Ted Kooser, US Poet Laureate from 2004 to 2006. Photo by UNL Publications and Photography.

A wise friend told me that since the Age of Reason we’ve felt we had to explain everything, and that as a result we’ve forgotten the value of mystery.

Here’s a poem by Lisel Mueller that celebrates mystery. Mueller is a Pulitzer Prize winning poet from Illinois.

Sometimes, When the Light

Sometimes, when the light strikes at odd angles

and pulls you back into childhood

and you are passing a crumbling mansion

completely hidden behind old willows

or an empty convent guarded by hemlocks

and giant firs standing hip to hip,

you know again that behind that wall,

under the uncut hair of the willows

something secret is going on,

so marvelous and dangerous

that if you crawled through and saw,

you would die, or be happy forever.

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 ©1980 by Lisel Mueller, from her most recent book of poems, Alive Together: New and Selected Poems, Louisiana State University Press, 1996. Poem reprinted by permission of Lisel Mueller and the publisher. Introduction copyright © 2012 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.

The event will take place at the Lake County Arts Council's Main Street Gallery, 325 N. Main St., Lakeport.

The First Friday Fling will introduce a medley of new work by the members of the Lake County Artist Guild and an encore presentation of all the artists that participated in the gallery showings last year, plus jewelry by Patty Oates, Sherry Harris and Diego Harris and Beth Seaward; pastel landscapes by Terry Durnil and original oils by Carolyn Hawley.

The Lake County Art Guild group showing will feature artists Lilly Hilt, Marci Long, Ray Farrow, Barbara Levassuer, Steve Bilodeau, Cathy Farris, Linda Farris, Lois Feron, Meredith Gambrel, Patty Oates, J.V. Magoon, Bill Bluhm, Bobbie Bridges, Carmon Brittain, Judy Cardinale, Marilyn Crayton,

Wendy Dalton, Walter Dreis, Richard Seisser, Ronald Snider, Dennis and Evelyn Robison, Stefen Rotter, Robert Russell, Karen Whittington and Carol Yanagitsubo.

The Linda Carpenter Gallery will feature art works from People Services in January.

Michael Barrish and Scott Summers will perform music for the evening, and Lake County Wines will pour their vintages.

For more information contact the Lake County Arts Council, 707-263-6658.

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (Rated R)

The flipside of family friendly entertainment during the holiday season is expertly realized in director David Fincher’s adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,” a popular Swedish crime novel from the author’s Millennium Trilogy.

Not to be confused with the Swedish film of the same name, Fincher’s “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” still touches upon the story’s caustic themes of corruption, murder and dark family secrets.

The film’s mood is as gray and gloomy as a Scandinavian winter, which is appropriate enough considering the main action occurs on a remote Swedish island with a bleak landscape.

At the beginning, Daniel Craig’s Mikael Blomkvist becomes a disgraced journalist when he is convicted of libel for his reporting on the activities of a Swedish Daddy Warbucks named Wennerstrom.

One has to question Mikael’s ethics or common sense for publishing an expose of a corporate titan based upon a single anonymous source that he can’t even personally identify.

The journalist’s reckless behavior threatens the future of his periodical, as well as the illicit relationship he has carried on with his editor and occasional lover, Erika Berger (Robin Wright).

To seek redemption, Mikael takes on an assignment to chronicle the family history of Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), Sweden’s wealthiest and most prominent industrialist.

But Henrik Vanger also has his own agenda, namely for Mikael to get to the bottom of the long-ago disappearance of his beloved niece, Harriet, who was believed to have been murdered by a member of the large family.

At the same time, Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), the film’s titular character, a computer hacker and unorthodox investigator, is hired to do a background check on Mikael. The Vanger patriarch takes plenty of precautions.

Rooney Mara steals the picture. Her Lisbeth is a waifish, goth-punk loner who has been in and out of trouble most of her life. Her multiple body piercings and tattoos, to say nothing of tight leather clothes, convey her intensity and alienation.

A ward of the state, Lisbeth must report to a sadistic appointed guardian who abuses her sexually in return for the welfare money she needs to pay for rent and food.

Lisbeth’s guardian grows increasingly abusive, resulting in a horrifically violent rape scene that makes one wonder how the film skated by on an R rating.

But then, when Lisbeth devises a unique but fierce plan for revenge, the tables are turned so dramatically that she boldly proves to be one not to be trifled with.

Meanwhile, as Mikael plods through old documents and photos inside a cold cabin on the Vanger estate, Lisbeth is hired by Mikael as a researcher.

Her no-nonsense dedication is commendable, but then she inexplicably seduces her employer by stripping naked and practically tearing off his clothes. Lisbeth takes on no task without a sense of urgency.

Their investigative efforts turn up a series of odd coincidences and personal quirks of the Vanger clan. Many of the family members are so reclusive that they no longer talk to each other.

The lack of communication is often for good reason. A few of the older generation were former Nazi sympathizers during the war.

Outside of Henrik, the most accessible member is Henrik’s nephew Martin (Stellan Skarsgard), the missing Harriet’s brother. Given the responsibility of running the Vanger corporate interests, Martin also proves guarded.

Mikael and Lisbeth discover clues in a series of photographs that serve like a frame-by-frame replay of the events on the day Harriet disappeared in 1966. All that is missing from these photos is a grassy knoll.

But there’s more to their sleuthing efforts than just a focus on Harriet. They stumble upon the trail of an apparent serial killer of women, which adds yet another layer of foreboding events to this thriller.

Like the vast majority of the American moviegoers, I have not seen the Swedish film, so I am not compelled to make the inevitable comparisons otherwise required to render a judgment.

Standing on its own merits, David Fincher’s vision in “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” is unsettling enough to render a taut, moody thriller made all the more fascinating by Rooney Mara’s superb performance.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

It may no longer be necessary for you to sign up for premium cable TV service as long as you have the patience to wait for the DVD release of favorite series.

Of course, this assumes that you are only interested in one or two programs, so the wait is worth the presumed savings on the cable bill.

Any series involving sex, power, murder and other intrigues is likely not provocative enough unless it shows up on Showtime or HBO.

“The Borgias,” an unvarnished portrait of one of history’s most captivating families, was the perfect sinful period drama for Showtime.

Now “The Borgias: The First Season” is available on DVD, allowing for complete enjoyment of the reign of power and flamboyant cruelty orchestrated by the Borgia family in the Renaissance-era Rome.

Jeremy Irons proved to be powerfully effective as the cunning, manipulative patriarch of the Borgia family who rose to power and position as Pope Alexander VI.

The DVD features all nine one-hour episodes, along with special features that include full episodes of other Showtime programs, including “Californication” and “Dexter.”

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

The month of January is, for the most part, a dead zone as far as new movies are concerned.

One major studio is releasing “The Devil Inside” without benefit of any advance screenings, likely for fear of bad press.

So now is the time to catch up, if possible, with the independent films, which may be a challenge given the limited release options.

CARNAGE (Rated R)

At the risk of sounding like a cultural snob, I had the pleasure of seeing the original Broadway production of “God of Carnage,” in which James Gandolfini (of “The Sopranos” fame) delivered a tour-de-force performance.

The Yasmina Reza play has now been adapted for the screen in “Carnage,” directed by Roman Polanski and starring a capable, talented cast different than the one that appeared on stage.

The basic elements of a four-character play remain essentially in place. The story is simply about two couples locked in a showdown after their adolescent sons are involved in a playground squabble that results in one boy being wounded.

The parents of the injured child, Penelope and Michael Longstreet (Jodie Foster and John C. Reilly), invite the parent’s of the other child, Nancy and Alan Cowan (Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz), into their Brooklyn home.

The purpose of the meeting is an attempt by the four adults to settle the dispute, and while the conversation is initially courteous, lingering resentments and strife escalate into full-blown incivility.

Retaining its fundamentally theatrical nature, “Carnage” is so constrained by the setting of the Longstreet apartment that the characters are inevitably drawn into protracted discord.

Nancy and Alan are seemingly oblivious or indifferent to the moral dilemma posed by the misbehavior of their son. For his part, Alan spends much of his time on his cell phone in crisis management mode for a high-powered client.

Meanwhile, Penelope is overly sensitive and easily agitated by the lack of concern evidenced by the Cowans. At first, Michael strikes a conciliatory tone, but gives in to more savage impulses when libations are enjoyed.

“Carnage” revels in the thin veneer of gracious behavior disintegrating with great haste. Even the spouses turn on each other in sharp, bitter exchanges of hostile recriminations.

Though often dramatic, “Carnage” is caustically funny as the result of the scathing, acerbic wordplay on display in this very talkative film.

THE ARTIST (Rated PG-13)

One of the best movies of the past year is the most unlikely candidate for mass appeal. Demand for black-and-white silent films has been on the wane since Herbert Hoover was in office.

I must admit to being initially skeptical about the unique throwback to an era before the talkies that is realized with a truly masterful independent film called “The Artist.”

Amazingly, the simple technique of a silent film is magically developed by the deft direction of French filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius, whose last name would stump a spelling bee champion.

Jean Dujardin, not a household name even after his “OSS 117” films, is perfect for the prominent role of silent screen star George Valentin, a matinee idol of his time in 1927 Hollywood.

Like many others of that era, Valentin is unable to make the transition when talking pictures become the rage, and studio executives determine he’s no longer the right fit.

Near the end of his silent career, Valentin discovers a great film ingénue and dancer, Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), who goes on to great acclaim in the new medium.

While Valentin sadly scrounges for relevance in the changing film world, his life turns to shambles on a personal and professional level.

As his loveless marriage disintegrates, he moves out of his stately mansion and ends up sharing a grungy apartment with his faithful dog, Uggie, who also performed in many of his master’s silent films.

Meanwhile, Peppy remains faithful to her mentor Valentin when his career crumbles. Of course, there’s a romantic spark between the dashing Valentin and the pretty dancer with the notable beauty mark.

“The Artist” is a work of art, for it captures the feel of an old-fashioned entertainment but with the style, grace and energy of all that modern technology offers.

Save for one surprise, there is no spoken dialogue, but the musical score is so outstanding that the film’s soundtrack should garner its own commendation.

I believe the last silent film to receive an Academy Award dates back to 1929. “The Artist” is such a great film that it would be a shame if it is not considered a top-tier candidate for the ultimate award.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

Fans of the original “Hawaii Five-O” series, starring Jack Lord as the no-nonsense head of the state police unit, now have a chance to complete their DVD collection.

“Hawaii Five-O: The Twelfth and Final Season” DVD is being released. It’s amazing to think the show had such longevity.

As good as the new “Hawaii Five-0” series has been, now in its second season, I would not wager that it will last another decade.

On the other hand, the original series holds up surprisingly well, even with the addition of some new characters to McGarrett’s special unit.

The series finale features a showdown between McGarrett and his longtime, ultimate nemesis Wo Fat.

Bonus features are lacking, with the exception of a music video tribute labeled “Hawaii Five-0: Crime Wave.”

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

Ted Kooser, US Poet Laureate from 2004 to 2006. Photo by UNL Publications and Photography.

Anne Coray is an Alaskan, and in this beautiful meditation on the stillness of nature she shows us how closely she’s studied something that others might simply step over.

The Art of Being

The fern in the rain breathes the silver message.

Stay, lie low. Play your dark reeds

and relearn the beauty of absorption.

There is nothing beyond the rotten log

covered with leaves and needles.

Forget the light emerging with its golden wick.

Raise your face to the water-laden frond.

A thousand blossoms will fall into your arms.

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 ©2011 by Anne Coray from her most recent book of poetry, A Measure’s Hush, Boreal Books, 2011. Poem reprinted by permission of Anne Coray and the publisher. Introduction copyright © 2011 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.

Its January film will be “Crash Course” by Dr. Chris Martenson.

“Crash Course” is a three-disk educational documentary that focuses on explaining the convergence of four “E's”: Energy, the Environment and the Economy – all in the context of Exponential growth.

The movie will be shown on three consecutive Sundays – Jan. 8, 15 and 22 – at Clearlake United Methodist Church, 14521 Pearl Ave., Clearlake.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; the movie starts at 6 p.m.

Martenson is a scientist, holds a master's degree from Cornell and is a fellow at the Post Carbon Institute. He's been researching the not-far-off future for at least the last nine years.

“It's very important to distinguish between facts, opinions and beliefs,” said Martenson. “So let me be right upfront about this. I hold three beliefs, which I'm going to share with you and then spend the rest of our time showing you how I got to these beliefs.

“The first is that the next 20 years are going to be completely unlike the last 20 years. Second, I believe that it's possible that the pace and/or scope of change could overwhelm the ability of our key social and support institutions to adapt. Third, I believe we do not lack any technology or understanding necessary to build ourselves a better future,” Martenson said.

Martenson, a likable and down-to-earth guy and father of three young children, says the changes he saw looming just five years ago are already happening all over the globe.

As a research scientist, Martenson is an expert at gathering and putting in order and in relationship, reams of data and then making the results understandable by ordinary people like ourselves. This information will help us prepare for what's coming down the pike. It's fascinating and mobilizing.

Discussion follows the screenings.

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