Band and Coco Robicheaux • Tuesady: MilkDrive, Johnny Roquemore & The Apostles of Bluegrass • Thursday: Christabel and The Jons, Amy Black FERST CENTER FOR THE ARTS 349 Ferst Drive, Georgia Tech campus 404-894-9600 www.ferstcenter.gatech.edu

• July 27-31: “Stripped” • Saturday: Comedy Night with Jeff Allen • July 22: Meera — A Dance Drama Spectacular Play

PHILIPS ARENA 1 Philips Drive N.W., Atlanta 404-878-3000 www.philipsarena.com

FOX THEATRE 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta 404-881-2100 www.foxtheatre.org

• Today: Intense • Tuesday-July 24: Fiddler on the Roof THE LOFT 1374 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta 404-885-1365 www.centerstageatlanta.com/shows/the-loft/ • Saturday: The Girls Rock Camp ATL Camper Showcase • Tuesday: Stephen Marley • Thursday: Black Stone Cherry and Pop Evil • July 25: Christina Perri

SMITH’S OLDE BAR 1578 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta 404-875-1522 www.smithsoldebar.com

• Today: Please Please Rock Me • Saturday: Bill Callahan • Wednesday: Antigone Rising

Concert

Movie

July 23rd

10StepsBack Bulletproof

THE SANDLOT

July 30th

Chico and the Band

YOGI BEAR

THE TABERNACLE 152 Luckie St., Atlanta 404-659-9022 www.livenation.com/The-Tabernacle-tickets-Atlanta/venue/115031

• Wednesday: A Perfect Circle • July 22: John Butler Trio

Come early and take advantage of the fantastic shopping and grab a bite to eat. Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Visit Simon Guest Services for details. Movies begin at dusk. SPONSORED BY:

VARIETY PLAYHOUSE 1099 Euclid Ave., Little Five Points 404-521-1786 www.variety-playhouse.com

• July 22: Perpetual Groove • July 23: Bilal • July 24: EELS VERIZON WIRELESS AMPHITHEATER AT ENCORE PARK 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta www.ticketmaster.com/venue/11 5485 • Today: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Casablanca • Saturday: Corey Smith WILD BILL’S 2075 Market St., Duluth 678-473-1000 www.wildbillsatlanta.com • Today: Aaron Lewis • Wednesday: The Stephen Lee Band

PAGE 8 • WWW.GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM • FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011

I-85 at Exit 115, GA 20 West • Shopping Line® 678-482-8788

going to see a movie? did Michael Clark call it a stinker? a snoozer? or a joke? or did he say it was not to be missed? check out the movie reviews in the Weekend section

Gwinnett Daily Post gwinnettdailypost.com

how else would you know?

know I’m not supposed to do it, but I judged a book by its cover. VIEWPOINTS

It was late 1999 when I saw a display in Media Play of a couple of books about a boy wizard. I thought the covers looked really neat and might be fun to read. But it also looked a bit young for me as I was just about to graduate from the University of Georgia. So I put “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” back on the display. Boy was I wrong. That next year, a friend told me I needed to read this book. She had read it and thought I would really enjoy it. So I gave it a try. That book was “The Sorcerer’s Stone.” I read it in a day and went right out and got “The Chamber of Secrets.” I devoured that, too. And then “Prisoner of Azkaban.” It turns out it wasn’t too young for me, and I wanted more of the boy who could not be killed and his friends. The movies started in 2002 and I worried that Hollywood wouldn’t get them right, that the cast wouldn’t live up to what I had pictured in my head. It seems you always walk out of the theater saying,

CORINNE NICHOLSON

“The book was so much better.” I was afraid this would happen to Harry. After seeing the first film, I was impressed. They had done an excellent job casting the characters. The actors matched pretty much to what I had in my head. The acting was great and the movie stayed true to the book. I think that made a difference. If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. They continued that quality through the rest of the movies. Each one has been better than the last. So that brings us to the last movie. As soon as I closed the cover on “The Deathly Hallows,” I was sad there wouldn’t be more books, but I had something to look forward to. The last half of the book was so awesome, I immediately knew I wanted two movies. There was too much information to

do just one and I wanted the last half to have its own movie so they could do it justice. Hollywood obliged. I have been looking forward to this movie since the end of the book. It was my

favorite part of the whole series and I wanted to see it on the big screen. Since they have done so well with the rest of the movies, I had confidence they would do it right. They didn’t disappoint. Potter fans will be pleased. The battle between good and evil is as big as Hollywood could make it and I loved every minute of it. Hollywood has given Harry the sendoff he deserved and that is all I could ask for. Corinne Nicholson is deputy copy desk chief for the Daily Post. FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011 • WWW.GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM • PAGE 9

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (PG-13)

The “Harry Potter” series ends with the eighth installment, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.” Here’s a look at the seven previous “Potter” movies that have gripped audiences for 10 years. Source: Internet Movie Database

• Released: 2001 • Earned: $976 million worldwide • Trivia: Every scene in which the Sorcerer’s Stone was mentioned was filmed twice, once using “Sorcerer’s” for the U.S. and “Philosopher’s” for the rest of the world.

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pal characters. If they’re preteens, it’s an older version. If they’re near college age, it’s a recent edition. If Harry’s voice occasionally cracks and he’s not yet old enough to shave, it’s somewhere in the middle. As series sendoffs, go “DHP2” sees to every last detail and dangling plot thread with grace, style and a level of class rarely seen in mega-budget Hollywood block-

• Released: 2002 • Earned: $876 million worldwide • Trivia: During the shoot, the part of Dobby was played by a ball on a stick (he was added digitally later, of course).

busters. Even with many deaths along the way, it is decidedly life-affirming. It’s emotionally grand without being

MICHAEL CLARK

VIEWPOINTS

f for no other reason, Warner Brothers and the producers of the “Harry Potter” series (under the strict supervision of creator J.K. Rowling of course) deserve credit for achieving a single, yet seemingly impossible task. In the space of 10 years, they made eight films that represent the most successful movie franchise of all-time and while doing so didn’t churn out a single stinker. Conversely, they never delivered us a hands-down classic, either. For those of us who never read a single page of a “Harry Potter” book, the movies spawned from them have an inescapable air of interchangeable sameness, particularly from the third installment on. The only way non-believers can tell them apart is by the age of the three princi-

sappy, grandiose, synthetic or manipulative. There’s no artificial tugging of heart-strings here. As with every other previous installment, “DHP2” starts off with a bang but soon

• Released: 2004 • Earned: $761 million worldwide • Trivia: When we see the Marauder’s Map for the first time, the name Newt Scamander can be seen. In the Potter universe, he wrote the book “Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them.”

falls prey to plodding mid-section filler where not a lot happens. While fans of the books will disagree, “Deathly Hallows” didn’t need to be split in two and if it had been made as one three-hour film instead of two that run a total of about 41⁄2 hours it might have achieved true greatness. No matter how it might want to spin it, Warner Bros. made two films out of one book simply because it could. It’s hard to let go off a franchise this golden (something Warner also had to do not long ago with “The Lord of the Rings”), and it wanted to milk “Potter” for every possible drop. The moneygrubbing doesn’t end there. “DHP2” also marks the first “Potter” movie presented in 3-D. The operative word here is “presented,” as it was not shot in 3-D. This is the visual equivalent of taking a 1960s Rock song recorded in mono and “rechanneling” it into fauxstereo. There’s not a single image in “DHP2” that benefits from 3-D, something made even more glaring thanks to the black-blue-gray color palette that has permeated the last half of the franchise. As the tone of the narrative has grown darker, so have the visuals, and 3-D only makes it pronounced in a mostly negative way. There’s an image of Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) seen late in the movie that calls to mind an eerily similar one of John Lennon in “How I Won the War,” an obscure anti-war black comedy from 1967. Both men wear beige jackets, sport almost identical haircuts, wear the same granny glasses and are drenched in residual post-battle dirt, blood and sweat.

• Released: 2005 • Earned: $895 million worldwide • Trivia: Stanislav Ianevski, who plays Tri-Wizard Tournament contender Viktor Krum, has only two lines in the entire film, totaling 20 words.

• Released: 2007 • Earned: $938 million worldwide • Trivia: Much of the Ministry of Magic Atrium set design was based on the designs of London Underground.

Their characters emerged victorious after conflicts neither wanted to participate in, and each comes to the harrowing realization of the staggering cost at which it was achieved. Both lost many friends (and, in Harry’s case, loved ones) along the way which ultimately diminishes their “winning” status. While far from the world’s most talented writer, Rowling did something with her books something that hasn’t been achieved since L. Frank Baum’s “Wizard of Oz” series from the early 20th century. She prodded a worldwide generation of children to read and — more importantly — like doing it. Rowling fully deserves every cent she’s earned from “Potter” and then some. The “Potter” movies also stick to a quasi-version of the Hippocratic Oath. They took a beloved entity, transformed it into another medium, made a bunch of money and did so without doing harm. Everyone involved can take their exit with their heads held high. (Warner Bros.)

• Released: 2009 • Earned: $301 million in the U.S. • Trivia: The Death Eaters destroy the Millennium Bridge in the movie. In the book, the Brockdale Bridge is destroyed. The book is set in 1995, and the Millennium Bridge opened in 2000.

Special Photos: Warner Bros.

• Released: 2010 • Earned: $294 million in the United States • Trivia: More than 500 wands were created for the film. They are checked out and checked in before, during and after the filming day is completed. Many came back broken.

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011 • WWW.GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM • PAGE 11

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (PG-13)

PAGE 10 • WWW.GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM • FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011

• Released: 2002 • Earned: $876 million worldwide • Trivia: During the shoot, the part of Dobby was played by a ball on a stick (he was added digitally later, of course).

busters. Even with many deaths along the way, it is decidedly life-affirming. It’s emotionally grand without being

MICHAEL CLARK

VIEWPOINTS

sappy, grandiose, synthetic or manipulative. There’s no artificial tugging of heart-strings here. As with every other previous installment, “DHP2” starts off with a bang but soon

• Released: 2005 • Earned: $895 million worldwide • Trivia: Stanislav Ianevski, who plays Tri-Wizard Tournament contender Viktor Krum, has only two lines in the entire film, totaling 20 words.

• Released: 2007 • Earned: $938 million worldwide • Trivia: Much of the Ministry of Magic Atrium set design was based on the designs of London Underground.

Special Photos: Warner Bros.

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011 • WWW.GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM • PAGE 11

BY JILL LAWLESS The Associated Press

o this is the face of evil: Ice-blue eyes, an imperious brow, the sculpted features of Lucius Malfoy, the Muggle-hating wizard supremacist and implacable foe of Harry Potter. As Malfoy, 48-year-old actor Jason Isaacs has plumbed his character’s dark heart and chilled mil-

BY DAVID GERMAIN AP Movie Writer

he bad boy of Hogwarts clearly is good at his job. In person, Tom Felton

lions of moviegoers since he appeared in “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” in 2002. So it comes as a surprise — it shouldn’t but it does — to hear the British performer renounce evil. There is, he says, no such thing. Even arch-villain Lord Voldemort is not so much wicked as misguided. “No one is ever bad,” said the disconcertingly genial Isaacs, in jeans and a casual shirt looking nothing like the supercilious Lucius. “Voldemort sees

the way the world ought to be, in his own eyes, and is trying to make it that way.” Isaacs returns for a sixth and final time as the blackclad, blonde-haired warlock in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” the last film in the magical saga. The film reunites Isaacs with Helen McCrory, 42, as his wife Narcissa Malfoy, and 23-year-old Tom Felton as their son Draco, Harry’s classmate and bitter rival at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

is as amiable as they come, yet he spent his youth believably playing a creep and bully as Draco Malfoy in the “Harry Potter”

PAGE 12 • WWW.GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM • FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011

films. J u s t weeks after the franc h i s e finale, “Harry Potter and the Deathly

The Malfoys embody the dark side of J.K. Rowling’s magical world. Staunch allies of Voldemort, they uphold what they see as the purity of wizard ways and wizard b l o o d against the influence of ordinary humans, or Muggles. Isaacs said Lucius speaks “the language of separation, the language of racism, the language of eugenics.”

Hallows: Part 2,” Felton will be back as another meanie, playing a cruel primate tender in “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.” As Harry’s spiteful, scheming classmate at Hogwarts School of

“You don’t need to look very far in Europe nowadays to see politicians nowadays standing on those platforms and seemingly reasonably gathering an awful lot of followers and votes,” he said. “And you don’t need to go too far in America, either.” Such real-life complexities have helped make Rowling’s books worldwide best-sellers, with 450 million copies sold — and enriched the experience of the movies’ cast, which includes a roster of distinguished British actors. “All her characters are rounded,”

Witchcraft and Wizardry, Felton grew up as the kid “Potter” fans love to hate. Now that his run as Draco is nearly over, Felton, 23, wants people to know he’s really a nice guy. “I get a lot of journal-

• See

, Page 13

ists saying how similar are you to your character or how alike are you? God, I hope I’m not anything even remotely close other than in the way we look,” Felton • See

, Page 14

• From Page 12 Isaacs said. “They all have destinies they are struggling with or bonds that they’re breaking or internal challenges. There’s no character in “Potter” which is off the shelf. These are delicious characters to play.” Isaacs and McCrory both have a history of playing the bad guy. Isaacs’ roll call of villains ranges from Captain Hook in “Peter Pan” to Col. Tavington, the nasty redcoat who pursues Mel Gibson’s Benjamin Martin in the Revolutionary War drama “The Patriot.” McCrory is an accomplished classical actress whose stage roles have included a chilling Lady Macbeth. Less villainously, she played Cherie Blair, wife of the British prime minister, in “The Queen” and “The Special Relationship.” “Normally it’s more interesting to play the bad guy because it’s usually better written,” said McCrory, who will be appearing soon in Martin Scorsese’s film “Hugo Cabret.” ‘’Good is seen in a lot of drama today as a very, very dull thing.”

She says Rowling’s stories are rare in that “goodness is seen with the same complexity as badness.” “She has written her main protagonist as somebody who has the immensely difficult task of being good in this

world — which is for many young people now, very difficult,” McCrory said. “It’s a wonderful archetype to show to people, that you have to have intelligence and bravery and complexity and individualism in order to be good.”

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011 • WWW.GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM • PAGE 13

• From Page 12 said in an interview in London last fall. “I think we’re polar opposites. I like to think of myself as a fairly un-Draco-esque character.” Felton, who has been acting professionally since age 9, started off with different aspirations in the “Harry Potter” world. More than a decade ago, he auditioned for the title role of author J.K. Rowling’s fantasy series, a part that went to Daniel Radcliffe. Chris Columbus, who directed the first two “Potter” movies, had Felton’s hair dyed dark brown for his Harry audition. After

Radcliffe won the role, Felton said his hair was dyed ginger for an audition to play Harry’s school chum, Ron Weasley, a part that went to Rupert Grint. Felton jokes that he even tried out as Harry’s brainy friend Hermione Granger, played by Emma Watson. “Finally, Chris Columbus said, ‘Dye his hair blond and slick it back,’ and that was the birth of Draco,” Felton said. “I’m not quite sure how I felt about that one. Obviously, he saw something very malicious and horrible in me as an 11-year-old.” While disappointed back then that he did not land one of the leads, Fel-

ton said that after a decade in Draco’s skin, he would not swap his character for anyone else in the “Potter” realm. “I certainly was one of the luckiest, in my opinion, because I get to play someone who’s so different, hopefully, from myself in real life,” Felton said. “I love this role so much now, I wouldn’t want to play anything else. And more to the point, the main three play it better than anyone. As good a Hermione as I could have done, I’m pretty sure the three of them take the biscuit. They all do the job fantastically.” Raised in London, Felton began his career with a

www.gwinnettdailypost.com PAGE 14 • WWW.GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM • FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011

key role in the 1997 film fantasy “The Borrowers,” then played Jodie Foster’s son in 1999’s “Anna and the King” before landing the part as Draco. The “Harry Potter” filmmakers say that along with Radcliffe, Watson and Grint, Felton grew up on set from a relatively inexperienced child performer to an assured young actor ready for adult roles.

David Yates, who directed the final four of the eight “Potter” films, said Felton really came into his own with No. 6, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Price,” as Draco begins to regret the malice bred into him by his treacherous parents. “Seeing Malfoy get some depth in ‘Half-Blood Prince,’ that was Tom’s film in a way,” Yates said.

“He got to play a really compelling character throughout, because he’s got really awful parents, and they’re so determined to make him into this little fascist. ... Tom just benefited from the opportunity to move out from those narrow confines of, he’s sort of a nasty kid, to where you say, ‘OK, he’s a nasty kid, but inside him, he’s got something else going on.’”

HOWTIMES S MOVIE TIMES FOR FRIDAY, JULY 15

For movie showtimes for Saturday and Sunday, visit the theater websites. BUFORD REGAL CINEMAS, MALL OF GEORGIA 20

Bridesmaids (R)

Bad Teacher (R)

1:05, 4:05, 7:05, 10:00

11:10, 2:00, 5:15, 7:35, 10:00, 12:20

Cars 2 (G)

Bridesmaids (R)

2:50, 3:05, 5:25, 5:40, 8:00, 8:15

10:40, 1:25, 4:10, 7:50, 10:35

Cars 2 3-D (G)

Cars 2 (G)

1:35, 4:10, 6:45, 9:15

1:30, 7:30

Green Lantern (PG-13)

Cars 2 3-D (G)

7:30, 10:00

10:50, 4:10, 10:15

Mr. Popper’s Penguins (PG)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (PG-13)

1:00, 3:05, 5:20 The Hangover Part 2 (R)

10:10, 11:00, 11:30, 12:15, 1:15, 2:00, 2:30, 3:20, 4:20, 5:05, 5:35, 6:25, 7:25, 8:10, 8:40, 9:30, 10:30, 11:10, 11:40, 12:35, 1:35

Bridesmaids (R)

10:45, 1:05, 3:30, 6:00, 8:25, 10:50

9:50, 12:45, 7:05, 12:30

Bridesmaids (R)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 3-D (PG-13)

Cars 2 (G)

10:10, 1:10, 4:15, 7:10, 10:10

1:30, 7:10, 12:20

Cars 2 (G)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 IMAX 3-D (PG-13)

9:45, 12:50, 3:55, 7:00, 1:10 Horrible Bosses (R)

11:20, 1:50, 4:20, 6:45, 8:00, 9:10, 10:25, 11:35, 12:50 Larry Crowne (PG-13)

10:45, 1:30, 4:30, 7:30, 9:55, 12:30 Monte Carlo (PG)

10:50, 1:35, 4:30, 7:00, 9:40, 12:30 Mr. Popper’s Penguins (PG)

10:20, 1:00, 3:20, 5:40 Super 8 (PG-13)

9:15, 11:55 The Hangover Part II (R)

5:15, 10:10, 12:40 Transformers: Dark of the Moon (PG-13)

11:30, 12:55, 3:05, 4:25, 6:20, 7:50, 9:40, 11:10, 1:00 Transformers: Dark of the Moon 3-D (PG-13)

10:15, 12:20, 1:50, 3:45, 5:10, 7:10, 8:30, 10:30, 11:55 Winnie the Pooh (G)

10:10, 12:15, 2:50, 4:55, 7:15

Cars 2 3-D (G)

9:20, 11:50, 2:25, 5:10, 7:50, 10:20

10:45, 4:15, 9:45

Green Lantern (PG-13)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (PG-13)

10:30, 11:55, 12:50, 1:35, 3:00, 3:55, 4:40, 6:05, 7:00, 7:45, 9:10, 10:05, 10:50, 12:15 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 3-D (PG-13)

10:10, 11:00, 12:15, 1:15, 2:05, 3:20, 4:20, 5:10, 6:25, 7:25, 8:15, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:35 Horrible Bosses (R)

12:30, 2:55, 5:25, 8:10, 11:00 Larry Crowne (PG-13)

11:30, 1:55, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30, 11:55 Midnight in Paris (PG-13)

12:15, 2:55, 5:30, 8:00, 10:45 Monte Carlo (PG)

11:40, 2:15, 4:50, 7:30, 10:10 Mr. Popper’s Penguins (PG)

10:40, 1:00, 3:20, 5:40, 8:00 Super 8 (PG-13)

10:35 Transformers: Dark of the Moon (PG-13)

12:05, 2:25, 4:45, 7:40, 11:15

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 3-D (PG-13)

9:10, 10:55, 12:15, 2:00, 3:20, 5:05, 6:30, 8:10, 9:35, 11:10, 11:15 Horrible Bosses (R)

10:40, 1:00, 3:25, 5:55, 8:20, 10:50 Larry Crowne (PG-13)

11:00, 1:35, 4:20, 6:55, 9:30 Monte Carlo (PG)

11:20, 2:05, 4:50 The Hangover Part II (R)

7:35, 10:15 Transformers: Dark of the Moon (PG-13)

11:10, 2:40, 6:15, 9:45pm Transformers: Dark of the Moon 3-D (PG-13)

9:30, 11:40, 1:45, 3:45, 5:50, 8:00, 10:00

10:20, 12:10, 3:30, 5:10, 7:20, 10:40, 11:50 Winnie the Pooh (G)

Bad Teacher (R)

9:45, 10:20, 11:30, 12:45, 1:25, 2:35, 3:55, 4:25, 5:40, 7:00, 7:30, 8:45, 10:05, 10:35

Transformers: Dark of the Moon 3-D (PG-13)

10:00, 12:10, 1:10, 2:40, 4:00, 6:30, 7:40, 9:00, 11:30

9700 Medlock Bridge Road, Suite 170 770-814-8437 www.regalcinemas.com

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (PG-13)

9:15, 10:15, 12:40, 1:40, 4:05, 5:20, 7:40, 8:50

Zookeeper (PG)

REGAL CINEMAS, MEDLOCK CROSSING 18

11:15, 2:10, 5:00, 7:45, 10:40

1:00, 1:50, 4:25, 7:55, 8:30, 11:20

X-Men: First Class (PG-13)

DULUTH

CARMIKE 12 SNELLVILLE 1905 Scenic Highway Presidential Market Center 770-979-1519 www.carmike.com

3333 Buford Drive 678-482-9263 www.regalcinemas.com

10:30, 11:55, 1:35, 2:55, 4:40, 6:05, 7:45, 9:10, 10:50, 12:15

SNELLVILLE

11:45, 3:10, 7:00, 10:05 9:55, 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:50 Zookeeper (PG)

12:20, 2:50, 3:40, 5:20, 7:50, 10:00, 10:35

Winnie the Pooh (G) Zookeeper (PG)

10:00, 10:50, 12:35, 1:30, 3:10, 4:10, 5:45, 6:55, 8:25, 9:30

AMC DISCOVER MILLS 18 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite 415 678-847-9265 www.amctheatres.com

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (PG-13)

Lincoln Lawyer (R)

9:55, 10:30, 11:35, 12:50, 1:35, 2:40, 3:55, 4:40, 6:00, 7:00, 7:50, 9:10, 10:10, 10:55, 11:15, 11:45, 12:15

Soul Surfer (PG)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 3-D (PG-13)

11:05, 12:05, 2:10, 3:10, 5:25, 6:30, 8:40, 9:40, 11:45, 12:35 Horrible Bosses (R)

11:55, 2:30, 4:55, 7:30, 10:00, 12:20 Kung Fu Panda 2 3-D (PG)

10:05, 12:20, 2:45 Larry Crowne (PG-13)

10:15, 12:45, 3:25, 6:20, 8:50 Monte Carlo (PG)

2:25 Super 8 (PG-13)

10:15, 12:45, 3:25, 6:20, 8:50 Transformers: Dark of the Moon (PG-13)

10:00, 12:25, 1:30, 5:05, 7:40 Transformers: Dark of the Moon 3-D (PG-13)

11:00, 11:50, 2:35, 3:30, 6:10, 7:10, 9:50, 10:40 Winnie the Pooh (G)

10:25, 12:35, 2:50, 4:50, 7:05 X-Men: First Class (PG-13)

4:10 Zookeeper (PG)

10:45, 12:30, 1:25, 3:15, 4:15, 6:55, 8:45, 9:35

GEORGIA THEATRE CO., TOWN CENTER VALUE 700 Gwinnett Drive, No. 216 678-985-2222 www.georgiatheatrecompany.com

1:20, 4:20, 7:20, 9:50 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:40 Madea’s Big Happy Family (PG-13)

1:05, 4:05, 7:05, 9:35 Rango (PG)

12:35, 2:50, 5:05 , 7:20, 9:40

1:30, 4:30, 7:30,10:00 Transformers: Dark of the Moon (PG-13)

1:30, 2:35, 5:00, 6:10, 9:00, 9:45 Transformers: Dark of the Moon 3-D (PG-13)

1:15, 4:10, 4:50, 7:45, 8:25 Zookeeper (PG)

1:05, 2:55, 3:25, 5:15, 5:45, 7:35, 8:00

Thor (PG-13)

1:10, 2:05, 4:10, 5:05, 7:10, 8:05, 9:45

VENTURE CINEMA 12 3750 Venture Dr. 678-957-9545 www.venturecinema12.com

REGAL SNELLVILLE OAKS 14 2125 E. Main St., Snellville 770-972-7469 www.regalcinemas.com Bad Teacher (R)

9:55, 12:00, 2:05, 4:10, 6:15, 8:20, 10:25, 12:30

Fast Five (PG-13)

12:45, 3:45, 6:40, 9:20

9:15, 12:00

Hanna (PG-13)

1:10, 4:15, 7:10, 9:35 Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil (PG)

1:30, 4:20, 7:00, 9:35 Hop (PG)

1:05, 4:05, 7:05, 9:15

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (PG-13)

10:05, 12:10, 2:15, 6:40 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (PG-13)

9:45, 10:30, 11:55, 12:50, 1:35, 3:05, 3:55, 4:40, 6:05, 7:00, 7:45, 9:10, 10:05, 10:50, 12:15

Judy Moody and The Not Bummer Summer (PG)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 3-D (PG-13)

1:35, 4:35, 7:25, 9:30

10:10, 12:15, 1:15, 3:20, 4:20, 6:25, 7:25, 9:30, 10:30, 12:35

Jumping The Broom (PG-13)

1:00, 4:00, 6:55, 9:45 Limitless (PG-13)

1:10, 4:15, 7:30, 9:50 Priest (PG-13)

1:05, 3:55, 6:50, 9:25

Horrible Bosses (R)

10:10, 12:30, 2:50, 4:20, 5:00, 7:30, 8:45, 9:50, 11:00, 12:10 Larry Crowne (PG-13)

10:15, 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:15, 9:30, 11:45

Rango (PG)

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (PG-13)

1:15, 4:10, 7:00

12:00, 5:50

Rio (PG)

1:25, 4:30, 7:30, 9:50

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides 3-D (PG-13)

2:55, 8:45, 11:45

Judy Moody and The Not Bummer Summer (PG)

Thor (PG-13)

Bad Teacher (R)

COLONIAL 18 THEATRES

11:25, 1:50, 4:20, 6:40, 9:20, 11:50

12:30, 3:00, 5:20, 7:40, 10:00

10:00, 12:20, 2:55, 5:20, 7:50, 10:20

Cars 2 (G)

Jumping The Broom (PG-13)

Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family (PG-13)

825 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road 770-237-0744 www.amctheatres.com

10:00, 1:40, 4:30, 7:15

1:15, 4:15, 7:15, 9:50

1:20, 4:10, 7:05, 9:30

11:55, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00, 12:30

Green Lantern 3-D (PG-13)

Rio (PG)

X-Men: First Class (PG-13)

Bad Teacher (R)

11:00

12:35, 3:05, 5:15, 7:40, 10:00

12:00, 2:45, 5:30, 8:15, 11:00

LAWRENCEVILLE

Green Lantern (PG-13)

11:20

1:15, 4:25, 7:00, 9:40

Fast Five (PG-13)

Water For Elephants (PG-13)

2:00, 5:00, 8:00

9:25

Monte Carlo (PG) Super 8 (PG-13) Winnie the Pooh (G)

10:30, 12:15, 2:00, 3:45, 5:30, 7:15

FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011 • WWW.GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM • PAGE 15

MOVIES DISC SPOTLIGHT MICHAEL CLARK

Rango (Blu-ray + DVD Combo) (PG) Movie: ★★★★ Discs: ★★★★ Sporting far more obscure classic movie references than it probably should, “Rango” pulls off the rare feat of pleasing adults, children and critics and thus far is the best animated film of 2011. Johnny Depp voices the title character, an amphibian house pet that gets lost, goes back in time and ends up being hired as the sheriff in a corrupt western

town in the throws of a severe drought. Special features include: • Deleted scenes • Storyboard reel with picturein-picture feature • Behind-thescenes featurette • Real Creatures of Dirt • Interactive Dirt feature • Extended, unrated cut • Alternative ending (Paramount, $44.99)

Lights, camera,

questions Test your film knowledge with Michael Clark So, you think you’re good at movie trivia? Every week, we give readers the opportunity to flex their movie muscles by answering five trivia questions from our movie critic, Michael Clark. Congratulations to last week’s winner, Allen Hercules of Lawrenceville.

PAGE 16 • WWW.GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM • FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011

The first person to respond with all the correct answers receives a prize package of movie-related goodies, which could 1. In what state was Dr. include promotional TNow, for this week’s Hannibal Lecter licensed shirts, hats, posters, DVDs, questions: to practice medicine? video games and more. The A: Maryland winner also gets their name 1. What Best Picture 2. Name two of the three published in the next Weekstates in which “Thelma & winner was also the first movie to use a Steadicam end section. Please email Louise” was set. your answers, along with during filming? A: Arkansas, Oklayour name to clark2. Name a David homa and Colorado Mamet play to be adapted writer@mindspring.com. 3. Burt Reynolds Include “Gwinnett Daily attended what college on a into an Oscar-nominated Post Trivia Contest” in the film. scholarship for what 3. What was the civilian subject line. In the event no sport? one answers all of the occupation of the Tom A: Florida State for questions correctly, the Hanks character in “Savfootball person with the most coring Private Ryan?” 4. What non-fictional, rect answers submitted by 4. What ’90s blockpost-Civil War event is buster was filmed on loca- 6 p.m. the Monday after part of the plot in “Little the contest is posted will be tion at Alcatraz prison? Big Man?” 5. Who was the world’s the winner. Only one winA: The Battle of Little ner per household is eligihighest-paid actress in Big Horn, aka, Custer’s ble each 30-day period. 2010? Last Stand Here are last week’s questions again and the answers:

5. In what movie did Kirsten Dunst play a professional athlete? A: “Wimbledon”

MOVIES

A ‘BETTER’ PERSPECTIVE

Latest from director Chris Weitz puts face on illegal immigration issue A Better Life (PG-13) ★★★★ ★

dug in deep, and that’s not the filmmakers’ mission. All they want you to do is see something from a dif-

ferent perspective and on that level they succeed in spades. (Summit Entertainment)

BY MICHAEL CLARK Movie Critic

Far too artsy to capture the attention of mass audiences, “A Better Life” should at least rein in a few people who are at opposite sides of the ongoing, teethgnashing illegal immigration debate. Unlike so many political, societal and fiscal issues currently engulfing the nation, illegal immigration has very little middle ground. Almost everyone has a strong opinion about it one way or the other. Unlike the shameless and vastly inferior “Under the Same Moon” from 2007, “A Better Life” doesn’t have an axe to grind, is completely apolitical and doesn’t choose sides. With a little tweaking it could have been made to look like a documentary; it’s that unbiased and non-judgmental. Considering the volatile powder-keg nature of the movie’s subject matter, that’s a big deal. “A Better Life” finds director Chris Weitz revisiting his indie roots while distancing himself as far as possible from two recent big-budget disasters (“The Golden Compass” and “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”). The son of two movie industry parents, Weitz (often collaborating with his brother Paul) can do the ridiculous (“American

Special Photo: Summit Entertainment

Jose Julian and Demian Bichir star in “A Better Life.”

Pie”) as well as the sublime (“About a Boy”) even if the results aren’t always stellar. Following the minimalist lead laid out by screenwriter Eric Eason and story creator Roger L. Simon, Weitz takes a fly-on-the-wall approach to the material by being stingy with the plot details. The audience is privy to events only at the same time as the characters, which lends the film a marked thriller aspect. Best of all, the movie steadfastly avoids anything resembling predictability or forced, only-inthe-movies false uplift. Matching the filmmakers’ bare-bones approach is Demian Bichir as Carlos, an L.A. gardener and single parent with drive but also a man acutely aware of the limitations inherent with being in the US illegally. He dutifully works from dusk

until dawn for a pittance while considering his bosses’ offer to buy the business outright and take the next steps toward his American dream. Carlos’ unwavering ethics and dedication to his family would put those of many natural-born Americans to shame. Offering almost too much literal and metaphysical contrast to Carlos is Luis (Jose Julian), his teen son who barely attends school, abhors work and shows all signs of joining a local gang. Like far too many parents these days, Carlos accepts Luis’ slack attitude as a matter of course and would rather endure torture than stir the metaphorical pudding. Thanks to, or rather because of, Eason’s sharp and concise screenplay, the revealing of any further details of the plot would be

a disservice to potential viewers. It is however safe to say that a single unpleasant event brings Luis and Carlos together in a way neither would have ever imagined and will forever change their respective opinions of each other. The movie’s only misstep — and it is huge — comes with the last scene, one that goes far in strongly supporting the arguments held steadfastly and unwaveringly by those on one side of the immigration argument. It would be extremely difficult for anyone to sit through “A Better Life” and not have their opinion regarding illegal immigration altered even just a little — and that goes for those on both sides of the fence. It’s not likely to radically change the minds of anyone FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011 • WWW.GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM • PAGE 17

MOVIES NOWSHOWING

THE FANS HAVE SPOKEN Weekend asked its Facebook fans which work-related movie was their favorite, and an apparent case of the Mondays vaulted “Office Space” to the top with more than 61 percent of votes. “9-to-5” ties up second place with 19 percent. Cast your vote in this week’s poll by visiting our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GDPWeekend. WALL STREET

4.7% 14.3%

19.0%

NETWORK

61.9%

9 TO 5

Follow week end

on Facebook www.facebook.com/ GDPWeekend PAGE 18 • WWW.GWINNETTDAILYPOST.COM • FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2011

OFFICE SPACE

Recently reviewed films now playing in area theaters: • Horrible Bosses (R) Good, but not great, pseudoblack comedy featuring three upper-middle class white guys whining about their jobs who consider murdering their respective bosses (Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston and Kevin Spacey) who end up

stealing the show. 21⁄2 stars — Michael Clark • Cars 2 (PG) The sequel to the least popular title in Pixar studio history also turns out to be its first out-and-out clunker. While containing an interesting riff/parody on James Bond spy thrillers, the movie’s multiple international story lines slow it down to a crawl. 2 stars — MC

GWINNETT CALENDAR Saturday The Aurora Theatre will host Aurora Dance Nights at 8 p.m. Saturday at 550 Trackside at 550 N. Clayton St. in Lawrenceville. For more information, visit www.auroratheatre.com or call 678-226-6222 to purchase tickets.

Tuesday Books-A-Million at Discover Mills will present author Mary Kay Andrews at 7 p.m. Tuesday at 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville. The author will be signing her book “Summer Rental.” For more information, call 678-847-5115.

July 23 The Avenue Webb Gin will present the movie “Rango” as part of its Screen on the Green series at 6:30 p.m. July 23 at The Avenue Webb Gin, 1350 Scenic Highway in Snellville. For more information,

call Edith Murad at 404407-2310.

July 28 The city of Duluth will host Quite A Catch, Comic and Educational Juggling as part of its Brown Bag Lunch Series from noon to 1 p.m. July 28 at the Duluth Town Green, 3578 W. Lawrenceville St. For more information, call Jayne Madigan at 678-4753512.

“Flicks on the Bricks” outdoor movie series with “Rango” at 8:50 p.m. at Town Green, 3142 Hill St. in Duluth. The pre-event activities will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will feature GNG kid zone family area — bag tosses, ball tosses and bubble area — and a hula hoop contest with prizes. For more information, visit www.duluthga.net or call 770-476-3434.

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Aug. 20 Aug. 6 The Avenue Webb Gin will present the movie “Gnomeo and Juliet” as part of its Screen on the Green series at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 6 at The Avenue Webb Gin, 1350 Scenic Highway in Snellville. For more information, call Edith Murad at 404-407-2310.

Aug. 12 The city of Duluth will continue its annual

The Avenue Webb Gin will be showing the movie “Megamind” at sundown Aug. 20 at 1350 Scenic Highway in Snellville. The family-friendly movie series will also feature children’s activities at 6:30 p.m. including bounce house, face painting and balloon art. Meal deals will be available from participating restaurants at The Avenue Webb Gin. For more information, call 404-407-2310.

METRO CALENDAR Today Steve Earle and the Dukes (and Duchess) featuring Allison Moorer will perform at Concerts in the Garden today at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, 1345 Piedmont Ave. N.E. in Atlanta. Tickets are $39.50. For more information, visit www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

Saturday The Arts Council Inc. Summer Musicfest will continue with an outdoor concert series featuring the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. Saturday, gates open at 6 p.m. The rain date will be Monday. The concert will be held on the Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center’s lawn at 331 Spring St. S.W., Gainesville. Tickets are $35 for adults, $32 for

seniors, $28 for students; $320 for a table (8). For more information, or to buy tickets, visit www.theartscouncil.net/aso _musicfest.html.

Monday Fifth Row Center will be holding auditions for “Arsenic and Old Lace” at 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the studio, 5509 Main St. in Flowery Branch. For more information, email info@fifthrowcenter.com or call 678-3577359.

Thursday The Arts Council will present “Rango” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday on the Smithgall Arts Center’s lawn at 331 Spring St. S.W., Gainesville. The event will also feature face painting, magicians, art

stations and a jump house. For more information, visit www.theartscouncil.net/mo vies.html.

July 22 Emmylou Harris will perform at the Concerts in the Garden on July 22 at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, 1345 Piedmont Ave. N.E. in Atlanta. Tickets are $52.50. For more information, visit www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

For more information, contact Valerie Green at 770.963.9205 ext. 1201 or email at valerie.green@gwinnettdailypost.com

July 23 The Eagle Eye Book Shop will host bestselling author John Ferling at 2 p.m. July 23 at 2076 N. Decatur Road in Decatur. For more information, contact Doug or Charles Robinson at doug@eagleeyebooks.com or charles@eagleeyebooks.com.

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