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Show 10 HILLTOP TIMES TIMES Dec. 27, 2012 Review: 'Won't Back Down' on the melodramatic side floundering at Adams. Just across the hall is an exceptional teacher, Mrs. Nona Alberts (Viola Davis), but the principal says her class is already too full and Malia will have to stay where she is. Finding this unacceptable, Jamie attempts to confront the traditional bureaucracy to get help for her daughter. Even though she works two jobs, selling cars and answering phones by day and bartending by night, she makes the time to figure out how she might improve the education of not only her Malia, but also the other kids in the neighborhood. She will need to petition the teachers and the parents. She will start with Mrs. Alberts, who is equally concerned for her students and her own struggling son, Cody (Dante Brown). This will put them at odds with the teachers' union, led by Evelyn Riske (Holly Hunter), and the school board, chaired by Olivia Lopez (Marianne Jean-Baptiste). No question, we have a problem in America with edu- BY STEVE SALLES Standard-Examiner movie critic 0 ut of a similar inspirational light as "Stand and Deliver" and "Lean on Me" comes a heart-tugging film that oversimplifies the woes of the educational system in America. "Won't Back Down" is loosely based on the Parent Trigger Law passed in California and other states in 2010, which allows concerned parents to petition school boards to make changes in underperforming schools. Such changes could include dismissing bad teachers and administrators, and giving actual control to the parents. This particular story is focused on a fictitious Adams Elementary School in Pittsburgh, which is suffering from a failing curriculum, an apathetic faculty and a frustrated community. Jamie Fitzpatrick (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is the struggling single mom looking for a better opportunity for her dyslexic third-grade daughter, Malia (Emily Alyn Lind), who is KERRY HAYES/Walden Media Nona (Vicki Hayes) rediscovers the joys of teaching in "Won't Back Down." cation. We have fallen behind other nations in the quality of that education. And though I applaud the sentiment of these wonderful actors, especially Viola Davis, this film is so heavy-handed, melodramatic and manipulative that it only serves to stir a pot of its own device. Turning school board mem- bers and union reps into selfserving autocrats who care only about their own jobs at the expense of our children's education is demeaning to the thousands of Americans who work tirelessly and with little pay to improve the teaching of our children. "Won't Back Down" is wellintended, emotional and even, at times, inspirational, but creating cardboard-cutout, villainous characters to act as uncaring obstacles serves neither the film's story nor its cause. Yes, parents should take more interest in their kids' education, but this grandstanding drama is long on soaring speeches and gestures, with little else to back those words. VISIT From page 7 Family Resiliency Seminar to be Jan. 8 at Readiness Center A seminar on Family Resiliency will be held Jan. 8, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Building 150. Noted speaker and neuro-psychologist Dr. Schwebach will talk about the need for resiliency for both parents and children. He will address the stress of school transitions, bullying, deployments and dealing with special needs. Participants will learn specific strategies on how to develop solutions for handling these issues, build resiliency in their families, reconnect with children and be able to recognize warning signs and symptoms of mental health problems. RSVP by Jan. 4 to 777-4681. Learn to ice fish with Outdoor Recreation Group activity On Jan. 6 and Feb. 1, Outdoor Recreation is offering the opportunity to learn how to ice fish with an instructor. The trip includes fishing with the latest of shelters as provided by ODR, transportation, lunch and hot drinks. The fee is $20. Call 801-777-9666 to registor or for more information. CDC East is located at 5708 Mitchell Lane, Building 470 and CDC West is across the street in Building 464. Contact the CDC for more details, 801-7776223 or 801-777-6321. faces light up, they're so happy." Contreras said it's important for military members to interact with local children when they have the opportunity. "It shows that the military supports our community, especially its students." February ski trip to Grand Targhee with Outdoor Rec e_524FFORDABLE e'IEGANTCE Enjoy the President's Day holiday with a trip to Idaho's Grand Targhee Resort. Enjoy three nights in a luxury slopeside ski-in, ski-out lodge and two full days of skiing. You'll also get three breakfasts, transportation, and a trip leader. Cost is $475 per person, double occupancy; $380 per person for quad occupancy. You can add a ski rental for $25 per person. Call 777-9666 to register for the trip. 0150 1 0 SAND & SWIRL, INC. I Any Installation of $300 or more I Must have coupon at time of I I Estimate. Expires 1-31-13 I REALISTIC MARBLE & TRUSTONE CUSTOM INSTALLATIONS • Tub Surround • Vanities & Mirrors• Window Sills • Grout Free • Solid Surface • Showers • Shower Doors FF L__•1. 801-389-6363 " 1339 W. 3300 S. Ogden www.SandandSwirl.com faceboo Relig i ous Servicesr; eran United Methodist FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Sunday Worship MOO & 6:00 pm ¥ 1339 West 400 North, Marriott-Slatervillc 15 tin nute. north of HAFB on 1-15, Exil 346 801-393-5662 - wwwfumcogdenut.org 1870 Community United Methodist Church Join us for Worship fl - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00p.m. Childcare, Sunday School, and Youth Group every Sunday. 163 West 4800 South Washington Terrace 479-7430 www.community-umc.net Stalled Sunday Nursery Visitors Expected! Church Caffeinated 1074 N. Fairfield, Layton (Across from Post Oltico) OG HT Doug Lange ;WALLEY can Pastor at 444-1591 www. lightolth eva I lay-wa Is. am OUR SAVIOR'S LUTHERAN CHURCH Sunday School: 9:00 am Worship Service 10:20 am Adult and Youth Bible Study offered 5560 S. 2300 W. Roy, Utah 84067 (801)825-6552 wm.ostcroy.corn EBaptist Unitarian Universalist] UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST (WELS) 10:30 a.m. Sunday School for all ages - Youth Group Ewry Sunda Serving the Ogden Area since LIGHT OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH Sunday Warship Nursery care provided during worship inalior2 alpinechurch.org I 801.392.8000 You are Invited to an exciting Church Clearfield Community / Church Classic Sunday Worship..9 am Contemporary Sunday Worship..11:30am Sunday School-all ages..10:30am 200 South 500 East, Clearfield, Ut 84015 Office: 801-825-1115 www.clearfieldcommunitychurch.org Twitter: clearrioldcc To publish your @ Church of Ogden January 6, 10:30 a.m. Faith In Politics UUCO, 705 23rd Street Guest Speaker !Gersten Homblette Mary Arnow Worship Associate Inie.391-3318 • VPIN eaco.Org Ward* 114d Mountain View (SBC) T Bapdst Chuith Sunday Worship: 10:30 am Sunday School: 9:00 am 2585 E. 3000 N., Layton " (801)771-3204 oust W. of Hy'y 89 on Hwy 193) mountainviewbc.org North Central t Baptist Church 10 am Bible Class 11 am Morning Service 6 pm Evening Service Thursday 7 pm Prayer & Bible Study riresbytal Westminster Worship 9:00 AM Church Announcement in the Church Directory, please contact Mitzi A community of faith for the community around us at 801-625-4371 wpcutah.com 796 S. Mountain Rd, Fruit Heights 5800 S. 1900 W. Roy, Ut (so. of AuleZone) 801-513-6072 northcentralbaptistchurch.com True Vine Baptist Church "The Answer- Jesus Christ" Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship Service 11:00 a.m. PrayeriBible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m. 197 West 100 S. r Kaysville 546.6554 f |