By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

There is a fine line between comedy and tragedy. George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road walks that tightrope in a big summer blockbuster release. However, this balance between comedy/ tragedy is never more evident than in The 100 Year Old Man who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared, a Swedish film which opens tomorrow.

Opening with a picturesque cabin in the snow, the title character lets his kitty cat outside. When the cat does not return, the old man goes outside and sees that his only companion has been brutally killed by a fox.

It is a shocking scene; however, the tone abruptly shifts when the old man gets even with the fox.

Just imagine the Old Man getting dynamite from Wile E. Coyote’s ACME explosive kit.

It has been 30 years this summer since Mel Gibson’s last Mad Max movie, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, co-starring Tina Turner and Angelo Rossitto. While Gibson’s fortunes rose and crashed, there was always talk about continuing the Mad Max series. During the hiatus, writer/director George Miller wrote two Mad Max scripts with Mel Gibson in mind, but the actor aged himself out of the story.

Thomas Hardy does an excellent job stepping into Gibson’s shoes. Like Godzilla’s reveal last summer, George Miller takes his time letting the audience get used to the new Mad Max. By the time Mad Max takes command, the audience accepts the new mad man.

Max is not the maddest one in Fury Road, there is an assortment of crazies in this popcorn-eating flick. The most monstrous mad man is Immortan Jone (Hugh Keays-Byrne – who was “Toecutter Joe” in the original Mad Max), the supreme ruler who tells his dehydrated minions that “water is a luxury.” When the one-armed Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) hijacks a war machine that was on a gas run, the chase is on.

Mad Max: Fury Road is basically a continuing car chase in a post apocalyptic world of a despot society. What elevates these Mad Max movies is George Miller’s attention to detail. In this dystopian world of limited resources, Max uses ingenuity to keep carburetors cool in the Australian desert. He also manages to capture a society that is missing things like radio, television, Internet and wireless communication.

Both Mad Max: Fury Road and The 100 Year Old Man who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared provide thought provoking entertainment for the summer heat.

Remember, if you see anything suspicious, call 911 immediately.

DEERFIELD BEACH

May 3 Three businesses at 1337 S. Military Trail were burglarized via removal of a front lock.

May 4 A home at 424 SE 13 Court was entered through an unlocked door. The bedroom was entered and jewelry and a computer were stolen.

May 7 An individual entered offices on the fourth floor of a building at 2001 W. Sample Rd. and stole driver’s licenses and credit cards from purses.

DEERFIELD – District 4

May 14 Theft – Retail/Shoplifting occurred at Target, 3599 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach. Suspects entered Target and took 2 pairs of Bose headphones from the shelf and left the store without attempting to pay for the items.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

April 24 Victim who resides at 2321 NE 48 St. said someone used her identity to file a false tax refund.

April 25 Victim who lives at 3110 NE 48 St. said someone opened new lines of credit at various stores and ran up charges amounting to $2,290.

April 26 Victim lost a wallet after making a purchase at a food store at 3780 N. Federal Hwy. It contained $150 in cash, library card, credit cards and a $70 gift card. The loss was $200.

Canal Bank Repairs at Independence Bay Lake

Dear Editor:

I wanted to make District 4 residents aware that Broward County Water Control District #2 will be performing canal bank maintenance at the Independence Bay Lake.

The County has hired Shenandoah Construction to maintain the lake bank at the southeast corner of the lake near Powerline Road.

The project started late last week. The work schedule has a tentative completion set for the end of this week.

We anticipate very little impact on residents in Independence Bay and the Waterways developments.

If you are boating on the lake or walking on the Independence Bay Linear Trail during the construction period, you should not approach the work area.

There will be three small Sabal Palms displaced during the project to avoid damage. They will be reinstalled after the construction.

If there are any questions and concerns with this project, feel free to contact the Project Manager, Joe Heilman with Broward Water Management at 954-831-0764.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Vice Mayor Bill Ganz

Deerfield Beach

AARP Driver Safety Program

Thursday, May 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

NE Focal Point Senior Center 227 NW 2 St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Save money, earn a discount on your car insurance and update your driving skills! The AARP Driver Safety Program provides those over 50 years of age with updated information on current Florida Statutes, as well as coping with changes which have occurred in our driving years. $20 for 6-hour course ($15, AARP member). Space is limited and reservations are required; call 954-480-4447 or email tsutton@deerfield-beach.com.

Food Giveaway

Saturday, May 23, 10 a.m. to noon

First Zion Missionary Baptist Church 125 SW 1 Ct. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Please bring own bag/box. Presented by The Wayne Barton Food Ministry. 954-428-1550.

Life Skills & Football Camp

Saturday, May 23, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pompano Beach Civic Center 1801 NE 6 St. Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Minnesota Vikings linebacker and Pompano Beach native Henri Crockett will host a USA Football FUNdamentals clinic for children ages 6-16. The free, one-day clinic is designed to introduce children to football by teaching basic skills in a fun and energetic environment and is supported through a grant from the NFL Foundation. FUNdamentals incorporates a series of drills to teach passing, catching and running skills in a non-contact setting. All skills and drills selected are based on USA Football’s Player Progression Development Model, ensuring children are learning in an age-appropriate manner, based on their cognitive and physical maturity. Registration is available at www.usafootball.com/fun.

Open Clay Sculpture

Monday, May 25, 9 a.m. to noon

NE Focal Point 227 NW 2 St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Persons over 60 years of age are invited to join and learn from instructor Patricia Shea. Fee is cost of supplies. Classes are held every Monday. All levels welcome. Call 954-480-4447 or email tsutton@deerfield-beach.com for more information.

Quit Smoking

Tuesday, May 26, 1 to 2 p.m.

NE Focal Point 227 NW 2 St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

6-week Tobacco Cessation Program meets every Tuesday through June 30. To register or for more information, contact Nova Southeastern University at 954-262-1580. Save the date:

Deerfield Wine & Food Festival

Saturday, May 30, 1 to 9 p.m.

Quiet Waters Park 401 S. Powerline Rd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

For the 5th year in a row, this Blue Wave Affair has come to town. This year, they are making it a more family-friendly get together, adding a Kidz Zone and a lower price for adults. The foodie family will still enjoy plenty of tastings, as well as wines and craft beers. Gourmands will love the live cooking demonstrations, farmers market, on-site wine store, and business and retail shopping bazaar. Guests can get into the groove to live entertainment at the Main Entertainment Stage & Lounge. Proceeds benefit PROPEL. Advance: $15 adults, $7 kids (5 and under FREE); Day-of: $25 adults, $10 kids (5 and under FREE). www.deerfieldbeachwineandfoodfestival.com.

MEMORIAL DAY HAPPENINGS

DEERFIELD BEACH

Sunday, May 24, 12 to 2 p.m.

Butler House, 380 E. Hillsboro Blvd. honors all veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. Flag Folding Ceremony, Presentation of Ceremonial Wreath, Speeches, Salute to Fallen Comrades, Bagpipers, food and more.

Monday, May 25

Deerfield Beach American Legion Posts #162 and #287 have organized three Memorial Day events to take place on Memorial Day, May 25:

• 10 a.m. – Pineview Cemetery, 400 SW 4 St.

• 10:30 a.m. – Pioneer Memorial Park Cemetery, 380 NE 6 Ave.

• 11:15 a.m. – International Fishing Pier, 200 NE 21 Ave.

Prayers service and 21-gun salute to be held at all three locations.

For more information, call 954-421-6097.

Pompano Beach

Monday, May 25

• 9 a.m. – Memorial Westview Cemetery 2100 W. Copans Rd. Pompano Beach, FL 33069

• 11 a.m. – Memorial Pompano Beach Cemetery 400 SE 23 Ave. Pompano Beach, FL 33062

A tribute to those who gave their lives for freedom. Join Pompano Beach Community to honor our men and women, our war dead and P.O.W.’s and M.I.A.’s.

Boca Raton

Monday, May 25

• 9 a.m. – Commemorative Ceremony

Boca Raton Cemetery 449 SW 4 Ave. Boca Raton, FL 33432

In remembrance of ALL military personnel who died in service to the United States of America. Featuring Veteran Groups, City Officials, music by Ft. Lauderdale Highlanders, Boca Raton Community High School Band, drills by Boca Raton Community High School NJROTC and the Boca Raton Police & Fire Honor Guard. Free. Info: 561-393-7995

• 7 p.m. – Concert

Mizner Park Amphitheater 590 Plaza Real Boca Raton, Fl 33432

Free concert – An American Tribute by New Gardens Band. It is a full concert under the direction of Owen Seward. Blankets and chairs are welcome, and chairs will also be available to rent for $2. The event is rain or shine. Info: 561-393-7995

In The Torah, we learn the laws of Shmittah, where we are commanded to let the land rest from all the hard work it has done in providing for us.

So we are told we should not plant, we should not harvest, nor should we prune during the sabbatical year.

Many of you might remember the story from earlier in the Torah where the Manna falls from the heavens and The Children of Israel are told to gather enough manna each day for that day only. But when Friday came along, they were told to gather a double portion. That extra portion was to be kept aside for the Sabbath and Israel was told that that portion would not rot … it would stay fresh and delicious.

Well, I don’t know about you, but if I had to depend on food magically falling from the sky, I would wonder — what if no food comes tomorrow? I had better consider gathering extra so that I will have in case nothing is delivered on the morrow. But somehow, the brunt of the people had the faith in G-d. Those who didn’t wound up finding that the extra food they had gathered had rotted away quickly.

In the Shmittah year, I know that I would be prone to ask the same question that we find in The Torah itself, “Should you ask, ‘What are we to eat in the 7th year, if we can’t sow or gather our crops.’”

And G-d responds, “I will put my blessing for you in the 6th year, so that it will produce enough for three years.” (Lev. 25:20-21)

How similar to the story of the Manna.

It even brings to mind the story of Joseph in Egypt when he knows there is a famine coming and advises Pharaoh to store enough grain and wheat so there is plenty of food during that time of need. In simple terms, he plans in advance.

I will soon be 61 years of age. I know to many of you that sounds like I am a young whippersnapper, but it just so happens that I am in the midst of planning for my future retirement. Fortunately, I have been putting aside an extra portion for years, building toward those Goldenah Yoren (Golden Years).

Many of you are already retired. Some of you are planning for that time … not just for a Sabbatical Year, but for years of retirement.

May we all be wise enough to gather those extra portions, to invest them wisely, to have enough to cover not just our basic needs, but enough to share special times with those we love whether it be in going to the theatre, to dine, to travel, to dance, or whatever trips your fancy.

That is my prayer for each of you today: may you have enough for all your needs, and don’t forget to gather an extra portion so that you can enjoy the rest of your years doing things you love to do, and may you have someone beside you who you love to share those joys with … and, while you are at it, why not save a little extra for those who were not as wise in gathering enough for themselves and their families.

Shalom my friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is the Spiritual Leader of Temple Beth Israel of Deerfield Beach (201 S. Military Tr., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442). Regular Shabbat services are open to everyone on Saturday mornings from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

By Rachel Galvin

Coconut Creek welcomes Silverspot Cinema, a movie theater with a difference. The theater will open Friday, May 15 in The Promenade Shops. Here, 11 screens with 1475 seats screen mainstream films, as well as independent and foreign films. The hand-stitched plush leather seats add comfort. Even the front row does not feel too close with the addition of an ottoman for tired feet. Movies here take on a life of their own with intense sound and crisp picture quality. Bring in a cocktail from the in-house restaurant or concessions and relax. The locale will feature a yet unnamed restaurant from the David Burke Group sure to be a sophisticated selection for the gourmand to enjoy. Also the concession stand will have pizza, burgers, sliders sandwiches, hot dogs, popcorn and more.

This concept comes straight from Latin America. This is the second location in America. The first location was in Naples six years ago. CEO Francisco “Pancho” Schlotterbeck says they plan on opening many locations nationwide with their flagship opening in Miami late next year.

“We hope to have 100 to 120 screens in five years,” says Schlotterbeck.

This location is anticipated to be the first LEED certified cinema in Florida and one of less than 10 nationwide. It includes a Bright White ENERGY STAR rated roof, low flow plumbing, specialized lighting and other structures that help to do everything from minimize flooding and redirecting water to keeping the structure cool in an environmental way. This new location also will remain spic and span with a professional cleaning staff attending to it rather than ushers.

Another unique feature is the lack of a box office. All tickets are bought online and seats selected ahead of time so guests can arrive late and not have to worry about finding a seat.

Also, they plan on holding their own mini film fest, as well as private events and unique screenings, including operas, theater, ballets, concerts, Shakespeare and maybe even sports and live streaming.

In celebration of the opening, they held a media day on Tuesday, May 12,  a VIP Party Thursday, May 14 for invited guests, as well as a ribbon cutting on Friday, May 15.

Adult tickets are $14.50 and children are $9.75. They will be offering discounts for seniors, matinees and other specials.

The Silverspot Cinema is located in the Promenade Shops in Coconut Creek in the back, behind the parking garage, at 4441 Lyons Rd. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.silverspot.net. Here, you can also register for their rewards program and earn ten points for every dollar spent to be used toward tickets, food, beverages and more.

Employees of Deerfield’s O2 Media were in the middle of a meeting on May 7 … little did they know they were being violated. Two women came into the building, went up to the 4th floor and rummaged through women’s purses in the office cubicles. The women then went on to engage in a shopping spree at the Town Center Mall in Boca Raton.

The thieves fled with several credit cards, debit cards and driver’s licenses. According to Broward Sheriff’s Office, the thieves “made two purchases at the Apple store, one for $740 and a second for $2,193. The stolen cards were also used at Macy’s for $568 and Grand Lux for $76. Some transactions were declined, one at the Apple store for $1,582 and two at Publix for $12 and $218.”

Broward Sheriff’s Office is currently looking for these women. They are seeking a white female in her late 30s, about 5’8″ tall, 220 lbs with long, curly brown hair. She was wearing dark pants, a long sleeved sweater with silver trim and a round brown and gold purse. They are also seeking a black woman, 5’6″ tall, 190 lbs. approx., in her 40s with curly brown shoulder-length hair. She wore a blue shirt and black pants as well as glasses. Both were wearing lanyards with ID cards at time of theft.

Anyone with information is asked to contact BSO Detective Edwards-Demattia at  or Broward Crime Stoppers at (8477) or at www.browardcrimestoppers.org. A reward of up to $3,000 is available for information leading to an arrest.

Surveillance video is available at www.sheriff.org.

By Rachel Galvin

Nothing like fashion and philanthropy coming together! United Way of Broward County hosted a unique event for the 2nd year in a row called Wine, Women & Shoes.

More than 350 influential individuals from throughout the county attended the event April 23.

This soiree raised more than $60,000 for programs like ReadingPals, which helps to improve children’s literacy skills, and Project Lifeline, which provides nutritious food to local food banks and feeding programs throughout the county.

Guests learned about wine, shoes and fashion while tasting tidbits from Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (Ft. Lauderdale) and sipping on wines from around the world. Of course, the event could not be complete without a fabulous fashion show showing off the latest designs by Julian Chang, Lisu Vega, Nicolas Felizola, Tiffany Chimere and Crustal 4 U, produced by Sobol Fashion Productions. The event was housed at the Gallery of Amazing Things in Dania Beach.

Don’t miss United Way’s 4th Annual Magnolia Luncheon recognizing women of dignity, strength and perseverance, to be held May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Global Grille & Event Center in Ft. Lauderdale. It features keynote speaker Maria Mas Blet, the managing principal/ CEO of GSK Wealth Advisors, Inv. They will be honoring community role models: Publix Super Markets, Inc. with the Corporate Philanthropy Award and Lynne Wines with the Magnolia Leadership Award.

By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

When the original Poltergeist was released in the summer of 1982, I was disturbed by one scene.

It wasn’t the scene where the man ripped his face off or when the corpses attacked JoBeth Williams in the pool, but the scene when a child caught their parents smoking a joint.

A national film columnist claimed the scene was “charming.” I was concerned about the pot smoking parents being a poor role model.

Hollywood did clean up act and actually supported First Lady Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign. Perceptions changed when candidate Bill Clinton talked about smoking marijuana — but not “inhaling.” Thirty years later, recreational drug usage has become status quo in popular culture.

This perception is evident in Jack Black’s new movie, The D Train. Black portrays Dan Landsman, chairman of his high school reunion committee. Despite being married with a teenage boy, Landsman is not very well liked by his committee members. When spotting his classmate Oliver Lawless (James Marsden) in an exotic television commercial, Landsman decides to recruit the seemingly successful movie star.

Oliver and Dan hit it off, do drugs, meet movie stars and have a one night stand with each other.

After recruiting Oliver, Dan returns, the conquering hero. Yet, Dan feels conflicted about cheating on his wife with another man; but still enjoys the limelight of being the reunion king.

Having played the same role for over a decade, Jack Black makes some punch lines work with his unique facial expressions, much like Jack Benny would do when he would look at the audience and slap his face. However, this film lacks empathy from the very beginning and this film cannot be saved by facial expressions. The D Train is a train wreck.

For more serious fare, Tangerines opens tomorrow at the Living Room Theater on the FAU Campus. Nominated for Best Foreign Language motion picture, this film explores the 1992 conflict between two former satellite nations of the former Soviet Union.

Amidst the conflict, a farmer attempts to grow tangerines. Two opposing and injured soldiers end up on the farmer’s doorstep. Despite vows to kill each other, the two warriors use their recovery time to consider new perspectives about the bucolic world they are now living in.

With Mad Max: Fury Road and Pitch Perfect 2 opening this weekend, Tangerines is a vacation from the ordinary film.

Remember, if you see anything suspicious, call 911 immediately.

DEERFIELD BEACH

April 27 Three men reported they were shot at by an individual while they were sitting in front of a house with friends. The incident was reported at 4731 NE 2 Way.

April 27 The assistant manager of Walgreens at 1041 E. Hillsboro Blvd. reported that four people stole alcohol from the store.

April 30 It was reported that a vehicle diagnostic computer and cash were stolen from USA Auto Service at 2501 W. Sample Rd.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

April 16 An officer said someone threw eggs at his vehicle while he was driving at 3000 NE 36 St. and fled the area at a high rate of speed. Two subjects were found in an apartment complex and admitted to throwing eggs. Police found a carton of 36 eggs in a vehicle with eight eggs missing.

April 15 A vehicle failed to come to a complete stop at a stop sign and police pulled the vehicle over at 2100 NE 36 St. During a search, police found a circular grinder on the floor and also found narcotics and drug paraphernalia.

April 16 The victim said he was two months in arrears for his HOA payment. He showed proof of payment to the condo business office at 4500 N. Federal Hwy. It appears an employee may have diverted the funds from the three checks.