360 january 22, 2015

Skagit Valley Herald

Thursday

January 22, 2015

TUNING UPThe Troy Fair Band plays the Edison Inn on Saturday night PAGE 9

THIS WEEKEND Antiques Discovery event set for Saturday in Mount Vernon PAGE 3

MUSIC REVIEWS Meghan Trainor, Mark Ronson, The Decemberists PAGE 15

‘ROMEO & JULIET: THE

MUSICAL’ PLAYS THE

LINCOLN IN MOUNT

VERNONON STAGE, PAGE 8

E2 - Thursday, January 22, 2015 Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com

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ON THE COVERDylan Kane is Romeo and Katherine Fisher is Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet: The Musical,” which opens Jan. 30 at the Lincoln Theatre. For details, see On Stage on Page 8. Lindsey Bowen photo

YOUR ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION GUIDE TO WHAT’S GOING ON IN SKAGIT COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS

Tuning Up / Page 9

[email protected]: 5 p.m. Friday for the following Thursday edition

Phone360-416-2135

Hand-deliver1215 Anderson Road Mount Vernon, WA 98274

Mailing addressP.O. Box 578 Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Online events calendarTo list your event on our website, visit goskagit.com and look for the Events Calendar on the home page

HAVE A STORY IDEA?Contact Features Editor Craig Parrish at 360-416-2135 or [email protected]

TO ADVERTISE360-424-3251

InsideOut & About ....................................5-6

Travel .................................................. 7

On Stage ............................................. 8

Tuning Up........................................... 9

Get Involved ..................................... 10

Hot Tickets ....................................... 11

Eagle Festival.................................... 12

New on DVD..................................... 12

At the Lincoln ................................... 13

Movies .........................................14-15

Music Reviews .................................. 15

Knut Bell and the Blue Collars play H2O in Anacortes on Saturday night

Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com Thursday, January 22, 2015 - E3

THIS WEEKENDin the area

Winter film series

CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH NATURE Codi Hamblin, Program Outreach coordinator at North Cascades Institute, along with Group Program coordinator Andriana Fletcher, will present “All About the North Cascades Institute” at 6:30 p.m. today, Jan. 22, at the Mount Vernon City Library, 315 Snoqualmie St., Mount Ver-non. Learn about the organization’s work to connect people, nature and community in Skagit Valley, and how you can get involved. Free. 360-336-6209 or mount-vernonwa.gov/library.

TIMEBANK SOCIAL Fidalgo and Friends TimeBank Social & Potluck will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. today, Jan. 22, at the Anacortes Center for Happiness: 619 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. Bring a potluck dish to share and your own place settings. transitionfidalgo.org.

TRAIL BUILDERS Mount Vernon Trail Builders seeks volunteers to help with trail building and maintenance at Little Mountain Park in Mount Vernon. Planned projects include a new trail and bicycle skills park. Family-friendly work sessions are held from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays, rain or shine. Lunch, snacks, tools and training provided. 360-336-6215 (Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation) or mountvernontrailbuilders.com.

ANTIQUES DISCOVERY The American Asso-ciation of University Women will hold the eighth annual Antiques Discovery event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland St. Have your antique goods evaluated by certified appraisers. $15 per item; limit three items. Proceeds support scholarships for area students. Registra-tion required: 360-422-5341.

Enjoy free film screenings at 7 p.m. Fridays at the Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th St., Anacortes. Films will be introduced by Movie Man Nick Alphin. Free. 360-293-1910, ext. 21, or library.cityofanacortes.org. Next up:

Jan 23: “The King of Masks” (drama): An aging street perform-er, master of Sichuan Change Art, yearns for an heir to inherit the secrets of his art. He finds a candidate that has a profound and unexpected effect upon his life.


H e knows that when he enters a room, his reputation precedes

him. At age 74, with a long and legendary career behind him, he’s well aware that he can easily intimi-date people.

They look at him and see Michael Corleone from “The Godfather,” Sonny Wortzik from “Dog Day Afternoon,” Tony Montana from “Scarface,” Ricky Roma from “Glengarry Glen Ross.” Eight Oscar nominations and one win. Two Tonys. Two Emmys. He’s Al Pacino!

He knows all of this. He feels it every day. And yet, even after all these years, it still somehow seems to surprise him.

“When I talk to people, no matter where I go, they want to talk about things I’ve done,” Pacino said on a recent afternoon. He paused. “That’s so interest-ing to me. People ask me about the ’70s — some-times I just say, ‘I don’t remember the ’70s!’”

In person, Pacino goes out of his way to put oth-ers at ease, to shrink him-self to human size. (That he’s only 5-foot-7 helps.) Shy by nature, in his early years of superstardom he built a protective wall around himself and could come across as remote and inscrutable.

But over the years he’s become more at ease with being a public figure. Now he doesn’t mind doing interviews. He seems inter-ested in reflecting on his own life and work and has even appeared on stage around the country in the past year in a one-man show, sharing stories and answering audience mem-bers’ questions. “It’s just talking,” he said.

He smiles frequently. He cracks jokes. He’s comfort-able showing vulnerability, pulling himself out of his

seat at one point with a wince and pacing around to alleviate the pain of a long-standing rotator cuff injury. (“When it flares up, I’m not too fun to be around.”)

Where some may see an icon, he says he sees himself as just a working actor who’s trying to get it right — and not always suc-ceeding.

“When I do a part, it’s an empty canvas,” he said. “I don’t know anything about acting. I’m not exag-gerating. I must know a lot about acting if I’ve done it this much, but I don’t feel like I know it. I go, ‘What

am I going to do?’ There are some times I just can’t put anything on that can-vas. I either get lucky or I just don’t do it well.”

In the new film “The Humbling,” which opens Friday after a brief Oscar-qualifying run last month, Pacino plays an aging actor who finds himself unable to put anything on the can-vas. Deep into a career as an acclaimed stage actor, Pacino’s Simon Axler sud-denly feels his talents and his desires — and his grip on reality — starting to slip away.

“He’s feeling the ravages

of time: the memory going, the stamina going, the tools eroding,” Pacino said. “The panic sets in and the break-down comes when he real-izes, ‘What will I do with my life? How will I live?’ ”

As an actor himself, Pacino can certainly relate to Simon on some level, but he’s quick to put distance between himself and the role. “That’s one of the reasons I took my name off as a producer,” he said. “I thought, ‘Gee, they’re going to think it’s this biography of me.’ ”

Though the film has earned mixed reviews, crit-

ics have praised Pacino’s performance as one of his best in years, on par with his similarly nuanced turns on the small screen as Jack Kevorkian in the 2010 HBO film “You Don’t Know Jack” and as Phil Spector in a 2013 HBO movie on the notorious record producer, who was convicted in 2009 of mur-dering actress Lana Clark-son. In The Times, Gary Goldstein called Pacino’s turn in “The Humbling” “inventive, dizzying, pro-found and often hilarious.”

In the original 2009 Philip Roth novel on which

the film is based, Axler’s descent into despair is unremittingly grim. But Pacino, who is a longtime fan of Roth’s and optioned the book, saw the potential for dark comedy in the aging actor’s plight and brought on director Barry Levinson and screenwriter Buck Henry to help draw it out.

“We thought it needed to be funnier,” he said. “That would help buoy up this dirge, this tragic jour-ney. Otherwise, who would want to watch that?” Loose and occasionally surreal, the film was made for just $2 million, with much of the filming done in Levin-son’s Connecticut home. “We felt like we had to do it on the run, so to speak,” Pacino said. “I like working that way.”

Pacino has certainly earned the right to para-chute into a movie and just coast on his Pacino-ness — and, in fact, though he’s managed to hold on to a greater degree of dignity than some of his peers, he has been accused of occasionally doing that. (“Pacino looks half asleep throughout, no doubt con-centrating solely on his cheque,” one British critic wrote of his work in the 2008 thriller “88 Minutes.”)

But Levinson — who first met the actor in 1979 when they worked together on the courtroom drama “… And Justice for All,” which Levinson co-wrote, and later directed him in “You Don’t Know Jack” — said Pacino isn’t one to phone in a performance.

“He has such an appetite to learn, to try, to experi-ment,” Levinson said. “He’s not locked into his ways. He jumps in, and he’s willing to sink or swim. There is no caution to the work, and that’s what makes it so exciting to work with him.”

MOVIES

At 74, Al Pacino is still chasing that next great roleStory by JOSH ROTTENBERG / Los Angeles Times t Photo courtesy Alchemy via TNS

Al Pacino (center) is shown in a scene “The Humbling.”


OUT & ABOUT

ARTPAINTINGS AT THE ART

BAR: Original artwork by La Conner artist Dee Doyle is on display through Jan. 31 at the Lincoln The-atre Art Bar, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon. Doyle’s watercolor, mixed media, acrylic and encaustic paint-ings have been displayed at a number of regional art shows, including La Con-ner’s Annual Art’s Alive! 360-336-8955 or lincoln theatre.org.

“A FESTIVE COLLEC-TION”: Check out a col-lection of new paintings by Anne Martin McCool, McCool Gallery artists and guests continuing through January, at 711 Commer-cial Ave., Anacortes. Par-ticipating artists include Peter Belknap and Cathy Schoenberg, paintings; Tracy Powell, sculptures; Stephen Roxborough and Bryce Mann, photography; Patsy Chamberlain, Cathy Schoenberg, Marguerite Goff and Barbara Hatha-way, ceramics; George Way and Art Learmonth, wood; Carole Cunningham and Debbie Aldrich, jewelry; Martha Tottenham, hand-woven scarves; Jane Hyde, baskets; Vicki Hampel, gourd art; and other artists. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. 360-293-3577 or annemartinmccool.com.

JENNIFER BOWMAN: ACRYLICS: The show continues through Jan. 27 at Scott Milo Gallery, 420 Commercial Ave., Ana-cortes. The exhibition fea-tures Bowman’s brilliantly colored floral, landscape and nautical paintings. Also showing: acrylics by Cyn-thia Richardson, oils and pastels by Amanda Hous-ton, photo encaustics by Kathy Hastings, and pho-tography by Lewis Jones, Dick Garvey and Randy

Dana. The gallery is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday or by appointment. 360-293-6938 or scottmilo.com.

NEW WORK: An exhi-bition of new work by Matt French and Pieter VanZanden continues through Jan. 25 at Smith &

Vallee Gallery, 5742 Gilkey Ave., Edison. The show features artwork by local skateboarding legend Matt French and Smith & Vallee Woodworks’ own Pieter VanZanden.

French grew up riding skateboards and snow-boards in Lynden, and got his start as a working art-

ist in the late 1990s after submitting artwork to Thrasher Magazine and to friends at Mervin Mfg. He has been making art ever since as a contributing art-ist for Volcom, Vans, Gnu, Lib Tech and more.

VanZanden, who was born in Coupeville and grew up in Oak Harbor,

uses his background in construction as well as his life experiences to create his artwork. He endeavors to change his medium and materials every month, utilizing everything from garbage to scrap wood to children’s toys, to create work that forces viewers to see the world around them in new ways.

The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 360-766-6230 or smithand vallee.com.

BILL BALL “FIREBALL”: A show of abstract expres-sionist and surrealist paint-ings by longtime Skagit County resident Bill Ball continues through January at the Rexville Grocery, 19271 Best Road, Mount Vernon. 360-466-5522 or rexvillegrocery.com.

NORTHWEST ART: Three new exhibits contin-ue through March 11 at the Museum of Northwest Art, 121 S. First St., La Conner. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Free admission. 360-466-4446 or monamuseum.org.

“Still Life from the Per-manent Collection”: Exhi-bitions director Lisa Young examines interiors through the historically rich tradi-tion of the still life. Recent acquisitions are featured, along with works by Mark Tobey, Walter Isaacs, Maxine Martell, Spencer Moseley and contempo-rary artists drawn from the museum’s permanent col-lection.

“A Tree is a Kind of Big Flower: Flora C. Mace and Joey Kirkpatrick”: Mace and Kirkpatrick present botanical sculptures and sensitive casein paintings that pay homage to their deep reverence for the outside world. By capturing the essence of a flower or a

tree stump, the artists invite the viewer to witness the elegance of a tiger lily or the husky texture of moss-covered bark.

“Adrianne Smits: Immer-sion Redux: Buiten (Out-side)”: Smits’ painting style invokes similarities to artists of the “mystic painters” movement in the Northwest, such as Mark Tobey, Morris Graves and Guy Anderson. Smits says, “In larger compositions I interpret and emphasize visual details from my encounters with nature in order to communicate the complexity of natural sys-tems beyond their cursory picturesque value.”

NEW QUILT SHOWS: Three new shows continue through March 29 at the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum, 703 S. Second St., La Conner:

“Night Thoughts with Larkin Van Horn”: A couple years ago, Van Horn started keeping a notebook near her bed to jot down stray ideas in the night. Sometimes she’d wake up to find unintelligible scrib-blings that made no sense, and some ideas were just plain weird. But what did emerge were some recur-ring themes that turned into the short series pre-sented in this exhibit: Shat-tered Circles, Labyrinths and Celtic Spirals, Gaia/Goddess Figures and Trees, as well as a collection of nonseries works on a vari-ety of themes. Van Horn sometimes dyes or paints her own fabrics, but also uses commercial batiks. Placing design elements on top of the backgrounds — whole cloth or fused collage — she adds stitch-ing and embellishments, often incorporating fibers or beadwork in the finished piece.

Continued on Page E6

SCULPTURE, PAINTINGS, AND PHOTOS

A show of artwork by David Eisenhour, Todd J. Horton, Ed Kamuda and Norman E. Riley continues through Feb. 22 at Gallery Cygnus, 109 Commercial St., La Conner. Also on display are new paintings by Maggie Wilder and sculptures by Clayton James. New to the gallery is Bellingham photographer Norman E. Riley, who creates an aesthetic conundrum, requiring each assemblage he photographs to contain the same three qualities. Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, 360-708-4787 or gallerycygnus.com. Pictured: Todd J Horton, “Flight by Starlight”


“Freddy Moran’s Col-lage”: Artist and author Frederica “Freddy” Duffy Moran is known for her unbridled use of bold color and original designs. Moran’s love for quiltmak-ing began later in life, at age 60, after she had excelled at other art forms. Her quilts have appeared in national and international publica-tions, including magazines, art books, calendars, text-books and quilt books. She is the author of “Freddy’s House: Brilliant Color in Quilts” and co-author of “Collaborative Quilting” with Gwen Marston.

“Antique Embroidered Quilts”: Crazy quilts, Redwork, Bluework and cross-stitch embroidered quilts are included in this exhibition. Crazy quilts were popular from 1880-1920s; the earlier quilts are often made of silk fabrics and embellished with a variety

of embroidery stitches. Red-work embroidery became popular for linens and quilts by the end of the 19th cen-tury. Embroidery continued in the 1930s with a large variety of patterns made available through newspa-pers, magazines and by mail order. After World War II, cross-stitch kit quilts rose in popularity.

The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Admission: $7, $5 students and military with ID, free for members and ages 11 and younger. 360-466-4288 or laconner quilts.org.

ART & DESIGN OPEN HOUSE: The Gail Harker Center for Creative Arts will host an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at 12636 Chilberg Road, just outside La Conner. Check out the multimedia artwork and sketchbooks of Certificate in Art & Design students who have just completed two and a half years of study with Harker. Visit with the students and learn about their artistic journey and themes they’ve explored. Free. 360-466-0110 or gailcreativestudies.com.

JURIED ART EXHIBIT: Meet the artists of the Spring Juried Exhibit during an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at the Jansen Art Center, 321 Front St., Lynden. The exhibition will showcase the work of artists from around the region. The show will continue through May. 360-354-3600 or jansenartcenter.org.

LECTURES AND TALKS

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: Tom Loranger of the Washing-ton State Department of Ecology will discuss water resources management in Washington as part of

Western Washington Uni-versity’s Huxley College of the Environment Speaker Series, at 4 p.m. today, Jan. 22, in Communications Facility room 120 at Western Washington University in Bellingham. Loranger will discuss current challenges and successes in managing the needs of diverse groups that compete for Wash-ington’s water resources, including our rapidly grow-ing populace, the sustainable agriculture community, and the sport, commercial and tribal fishing communities. Free. 360-650-2554.

MEET THE COMPOSER: Take advantage of two opportunities to hear com-poser Conrad Askland dis-cuss his new musical adap-tation of William Shake-speare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” with performances set for Jan. 30-Feb. 15 at the Lin-coln Theatre in Mount Ver-non. Askland is the music director for “Rock of Ages” with Norwegian Cruise Line in New York, former music director with Cirque Du Soleil, and composer of the musicals “Witches!” and “PAN.”

n 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, Mount Vernon City Library, 315 Snoqualmie St., Mount Vernon. 360-336-6209 or mountvernonwa.gov/library.

n 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th St., Anacortes. 360-293-1910, ext. 21, or library.cityofanacortes.org.

MUSICDRUMBEATS: Indigenous

Voices of the Valley”: Skagit Valley College will host a panel of Native American tribal leaders for a discus-sion of contemporary cul-tural topics at 11:30 a.m. today, Jan. 22, at 2405 E. Col-lege Way, Angst Hall room 129, Mount Vernon. Panel members will include Tracy James, Swinomish Education director; Brian Wilbur, Swin-

omish Tribal senator and Health/Education/Social Services Committee chair from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community; and Adam Lorio of the Samish Indian Nation. The public is invited. 360-232-6026.

MORE FUNGAME NIGHTS: The

Upper Skagit Library District is holding a free weekly Board Game Night for all ages from 5 to 8 p.m. Fridays, through Feb. 27, at 5b’s Bakery, 45597 Main St., Concrete. Team Trivia Night will take place Friday, Feb. 6. Guests can enjoy hot drinks, baked goods and ice cream for sale. 360-853-7939 or upperskagit.lib.wa.us.

HISTORIC EXHIBIT: “Death Becomes Her: Mourning Fashions” con-tinues through March 15 at the Skagit County Histori-cal Museum, 501 S. Fourth St., La Conner. The exhibit features mourning items from the museum’s collec-tion. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission: $5 adults, $4 seniors and ages 6-12, $10 families, free for members and ages 5 and younger. 360-466-3365 or skagitcounty.net/museum.

SEATTLE BOAT SHOW: The 68th annual Seattle Boat Show will run Jan. 23-Feb. 1 at CenturyLink Field and South Lake Union, with free shuttle service between venues. For a complete schedule, admission costs and more information, visit seattle boatshow.com.

FOSSIL FUEL EXPORTS: Matt Krogh will present “Fossil Fuel Exports and the Northwest: Why our thin green line of resistance is so important” at Transition Fidalgo’s next 7th Genera-tion Supper at 6 p.m. Tues-day, Jan. 27, at the Senior

Activity Center, 1701 22nd Ave., Anacortes. Suggested donation: $5 adult, $3 ages 10 and younger. Bring your own bowl, cup and place set-tings. transitionfidalgo.org.

ILLUMINIGHT WINTER WALK: Learn to create a paper lantern and then enjoy a 15-20 minute well-ness walk along the Skagit Riverwalk from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, in downtown Mount Vernon. Instructions and lantern creation begin at 4 p.m. at Tri-Dee Arts, 215 S. First St., followed by the walk south along the Riverwalk at 5 p.m., ending at Ristretto for hot chocolate and apple cider. The free community event is presented by the Mount Vernon Downtown Association in conjunction with Mayor Boudreau’s Winter Wellness Week. For information, contact Cathy Stevens at 425-321-7433.

LOCAL MEDICAL HIS-TORY: “Doctor, Doctor: A History of Healing in Skagit County” will run Jan. 30-April 12 at the Skagit County Historical Museum, 501 S. Fourth St., La Conner. The exhibit will showcase items from the museum’s permanent collection relat-ing to dentistry, surgery, vin-tage medications and even veterinary medicine. Also on display will be a variety of artifacts from Northern State Hospital. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission: $5 adults, $4 seniors and ages 6-12, $10 families, free for members and ages 5 and younger. 360-466-3365 or skagitcounty.net/museum.

GEM SHOW: The 50th annual Sweetheart of Gems Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 7-8, at the Oak Harbor Senior Activity Cen-ter, 51 SE Jerome St., Oak Harbor. Check out a variety

of displays, demonstrations, vendors and door prizes. Free admission. 360-279-4580.

TULIP FEST AMBAS-SADOR EVENT: One boy and one girl will be selected as the 2015 Tulip Festival Ambassadors at 5 p.m. Tues-day, Feb. 10, at the Cascade Mall center court, 201 Cas-cade Mall Drive, Burlington. The public is invited to watch as fourth- and fifth-grade boys and girls from Skagit County compete for the honor based on their responses to questions from the judges. The winners will represent the festival at events around the county and beyond. Student appli-cations must be submitted by 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5. For information or an appli-cation, contact the Tulip Fes-tival office at 360-428-5959 or tulipfestival.org.

FREE MOVIE: The Skagit Valley Food Co-op will host a free screening of “Fed Up” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 202 S. First St., Mount Vernon. “Upending the conventional wisdom of why we gain weight and how to lose it, ‘Fed Up’ unearths a dirty secret of the American food industry — far more of us get sick from what we eat than anyone has previously realized. Filmmaker Stepha-nie Soechtig and TV jour-nalist Katie Couric lead us through this potent expose that uncovers why genera-tions of American children will live shorter lives than their parents did,” according to a news release. 360-336-9777 or skagitfoodcoop.com.

VALENTINE’S DAY DANCE: Dance to the big band music of Camano Junction from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at Camano Center, 606 Arrowhead Road, Camano Island. $15, includes snacks. No-host bar available. 360-387-0222 or camanocenter.org.

360.416.7727mcintyrehall.org

Family ConcertSkagit Symphony

January 25

Metales M5Mexico’s leading

Brass QuintetFebruary 3

Las Cafeteras

Afro-Mexican rhythms & hip-hop beats from LA

February 6

OUT & ABOUT


TRAVEL

By LYNN O’ROURKE HAYESThe Dallas Morning News

Take time to learn about the animals and commands that are part of a dog sled adventure. Here are five to consider.

1. Paradise Valley, Mon-tana: Lead dogs Thunder and Quila will pull your sled through the snowy won-derland of the Absaroka Mountain wilderness east of Montana’s scenic Paradise Valley. Layer up and choose a half- or full-day adventure. Your family will learn how to encourage these Alaskan huskies along the trail. A three-day mushing school is also offered. Later, relax in the steamy waters at Chico Hot Springs Resort

or take a horse-drawn car-riage from the historic inn. chicohotsprings.com; absaro-kadogsledtreks.com

2. McMillan, Michigan: Meet seven-time Iditarod finisher Ed Stielstra, his wife, Tasha, and their team of 135 Alaskan huskies. Drive a dog team or relax in the sled through the pristine wilderness of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Spend a few hours or overnight with your team for a star-filled adventure. Add to the winter adventure with snow tub-ing, skiing or snowshoeing to the ice caves in nearby Marquette. All-inclusive packages are available. natureskennel.com

3. Quebec, Canada: Dog sledding is popular through-

out the snowy regions of Quebec. Choose a tour that lasts several hours or one that lasts several nights. A guided, seven-night adven-ture will give you the chance to sleep in a teepee, a rustic cabin or in more luxuri-ous digs. For those ready to expend a little more energy, try ski pulka, a combination of dog sledding and cross-country skiing. bonjourque-

bec.com4. Fairbanks, Alaska:

Journey aboard Alaska Rail-road’s Aurora Winter Train to see the snow-covered Last Frontier and embark on a dog-sledding voyage. Travel from Fairbanks to Coldfoot, near the Gates of the Arctic National Park, to learn about caring for a sled team above the Arctic Circle. In the summer, heli-

copter in to the majestic Chugach Mountains and onto Punch Bowl Glacier to enjoy a scenic ride powered by sled dogs. alaskarailroad.com; travelalaska.com

5. Troy, New Hampshire: Meet the sled dogs from the Muddy Paw Kennel while staying at the Inn at East Hill Farm, a working farm in southern New Hampshire. With Mount Monadnock as

your backdrop, help harness the team ahead of a 30-min-ute ride into the woods. Throughout your stay, hang out with the animals and collect eggs, groom the pony, and help milk the cow and goat. The all-inclusive experience includes three meals and an extensive list of family-friendly activities. 1-800-242-6495; east-hill-farm.com

Local travel TRAVEL TALKS: Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th St., Anacortes, will host the following talks: “More Lesser-Known Parks”: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28. Explorer Roxanne Parish features more of the relatively unknown National Park treasures of the U.S. “Wild Encounters: The Sacred & Profane”: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4. Author, photographer and naturalist Christina Nealson shares tales and images of wildlife she encountered during a 10-year RV odyssey. “Researching a Backcoun-try Book”: 7 p.m. Wednes-day, Feb. 11. Fishing author John E. Moore presents a slideshow of Washington, Idaho and Montana back-country he visited while doing research for his fish-ing and hiking books. All talks are free. 360-293-1910, ext. 21, or library.cityofanacortes.org.

CRUISE SEMINAR: A free presentation highlighting Viking Cruises will be held

at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, at AAA Travel and Cruise, 1600 E. College Way, Suite A, Mount Vernon. RSVP: 360-848-2090.

SENIOR CENTER TRIPS: Skagit County Senior Cen-ters offer short escorted trips departing from and returning to local senior centers. Call the Anacortes Senior Center at 360-293-7473 or sign up at your local senior center. Next up: Northwest Flower & Gar-den Show: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13. Venture to Seattle to check out the annual gardening extravaganza, with show gar-dens, dozens of free horti-cultural seminars, hundreds of marketplace exhibitors and more. $59. Register by Feb. 4. “Pompeii: The Exhibition” at the Pacific Science Cen-ter in Seattle: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18. Experience Pompeii before and after the epic eruption of Mount Vesuvius some 2,000 years ago. Witness the final moments of those entombed in ash, includ-

ing the largest collection of body casts ever presented. $79. Register by Feb. 6.

SHORT TRIPS: Mount Ver-non Parks and Recreation offers travel opportunities for ages 8 and older (adult supervision required for ages 18 and younger). Trips depart from and return to Hillcrest Park, 1717 S. 13th St., Mount Vernon. For infor-mation or to register, call 360-336-6215. Next up: Bakeries Galore Tour: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14. Visit award-winning bakeries and gourmet specialty stores in the greater Seattle area. Includes exploration of Pike Place Market. $55-$57. Register by Feb. 6. Chinese New Year Cel-ebration: Year of the Ram: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22. Check out the 42nd annual Spring Festival Cel-ebration in Vancouver, B.C. Proof of citizenship (current passport, enhanced driver’s license or NEXUS card) is required to cross the border. $68-$70. Register by Feb. 17.

FAMILY TRAVEL FIVE

Heed call of the wildWeb buzz It’s as if your coolest cousin gave you the scoop on the hippest things to do in her city and put it in this app. Quick, give her a large tip before she thinks you’re not worthy of it. Name: Sosh — City Guide Available: iOS Cost: Free What it does: Acts as a city guide to fun things to do and see (you choose your interests and neighborhood preferences) curated by real

people gathering info from local weekly magazines, newspapers and niche websites such as Thrillist, Eater, Zagat, 7x7, New York magazine and more. Cur-rently available for Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C. What’s hot: The app goes way beyond the usual guide-book recommendations to suggest unique things to do such as eat at a pop-up restaurant, discover the city’s best artisanal cock-tails or speak-easies, shop

at a sample sale and more. I found a sushi-making and sake-pairing workshop in San Francisco on Valentine’s Day under “Date Nights,” Stargazing with Astronomy Enthusiasts in Seattle, Culi-nary Fight Club: Top Chef Meets Pop-Up in Chicago, and Bespoke Cocktails & Jazz Underground in New York City. Also available: upcoming events by the week and social sharing. What’s not: It asks you upfront if you’re living in one of its destinations. So I lied

to get past this velvet rope and start exploring. After all, the chances of me traveling to visit family in either San Francisco or New York are high. When I started look-ing at other cities, I could say I’m “just browsing” or let them know “I’ve moved there.” Why do they care? Seems a little nitpicky to me. How about an option instead to request or vote on a new city?

n Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times

E8 Thursday, January 22, 2015 Skagit Valley Herald / goskagit.com Thursday, January 22, 2015 E9

ON STAGE in the Skagit Valley and surrounding area January 23-February 1 TUNING UP Playing at area venues January 22-28

Friday.23THEATER

Neil Simon’s “Rumors” (comedy): 7:30 p.m., Anacortes Community Theatre, 918 M Ave., Anacortes. $18. 360-293-6829 or acttheatre.com.

Saturday.24THEATER


Murder Mystery Dinner Theater: Whidbey Improv Team, 6:30 p.m., Best Western Plus Harbor Plaza & Confer-ence Center, 33175 Highway 20, Oak Harbor. Dress as your favorite comic book hero; prizes for best individual and group costumes. $38, $65 couple. 360-679-4567 or whidbeyplayhouse.com.

Sunday.25MUSIC

Family Concert: Skagit Symphony, 2 p.m., McIntyre Hall, 2501 E. College Way, Mount Vernon. $10 adults, free for ages 15 and younger. 360-416-7727, ext. 2, or mcintyrehall.org.

THEATERNeil Simon’s “Rumors” (comedy):

2 p.m., Anacortes Community Theatre, 918 M Ave., Anacortes. $18. 360-293-6829 or acttheatre.com.

Thursday.29THEATER


Friday.30DESSERT THEATER

“The Rainmaker” (romantic com-edy): Alger Lookout Thespian Associa-tion (ALTA), 7 p.m., Alger Community Church, 1475 Silver Run Lane, Alger. $12-$14. 360-424-5144 or altatheatre.com.

THEATER“Romeo & Juliet: The Musical”:

7:30 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon. $10-$22. 360-336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org.


Saturday.31DESSERT THEATER

“The Rainmaker” (romantic com-edy): Alger Lookout Thespian Associa-tion (ALTA), 7 p.m., Alger Community Church, 1475 Silver Run Lane, Alger. $12-$14. 360-424-5144 or altatheatre.com.

THEATER“Romeo & Juliet: The Musical”:

7:30 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon. Festival seating; all tick-ets $10, available at the door two hours before curtain. 360-336-8955 or lincoln theatre.org.


Sunday.1THEATER

Neil Simon’s “Rumors” (comedy): 2 p.m., Anacortes Community Theatre, 918 M Ave., Anacortes. $18. 360-293-6829 or acttheatre.com.

THURSDAY.22 FRIDAY.23

SATURDAY.24

SUNDAY.25

Slim Fat Lips (roots, blues, classic rock): 5 to 8 p.m., The Woolley Market, 829 Metcalf St., Sedro-Woolley. 360-982-2649.

I Will Fight With Lions, Cellars and Attics, Cadence: 9:30 p.m., The Shake-down, 1212 N. State St., Bellingham. $3. 360-778-1067.

Conway West, The Dovetails: 7:30 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. 360-445-3000.

Expertease (’80s, ’90s, current top 40 rock): 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Skagit Valley Casino Resort, Win-ners Lounge, 5984 N. Darrk Lane, Bow. No cover. 877-275-2448.

Marcia Kester: 6:30 p.m., Mount Vernon Elks, 2120 Market St., Mount Vernon. 360-848-8882.

Jimmy Wright: 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Big Lake Bar & Grill, 18247 Highway 9, Mount Vernon. 360-422-6411.

Gentri Watson (Americana, country): 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Anelia’s Kitchen & Stage, 513 S. First St., La Conner. 360-399-1805.

Andrew Norsworthy: 8 p.m., Rockfish Grill, 320 Commer-cial Ave., Anacortes. 360-588-1720.

El Norte: 7 p.m., Conway Muse, 18444 Spruce/Main, Conway. $7. 360-445-3000.

Expertease (’80s, ’90s, current top 40 rock): 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Skagit Valley Casino Resort, Win-ners Lounge, 5984 N. Darrk Lane, Bow. No cover. 877-275-2448.

Tayla Lynn (country): 6:30 p.m., Eagles Lodge ball-room, 901 Seventh St., Anacortes. $20 advance, $25 day of show. 425-303-1848.

Jimmy Wright: 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Big Lake Bar & Grill, 18247 Highway 9, Mount Vernon. 360-422-6411.

John Delorme: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Anelia’s Kitchen & Stage, 513 S. First St., La Conner. 360-399-1805.

Knut Bell and the Blue Collars: 7:30 p.m., H2O, 314 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-755-3956.

Troy Fair Band: 8:30 p.m., Edison Inn, 5829 Cains Court, Edison. No cover. 360-766-6266.

Deadly D, Cruel As Kidz, Double B & Laces: 10 p.m., The Shakedown, 1212 N. State St., Bellingham. $6. 360-778-1067.

Country Dave: 5:30 p.m., Edison Inn, 5829 Cains Court, Edison. No cover. 360-766-6266.

Gary B’s Church of Blues: Jam night, 6 to 10 p.m., Conway Pub & Eatery, 18611 Main St., Conway. 360-445-4733.

Fidalgo Swing: 6 p.m., Rockfish Grill, 320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-588-1720.

WEDNESDAY.28

RJB photo

THURSDAY.24TROY FAIR BAND8:30 p.m., Edison Inn, 5829 Cains Court, Edison. No cover. 360-766-6266.

THURSDAY.24KNUT BELL AND THE BLUE COLLARS7:30 p.m., H2O, 314 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. 360-755-3956.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY.30-31“ROMEO & JULIET: THE MUSICAL”7:30 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, 712 S. First St., Mount Vernon. Check individual listings for ticket prices. 360-336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org.

Lindsey Bowen photo


GET INVOLVED

AUDITIONSTULIP FEST AMBASSA-

DORS: Fourth- and fifth-grade boys and girls from Skagit County can compete to be selected as the 2015 Tulip Festival ambassadors at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Cascade Mall center court, 201 Cascade Mall Drive, Burlington. Based on their responses to ques-tions from the judges, one boy and one girl will be chosen to represent the fes-tival at events around the county and beyond. Appli-cations must be submitted by 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5. For information or an application: 360-428-5959 or tulipfestival.org.

DANCEFOLK DANCING: Skagit-

Anacortes Folkdancers meet at 7 p.m. most Tues-days at the Bayview Civic Hall, 12615 C St., Bay View. Learn to folkdance to a variety of international music. Instruction begins at 7 p.m. followed by review and request dances until 9:30. The first session is free, $3 thereafter. All welcome. No partners needed. For information, contact Gary or Ginny at 360-766-6866.

SCOTTISH DANCING: Bellingham Scottish Coun-try Dancers meet from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Fairhaven Library audi-torium (upstairs), 1117 12th St., Bellingham. Wear com-fortable clothes and soft-soled shoes without heels. $8 per class. For informa-tion, call Mary Anderson at 360-933-1779 or visit bell inghamscd.org.

THURSDAY DANCE: Dance to The Skippers from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Thurs-days at Hillcrest Lodge, 1717 S. 13th St., Mount Vernon. For information, contact Gisela at 360-424-5696.

CLOG DANCING FOR BEGINNERS: Free lesson from 10 to 11 a.m., fol-lowed by regular clog danc-ing from 11 a.m. to noon Thursdays, Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleve-land St., Mount Vernon. No fee, no partner needed. First three lessons are free. Wear comfortable shoes. For information, call Rosie at 360-424-4608.

MUSICCALL FOR MUSICIANS:

5b’s Bakery, 45597 Main St., Concrete, is looking for musicians to perform easy-listening acoustic music from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during Sunday Brunch. In exchange, musicians will receive audience contribu-tions and a meal. 360-853-8700 or [email protected].

TIME FOR FIDDLERS: The Washington Old Time Fiddlers play acoustic old time music at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Fridays of each month at the Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland. St. Free; donations accepted. 360-630-9494.

SKAGIT VALLEY MUSIC CLUB: The club welcomes performers (intermediate and above), listeners and guests to join the fun at 1:45 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at Vasa Hall, 1805 Cleve-land St., Mount Vernon. Come and sing, play the club’s piano or organ, play your own instrument or just enjoy a variety of music — ’20s to ’70s classical, popu-lar, western and gospel. Free. For information, call Elaine at 360-428-4228.

SHELTER BAY CHORUS: Practices are held from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m. every Thursday at the Shelter Bay Club-house in La Conner. New members welcome. No need to be a Shelter Bay

resident. 360-466-3805.

LOVE TO SING? Join the women of Harmony North-west Chorus from 6:30 to 9 p.m. every Monday at the Mount Vernon Senior Cen-ter, 1401 Cleveland Ave. Seeking women who like to sing a cappella music. All skill levels welcome.

ANACORTES OPEN MIC: 9:30 p.m. Thursdays, Brown Lantern Ale House, 412 Commercial Ave., Ana-cortes. 360-293-2544.

OPEN MIC: Jam Night: 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Thurs-days, Conway Pub & Eat-ery, 18611 Main St., Con-way. 360-445-4733.

RECREATIONKIDDIE CAMP: Mount

Vernon High School cheer-leaders will host the annual Kiddie Camp for K-5 students from 6 to 7 p.m. today, Jan. 22, in the MVHS cafeteria, 314 N. Ninth St., Mount Vernon. Participants will perform during half-time of the boys’ varsity basketball home game on Friday, Jan. 23. Registra-tion: $35. For informa-tion, contact coach Khalie Whitman at 360-438-6100, ext. 41252, or [email protected].

GUIDED INTERPRETIVE WALKS:

n Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center, Howard Miller Steelhead Park, 52809 Rockport Park Road, Rockport. Join the Forest Service and trained naturalists for a guided eagle ecology walk near the Skagit River at 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 31. The center also offers guest speakers each weekend and a gift shop. Free.

n Rockport State Park, 51095 Highway 20, Rock-port. Join trained natural-ists for a guided hike to

learn about old growth forests, eagle habitat and more from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays through Sundays through Feb. 15. Visit the Discovery Center for crafts activities. Refreshments provided. Discover Pass required.

n Marblemount Fish Hatchery, 8319 Fish Hatch-ery Road, Marblemount. Tour the fish hatchery with Skagit Fisheries Enhance-ment Group volunteers from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Feb. 1. Learn about the salmon life cycle, hatchery operations, habitat needs of salmon and other local wildlife, including bald eagles. Self-guided tours are available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Free.

BOATING COURSE: Skagit Bay Sail & Power Squadron will offer its Boat Engine Maintenance Course from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays, Feb. 23-April 27, at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon. The course includes inboards, out-boards and diesel engines, and covers the basics of engine layout and opera-tion, drive systems, steer-ing systems and engine controls, as well as problem diagnosis and do-it-yourself repairs. $150, $175 for two sharing a book. Space is limited. Register by Feb. 5. Contact George Johnson at 360-420-0795 or georgeand [email protected].

THEATERFREE ADULT ACTING

CLASSES: Anacortes Com-munity Theatre offers free acting classes for adults from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the third Saturday each month at 918 M Ave., Anacortes. Hosted by Nello Bottari, classes include theme monologues, scripted scenes, improv games and more, with a different topic each month. Each class is

independent, so you don’t have to commit to every session. 360-840-0089 or acttheatre.com.

WORKSHOPS“WRITING FOR CHIL-

DREN: Narrative Nonfic-tion: Creating the Story from Facts”: with Lois Har-ris, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 29 and Feb. 5, Skagit Valley College, 2405 E. Col-lege Way, Mount Vernon. Participants will look at back matter, characteriza-tion, dialogue, organization/plot, point of view, voice and setting in biographies, picture books, and middle and young-adult nonfiction. $49. Call 360-416-7638 to register for 6085 CENGL.

PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS-ES: Skagit Valley profes-sional photographer Andy Porter will present a series of digital photography class-es at the Burlington Parks and Recreation Center, 900 E. Fairhaven Ave., Burling-ton. Porter’s photos have appeared in many national magazines and travel guides. Classes will include lots of hands-on experience and answers to your photo questions. For ages 12 and older. Bring your digital SLR camera and instruction manual. Preregister at least one week before class date: 360-755-9649 or burlington wa.gov.

“Take Better Pictures with Your Digital DSLR Camera”: In this one-day class, you’ll learn how to shoot in manual mode, and how to set aperture, shutter speed and ISO to get the best possible shots. Class will also cover how to bracket your exposure, use of polarizers, benefits of capturing images in the RAW format and more. $40.

Next up:n Saturday, Jan 31: 10

a.m. to 12:30 p.m.n Tuesday, Feb. 10: 6 to

8:30 p.m.

“Photography Composi-tion and Basic Editing”: In this two-day class you’ll first learn about image composition, including sub-ject placement, use of the horizon, reflections, leading lines, the Rule of Thirds, framing and more. You’ll then receive a photo assign-ment to complete before the second session, where you’ll learn how to edit your images on the com-puter, including cropping, color adjustment, filters and amazing ways to make your images pop. Participants must have basic knowledge of how to use their DSLR camera. $80.

Next up:n Wednesday, Jan. 28: 6

to 9 p.m.n Saturdays, Feb. 21 and

28: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

PHOTO WORKSHOPS: Alternative Focus will offer two workshops on process-ing digital photographs using Adobe Lightroom software. Classes will meet in the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce boardroom, 819 Commercial Ave., Anacortes. Participants are invited to bring a laptop computer with Lightroom installed and images already in the library. Handouts will be provided.

“Take Control in Light-room: Organizing and Workflow for a New Year”: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27. Learn how to do a little Lightroom house-keeping and reset your copyright metadata.

“Take Control in Light-room: Get Creative With Lightroom Presets”: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28. Learn how to use Lightroom presets to add a touch of creative flair to your images and take them to the next level.

$30 each class or $50 for both. To register: 360-588-6968 or [email protected].


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Join Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff Davis, and Joel

Murray for a wildly entertaining night of

improv comedy.

LIVE MUSIC: THE MACHINE JANUARY 23RD & 24TH 9PM- 1AM

TOWER OF POWER: Jan. 22-25, Dimi-triou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com.

WALE: Jan. 23, The Showbox, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

LYNN ARIELLE WITH GRACE KELLY AND CARLA COOK: Jan. 27-28, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com.

PIERCE THE VEIL, SLEEPING WITH SIRENS: Jan. 28, Showbox SoDo, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

RUSS FREEMAN AND THE RIPPING-TONS: Jan. 29-Feb. 1, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com.

G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE: with Matt Costa: Jan. 30, The Showbox, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

“THE RAINMAKER”: Jan. 30-Feb. 15, Alger Community Church, Alger. 360-424-5144 or www.altatheatre.com.

“ROMEO & JULIET, THE MUSICAL”: through Feb. 15, Lincoln Theatre, Mount Vernon. 360-336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org.

BILL FRISELL: Jan. 31, The Showbox, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

KIP MOORE: Jan. 31, Showbox SoDo, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

MELISSA ALDANA AND CRASH TRIO: Feb. 2, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com.

2015 SASQUATCH! MUSIC FESTIVAL LAUNCH PARTY: Hosted by Chris Gethard, with Ty Segall, Tacocat, The Young Evils: Feb. 3, The Neptune, Seattle. Free tickets available at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Paramount Theatre box office.

MARCIA BALL: Feb. 3-4, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com.

LOGIC: Feb. 5, The Showbox, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

“RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CAR-OUSEL”: Feb. 5-March 1, 2015, The 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle. 888-584-4849 or 5thavenue.org.

JEFFREY OSBORNE: Feb. 5-8, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazz alley.com.

DR. DOG: Feb. 10, The Showbox, Seat-tle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

JIMMY WEBB: Feb. 10-11, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazz alley.com.

RU PAUL’S DRAG RACE: Feb. 11, Show-box SoDo, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or show boxonline.com.

“J’ADORE: A BURLESQUE VALENTINE”: The Atomic Bombshells: Feb. 11-14, The Triple Door, Seattle. 206-838-4333 or thetripledoor.net.

BILLY IDOL: Feb. 13, Paramount Theatre, Seattle. 877-784-4849 or livenation.com.

MIRANDA LAMBERT: Feb. 13, Tacoma Dome. 800-745-3000 or livenation.com.

“WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY?”: with Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff Davis and Joel Murray: Feb. 13-14, Swinomish Casino &

Lodge, Anacortes. 888-288-8883 or swinomishcasinoandlodge.com.

USC LOVES YOU: Ummet Ozcan, Jack Beats and more: Feb. 14, Showbox SoDo, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

AUGUST BURNS RED: Feb. 16, The Showbox, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK: Feb. 17, The Showbox, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

KARL DENSON’S TINY UNIVERSE: RUN DMC REMIXD: featuring Vockab Kompany: Feb. 19, The Showbox, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

NETTWORK: Feb. 19-22, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com.

COLD WAR KIDS: Feb. 20, The Showbox, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

IRATION: Feb. 20, Showbox SoDo, Seat-tle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

BORGORE: Feb. 21, Showbox SoDo, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

3 REDNECK TENORS: “From Rags to Rednecks”: Feb. 21, Mt. Baker Theatre, Bellingham. 360-734-6080 or mountbaker theatre.com.

THE ROBERT CRAY BAND: Feb. 22, Lin-coln Theatre, Mount Vernon. 360-336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org.

LOTUS: Feb. 22, The Showbox, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

ANDY GRAMMER, ALEX & SIERRA: Feb. 24, The Showbox, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE TRIO: Feb. 24-25, Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, Seattle. 206-441-9729 or jazzalley.com.

BO BURNHAM: Feb. 25, Moore Theatre, Seattle. 877-784-4849 or livenation.com.

INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT: Feb. 28, Lincoln Theatre, Mount Vernon. 360-336-8955 or lincolntheatre.org.

JOSHUA RADIN: March 1, The Showbox, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

CARIBOU: March 4, The Showbox, Seat-tle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.

LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO: March 5, 2015, Mount Baker Theatre, Bellingham. 360-734-6080 or mountbakertheatre.com.

HOT TICKETS

GALACTICFeb. 27, The Showbox, Seattle. 800-745-3000 or showboxonline.com.


“Lucy”: Scarlett Johansson plays a drug mule who is injected with a drug that enhances her abilities.

Director Luc Bes-son seamlessly takes a standard action film and ramps it up with the deeper meanings of Lucy’s transformation. The action parts are the weakest part, with Bes-son ignoring large bits of logic to keep the film moving ahead.

There’s also an immediate acceptance by cops and professors that seems expedited just to keep the pace high. With a major assist from Johansson, Besson delivers plenty of action in a smart package.

“The Boxtrolls”: Industrious under-ground dwellers are threatened by a man looking to wipe them out. An outlandishly funny tale brought to life through beautiful stop-animation photog-raphy. The film com-bines Monty Python-style humor with the sense and sensibilities of Oliver Twist and is presented in a wonder-fully creepy animated style.

“May in the Sum-mer”: Politics and reli-gion are such heavy topics that, left unchecked, they can crush the life out of a feature film. Cherien Dabis not only manages to deftly handle these hot-button topics in her film, “May in the Summer,” she does it while also handling the starring role. This is a film that pulls us in with a sweet and pow-erful story where major tent poles of religion and politics are presented in a strong but subtle way.

“The Drop”: Man finds himself at the center of a robbery gone awry.

“Wolfblood: Season 3”: Includes episodes of the supernatural series plus seven webisodes of “Jana Bites.”

“The Mule”: Man faces deadly pos-sibilities after hiding narcotics in his body.

“On Golden Pond”: Film that earned Henry Fonda his first Oscar is now on Blu-ray.

“Lost Legion”: Battle for power wags in ancient Rome.

“Coherence”: Eight friends experience a chain of reality-bending events.

“Swamp People: Season 5”: Team con-tinues its quest for the biggest and baddest alli-gators they can find.

“A Little Game”: Young girl is mentored by chess master. F. Mur-ray Abraham stars.

“Little House on the Prairie: Season 4”: Includes 22 restored episodes of the family TV drama. Melissa Gil-bert stars.

“A Bet’s a Bet”: Competition leads to an unlikely romance.

“The African Ameri-cans & Black in Latin America with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.”: Two documentaries that examine the evolution of the African Ameri-can people are hosted by Gates.

“The Green Prince”: Son of Hamas leader emerges as one of Isra-el’s prized informants.

“The Atticus Insti-tute”: Woman’s clair-

voyance has an evil side.“Welcome Back, Kotter: Season

2”: John Travlota’s career-starting work can be seen in 23 episodes of the 1975-79 comedy.

“Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Tough Love”: Animated film featuring Madea and her family.

“The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power”: Mathayus (Victor Webster) embarks on his most dangerous assignment yet.

“Life’s a Breeze”: Close-knit Irish family comes together after a calamity.

“Nature: Invasion of the Killer Whales”: Melting Arctic ice is making killer whales more of a threat.

n Rick Bentley, The Fresno Bee

NEW ON DVD THIS WEEK

Upcoming movie releases Following is a partial schedule of coming mov-ies on DVD. Release dates are subject to change:

JAN 27FuryBook of LifeThe JudgeMy Old LadyBefore I Go to SleepThe Remaining

FEB. 3The Lucky OneDracula UntoldOuijaJohn WickThe Best of MeWhiplashHector and the Search for HappinessThe Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby

FEB. 10Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad DayNightcrawlerAddictedRosewaterKill the MessengerThe Song

FEB. 17Dumb and Dumber ToSt. VincentThe Theory of EverythingBirdmanThe Interview

n Tribune News Service

Skagit Eagle FestivalSATURDAY, JAN. 24

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: “How to Compose Stunning Images”: 10 a.m. to noon, Concrete Theatre, 45920 Main St., Concrete. Outdoor photographer Andy Porter will offer tips and tricks to improve your photo composition skills. Free. 360-941-0403 or concrete-theatre.com.

LITTLE EAGLET STORY TIME: 11 to 11:45 a.m., Upper Skagit Library, 45770B Main St., Concrete. Families with young children are invited to learn about eagles and other wildlife through stories, songs and a simple craft. Free. 360-853-7939 or upperskagit.lib.wa.us.

WINE & MORE: Noon to 5 p.m., Chal-lenger Ridge Vineyard & Cellars, 43095 Challenger Road, Concrete. Enjoy a raptor presentation by Sarvey Wildlife Care Center at 2 p.m., along with wine tasting and more in the family- and dog-friendly venue. Free admission and free Saturday camping. $5 wine tasting. Snacks and soft drinks available for pur-chase. 425-422-6988 or challengerridge.com.

PHOTO WORKSHOP: “Focusing on Birds”: 1 to 2:30 p.m., Concrete Theatre, 45920 Main St., Concrete. Learn how to locate and photograph the migratory birds of the Skagit Valley with instructor Karen Ulvestad. Free admission. Con-cessions will be available for purchase. 360-941-0403 or concrete-theatre.com.

WINTER JAZZ: 2 to 4 p.m., 5b’s Bakery, 45597 Main St., Concrete. Free admission. 360-853-8700 or 5bsbakery.com.

COUNTRY HAYRIDE AND BON-FIRE: 3 p.m., Ovenell’s Ranch, 46276 Concrete-Sauk Valley Road, Concrete. Take a hayride through 250 acres of tim-ber and see eagles, deer, elk and more. Then enjoy cookies and hot drinks at the bonfire, children’s games and ranch history display. Activities are weather-dependent. Free. No pets. 360-853-8494 or ovenells-inn.com.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, JAN. 24-25EAGLE FESTIVAL INFORMATION:

Get free maps and visitor information from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Concrete Chamber of Commerce, Concrete Cen-ter, 45821 Railroad St., Concrete. 360-853-8784.

EAGLE INTERPRETIVE CENTER: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center, Howard Miller Steelhead Park, 52809 Rockport Park Road, Rockport. Learn about eagles, watershed issues and local natural and cultural history through guided walks and presentations. Free admission. Donations appreciated. 360-853-7626 or skagiteagle.org.

EAGLE WATCHER STATIONS: Staffed by volunteers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rock-port, Sutter Creek at milepost 100 and at the Marblemount Fish Hatchery, 8319 Fish Hatchery Road. Scopes and bin-oculars available. Free. 360-854-2631.

SALMON HATCHERY TOURS: Free tours of the Marblemount Fish Hatch-ery are offered by Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 8319 Fish Hatchery Road, Marblemount. Learn how eagles relate to the life cycle of salmon and other wildlife through guided and self-guided tours. 360-336-0172, ext. 304 or skagit fisheries.org.

DEEP FOREST TOURS: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Rockport State Park, 51095 Highway 20, Rockport. Enjoy a 30- to 60-minute tour deep into some of the 670 acres of old-growth forest at Rock-port State Park at the foot of Sauk Mountain. Free. Discover Pass or $10 day-use fee required to access the park. 360-853-8461 or [email protected].

DRIFTBOAT EAGLE EXCURSIONS: Skagit River Guide Service offers a three-hour tour in heated driftboats at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Howard Miller Steelhead Park, 52921 Rockport Park Road, Rockport. $75, $55 ages 5 and younger. 888-675-2448, skagiteagles.com.

n For the latest information, contact the Concrete Chamber of Commerce at 360-853-8784 or visit skagiteaglefestival.com


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‘Awake: The Life of Yogananda’7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Jan. 23-24

“Awake: The Life of Yogananda” is a biography about an Indian Swami who brought yoga and medita-tion to the West in the 1920s. The film explores the life and teachings of Para-mahansa Yogananda.

Rated PG. $10 general; $9 seniors, students and active military; $8 members; $7 children 12 and under. Bargain matinee prices (all shows before 6 p.m.): $8 general, $6 members, $5 children 12 and under.

NT Live: ‘Treasure Island’7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22

Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of murder, money and mutiny is brought to life in a new stage adaptation by Bryony Lavery, broad-cast live from the National Theatre. $16 general, $14 seniors, $12 students, with $2 off for Lincoln members.

The Met Live in HD: ‘The Merry Widow’1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25

Renée Fleming stars as the beguiling femme fatale who captivates all Paris in Lehár’s operetta, seen in a new staging by Broadway director and choreographer Susan Stroman. $23 adults; $19 seniors; $16 students with $2 off for Lincoln members.


MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK“SONG ONE” starring Anne Hathaway is a low-

budget New York romance set against the backdrop of the city’s small-clubs/singer-songwriters scene.

Hathaway stars as Franny, an anthropologist whose estranged brother Henry (Ben Rosenfield) has become obsessed with songwriting, filling note-books with tunes, performing them as a guitar-play-ing busker. But a car accident has left Henry in a coma, and a guilt-ridden Franny comes home to an irate, self-involved writer-mom (Mary Steenburgen) and a brother who won’t wake up.

The novelty in writer-director Kate Barker-Froy-land’s debut feature is Franny’s way of coping with this tragedy. A scientist in training, she immerses herself in Henry’s notebooks, listens to the mix tapes he had been sending her and, traipsing through Brooklyn’s busker underground, discovers Henry’s world. Henry’s unconventional songs are Franny’s soundtrack as she visits Henry’s haunts. She starts making natural sound recordings, hoping for audio cues that will wake her sibling up. She’s trying to help.

It’s on this odyssey that she meets Henry’s abso-lute favorite artist, a British singer-songwriter of one-time repute named James Forester, played by British singer-songwriter Johnny Flynn.

Hathaway and Flynn have minimal chemistry, but she makes Franny beguiling enough to per-suade the near-has James been to visit the comatose Henry. That means he’ll be close to Franny, and that sets us up for a little romance.

The magical thing that Hathaway accomplishes here is in getting this film made and this look at the New York music scene out there. Barker-Froyland’s script makes knowing observations about “star-dom” in age of pirated downloads, when most musi-cians have to make most of their money off live performance, and “fandom” in the age of selfies.

Tunes by everyone from Nina Simone to Ameri-ca — whose “I Need You,” Hathaway sings — turn up on the soundtrack, with Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley providing much of the music Flynn’s James Forester sings in the film. Sharon Van Etten, The Felice Brothers and Cass Dillon are among those seen in the various indie music clubs captured for the film.

It never rises to the level of say, a “Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist,” a romantic comedy that wandered through a different corner of New York music subculture. But Hathaway and a legion of musicians make this musical time capsule a pleas-ant enough time-killer, a film that seems to get what it is that turns people who play as a hobby into obsessed creatives looking to start a long shot career with “Song One.”

1:26. Rating: PG-13 for a scene of sexuality, and brief language. HH

n Roger Moore, Tribune News Service

MINI-REVIEWSCompiled from news services.Ratings are one to four stars.

“American Sniper” — Clint Eastwood directs a power-ful, intense portrayal of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, hardly the blueprint candidate to become the most prolific sniper in American military history. And yet that’s what happened. In maybe the best performance of his career, Bradley Cooper infuses Chris with humanity and dignity. And vulnerability. War drama, R, 132 minutes. HHH

1⁄2 “Big Eyes” — As he did with “Ed Wood,” director Tim Burton takes a kitschy slice of 20th-century pop culture -- the woman who painted chil-dren with huge eyes and the husband who took credit for them — and turns it into a special film. This is the kind of movie that has you smiling nearly all the way throughout at the sheer inspired mad-ness of it all. Biography, PG-13, 105 minutes. HHH

1⁄2 “Big Hero 6” — Disney’s animated story about a teen-ager befriending a health-care robot is a big, gorgeous adventure with wonderful voice performances, some

dark undertones that give the story more depth, an uplifting message and more than a few laugh-out-loud moments. Animation action comedy, PG, 108 minutes. HHH

1⁄2 “Cake” — Jennifer Aniston delivers a strong, vanity-free performance as a woman physically and emotionally scarred from a horrific trag-edy. But as “Cake” swerves from dark comedy to cringe-inducing unpleasantness to heavy melodrama, her efforts can’t elevate the work anywhere near the level of something special. Drama, R, 98 minutes. HH “Foxcatcher” — Disturbing and memorable, “Foxcatch-er” is based on a bizarre true story, and even if you know exactly what happens, when it does happen, it’s shocking. Steve Carell nails the role of a rich eccentric, with Chan-ning Tatum and Mark Ruffalo revelatory as the wrestlers he mentors. Sports drama, R, 134 minutes. HHH

1⁄2 “Interstellar” — What a beautiful and epic film is “Interstellar,” filled with great performances, tingling our senses with masterful special effects, daring to be openly sentimental, asking gigantic questions about the meaning of life and leaving

us drained and grateful for the experience. Adventure/mystery/sci-fi, PG-13, 169 minutes. HHHH “Nightcrawler” — As a freelance vulture who records video of crime and crash scenes for TV news, Jake Gyllenhaal plays one of the most disturbing movie char-acters of the year. But the film veers from dark satire to tense crime thriller before the tires come off near the end, leaving the entire vehicle just short of worth recommending. Crime thriller, R, 117 minutes. HH

1⁄2 “Into the Woods” — Adapted from the sensa-tional musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt head an A-list cast. “Into the Woods” rumbles on for too long and has some dry patch-es here and there, but just when we’re growing fidgety, we get another rousing musi-cal number or another dark plot twist, and we’re back in business. Musical fantasy, PG, 124 minutes. HHH “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” — Sit-ting through the thoroughly tiresome final chapter in this trilogy, I wondered: Did any-body involved in the making of this movie actually believe

it was a quality effort? Ben Stiller, Robin Williams and Owen Wilson are among the terrific actors sinking in the cinematic quicksand. Comedy adventure, PG, 97 minutes. H1⁄2 “Taken 3” — This tired, gratuitously violent, ridiculous and laughably stupid entry in a franchise that started out with at least an intrigu-ing idea and a few solid moments now should be put out of its misery. Liam Neeson reprises and Forest Whitaker adds some panache as the obligatory top cop, but what got “Taken” was 112 minutes of my life. Action, PG-13, 112 minutes. H1⁄2 “The Babadook” — This Australian horror movie is about a single mom haunted by a monstrous creature from a pop-up book. This is the scariest movie of the year. Horror, not rated, 94 minutes. HHH

1⁄2 “The Gambler” — This remake gives the James Caan self-destructive gam-bler role to Mark Wahlberg, as a narcissistic brat, and not the complex kind. Sup-porting characters played by John Goodman, Brie Larson and others are more inter-esting. Drama thriller, R, 101 minutes. HH

1⁄2

Warner Bros. Pictures via AP

Kyle Gallner (left) and Bradley Cooper star in “American Sniper.”


MOVIES MUSIC

Mark Ronson“Uptown Special”

Mark Ronson’s new album, “Uptown Special,” opens with such promising notes — Stevie Wonder’s harmonica, playing so soulful and slow that the listener can’t help but settle in, ready and waiting for what’s sure to be an exhila-rating musical story.

Sadly, you’ll be kept waiting. That’s not to say there isn’t some good music on Ronson’s fourth effort, because there is. But “Uptown Special” feels chaotic, mov-ing from sound to sound in a way that feels haphazard.

The songs don’t hit the listener in a connected way, but as if Ronson just put together a bunch of tracks that sounded cool to him. That’s fine, but with a little more curation, the music might have been transcendent.

There are undoubtedly songs the lis-tener will want to hear again. The lead single, “Uptown Funk” with Bruno Mars, has taken over the charts with its catchy beat that almost dares you to stay still. “I Can’t Lose” is another one that gets your toes tapping, and “Leaving Los Feliz” has a sweet sway to it.

Grammy-winning Ronson, who has pro-duced for top-notch acts from Amy Wine-house to Adele to Paul McCartney, has an obvious affinity for old-school sounds. It’s just not enough to make this album special.

n Deepti Hajela, Associated Press

Meghan Trainor“Title”

There’s plenty to like about Meghan Trainor’s first full-length album, “Title.” The set, which includes music from a previously released EP of the same name, serves up all the doo-wop sass that hooked fans on the singer-songwriter’s Grammy-nominated hit, “All About That Bass.”

Jump to almost any track on “Title” and you’ll find a similar juxtaposition of cheeky lyrics stamped over malt shop-inspired production. Unfortunately, therein lies the problem: by album’s end, it seems Trainor and “Title” producer Kevin Kadish have beaten their brand of shooby-doo flavor to death.

Sure, the throwback vibe has worked to set Trainor, 21, apart from her radio

competition, and the sound works on sec-ond single “Lips Are Movin’” and “Dear Future Husband.” But too much of that good thing turns out to be bad for the singer’s mainstream debut.

“Title” is still worth a listen, though doing so in one sitting is ill-advised. Trainor is the funny girl-next-door on “Walkashame”; she’s an example of self-acceptance on “Close Your Eyes”; and she’s admirable — refusing to be friend-zoned — on the relatable title track.

When Trainor reaches, however, the results are painful. “Had him brushing his teeth, even flossin’/ got him looking like Ryan Gosling,” she raps on “Credit.” The cringe-worthy lyrics are rivaled only by that on the horn-heavy “Bang Dem Sticks.”

Perhaps the most refreshing song from “Title” is the subdued “Like I’m Gonna Lose You,” featuring John Legend. Not only is it a nice change of pace sonically, but in a rare moment, the track gives Train-or’s vocals the main stage, without a catchy hook or quirky production yanking away the spotlight.

n Melanie J. Sims, Associated Press

The Decemberists“What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World”

“We know we belong to you, we know you built your lives around us,” Colin Meloy sings at the start of the Decem-berists’ seventh album, somewhat cheekily addressing the codependent artist-fan rela-tionship on the fittingly titled “The Singer Addresses His Audience.”

Meloy has put the allegiance of the band’s followers to the test by taking a four-year break — during which time the singer wrote three YA novels with his wife, illustrator Carson Ellis — since the folk-rock group’s tightly constructed 2010 album “The King Is Dead.”

The new one, “Terrible/Beautiful,” takes its name from “12-17-12,” a grieving ballad written after the school shooting in New-town, Connecticut, on that date. It’s more musically varied and not as concise as “The King Is Dead.” But the 12-song set, which features backup vocals by Kelly Hogan and Rachel Flotard on its two catchiest numbers, “Make You Better” and “Cavalry Captain,” is a melodically strong, inward-looking effort that broadens the band’s tart, country-leaning sound in subtle ways.

n Dan DeLuca, Philadelphia Inquirer

AT AREA THEATERS

ANACORTES CINEMASJan. 23-29 Paddington (PG): Friday-Saturday: 1:45, 4:30, 6:35, 8:45; Sunday: 4:45, 6:35; Monday-Thursday: 1:45, 4:30, 6:35 American Sniper (R): Friday-Saturday: 1:15, 4:00, 6:45, 9:30; Sunday-Thursday: 1:15, 4:00, 6:45 The Theory of Everything (PG-13): Friday-Saturday: 1:30, 4:15, 6:55, 9:40; Sunday-Thursday: 1:30, 4:15, 6:55 Bolshoi Ballet: Swan Lake (NR): Sunday: 12:55 p.m. 360-293-6620

CASCADE MALL THEATRESBurlington For listings: 888-AMC-4FUN (888-262-4386).

BLUE FOX DRIVE-INOak HarborJan. 23-25 Strange Magic (PG) and Paddington (PG). First movie starts at 6 p.m. 360-675-5667

CONCRETE THEATREJan. 23-25 Unbroken (PG-13): Friday: 7:30 p.m.; Saturday: 5 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday: 4 and 6:30 p.m. 360-941-0403

OAK HARBOR CINEMASJan. 23-29 Strange Magic (PG): Friday: 1:20, 3:35, 6:50, 9:00; Saturday: 10:40, 1:20, 3:35, 6:50, 9:00;Sunday: 10:40, 1:20, 3:35, 6:50; Monday-Thursday: 1:20, 3:35, 6:50 American Sniper (R): Friday: 1:00, 3:45, 6:30, 9:15; Saturday: 10:20, 1:00, 3:45, 6:30, 9:15; Sunday: 10:20, 1:00, 3:45, 6:30; Monday-Thursday: 1:00, 3:45, 6:30 Into the Woods (PG): Friday-Saturday: 3:55, 9:20; Sunday-Thursday: 3:55 The Theory of Everything (PG-13): Fri-day: 1:10, 6:40; Saturday-Sunday: 10:30, 1:10, 6:40; Monday-Thursday: 1:10, 6:40 360-279-2226

STANWOOD CINEMASJan. 23-29Mortdecai (R): 1:10, 3:30, 6:40, 9:00 Strange Magic (PG): 1:20, 3:45, 6:45, 9:00 Blackhat (R): Friday-Saturday: 1:00, 9:10; Sunday: 9:10 p.m.; Monday-Thurs-day: 1:00, 9:10 Paddington (PG): Friday-Saturday: 1:30, 3:50, 6:50, 8:55; Sunday: 1:30, 6:50, 8:55; Monday-Thursday: 1:30, 3:50, 6:50, 8:55 American Sniper (R): 12:50, 3:40, 6:30, 9:20 The Theory of Everything (PG-13): 3:35, 6:35 Bolshoi Ballet: Swan Lake (NR): Sunday: 12:55 p.m. 360-629-0514

“The Humbling” — Al Pac-ino is all over the place play-ing a famous actor who goes to rehab after falling off the stage. As madcap characters keep entering and exiting his life, yelling at him and kiss-ing him and berating him and making strange requests of him, fantasy and reality inter-twine in a manner I found more maddening than intrigu-ing. Comedy, R, 113 minutes. HH “The Hunger Games: Mock-ingjay -- Part 1” — The latest Katniss Everdeen adventure is a rousing yet often bleak and downbeat film that focus-es a lot more on tragedies and setbacks than applause-generating heroics. Ultimately it serves as a solid if unspec-tacular first lap around the track of a two-lap race. Fan-tasy adventure, PG-13, 123 minutes. HHH “The Interview” — For any cyber-terrorist to be threat-ened by something as ridicu-lously over-the-top, as car-toonishly goofy as “The Inter-view” is just plain stupid. At times laugh-out-loud funny, it stars Seth Rogen and James

Franco in an endless parade of scatological humor and homosexual double-entendre jokes with a smattering of political commentary. Com-edy, R, 112 minutes. HHH “The Theory of Every-thing” — Playing the young Stephen Hawking from reck-less Cambridge student to brilliant physicist, Eddie Redmayne undergoes a remarkable transformation. But it’s a memorable perfor-mance in a rather ordinary love story about his romance with future wife, Jane (Felic-ity Jones). Biography, PG-13, 123 minutes. HH

1⁄2 “The Wedding Ringer” — Despite the considerable charisma of Josh Gad as a friendless groom and Kevin Hart as the ringer he hires as his best man, this crude circus has only one or two genuinely inspired bits of comedy, and its premise is insanely ridiculous. Comedy, R, 101 minutes. H1⁄2 “Top Five” — Chris Rock writes, directs and stars in a seriously funny, semi-autobi-ographical film that might be the most accomplished work

he’s ever done for the big screen. Even when the dia-logue and the visual humor are hardcore vulgar, even when his character hits rock bottom, there’s a real sense of joy about this film. Com-edy, R, 101 minutes. HHH

1⁄2 “Unbroken” — Angelina Jolie directs the well-known story of Louis Zamperini, a former Olympic track star who spent more than two years as a POW in World War II. It’s an ambitious, sometimes moving film that suffers from a little too much self-conscious nobility, and far too many scenes of sadistic brutality. War biog-raphy, PG-13, 137 minutes. HH

1⁄2 “Wild” — The more time we spend with former heroin addict Cheryl Strayed, the more we feel the change in this young woman’s heart and spirit as she hikes 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail by herself. It’s a raw, beautiful performance by Reese Witherspoon, and Laura Dern is warm and won-derful as her mother. Drama, R, 115 minutes. HHH

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