Francis Lawrence is a talented director … of big-budget genre fare like “I Am Legend” and “Constantine.” But two-hour romantic dramas set in the world of a traveling circus? Three-ring boredom, ladies and gentlemen, no matter how pretty — how utterly golden-hued — the proceedings look. Christoph Waltz, the most deserving Oscar winner for his […]
Circus
Posted inArts & Culture
Join the circus
Running Thursday through Sunday at Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens, “Barnum 200” features 130 performers, including nearly 100,000 pounds of elephants. Joe Frisco Jr. has handled pachyderms professionally for five years, having grown up around them in Peoria, Ill. “I’m a third-generation elephant presenter and handler,” Frisco said, “and with my three kids, that […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Invitation to the Dance
Warner Archive’s burn-on-demand “Invitation to the Dance” makes for a great intro. The 1956 picture is among the most rare of cinematic sub-genres: the dance anthology. Completely silent, the film is divided into three segments, each showcasing a different style, all starring Kelly, who directed and choreographed this pet project. It’s like the Whitman’s Sampler […]