By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

Opening tomorrow, In the House is a French movie with English subtitles. Germain (Fabrice Luchini) is the Language Arts teacher and Claude (Ernst Umhauer) is the gifted student. Claude is given an assignment … write about your best friend. Claude writes about a classmate that he is tutoring in math.

While, bored with most students’ essays, Germain is intrigued with Claude’s story, who concludes each page with “to be continued.” Each night, Germain reads Claude’s essay to his hot wife, Jeanne (Kristin Scott Thomas), who treats the tale as a Harlequin Romance.

This film is a story within a story. Character perception shifts every five minutes. One is not certain if Claude’s experiences In the House are teen fantasy or potential criminal activity, which raises boundary issues between a teacher and his apt pupil. This is a film that will keep you guessing.

After the triumph of Marvel’s The Avengers, it would be hard to bring Marvel characters down to earth. However, the core of each Marvel superhero is their human vulnerability. After saving the world and looking into the dark abyss, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is suffering from PTSS – Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

Iron Man 3 opens on New Year’s Eve 1999, nine years before the events of the original Iron Man. Callow Tony Stark was wooing Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall) and snubbing young scientist Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce), who wants Stark’s funding for a chemistry project.

Fourteen years later, Killian and Stark cross paths. Killian reveals his history with Stark’s current girlfriend, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Before a love triangle can solidify, the evil Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) issues terrorists attacks upon the United States of America and Tony Stark’s personal property. The fate of Planet Earth is not in question in Iron Man 3, but the fate of Tony Stark’s world and soul is.

Both In the House and Iron Man 3 are successful movies for their respective audiences and will provoke discussion. Only Iron Man 3 will be on the IMAX screen for five more days before it is bumped by Star Trek Into Darkness.

By Gary Curreri

Fourth-year Deerfield Beach High School girls flag football coach Cameron Thomas paused for reflection after his team’s heart-breaking 14-12 loss to visiting Atlantic that ended the best season in school history.

“Last year, we went 4-7 and everybody had a point to prove,” Thomas said. “It’s frustrating, but last year at this time, we weren’t here. This is one of the biggest stepping stones we’ve ever had. I’m just happy the girls fought. Most teams lay down when their backs are against the wall, but we continued to fight.”

Deerfield Beach (9-4), which won the first district title in program history, struck first when sophomore quarterback Stefaterra Boykins scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 8:55 left in the first half. Boykins added another 1-yard run in the third quarter, cutting Atlantic’s lead to 14-12. Thomas is looking ahead to next season with 10 of 14 girls returning next year. “We had a couple big missed opportunities, but that’s football,” Thomas said.

“We made school history. It’s our first time here, first time to have this opportunity, and I’m proud of these girls. I can’t be mad at them. They played hard.”

Thomas said this year’s team got along and had good chemistry, which was the main reason they were successful.

Thomas said the play of Boykins, juniors Courtney Lee and Darrion Cowart, along with seniors Terra Johnson and Ashley Johnson contributed to their success.

Thomas said a 7-0 victory over host Douglas during the season was the turning point for the squad.

“They (Douglas) were the No. 2 team in the state and the No. 1 team in the county,” Thomas said. “At that point, they knew we could do it.”

Thomas said he also changed his coaching style in working with the girls and it reaped dividends. He is also the junior varsity football coach and said the girls had asked him to tone it down.

Phillip Scott and Lester Atmore assisted Thomas this season.

“I am so used to coaching boys, I could yell and scream and with girls you can’t,” said Thomas, who has been 5-2 with the Bucks JV football team the past two years.

“They asked me to tone it down a little bit and it worked miracles … This was a fairy tale year for us. We have a saying, ‘if it is destined to be us, let it be us.’”

Atlantic quarterback Justice Porter ran for one score, threw for one and added two extra point passes that proved to be the difference to lead the Eagles to the state tournament.

Atlantic linebacker Andrea Maccow had three interceptions in the game, including her third off a Vanessa Ragnarsson pass with just under 40 seconds left that clinched the Eagles’ victory.

Are you ready for Mother’s Day? It’s almost here; don’t drag your feet. I know it’s a few days early, but I wanted the opportunity to give the ladies the honor they deserve.

For you history buffs, let me fill you in on some of the Mother’s Day details. Mother’s Day in the U.S.A. started long ago when Anna Jarvis organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions in her Appalachian community. She called it “Mother’s Work Day.”

When she died in 1905, her daughter began a campaign to memorialize her mom. In 1914, Anna, the daughter named after her mother, saw her hard work pay off when President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill recognizing Mother’s Day as a national holiday. Today, the second Sunday of May has become the most “dined out” day of the year and telephone companies record their highest volume of calls. The flower and candy businesses are not bad either. Oh, let us not forget about “the card.”

2 TIMOTHY 1:5

5 “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

NIV

You are important and you will leave a mark on this earth. It’s up to you as to what you leave behind and pass on. All throughout the Bible, women have played an incredible role in the plan of God. We see women being used by God in amazing ways, helping to fulfill His divine plan. Women have always played a key role in God’s plan, and I want to make sure that we never lose sight of how important they are to all of us. Take the time to thank the women in your life who have helped shape you into the person you are today.

PROVERBS 31:10

10 “A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman — who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.”

AMP

What’s the most important Mother’s Day ever? This one! Oh, I am sure you can recount some very special Mother’s Days — but the one you observe this year should be the best ever. Also, make sure your kids do the right thing. Honor the special ladies in your lives by recognizing the valuable contribution they make at church, as well as at home. It’s not easy being a wife, mother, churchwoman, bread-winner, homemaker, taxi driver—you name it! Let her know how you feel.

If I can speak to moms in particular and women in general on behalf of the husbands, fathers, brothers and sons today, I would like to say this.

The music of your life is beautiful. You are a beautiful flower with delicate petals and a wonderful fragrance. We envy the relationship that you have with our children and grandchildren. God created you beautiful in the depth of your being, and it is that beauty that draws us to you. We praise God for you and thank God for you, even though we don’t tell you nearly as much as we should.

Tony Guadagnino is a pastor at Christian Love Fellowship Church.

By Gary Curreri

It took five rounds, but it was worth the wait when Deerfield Beach’s Denard Robinson found out his NFL destination.

Robinson, 22, was selected with the second pick of the fifth round (135 overall) by the Jacksonville Jaguars and hopes his speed and athleticism will get him on the field quickly.

“They can put me in at receiver or running back or whatever,” Robinson said on the conference call with Jacksonville reporters following the draft. “There’s a lot of different positions, so I’m excited about doing that.”

Robinson, a University of Michigan senior, set the NCAA record for rushing yards by a quarterback, rushing for 4,495 yards and Michigan records for total yards (10,776) and touchdowns (91). He played quarterback for the Wolverines at Michigan, prior to suffering a nerve injury in his elbow last season. He then eventually moved into the Wolverines’ backfield as a running back behind QB Devin Gardner.

But during Senior Bowl week, the NFL combine and Michigan’s Pro Day scouts asked Robinson to run through drills at receiver (as well as punt/kick returner) because of Robinson’s athleticism that would make him a weapon there.

Contributions to special teams are highly likely. His 4.43 second 40-yard dash and elite ability to elude tacklers could make him a valuable punt and kick returner in the NFL.

Robinson is confident as he continues his football career. He told ESPN Radio 98.7 in New York prior to the draft that he was comfortable playing running back.

“When I get at that running back position, I can take it the distance,” said Robinson, who finished his college career with back-to-back 100-yard rushing games against Ohio State and South Carolina. “I can take the pounding of getting hit a couple times. I can go at receiver and make cornerbacks look bad…Once I get the ball in my hands and I’m in open space, I can’t be tackled one-on-one. That’s my motto: ‘Every time I get the ball, it’s time for me to get in the end zone.’”

Robinson has been making a name for himself on the football field since he was a member of the Deerfield Beach Packer Rattlers in his youth football days.

However, not by his birth name of Denard Xavier Robinson, but “Shoelace,” a nickname he got when he was 10 and playing for his Pee Wee team with his shoelaces untied.

“It’s been a dream to play in the NFL,” said Robinson, a 2008 graduate of Deerfield Beach High School. “Now, it has become a reality.”

By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

The 2013 Summer Blockbuster Season jettisons at 11:45 p.m. tonight at the Museum of Science and Discovery IMAX with the opening of Iron Man 3. Exclusively for IMAX first screenings, moviegoers who attend tonight’s show will receive a limited edition Iron Man 3 Mondo print featuring original artwork. Tickets can be purchased now by calling 954-713-0930 for this two-week engagement.

Sadly as Iron Man 3 dominates movie screens, the poorly marketed 42 will be pushed aside. Harrison Ford portrays Branch Rickey, the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers ball club who hired Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman), the first black man to play professional sports, circa 1947.

By avoiding racism clichés found in modern movies, writer/Director Brian Helg -eland focuses on Jackie Robinson’s first critical year. The stupid anger is brutal to behold, but the screenplay focuses on the grace given by Robinson’s Brooklyn Dodger teammates. Of course, Jackie Robinson proves his gravitas on the field of dreams.

With fire in his eyes, Boseman finds Robinson’s dignity and maturity. This is easiest Ford’s best movie of the 21st Century, as well as his best performance in years. Go see 42 with families or as a school field trip.

The Jackie Robinson story transcends baseball, yet baseball provides a unique conduit for fine arts in South Florida this weekend. Former Florida Marlins/New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza joins the Miami City Ballet this Sunday as they conclude their season with the humorous classic Slaughter on 10th Avenue. It features the music of Richard Rodgers and choreography by George Balanchine.

Paris Manhattan opens tomorrow in limited release. A French language film with English subtitles, this romantic comedy features Alice (Alice Togliani), a pharmacist obsessed with Woody Allen movies.

This film is shot in the spirit of 1970s Woody Allen movies. The leading character often involves herself in imaginary conversations with her idol and her Jewish parents are concerned about her love life. Will the conclusion be Annie Hall or Hannah and her Sisters? Either way, Paris Manhattan does capture the old Woody Allen vibe.

By Emily Rosen

ERosen424@aol.com

www.emilyrosen424.com

I begin this column again. I have started it four times, ditching each “start” as “unfocused,” which is a major writing no-no. I did not want to do that. But–know what? Today, I’m gonna! And if I call this Random Thoughts, then voila! I don’t HAVE to be focused!

I am a political junkie, and I really love writing about politics. But I “got the word” from the powers that be, that “politics” is out for me. Thing is, that I am always pulled to the middle in political debates. But the fact that I am pulled from the left seems to be somewhat disturbing. And probably that’s what brings on my “writer’s block.” I’m just saying . I’m okay with it. I just need to vent every 10 years or so.

But I guess it’s okay for me to comment on all the media folks who spring into mindless action and verbiage in order to get a scoop and espouse an opinion.

Here again, it pains me when people “opine” ( I stole that from Bill O’Reilly) about stuff they don’t know, the Boston Marathon tragedy being only one case-in-point. Yes, we all want transparency in government and, yes, we all want maximum security. But what if – what if – they were mutually exclusive. What if we had to make the choice of one over the other ? Talk about a Sophie’s Choice. And therein lies so much of our discontent. There is so much – so very much — that we don’t know (A) because it is unknowable and (B) because we are concentrating on our daily lives and are not prone to checking out archives and documents. And even relying on those who do those things for a living, we are left with questions of interpretation and bias and we still don’t know! There is so much we don’t know.

But randomly speaking and changing the focus, I landed at the new Deerfield pier Saturday night, first time since its renovation. I am a northern neighbor (Boca) and don’t get here often enough. Infused with the local vigor and the feeling of being part of an endless “feelgood place,” we strolled the sidewalks and the beach and the pier itself, anticipating the completion of its yet unfinished eatery. We could have been on the French Riviera and would not have felt as energized. And how lucky we are to be living on the fringe of a non- stop happening. And then, we had a special treat! On the beach in front of the Wyndham Hotel, we witnessed a real LIVE wedding, complete with gorgeous white-gowned bride, handsome groom and guests who shed their shoes (the ladies, that is) as they walked down the carpeted aisle covering the sand. Debbie and Tommy –whoever they are, exchanged vows as people have been doing for thousands of years, witnessed by a covey of strangers and passersby. In view of all the world’s angst and our racer-pace of innovation, it is heartening to think that some things never change.

And finally … mothers … past, present and future – you are the glue of the world. Have a good SPECIAL one!

I miss my momma. I was blessed with a true Yiddishe momma. She kept the house so clean you could eat off the floor. Today, I am going to let you in on a little secret; I was not the easiest child to rear and, to this day, I have times when I wish I could cling to my momma’s apron strings again.

Since Momma was a Balabusta, she wasn’t just the Queen of Clean. She was the Queen of the Sabbath Day. She was an Eshet Chayil, a woman of valor, and she was Queen of the Kitchen. And, no matter how long I live, I will never understand how she put up with me.

But as difficult as I was to raise, before my mother of blessed memory passed away, she let me know how proud she was of my brothers and of me. She let me know how much she loved us and that we should always remember to be at peace with one another.

Shalom Bayit, peace in the house … One of the most peaceful moments in my memory banks from the days of my childhood had to do with the eve of the Holy Sabbath day when my mom would put a kerchief on her head and stand in front of the Shabbat candles. She would strike a match and kindle the candles, and she would close her eyes, saying a prayer as she gently waved her hands over the flames of those holy lights.

Those lights were meant to increase the Shalom Bayit. And, at that special moment, I felt the glow and the warmth of the candles and the love of my momma for everyone in the house.

But how does one fulfill this beautiful mitzvah when they have a child who is much more difficult than even I might have been; for instance, what does a momma do when she has a child who is autistic?

If one of the reasons we kindle the Shabbat candles is to usher light and peace into the house, then, lighting them around a child with autism just might be problematic. The truth of the matter is that an autistic child will probably be more prone to blow the candles out. After all, isn’t that what we do when we have a birthday and light the candles?

Sometimes, out of love for that child, and for the safety and peace of the house, the tradition needs to be changed just a tad. And that concept brought Frances Victory to do a study on this very subject for her dissertation and as she wrote “One mother of a child with autism said: ‘We do light Shabbat candles and she (her daughter) takes great pleasure in blowing them out. We do let her do that. She walks away when we light the candles but she comes back down when we sing Shalom Alecheim (Peace Be Unto You).”

I know there are those who will see such an act as sinful, but, blowing out the dangerous flame still allows the mother to recite the appropriate blessings and keep her child safe to enjoy the peace of Shabbat.

As one of the mothers interviewed so lovingly said, “Some people make their kid fit to their world. We fit into our daughter’s world.” Now, that’s what I call a momma!

Wishing you all the most beautiful and joyous of Mother’s Days.

Shalom my friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is the Spiritual Leader of Temple Beth Israel of Deerfield Beach. He is a Member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains and of the Association of Professional Chaplains and serves in this capacity as part of the Pastoral Care Department in several healthcare settings throughout North Broward County.

By Gary Curreri

Pompano Beach’s Gabriel Gagnaire and his younger sister Maya were happy campers recently as they took part in the week-long Simply Soccer camp at the city’s Four Fields Complex.

“I had a lot of fun because you got to scrimmage and go to the pool,” said the 11-yearold Gabriel Gagnaire. “There were a bunch of different games and we learned a lot of skills. I liked everything we did.”

The camp marked the seventh year that the city of Pompano has hosted the Simply Soccer camp for boys and girls, ages 5-14, of all skill levels.

The day consisted of a group warm-up with all campers before they broke into groups based on age and skill levels. The first part of the day was learning a skill (dribbling, passing, receiving, heading/chipping shooting) and then playing games or activities utilizing that particular skill.

“This was a lot of fun,” said Pompano Beach 11-yearold Brandon Davis. “I learned a lot more than I usually do and I scored a lot more goals than I usually do. I liked the scrimmages too.”

After a short break for lunch and some time at the swimming pool, the campers were right back out for end-of-the -day scrimmages.

Lighthouse Point’s Jacob Evans, 8, said he learned a lot during the week.

“This was a lot of fun,” Evans said. “I really enjoy playing soccer. We did shooting, different drills and passing. Shooting was the best part of the week!”

“Friday is our World Cup tournament where we break the entire camp up into small teams (5v5) and play during the morning,” said Simply Soccer coach Jim Cappello. “At the end of the day we gave players their evaluations and certificates. We try and make it as fun as possible so they learn and want to keep playing the sport.”

Simply Soccer will return this summer. There are three sessions each day ranging from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ($100 weekly); extended hours camp is available from 8 a.m.to 4 p.m. ($125 weekly) and a Tiny Tot program is offered for kids ages 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to noon ($55 weekly).

For more information on the summer camp offerings, call the city of Pompano Parks and Recreation Department at 954-786-4119

Dave Montalbano with picture of Samantha from “Bewitched” in Salem, MA

By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

Whenever I visit my sister’s family in Massachusetts, New England offers a variety of vacation experiences. When visiting Gloucester, one feels the rustic romance of Captains Courageous and The Perfect Storm. The city of Boston features the fine arts of The Boston Pops with the blue collar partisanship of the Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics. Just north of Boston is the seaport town of Salem, made more famous by the Salem Witch Trials.

Modern Salem derives much revenue from this dark mark of history with wax museums, new age shops and ghost tours.

Written by Marilyn Monroe’s ex husband, Arthur Miller, The Crucible was written to parallel the Salem Witchcraft Trials with Senator Joe McCarthy’s blacklisting in the 1950s. Filmed in 1996, The Crucible was a box-office disappointment, despite a cast headlined by Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Paul Scofield and Bruce Davison.

Davison returns to Salem for Rob Zombie’s The Lords of Salem, a horror movie that challenges Salem witchcraft trial lore. In Zombie’s world, the witches are guilty-ascharged with plans to enact revenge upon Salem descendants.

Heidi Hawthorne (Sheri Moon-Zombie – Rob’s wife) is the descendant of the historical figure of Judge John Hawthorne. The woman has enough of her own problems; she is a recovering drug addict.

Hawthorne is a disc jockey who works Whitey (Jeffrey Daniel Phillips-Geico’s Caveman) and Herman Jackson (Ken Foree). The three deejays receive a strange vinyl record album and broadcast the song on the airwaves. Bad things happen to the townspeople.

The Lords of Salem is Rob Zombie’s 5th motion picture. Unlike the manic editing of The Devil’s Rejects and Halloween, this film is a static motion picture that creeps up on you. Given the low budget, the shot composition is amazing with a color palette of mind-jarring visuals.

With such breathtaking visuals and empathetic characters, this film is dirty horror with grungy witches (led by Meg Foster, Dee Wallace, Patricia Quinn, Judy Geeson) and an open-ended conclusion. The Lord of Salem will not appeal to many tastes, but is definitely a horror film.

It is heartbreaking to see the recent photograph of Martin Richard, a smiling 8-year-old boy, holding a sign that reads “No More Hurting People!”

The heartbreak is because Martin was the youngest of the Boston Marathon bombing victims. Some might say Martin’s tragic passing is no more catastrophic than the loss of 23- year-old Lu Lingzi or 29-year-old Krystle Campbell or 26- year-old M.I.T. police officer Sean Collier. But there is something extra compelling about the innocence of a child’s smile and the ideal of a child’s message when that very child is victim to senseless terror.

We are shocked so often by irrational acts of violence that we have to wonder why we continue to be shocked. Whatever evil drives such heinous acts of cowardice, our response must be toward love and justice, not hatred or revenge. At times like these, even love and justice seem polar opposites, but in Christ they are inseparable.

Roman Catholic Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley at Boston’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross last week spoke of the pain and looked ahead to what he called our “spiritual recovery.” In so doing, he acknowledges that even when the human spirit is trampled, God’s Spirit prevails.

This explains the resilience of people sustained by faith to courageously rebound from tragedy, to persevere in the face of uncertainty, and to somehow do so with compassion and restraint.

The teaching to respond in this way comes from Jesus….. Jesus says, “I say to you to listen, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat, do not withhold even your shirt …

Do to others as you would have them do to you … Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.” {Luke 6} Christ’s teaching is challenging and following Christ is challenging …

Do to others as you wish others do to you presumes good intentions. We know some children are raised to love life while others are raised to loath and murder.

We know the human instinct to a sucker punch is not to turn the other cheek. Many of us feel the desired response to a terrorist is to bomb the bomber, to match force with superior force.

The Good News for the world is Jesus is more than a Teacher. He is the omnipotent force to turn the downward spiral upward to the heavens. He surpasses evil on his way to the cross where he conquers sin and death once and for all.

To people of all ages and all nations, he says, “Pick up your cross and follow me. You will be sorrowful but your sorrow will turn to joy. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.”

Each week at church, we share the peace of Christ with each other. We desperately need to share the peace of Christ in the world, especially when and where it is not easy. May God’s Spirit prevail and may there be no more hurting people …

Please come this Saturday @ Six or Sunday morning at 8:30 or 11 a.m. to hear the message “Love Wins!” based on John 13: 34 – 35.

Reverend Andrews is Minister at Community Presbyterian Church of Deerfield Beach (Steeple on the Beach) located five blocks south of Hillsboro on A1A. See more at www.communitych.org or on Facebook.