'Speed Racer' an empty exercise
An overwritten, frantically stylized adaptation of the 1960s anime television series from Japan, "Speed Racer" may add a few colors to the rainbow, but it adds nothing to the movies. And revolutionary filmmaking is what we've come to expect from the movies of the Wachowski brothers.

Kingston Trio's message still on pitch
The Kingston Trio has been in the spotlight since 1958, when the release of "Tom Dooley" gave birth to the folk music revolution, paving the way for Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Peter, Paul and Mary. Even rockers have sought advice.

Arts Notes

Out and about

Auditions

Odd couple make movies in 'Rambow'
With its hilarious scenes of hand-crafted filmmaking, "Son of Rambow" makes for a nice companion piece to the recent "Be Kind Rewind." Both are set in an analog world, yet they're evocative of the sort of amateur auteurism that has exploded in our YouTube era.

Gridiron Gal
Jasmine Plummer didn’t suit up this past season because her mom won’t let her play with the boys anymore. “She said they are too big now,” said Jasmine, a freshman at Joliet West High School. While she had to give up her first love, she’ll be able to relive her football stardom at age 11 on the big screen this summer. Her story will be told in the movie “The Longshots,” which hits theaters in July.

Country legend Haggard coming to Rialto
Merle Haggard wasn't in the delivery room on the morning country music was born; it simply seems like he was. While no one will refer to him as the father of country music, many will swear he's its godfather. And tickets go on sale today for his upcoming show at the Rialto Square Theatre.

'Guys and Dolls' to be LWC musical
The Lincoln-Way Central High School music department will present "Guys and Dolls" for its spring musical at 7 p.m. May 1-3 in the Lincoln-Way Central Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $8 for all ages. Seating is reserved.

Route 66 exhibit featured in magazine
The new spring issue of the national Route 66 magazine features a cover story on the Public Art on Route 66 exhibit in Joliet.

Church walls become community art gallery
If art is a window to the soul, then it seems fitting that church walls would make an appropriate gallery. If anyone peeks in the windows of the Missio Dei Church office on Front Street in downtown Mokena, they will see the talents of local artists on display.