Larchmont Chronicle
FEBRuary 2018
SECTION ONE
19
Most enjoyable movies of 2017, ‘Van Gogh’ to ‘Zookeeper’
Here is my list of the 20 most enjoyable films I saw during 2017. The films are rated solely on how much I enjoyed them, not rated as I would rate an Oscar winner. But don’t look for any of these among nominated films because I rate them on how well they are made and how entertaining they are without respect for how The Academy judges them, which is more often than not influenced more by political correctness these days. This was the worst year in my memory for movies. However, I didn’t see everything. 1. Loving Vincent: How good is this? I avoid animated films like the plague. So for me to name this, purporting to reveal the real story of the demise of Vincent van Gogh animated by oil painters in the style of van Gogh, as the best of the year, it’s gotta be something special! 2. Maudie: Sally Hawkins is getting all the Oscar raves for “The Shape of Water” but you’ll never see a better performance than what she gives in this, a film so good it blew me away. 3. Rebel in the Rye: A compelling portrait of the elusive J.D. Salinger that had me mesmerized. 4. I, Tonya: Gives a completely different take on Tonya Harding but worth seeing also for the supporting performance of Paul Walter Hauser who plays a villain dumber than a rock. 5. The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee: If you pay attention to this fascinating documentary, you will realize that, hidden by his charm, he was not an admirable man or an honest, unbiased newspaperman. 6. Paris Can Wait: Like a fine
wine, this ages well. The more I think about it, the better I like it. 7. Wind River: The only movie I paid to see, and it was worth every penny. 8. 13 Minutes: The unknown true story of an heroic attempt to assassinate Hitler in 1939. 9. The Promise: Finally, Hollywood shines a spotlight on the shameful Turkish genocide of over one million Armenians during WWI, something that is a fact of history but which the deceitful Turks deny, just as the Japanese deny their equally despicable “comfort women” program that confined hundreds of thousands of Asian women to sexual slavery in the ’30s and ’40s. And it’s a good, suspenseful movie to boot. 10. The Journey: This fictional dialogue between Ian Paisley (Timothy Spall), the closedminded leader of the Protestants, and Martin McGuiness
(Colm Meaney), the leader of the Irish Republican Army, who had never met but hated
At the Movies with
Tony Medley each other, does what movies should do; it educates and entertains at the same time. 11. Thank You For Your Service: This is a brilliant film with realistic battle scenes at the beginning and important revelations that finally leaving the battle and returning home is actually just the beginning for our brave warriors, rather than the end of the strife. 12. Only the Brave: An eyepopping movie about what it’s really like to fight a fire.
13. The Greatest Showman: Good music and dancing, and I came out of it feeling good, even though I knew the story was Hollywood Hokum. 14. Marshall: A charming young Thurgood Marshall before joining the U.S. Supreme Court and as you’ve never seen him. 15. Downsizing: I went into this thinking it was really a dumb idea and not expecting much, but as it turns out it is believable enough to tell an interesting story. 16. The Dinner: A psychological thriller about two couples with a lot of problems; for a fairly long film full of talk, the pace is outstanding. 17. Beatriz at Dinner: What sets this film apart is the party dialogue of the exceptional script. Most movies that try to display slice-of-life dialogue fail dismally because it is so stilted and phony. But the dialogue in this film is so true to the char-
acters’ respective personalities that it expertly displays a realistic interaction of such a group. 18. American Made: Based on a True Lie: The lie is that this is a true story; but, regardless, this is an entertaining, wellmade film, with good pace and action. 19. Beauty and the Beast: Despite lots of flaws, an enjoyable trip. 20. The Zookeeper’s Wife: Notwithstanding being a calculatedly sexist movie (made entirely by women) that purposefully minimized the heroism of the husband, it’s still a fine movie and a good entertainment. Also worth seeing: “Live by Night,” “The Lost City of Z,” “A Woman’s Life,” “Atomic Blonde,” “Baby Driver,” “The Comedian,” “Lady Macbeth,” “Midnight Return,” “Kong: Skull Island,” “Victoria and Abdul,” and “War for the Planet of the Apes.”
&EVENTS
2018 ACTIVITIES
LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION: YEAR OF THE DOG: Sunday, January 28, 12-5pm: Celebrate the Lunar New Year on Gilmore Lane with martial arts & cooking demonstrations, cultural performances, live music, crafts and befitting the Year of the Dog – a giant cake for dogs and pet adoptions!
MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION: Saturday & Sunday, February 10 & 11, All Day & Fat Tuesday, February 13, 6:30-8:30pm: L.A.’s favorite Mardi Gras celebration features Cajun and Zydeco bands galore, down home Southern cookin’, the Mutti Gras Pet Parade, bead throwing and much more.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION: Saturday Evening, March 17: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with traditional Irish food and live music. Magee's Kitchen will be serving their famous corned beef, cabbage and potatoes. Green Beer and imported Irish beers will be on tap from E.B's and Bar 326.
FRIDAY NIGHT MUSIC AT THE MARKET: Friday Evenings, May 25–August 31, 7–9pm: Free concert performances every Friday on the West Patio featuring L.A.’s best musicians.
24TH ANNUAL GILMORE HERITAGE AUTO SHOW: Saturday, June 2, 11am– 5pm: Nearly 100 breathtaking American classics are on display throughout the Market; everything from customs, hot rods, trucks and more! This year's theme is Low & Slow – A Tribute to American Lowriders. TASTE OF FARMERS MARKET: Tuesday, July 24, 5-9pm: For one evening only, our merchants take you on a strolling gastronomic and shopping adventure throughout the Market, letting you enjoy delicious food and live music. Ticket info will be available on farmersmarketla.com in early June. M E T R O P O L I TA N FA S H I O N W E E K C O S T U M E D E S I G N E R S COMPETITION: Thursday, September 20, 6:30pm: Join us as Metropolitan Fashion
NEW YEAR festivities last year at the Farmers Market included colorful dragon dancers and martial arts demonstrations.
Year of the Dog at The Grove, Farmers Market
Party like it’s 4716! Celebrate the new lunar year — the Year of the Dog — at Farmers Market and The Grove on Sat., Jan. 28 from noon to 5 p.m. Martial arts demonstrations, lion and dragon dances and live music will be featured. Themed crafts, cooking demonstrations and pet adoptions and pet-themed events will be also offered. Red lanterns and mandarin orange trees will decorate the sites in honor of the Eastern calendar new year, which takes effect Feb. 16.
Week hosts the opening ceremony to its annual costumer designer's competition in the Farmers Market Plaza. Our trolley tracks will transform into a fashion show runway, and you, the audience, will pick the winning design!
FALL FESTIVAL: Saturday & Sunday, October 13 & 14, All Day: A favorite event since 1934, Fall Festival features a bounty of live music, a petting zoo, arts & crafts for kids, world famous pie-eating contests and more! HANUKKAH CELEBRATION: Sunday, December 2, 2:30-5 pm: Celebrate Hanukkah with the lighting of a giant Lego menorah, music and arts and crafts.
CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES: December 19-24: The Market is decked out in Yuletide finery to welcome the season. Celebrate the holidays with music, arts & crafts, variety shows, Dickensian carolers and more.
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“MEET ME AT THIRD FAIRFAX” All activities & events are free unless otherwise noted. Schedule is subject to change.
6333 W. THIRD ST. • LOS ANGELES • 323.933.9211 /FARMERSMARKETLA Insta
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