The major studio release film for the week is Tom Cruise’s “Oblivion,” for which I never received a screening invite, and so it will not be reviewed.

From all accounts of hearsay and gossip, I may have dodged a bullet and spared myself a minimum loss of two hours never to be regained. Not to mention the drive time and waiting.

So let’s focus on the positive, which for now in our troubled times is increasingly difficult. But Turner Classic Movies (better known as simply TCM) has found a way to deliver joy, even if only for a long weekend.

In a short period of time, the TCM Classic Film Festival, held over four days in the heart of Hollywood, has established itself as the place where movie lovers from around the world can gather to experience classic movies.

Mark your calendar now, and make swift travel arrangements, to come to Los Angeles for Thursday, April 25, through Sunday, April 28.

In iconic venues like Grauman’s Chinese Theater and the Egyptian, you can enjoy great films as they were intended to be experienced: on the big screen, with the people who made them.

“Cinematic Journeys: Travel in the Movies” is the theme for the 2013 TCM Classic Film Festival, which will explore how movies can carry viewers beyond their hometowns to distant or imaginary locales, where they are transformed by great storytelling.

Bottom line is that the mode of travel may inspire films, or in most cases the trip itself serves as the central narrative, or what we would call the ever-popular “road movie.”

In that vein, “Road to Utopia” unites the legendary comedy duo of Bing Crosby and Bob Hope as former vaudeville performers who take a detour on their way to Alaska after discovering a gold mine map.

TCM will celebrate the 80th anniversary of “Flying Down to Rio” with a new print of a musical comedy about a band leader pursuing the woman of his dreams in Brazil. Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire made their on screen debut together in this one.

A real madcap comedy treat will be the screening of “It’s A Mad Mad Mad Mad World,” a 1963 film with an all-star cast that gets involved in a wild chase to retrieve stolen loot.

Sadly, Jonathan Winters, one of the greatest comedians, recently passed away. He had been scheduled to appear at this film presentation. The good news is that Carl Reiner and Mickey Rooney will be on hand for a discussion about director Stanley Kramer’s comic gem.

On the dark side of road movies is the world premiere restoration of writer/director Terrence Malick’s landmark true-crime-based tale in “Badlands” of doomed lovers on a cross-country crime spree, starring Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek.

To be sure you get a large enough dose of road trip crime sprees, “Bonnie and Clyde,” starring Faye Dunaway and Warren as the legendary criminal couple, is the ultimate Depression-era film of criminal infamy.

Interestingly, “Bonnie and Clyde” was at first consigned to B-movie release at drive-ins and second-run theaters, until noted critic Pauline Kael gave it a rave review, as opposed to others that panned the film.
   
Positive word of mouth grew, and Warner Bros. reissued the movie with a big ad campaign trumpeting “They’re young … they’re in love … and they kill people.” I guess this was the precursor to “Natural Born Killers.”

On a lighter note, it will be a treat to see Mel Brooks in person as he leads a discussion about one of his early works, “The Twelve Chairs,” a warm-hearted farce about an impoverished Russian aristocrat, a priest and a con artist searching for a dozen chairs that may contain a hidden treasure.

Between his more famous films “The Producers” and “Blazing Saddles,” Mel Brooks’ “The Twelve Chairs” starred Ron Moody and a young Frank Langella as a faded Russian nobleman and a handsome young beggar who join forces to search for a fortune in jewels.

“The Twelve Chairs” is an overlooked jewel for a film in which director Brooks inserted classic vaudeville and burlesque humor into his satire of the Soviet Union. Fortunately, Mel Brooks will personally offer his insights.

A midnight screening of “Plan 9 From Outer Space” is an homage to director Ed Wood’s low-budget sci-fi cult classic about extraterrestrial creatures planning to resurrect the Earth’s dead.

“Plan 9 From Outer Space,” a veritable cheesy classic, is a film so bad that it is actually good. Yes, a cinematic oxymoron, if you will.

Frankly, there are too many good movies on hand at the TCM Classic Film Festival, including Greta Garbo in “Ninotchka” and James Dean in “Giant.”

You just have to show up in Hollywood, as this is now a must-see event for film lovers.

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

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Art House Gallery will hold its Third Friday Art Gala this Friday, April 19.

The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the gallery, 15210 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake.

There will be a new art show to view, refreshments, live music and a chance to meet and mingle with artists.

This is Clearlake's only art gallery, so come out and support the arts by attending.

The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visit the gallery online at http://thearthousegallery.net/ .

For more information call 707-994-1716.

 
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Theatre Co.’s production of “Rumors” by Neil Simon is scheduled to open at Gard Street School Auditorium on April 26.

“Rumors” is a comedy. “You start laughing at the beginning of the first act and you never stop. That’s why I am in it,” said Tim Fischer.

Who is Tim Fischer? In this show, he is Lennie Ganz, husband of Clair Ganz (played by Jenna Radke).

“Tim has a face that is made out of putty. He can make it do anything he wants it to do. Just looking at him makes me laugh,” said Radke. “He is a natural.”

Perhaps this is the reason that Fisher chose to get a degree in Theatre Arts from Sonoma State.  

“I couldn’t get enough of being on the stage,” he confessed. “I learned all the technical aspects of stage craft but getting a reaction out of an audience as an actor is what I lived for. That’s what still turns me on. When you know you have given an audience just what they came to see, that is a thrill.”

When Tim Fisher is not on the stage, however, he teaches English at Lower Lake High School. How then did a young man who is so enamored with theatre become a teacher? He discovered another passion, “almost by mistake.”

“I was living in Southern California, hoping to do something with acting but being a fry cook instead. I hated it,” said Fischer. “I saw an ad for a private school that needed teachers and I applied. They hired me as a sub … and I loved it. After a while, I went back to school and got my master’s in education. I found out that teaching was a calling I didn’t know I had until quite a way down the road, but it’s great. The kids are great. I get the same satisfaction out of reaching them that I get out of reaching an audience when I am acting. In a way, the two passions are sort of knitted together.”

The versatility of Tim Fischer is not confined to teaching and comedy. Recently he played Harding, a dramatic role in ”One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” He will also be remembered as the irrepressible Frenkenfurtur in LCTC’s version of “The Rocky Horror Show.”

Fischer is a happy man right now. “I am in a great place where I can do both of the things I love at the same time. Life is good.”

“Rumors” will run at Gard Street Auditorium in Kelseyville from April 26 through May 12, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available at Wildhurst Tasting Room in Kelseyville, 707-279-4302, and The Party Shop in Lakeport, 707-263-7800). Online purchases of general seating may be made at www.lakecountytheatrecompany.org .

For more information, call 707-279-2595.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The deadline is quickly approaching for the Congressional Art Competition.

Submissions are due Monday, April 22.

The Congressional Art Competition, which Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-5) announced last month, showcases the artistic talents and abilities of students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories.

The 2013 competition is open to all high school students in California’s Fifth District.

“Be sure to get your submissions in before the deadline,” said Thompson. “This competition is an excellent opportunity for our community to support our student artists, and I encourage all eligible students to apply. Every year our office receives outstanding submissions from talented artists all across our district. I look forward to seeing all of this year’s artwork.”

Since 1982, the Congressional Art Competition has given Members of Congress the opportunity to encourage the artistic talents of their young constituents.

Each Member of Congress hosts a competition among high school students in his or her district. The winning artwork from each district is then displayed in the United States Capitol for one year.

In addition, the grand prize winner will be flown with a guest to Washington, D.C. to attend an awards ceremony in June.

An oil portrait on canvas titled “Erin,” painted by last year’s winner, Julian Gordon of McKinleyville, is currently on display in the Capitol.

A panel of judges will select the winning entry and their decision will be announced in early May. All artwork must be submitted by April 22 to Congressman Thompson’s district offices: 1040 Main St., Suite 101, Napa, CA 94559; 985 Walnut Ave., Vallejo, CA 94592; and 2300 Country Center Dr. Suite A100, Santa Rosa, CA 95403.

Guidelines for the Congressional Art Competition include the following:

• Artwork must be two-dimensional.
• Each piece can be no larger than 28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep, including the frame.
• Artwork cannot weigh more than 15 pounds.

Acceptable media for artwork are as follows:

• Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.;
• Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers;
• Collage;
• Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints;
• Mixed Media: use of more than two medias such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.;
• Computer-generated art;
• Photography.

All submissions must be accompanied by a completed student information/release form, which can be found here: http://www.house.gov/content/educate/art_competition/pdf/student-information-release-form.pdf .

Complete contest guidelines are here: http://www.house.gov/content/educate/art_competition/pdf/student-information-release-form.pdf .

Students and teachers interested in the Congressional Art Competition may contact Melissa Rodezno in Congressman Thompson’s Napa office at 707-226-9898 for further guidelines and information.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Soper-Reese Community Theatre's popular “Third Friday Live” event will feature the Fargo Brothers April 19.

The performance will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the theater, located at 275 S. Main St. in Lakeport. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The Fargo Brothers deliver a brand of blues and roots rock and roll with a fire and intensity that only three decades and more than 3,000 live shows together can bring.

Check out their Web site at http://www.reverbnation.com/thefargobrothers .

The theater has an open dance floor and table or loge seating. Snacks and beverages are available for purchase.  

Tickets are $10; there is open seating.

Tickets are available online at http://www.soperreesetheatre.com ; in the box office on Fridays, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., telephone 707-263-0577; at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main St., Lakeport, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; at the Tallman Hotel, 9550 Main St., Upper Lake, telephone 707-275-2244; and at the door.

There’s something wonderful about happening upon a musician playing for his or her own pleasure, completely absorbed in the music. Jeff Daniel Marion is a fine poet from east Tennessee. And here’s a woman playing the bagpipes.

Playing to the River

She stands by the riverbank,
notes from her bagpipes lapping
across to us as we wait

for the traffic light to change.
She does not know we hear—
she is playing to the river,

a song for the water, the flow
of an unknown melody to the rocky
bluffs beyond, for the mist

that was this morning, shroud
of past lives: fishermen
and riverboat gamblers, tugboat captains

and log raftsmen, pioneer and native
slipping through the eddies of time.
She plays for them all, both dirge

and surging hymn, for what has passed
and is passing as we slip
into the currents of traffic,
the changed light bearing us away.

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. Poem copyright 2012 by Jeff Daniel Marion, whose most recent book of poems is Father, Wind Publications, 2009. First appeared in Still: The Journal, an online publication, Winter 2013. Poem reprinted by permission of Jeff Daniel Marion. Introduction copyright 2013 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.