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Your weekly guide to Houston: Five (plus) don't-miss events — Supreme justiceincluded

Hillerbrand + Magsamen, Cerberus, 2012, from the series House/Hold, archivalinkjet print, 22 by 16 inches, edition 3 of 3
Photo courtesy of the artists and DARKE gallery, Houston
A scene from "Martini Madness!" at the Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts,where one martini glass is sure to speak to your sense of style.
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
The Progressive Forum is making history once again, this time with AssociateJustice of the U.S. Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayor.
Photo by © Amber Kayo

If it feels like end-of-the-year festivities are as far back in that past as, well, last year, then you are feeling the crunch of January taking off like a wild, lustful bull amid a field grazed by virgin cows.

Be sure to take care of yourself and balance work, life and play activities with this week's suggestions.

To make planning easier click on the links below each event to access a page where you'll find helpful functions, like the ability to download intel to your electronic calendar and learn about where to find food, beverages, shopping and a place to crash for the night nearby your final destination.

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft's Fifth Annual "Martini Madness!"

Perched on my desk is a whimsical, handcrafted martini glass resembling the roots of a tree that looks like it belongs on the set of Lord of the Rings. Many strong beverages were imbibed out of that vessel on one fun evening at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft a few years ago.

The "Martini Madness" party, think mid-century Mad Men-inspired attire, offers quite a spread of artisan martini glasses, made by local and national smiths, for you to enjoy and take home. Chaired by Marie Louise and David Kinder, this fifth annual cocktail affair includes lively music by the Jeremy Dorsey Trio, auctions and nibbles by Sorrel Urban Bistro and Macarons by June.

The deets: Thursday, 7 p.m.; Houston Center for Contemporary Craft; tickets start at $150 for non-members, $125 for HCCC members.

Houston Center for Photography 2013 Print Auction Opening Reception

This week marks the start of a month-long build up to the Houston Center for Photography's Print Auction on Feb. 20 at the Junior League, where more than 80 images by such notables as Ansel Adams, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Geoff Winningham and Brett Weston will be up for grabs to the highest bidder.

The collection debuts at an opening reception at the Houston Center for Photography, where it will remain on view through Feb. 18, when MFAH's Anne Wilkes Tucker and Galveston Arts Center's Clint Willour lead an educational tour of the bounty. Can't be there? You can proxy bid online.

The deets: Friday, 6-8 p.m.; Houston Center for Photography; free event.

Asia Society Texas Center presents "Voices of the Spirit"

If Houston's notoriety as the most diverse city in the country sounds like a broken record, this Houston Arts Alliance's Folklife and Traditional Arts Program brings to life what seems academic on paper.

The performance focuses on the traditions of the Sufi, Sikh, Nigerian, Vietnamese and Hindu faith communities, with musicians and groups including Zubair Al Awadi, Bhai Bhupinder Singh Paras Ji and Bhai Charanjit Ji, the Saint Martin Vietnamese Catholic Choir, Melloh Rhythm and Kruthi and Keerthana Bhat.

The deets: Saturday, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, 3 p.m.; Asia Society Texas Center; free event, reservations are required.

Junior VolunTIRRs' Seventh Annual "Welcome TIRR the Jungle"

Go for the ambiance or go for the beneficiary, you can't lose either way. Find those wild-esque clothes and accessories from deep within the foliage of your closet and summon your inner safari for this young professionals party, one which supports the Institute for Rehabilitation and Research Foundation's Project Victory, a brain injury rehab program that serves active military and veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

The deets: Saturday, 9 p.m.; House of Blues; tickets are $75.

Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center Dance Month 2013: "Mixed Bag"

Thirty-three years and counting. That's how long the Jewish Community Center has been presenting dance performances, workshops and classes to Houston audiences. "Mixed Bag" is the first performance of this year's festival and features a melange of choreography by Carver Dance Company, Exclamation Dance Company, High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) and Vitacca Dance Project.

The deets: Sunday, 3 p.m.; Jewish Community Center's Kaplan Theatre; tickets are $22, $16 for JCC members and $12 for students and seniors.

Arts smarty pants and in-the-loop walking dictionary Nancy Wozny's pick: Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayor

Nancy says: "The Progressive Forum is making history once again, this time with Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayor. This is the first appearance of a sitting Supreme Court Justice in an open, ticketed event in Houston. (You can watch retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens on video).

"Sotomayor has a new memoir out, My Beloved World, which will be available at the event and at Blue Willow Bookshop. If you want to study up on the nation's first Hispanic appointed to the court you can watch 60 Minutes or listen to her on Morning Edition on NPR."

The deets: Jan. 22; Wortham Theater Center; tickets start at $14.

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Movie Review

Timothée Chalamet cements star status in new movie Marty Supreme

Courtesy

Timothée Chalamet

In a time when true movie stars seem to be going extinct, Timothée Chalamet has emerged as an exception to the rule. Since 2021 he has headlined blockbusters like the two Dune movies and Wonka, and also earned an Oscar nomination for playing Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown (his second nomination following 2018’s Call Me By Your Name). Now, he’s almost assured to get his third nomination for the stellar new film, Marty Supreme.

Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a world-class table tennis player living in New York. But reducing Marty to his best skill doesn’t do him justice, as he’s also a motormouth schemer who will do almost anything to achieve his dreams. He doesn’t have any qualms about wooing married women like neighbor Rachel (Odessa A’zion) or actress Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow), or hiding his true ping pong skills to win money in scams with friends like Wally (Tyler the Creator).

Marty is seemingly on the go the entire movie, whether it’s trying to convince Kay’s millionaire husband Milton Rockwell (Kevin O’Leary) to fund his table tennis ambitions; or trying to track down the dog of Ezra (Abel Ferrara), a man he accidentally injures; or trying to avoid the ire of the boss at the shoe store where he works. Just when you think he might slow down, he’s off to the races on another plan or adventure.

Directed by Josh Safdie and written by Safdie and frequent co-writer Ronald Bronstein, the film is an almost continuous blast of pure energy for 2 ½ hours. So many different things happen over the course of the film that the story defies conventional narratives, and yet the throughline of Marty keeps everything tightly connected. His particular type of brash behavior turns much of the film into a comedy as he does and says things that are both shocking and thrilling.

Another thing that makes the movie sing is the fantastic characterization by Safdie and Bronstein. Almost every person who is given a speaking line in the film has a moment where they pop, which speaks to airtight dialogue that the writers have created. Characters will be introduced and then disappear for long stretches of time, and yet because they make such an impression the first time they’re on screen, it’s easy to pick up their thread right away.

Safdie, as he’s done previously with brother Bennie (Uncut Gems), calls on a host of well-known non-actors or people with interesting faces/vibes to inhabit supporting roles, and to a person they are crucial to the film’s success. O’Leary (of Shark Tank fame), rapper Tyler the Creator, director Ferrara, magician Penn Jillette, and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi each deliver knockout performances. The relative unknowns who play smaller roles are just as impressive, making each beat of the film feel naturalistic.

Leading the way is the powerhouse performance by Chalamet. For one person to believably play both the famously reserved Dylan and also a firecracker like Marty is astonishing, and this role cements Chalamet’s status as his generation’s movie star. A’zion is a rising star who gets great moments as Marty’s on-again/off-again love interest. Paltrow pops in and out of the film, lighting up the screen every time she appears. Fran Drescher as Marty’s mom and Sandra Bernhard as a neighbor also pay dividends in small roles.

Josh Safdie’s first solo directorial effort is unlike any other movie this year, or maybe even this century. Thanks to its breakneck storytelling, a magnificent performance by Chalamet, and countless intangibles that Safdie employs expertly, the film smacks viewers in the face repeatedly and demands that they come back for more.

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Marty Supreme opens in theaters on December 25.

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