Page 2 August 4, 2016 EL SEGUNDO HERALD “Don’t Think Twice” Finds Both Heart and Humor in the Creative Struggle By Ryan Rojas and Jasper Bernbaum for www.cinemacy.com Mike Birbiglia’s first feature, 2012’s “Sleepwalk With Me,” was one of the more interesting and promising directorial debuts of the former half of the decade. Birbiglia, who also starred in the film, buoyed the adaptation of his own stand-up routine with rare honesty and awkward charisma that made for one of the better examinations of comedy and the creative process of recent filmography. Relentlessly charming, but per-haps too slight for its own good, “Sleepwalk With Me” cemented Birbiglia as a triple threat to watch. His newest film, “Don’t Think Twice,” finds him diving deeper into the comedy world with a wider appeal, but with the same wonderful perspective of life on the outskirts from stardom intact. Birbiglia stars as Miles, a longtime Improv 101 teacher and ringleader of his mildly popular NYC improv troupe, The Commune, including the spunky Samantha (Gillian Jacobs), who has to confront the profes-sional drive of her TV-minded boyfriend Jack (Keegan-Michael Key); the gawky Bill (Chris Gethard) who is dealing with his elder father’s waning health; Lindsay (Tami Sagher), a thirty-something stoner still living with her wealthy parents, and the quiet Allison (Kate Micucci) who is struggling to complete a graphic novel she has been working on for the better part of a decade. The Commune is both their getaway and the anchor in their anxious lives. But, after Jack gets a regular role on “Weekend Live” (an uncanny satire of “SNL”), each individual in the troupe begins to rethink their life’s trajectories and the meanings within their friend circle. One of few disappointments of Birbig-lia’s “Sleepwalk With Me” was his lack of visual confidence. While “Don’t Think Twice” does not call for anything fancy itself, there is an understated beauty and softness to the cinematography that enhances its tonal tenderness. Birbiglia, as it seems, is less concerned with cinematics and more concerned with chemistry, and the characters’ said chemistry sure does pop. While the film isn’t as particularly laugh-out-loud funny as may be expected, the dialogue is extremely punchy and in perfect tempo. Much of the humor comes not from jokes, but from very authentic, marvelously played situations. Again, Birbiglia proves he has a very keen knack for finding both heart and humor in the creative struggle. He and his cast have a rare understanding of the comedy in strife that always steers the poignant beats away from any puddle of schmaltz. For a comedian, a professional more often expressing their melodramatic feelings in words, Birbiglia and his actors create drama through the emotions his characters hold in–a technique that pays off immensely in later beats. At its surface, “Don’t Think Twice” may be about comedy, but just below the surface, one will find it is really a snapshot of a very familiar period in the lives of not only creatives, but all types of people confronting a certain kind of adulthood and responsibility. It is refreshing to find a movie that looks at showbiz–a smaller corner of showbiz, at that–and doesn’t try to satirize itself too much (which can often feel alienating to the audience). In “Don’t Think Twice,” the Improv world is the glue that holds the characters together, but it is Birbiglia’s characters and their hopes and anxieties that are the glitter that makes the film sparkle. “Don’t Think Twice” is rated R for lan-guage and some drug use. 92 minutes. Now playing at the Landmark Theatre. • Film Review (L-R) Mike Birbiglia, Tami Sagher, Keegan-Michael Key, Gillian Jacobs, Chris Gethard, and Kate Micucci in Mike Birbiglia’s “Don’t Think Twice” Police Reports Burglary-Auto 7/23/2016 4:00:00 PM 3600 BLOCK FASHION WAY Suspect(s) pries window for entry and takes property/third row seat Battery-Simple 7/23/2016 2:53 PM 19500 BLOCK INGLEWOOD AVE Suspect uses his fist to punch victims Auto Theft-All 7/23/2016 4:50:00 AM 20300 BLOCK HAWTHORNE BLVD Stolen vehicle: ‘07 Toyota Camry Burglary-Auto 7/23/2016 3:50 AM PLAZA DEL AMO & WESTERN AVE Suspect(s) forces door handle for entry/ no loss Battery-Simple 7/23/2016 2:20:36 AM 2200 BLOCK 171ST ST Suspects push victim to the ground and kick him in the body and head Burglary-Auto 7/22/2016 9:00:00 PM 3800 BLOCK MERIT PL Suspect(s) enters vehicle by unknown means, ransacks/unknown if property loss at time of report Burglary-Auto 7/22/2016 9:00:00 PM PLAZA DEL AMO & WESTERN AVE Suspect(s) enters vehicle by unknown means, ransacks and takes property/ backpack, jewelry, cologne, headphones, ID, sunglasses, gift cards, MP3, paperwork Burglary-Auto 7/22/2016 8:35:43 PM 3400 BLOCK CARSON ST Suspect(s) smashes window for entry and takes property/parcel Burglary-Auto 7/22/2016 8:15:00 PM 21500 BLOCK HAWTHORNE BLVD Suspect(s) smashes window for entry and takes property/jewelry, watch, clothes, speaker Burglary-Auto 7/22/2016 6:00:00 PM 24200 BLOCK OCEAN AVE Suspect(s) enters unlocked vehicle and takes property/charger, cable, registration, license plates Battery-Simple 7/22/2016 4:36:37 PM 3300 BLOCK CIVIC CENTER DR Suspect places victim in a choke hold and punches her in the stomach Burglary-Auto 7/22/2016 1:00:00 PM 1300 BLOCK BORDER AVE Suspect(s) smashes vehicle window, forces open cargo container door for entry/no loss Theft 7/22/2016 10:40:00 AM 5500 BLOCK NORTON ST Suspect(s) takes property from front porch/ delivered parcel Theft 7/22/2016 9:30:00 AM 3800 BLOCK 242ND ST Suspect(s) enters possibly unsecured garage and takes property/ bicycle, lock, bell, helmet Burglary-Auto 7/21/2016 11:30:00 PM 6100 BLOCK PACIFIC COAST HWY Suspect(s) smashes window for entry, ransacks and takes property/sunglasses, cash Burglary-Auto 7/21/2016 10:40:00 PM 3400 BLOCK DEL AMO BLVD Suspect(s) enters unsecured vehicle, ran-sacks and takes property/wallet Battery-Simple 7/21/2016 9:30 PM 18200 BLOCK VAN NESS AVE Suspect uses a heated spoon to burn vic-tim’s neck Burglary-Commercial 7/21/2016 6:30:00 PM 2200 BLOCK CARSON ST Suspect(s) enters unsecured campus build-ings, damages a mural, floors, windows, books and a printer, tags walls Auto Theft-All 7/21/2016 5:09 PM 3700 BLOCK 190TH ST Stolen vehicle: ‘05 Chevrolet Silverado Theft 7/21/2016 3:07 PM 2800 BLOCK COLUMBIA ST Suspect(s) takes property from business/ scopes Theft 7/21/2016 2:20:00 PM 3500 BLOCK DEL AMO BLVD Suspect(s) takes property off of parked vehicle/ wheel, tire. Burglary-Residential 7/21/2016 12:00:00 PM 17300 BLOCK DELIA AVE Suspect(s) takes property from victim’s garage/motorcycle engine, parts Theft 7/21/2016 11:30:00 AM 20800 BLOCK HIGGINS CT Suspect(s) attempts to take wheels / tires off of parked vehicle Burglary-Auto 7/21/2016 1:00:00 AM 23700 BLOCK WESTERN AVE Suspect(s) takes property from bed of truck/ tools Burglary-Auto 7/20/2016 10:58 PM 2600 BLOCK PACIFIC COAST HWY Suspect(s) smashes window for entry and takes property/ wallet, backpack, laptop Auto Theft 7/20/2016 9:30:00 PM 1800 BLOCK CARSON ST Stolen vehicle: ‘94 Toyota Tercel Burglary-Auto 7/20/2016 9:30:00 PM 2600 BLOCK PACIFIC COAST HWY Suspect(s) smashes window for entry and takes property/wallet, sunglasses Theft 7/20/2016 9:00:00 PM 21800 BLOCK HAWTHORNE BLVD Suspect(s) takes unsecured property from exterior of business/plastic trays Burglary-Auto 7/20/2016 8:30:00 PM 4200 BLOCK REDONDO BEACH BLVD Suspect(s) smashes window for entry and takes property/purse Burglary-Auto 7/20/2016 7:30:00 PM 18400 BLOCK VAN NESS AVE Suspect(s) enters vehicle by unknown means and takes property/GPS, MP3, cord Burglary-Residential 7/20/2016 9:30:00 AM 2200 BLOCK CABRILLO AVE Suspect(s) removes screen, enters open window and takes property/computer, speaker, cell phones, blanket, cash Theft 7/20/2016 8:40:00 AM 19800 BLOCK WESTERN AVE Suspect(s) takes property off of parked vehicle/wheels, tires Burglary-Residential 7/20/2016 8:30:00 AM 18300 BLOCK GLENBURN AVE Suspect(s) pries two window screens/no entry, no loss Theft 7/20/2016 6:00:00 AM 4100 BLOCK TORRANCE BLVD Suspect(s) takes property from locker in employee lounge/wallet Theft 7/19/2016 11:30:00 PM 2700 BLOCK 175TH ST Suspect(s) takes property off of parked vehicle/ tailgate Theft 7/19/2016 10:00:00 PM 20700 BLOCK LADEENE ST Suspect(s) takes unattended property/ wallet, keys Burglary-Residential 7/19/2016 6:00:00 PM 2000 BLOCK 171ST ST Suspect(s) smashes glass door for entry, ran-sacks and takes property/pillowcase, jewelry Burglary-Auto 7/19/2016 3:30:00 PM 22000 BLOCK HAWTHORNE BLVD Suspect(s) smashes window for entry and takes property/backpack, suitcase Vandalism 7/19/2016 3:00:00 PM 1300 BLOCK EL PRADO AVE Suspect(s) scratches victim’s vehicle’s paint Burglary-Auto 7/19/2016 2:25:00 PM 3500 BLOCK CARSON ST Suspect(s) punches door lock for entry and takes property/third row seat Auto Theft-All 7/19/2016 11:30:00 AM 235TH ST & CABRILLO AVE Stolen vehicle: ‘95 Ford van Theft 7/19/2016 8:00:00 AM 171ST ST & ARDATH AVE Suspect(s) takes property off of two parked vehicles/tailgates Theft 7/19/2016 6:20:19 AM 1700 BLOCK CARSON ST Suspect(s) pries open vending machine and takes property/cash Auto Theft-All 7/19/2016 5:30:00 AM 3700 BLOCK 190TH ST Stolen vehicle: ‘00 Chevrolet Silverado Burglary-Auto 7/18/2016 9:00:00 PM 3800 BLOCK 186TH ST Suspect(s) enters vehicle by unknown means, ransacks and takes property/ third row seat • CITY OF TORRANCE TORRANCE RESIDENTS APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSION OPENINGS The Mayor and City Council of the City of Torrance invite citizens interested in serving their community to apply for unscheduled vacancies on the following: Boards and Commissions Civil Service Traffic Commission Applications are available in the Office of the City Clerk, 3031 Torrance Blvd., on our website www. TorranceCA.Gov or call (310) 618-2870 for further information or to request an application. To be considered for the next term, applications must be received no later than Tuesday, August 16, 2016; before 5:00 p.m. Applicants must be registered voters living in the City of Torrance and current on their Commission Certification. Applicants are responsible to schedule interviews with the Mayor and Council and provide copies of your application to them. All applications will remain active and on file in the Clerk’s office for one year. Commissioners are paid a stipend of $10 for each meeting attended. Stipends are paid quarterly. Rebecca Poirier City Clerk
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