BY THE GUN (Rated R)

At the cinemas, we’re in the quiet period before the major holiday releases that are just around the corner, where “Annie,” the adorable little orphan, goes up against “The Hobbit,” which is rumored to also involve a lovable smaller person in the central role.

Until then, we have to satisfy our cinematic cravings by revisiting the latest “Hunger Games” or taking in a horror film that a major studio hardly bothered to promote, knowing there’s a built-in audience that flocks to this genre regardless of any consequential artistic qualities.

The other alternative is to catch, if you can, “By the Gun,” a somewhat limited release of a formulaic yet gritty gangster story that could easily find its way to the DVD shelves of your local Walmart before it ever reaches a nearby theater.

“By the Gun” is a crime thriller that so desperately wants to recapture the essence of the graphic, coarse brutality of “Goodfellas” that one of the criminal characters actually mentions the film as a poke to another’s fascination with gangland tropes.

Set in the Boston’s North End community, “By the Gun” takes a jaundiced look at the dwindling empire of the veteran Italian mobsters.

Suitably, Harvey Keitel is Sal, the big capo, who is losing his grip to other wiseguys, while also engaged in turf battles with sleazy criminal kingpin Tony (Ritchie Coster). 

Against the wishes of his disapproving father (Paul Ben-Victor), Ben Barnes’ Nick is a petty thief and street hustler consorting with his thuggish buddy George (Slaine), a trigger-happy goon far too eager to settle minor disputes with violence. Nick is devoted to his younger brother, and wants to help him to afford college.

While George may be fine with strong-arm tactics, Nick is anxious and determined to become a “made man,” willing to pledge faithful allegiance to Sal’s mob at a ceremony that naturally involves a blood oath. This will become Nick’s path to greater financial rewards, which he’ll use to help his family.

To please his new mob boss, Nick volunteers for an apology tour to address perceived slights that have greatly offended the outraged Tony, a psychopath who is greatly motivated to take down Sal and his vicious henchman (nicely played by British actor Toby Jones).

While Harvey Keitel predictably chews the scenery as a wretched, ferocious mafia don, Ben Barnes flails around in his efforts to be the credible tough guy.

Barnes’ Nick comes across as someone unsure and lacking confidence, even tongue-tied at the most unfortunate times, such as when trying to court a rival’s daughter.

Indeed, the romantic angle intrudes in a big way. Leighton Meester’s Ali, a barmaid with ambition, is the daughter of the despicable mobster Tony. She wants nothing to do with the criminal life, and so Nick is at first glance not someone she wants to start dating.

Notwithstanding Ali’s reservations, Nick is fairly persistent and soon the courtship gains traction. Before you know it, Nick becomes anxious to leave behind his criminal ties so that he and Ali can begin a life together.

Of course, as it comes as no surprise to anyone with even a modicum of knowledge of mobster stories, a desire to leave the mob is not an option. No one just walks away unless they end up in a witness protection program.

“By the Gun” may provide some excitement for its rather mechanical approach to the mobster genre.

Certainly, there are thuggish violence and double-cross betrayals that keep the action moving along, if not to the more exalted standards of better gangster films.

The various actors in the mob roles are, at least, sincere in their attempts to appear as if they were auditioning for a “Goodfellas” remake.

They all try hard to deliver the appropriate menace and threatening bravado. Fans of the gangster genre may find that just enough until something better comes along.

One thing for certain is that “By the Gun” won’t be mistaken for a holiday film designed to bring us glad tidings and good cheer.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Konocti Unified School District Drama Department this week is performing “A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol.” 

The musical will be performed at 7 p.m. in the Lower Lake High School multipurpose room on Thursday, Dec. 11, and Friday, Dec. 12.

Tickets are $5 and everyone is invited for an entertainment-filled evening.

With seven Christmas Carol songs blended into this performance, watch and be entertained as fairy tale characters take on the roles of the famous Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol.”

The story follows Big Bad Wolf as he is visited by the three ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.

Led by Tracy Lahr, the cast includes Malajiahna Robinson, Grace Matthies, Amanda Adamcyk, Samantha Hughes, Kei-Lani Cabreros, Donte Price,  Carley Pesonen, Christina La Rose, Josh Harris, Tawnie Nell, Joseph Hughes, Emily Larson, Arriana Kawamura, Caden Kouninos, Maddy Rowe, Anthony Klein, Ashley Gonzalez, Justice Snow, Makena-Lani Ferdolage, Tiffany Balandran, Austin McGrath, Jerrilyn Crespo and Rebecca Laurenson.

Don't miss an opportunity to celebrate the holiday season with the family with this whimsical and adorable musical. Come out and support our local youth performing arts.

For more information please contact Tracy Lahr at 707-295-7806 or 707-994-6471, Extension 2735.

HORRIBLE BOSSES 2 (Rated R)

Where comedy is involved, sequels are often not the most desired approach.

As a prime example, “The Hangover,” outrageously funny, would have been best served had a franchise never been attempted.

The first sequel, arguably passable, made way for another that was, by most accounts, either completely unnecessary or just plain dreadful.

Going against the grain is “Horrible Bosses 2,” a followup effort that would seem to lack promise, only because the trio of victimized workers (Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis), who proved to be hilariously idiotic, are reunited for nearly similar challenges.

“Horrible Bosses 2” has a different twist in that the three office drones have morphed into entrepreneurs, even though their understanding of starting and sustaining their own business enterprise is lacking fundamental knowledge and experience necessary for monetary success.

What’s working right now for the “Horrible Bosses” franchise is that the hapless trio of Nick (Bateman), Dale (Day) and Kurt (Sudeikis) are not just unbelievably dense but they have to cope with an adversary worthy of the grief provided by their former horrible employers (Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell and Jennifer Aniston).

Having invented a showerhead that dispenses soap, shampoo and conditioner, they find they have a winner with this unique bathroom product known as the “Shower Buddy,” but they still require start-up financing to launch a production facility.

Enter savvy investor and business tycoon Bert Hanson (Christoph Waltz) and his psychotic son Rex (Chris Pine), both of whom are schemers, but not necessarily in sync with each other.

Hanson the senior offers $500,000 and an initial order to be processed through his catalog business.

On good faith, Nick, Kurt and Dale rent warehouse space and hire a crew of inexperienced workers.

Kurt, easily distracted by any form of female beauty, hires every pretty girl who shows up for an interview. And yet, the newly-minted businessmen manage to deliver their first batch of showerheads as promised.

The unscrupulous Bert Hanson reneges on his promise for funding so that he can take over their company for pennies on the dollar.

But Bert didn’t count on the criminal minds that are once again willing to team up with underworld advisor MF Jones (Jamie Foxx), a mastermind almost as inept as his clients.

Our trio of hapless heroes knows something about dealing with deceitful operators, having clumsily conspired but not actually succeeding to murder their bosses in the first film.

Kevin Spacey makes a delightful return as Nick’s former employer Dave Harken, now incarcerated.

His brief appearances, punctuated by profane and sadistic rants, during prison visits by the trio seeking expert business advice are priceless and what you might expect from an unhinged horrible boss.

The old friends conspire to kidnap the obnoxious Rex in order to seek a ransom at least for the amount of money owed by the insidious Bert Hanson.

Meanwhile, Rex, not as insipid as he appears, turns the tables by convincing the guys that they can up the ante and turn a windfall.

During the hostage stage, the chemistry between Nick, Dale and Kurt comes comically into play. The three of them bicker as if they were “The Three Stooges,” which is not a farfetched notion. Their incompetence is staggering and overwhelming, resulting in plenty of laughs.

Not a genius by any stretch, Nick is the most rational member of the group who wisely frets about consequential actions. The whiny-voiced Dale is constantly in panic mode, usually acting illogically.

Stuck in the muddled middle, Kurt often facilitates Dale’s nonsense when he’s not preoccupied with eyeballing attractive women. 

That these guys are so easily manipulated is also cause for the comic mayhem.

Jennifer Aniston’s return as the sex-addict dentist, who sexually harassed her former dental assistant Dale, offers some very funny moments when she targets Nick as her newest victim.

“Horrible Bosses 2” adheres to the lowbrow comedy formula that worked quite well the first time around.

In the most basic terms, if you liked the first “Horrible Bosses” chances are you will feel the same way about this sequel.

For one thing, I approached “Horrible Bosses 2” with caution, fearing it would ruin favorable memories.

Well, that didn’t happen, because it’s wacky fun to watch Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis bumbling through the plot, while bringing some fresh material to the basic storyline.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Second Sunday Cinema's final presentation of 2014 on Dec. 14 will be “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.”

The film will be shown at Clearlake United Methodist Church, 14521 Pearl Ave.

Doors open at 5:45 p.m., with the film beginning at 6 p.m.

This delightful film, starring Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson and Maggie Smith, was listed as one of “the most spiritually literate” films of 2012 by the Web site, Spirituality and Practice.

The film takes viewers along with a small group of English retirees who cannot afford to fade away in rainy old England.

So they sign up to move into what they expect to be a luxurious hotel in sunny India – and indeed, it was once the palace of a raja. But it has seen better days, as has so very much in India. And these English people have seen better days as well. 

Some of them are determined to hold on to those “better days” – at the expense of the present. But others find ways to open to exciting new possibilities in an old and exciting land.

Seen from a certain perspective, these folks – with varying degrees of eagerness and consciousness – embark on a quest, a calling, an adventure into the unknown that will, for the few, lead them into unanticipated, joyous new life.

With this charming, funny and heartfelt film, Second Sunday Cinema closes out a full eight years in Clearlake.

Second Sunday Cinema will reopen in the Kelseyville Methodist Church on Jan. 11 – as always, on the second Sunday of every month but at 3 p.m.

For more information call Shannon Tolson at 707-889-7355.

For every one of those faces pictured on the obituary page, thousands of memories have been swept out of the world, never to be recovered. I encourage everyone to write down their memories before it’s too late.

Here’s a fine example of that by Margaret Hasse, who lives in Minnesota.

Truant

Our high school principal wagged his finger
over two manila folders
lying on his desk, labeled with our names—
my boyfriend and me—
called to his office for skipping school.

The day before, we ditched Latin and world history
to chase shadows of clouds on a motorcycle.
We roared down rolling asphalt roads
through the Missouri River bottoms
beyond town, our heads emptied
of review tests and future plans.

We stopped on a dirt lane to hear
a meadowlark’s liquid song, smell
heart-break blossom of wild plum.
Beyond leaning fence posts and barbwire,
a tractor drew straight lines across the field
unfurling its cape of blackbirds.

Now forty years after that geography lesson
in spring, I remember the principal’s words.
How right he was in saying:
This will be part of
your permanent record.

American Life in Poetry is made possible by The Poetry Foundation ( www.poetryfoundation.org ), publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Introduction copyright 2014 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction's author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006. They do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Start the holidays with sounds of joy!

The Old Time Fiddlers Association continues the monthly First Sunday Fiddlers’ Jam sessions at the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum.

On Sunday, Dec. 7, they'll be performing beautiful Americana music with a possible sprinkling of holiday cheer to get you in the spirit.

Come ready to clap your hands and tap your toes. They'll even make room for those who want to get up and dance.

This is a free, family friendly event for all to enjoy, young and old alike.

The fun begins at the museum at 11 a.m. with the fiddlers playing in the barn from noon through 2 p.m.

Come early to enjoy all of the latest museum acquisitions and displays. Take this last opportunity to buy tickets for the “barn replica” birdhouse that will be raffled off during the fiddling that day.

Enjoy the music with beverages and tasty treats provided by the docents. Bring your own wine and sip it in Ely Stage Stop wine glasses that are available for purchase.

Attendees frequently make donations and the money collected is split between Ely, to help fund a blacksmith shop that volunteers will soon be building, and the Fiddlers Association, who uses it to partially fund their scholarship programs.

The stage stop, operated by the Lake County Historical Society, is located at 9921 Soda Bay Road (Highway 281) in Kelseyville. Current hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday. Fiddlers’ Jams occur the first Sunday of every month.

Visit www.elystagestop.com or www.lakecountyhistory.org , check out the stage stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop or call the museum at 707-533-9990.