Arts & Entertainment
m oVie
r eVieWS
by Kam
Williams
C
hicago landed on the
nation’s radar a couple of
years ago when a high
school honor student’s slaying by
a mob of fellow teenagers was
captured on a cell phone camera.
Sadly, that killing was not all that
unusual for the Windy City where
the homicide rate in the ‘hood is
higher than that among American
soldiers serving in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
The only thing that made this
particular murder newsworthy was
fact that it had been recorded
which meant that there was
footage to play for ratings on the
11 O’clock News. The sad truth is
that similar scenarios are being
repeated with painful regularity in
our impoverished inner cities all
across the country.
Fortunately, at least in Chicago,
Violence Interrupters has been
formed with the aim of reversing
the lethal trend. The organization
is spearheaded by reformed gang-
bangers willing to put their butts
on the line by calling for cooler
heads to prevail when tempers
start to flare on the mean streets of
the ghetto.
Directed by Oscar-nominee
Steve James (Hoop Dreams) and
produced by best-selling author
Alex Kotlowitz (There Are No
Children Here), The Interrupters is
a riveting documentary
which chronicles the efforts
of several intrepid commu-
nity organizers over the
course of a year, including
Ameena Mathews, Tio
Hardiman
and
Cobe
Williams. With the aim of
bringing an end to black-
on-black crime, the three
devote their time to every-
thing from disarming the
revenge-minded to mentor-
ing lost souls to consoling
grieving parents to helping
ex-cons readjust to civilian
life.
Excellent (4 stars)
unrated
running time: 125
Minutes
Studio: kartemquin
Films
Distributor: Cinema
guild
c
o
m
m
u
n
courteSy oF Kartemquin FiLmS
‘The Interruptors:’ Documentary Film Examines
Movement Against Chicago’s homicide rate
Ameena Matthews (background), violence interrupter
The movie also allows some
well-known Chicago luminaries to
weigh-in on the burgeoning crisis,
such as Jesse Jackson (“This is a
state of emergency; this is what a
war zone looks like.”) and
President Obama’s Secretary of
Education
Arne
Duncan
I
t
y
c
(“Violence is an American prob-
lem.”). But the experts’ pontificat-
ing pales in comparison to the
unenviable task of being the one
actually trying to talk sense to an
enraged
man-child
with
vengeance in his heart and a
loaded gun at his disposal.
A
l
E
n
d
A crash course on how to stage
an intervention, at your own risk,
on behalf of a gangsta’ urgently in
need of a little tough love.
A
r
S eattle a uguSt 2011
B ullEtIn B oArd
If you have an event you want to share
with the community, email it two weeks
in advance to The Skanner at
info@theskanner.com
Seattle Bulletin
thursday august 4
ChArlIE ThE NOISE guY: Charlie the Noise guy
who has an incredible gift for vocal sound
effects will perform at the amphitheatre. FrEE. 11
a.m. Magnuson Park, 6344 NE 74th
Page 2 The Seattle Skanner august 3, 2011
Wednesday august 10
Friday august 5
BluE ANgElS AIr ShOw! kick-off Seafair by
heading to the heart of the Blue Angels action.
we’ll search out a viewing area and picnic while
watching the fastest 2-hour show. 11 a.m. – 4:30
p.m. hiawatha Community Center, 2700
California Ave. Sw FrEE.
ThE TrEASurE OF TwIN VAllEY DAIrY hISTOrY
PrOgrAM! unearth treasures of the past. Explore
this historic farm park, meet the farm animals
and much more. 11 a.m. kelsey Creek Farm Park
Amphitheater, 410 130th Place SE, Bellevue, wA
Friday august 12
Saturday august 6
PlANET hOME SuSTAINABIlITY lIVINg FESTIVAl This
free community event offers speakers, workshops,
conversations and much more. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
hunter Tree Farm lot, 7744 36th Ave. NE.
tuesday august 9
FIrE SAFETY DAY! Join is for some special lobby
activities! Full-day and half-day camps are
available for additional charge. The Children’s
Museum, 305 harrison St. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
7Th ANNuAl SOuTh lAkE uNION BlOCk PArTY! As
always this free event will feature a full day of
outdoor summertime fun and entertainment for
all ages. Noon – 11:30 p.m. South lake union
Discovery Center, 101 westlake Ave N.
Saturday august 13
TASTE OF hOOD CANAl: Community event by The
North Mason rotary with over 80 booths of food,
crafts, kids’ fun and information. Free for
everyone to enjoy: Belfair, wA.