Mountain Views News          Saturday, April 30, 2011

10

ARTS & ENTERTAIMENT

 Mountain Views News Saturday, April 30, 2011 

PASADENA ARTWALK CALL TO ARTISTS

The 6th Annual Pasadena ARTWalk is accepting artists submissions.

 The Pasadena Playhouse District Association is inviting artists to submit artwork for the 6th Annual 
Pasadena ARTWalk. This year’s Pasadena ARTWalk will take place on Saturday, October 15, 2011 
from 11 am until 5 pm at El Molino Ave. between Colorado and Green St.

All artists are welcome to apply to exhibit in the Pasadena ARTWalk. Artists submitting work must 
fall in one of the following categories: 

• Drawing 

• Mixed media 

• New media 

• Painting 

• Photography 

• Sculpture 

Application fees*:

- $100 - early submittal fee for applications received before June 30, 2011

- $150 - application fee submitted from July 1 – 29, 2011 

*Artists work will be juried. If not selected, application fee will be returned

 

Deadline for submission: July 29, 2011

Notification date: August 23, 2011

The Pasadena ARTWalk is a free multi-faceted celebration of the arts in the Playhouse District. The 
festival offers an eclectic selection of art ranging from visual, written and spoken word, to performance, 
and culinary art. The Pasadena ARTWalk is presented by the Pasadena Playhouse District 
Association. 

For more information on how to participate in this year’s Pasadena ARTWalk, visit www.playhousedistrict.
org/artwalk or call 626.744.0340. 

SEAN’S SHAMELESS 

REVIEWS: 

5 UNDER THE RADAR 
SUMMER MOVIES


Back in 2008, 
“The Black List” 
declared Kyle 
Killen’s script, 
THE BEAVER, 
the number 
one unproduced 
screenplay. 
In early May it will be unleashed to audiences. 
It stars Mel Gibson as a distressed husband who 
finds a beaver hand puppet, which seemingly 
becomes his only means of communication. Directed 
and co-starring Jodie Foster, “The Beaver” 
premiered last month at the SXSW Film Festival 
with mixed-to-positive reactions. Despite any 
notable flaws with the movie, the buzz is strong 
on the acting performances, especially with Mel 
Gibson’s portrayal. It is apparent that Mel desperately 
needs “The Beaver” to be a moderate hit or 
his career as an actor may become a thing of the 
past. Regardless, “The Beaver” looks like a poignant 
family drama that will be filled with small, 
intimate moments about love, life, and the road 
to self-discovery no matter what age you are. 
Look for “The Beaver” in limited released on May 
6th and opening wider on May 20th. 

HESHER is directed and co-written by newcomer, 
Spencer Susser. It first was featured at Sundance 
in 2010. The film stars the always-superlative 
Joseph Gordon Levitt (500 Days Of Summer, 
Inception) as the titular character who’s radical, 
an arsonist and a loner. Hesher soon becomes 
the mentor and tormentor of T.J. (introducing 
Devin Brochu), a 13 year-old boy who moves in 
at his grandmother’s house with his despondent 
father after the accidental death of T.J.’s mother. 
Hesher ends up moving in as well to shake up 
the household. T.J.’s father Paul (Rainn Wilson), 
still grief stricken, doesn’t have the verbal fight in 
him to kick out Hesher. However, Hesher’s anarchy 
ironically pulls the family out of their anguish 
and aids them in embracing life once again. This 
one also co-stars Natalie Portman as a supermarket 
cashier that tries to protect TJ, with whom he 
quickly becomes smitten. “Hesher” was picked 
up by independent studio, Newmarket films last 
year and it will finally see the light of day on May 
13th. From the looks it, “Hesher” has cult status 
written all over it and may just become a sleeper 
hit. 

BEAUTIFUL BOY is an untraditional love story 
that explores the journey of a married couple 
on the brink of separation, who must live with 
inconceivable heartache after their 18 year-old 
son commits a mass shooting at his college, then 
subsequently ending his own life. Maria Bello (A 
History Of Violence, The Cooler) and Michael 
Sheen (Frost/Nixon, The Queen) star in this sentimental 
drama that debuted last year at the Toronto 
Film Festival. Shawn Ku is making his feature 
directorial debut with a script he co-wrote 
with Michael Armbruster. From the trailer and 
premise, “Beautiful Boy” obviously appears to be 
a heavy-heart laden drama. I’m expecting a few 
(and for others, plenty of) tears. “Beautiful Boy” 
is either going to be a deeply moving, heart gripping 
tale or come off as pretentious, sappy, and 
maudlin. Whatever the case may be, I’ll definitely 
be checking out this hopefully fulfilling drama. 
“Beautiful Boy” will be in select theaters on May 
20th. 

Like “Hesher”, SKATELAND premiered at 
Sundance in 2010 and will arrive in limited theaters, 
also on May 13th, courtesy of Freelstyle 
Releasing. “Skateland” is the quintessential coming-
of-age tale about a 19 year-old skating ring 
manager (Shiloh Fernandez) living in small town 
Texas in the ‘80s and on the cusp of figuring out 
his future. Ashlee Greene, from “Twilight” fame 
also co-stars. The movie appears to dip into familiar 
terrain, but I’ve always been a sucker for these 
types of stories. It’s about growing up, discovering 
who you want to become and what’s exactly 
important to you. I remain rather optimistic that 
first time director, Anthony Burns, has skillfully 
crafted a charming and profoundly affecting film 
about small town adolescents with big dreams. 

2010 Sundance Special Jury Prize winner, 
SYMPATHY FOR DELICIOUS, tells the story 
of a recently paralyzed DJ (Christopher Thornton) 
struggling with every day life. Things rapidly 
begin to change when he mysteriously discovers 
he possesses healing powers to cure the sick – although 
not himself. The DJ receives more than 
he anticipated when he sets his sights on cashing 
in on his mystical gift in exchange for his rock n’ 
roll ambitions. The superbly talented actor, Mark 
Ruffalo, finds himself behind the camera this time 
around as he makes his directorial debut. “Sympathy 
for Delicious” is fueled with a solid group 
of well-known actors including Ruffalo himself, 
Juliette Lewis, Orlando Bloom, Laura Linney, 
and John Carroll Lynch. First time writer and 
real life paraplegic, Christopher Thornton stars 
as the lead character, “Delicious” Dean O’Dwyer. 
I’ve heard mixed responses toward the film, but 
those who enjoyed it found it to be very effective. 
The delicate subject matter of faith may turn off a 
few people, but if you’re an open-minded filmgoer, 
“Sympathy For Delicious” might be an appropriate 
and hopefully rewarding substitute to seek 
out during a bloated summer movie season. You 
can find “Sympathy For Delicious” arriving in 
select theaters on April 29th and VOD May 5th. 

Sean Kayden


The Book Report

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: A Novel 

by Jonathan Safran Foer 

Nine year old Oskar has embarked on a secret, urgent mission that takes 
him through the five boroughs of New York. His goal is to find the lock that 
matches a mysterious key that belonged to his father, who died in the World 
Trade Center on September 11. This impossible task will bring Oskar into 
contact with survivors of all sorts on an exhilarating, often hilarious, and 
ultimately healing journey. Jonathan Safran Foer emerged as one of the most 
original writers of his generation with his best-selling debut novel, Everything 
Is Illuminated. Now, with humor, tenderness, and awe, he confronts an 
event of our recent history. His books have won numerous awards and have 
been translated into 36 languages.

By the Time You Read This: A Novel 

by Giles Blunt 

Giles Blunt is the winner of both Britain’s prestigious Silver Dagger and 
Canada’s Arthur Ellis Award, and is a rising international star in crime 
fiction. Set in remote Algonquin Bay, Ontario, Blunt’s compelling fourth 
crime novel to feature John Cardinal finds the police detective mourning 
the death of a friend, an apparent suicide. Then Cardinal starts receiving 
cold, hate filled notes gloating over his loss. Stirred and angered into believing 
that his friend may have been murdered, he sets about looking into 
who might be refusing to let the dead or, more particularly, himself rest 
easy. Meanwhile, his partner, Lise Delorme, is busy trying to track down 
the pedophile responsible for a cache of appalling photos featuring a small 
girl who may live in or near Algonquin Bay. An unexpected yet utterly 
realistic twist lifts this novel into extremely interesting and entertaining 
territory. The book has sharp dialogue, and is well written with complex 
characters and a satisfying conclusion.


Acting classes for REAL people, at the...
Join the “FOR THE LOVE OF ACTING” class.
Saturdays 2:00 to 5:00pm on our STAGE. No experience necessary! 
NEW BEGINNERS class starts APRIL 02. 
For reservations and class info, call June Chandler (626) 355-4572