“It opens with a wonderful cinematic daybreak overlook on The National Mall. Then just a fun moment between the best friendship in all the MCU, Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers, with the ‘on your left’ moment coming to life to be used later in one of the most awe-inspiring scenes in Endgame, all culminating in a great little scene where Cap has a notebook of all the things he needs to catch up on in the mid to late 20th century and all the 21st century up to that point.

Followed by a BEAUTIFULLY choreographed scene on the overtaken by pirates S.H.I.E.L.D. transport boat. Really, all the fight scenes are world-class in this movie.

Robert Redford puts in a hell of a performance, making his transition from bureaucrat to secret HYDRA head one of the bigger surprises in the MCU, and his chemistry with literally everyone he works with shows how great of an actor he is.

The movie is just littered with amazing tracking and establishing shots, has unbelievable acting, and a very well thought out script that even so many acclaimed movies of the 2010s lack. The soundtrack is a delight. The humor always works and never feels forced. And the final scenes between Steve and Bucky and then Steve and Sam are perfect parallels for the future. That movie is not only the best in the MCU, but one of the top 100 movies of all time.”

—kyles42a44fe32

Directed by: Anthony and Joe Russo

Starring: Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell, Robert Redford, and Samuel L. Jackson

Where to watch it: Disney Plus

Jamie Lee Curtis reprises her role as Laurie Strode in “Halloween Kills,” the sequel to 2018’s “Halloween” and the 12th installment in the Michael Myers slasher franchise.  “Halloween Kills” (in theaters Oct. 15) made its debut Wednesday at Venice International Film Festival, and critics are already sticking a knife in it. 

“Call it Halloween Overkills,” The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney wrote, comparing the film to a “latex ghoul mask so stretched and shapeless it no longer fits.” Rooney isn’t alone: “Halloween Kills” has a Metacritic rating of 46 out of 100 and just 53% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes as of Thursday afternoon.

The 10 most must-see movies of fall: From ‘Dune’ to ‘Halloween Kills’

Director David Gordon Green’s film picks up right where the last “Halloween” film ended, with Curtis’ character nursing a nasty stab wound after Myers was believed to be burned alive in her basement. The serial killer survived (shocker!) and picks up where he brutally left off. 

Discussing Film critic Ben Rolph called the movie “one of the most brutal films ever made,” adding that ” ‘Halloween Kills’ is a non-stop, blood-rushing blast” that takes the brutality of the 2018 film “and amps it up, breaking the dial in the process.”

That’s not an absolute position. If Biden were, say, making noises about invading Grenada again or toppling Panama, it might make sense to say that he’s wagging the dog. But you don’t have to understand game theory on the level of a John von Neumann to appreciate the foolishness of Biden confronting Russia over Ukraine and maybe igniting World War III in the process, just to ascend a few rungs in the Gallup Poll. Likewise, Putin’s willingness to cause trouble to distract Russia is huge. But in the case of Ukraine, preparing for war as a publicity stunt makes no sense. A simpler explanation—trafficked by professional Russia watchers, that Putin’s Ukraine encroachment is about restoring the Russian empire—suffices. Who needs the dog?

Biden isn’t the only contemporary president to be reproached for allegedly wagging the dog. President Bill Clinton got the wag-the-dog scolding from several corners when he launched a missile strike (unsuccessful) on Osama bin Laden in August 1998, said by some to distract the public from his sex scandal. President Donald Trump got it from Senator Elizabeth Warren and others in January 2020 when he had Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani killed. But these theories don’t hold up. Clinton’s approval ratings were high to begin with in 1998, ranging from 59 percent approval to 73 percent, and the strike made no real ripple. Trump’s ratings were low at the time and though they inched up a few points after the strike, there was no lasting effect. Ronald Reagan got almost nothing for his Grenada intervention and George H.W. Bush, already riding high in the polls got only a temporary boost for his Panama adventurism. George W. Bush’s solid approval ratings of 55 percent soared after 9/11, but that definitionally didn’t qualify as wagging-the-dog.

Even if presidents could establish that wagging the dog made political sense in the short term, it’s not apparent that the practice makes sense in the long run. The public tires of war. It tired of Afghanistan, Iran, Vietnam and Korea, where military adventurism became a political liability. The only long-term war that enjoyed longitudinal support in the United States during the past century was World War II, and that was not an elective military operation. We were attacked. There are a thousand less-fraught schemes that Biden could attempt short of warring on Putin that would improve his Gallup Poll performance. Could Biden even muster national support for a war with Russia, given our wariness of foreign interventions after the Afghanistan and Iraq debacles? Is there anybody left alive in the country who despises Russia the way we did when it was our Cold War Enemy No. 1? The right wing alone, led by Tucker Carlson and Trump, has done plenty to rehabilitate Russia’s reputation, meaning a plurality of Americans probably wouldn’t respond well to a Biden-sponsored military gambit there.

But what of Putin? In 2018, Washington Post reporter Adam Taylor reviewed the history of Putin’s popularity and political provocations to determine if he had succeeded in translating belligerence into higher ratings. Taylor found that Putin got a little bump in 2008 after invading Georgia but discounts it; Putin’s number was high before the invasion, and post-invasion his numbers fell hard. But in 2014, as Putin seized Crimea, he got a 20-percentage-point lift. But in the eight years since the Crimea annexation, Putin’s numbers have returned to their previous levels. It’s guesswork predicting how a Ukraine invasion might affect his numbers, especially if Ukraine resists. Will it be a replay of Georgia or Crimea?

Finally, if poll numbers inform Biden’s Ukraine strategy, he has recruited some very strange political partners in his Russia resistance. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has lined up on the president’s side, approving the administration’s plan to send Ukraine weapons and the deployment of NATO troops. “It appears to me that the administration is moving in the right direction,” McConnell said Tuesday.

If you believe that Biden is really wagging the dog in Ukraine, you will now have to also believe that he has transformed the obstructionist McConnell into his political lap dog. Fat chance of either.

******

“I Wanna Be Your Dog”remains the Stooges’ greatest hit. Roll over and send canine news to [email protected]. My email alerts preach peace in our time. My Twitter feed plugs for peace with honor. The motto painted on the fuselage of my RSS feed A-10 Warthog is “Small Wars and Demolitions.”

It’s a big weekend for shows, music and more. 

Mobile’s Bridge Builder Classic

The city of Mobile will host the inaugural Bridge Builder Classic Saturday, Jan. 29 at the University of South Alabama’s Mitchell Center. The exhibition basketball game was created to enhance exposure for historically Black colleges and universities and highlight their roles in educating aspiring professionals and developing future leaders. Entertainment includes DJ Black and DJ Kix battling it out during the halftime show. The game will feature regional Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) teams Alabama State University, Jackson State University, Grambling State University and Bethune-Cookman University. The event will also feature several Alabama high school teams: Williamson High School (Mobile), Vigor High School (Prichard), Blount High School (Prichard), Carver High School (Montgomery), Lanier High School (Montgomery) and Leflore High School (Mobile). Games are subject to change.

High school game schedule:

• 10 a.m.: Williamson High School vs. Vigor High School.
• Noon: Blount High School vs. Carver High School.
• 2 p.m.: Lanier High School vs. Leflore High School.

College game schedule:

• 4 p.m.: Jackson State University vs. Grambling State University.
• 7 p.m.: Bethune-Cookman University vs. Alabama State University.

Check for updates at bridgebuilderclassic.com or follow the event on social media with hashtag @bridgebuilderclassic. The Mitchell Center is at 5950 Old Shell Road.

BourbonHam fundraiser

Bring awareness to the National MS Society by attending a fundraiser at The Club Sunday, Jan. 30 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. BourbonHam will offer patrons a wonderful evening with bourbon, barbecue, live blues music and football viewing. Every detail has been planned with the safety and health of attendees, volunteers and staff in mind. In keeping with current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as state, city and local agencies, a variety of safety protocols will be in place. The event includes mandatory face coverings, reduced touchpoints to minimize physical interactions, a limited number of guests and physically distanced seating. Plans may be altered as event day approaches to ensure safety. Contribute to the fundraiser at e.givesmart.com.

The Black Jacket Symphony in concert

Remember putting on an album and listening from start to finish? Relive that moment in a live concert experience with a performance by the Black Jacket Symphony. The band will perform The Beatles’ “White Album” live on Saturday, Jan. 29 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. During the past 10 years, the Black Jacket Symphony has entertained more than 1 million music lovers nationwide. Visit blackjacketsymphony.com for upcoming tour dates.

Bo Bikes Bama fundraiser

Registration is open for the annual charity bike ride led by two-sport pro legend and Alabama native Bo Jackson. The event raises money for the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund, which provides crucial disaster preparedness and management resources for the state. The ride will take place Saturday, April 23 in Auburn. Riders will have the option to ride in person in Auburn, choosing between 20-mile and 60-mile routes, or an at-home option. Those riding from home are invited to ride any route of their choosing on April 23 and share photos on social media. Additional events and opportunities include a VIP Experience and reception and silent auction event, as well as fundraising and sponsorship opportunities. Registration will close Sunday, April 3 at 8 p.m. Rider packets, including all T-shirts and purchased merchandise, will be mailed to in-person and at-home riders in advance. To keep everyone safe, plans may change due to the demands of COVID-19. Donations are welcomed. Email [email protected] or follow this link for frequently asked questions. The venue for in-person rides is at the Auburn Arena.

‘9 to 5 The Musical’

One of the most hilarious stories of friendship and revenge in the era of the Rolodex is being performed through Sunday, Feb. 6 at Virginia Samford Theatre in Birmingham. With music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and from the book by Patricia Resnick, the production is based on the seminal 1980 hit movie by the same name. Pushed to the boiling point, three female co-workers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. Tickets for the outrageous and thought-provoking musical can be purchased online at virginiasamford.org.

Winter Wednesdays

Workshops are underway at Bellingrath Gardens and Home in Theodore through Feb. 16. Each workshop covers a special feature of the gardens or home, tips for making your garden more spectacular, or guest lectures from renowned members of the horticultural and gardening world. Sessions are 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Winter Wednesdays are included in gardens admission. Reservations are requested for each program.

• Feb. 2 – Guest speaker: Judson LeCompte.
• Feb. 9 – Guest speaker: Jon Roethling.
• Feb. 16 – Guest speaker: Gary Bachman.

To learn more about each program, call 251-459-8868, email [email protected] or visit the website.

‘Faces of Vietnam’ exhibit

The exhibit is through Friday, Feb. 11 at the Alabama Center for the Arts in Decatur. Curated by attorney Stephen Humphreys from his travels throughout Vietnam, most of the collection is from the post Đổi Mới (Reform) era of the 1990s. Through the exhibit, Humphreys strives to answer the question: “What is the real Vietnam, and what is the face it shows the world?” The exhibit includes works from leading contemporary Vietnamese artists of the post-reform period in traditional and contemporary media, such as oil paintings, lacquer and woodblock prints. See the exhibit Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.

Virtual Birmingham Chinese New Year Gala 
The Birmingham Chinese Festival Association (BCFA) is pleased to announce its virtual gala via Zoom Thursday, Feb. 3. For the past two years, the event was canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. The live stream will have a diverse variety of cultural festivities, including performances by Beijing Guosheng Peking Opera Troupe and the Birmingham Chinese Art Groups. Follow the link to learn more about sponsorships. The meeting ID is 829 8329 2042 and the passcode is 123456. If the Zoom link does not work, paste https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82983292042?pwd=VmF4YTZQQnFBTkdXMTVtNW8vYXRnQT09) into your browser. For more information, visit bhmchinesefestival.org or call 205-706-5104.

Experience Native American art at Birmingham Museum of Art

“Voices So True: New Native American Art” from the Clyde Oyster Bequest features the work of seven contemporary Native American artists whose vision gives voice to Native American perspectives, past and present. Ranging in media from photographs and prints to paintings and basketry, the works explore subjects including history and identity, environmental justice, healing from illness and violence, and giving voice to the voiceless. The seven featured artists – Kay WalkingStick, Wendy Red Star, Norman Akers, Eugene Tapahe, Zoe Marieh Urness, Shan Goshorn and Larry McNeil – are affiliated with tribal nations including Cherokee, Navajo, Osage, Crow and Tlingit. In her series “1880 Crow Peace Delegation,” Star adds handwritten text to a group of historic photographic portraits of Crow leaders – images over which the sitters had no control and which were appropriated into popular culture. Akers’ prints explore the perception of encounters between invading European colonists and Native Americans, and a painting by WalkingStick evokes the heroic voyage of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce people who tried to walk to freedom. A basket by Goshorn expresses support for the protesters at Standing Rock and draws attention to the issue of environmental justice among the Eastern Band Cherokee. Photographs from Tapahe’s epic “Art Heals: The Jingle Dress Project” document an artist’s vision and action to help bring about healing during the pandemic. All of the works in the exhibition were recently acquired for the museum’s permanent collection with the support of a generous bequest from the late Dr. Clyde Oyster, a UAB professor and research scientist and longtime docent and volunteer at the Birmingham Museum of Art. The title of the exhibition is inspired by the writings of Joy Harjo, a member of the Muscogee Nation and the first Native American Poet Laureate of the U.S. See “Voices So True” through Sunday, Jan. 30 at the Birmingham Museum of Art.