Entertainment

Movie Reviews: ‘Winter’s Tale’ & ‘About Last Night’

Published

12 years ago

February 14, 2014

“Winter’s Tale” warms the heart, love burns

Akiva Goldsman is no stranger to the movie industry. His successful collaboration with Will Smith has spawned a number of box office hits, among them: I, ROBOT, I AM LEGEND, and HANCOCK. He too has enjoyed great success with Russell Crowe in A BEAUTIFUL MIND; with Brad Pitt in MR. & MRS. SMITH and; the PARANORMAL ACTIVITY sequels.

This time around, Goldsman steps out in a new capacity in his directorial debut of WINTER’S TALE, a Sci-Fi romance starring Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Oscar winners Jennifer Connelly, Crowe, William Hurt and Eva Marie Saint plus Will Smith in a most surprising role.

Let’s be clear, there is nothing realistic about this tale however, if you are willing to go along for the ride, Smith’s role more than compensates the mysterious suspense.

Based on the novel from Mark Helprin, Peter Leakes (Farrell) is an orphan whose memory has been shunted. For most of his formative years, he’s made a living as a thief. Struggling to make new choices, he strikes out on his own but not before one last heist that leads him into the arms of Beverly (Findlay), an unsuspecting young woman destined to an early grave—she is dying from consumption, an out-of-control fever that runs such a high temperature, she welcomes the cold brutal winter.

They are smitten nearly at first glance although Peter is being hunted vehemently by his former boss, Pearly Soames (Crowe), a heartless demon with a proclivity for torture.

Peter and Beverly have nothing to lose, only love to gain. The lengths they go through to turn precious last days together into an eternity is the stuff fantasies are wrought from—complete abandonment of reality—great fodder for the holiday.

Goldsman drew upon his enduring friendship with Smith to attach him to the project in a role that is 360 degrees from the legacy he has relied upon over the years. Since I won’t give the spoiler away, leave it to say that Smith takes the risk that Peter and Beverly are willing to go for love.

Love’s Laughter this Valentine’s Day, “About Last Night”

Funny all night long!

Kevin Hart goes full throttle, again! I can’t remember when I last laughed so loud and so often while watching a movie. ABOUT LAST NIGHT made me holler, many times.

If you’re wondering why it’s because of the subject matter—real relationship challenges– and the way handled by four magnetic actors whose dual arcs of comedy and drama run concurrently to hoist the story, the language, the look, and the timing all in terrific tempo.

Starring Kevin Hart (THINK LIKE A MAN, GRUDGE MATCH), Regina Hall (BEST MAN, BEST MAN HOLIDAY), Joy Bryant (BOBBY) and THINK LIKE A MAN’s Michael Ealy, ABOUT LAST NIGHT is a Screen Gems release produced by Will Packer (THE GOSPEL, OBSESSED, TAKERS), directed by Steve Pink (GROSSE POINTE BLANK, KNIGHT AND DAY), opening Valentine’s Day.

This updated version of the Demi Moore and Rob Lowe 80s chick flick is a welcome addition to the desired adult dramatic comedy genre.

Hart as Bernie, an out-for-sex-only kind of guy, meets his equal in Joan (Hall) who can write a book about the ways to emotion-free relationships or so she thinks.

Theirs’ is an electric, part eccentric, part eclectic, kinetic dalliance that extends well beyond the wham bam, thank you m’aam night club variety. They actually like each other but the road to commitment is littered with pretense and premonition. Both think they know the end of the story before it actually happens. Love is sometimes funny that way and these two bring the laughter in such fashion you can’t get enough of their scenes, always wanting more.

Where Hart is concerned, less maybe more for the five-foot superstar whose costarring role in RIDE ALONG drove three weeks in the top slot, earning over $100 million since opening– his allure is so appealing, his wit so appropriate and his presence so affecting– one realizes we haven’t seen this type of stand-up-comedian-turned-actor success since Eddie Murphy burst onto the scene over twenty years ago.

Read the interviews at www.Talk2SV.com.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 31, 2025 – January 6, 2026

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January 2, 2026

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Alameda County

Bling It On: Holiday Lights Brighten Dark Nights All Around the Bay

On the block where I grew up in the 1960s, it was an unwritten agreement among the owners of those row homes to put up holiday lights: around the front window and door, along the porch banister, etc. Some put the Christmas tree in the window, and you could see it through the open slats of the blinds.

Published

2 weeks ago

December 21, 2025

Oakland Post

Christmas lights on a house near the writer’s residence in Oakland. Photo by Joseph Shangosola.

By Wanda Ravernell

I have always liked Christmas lights.

From my desk at my front window, I feel a quiet joy when the lights on the house across the street come on just as night falls.

My father, the renegade of the block, made no effort with lights, so my mother hung a wreath with two bells in the window. Just enough to let you know someone was at home.

Two doors down was a different story. Mr. King, the overachiever of the block, went all out for Christmas: The tree in the window, the lights along the roof and a Santa on his sleigh on the porch roof.

There are a few ‘Mr. Kings’ in my neighborhood.

In particular is the gentleman down the street. For Halloween, they erected a 10-foot skeleton in the yard, placed ‘shrunken heads’ on fence poles, pumpkins on steps and swooping bat wings from the porch roof. They have not held back for Christmas.

The skeleton stayed up this year, this time swathed in lights, as is every other inch of the house front. It is a light show that rivals the one in the old Wanamaker’s department store in Philadelphia.

I would hate to see their light bill…

As the shortest day of the year approaches, make Mr. King’s spirit happy and get out and see the lights in your own neighborhood, shopping plazas and merchant areas.

Here are some places recommended by 510 Families and Johnny FunCheap.

Oakland

Oakland’s Temple Hill Holiday Lights and Gardens is the place to go for a drive-by or a leisurely stroll for a religious holiday experience. Wear a jacket, because it’s chilly outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at 4220 Lincoln Ave., particularly after dark. The gardens are open all day from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with the lights on from dusk until closing.

Alameda

Just across the High Street Bridge from Oakland, you’ll find Christmas Tree Lane in Alameda.

On Thompson Avenue between High Street and Fernside drive, displays range from classic trees and blow-ups to a comedic response to the film “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Lights turn on at dusk and can be seen through the first week in January.

Berkeley

The Fourth Street business district from University Avenue to Virginia Street in Berkeley comes alive with lights beginning at 5 p.m. through Jan. 1, 2026.

There’s also a display at one house at 928 Arlington St., and, for children, the Tilden Park Carousel Winter Wonderland runs through Jan. 4, 2026. Closed Christmas Day. For more information and tickets, call (510) 559-1004.

Richmond

The Sundar Shadi Holiday Display, featuring a recreation of the town of Bethlehem with life-size figures, is open through Dec. 26 at 7501 Moeser Lane in El Cerrito.

Marin County

In Marin, the go-to spot for ‘oohs and ahhs’ is the Holiday Light Spectacular from 4-9 p.m. through Jan. 4, 2026, at Marin Center Fairgrounds at 10 Ave of the Flags in San Rafael through Jan. 4. Displays dazzle, with lighted walkways and activities almost daily. For more info, go to: www.marincounty.gov/departments/cultural-services/department-sponsored-events/holiday-light-spectacular

The arches at Marin County Civic Center at 3501 Civic Center Dr. will also be illuminated nightly.

San Francisco

Look for light installations in Golden Gate Park, chocolate and cheer at Ghirardelli Square, and downtown, the ice rink in Union Square and the holiday tree in Civic Center Plaza are enchanting spots day and night. For neighborhoods, you can’t beat the streets in Noe Valley, Pacific Heights, and Bernal Heights. For glee and over-the-top glitz there’s the Castro, particularly at 68 Castro Street.

Livermore

The winner of the 2024 Great Light Flight award, Deacon Dave has set up his display with a group of creative volunteers at 352 Hillcrest Avenue since 1982. See it through Jan. 1, 2026. For more info, go to https://www.casadelpomba.com

Fremont

Crippsmas Place is a community of over 90 decorated homes with candy canes passed out nightly through Dec. 31. A tradition since 1967, the event features visits by Mr. and Mrs. Claus on Dec. 18 and Dec. 23 and entertainment by the Tri-M Honor Society at 6 p.m. on Dec. 22. Chrippsmas Place is located on: Cripps Place, Asquith Place, Nicolet Court, Wellington Place, Perkins Street, and the stretch of Nicolet Avenue between Gibraltar Drive and Perkins Street.