Page 2 January 7, 2021
Black Bear is Fueled by
Aubrey Plaza’s Dark Comedy
By Morgan Rojas for cinemacy.com
If you’ve already watched the trailer for
Black Bear, and think you know what this
film is about, I can already tell you, you’re
wrong. In what I can only describe as a
more consumer-friendly version of a Charlie
Kaufman story, Black Bear is a twisty drama
that blurs the boundaries between reality and
fantasy. Now available to stream on Spectrum
on Demand and VOD.
Aubrey Plaza anchors the film as Allison, a
washed-up actress-turned-film director, who, in
an attempt to beat writer’s block, arrives at the
remote cabin of Gabe (Christopher Abbott) and
his pregnant girlfriend, Blair (Sarah Gadon).
The creative compound is meant to serve as
a breeding ground for artists to work on their
craft, and Allison seems to be lacking the
inspiration that she hopes the cabin will offer.
Allison’s first interaction with the couple
is pleasant enough, but it’s clear that Gabe
and Blair’s own relationship is hanging on
by just a thread. Bickering, fragile egos,
and messy accusations eventually lead to a
jealousy-based blowout, pitting baby mama
against house guest in a competition for male
attention. Allison is like a splinter in between
your fingers, in this case, Gabe and Blair’s
relationship; you don’t know how it got there,
but it hurts like hell. Inserting herself into their
private life seems irresponsible, but is drama
the inspiration that Allison is after? Or is it
something more?
It takes about 45 minutes for the film to
reveal a major twist that makes you rethink
everything you just saw. The patience in writer/
director Lawrence Michael Levine’s approach
to this cerebral drama is well worth the wait.
The chaotic energy between the characters
bubbles until it’s just about to burst and that
anticipation is calculated cinematic masochism
at its finest.
For Aubrey Plaza, Black Bear feels like her
first “grown-up” film. She stays true to her
dark humor, while also offering a depth that
I haven’t seen before. She gets vulnerable
and, in turn, relatable. Christopher Abbott
is the perfect counterbalance to Plaza, his
performance being another knockout. Abbott
has never disappointed in a role, he always
seems to mold into his characters and the
same is true here.
If you’re looking for a smart, sharp film
with a strong vision, Black Bear is for you.
This confident feature will keep you guessing
all the way up until the end credits roll. In
short, it’s bear-y good. •
Black Bear, courtesy Momentum Pictures.
Morgan Rojas
Community Briefs
Local Care Homes to
Help Memory Using Touch
Local memory care homes operated by
Family Connect Care are the first in Southern
California to pioneer use of CranioSacral
Therapy, or CST, to treat its residents with
memory impairments.
Developed by Dr. John Upledger in 1975,
CST is a hands-on but gentle method of
enhancing the function of the body’s natural
healing capability. It’s a noninvasive technique
that promises to relieve pain and stress from
compression, using gentle pressure on the
neck, back, and head. It’s increasingly being
used to treat patients with concussion,
brain injury, Alzheimer’s and dementia,
fibromyalgia, and many other conditions.
“I’m wary of big promises from alternative
therapies,” said Lauren Mahakian, owner
of Family Connect Care. “Not only does
CST have great promise, but there is also
no downside. Residents are not subjected
to pain, and physical touch is independently
known to be beneficial to mental well-being.
It’s a win-win situation.”
Mahakian points out that all of her residents
will continue to receive the finest memory
care possible along with all medically appropriate
treatments. CST is intended to
complement traditional therapies and medical
practices, not replace them. Mahakian
plans to begin integrating the technique
into health care protocols at two of its care
homes, Family Connect Memory Care and
South Bay Memory Care, later this month.
Staff at both locations will be trained by a
licensed practitioner, who will oversee its
use. For more detailed information on CST
and its application contact Mahakian at (310)
383-1877. •
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Seniors
Tips To Help Seniors Exercise
During The Pandemic
(BPT) - By now, most seniors are aware
that they’re among the most vulnerable demographic
groups when it comes to contracting
COVID-19.
That said, a recent nationwide poll by Tivity
Health, a national provider of senior fitness,
nutrition and healthy lifestyle solutions, including
SilverSneakers, a community fitness
program designed for older adults, indicates
many are probably not getting the exercise
they need to maintain optimal health.
In the poll, 46% of adult and senior respondents
said the pandemic is preventing them
from attending in-person exercise classes at
local gyms, although 84% noted they’ll return
within a month once attendance is deemed
safe by authorities.
A core challenge is reduced gym access,
as quarantines prove problematic for many
older Americans trying to continue exercise
regimens. Exercise remains critical for seniors
to maintain a healthy immune system that’s
able to fight off disease. Regular workouts
can also increase balance and strength and
help prevent falls.
For seniors, falls are an all-too-common
threat and crisis; Johns Hopkins University
reports that 25% of adults 65 or older fall,
and three million are treated in emergency
rooms each year for injuries caused by falls.
“This pandemic has brought great challenges
and stress for seniors. But the good
news is, there are ways to exercise safely
and maintain an active lifestyle,” says Tivity
Health president and CEO Richard Ashworth.
“Exercise is vital for maintaining optimal
health, and through easy-to-access digital and
in-person options, it is our hope seniors can
continue or renew exercise regimens quickly
and safely.”
Maintaining regular exercise during COVID
-19 need not be difficult. If you’re a senior
wanting to maintain effective workouts each
day, here are some tips you can follow even
if you’re practicing social isolation.
1) Start slowly. If you haven’t been exercising,
you’ll want to ease into your new
routine gradually. Studies indicate just two
weeks of inactivity (or a 75% reduction in
daily steps) can decrease your muscle strength
by 8%, while dropping 1,000 to 1,500 steps
each day can raise inflammation and blood
pressure. Jump-start your new regimen with
safe exercises like squats, wall push-ups,
light weightlifting regimens and taking walks
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Employment
Part-time Sales. Looking for motivated
part-time workers. Inside sales: work
from home and make sales calls.
15% commission on all sales. Outside
sales: territories are Torrance and
El Segundo. Includes walking and
interacting with business owners. 20%
commission on all sales. Seniors and
students welcome. Send resume to
management@heraldpublications.com.
For Rent
Cute 1 bed, 1 bath cottage, street
parking, own street entrance. All
utilities paid. Air conditioned. $2000/
month. Available March 1, 2021.
Email suscall3@aol.com or call
310.227.7611.
Wanted
WANTED. Vinyl, vinyl, vinyl records,
anything musical. Collectibles/
antiques. Typewriters, sewing
machines, military, silver, Japan,
records, stamps, coins, jewelry,
Chinese, ANYTHING. Buy/Sell/
Trade. We sell for you on EBAY. Studio
Antiques, El Segundo. 310.322.3895.
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Entertainment
See Seniors, page 4