"Possession:" Two Contrasting Looks At Love

Possession
Rated PG-13
Now Playing
Carol's grade: B+

The Plot:
Roland Michell (Aaron Eckhart) is an American scholar living and working in London. The focus of his work is Randolph Henry Ash, once poet laureate to Queen Victoria. Roland discovers original drafts of two love letters tucked inside of a book once owned by Ash. Ostensibly, they are in the poet's own hand. The letters, if authenticated, could alter the way history regards the renowned poet.

Research leads Roland to believe the letters may have been written to noted Victorian poet and feminist, Christabel LaMotte. The American enlists the help of proper British academic and LaMotte expert, Maud
Bailey (Gwyneth Paltrow) to look for the truth.

CAROL's Take:
"Possession" exists in two worlds. In one, Roland and Maud suffer a relationship compromised by their mutual mistrust of the opposite sex. In the other, Ash (Jeremy Northam) and LaMotte (Jennifer Ehle)
fall deeply in love.

The contrasts in "Possession" are striking. The two poets live in a world filled with taboo and shame, yet manage to engage in a rapturous, breathtaking romance. On the other hand, the two contemporary scholars live in a world filled with freedoms, but neither one is willing to be in love - suspicious of the very concept.

"Possession" is adapted from A.S. Byatt's novel. Words play a critical role in telling the story. Often, when we are watching Ash and LaMotte together, we hear Maud and Roland read from the Victorians' poems or letters. This layering is both effective and delightful. The words used to convey their feelings are simply beautiful.

While none of the acting in "Possession" is frivolous, unevenness is a problem. It is tough to believe the passionate Eckhart as a scholar. And Paltrow's Maud, while believably British, is inconsistent in character. Northam and Ehle, however, light up the screen. They infuse their tragic characters with enormous amounts of
faith and joy. When they're on screen, it's difficult to look away for fear of missing a glance, a gesture or a word that remains unspoken.

All in all, "Possession" offers two contrasting stories, merged into a romantic mystery well worth watching.

© 2002 Webster-Kirkwood Times, Inc.
Movie reviews by Carol Hemphill and Kent Tentschert
reelworld@timesnewspapers.com

Who Is Cletis Tout? Who Cares?

Who Is Cletis Tout?
Rated R * Now Playing
Kent's grade: C-

THE PLOT:
It is 1977 New York and Micah (Richard Dreyfuss), posing as a mime, absconds with $4.5 million in diamonds. Stashing them, he is subsequently caught and jailed for 25 years where he befriends Finch (Christian Slater).

Helping Micah escape, Finch tags along for a cut of the loot. Assuming identities of recently deceased individuals, Finch becomes Cletis Tout. But Finch gets more than he bargained for when he meets Micah's beautiful daughter, Tess (Portia De Rossi), a rambunctious equal to Finch. When Micah is killed by mobsters, Finch realizes they are after Cletis Tout, or rather, him. Hatching a daring plan, Finch and Tess try a ruse that would make Micah proud.

Kent's Take:
"Who Is Cletis Tout?" is not the most important question this movie summons to mind. Some more important inquiries run along the lines of - Where is the hook? Did anyone associated with this story know the importance of true conflict? And lastly, what kind of name is Cletis Tout? Is that some kind of venereal disease?

With a "conflict lite" story, this film never gathers momentum for the viewer. Having no real hook, we are left waiting throughout the movie for something to happen that will elicit a strong emotion (other than boredom).

With the talented Dreyfuss, Slater and Tim Allen (as critical Jim, a hit man) in interesting roles, this production does a wonderful job of wasting their talent by giving them either absolutely nothing to work with (Dreyfuss) or a character so over-the-top that he's ridiculous (Allen).

Simply put, the problem lies in the screenplay, the heart of every movie. This story is the broken cog in the gears that brings the film to a halt before it starts.

"Who Is Cletis Tout?" is not a horrible film. It's a below average endeavor that misuses or wastes skilled
actors and directing. Who is Cletis Tout? Who cares?

© 2002 Webster-Kirkwood Times, Inc.
Movie reviews by Carol Hemphill and Kent Tentschert
reelworld@timesnewspapers.com

"Simone" will Charm You One Pixel At A Time

Simone
Rated PG-13
Now Playing
Kent's grade: B+

The Plot:
Viktor Taransky (Al Pacino), a down-on-his-luck director, is about to wrap his fourth film when his star quits. Unable to go on, the studio pulls the plug on the project and on his career. As luck would have it Taransky inherits a computer program that allows him to manufacture a digital actor. Using Simulation One - combined to form the name Simone (as herself) - he finishes his film with his computer-generated beauty, and the movie opens to rave reviews. Taransky and Simone become instant celebrities, but Taransky must keep Simone's true electronic identity a secret. As her stature reaches global proportions, the dilemma blossoms. It will take the
spin of a lifetime to get Viktor Taransky out of the stew pot he put himself into. And only one "person" can do that, a computer program named Simone.

Kent's Take:
"Simone" is "Wag The Dog" for the entertainment industry. Working on many levels, this self-serving and self-effacing film is wonderful. Touching on Simone's relationship with paparazzi, her relationship with Taransky and fellow actors and her influence as a global pop icon, we are treated to some delightfully funny and poignant moments. Viktor Taransky is a desperate man. Attempting to save his career, mend his marriage and his relationship with his daughter, Taransky is willing to take a career-threatening step, and his gamble pays off.
But, as Simone changes the world for the better, she slowly destroys Taransky's.

Al Pacino single-handedly carries this film. Admittedly, the story is wonderful and very well-written. But still, this film would be average without his skill. His Taransky is a director trying to play by Hollywood rules, but continually failing. With nothing to lose, he begins an unholy alliance with Simone.

With smart humor and memorable characters, "Simone" will have you laughing at Taransky, the entertainment industry and yourself (as a supporter of this industry). Instead of "Wag The Dog," you have "Wiggle The Star." For an enjoyable outing of laughter and discussion, "Simone" will win you over one pixel at a time.

© 2002 Webster-Kirkwood Times, Inc.
Movie reviews by Carol Hemphill and Kent Tentschert
reelworld@timesnewspapers.com

By Lori Ehde
Luverne’s music enthusiasts have long been proud of their strong music traditions, both in school and in the community.

Since recently making the list of Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America, Luverne will receive national recognition in that area.

"It’s a nice honor … we’ll accept it," said Luverne High School Band Director Dale Nelson, who shared praise with all Luverne K-12 music educators.

They include Beth Capistran and Seana Graber in grades K-4, Patti Nelson in grades 5 and 6, Beth Behal in grades 7-12 choir, Mary Goheen in grades 6-8 instrumental, and Nelson in fifth grade and high school instrumental.

Earlier this year, Nelson was invited to fill out a survey by the American Music Conference and several partner organizations in the fields of music and education.

The survey asked for information in areas such as musical events in the school and community and the time and money spent on such things.

"I guess I thought we had a pretty good opportunity," Nelson said. "We scored pretty highly in some of these areas, especially with our Tri-State Band Festival being the longest-running band festival in the nation."

Nelson will receive a certificate indicating Luverne’s placement on the list of Top 100 Communities for Music Education in America.

He said this is the fourth year the list of top musical communities has been released, and he noticed there haven’t been very many Minnesota schools on the list.

Another area school joining the Top 100 this year is the West Central School District, which has ties to the Hills-Beaver Creek area.

West Central musical staff member Pat Toben, is the daughter of Dale and Nyla Reker, Beaver Creek.
Also on staff there is former H-BC music teacher Terry Walter.

The West Central District includes the communities of Humbolt and Hartford, S.D.

The survey results were released at the conclusion of Music In Our Schools Month, and information will be used to counter budget cuts that threaten music programs.

According to information from the American Music Conference, studies have shown music education is important to overall academic achievement, but up to 28 million American students currently do not receive adequate music education.

AMC Director Rob Walker said a little funding can go a long way in the area of music education.

"The results show that successful music programs are found in communities that balance measurable resources, such as budgets and buildings, with less tangible assets, such as the will to make quality music education a reality," Walker said.

"The top schools for music education are to be found in urban communities and rural ones, in wealthy areas and not-so-wealthy ones, but the common thread is that they benefit from the support of parents, teachers, school decision-makers and community leaders who value music education highly."

For more information, see www.amc-music.org.

By Sara Strong
The Luverne Planning Commission continues to look ahead, forming the direction of city zoning.

The 10-year-old Comprehensive Plan is on deck for an update, so the Planning Commission will host a public meeting for that purpose at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 24, in City Hall Council Chambers.

Commission members are reviewing the publication and making suggested changes informally.

The Comprehensive Plan outlines zoning ordinances and guides the overall future of city planning.

The last Comprehensive Plan cost $25,000, so the Commission is trying to do initial legwork on its own before considering hiring a consultant.

Commission members are informally asking opinions of Luverne City Council members and other community leaders to gather input before the public meeting.

Commission member Dan Serie said, "We’ll get people here who are interested in talking about it. … At that time we can decide what are the most important things to discuss in the Comprehensive Plan."

The Plan also lists specific goals for the city, like keeping downtown and South Highway 75 as the core business districts.

The addition of a new hospital and clinic on the north edge of town will likely change some of what was written in the Comprehensive Plan 10 years ago.

By Sara Strong
Local talent takes the stage of Luverne’s Palace Theatre this weekend as Green Earth Players bring the classic drama, "On Golden Pond," to Rock County.

"On Golden Pond" is a play by Ernest Thompson made famous by the 1981 movie starring Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda, who won best actress and best actor Oscars for their roles.

The local version stars Bert Weis and Fran Bohlke under the direction of Paula Herrig and assistant director April Gangestad. Other cast members are Jim Harsma, Colette Hansen, Dan Stensland-Bos and Bruce Baartman.

On Golden Pond opens Friday, but also plays next weekend.

Director Paula Herrig, Slayton, said, "The actors have put in so many hours of hard work, both at rehearsal and on their own. They’ve been really dedicated."

The play is about time a family shares one summer at their lake cabin in Maine. The relationships are strained in certain ways, and a new guest spends time with the family. Herrig said the play would be appropriate for young adults and older, considering some language and content.

Even though the drama, with a bit of comedy, is famous, Herrig said it hasn’t been difficult for her to direct.

"I’ve never actually seen the movie and that made it easier for me to just follow the script," she said.

Other contributions to the play come from Gangestad as stage manager, Linda Dummer and Cheryl Nath with props, Terri Ebert with makeup and hair and Harsma with sets. Dianne Ossenfort and Fred Manfred are producers.

Dialogue samples
from ‘On Golden Pond’
Ethel: "They're a nice middle-aged couple, just like us."
Norman: "If they're just like us, they're not middle-aged."
Ethel: "Of course they are."
Norman: "Middle age means the middle, Ethel. Middle of life. People don't live to be a hundred and fifty."
ooo
Chelsea: "It's just … it seems that you and me have been mad at each other for so long."
Norman: "I didn't know we were mad. I thought we just didn't like each other."

To attend the play
Performances are Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13 in Luverne’s historic Palace Theatre. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m. and Sunday shows are at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available at the Carnegie Cultural Center, 205 N. Freeman, Luverne. Carnegie hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Call 283-8294 or 283-2765.

By Lori Ehde
Rep. Doug Magnus (R-Slayton), through his attorney, has indicated he will file a motion to dismiss charges of unfair campaign practice brought by citizens in the four counties he represents in District 22A.

The charges stem from a postcard Magnus mailed on or about Nov. 2, 2002, just prior to the general elections, in which he defeated DFL incumbent Ted Winter for a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

The postcard contained general information about Magnus and encouraged voters to support him in the upcoming election.

It failed, however, to include the standard line indicating who paid for the solicitation, as is required by state law.

Four individuals from each of the four counties in District 22A filed complaints with their respective County Attorney’s Offices.

To streamline the process, an order was issued to consolidate the charges into one formal complaint in one location, Rock County District Court.

When the misdemeanor charges were first filed on Feb. 23, Magnus admitted he’d made an honest mistake on his literature and indicated he’d plead guilty to the charges.

He was scheduled to appear for an initial hearing Monday in Luverne, but that was canceled when he indicated his intent to file a motion to dismiss.

When questioned about the move, Magnus said there was nothing to warrant the charges in the first place. "It’s minor, it’s frivolous, it’s silly," he said Tuesday.

He said the intent of the campaign law he’s accused of violating is to prevent people from making personal, anonymous attacks on on candidates.

"That’s the intent of the law, and certainly we didn’t violate the intent of the law," he said.

When asked about his initial plans to plead guilty, Magnus said he made those comments without having all the facts.

He said he was first led to believe there were several complaints in his district from the general public.

But he said he later learned the complaints were an "obvious, orchestrated" effort on the part of DFL members from each of the four counties.

Magnus said they came in simultaneously on the Monday afternoon before the Tuesday elections — a move he said was an effort to undermine his reputation at a critical time for voters.

He said that’s why he decided to fight the charges after all, despite admitting to the mistake on the postcard.

"What these folks have to understand is it doesn’t hurt just Republicans, it hurts everyone," he said.

"I was concerned about setting a precedent on a trivial matter that would affect all candidates in the future."

County Attorney Don Klosterbuer, who is prosecuting the case for District 22A, said it’s not unusual for complaints to arise during campaigns, but they’re usually dropped after elections.

But this one, he said showed sufficient evidence to indicate a violation of the law, albeit a technical violation, and that’s why he and the three other county attorneys decided to prosecute.

"Based on the evidence we had, we felt it was proper to file a complaint," Klosterbuer said.

The next court hearing has not yet been scheduled.

The maximum penalty for the charges is a $1,000 fine, 90 days in jail or both.

Photo from July 2002 Better Homes and Gardens Quilt Sampler Magazine

Julie Hendricksen (right) helps a customer select fabric in her quilting store, JJ Stitches, Sun Prairie, Wis. Hendricksen will share her antique quilts and classic quilt reproductions in a program sponsored by the Blue Mound Quilters Monday.

By Sara Strong
Julie Hendricksen always had a knack for sewing.

"I think I started making doll clothes by age 5," she said. She even spent time helping the home economics teacher in her Luverne classroom.

She took that early hobby and made it a profession, and she’s coming back to her hometown to share her specialties — antique quilts and patterns.

The Blue Mound Quilters Guild is hosting the trunk show at 7 p.m. Monday in the Rock County Community Library.

Non-quilters and beginners are also invited to Hendricksen’s presentation.

She owns and operates JJ Stitches in Sun Prairie, Wis., which concentrates on antique patterns and reproduction fabric. With that kind of specialty, JJ Stitches draws business from all reaches of its market area and beyond. Sun Prairie is located just outside Madison, Wis.

Hendricksen said her presentation will be informal and will allow participants to break in with questions. "I’ve done a few presentations and people like to look at the old quilts, rather than just get information."

Hendricksen is the daughter of Mayford Rust, and her sister, Cathy Rust, lives in Luverne. She married Greg Hendricksen, also a Luverne native.

Through her shop, Hendricksen also designs replica patterns, and she’s been featured for that in various magazines.

One of those patterns, called "double Irish chain" was used for the Blue Mound Quilters Guild 2003 donation to the Luverne Hospice Cottage, which raffles it for a fund-raiser.

A hobby for the ages
The process of making quilts often brings people together in church groups or quilting clubs.

"There are a lot of talented ladies out there," Hendricksen said.

Quilting made a strong comeback in 1976 as the entire country was celebrating the bicentennial. Nostalgia was everywhere and people rediscovered the joy of quilting. That trend obviously had staying power.

Hendricksen said people like the process of quilting and can’t get enough of the varieties of fabric available. Now, quilting is a hobby, and often not a cheap one considering the materials involved.

The craft started as a necessity when homemakers needed blankets and sewed leftover materials together to make them. Add some cozy batting and there’s nothing more comforting, or beautiful, than a quilt.

"People are just spending more time in their homes these days," Hendricksen said.

She is one of the few that specialize in reproduction fabrics and patterns.

Other popular trends in quilts are influenced by African or Japanese styles.

No matter what the style, Hendricksen said she’s sure quilting is here to stay. "People aren’t just making one quilt anymore because they need a pink bedspread for their bedroom. They can’t get enough."

For more information on Hendricksen’s quilting store, visit www.jjstitches.com.

By Sara Strong
The Luverne City Council started the first step to find a new city administrator.

The council approved a contract with Brimeyer Group, Executive Search Consultants, Hopkins, Minn., to conduct the search.

Brimeyer was one of three proposals the city received, but has a solid reputation in "headhunting" public sector workers. Also, the firm built time into its contract to communicate to the council more than the other groups did.

Brimeyer is owned by James Brimeyer, who will be doing the work for the city.

The contract is for a flat fee of $14,000 and includes all the steps involved in recruiting a city administrator.

That starts with meeting individually with the city council members and selected representatives from the community.

The Position Profile will follow and will give potential candidates a description of the community and the job.

The council had some discussion on whether it would be more cost effective for it to advertise for the position and hire on its own. A large advertising campaign would also be costly, and qualified candidates often like to search for jobs through businesses like Brimeyer Group.

Brimeyer estimates a new administrator will be able to start by September.

In the meanwhile, Assistant City Attorney Jeff Haubrich is filling in as interim city administrator. The city is being billed for his services as it would for attorney work.

Other costs beyond the base fee for the search are estimated to be $2,500. This estimate doesn’t include costs associated with the candidates’ expenses for the final interview.

The Brimeyer Group offers an 18-month guarantee to clients who use its complete process. Should the city determine it necessary to terminate the candidate due to failure to adequately perform the duties as specified in the Position Profile, it will refill the position for expenses only.

Other firms that submitted proposals to the city were Springsted Inc., Saint Paul, for a cost of $10,500 plus expenses, and Sathe Executive Search, Minneapolis, for a cost of $15,000 plus additional expenses.