Seeing the Forest for the Trees
Polk County has a long and illustrious tradition as a creative hub. The artistic seed planted by Native American travelers bloomed with the arts…
Read MoreArts+Culture
Taken
You have to give Taken the same level of suspension of disbelief that you allow movies like Transporter 1, 2 and 3. It helps…
Read MoreGran Torino
“Get off my lawn!” Walter Kowalski growls and points his vintage M-1 rifle, in case the thick-headed punks didn’t get the verbal message. Yes,…
Read MoreThe Reader
Can the children born after a war ever forgive parents who took part in it? Can you love someone who did monstrous acts? These…
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Southern Scene
The raw power behind the primitive images and pieces created by folk art practitioners often evokes a highly emotional response in the viewer. Southern…
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Shifting Perceptions
Making art has always had its subversive side, a deliberate attempt to manipulate perception and emotion. The most figurative of artists still fiddle with…
Read MoreDefiance
“Jews don’t fight,” the Russian commander in Defiance snarls at the new recruit, who is a fierce fighter against the Nazis—and a Jew. Most…
Read MoreDoubt
When a nun and a priest are in conflict, you know the resulting battles won’t leave anyone unscarred. In John Patrick Shanley’s masterful film…
Read MoreMilk
It’s hard to believe it’s been 30 years since two San Francisco politicians were assassinated by a disgruntled former county supervisor. It’s also painfully…
Read MoreThe Wrestler
This film is not for everyone. It’s edgy, violent, sad, and full of clichés. It also has a brilliant, raw, unforgettable performance by one…
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