Pick Five (Plus)

Your weekly guide to Houston: Prickly friends, censoring fairy tales & a cupcakewar

Candace Nelson
Photo courtesy of Sprinkles Cupcakes
Randolph Ward and Rachel Meyer in rehearsal for Dominic Walsh’s "VictorFrankenstein"
Photo by Addie Tsai
Ernie the Porcupine

I don't really have much to say about last week. If I did, you'd probably hate me.

I was missing the cold front, away in a far-off land (Dominican Republic) filled with beach beds and beautiful people dressed in white bringing me an endless supply of Coco Locos (an offshoot of the Pina Colada with some added fruitiness) and spicy Bloody Marys (for balance). I was almost devoid of any aesthetic experiences other than sun gazing for uncountable hours per day.

There was a helicopter ride and an old-fashion Vegas-style show with delicious skimpy costumes, men in feathers who could seriously gyrate their hips and sexy women with 4-foot chandeliers on their heads.

Why doesn't Houston have a show like this? Aren't we tropical enough?

Well, I am back now and ready to reengage and show off my newly acquired golden tan. Here's where you will find me this week.

Contemporary Art Museum Houston's "Mixing the Medium" at Colton & Farb Gallery
Rescheduled due to Houston's version of inclement weather, this exhibition, curated by The Studio co-chairs Philip Beck and Philip Berry, highlights works of up-and-coming Houston artists represented by Colton & Farb.

With libations courtesy of Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Hudson Ferus Vodka, Republic Tequila and light bites by Strip House, "Mixing the Medium" juxtaposes pop art with an exploration of the subconscious. Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

Talk at Rienzi: Should Fairy Tales Be Censored?
We tend to think of fairy tales as light and frothy, appropriate for children of all ages. But the original versions of Grimm Brothers' tales are anything but innocent, often containing mature subjects not unlike Bambi's opening scene — anyone still traumatized by that?

Robert Patten explores the benefits and challenges of sharing them, with light hors d'oeuvres and wine included. Thursday at 6 p.m.

River Oaks Chamber Orchestra's Conductorless! Valentine's Concert
If you ever thought an orchestra needed a conductor, you were mistaken and the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra has a history of proving you wrong. The Conductorless! concerts are a yearly ROCO offering. Large ensembles sans conductors are an artistic political experiment in aesthetic socialism where everyone contributes equally in lieu of a democratic dictatorship.

Haydn's Surprise Symphony No. 94, Dvorak's Serenade and fresh seemingly off-the-cuff repertoire could begin a romantic evening. It's Valentine's Day weekend after all. Saturday at 5 p.m. The Sunday performance at the Houstonian Hotel includes a cocktail reception and dinner.

First Annual CoupleCake Wars at Sprinkles
Cupcake queen Candace Nelson is coming to Houston to judge (along with Katie Stuckey and Cerón) the first annual CoupleCake Wars. Selected couples compete in a variety of baking and culinary challenges and only one will be crowned CoupleCakes Sweethearts. Saturday at noon.

Houston Zoo's Flock Beastly Brunch
Any opportunity to meet Ernie the porcupine is worth the $25 in advance or $40 at the door, unless you are a Flock member. Then, you get in free with RSVP.

What is Flock? The Zoo's young professionals group (ages 21 and up), which hosts chic events while exploring the zoo with light bites, cocktails, music and friendly creatures. Sunday at noon.

And this is where you will find my colleagues.

Indie arts connoisseur Jennifer Patterson's pick: 2010 Academy Award Nominated Short Films (Animation) at MFAH
Jennifer says: "The MFAH is showing the Academy Award nominees for short films (animation and live action) this weekend and next. I think the short films are really underrated and also perfect for anyone with a short attention span."

"They come from all over the world and knowing about them makes watching the Oscars that more interesting." Friday and Saturday.

Dance hunter and art columnist Nancy Wonzy's pick: Dominic Walsh Dance Theater's Second Course
Nancy says: "Dominic Walsh Dance Theater tackles Swedish choreographer Mats Ek's Pas de Dans along with a world premiere of Dominic Walsh's Victor Frankenstein, co-conceived by local poet Addie Tsai, as part of Second Course-Winter Mixed Rep."

"Ek and Walsh are well matched, both possess a gestural idiosyncratic vocabulary along with a highly theatrical style. Plus, it's mighty cool that DWDT is the only American dance company performing Ek's work. I got to the bottom of exactly how that happened in a Dance Magazine feature on Walsh." Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

Assistant editor and art savant Steven Thomson's pick: Artists/Scholars Talk: Lads vs. Guys
Steven says: "This discussion, moderated by curator Toby Kamps (now of The Menil Collection), will test how the city's stalwart collaborative conceptual art team, The Art Guys, stand up to the internationally-renowned duo of John Wood and Paul Harrison."

"All four men employ existential comedy, so expect an unapologetic stream of laughter at the museum." Saturday at 2 p.m.

Assistant editor "Girl about Town" Caroline Gallay's pick: The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research Fundraiser (TIRR) Toga Party Fundraiser at House of Blues
Caroline says: "This annual party is a terrific time each year, and who doesn't love an excuse to dress comfortably? Best, it benefits The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, which we're proud to say is working for the recovery here in Houston of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords." Saturday at 9 p.m.

unspecified

Movie Review

Sheriff Bob Odenkirk is back in over-the-top new action movie 'Normal'

Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

Bob Odenkirk in Normal.

Screenwriter Derek Kolstad, who wrote the first three John Wick movies, has essentially had a blank check to do what he wants in the movie landscape since 2014. In recent years that has meant writing the action series Nobody for Bob Odenkirk, who has turned from a comedian into an unlikely action star in his sixties. Kolstad and Odenkirk are teaming up again in Normal.

A film that tries to evoke Fargo in multiple ways, Normal finds Ulysses Richardson (Odenkirk) serving as a temporary sheriff for the small town of Normal, Minnesota after the previous sheriff died. Knowing he’s just a steward until a new sheriff is elected, Ulysses takes a live-and-let-live approach to the job, letting the deputies (Ryan Allen and Billy MacLellan) do the grunt work and trying to stay out of everyone’s way, including Mayor Kibner (Henry Winkler).

A bank robbery attempt by two non-citizens upsets his best-laid plans in more ways than he can imagine. Not only is he forced to confront a crime not often seen in a town like Normal, but the robbery uncovers secrets that turn the film into an all-out bloodbath. Soon, almost everyone in town becomes involved in what comes to resemble a war, along with — you guessed it — Yakuza henchmen from Japan.

Directed by Ben Wheatley and written by Kolstad, the film is a slight twist on the everyman-turned-hero character Odenkirk played in the two Nobody films. While Ulysses is in law enforcement, he prefers to use words instead of weapons, and it’s only when he’s pushed to the brink that he crosses that line. Naturally, his skills are beyond what anyone would expect of him, allowing him to match up well with people half his age.

The film is not a comedy in the traditional sense, but instead aims for laughs by catching the audience off-guard with its ultraviolence. Some characters are dispatched in shockingly unexpected ways, with one of the only natural reactions to the jarring nature of their deaths being laughter. That’s not necessarily the case for other killings, which range from blasé to sadistic, and the only reason they count as entertainment is because the filmmakers have primed the audience to accept them as such.

After a relatively solid setup, where Wheatley and Kolstad seem to take their time getting to know the main characters, the second half of the film is pure action that dispenses with good storytelling. Like many action movies, there are double crosses, surprise revelations, and more, but the filmmakers don’t seem to care about making sense of any character arcs. All they care about is delivering mayhem, and they succeed on that front.

Odenkirk has perfected the mild-yet-intimidating nature of his action characters, and it is satisfying to see him get the better of those who have done him wrong. He doesn’t run or jump like fellow 63-year-old Tom Cruise, but — with the help of fast-paced editing — he still makes for a credible action hero. The only other actors of any note in the film are Winkler, who’s a nice presence with his sardonic personality, and Lena Headey, whose small role doesn't match up with her experience.

You have to have a certain mindset to enjoy a film like Normal, but if you can abide its over-the-top bloodiness, it’s a serviceable action film. Few would have expected Odenkirk to take on these kinds of roles at this late stage of his career, but he’s making the most of his opportunities.

---

Normal opens in theaters on April 17.

movies film