Page 6 December 29, 2016 EL SEGUNDO HERALD Entertainment Film Review In I, Daniel Blake, the Most Valuable Parts of Life Cannot Be Monetized By H. Nelson Tracey for www.cinemacy.com While many critically acclaimed movies are buoyed by their flashy craftsmanship and ostentatious use of cinematic technique (which I love nonetheless when done right), there is an equally fascinating space for the films that reject these notions. Indeed, unassuming style is a technique in and of itself--and when paired with the right material it can be equally effective. This year’s Manchester by the Sea may be a more mainstream example of this. The work of the Dardenne Brothers (most recently Two Days, One Night) also comes to mind. Another entry to add now is Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake. In blue-collar England, an aging carpenter recovering from a heart attack is forced back into the job search, which is as foreign as a new language for this elder craftsman. In our first few scenes, we see Dan face countless bureaucratic roadblocks on his road toward any shot of achieving financial security. This is a film that pays tribute to the working-class people whose lives are the most impacted by governmentimplemented institutions. Dan (Dave Johns) is unique in that he’s a relic in two ways. First, he’s a man with a craft. Being a master carpenter has never been a lucrative profession, and in our present world has been essentially lost with the advent of more tech-savvy alternatives. My parent’s generation grew up with woodshop as a staple elective in grade school; now that’s been all but entirely replaced with computer classes in a generation that would rather not let kids’ hands be worn down in favor of them staring at a screen all day. Soapbox aside, Daniel Blake is an anomaly for this reason and the world doesn’t know what to do with him. His age and profession go hand in hand as he feels lost in a modern world that is more interested in keeping order than actually helping people in the system that it is theoretically supposed to be serving. The film develops a new dimension with the introduction of Katie (Hayley Squires), a single mother Dan meets as the two struggle for any kind of governmental aid. United in their desperation, they form a loving friendship where Dan’s craftsmanship and tender affection is actually valued. All throughout his community, Dan is someone who brings greatness into every corner--and yet it is all in ways that cannot be monetized, so he can’t escape his financial struggle. In this way, the film demands discussion. Its subdued style makes no pandering to tell you what emotions to have, but seeing these characters and their authentic struggles leads one to beg the question if something needs to be amended here. Like its protagonist, I, Daniel Blake is a film likely to get lost amidst other holiday movies in favor of more heavily marketed, big-budget fare, even among the prestige pictures. And yet here is a film that almost effortlessly casts emotional depth and compelling social commentary through the lens of its two protagonists. And at the very least, by the end of the film, you’ll be reminded that the most valuable parts of life cannot be monetized and that there is no shortage of love that can be shared amongst all fellow men and women in this world. I, Daniel Blake is rated R for language. 100 minutes. Now playing at Laemmle’s Royal Theatre. • Dave Johns in I, Daniel Blake. Courtesy of IFC Films. Like Us on Facebook Burkley & Brandlin LLP A T T O R N E Y S A T L A W Living Trusts/Wills, Probate, Employment Law, Personal Injury Trust and Estates Litigation, Business Litigation, Civil Litiga tion 310-540-6000 Lifetime El Segundo Residents *AV Rated (Highest) Martindale - Hubbell / **Certified Specialist Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization Brian R. Brandlin • Bruce R. Brandlin • Christopher P. Brandlin Changes from front page of four is $24,300, and the federal minimum wage is $7.25--though a federally contracted worker in California would make the higher $10.50 per hour under the law. Along with the higher hourly rate, minimum wage earners are awarded paid sick days--though that provision of the law won’t begin for another year. When the $15 hourly minimum takes effect sometime next decade, full-time workers will earn $31,200 per year and have three paid sick days. Filling the Retirement Gap Take-home pay isn’t the only employment issue for hourly workers in the state. An estimated seven million people don’t have a workplace retirement savings plan because their non-covered employers don’t offer one. A voluntary program for non-covered employers who want to save for retirement starts in 2017. The bill’s author, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, said he pushed for creation of the California Secure Choice Retirement Savings Trust to provide retirees the same opportunity for financial security at retirement that millions of Californians enjoy as a job perk. “Nearly seven million of our workers, who help make California the sixth largest economy in the world do not have access to a retirement savings plan at their place of employment, and after a career of working tirelessly they are forced to retire into poverty when their bodies give out,” Leon said. Much like the minimum wage law, the retirement-saving program would be phased in to give smaller employers more time to set up automatic payroll deductions for employees who choose to participate. Businesses with 100 employees have 12 months after the plan opens enrollment to create a payroll-deposit system for non-covered employees. The minimum contribution level is three percent of wages in the Secure Choice Retirement Savings Trust, and like employersponsored plans the participants can have more deducted as their incomes rise and they approach retirement age. There is no liability to employers or the state, and the monies in the plan will be invested for long-term growth in a diversified, managed portfolio. Nearly 50 percent of middle-income workers are at risk of entering poverty when they retire, according to statistics. The average American’s Social Security payment is $1,341 per month. Affecting Your Ride While some people will be making more in 2017, California drivers will be paying $10 more in vehicle registration fees in the new year. The Department of Motor Vehicles also received the okday to collect $5 more to renew, transfer or duplicate a personalized license plate, and $10 more for a newly issued one. The state is requiring the ridesharing companies, including Uber and Lyft, to conduct more thorough background checks on its drivers starting Sunday. While the enhanced passenger protection for riders won’t be in place before New Year’s Eve, every ridesharing business in the state will face penalties of up to $5,000 for hiring or contracting with drivers who are registered sex offenders or have been convicted of committing dangerous crimes--including assault and battery, domestic violence or driving under the influence--within the past seven years. Taxi services are not covered by the stricter background checks. Ridesharing is a popular option for people who don’t want to drive themselves and need to get somewhere quickly. While Uber is the name most people know, Lyft is the other big player in this alt-driving industry. Passengers arrange for rides on short distance using a smartphone app to hail a driver to a pickup location. The ridesharing companies have insisted they are a ride-matching service--not a transportation company to shield themselves from liability in case of a crash or act of violence. California lawmakers have made it clear through this new law that the responsibility for protecting passengers lies with Uber and Lyft even if their drivers are classified as independent contractors. Attacks on passengers by drivers are infrequent, and everyone seems to agree the majority of drivers are competent and professional. This new bill aims to keep it that way. A few other driving-related changes in the law that South Bay residents should know about going into the new year include more restrictions on cellphones. No longer can drivers hold their cellphones while driving for any reason other than to call 911. The new restrictions also include tablets, laptops and any wireless device. This loophole-closing law was detailed in the Herald in a December 8 article titled “The Hands-Free Device Every Driver Needs.” Drivers are prohibited from driving a motor vehicle while holding and operating a handheld wireless telephone or a wireless electronic communications device unless it’s mounted on the windshield, the dashboard or the center console without hindering the driver’s view of the road. A driver may only touch his phone or other device to open or close an app with a swipe of a finger or a touch of a button. GPS devices installed in car are exempt from the tough new hands-free cell phone law for drivers, which targets a national epidemic of distracted driving. Highway deaths and injuries are rising again after a 50-year decline, and cell phones are a big part of the reason why. Child safety seats: A new requirement says that children 2 and under must be strapped in a rear-facing child seat unless the child weighs 40 pounds or more or is 39 inches taller or more. Accident reports: A driver involved in a motor-vehicle collision must report the crash to the DMV if the damage to property is $1,000. Fewer minor collisions and fender benders will need to be reported under the financial limit, which currently is $750. Vehicle safety recalls: A car dealer or car rental company cannot loan or rent any vehicle that is under a manufacturer’s recall. Companies have 48 hours after receiving a recall notice to pull the car from their fleets. The one exception is for licensed dealers or rental companies with fleets of 34 or fewer loaner or rental vehicles. The DMV can suspend or revoke a vehicle dealer’s license if they break the law. Motorcycle lane splitting: Driving a motorcycle between rows of stopped or moving vehicles is legal in the state, and riders and drivers need to watch out for one another. The California Highway Patrol will develop educational guidelines about lane splitting for the safety of motorcyclists, drivers, and passengers. Expect the California Drivers Handbook to add a section soon with some suggestions for drivers and riders about safe passage in the aisle. • World of Sports from page 5 Grand Slam, Ronda Rousey lost the first UFC match of her career, Simone Biles won four gold medals in Rio, and Leicester City overcame 5,000:1 odds to win the Premier League championship. It’s impossible to cover everything that has happened throughout the course of one sports year in just one article, but it’s clear that 2016 was a tremendous year of amazing accomplishments across the board. Iconic moments were created while a few great icons left their respective sports. There is a lot about this year in sports that will surely be remembered forever, but with 2017 just around the corner, it’s now time to look forward to what another year of athletics has in store. – Asixlion@earthlink.net •
Herald_122916_FNL_lorez
To see the actual publication please follow the link above