OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL (Rated PG)

The director of the “Spider-Man” trilogy and “The Evil Dead,” among other titles in an eclectic resume, turned his sights to a cinematic prequel of L. Frank Baum’s book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

Sam Raimi also directed his baseball homage, “For Love of the Game,” starring Kevin Costner, and the supernatural thriller, “Drag Me to Hell.” His filmmaking talents are abundant and diverse.

If the grand Broadway musical “Wicked” can become a popular hit, why not tinker with “The Wizard of Oz” legend to be reinvented as the backstory of how the Wizard arrived in the Emerald City?

Raimi’s “Oz the Great and Powerful” is the story of how the wizard came to be the wizard. It’s the tale of a smalltime carnival magician, a charlatan and sly con artist, who arrived in a magical, fantastic world.

Based on an imaginative screenplay by Mitchell Kapner and David Lindsay-Abaire, Raimi’s colorful invention follows Oscar Diggs (James Franco), an amoral circus huckster with dubious ethics.

The setting is the black-and-white world of 1905 Kansas, where Franco’s fast-talking Oscar fools gullible audiences with cheap tricks and low-grade sleight-of-hand, aided by his frantic assistant Frank (Zach Braff).

Oscar also employs his seductive wiles to woo beautiful young women, but his tryst with Annie (Michelle Williams) causes him to stir the wrath of a jealous circus strongman.

Fleeing in a hot air balloon, Oscar is soon caught up in a fierce tornado sweeping the dusty plains, and as a result, he’s whisked away to the Technicolor world of the Land of Oz.

Greeted like a conquering hero, Oscar is assumed to be the great wizard that is eagerly anticipated by the fearful inhabitants of the Land of Oz. For his part, Oscar thinks he’s hit the jackpot of fame and fortune.

Instead of meeting up with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion, Oscar finds his new companions are the talking winged monkey Finley (voiced by Zach Braff) and China Girl, the porcelain doll, (voiced by Joey King).

His protean charm and evident reputation as a seducer of women is immediately put to the test in the Land of Oz, where no less than three beautiful witches compete for his attention.

Oscar’s first encounter is with the youngest of the trio, a beguiling but emotionally naïve Theodora (Mila Kunis), who bats her big brown eyes ever so seductively that Oscar is quickly smitten by her beauty.

Having doubts about Oscar’s intentions, Theodora’s older sister Evanora (Rachel Weisz) is a schemer who can play both sides of the moral divide with great ease.

At first, Evanora seems convincing as somebody just looking out for the welfare of the Emerald City and its citizens, but shifts into a dark wicked mode when she feels threatened by the roguish stranger.

Then there’s Glinda, the Good Witch (also Michelle Williams), a beautiful creature whose motives, at the outset, are cloaked in mystery.

Oscar is naturally drawn to Glinda because she’s the alter ego to Annie, his love interest that he left behind in Kansas when he made his desperate escape in the hot-air balloon.

The role of Oscar requires James Franco to come across as alternately slimy huckster and sincere savior of an oppressed people. Franco does not appear completely up to the task to play this duality.

This shortcoming is something of a problem for a story that focuses so intently on Oscar’s transformation from selfish con man to the gallant, altruistic Wizard of Oz.
 
A lot of effort was also put into generating suspense about the identity of the Wicked Witch of the West, but the savvy viewer may pick up the telltale signs long before the magical revelation.

In the end, with little surprise, Oscar summons the courage and will to organize a motley bunch of tinkerers, farmers and Munchkins to reclaim Emerald City from the evil machinations of the witches.

The ruby red slippers, iconic songs and even Toto are missing here because the 1939 original version “The Wizard of Oz” is copyrighted intellectual property to which Disney has no claim or legal right to use.

“Oz the Great and Powerful,” facing certain creative and artistic limitations, does the best that it can with the source material that is usable.

At the very least, this Disney version, which uses its 3D to great effect in limited but vital scenes, is a visual spectacle that is satisfying for the family audience.  

“Oz the Great and Powerful,” though not the great film one would have hoped for, is still powerful enough in its wondrous beauty to deliver the goods in a satisfactory manner.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-5) has announced the beginning of the 2013 Congressional Art Competition, and urged high school students in California’s 5th Congressional District to enter their artwork.

The annual competition 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.

“The Congressional Art Competition is an excellent opportunity for our community to support our student artists, and I encourage all eligible students to apply,” said Thompson. “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 22nd to Congressman Thompson’s district offices:

• 1040 Main St., Suite 101, Napa, CA 94559;
• 985 Walnut Ave., Vallejo, CA 94592;
• 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.

MENDOCINO, Calif. – The Fort Bragg Center for the Arts will host the Peregrine Trio on Sunday, March 17.

The concert will take place beginning at 1 p.m. in Preston Hall, 44831 Main St. in Mendocino.

The Peregrine Trio with cellist Burke Schuchmann, violinist George Hayes and pianist Jannie Lo will perform trios by Mozart and Brahms and the Kodaly Duo for Violin and Cello.

Tickets are $25 at the door and $20 in advance at Fiddles and Cameras and Harvest Market in Fort Bragg and Out of this World in Mendocino.

For more information visit http://www.fbcamusicseries.com/ .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Guitarist Lindy Day and Native American flautist Kevin Village Stone will join Bob Culbertson on stage this Saturday, March 16, at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre in Lakeport.

Culbertson is a world-renowned Chapman stick player and recording artist with an international career that spans decades. “Possibly the world’s No. 1 touch guitarist!” says Inside San Diego ABC TV.

Stone and Day will join Culbertson with guitar and Native American flutes in addition to a couple of opening numbers.

Showtime starts at 7 p.m. All seats are $18.

Tickets are available at the Main Street Gallery and The Salon at High Street Village, both in Lakeport, at the Soper-Reese box office on Friday or online at www.soperreesetheatre.com (scroll down to “Bob Culbertson and Friends”), and The Travel Center, located at 1265 Main St., Lakeport.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Soper-Reese Community Theatre's Third Friday Live event on March 15 will feature Ukiah's Premier Dance band, the Funky Dozen.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the show taking place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the theater, located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.

The Funky Dozen blend fun and funk to keep you on the dance floor all night long with high energy tunes from the 1960s, 80s and 90s.

There will be a bistro-style setting with tables and an open dance floor. Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase.

The cost for tickets is $10 per person. Tickets can be purchased from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, at the Travel Center, 1265 S. Main St. in Lakeport; tickets also are available at the Soper-Reese box office on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., telephone 707-263-0577.

Online ticket purchases also can be made at www.soperreesetheatre.com .

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake Community Pride Foundation will present a concert by “The Peculiars” on Saturday, March 9.

The concert will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Lower Lake High School Little Theater, the most intimate Little Theater in Lake County, located at 9430 Lake St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The Peculiars is led by musician Ramon McLane who describes the band as “an eccentric mix of music, both modern and old, that will keep your toes tappin' and the rest of your shakin'.”

The group ranges from New Orleans rhythms, Vaudeville, Cajun music, old time gospel, and the modern trends of Tom Waits and the Lumineers.  

McLane for 20 years ran a Vaudeville theater in Seattle that he had created. Due to this experience, the evening will prove to be not only musical, but surprising and entertaining. It will be a grand show.  

All proceeds go to support youth performing arts in Lake County.  

Bring your family, bring a friend come on down to Lower Lake and enjoy the sights and sounds of The Peculiars.

Tickets cost $10 at the door. For tickets and information visit www.aneveningwith.org or call 707-331-8445.