Paso Robles Entertainment – Feb. 3-9
By Russ Troutt–Just waking up after last nights show at The Ranch and what a killer show it was. Opening act Terra Bella, husband and wife country duo out of Visalia formally known as Chaparral, were great as always. Thomas Rhett rocked the roof off! Really high energy show and he finished by singing one of his dad’s, Rhett Akins, hits. Hope everyone has had a great week and was able to get out catch a show or movie. I found time to get to the theater a couple of times over the last few days and saw both a bad, “Mama”, and a great movie, “Warm Bodies” which is The Park Cinemas Picture of the Week. Also, I’m going to be in Frisco next weekend for a meet and greet with the one and only Bruce Campbell! I’ll try to score an interview for y’all if I can. Hope everyone has a great week and according to Punxsutawney the Groundhog, hope you’re ready for an early Spring; I know I am.
The Park Cinemas Picture of the Week: “Warm Bodies” (PG-13)
From writer/director Jonathan Levine(All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, The Wackness, 50/50) comes a great new take on zombie flicks with “Warm Bodies”. For all the avid fans of classic zombie movies throughout the years you get a real sense of George A. Romero’s original zombie films with the underlying message of how our current generation really isn’t much different than zombies in the fact that most are just going through the daily motions of life and have their face stuck in their smart phones and computers all of the time. It’s a message I like because it’s something that does sadden me. So many people go about their day to day without taking a moment to stop and smell the roses and appreciate the beauty that surrounds them. Once you get past that message of the movie, you still have a great Rom-Zom-Com, a romantic zombie comedy. Best way to describe it would be “Romeo & Juliet” meets “Dawn of the Dead”.
“Warm Bodies” opens up with our main zombie R played by Nicholas Hoult(X-Men First Class) who does an outstanding job in the role. His name is R because all he can remember of his name is that it started with the letter R. As he walks aimlessly around the airport he narrates his thoughts, because being a zombie, he can’t speak. There are two types of zombies in this film. The stereotype zombie, which is what R is, and then there are the Bonies. Bonies have shed their skin and completely lost all aspects of humanity; and they’re downright scary! Speaking of scary, “Warm Bodies” gives the perfect balance of scary, funny, and romance. As the movie progresses R ends up meeting the love interest Julie, played by the beautiful Teresa Palmer(I Am Number Four). R kills and eats the brains of Julie’s boyfriend Perry, played by Dave Franco(21 Jump Street). Julie and Perry, along with a few others, have been sent on a mission from Julie’s father Grigio, played by the very talented John Malkovich(Being John Malkovich), who is the leader of the encampment. They are sent to go find medicine supplies. Here is where “Warm Bodies” throws in a new original twist to all other zombie movies. It explains that the reason zombies eat brains is because they get the memories of the persons brains they are eating and it’s the closest thing to a dream, since zombies don’t sleep, and remembering the pre-zombie world. After eating Perry’s brains, he falls in love with Julie and saves her from the other zombies. After saving her, he sneaks her back to his place, which is an abandoned jet at the airport.
As R spends more time with Julie something strange begins to happen. He starts feeling alive a little more and more and begins to form words and speak to her. His love for her causes his heart to beat again and throughout the rest of the film we see the slow progress of R turning from a zombie back into a human. By this point Julie has started falling in love with him as well. Now that’s my kind of love story. Other zombies start seeing their love and begin to feel their hearts beat again, too. But it doesn’t end there. Remember the Bonies I was telling you about before. Well, there is no hope for them. No amount of love is bringing them back from the state they are in and as the zombie start slowly turning back into humans the Bonies sense this and see them as prey. A war is about to break out between the humans in the encampment and the zombies. Julie is trying to explain to her dad that the zombies are changing back to humans and are on their side now. Grigio, who has lost a wife and child to the zombies, doesn’t believe it’s possible and is out to kill them all, including R. The Bonies and humans are chasing the humanized zombies from different directions. They all end up meeting together at the same time on the battlefield. Does ‘Romero’ and Juliet get their happy ending? Will the Bonies prevail and kill the zombies and humans? Who will be the last man or zombie standing? Well, you will just have to take your warm body on over to your nearest theater and find out.
Also playing at Park Cinemas this week:
www.parkcinemas.com
Special Event: Sherwood Dog Park Fundraiser: Screening of “Always Faithful” Thursday, February 7th at 6PM. A documentary film about five US Marine dog handlers on the front line of Iraq and Afghanistan wars. 6PM Wine tasting with the director of “Always Faithful”, Harris Done, with screening of movie at 7PM. Early bird tickets can be bought for $12 at www.parks4pups.org or $15 at the door.
Ladies Elegant Night Out on Friday, February 8th at 6:45PM
Screening of “Urban Cowboy” starring John Travolta, Debra Winger, and Scott Glenn. Festivities include line dancing, bubbly, and BBQ. Visit www.parkcinemas.com for more information.
- Bullet to the Head (R)
- Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters(R)
- Movie 43 (R)
- Parker (R)
- Mama (PG-13)
- Broken City (R)
- Silver Linings Playbook (R)
- Zero Dark Thirty (R)
Playing at The Palm:
www.thepalmtheatre.com
- Argo (R)
- Life of Pi (PG)
- Oscar Nominated Shorts and Documentaries (NR)
Paso Playlist
Performing Arts Center San Luis Obsipo:
www.pacslo.org
Jackson Browne Acoustic show in the Christopher Cohan Center on February 4th at 7PM
Singer-songwriter Jackson Browne is set to launch his 2013 Acoustic Tour with a string of U.S. dates, stopping by the Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo on February 4th. Playing guitar and piano, and collaborating with musicians on stage, Jackson will perform songs from his entire body of work, with varying set lists each night. This will be an intimate reserved seating show, the very best of Jackson Browne all evening. All ages are welcome.
St. Olaf Choir in Concert in the Christopher Cohan Center on February 6th at 7:30PM.
THE ST. OLAF CHOIR – Anton Armstrong, Conductor–The St. Olaf Choir, with 75 mixed voices, is considered one of the finest college a cappella choirs in the United States. For more than a century, the St. Olaf Choir has maintained its original purpose – study and preparation of a wide range of choral literature for public performance. The domestic and international tours advances the artistic standards of the finest choral music drawn from a global repertoire and provides means of spiritual inspiration for its many listeners.
Suspension: Orchesis Dance Company in Alex&Faye Spanos Theater February 7th-9th at 8PM.
Suspension, Cal Poly’s Orchesis Dance Company’s 43rd anniversary concert, explores the power and elegance of the human condition. Dynamic choreography in a range of genres will reflect current dance trends as well as classical artistry. Contemporary, ballet, jazz, modern and a fusion of world and street forms will illuminate pertinent topics and compelling emotion. In this concise and high-powered program, top dance students will perform original works by professional choreographers, faculty, local artists and selected students. Orchesis, a Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo favorite, will be a must see concert with something for everyone!
Sleeping Beauty in the Christopher Cohan Center on February 8th at 8PM.
The more than 50 dancers of the Russian National Ballet Theatre company imbue vibrant performances with the timeless tradition of classical Russian ballet. Their full-scale production of Petipa’s crown jewel is sumptuous in its scope.
Cocktails with Larry Miller and Friends
Comedian Larry Miller takes to the stage with friends Jake Johannsen and Pat Hazell. Miller shares his perspective on Marriage, Children and Drinking … and how each one leads to the other two. As one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces, the comic has appeared in over 50 films including Pretty Woman, Waiting For Guffman and The Princess Diaries. He has made numerous appearances on The Tonight Show, The Late Show with David Letterman and Real Time with Bill Maher. Other TV credits include Desperate Housewives, Seinfeld, Law & Order and Boston Legal. Finally, Larry combines his comedy, acting and music talents to create a fresh and funny theatrical experience that appeals to all ages.
Cal Poly’s “A Night at the Mission” Chamber Concert at Old Mission Church on February 9th at 8PM
Beautiful music performed by our chamber ensembles: Brass Choir, Clarinet Ensemble, brass quintets, woodwind quintets, Flute Choir, saxophone quartets and string quartets.
Clark Center for the Performing Arts:
www.clarkcenter.org
Ann Hampton Callaway Presents the Streisand Songbook on February 7th at 7PM
Platinum award-winning singer/songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway celebrates the music of one of America’s most powerful and enduring musical artists, Barbra Streisand. Singing timeless classics from five decades of Streisand’s multi-faceted career, Callaway crafts a loving musical portrait of the icon. The Tony-nominated actress puts unique pop/ jazz spin on unforgettable songs from Barbra’s Broadway years (Funny Girl) to her film works (A Star Is Born) and from her early pop albums (People) to her later concept albums (Higher Ground). Callaway weaves humorous and inspiring anecdotes of how Streisand evolved as her mentor and recorded Ann’s songs on six of her recent CD’s. In a night of soaring songs and stories, Callaway promises a performance that not only celebrates the extraordinary career of Barbra Streisand, but also reminds us of “the way we were.”
The Jan and Dean Show featuring Dean Torrence and the Surf City All Stars on February 9th at 8PM
Jan & Dean’s career is well documented in the annals of pop and surf music history. Their original run in the 1960’s boasts an impressive 14 gold records and 26 chart records, including “Barbara Ann,” “The Little Old Lady from Pasadena,” “Dead Man’s Curve,” “Sidewalk Surfin’“ and “Ride the Wild Surf.” Their biggest hit “Surf City,” co-written by Jan & Dean and Beach Boys founder and musical genius Brian Wilson, was the first “surf music” record to reach #1 in the US. Reformed in the 1980’s after a successful summer tour with The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean toured the country and the world until Jan Berry’s untimely death in 2004. Carrying on with their legacy, Dean Torrence of Jan & Dean is proud to present The Jan & Dean Show. Current and former players and singers of the Brian Wilson band and The Beach Boys round out the touring personnel for the show. The Jan & Dean show features the greatest hits of both Jan & Dean and The Beach Boys, as well as other great songs of the era in order to present a well-crafted, vocally impressive, high-energy classic California beach party.
Live Music
Tuesday, February 5th:
Tommy Castro and the Painkillers and Paul Thorn at SLO Brewing Company at 7:30PM
Thursday, February 7th:
Nashville Pussy at SLO Brewing Company at 8PM
Friday, February 8th:
Dr. John at SLO Brewing Company at 7:30PM
Sunday, February 10th:
Dulcie Taylor at Sculpterra Winery in Paso Robles at 4PM
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