Hazleton Area Business Citizen January 2015

HABC January 2015 | $4.00 Hazleton Area Business Citizen Greater Hazleton’s Business & Arts Magazine The Interview Mary Malone, President Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce page 4 PROMOTING A FREE MARKET IN THE GREATER HAZLETON AREA



HABC ContentsHazleton Area Business Citizen VOL. 2, NO. 1 | 20154 2 Editor’s Desk 9 At a Glance Mary MaloneThe Interview 10 Art David Corrado 17 Music Danny DeMelfiMary Malone 19 Fiction Flickering Romance 2 1 Review Alexis Neapolitan The Hazleton Area Business Citizen Established January 1, 2014 CONTRIBUTORS: Tedd Hazard Promoting a Free Market in the Greater Hazleton Area Tedd Hazard is a cartoonist from PUBLISHED BY: Hazleton, PA. He has worked on such Citizen Publishing Company, Incorporated web comics as Krust Toons, Whine P.O. Box 2335 and Dine, No Class and Tedd and Hazleton, PA 18201 Simon. His work has been featured EDITOR: Joseph Cammisa in magazines such as Pennsylvania ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Alexis J. Neapolitan Musician, The Freeland Progress, What’s Up Magazine and Hazleton PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Michael Lucas Life, as well as on such websites as Maximum Rock and Roll, The Deli HABC January 2015 Magazine and The Twisted Loop. Tedd also self produces animated shorts based on his works. You can check out his work at hazardstudiosdotnet.wordpress.com CORRESPONDENCE: The Hazleton Area Business Citizen, c/o Citizen Publishing Company, Incorporated, P.O. Box 2335, Hazleton, PA 18201 or [email protected] DISCLAIMER: Statements of fact and opinion in the articles in Hazleton Area Business Citizen (HABC) are those of the respective authors and contributors and not of the HABC editors. No representation, express or implied, is made of the accuracy of the material in this journal and HABC does not accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions that may be made. Readers may make their own evaluation of the accuracy and appropriateness of those materials. 1

Editor’s CONTACT US:Desk Send letters or email to The Hazleton Area Business Citizen c/o Citizen Publishing Company, Inc. P.O. Box 2335, Hazleton, PA 18201 [email protected]. January begins another New Year, and 2015 but decided that putting in place limitationsbegins the second year of publication for the would not be the most productive concept.Hazleton Area Business Citizen. Changes are The hope is that the Commentary column willin store, some which will have been made have a business edge, but no strict parametersfor this issue, and some which will take place for content are required.throughout the year. Following is a briefoutline for what the upcoming year will hold Although the graphic design has changed,for the magazine. the major content of the magazine will continue to highlight those people who Visually, the design of the magazine will represent the best that the Hazleton Areaundergo some changes. The cover design has in business and the arts. Every issue willhas been changed, and some changes to the continue to center around The Interview,interior have been made too. informal conversations with business people and professionals, and Art, select works by New features are planned for this year artists, photographers, sculptors, and otheralso. This month local cartoonist Tedd Hazard visual artists, both professional and amateur.contributes a strip from his repertoire, anddiscussions are planned for a cartoon strip The goal of the Hazleton Area Business Citizenspecifically written and illustrated for the HABC. will continue: to raise the level of discourseAnother new column is Fiction. These writings about the free market. The editors believewill be short, one page stories, contributed by that by having that ideal more prescient in theHazleton Area writers. minds of the business, professional and artistic communities of the Greater Hazleton Area, more Also in the works for this year is Commentary. equitable, interesting, and creative ideas willThis column will afford the contributor an surface that will benefit the community at large.opportunity to offer his or her opinion on anysubject pertinent to the Greater Hazleton Area. The Hazleton Area Business Citizen isThe editors originally planned this column published monthly in print and online. Accessto be limited to a subject related to business the online version via www.citpublish.com.in general, and the free market in particular, Click on the HABC link.2 HABC January 2015

HABC January 2015 Mary Malone PRESIDENT, GREATER HAZLETON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 3

ITnheterviewMary MaloneHABC: Greater Hazleton encompasses a large HABC: So do you view Hazleton as a center forgeographic area. What do you see as the bound- those areas?aries of Greater Hazleton? Mary Malone: For those areas, correct.Mary Malone: I think the map of the Hazleton AreaSchool District is probably the best [boundary defini- HABC: What does the Chamber do to enhancetion]. If you drop a pin at the intersection of Church those dynamics?and Broad Streets, it’s approximately a twenty mileradius from that point. Mary Malone: We just completed a four- almost five- year project, with the Broad Street Corridor Project,HABC: What are some of the dynamics, those from the tip of Hazleton at Chamber of Commercethings which stimulate growth or change, that Beltway through the city and around West Hazletonyou see existing between Hazleton, city proper, to Washington Ave. Last year the landmark legisla-and some of the surrounding communities that tion, Act 89 Transportation Infrastructure Project,make up Greater Hazleton? was passed by the state. The legislation is for projects, and more importantly, funding for the improvementsMary Malone: The 80/81 corridor, Route 309, and includes extending Route 424 (Chamber Beltway) intoRoute 93 are all major transportation routes that link Humboldt Industrial Park from Route 81. Based on thethe communities together. In our past, the center of significant growth that we’ve had in that area, boththe city, which is roughly the intersection of Broad business growth and residential, this is important for(Route 93) and Church (Route 309) became the trade safe traffic flow and to ease congestion at high trafficand commerce center. Now with a very large industrial times. Transportation and its impacts are a complexpark in Humboldt and its branches, that dynamic has topic, and as the new president this has been the steep-shifted. I would say that the school district boundaries est learning curve for me. The Chamber’s job is to un-are a good connector, because that’s one system where derstand the aspects of transportation, the importancethere are many communities with a central point of of it, and, again, advocate on behalf of Greater Hazletoninteraction in our area. businesses and their needs. We accomplish this through4 HABC January 2015

partnering with all of our local legislators and keeping which is only 240 cars, would stop and spend $10,transportation as a constant conversation. that has the economic impact of over $800,000 a year! Think about it, $10, that’s not that much. This can haveHABC: There is a big relationship with the a huge economic impact!transportation projects that contribute to theeconomic development of the area. HABC: Do you see the Chamber as a catalyst in helping to develop, or helping to create theMary Malone: Yes. The Downtown Hazleton Alliance Hazleton Area identity?for Progress, an affiliate of the Chamber, is almostready to release the Strategic Downtown Revitaliza- Mary Malone: Yes, I think that we are definitely onetion Plan that they have been working on. An ele- of the players in that piece, but like most things, itment of the study is on the economics in downtown takes many stakeholders with various perspectives.Hazleton. One statistic reviewed from the PENNDOT The Chamber’s main focus is our members andstudy was the “vehicles per day” information for both business success—but, there are other elementsChurch and Board Streets. Traffic per day in that area for the Chamber’s mission that are about qualityis on the average 24,000 cars. If just 1% of that volume, of life, the play-and-live portion, that make usHABC January 2015 5

uniquely qualified to assist. But ics, the various communities infrastructure projects: the re-I think it takes a whole host of that make up the Greater cently completed Broad Streetpeople sitting around the table to Hazleton Area; it is on a pretty Corridor Project which youbuild a brand with impact! wide continuum. As diverse as mentioned, and the DeAngelo someone who lives in downtown Brothers-Hayden Construc-HABC: Do you see an identity Hazleton vs. someone living out tion partnership renovation ofthat will arise, not just for Ha- at Eagle Rock. Can I see that as 2 East Broad, 101 West Broad,zleton but for the whole area? part of the future initiative? Yes. and the parking garage. Do you I could see that in the future, see these projects as drivingMary Malone: For the whole because, again, the crossroads the economics of Hazleton Cityarea… there’ve been lots of dif- of 80 and 81, and the amount of in particular and the Greaterferent discussions on that. I think traffic right now that goes by to Hazleton Area in general?that, again, because of the focus somewhere else, we need to beright now of revitalizing the the destination. Mary Malone: I would say defi-downtown there is an immediate nitely for the city of Hazleton, and Ipush to branding the downtown. HABC: The trick is getting think we’ll probably start to see—That’s not the Greater Hazleton them to stop by, not go by. although that might be on a longerArea. You’re talking about some- timetable—for the Greater Hazle-thing which has more stakehold- Mary Malone: Exactly. ton Area, but the immediate pieceers to build that brand. If you look will be for the City of Hazleton.at the geography, the demograph- HABC: Two very important6 HABC January 2015

HABC: Are we going to startseeing some serious economicgrowth in Hazleton city ascompared to what we’ve hadin the past, where the growthhas been mainly in the indus-trial parks?Mary Malone: I think that we’re we will see what his focus and his structure, to having people comestarting to see, very slowly, the incentives will be in that particular out to be involved. Rotary, Lionscoming-out of the tough times area; maybe not manufacturing like and Kiwanis, those types offrom the crash of 2008. I think the larger plants that have been a service organizations, so we haveacross the board by bringing in the part of our past, but specialty manu- an engaged community. As far asamenities and an anchor tenant, facturing may be one of the ways. the economic piece, I think thatlike a DeAngelo Brothers, the focus we have a good mix. I wish thatwill be on the downtown. Now that HABC: If you could have the we had a little bit more of thethe Broad Street corridor proj- ideal community, what would entrepreneurial. I think that weect has just been finished, I think be the economic and civic have a lot of people who havea smart collaboration, working makeup of that community? done some interesting things, buttogether on parking will be pro- they are tucked away. I like diver-active. A parking plan, combined Mary Malone: The civic piece is sity and diversity in the economywith residential, working, and af- an easier one for me to answer. It as well, not relying on any oneter hours, is what makes the most would be engaged and participato- particular industry, but a mix ofsense for the numbers that are ry; so anywhere from school board technical and manufacturing andgoing to be coming in to the down- positions to the local government then more of the service industry.town. I think that a public-privatecombination is the trend we’ll seegoing into the future.HABC: Recently Weir Mineralsannounced the closing in 2015of its Hazleton operation. Doesthis closing suggest that manu-facturing in the Hazleton Areawill become less and less a partof the economic base?Mary Malone: I think in the city,yes, but on a wider view there hasbeen a slight resurgence of manu-facturing across the state. We havea new governor coming in, andHABC January 2015 7

HABC: What aspects of that ideal community HABC: How do you see the interaction ofdo you see as having real possibility in the private-public and the nonprofit sectorsGreater Hazleton? functioning in the free market?Mary Malone: I think the element of, again, using Mary Malone: There is the combination of those groupsthe crossroads locations, would be interesting. To working together, and rather than solely focusing, wheth-see more health care and the businesses affiliated er it’s caring for people, or on a particular business goal,with that — not just a hospital but the physicians’ or the governing of those entities, but using their uniqueoffices, the physical therapy, rehab—those types of perspectives to make solutions that will be better forpieces here. The investment of Lehigh Valley Health all. I think the lines are blurring. I think that, in the past,Network and other regional providers like Geisinger those groups were in silos. Our problems and the inter-to expand services in the Greater Hazleton Area. relationship of things today is so complex that we can’tThe recruitment is more the focus of our partner live in those silos anymore, because we are so connectedorganization, CAN-DO. We (the Chamber) are more to one another. The problems in the education system, forthe second stage of that once-they’re-here part. For example, are the problems of the private sector as well. Ifexample, once American Eagle came into the com- we don’t fix those educational problems from the get-go,munity, the Chamber worked with their people on the output, which is going to be the workforce, isn’t goinggetting acquainted with the different residential to work or isn’t going to be acceptable.areas and other aspects of living here in the GreaterHazleton Area. HABC: Do you see that blurring of the lines, as you put it, as an enhancement to the freeHABC: What are the most important and market?interesting talking points about GreaterHazleton? Mary Malone: I think it would make it stronger, but I think it would be different. I think maybe the metricsMary Malone: Location. Again, I think that it’s easy are going to be different.to get to lots of other places from this particular one.I think there is still a better sense of community here HABC: Does the idea of compassion have a partthan I’ve seen in other places and locations I’ve been to play in the functionality of a free market?to; and in a wide continuum, the people I’ve had theopportunity to meet in Hazleton—very diverse, very Mary Malone: I think so, from my experience yes. Icaring. I recently talked to someone who doesn’t live think it goes back to what I said before about the linesin the community but now works here, and spoke starting to blur among nonprofit, the public sector, andabout how kind and friendly and willing to help the the private. So as that happens, it would appear there’speople are. So I think there’s a sense of caring, and some sense of that as well, the market is saying there’sof people, a general willingness to meet you and find a space and a place for it.out how they can help you.8 HABC January 2015

At a GlanceMary R. Malone 9Professional HighlightsApril 2014 – President, Greater HazletonChamber of Commerce2007- 2014 – Greater Hazleton HealthAlliance, Director Grants and GovernmentRelations1999-2006 – President, United Way ofGreater HazletonMaster of Arts, Organizational Management,Misericordia UniversityBachelor of Science, Business Administration,York College of Pennsylvania2004 - GHCC Athena Award Recipient2000 - P.E.A.R.L. Award, Hazleton YWCA1993 - Graduate, Leadership Hazleton2009 - Hazleton Rotary ClubNEPA Circle 200 Executive Women’sRegional CollaborationBoard Member: Partners in Education,Luzerne/Schuykill WorkforceInvestment BoardGREATER HAZLETONCHAMBER OF COMMERCECitiscape20 West Broad StreetHazleton, PA 18201(570) 455-1509www.Hazletonchamber.org• Established 1892• Instrumental in establishing industrial development committee that later became CAN DO in 1954.• Worked collectively to establish the Community Chest which later became the United Way in 1922.• Active in transportation issues and projects including the Broad Street Corridor and the expansion of Route 424.• Work on quality of life projects like Nesopeck State Park, and Eckley Miners Village as a living history museum.• Mission: to contribute to the chamber’s members’ business success by providing valuable information, service, and networking opportunities, and by taking active measure to help improve the business climate and quality of life in Greater Hazleton.• 28 Board Members• 4 Affiliates: Greater Hazleton Civic Partnership; Mt. Council of Government, Leadership Hazleton, Downtown Hazleton Alliance for ProgressHABC January 2015

Art David Corrado David Corrado was born and raised in Hazleton, PA. At a young age, his grandfather Ned Panzarella, introduced him to art by taking him to his nighttime painting classes. In high school, David joined the Hazleton Art League where he received instruction from local artists William Yenkevich and Jane Butkovsky. David is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University. Throughout the years David has completed several murals for various businesses including the Freeland American Legion, Tarone’s Market in Hazleton, RC 14 in Wilkes-Barre, and Hazleton’s City Hall. He also has created logo designs for the city’s former First Night events. In September 2013, the Reverend Doug McKeeby presented David with a Gold Byzantine Icon in recognition of his efforts in completing and donating an 8x10 foot painting for Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. Now he is currently working on completing a graphic novel he hopes to publish next year. David always had a special interest in the art of the old masters, and enjoys following their footsteps in creating large scale paintings reflecting the Christian faith. David’s goal is to be able to use his art to tell old truths in a new way. 10 HABC January 2015

HABC January 2015 “Lady with Rose,” in the style of John Singer Sargent, 11882

12 HABC January 2015

HABC January 2015 “Christ Falls the Third Time,” 2013, in the style of Giovanni Tiepolo, 1738 (Acrylic, 8 x 1013ft.)

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HABC January 2015 “Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane” 2014, O4 rxig7in1ft5a.)l (Oil,

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Danny DeMelfi Music Michael Bolton, George Thorogood, buyer, to contact and negotiate with of whom rendered grants; then-USMichael Feinstein, Bret Michaels, the our first famous act. Congressman Paul Kanjorski and then-professional touring cast of Fiddler PA State representative Todd Eachus,On The Roof, and legendary Rock Jim narrowed the field down to two both of whom secured grants, the lateand Roll Hall Of Fame band Chicago: acts, The Beach Boys and Chicago. In Standard-Speaker reporter Ray Saul,this group of performers is a varied booking acts such as these, their tour who provided coverage of the effortsand impressive array to say the schedule comes into play. We found to save the building, lead contact Aliceleast. Although they have probably that Chicago would be en route from Kender and of course, Alice C. Wiltsie’snever before been mentioned in Camden, NJ to Erie, PA , so a swing family, including her nephew Allenthe same sentence, they do have a into Hazleton was doable. They were Werst, who funded the naming rights,unique common bond—they have all booked for late November 2011, thus and her son Dr. John Wiltsie, whoperformed live onstage in Hazleton becoming the first major act to appear also made a financial contribution.within the past three years! at the Wiltsie Center. (If anyone’s name was omitted, it was purely unintentional. You can contact You’ve read that correctly. There Just as it was hard to imagine that me via this magazine and I will make ais no need to drive to a major Chicago would play on the same stage correction in a future issue).metropolitan area in order to attend as we, the graduates of HHS did soa concert by nationally-known many years ago, it is equally difficult Prior to the opening of the Center,performing artists such as these. They to fathom what would have becomehave all graced the stage at The Alice C. of this building had it not been for the class of 1970 hosted a fundraiserWiltsie Center for the Performing Arts, the efforts of a select group of people. in the gym featuring Rockabilly Hall Ofan 1140-seat theater which is located There had been a movement in the Famer Ronnie Sando and the popularinside the Hazleton Elementary/ early 2000’s to demolish the buildingMiddle School (the former Hazleton to build a new school, but then-mayor East Coast Band Pop Rox, featuringHigh School) on 9th and Wyoming Michael Marsicano refused to issue vocalists Kelly Franks and DarrenStreets, also known affectionately as the demolition permit. In addition Fernandez.the Castle On The Hill. to Marsicano, the effort to save the building included a host of other The Wiltsie Center has also hosted As a member of the Board of individuals and organizations: many local and regional performances.Directors of the Wiltsie Center, I have The initial show in October 2011attended and worked at most of these “Castle Keepers” Tom Gabos and featured the first song ever sung inshows and witnessed how the artists’ Bobby Tombasco, who maintained the new venue, The Star-Spangledelectrifying performances have drawn the building from 1998-2004, keeping Banner, performed by Venessa Vicoso,raves from the crowds in attendance. hope alive that it could be saved; and a concert by the band There And Michael Greco, who applied for 501(c) Back Again. Some other acts who have My journey began when I was (3) status; former HHS principal Rocco performed there include local rockersnamed to the Board in April of 2011. At Mussoline; former HAHS Principal Kartune, Hazleton native and Americanthat point in time, the venue was still Francis Libonati; former theater Idol contestant Keith London, Thein the remodeling phase. In fact, the arts teacher Bob Shanno; the late Gil Hazleton Philharmonic Orchestra’snew seats had not even been installed Degenhart, passionate leader of the annual “Sounds Of The Season”yet. We toured the room among the “Save The Castle” movement; the late concert, Joe and Jaye Maddon’s yearlyconstruction workers as they slowly Jean Gormley; school board members Family Christmas Show, and Trans-transformed the auditorium into a Elaine Maddon Curry, Steve Hahn, and Siberian Orchestra tribute bandstate-of-the-art facility, while retaining Carmella Yenkevich, who spearheaded Twelve-Twenty Four, among a host ofthe grandeur of this magnificent the committee (Yenkevich led the sales others.structure. In subsequent meetings, of seat sponsorships); the late Dr.the Board decided to not only host Stanley Yamulla, class of 1937, who I urge everyone to visit the Center’slocal and regional acts, but to explore was the first major monetary donor; website, www.wiltsiecenter.org andthe possibility of booking big-name HHS ’72 graduate, MLB Managerperformers as well. I called on my Joe Maddon, who hosted a big fund- see the beautiful performance venue.friend and entertainment industry raiser at the site; PPL, First Federal I also suggest you come to a futureimpressario Jim Dellacroce, a Freeland Charitable Fund, Sordoni Construction, show and if possible, make a donationnative who is a major talent agent and CAN-DO Community Foundation, all to support this jewel of Hazleton. AHABC January 2015 whole team of dedicated volunteers have worked tirelessly to bring this spectacular showroom to our city. Please support their efforts. 17

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by Chase Finder FictionFlickering Romance 1939. Marie had loved music for as long She turned to see Matt in the She is a YWCA rehearsal hall darkness against the dancing imagespianist. as she could remember. For years she up there on the big screen. He said, He is a movie projectionist in his “Would you care to be my guestfilm booth in the theater directly next was self-taught. When she entered upstairs in the booth?door. During this timeframe, movies her teen years, Marie’s parents hired You will experience the film in anrepresented the sole emotional and the finest piano teacher in the area as entirely new way.”psychological outlet for people living in her instructor. Marie’s musical giftssmall town America. It was a period of Marie did not answer him rightgreat uncertainty. blossomed. away. She was still in the enthrall of It was the truly golden age of Mickey and Judy. Then she demurelycinema which no one recognized as Marie was as skilled in her profession whispered, “Yes, I suppose so.”they were living through it. Marie went to the movies as often as Matt in his. Matt was right. Marie enjoyed theas she could afford. Her movie reveries movie in an even more personalized waycentered on men like Clark Gable, She loved her time at the cinema. from her seat in the projection booth.William Powell, and Charles Boyerand women such as Claudette Colbert, Marie did not merely lose herself While the final credits rolled, MattMyrna Loy, and Bette Davis. found the courage to say, “I’ve always Matt was an honest craftsman amongst the stars, but studied the wondered what my wife would lookat his job. He prided himself on music in each film. In musicals, she like, and now I know.”his dedication and artistry as a focused on the music and lyrics in eachprojectionist. His work became more film. In non-musicals, she thrived on Marie smiled at him knowing thespecialized and began to incorporate ferreting out the significance of the truth in what he had just told her.a semblance of showmanship musical underscoring.throughout the thirties. From that night on, Marie alternated Safety precautions associated with Sometimes Marie would remain in viewing the films between her seat innitrate required 35 mm film prints to the auditorium and her stool in Matt’sbe in reels no longer than 1,000 feet, the theater to watch a movie multiple booth. Generally she preferred to seeor roughly about fifteen minutes of the movie downstairs before catchingrunning time. times. it from the projectionist’s window on For Matt to screen a feature length the second floor.film without interruption while On occasion Marie was the onlythe next reel was laced up, he used Through their shared filmtwo projectors focused on the same audience member in the auditorium. experiences, Marie and Matt fell inscreen with Matt switching over from love, married, had a family and sharedone to the other at the end of each Matt would spy Marie through a happy ending to their screenplay.reel. Matt was also a union member.Projectionists were one of the movie his tiny projectionist’s window. He Their story was “the stuff thatindustry’s first branches to be dreams are made of.” 2unionized. could glimpse Marie’s crystalline 1. Hart, L. and Rodgers, R. Where or When beauty in the shadowed darkness. Her – Babes In Arms. (1939) impeccably angular neck could often be 2. Huston, John (screenplay) and caught against the flickering images on Hammett, Dashiell (novel) (1941). screen. The Maltese Falcon (Motion Picture). United States: Warner Brothers. Some things that happen for the first time seem to be happening again. And though it seems like we have met before, And laughed before, and loved before, But who knows where or when... 1 Judy and Mickey sang this song in the film Babes in Arms,on that eventful evening in 1939. The song, composed by Rodgers and Hart, sent Marie into a soulful, dreamlike state. She felt a hand on her shoulder.HABC January 2015 19

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Alexis J. Neapolitan, Jr. ReviewBest Films of 2014 Lasse Hallstrom , the movie is a two hour treat. The film stars Helen Mirren, Om Puri, and in a These are my ten best films of 2014. The selections arelimited by the paltry number of local film releases and by breakout role, Manish Dayal. The entire cast shines, andthe crunch of Oscar contenders squeezed into the last two the movie is fine entertainment.months of the year. The Judge pairs off acting titans, Robert Duvall and The choices are in alphabetical order, however, it Robert Downey, Jr. in a powerfully written and acted legalshould be noted that Nightcrawler towers above the other drama. The lead performances have strong acting backupnine titles. It is an original, outstanding work of art. from Vera Farmiga, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Billy Bob Thornton. Begin Again is about a down on his luck businessexecutive in musical development whose path crosses a The plot involves a Chicago attorney who returnsyoung singer-songwriter in Manhattan. This film gives the to his childhood home. His father, a prominent judge,viewer a sense of deja-vu, yet it doesn’t travel the road is suspected of murder. This is the basic set-up, but theone expects. movie is about so much more as it unravels a tale of recriminations, discoveries, and truth. It is a surprising, funny, and touching romantic comedywith music and a sensitive undertone. Begin Again is so Duvall and Downey, Jr. are at the top of their game. Theout-of-touch with current moviemaking practices, it’s film should be seen, if for no other reason (though thereremarkable it found a release. are several, including the dialogue and strong direction from David Dobkin) than to savor the performances of the The film stars Keira Knightley (one of her best roles) two leads.Mark Ruffalo (low-keyed dynamic, as usual) AdamLevine (a good acting turn) and James Corden, Hailee Million Dollar Arm stars Jon Hamm and Alan ArkinSteinfeld, and Mos Def who all turn in fine, interesting in a movie centered on a sports agent who stages anperformances. unconventional recruitment ploy to secure a talented cricket player to join Major League Baseball. Begin Again has been well-shot around the envirionsof New York, and maintains a good musical score by The drama has a compelling screenplay and keenGregg Alexander. The film’s ending is not predictable and direction by Thomas McCarthy and Craig Gillespietotally honest. Kudos to John Carney, writer and director. respectively. Get On Up is the second musical film on my list. It’s Million Dollar Arm is based on a true story. The moviethe rags to riches story of James Brown with another brings that story to life with memorable performances bystellar performance from Chadwick Boseman (42). the entire cast.Other memorable performances in the movie are givenby Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd, Viola Davis and Octavia The Monuments Men is also based on reality. It impartsSpencer. the occurrence during World War II when the Nazis stole countless pieces of art and hid them away. An unlikely Jes Butterworth has scripted a strong screenplay, (though most interesting) platoon is commissionedand Tate Taylor has directed the piece awkwardly by to rescue these masterpieces and return them to theirsplintering the screenplay in its telling. Nevertheless, it’s rightful owners.a good biographical drama with an award nomination-worthy lead performance. This action drama is so much better than this year’s late entry in the WWII arena (Fury) that it stands out as a The Hundred-Foot Journey is the most delightful film very well-made and fascinating war movie.on my list. It’s simply good, old-fashioned filmmaking. Major players inhabit the cast namely George Adapted from the novel by Richard C. Morais, tells the Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett,story of the Kadam family who left India for France. There John Goodman, Jean Dujardin, and Hugh Bonneville.they decide to open a restaurant directly across the road Blanchett and Goodman turn in particularly first-ratefrom Madame Mallory’s Michelin-starred dining room: performances.sparkling with humor and heart, courtesy of director, 21HABC January 2015

Some of the terrain in The Monuments Men was providing viewers with a fast-paced and exciting ride.traversed previously in a superior 1964 film, The Trainstarring Burt Lancaster and Paul Scofield. However, The St. Vincent is a truly heartfelt comedy drama, whichMonuments Men will still hold a place in cinematic history stars Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Wattsas a war film made with craftsmanship and style. (hopefully a forthcoming Oscar contender for Best Nightcrawler, starring Jake Gyllenhaal in a careerdefining role, portrays Lou Bloom, a desperate man Supporting Actress), and in a breakout, star-makinghungry for work. turn, Jaden Lieberher. Set in Los Angeles, Nightcrawler, is a black comedic St. Vincent involves a young boy (Lieberher) withthriller about the high-speed world of L.A. crime recently divorced parents who finds an unusual friend and mentor in his quirky, war veteran, neighbor (Murray).journalism. Bloom decides to freelance which catapults McCarthy plays the boy’s mother, while Watts portrays ahim into the dark, sinister world of camera crews whofilm crashes, fires, murder, and all sorts of mayhem. Taxi very special friend of Murray’s.Driver blended with Network is what propels Nightcrawler,but the film eventually evolves into its own original and Well-acted and sensitively written and directed,creative format. St. Vincent, is somewhat predictable, but one of the The movie, a first time effort by writer/director, year’s finest.Dan Gilroy, is a stunner from start to finish with finelyhoned supporting performances from Rene Russo and The last film on my list is Winter’s Tale. Although it was released early last year, it is a compellingly haunting filmJames Huang. that will stay with you long after the credits roll. This is the 2014 film you won’t soon forget. Non-Stop is an outright thriller from top to bottom. It Winter’s Tale is a romantic fantasy-mystery starring a fine, intuitive Colin Farrell, a lonely Jessica Brown Findlay,stars the ever heroic, Liam Neeson, as an air marshal (with a menacingly brooding Russell Crowe, and charming turnsa history) who is caught up in transatlantic flight intrigue. by Jennifer Connelly and Eva Maria Saint. All passengers are suspect to him including the come- The film is based on a novel by Mark Helprin with ahither Julianne Moore, who may or may not be the person screenplay adaptation and direction by Akiva Goldsman.she presents. She may also be the chronic texter invading The outstandingly beautiful cinematography is theNeeson’s space and life. artistry of Caleb Deschanel with a strong support from the More than likely, you have seen this move in other production design team, Naomi Shohan, Peter Rogness,guises, but Neesen, Moore, and director Jaume Collet- and Leslie E. Rollins. The musical scoring is courtesy ofSerra breathe some new and exciting life into the genre Rupert Gregson-Williams and Hans Zimmer. Winter’s Tale is the most poignant and evocative film of 2014.

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