Entertainment: Weekend

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Entertainment: Weekend

PAGE 22 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2018 THE HERALD

Silly ‘Smallfoot’ applauds curious nature RICHARD ROEPER

One can see the headlines from certain media organizations: “LEBRON JAMES MOVIE TELLS KIDS NOT TO BELIEVE IN ORGANIZED RELIGION!”

Smallfoot êêê Voices: Channing Tatum, James Corden, Zendaya Stonekeeper, LeBron James, Danny DeVito Rating: PG for some action, rude humor and thematic elements. WARNER BROS. PICTURES/WP NEWS SERVICE

Not that “Smallfoot” is a LeBron James movie, although James does voice one of the characters in director/co-writer Karey Kirkpatrick’s animated adventure from Warner Bros. And not that the movie actually tells kids not to believe in organized religion, but it is set in a village where all of the rules are literally written in stone, and anyone who dares question even the most fantastical, hard-to-believe dicta will be banished. It’s not often an animated children’s movie features lessons about critical thinking, especially when the movie on the whole is a zippy, silly, zany, cheery little tale with the obligatory upbeat musical numbers, wonderfully entertaining voice work from the eclectic cast, and a gentle, PG tone with nary a sequence that will have the little ones scurrying for cover under your wing. I loved the clever premise of

Migo, left, voiced by Channing Tatum, and Percy, voiced by James Corden, are shown in a scene from “Smallfoot.” The film opens Friday at Jasper 8 Theatres. “Smallfoot.” The main setting is an Arctic village high above the clouds populated by ... Yetis. As in, Abominable Snowmen. As in, the legendary, mythical Bigfoot creatures. When we think of Bigfoot, or when explorers and adventurers (and hucksters) have claimed they’ve seen Bigfoot, it’s always “Bigfoot” singular, right? But come on, if there’s a Bigfoot, it stands to reason there’s a mama and a papa and a whole bunch of other Bigfoots (Bigfeet!) out there. Sure enough, in this isolated, self-contained community, furry and friendly creatures of all sizes and shapes and ages share a peaceful, simple co-existence, where everyone has a job to do and nobody questions the authority of the king-like Stonekeeper (Common), who wears a giant robe contain-

ing hundreds of stones, each one containing one of the unassailable rules of the land. According to the stones, the Yetis live on a bed of clouds, and beneath those clouds is an endless void of nothingness. Each morning just before dawn, the Yeti Dorgle (Danny DeVito) must catapult himself into the air and smash a gong with his head. The gong signals the Great Glowing Snail in the sky to appear and bring light to the village. Oh, and there’s no such thing as a Smallfoot (aka a human). Only crackpots and loons and troublemakers would make such a ridiculous claim! Channing Tatum voices Migo, the gong-ringer’s son, who never questioned the Stonekeeper until he actually spots a Smallfoot (a pilot whose plane has crashed) and

runs back to the village to tell everyone what he’s seen. When Migo refuses to back down from his claim — he won’t lie — the Stonekeeper banishes him from the village and says Migo can return only if he admits he made up the whole story. Turns out Migo ISN’T the only villager who believes the Smallfoot exists. The Stonekeeper’s daughter, Meechee (Zendaya), and a lovable, outsized, goofy, purple Yeti named Gwangi (LeBron James) are among the members of a secret organization that believes in questioning the old ways, starting with the blanket assertion there’s nothing but nothingness beneath the clouds, and the Yeti are the only inhabitants of the world. With the help of his new friends, Migo discovers a remote

Written by “Annabelle” screenwriter Gary Dauberman and James Wan, it’s lush, operatic, hardcore Catholic horror from the depths of “The Omen” and “The Exorcist,” with hints of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s “Black Narcissus,” washed with medieval overtones. And it’s a total, screaming blast. (Mystery/thriller, R, 1 hr. 36 min.)

story’s details are truly wild and unbelievable, but the plotting and characters feel rote. (Drama/thriller, PG-13, 2 hrs., 3 min.)

Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Closed major holidays. Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Lincoln City (all times CT). Park hours: Memorial Visitor Center, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Sept. 30, and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 1-March 31; farm, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, through Sept. 30; nature center, open, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays; Colonel Jones Home, noon-4 p.m. ThursdaysSundays, June-August. www.nps.gov/ libo/ or 812-937-4541

outpost populated by tiny Smallfoot creatures, including a TV travel show host named Percy (James Corden), whose career has bottomed out. The desperate Percy is just about to fake a Yeti sighting — he’s trying to get his producer to put on a Bigfoot costume — when he comes face to face with a real Yeti: Migo! As Migo and Percy embark on a series of adventures and misadventures, they come to trust each other, even though when Migo speaks, it sounds like a series of ferocious roars to Percy, and when Percy speaks, it sounds like a tiny puppy barking to Migo. We get some Looney Tunesinspired slapstick comedy (hey, it’s a Warner Bros. movie), and Zendaya’s Meechee duets with Channing’s Migo for a catchy tune about how wonderful it is to ask questions. And in addition to the messages about questioning the status quo, there are the usual kids’ movie lessons about friendship and loyalty and being true to yourself. The animation is solid but not spectacular. I kept thinking how cool it would have been if “Smallfoot” had been rendered in stop-motion animation, a la the classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” TV special from 1964 (which, of course, featured an Abominable Snowman). In any case, if you happen upon a Yeti one day, you should probably run for your life, but if you’re armed, before taking it down, consider the possibility it didn’t think YOU were real, either, until this moment. And he might have some friends and family who are hoping he’ll come home soon.

E N T E R TA I N M E N T G U I D E

All times are Eastern unless otherwise noted.

Currently playing A Simple Favor ½ (Jasper 8 Theatres) When a seemingly sophisticated mom (Blake Lively) goes missing, her nerdy friend (Anna Kendrick) turns amateur sleuth, and secrets emerge about both. The crazier things get in this wickedly amusing comedy/thriller, the more fun we have. (Comedy thriller, R, 1 hr. 56 min.) Life Itself  (Jasper 8 Theatres) In a ghoulish, five-alarm fire of a movie from the creator of “This Is Us,” the stories of a pregnant couple in New York (Oscar Isaac and Olivia Wilde) and a landowner in Spain (Antonio Banderas) intersect in depressingly predictable fashion. Nearly every frame of this film feels emotionally dishonest and manipulative. (Drama, R, 1 hr. 53 min.) The Nun ½ (Jasper 8 Theatres) “The Conjuring” franchise has steadily become the most dependable horror film franchise of late, conquering the box office with good old-fashioned and flawlessly executed spooks and scares, with a few interesting ideas to boot. Spinning off James Wan’s 2013 “The Conjuring,” about real-life married ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren, the franchise started with true tales of hauntings, possessions and spectral invasions. But there were so many side stories and creepy characters that both “The Conjuring” and “The Conjuring 2” well, conjured up, that more movies were necessary. There have been two films about Annabelle, the creepiest porcelain doll ever. And now “The Nun” takes on the backstory of the imposing demon in a habit that terrorized Lorraine’s visions. In this spinoff, director Corin Hardy delivers a ‘70s throwback gothic horror epic.

Operation Finale ½ (Jasper 8 Theatres) There’s something very familiar about “Operation Finale,” written by debut screenwriter Matthew Orton and directed by Chris Weitz. The film chronicles the thrilling, stranger-than-fiction 1960 Mossad operation to kidnap principal Holocaust architect Adolf Eichmann from Argentina and extradite him to Israel to be tried for war crimes. The event was depicted in the 1996 TV movie “The Man Who Captured Eichmann,” in the 2014 German Foreign Language Academy Award submission “Labyrinth of Lies,” as well as the 2015 German biopic “The People Vs. Fritz Bauer.” A recent “Drunk History” segment starring “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s” Rachel Bloom even dramatized the kidnapping. So, unfortunately, “Operation Finale” feels a bit behind the ball when it comes to the dramatic true story. The execution itself is familiar: slightly too mannered, too polite, a color-by-numbers political thriller filled with character archetypes, and story beats we’ve seen before. Oscar Isaac stars as Peter Malkin, a Mossad agent tapped for the mission to Argentina to nab Eichmann (Ben Kingsley), a high-level Nazi bureaucrat who oversaw the transportation of millions of Jews to their deaths in concentration camps. Peter is tormented by surrealistic visions of his sister Fruma (Rita Pauls), who met her demise in a German forest with her three children at the hands of Nazi soldiers. The

Peppermint  (Jasper 8 Theatres) In this stylishly directed but gratuitously nasty and cliche-riddled revenge movie, Jennifer Garner plays essentially two characters cut from the same person. At first she’s a smart, caring mother and wife. But after thugs kill her family and evade prosecution, she becomes a skilled assassin akin to her “Alias” role. (Crime action, R, 1 hr. 42 min.) The Predator  (Jasper 8 Theatres) The screenplay for this slick and gory but surprisingly unimaginative sequel to the alien franchise feels like it was dusted off from the late 1980s. I can’t say this effort set off fireworks of anticipation for another sequel. (Sci-fi action, R, 1 hr. 41 min.)

IMAX Showplace Cinemas East, 1801 Morgan Center Drive, Evansville: “The House With a Clock in its Wall.” www.showplacecinemas.com

Events Attractions Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus: Hours (CT); Happy Holiday Weekends: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays, through Oct. 27 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays, through Oct. 28. www.holidayworld.com Jasper City Mill, 160 Third Ave. The mill features cornmeal ground on site, craft items, old-fashioned candy and local products. Exhibit (changes every six months): Dubois County Art Guild Gallery Walk — works by Abby Laux; items from artisans available in the gift shop. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and

formation-filled room and huge flowstone deposits, while the Dripstone Trail walking tour is known for its profusion of delicate soda

straw formations, slender totem pole stalagmites and penny ceiling. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. http:// marengocave.com Mega Cavern, 1841 Taylor Ave., Louisville. Historic Tram Tours, Mega Zips and Mega Quest, an underground ropes challenge. Closed major holidays. 877-614-6342 or www.louisvillemegacavern.com Mesker Park Zoo, 1545 Mesker Park Drive, Evansville. Hours (CT): 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. 812-435-6143 or www.meskerparkzoo.com

Please turn Page 24

PAGE 24 ■ ENTERTAINMENT: WEEKEND

E N T E R TA I N M E N T G U I D E

Other events An Autumn Homecoming, 2-4 p.m. CT, historic Thomas Elwood Lindley House, Paoli. Herbstfest, through Saturday; parade Sunday, Huntingburg. Trolley Tours, 11 a.m., Mondays and Tuesdays during October, meet behind West Baden Springs Hotel, depart from valet area.

Upcoming events Photography Weekend, Oct. 5-6, West Baden Springs Hotel. Wine Pairings, 8 p.m. Oct. 5, Nov. 9 and Dec. 28, Atrium, West Baden Spring Hotel. Reservations required. 812-936-5579 Will Read and Sing for Mentors for Youth, 7 p.m. Oct. 11, Sultan’s Run, features WRASFF players Abbie Rumbach, Scott Saalman, Kyle Lueken, Debbie Schuetter, Isaac Gatwood, Megan Gatwood, Andy Hagedorn and Shawn Needham; artwork by local artist Kit Miracle, former JCAC director; and a questionand-answer session with Beth Seidl, co-owner of Wilson Flowers. $10 donation per person at the door; cash bar.

THE HERALD ■ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2018

Kinder Karneval, 1:15 p.m. Nov. 25.

Night, 8-11 p.m. Thursdays.

Festival of Trees Opening, 5:30 p.m. trees and 6 p.m. program, Thursday, Nov. 15. The theme is Americana/ God Bless America.

On stage Actors Community Theatre Dinner theatres: “Church and State,” today, Friday and Saturday; and“The Dinner Party,” April 4-6, 2019. Dinner theatre patrons must be 18 or older.

Haysville Ruritan Raffle drawing, 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18. Singing Seniors: Christmas Carols, 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 25. Refreshments.

Night Life Dances

American Legion Post 147, Jasper: 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays, line and couples dancing. $5, 482-5426 for information. Orange County Senior Citizens Center, 8497 W. Main St., French Lick: 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays, dance with live band. William Tell Center, 1301 11th St., Tell City, 7-10 p.m. CT Saturdays. Open to all ages; smoke and alcohol free. $5, includes snacks. Sponsored by the William Tell Senior Citizens. Gaslight, Huntingburg: Open Mic

Mt. Zion Apple Fest, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oct. 13 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 14, AEP Honey Creek Farm, 1249 E. County Road 500 N.

All of the shows will be performed at the Jasper Arts Center. Season tickets and twoevent packages are available at ActorsCommunityTheatre.com.

Astra Theatre, Jasper: Todd McComas and Jeff Oskay of “The Bob and Tom Show,” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10. www.astratheatre.eventbrite. com

Jasper Arts Center

Area concerts

Main Stage Series — O Sole Trio: Bravissimo Broadway, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3; “A Christmas Carol,” 7:30 p.m., Dec. 14; Mark Chesnutt and Joe Diffie, 7:30 p.m., Jan. 19; and Forever Young: You Life/Your Music, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 9.

Astra Theatre, Jasper: Pokey LaFarge, 8:30 p.m. Oct. 6; and Rodney Crowell, 8:30 p.m. Nov. 3. www.TheNextAct.org

Craft and Hobby Show, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., auxiliary gym, Shoals High School. Booths available by calling Ann Stewart at 812-709-9338, Lorna Troutman at 812-797-1567or Bobbi Turpin at 812-709-9234.

Exhibits Krempp Gallery Exhibits: Chet Beiselman and Robert Fry, Wednesday- Oct. 29, reception, 5-7 p.m. next Thursday; and Visual Arts Committee, Dec. 3-26, volunteer reception, 5-7 p.m. Dec. 7. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays and noon to 3 p.m. Sundays. Closed major holidays.

Saint Meinrad Archabbey Library Exhibit: Textual Portraits, Wednesday-Nov. 15, features works by Leslie Nichols of Kentucky. Hours: Call 357-6401 or 800-9877311 or visit www.saintmeinrad.edu/ library/hours/

Dubois County Museum Membership: 2019 memberships are available. Purchase a membership and receive free admission into the museum from the day the membership is purchased through Dec. 31, 2019. Model Train Club, 6 p.m. Mondays, Oct. 8 and Nov. 5. Storytime for Kids, 10:30 a.m., Saturdays, Oct. 13 and Nov. 10. Bicentennial Fall Harvest Day, 1-4 p.m. Oct. 14.

Jasper Arts Center: United State Air Force Band of Mid-America’s Concert Band, 7 p.m., Oct. 17. Free. Lincoln Amphitheatre, Lincoln City: Hard Day’s Night — a Tribute to the Beatles, Saturday. Season tickets available. www.lincolnamphitheatre.com

Plays Actors Theatre of Louisville, 316 W. Main St.: “Dracula,” through Oct. 31; “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” Sept. 18-Oct. 10; and “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” Oct. 2-Nov.4. 502-584-1205 or www.actorstheatre.org/visit/ ticketing-options/ Derby Dinner Playhouse, Clarksville: “The Church Basement Ladies: Rise Up O Men,” through Sunday; “Web of Murder,” Wednesday-Nov. 11; and “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley,” Oct. 6-Nov. 10. 812-2888281 or www.derbydinner.com.

Dubois County Motorcycle Club

POKER RUN

Sunday, September 30, 2018 Fraternal Order of Eagles

S o nnta g M itta gessen (S unda y L unch)

To Benefit the JH S Germ an E xchange Program

708 East 6th St. • Huntingburg $14.00 per person Sign-in: 9:00 am -Noon Breakfast Available at Sign-in 1st Place $ FREE T-Shirt for the 400 first 250 riders! For more info call: Sylvester Voegerl at 812-326-2232 Rain out date: Sunday, October 7th

Will Read and Sing for Crisis Connection, 7 p.m. Oct. 18, The Parklands, Jasper, features WRASFF players Scott Saalman, Kyle Lueken, Debbie Schuetter and Trina Severson and special guests The Troubadours of Divine Bliss, humor writer Stan Levco and IUPUI novelist and awardwinning flash fiction writer Sarah Layden. $10 donation per person at the door. “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” 7 p.m. Oct. 27, Astra Theatre. $8. www. AstraTheatre.Eventbrite.com or at the door.

Tickets are available by calling the arts center at 482-3070.

Area comedy

Food Truck Alley, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 13, Event Center Plaza, French Lick Springs Hotel. Craft Beer Experience, 7 p.m. Oct. 13, West Baden Springs Hotel. Reservations required. 812-936-5579

Live at The Astra! — Farewell Angelina, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 12; and The Good Humor Men, 7:30 p.m., March 15.

Plays: “Into the Woods,” July 25-28, 2019.

Backstage Series ­— Edmar Castaneda 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18; The Poulenc Trio, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27; and Matt Beilis, 7:30 p.m., March 8.

Bars

Family Fun Series —­ Page Turner Adventures, 3:30 p.m., Oct. 6; and The Amazing Max, 3:30 p.m., Feb. 24.

ONLY! S unda y,S eptem ber 30,2018 10:30 a .m . - 1:00 p.m .

a t the S chnitzelba nk R esta ura nt 393 T hird A venue,Ja sper

10.00 Per M ea l

$

M E N U : F ried C hicken • B ratw urst • P ulled P ork B B Q (choice of one m eat)

G erm an F ries • B aked B ean s • S law • D essert in cluded To pre-purcha se tickets co nta ct a ny m em ber o f the JH S G erm a n E xcha nge pro gra m o r ca ll S a ndy W ehr a t 812-482-2055. M eals w illalso be available at the drive-thru w hile su pplies last! Spon sored by Sister C ities of Jasper,In c.

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Events with a Held In League Stadium Require a Herbstfest Button

2018 Toys For Tike s S pon s ors

AJ Cycle & Trike Conversion Arnie’s Tavern Autom ated Transportation Berg’s Garage Com m ercialTruck Sales Carpenter Rentals Cave Quarries Dubois County Houseworks Ditto Sales Ernie’s W elding E-Lite Carpet Cleaning Fleig’s Cafe FraternalOrder of the Eagles Freedom Bank Germ an Am erican Bank Harm on Fam ily Chiropractic Hoosier Bandag Hoosier Hills M arina Hot Spot Bar Jasper Em broidery Jasper Engines & Transm issions Jasper M oose Lodge Jasper Rifle & Gun Club

Jerry Him sel/Schaeffer Oil Kelly’s Bar Leinenbach Tire Lighthouse W orship Center M ac-A-Doo’s & Out of Bounds M atrix Integration M ehling Construction M eny’s True Value & Dubois Hardware M idwest Cafe Oasis Bar & Grill Off the Hook Bar & Grill Old NationalBank RAM Electric Ron’s Place St.Anthony Tire STAC M aterialHandling Stop Inn The Chateau Uebelhor TV Versteel W ITX-W QKZ W oopheim ers Bar

Huntingburg Herbstfest

September 23 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 2018

Thursday, September 27

5:00 p.m…………………………………………………………………Craft Show 5:00 p.m… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …Carnival Rides 6:00 p.m…………………………*Henna Tattoo, *Facepainting by ALASI, *Balloon Artists by Hadi Shriner Funsters 7:00 p.m………………………………………………………………*Magic Show 8:30 p.m…………………………………………………………………*Fireworks

FREE! In the M idway

ENTERTAINMENT 2018

Kids Day

THURSDAY SEPTEM BER 27

5:30 PM

Kirby Stailey & Band

10:30 a.m. Kids Activities / Bubble Truck

FRIDAY SEPTEM BER 28

5:30 PM 8:00 PM

Justin LaG range Fire & Ice

Saturday, September 29 Sponsored by Huntingburg Public Library

Saturday, September 29

9:00 a.m……………………………………………………Trent Singer 25th Run 9:00 a.m… … … … … … … … … … … … … …A Kid’s Place Relay Adventure 10:00 a.m… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …Co-ed Volleyball Tourney 10:00 a.m…………………………………………………………………Craft Show 10:00 a.m………………………………………………………Dodgeball Tourney 10:30 a.m… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …Yes Power Yoga 11:00 - 3:00 p.m………………………………………………BBQ/Chili Cook-Off 12:00 noon………………………………Former Lady Raider Softball Tourney 12:30 p.m… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …Kiddie Pedal Pull 1:00 p.m……………………………………………………WBDC Wildcard Match 3:00 p.m… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …Carnival Rides 3:00 p.m… … … … … … … … … … … … … … …WBDC Cornhole Tournament of Champions Championship *6:00 p.m……………………………………………………Puttin’ on The Hits

Model Train Show and Swap Meet, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 20. See a train set made entirely of Legos

Sunday, September 30

“The Return of Sunshine: Poems By and For a New Grandpa,” reading by Jasper native Norb Krapf, 2 p.m. Oct. 20.

Follow us on or @ www.huntingburgherbstfest.com NO pets permitted at the City Park during Herbstfest hours

2:00 p.m…………………………………………………………………………Parade

SATURDAY,SEPTEM BER 29 1:00 PM 4:00 PM 5:30 PM 8:30 PM

G rupo G uanaco (Latino Band) Celebration Singers Sideline Eighty-Sixt Seating is limited so please bring your lawn chairs.