Page 6 February 2, 2016 EL SEGUNDO HERALD Film Review School Spotlight Wiseburn Staying on Target and Looking Forward Patriots from page 5 with Steelers legendary head coach Chuck Knoll. Brady, on the other hand, could join Charles Haley as the only other player in league history with five Super Bowl rings. Though the Patriots have lost in two of their last three Super Bowl appearances, look for Belichick, Brady and a defense that has been sneakily excellent this season to add another one to the list. The duo that everyone loves to hate is getting much older now, but the two who have ruled the league since the turn of the century seemingly always find a way to get things done. – Asixlion@earthlink.net • Burkley Brandlin Swatik & Keesey LLP Douglass AT T O R N E Y S AT L AW Lifetime El Segundo Residents Living Trusts/Wills, Probate, Employment Law, Personal Injury Trust and Estates Litigation, Business Litigation, Civil Litigation 310-540-6000 *AV Rated (Highest) Martindale - Hubbell / **Certified Specialist Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization MORTUARY “Our Family Serving Yours Since 1954” B U R I A L - C R E M AT I O N - W O R L DW I D E T R A N S F E R P E T M E M O R I A L P RO D U C T S 500 EAST IMPERIAL AVENUE EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA 90245 Te l e p h o n e ( 3 1 0 ) 6 4 0 - 9 3 2 5 • F a x ( 3 1 0 ) 6 4 0 - 0 7 7 8 • F D 6 5 8 Grindhouse Comedy I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore Wins Sundance Grand Jury Prize By Ryan Rojas for Cinemacy.com Cinemacy just came back from covering this year’s Sundance film festival (the first time for me and Morgan!) and we were lucky enough to see the film that took home the top prize. That film was Macon Blair’s comedy-thriller I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore, which won the coveted Grand Jury Prize after leaving audiences in stitches with its raucous tonal mixings of genuinely side-splitting comedy and shockviolence action that plays like an indie grindhouse comedy. I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore is built on the premise that the world is full of self-centered jerks. It’s certainly the world that Ruth (Melanie Lynskey) lives in, where minor violations like witnessing lifted trucks pumping out black exhaust, people carelessly discarding items on the floor at the grocery store, and finding constantly not-picked-up dog droppings on her lawn are a part of everyday life. The easygoing nice-person levee breaks when, after the discovery of a home invasion with personal affections stolen, Ruth decides to take matters into her own hands and track down the culprit--if for nothing more than to confront the perpetrator for the moral wrongness. Ruth enlists the help of her quirky karate-obsessed neighbor Tony (Elijah Wood) to help find the burglar, but little do they know that they’re tracking down a band of junkie nutsos led by slithery and vampiric Marshall (Tony Zow), who are planning an even bigger smash and grab job- -which sucks them into an underbelly world full of bloodbath mayhem that puts them in way over their heads. As Ruth, Melanie Lynskey is great as an elder’s nurse turned homespun moral crime-fighter, playing the full comedic range of meekly expected disappointments at the beginning of the film up through passing her tipping point and boiling over into DIY revenge when she steals back her grandmother’s silver from a seedy pawn shop in one of the film’s most jarringly and unexpectedly hilarious moments as the store owner tries to stop them. Even the notion of being one of the last few moral defenders in a world run amuck by schmucks is a feeling that taps into the collective conscious that we all have (haven’t we all fantasized about confronting that jerk who uncaringly spoils a major twist in that fantasy novel?), making the cathartic and comedic effects here even greater. Wood as Ruth’s nerdy, karate-loving loner neighbor Tony may have never been funnier onscreen. With his rattail hair, old man specs, and nunchucks and ninja stars, Wood plays the punchline sidekick that keeps the filming motoring confidently ahead on its screwy head. Wood gets rich deadpan dialogue at every turn from Blair’s original script (after struggling to get a ninja star out of a wall, Tony surmises, “That’s how hard I threw it…”). But Wood’s sensitivity also conveys the introverted antisocial neighbor that makes his Tony a perfect companion. He’s more looking for a friend than a reprobation, and the chemistry between him and Ruth makes one wish those two would get into more adventures. I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore (its mouthy title comes from a gospel LP that Blair received from director pal Jeremy Saulnier, whose name ended up fitting the tone of the film perfectly) is a true bellylaugh of a film and a great watch for when you’re in the mood for a weirdly hilariously and insane hybrid of a movie. Director Blair, who Morgan and I had the fortune of actually running into while walking down Park City’s Main Street earlier in the day before his film would win at the Awards Ceremony later that night, could not have been a more pleasant and nice person. Which just goes to show--as the film will be streaming on Netflix later this year--that nice people don’t always finish last. • Elijah Wood and Melanie Lynskey in I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore. Photo Courtesy of Sundance. ESYFC Pee Wee Squad Earns JAMZ National Championship Honors Two weekends ago, the El Segundo Youth Yet, the dedications of these girls was unreal. Football Cheer Pee Wee cheer squad traveled They are not just teammates, but sisters. to Las Vegas to compete at the JAMZ Youth Ranging from ages 9-12 and in grades four National Championship. They came home to six, they shared a sisterly bond looking with a third place trophy as well as a first after each other and always gave each other place national title, and the infamous JAMZ encouragement and support. They trained for national championship jackets. over six months for this competition, with These nine young ladies had an incredible over 200 hours of practice and training. They season, with many highs and lows. Starting learned two routines, performed at two local off the year with 10 girls, they lost one along competitions coming home with first and second the way and suffered injuries that took away places, and traveled to Las Vegas in rain, from practice time and required additional wind, sleet and snow to achieve their dream practices to rework routines. of winning a national championship jacket. • Entertainment By Haleemon Anderson The Wiseburn School Board began the new year with a focus on the final phase of construction at the highly anticipated new high school. Wiseburn High is scheduled to open this fall. When completed, the multimillion dollar complex will be the first comprehensive high school to be built in the area in over 50 years. Vince Madsen, Director of Facilities Planning, said the innovative plan for the school has gained attention in development circles. “We are definitely affecting the industry,” he said. Madsen reported at last week’s School Board meeting that despite 43 change orders on the agenda, the project is nevertheless on target. “We’re looking right on track,” he said, noting the goal is to have teachers setting up rooms by July 31. Madsen pointed out the contribution and fundraising efforts of major developer and landholder Richard Lundquist that facilitated the partnership with the District and the City of El Segundo to establish a world-class Health and Aquatics Center at the school. Deputy Chris Jones told the Board he is preparing an updated technology budget to be presented later this quarter. “It will give you an idea of what our next projections will be,” he said, adding that everyone is anticipating the upcoming Wiseburn High opening. “We are doing what we can to ensure a smooth opening.” Jones also called attention to the need for a traffic impact study at the corner of Utah and Douglas. This corner will serve as the pick-up and drop-off location when school is in session. Chief Business Official Dave Wilson reported on an upcoming meeting of oversight committees for Measures A and AA. “We’re going over revenues, expenses and balances through December 31,” he said. The parcel tax measure (A) was wildly popular in the November general election, passing with near 75 percent voter approval, and will fund park improvements. Wilson mentioned Measure CL, which also passed in November. This measure will raise over $11 million a year for Wiseburn and other local districts, and the funds will be used for enhanced technology and academic programs. Wilson also reported the District’s 2015-16 audit has been completed and submitted to Los Angeles County. “There were no audit findings,” said Wilson. Board Vice President JoAnne Kaneda thanked President Israel Mora and member Roger Banuelos for their work on both the School Board and the Wiseburn Foundation Board. Superintendent Tom Johnstone announced audits had been completed by both local Little League organizations, Aviation and Hawthorne National Wiseburn, as had been requested by the Board. Johnston said American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) will also conduct an audit and submit results to the Board. The teams play on Wiseburn fields. The 2017 season is underway with sign-ups ending February 3 and Opening Day on February 25. A Board member has been invited to throw out the first pitch. Johnstone added that the academic calendar for next year will be out by next meeting, with a start date of August 22 for all schools. He also announced that Mayor Alex Vargas will deliver the State of the City of Hawthorne next month on Wednesday, March 29. The reception and luncheon will take place at the Memorial Center at 3901 West El Segundo Boulevard, starting at 11 a.m. In other school news, Dana Middle School held a showcase for its drama classes. A student at Dana won the Geography Spelling Bee and will move on to the state competition, sponsored by National Geographic. April 1 has been set for the district-wide Rock Around the Block, the annual music and carnival-style festival. The next meeting of the Wiseburn Unified School District Board will be held Tuesday, February 7 at 6 p.m. •
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