The Descendants
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THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE ARTS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011 A9 Briefly ‘The Descendants’: Doing the right thing Palms hosts Hot Club, Maria Muldaur Maturity isn’t easy in this wise, ‘The The Hot Club of San Descendants’ Francisco, performing poignant study of family dynamics Gypsy jazz, and blues/ By Derrick Bang This land actually is a R&B singer Maria significant plot point. Muldaur will perform ENTERPRISE FILM CRITIC Matt’s missionary ances- this weekend at The Starring: George Some relationships tors were financially and Clooney, Shailene Palms, 13 Main St. in explode in passion and culturally progressive; one Woodley, Amara Miller, Winters. fury; many simply fade even married a Hawaiian Nick Krause, Robert The Hot Club is an away. Small, thoughtful princess, making Matt a Forster, Beau Bridges, ensemble of musicians gestures — spontaneous royal descendant and one Judy Greer celebrating the music acts, so lovingly granted in of the state’s largest land- Rating: R, for profanity of Django Reinhardt the early days — fall victim owners. Indeed, steward- and coarse sexual and Stephane Grappel- to increasingly busy sched- ship of this property, along references li’s pioneering Hot Club ules or diverging inter- with the responsibilities of de France. ests. We initially register his own legal profession, shipped off to a tony pri- these missed opportunities: The ensemble bor- bear the blame for his vate school — cues a fresh pangs of guilt, mental rows the all-string absentee husbanding and revelation that further promises to do better. instrumentation of vio- parenting duties. rocks Matt’s world. Sur- Eventually, though, even lin, bass and guitars The Kings own some of prisingly, this new crisis the regret and intent get from the original Hot the last priceless virgin bridges the divide between lost in the shuffle. Club, but breathes new parcels of tropical beach; him and Alexandra: United life into the music with “The Descendants” Matt is sole guardian of a in a fresh purpose, they set innovative arrange- opens as Matt King land trust which — due to out on this mournful, ments of classic tunes (George Clooney) has a various legal complica- somewhat haphazard and original composi- wake-up call; he suddenly, tions — is scheduled to island-hopping mission. tions. genuinely understands that expire in seven years. The format thus Their show begins at business affairs have Various King cousins have becomes established and 8:30 p.m. Friday. Tick- pulled him away from his been gathering for regular familiar: This is a road trip ets are $20, available at wife and family. In his own meetings, courting com- of discovery, where the Armadillo Music in words, he acknowledges peting bids from develop- journey itself is far more Davis and at the door if being the “back-up parent” ers eager to build hotels important than the destina- COURTESY PHOTO to their two daughters. He available. and golf courses along this tion. Although Matt cannot Matt (George Clooney, far left) and his daughters — from resolves to change course: unspoiled inlet. Muldaur will cele- imagine life without Eliza- left, Alexandra (Shailene Woodley) and Scottie (Amara correct the heading and do brate the release of her These extended rela- beth, there’s no question Miller) — are joined by Sid (Nick Krause) as they take one better. final, lingering look at the unspoiled family land soon to newest album, “Steady tives, while superficially that her absence — and the be turned into a beach resort by the highest bidder. Love,” at 8 p.m. Satur- He makes this promise polite, smell impending crisis it has precipitated as his wife, Elizabeth wealth with the rapacious day. “Steady Love” — has brought an unusual during intimate family mo- Young Miller, in her act- (Patricia Hastie), lies in a hunger of a shark tracking delivers a mix rhythm sense of relief, and the ments. ing debut, has similarly hospital bed, submerged a blood scent. Clooney, in and blues, gospel and chance to redefine poorly strong scenes as Scottie. At within a deep coma: the often mordant voice-overs, But Payne doesn’t blues and showcases chosen roles. first merely sullen, Scottie result of a boating acci- makes sage, snarky obser- exploit Clooney solely for Muldaur’s vocal prow- We see, in Clooney’s eventually softens into her dent. vations about the group his dramatic chops. ess and abiding love for haunted, expressive fea- defenseless 10-year-old dynamic during these Although Matt’s hospital the many forms of Alexander Payne’s pre- tures, that Matt perceives self; the change is heart- meetings; these are the bedside confessions and American roots music. vious film, 2004’s warm, this: recognizes it and breaking, and one wonders whimsical and bittersweet scripted lines we come to simultaneously is shamed tantrums are deeply emo- Tickets are $20, what Miller is thinking, as “Sideways,” probed and cherish, as this story pro- by it. What price, clarity? tional — as are his game available at Armadillo she sells Scottie’s most dissected friendship and gresses. attempts to connect with Music in Davis and at In his more serious roles challenging scene. courting rituals with the The irony, of course, is — “Michael Clayton,” “Up his daughters — he also the door if available. Payne handles these precision with which its that while Matt may be in the Air” — Clooney has has his impulsively crazy For more information, characters with warmth, protagonist extolled the impressively astute in demonstrated a fondness side. Such hilariously poi- call (530) 795-1825 or wisdom and sharp obser- similar complexities of his business matters, he’s vir- and talent for impassive, gnant acts — charging visit palmsplayhouse. vation. He understands favorite wines. Now, seven tually helpless in the face tightly wound characters through the neighborhood com. that people in crisis are years later — apparently of his two wayward daugh- at a crossroads. These men while trying to run in fascinating , particularly as not one to be hurried — ters: precocious 10-year- stand beneath storm clouds Hawaii’s ubiquitous san- they try to do the right Young composers Payne has returned to the old Scottie (Amara Miller) of loneliness, while smiling dals, spying on somebody thing while navigating perform recital director’s chair for “The and rebellious 17-year-old amiably and insisting that from behind a tall hedge wholly unfamiliar territo- Descendants.” He shares Alexandra (Shailene all’s right with the world. — are made even funnier ry. The resulting film is The Yolo County scripting duties with Nat Woodley, recognized from They’re control freaks sud- by Clooney’s wide-eyed poignant, sad, illuminating Branch of the Music Faxon and Jim Rash; they TV’s “The Secret Life of denly paralyzed by an frenzy. and funny: its many moods Teachers’ Association have adapted the 2007 the American Teenager”). absence of control in areas We expect this of Cloo- amplified by a score that of California presents a book by Hawaiian-born The story’s momentum of their lives that no longer ney; he’s a pro. Woodley is blends melancholy island Composers Today recit- Kaui Hart Hemmings. turns on the news that can be concealed or com- the surprise, as she match- chants with gentle slack- al, a concert featuring The Hawaiian setting is Elizabeth won’t pull out of partmentalized. es him, scene for scene. key guitar interludes. piano students per- as much a character as the the coma; since she left a Clooney truly nails She nails all the telling lit- forming their own com- fractured King family and medical directive, she’ll Matt’s helpless indecision: tle gestures of crisis: Alex- Payne may not make positions, at 2:30 p.m. their friends and relatives; soon be removed from life the guilty, flickering gaze andra takes shaky breaths, many films, but when the Saturday at Our Faith many scenes — particu- support. Matt recognizes that cannot hold; the des- closes her eyes, hunches as results are this polished, Lutheran Church, 1801 larly many brittle exchang- the responsibility to notify peration that drives him to if awaiting a blow that who can complain? Oak Ave. in Davis. The es of dialogue — are family and friends, so that ask advice from his own never comes. Better still, — Read more of Derrick concert is free and amplified or given counter- they might say goodbye. sullen teenage daughter, though, is Alexandra’s Bang’s film criticism at open to the public. point by cinematographer The issue of Alexandra’s and then from the oddly awakening: maturity strug- derrickbang.blogspot. For more informa- Phedon Papamichael’s hostility toward her moth- cheerful young man (Nick gling to surface through com. Comment on this tion, call (530) 574- lush vistas of (mostly) er — the girl, a recovering Krause, as Sid) she insists the muck of reflexive teen- review at www.davisen 1658. unspoiled Hawaiian land. drug addict, had been on having at her side, even age spite. terprise.com Folk musicians jam at UCD Arboretum Colombian Carnival Folk musicians are invited to bring their acoustic instruments — comes to Davis stage fiddles, guitars, banjos, mandolins, squeeze ENTERPRISE STAFF will perform dance- boxes, you name it — hall hip-hop and Afro- Local residents will en- and play together infor- Colombian dance numbers. joy a taste of Colombian mally over the lunch Children will be featured Carnival at the 12th annual hour from noon to as piano soloists, and a pia- Colombian Serenade, “The 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, no and violin duet is Barranquilla Moon,” on in the UC Davis Arbo- planned. retum. Saturday, Dec. 10. The event will pay tribute to Finally, Colombia Viva, The free jam session the late Joe Arroyo and celebrating its 10th anni- will take place at the Estercita Forero, two mu- versary, will light up the Wyatt Deck, on Old sic icons of Carnival music stage with salsa dancing.