Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 2018)
February 21, 2018 Page 19 World Cultures Resonate at PIFF C ontinueD from P age 14 (including Jeffrey Tambor, Mi- chael Palin, and Steve Buscemi as a very persuasive Nikita Khrush- chev) and, though I worried a bit about portraying these Russian events from an English perspec- tive, I lost that worry quickly; this film would never be made in Russia and depends on a kind of very-perceptive humor in which language is everything. Iannucci has managed to capture a quite credible sense of how this specif- ic example of despotic power and violence must have played out, and also some real insights about the senselessness (in every sense) of this sort of power in gener- al—how malleable the truth is in the hands of those with structural power, and how quickly one can change from being the person with the most ruthless power and the scapegoat. As Buscemi’s Krush- chev aptly explains, “This is how people get killed, when your story doesn’t fit.” “Won’t You Be My Neigh- bor” is an appreciation of Fred Rogers, whose gentle television presence in “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” comforted chil- dren--including myself--for more than 30 years, offering many of us a much-needed image of a kind father who loved us just as we were. While filming “The Music of Strangers” with Yo- Yo Ma, director Morgan Neville (“Twenty Feet from Stardom”) asked the cellist who he credited with teaching him how to handle fame, and his surprising response was Fred Rogers, with whom he shared a long friendship. That conversation inspired Neville’s curiosity, and what his further investigation revealed was a per- son whose work in television was fueled by a sense of mission that was more radical than people have realized. His show launched in the late 1960s when television was still new, and Rogers wor- ried his whole life about the val- ues that children’s programming communicate to children. I actu- ally remember noticing as a child that most cartoons seemed to be about either slapstick violence or plots to end the world--but Rog- ers broke all the rules of good television with a clear vision of what children need to hear and a conviction about the importance of love. Its theatrical release will happen in June. “Bodied” would not have been made without the independent vi- sion of its director, Joseph Kahn; it’s impossible to imagine a stu- dio giving a green light to a film helmed by a director of color and deliberating poking at the issues of race, misogyny, homophobia, and political correctness impli- cated in the world of battle rap. The story here focuses on a white Berkeley graduate student who rooting around for an idea sep- arate from his English professor father; he thinks he admires the creative innovation of people of color in the world of rap, but as he finds himself pulled into the world as a performer the ques- tion of what he really admires becomes more complicated. Does he just want to say the N word? Is he an improvement on his PC white friends (who don’t appear to associate with any people of color (except an occasional Asian who they dub not really a POC? Or is he just the worst kind of cul- tural appropriater? As is self-con- scious racial humor equivalent coming out of anyone’s mouth? These and other questions are served up and not answered here with skill and humor—and some self-indulgence. It appears to be headed for a theatrical release. “Thoroughbreds” is a well-ex- ecuted film noir about two up- per-class teenage girls who goad each other into an increasingly high-stakes revenge plot. Its two lead performances are strong and its writer-director, Cory Finley, directing his first feature, dis- plays a sure hand with plotting (aside from a clumsy ending) and smart dialogue. The question for me is why we needed to see a film about two murderous upper-class teenage girls in the first place; it felt to me sumptuous and clever for the sake of being sumptuous and clever. For the films still getting a PIFF run, you can buy tickets ahead at nwfilm.org or at the art museum. Darleen Ortega is a judge on the Oregon Court of Appeals and the first woman of color to serve in that capacity. Her movie re- view column Opinionated Judge appears regularly in The Port- land Observer. Find her movie blog at opinionatedjudge.blog- spot.com. Obituary/Remembrance In Loving Memory Jerry Murray Jerry Murray of Portland died Jan. 17, 2018. He was born June, 4, 1946 in North Carolina to Hazel and Inetta Murray. He graduated from Benson High School in 1964, then attended Portland State University for two years. He joined the US Marine Corps, becoming a corpo- ral and earning two silver stars, the mil- itary’s third highest personal decoration for valor in combat and gallantry in ac- tion. He was honored in a book about a gunnery sergeant in the Marines written by P.E. Brandon titled “Gunny.” Jerry earned the title of Mr. Oregon for two years, body building at the Matt Dishman Community Center. He worked for the ESCO Company for 35 years; and he also worked security for Safeway and Fred Meyer stores. He was preceded in death by his wife Betty in 2013; his parents; and brother Nicholas. He leaves to mourn his death a sister Barbara Barber (Ernest), a brother Steve (Rhonda), and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. Services will take place on Monday Feb. 26 at 10:30 a.m. at Maranatha Church, 4222 N.E. 12th Ave. Viewing will take place on Friday, Feb. 23 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Terry Family Funeral Home, 2337 N. Williams. In Loving Memory Willie ‘George’ Rutherford Willie “George or G.W.” Rutherford was born Feb. 22, 1941 and died Aug. 5, 2016. Happy birthday love! Your wife and family, sisters and brothers, all wish you were here to celebrate! It’s not the same without you! We all miss you so much! I love you, Your wife, Ann Rutherford In Loving Memory Portland NAACP Updates Issues NAACP Portland NAACP President Jo Ann Hardesty and executive leadership from the local civil rights organization will provide updates about current and future initiatives during an upcoming meeting of the group that is open to prospective and current members. The session is an opportunity to connect with the organization’s work in advancing racial justice in the community. The session will be held Saturday, Feb. 24 from noon to 2 p.m. at Lloyd Center in the Advertise with diversity in The Portland Observer BUSINESS GUIDE Call 503-288-0033 ads@portlandobserver.com former Deb’s retail store space just north of the ice skating rink. The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the po- litical, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. The vision of the NAACP is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no racial hatred or racial discrimination. Nathaniel ‘Butch’ Baker Jr. Nathaniel Johnnie “Butch” Baker Jr. of Portland was born Sept. 18 1955 and was called home on Feb. 8, 2018. He graduated from Adams High School in 1974 and was a remarkable drummer who entertained with several bands. Family and friends will hold a me- morial service on Sunday Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. at the Colwood Golf Center, 7313 N.E. Columbia Blvd. T he R e B uilding C enTeR (RBC) is more than a store! Did you know that the ReBuilding Center has been serving the community for more than 20 years? What are some ways that RBC can serve the community? Share your ideas with us at our Community Outreach Open House! February 27th, 4:00-6:00 p.m. (Scavenger hunt 5:15-5:45 p.m.) The ReBuilding Center Commons 3625 N Mississippi Ave Drop in and enjoy some refreshments, participate in a scavenger hunt, win prizes, network with others in the community, and learn about the ReBuilding Center’s Community Outreach Program, departments, services, and projects!
