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Show M S June 6, 2013 'WILLIE' JOINS SADDLE STRING' Review: 'Wonderstone' leaves out some wonder BY STEVE SALLES Standard-Examiner movie critic W MARY LOU GORNY/Hilltop Times A Saddle Strings fan gets a photo as "Willie" joins the group for a number at the Hill Aerospace Museum. The event was held to raise funds for the Aerospace Center for Education, a learning center for youth at the museum. (Left to right) The members of the cowboy band include Laurie Morgan, Brian Arnold, Cindy Argyle and "Snoose" Argyle. Arnold donned the headband and braids for a number by Willie Nelson. The cowboy band played to an enthusiastic crowd on May 31 and even included a few songs from other genres. ith "incredible" and "wonder" in the title, you'd think the makers of "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" are subliminally trying to get us to believe this is something extraordinary. I'm afraid it's not. It is an interesting idea, pitting old-school magicians like a David Copperfield or Doug Henning against modern stunt illusionists like a David Blaine or Criss Angel, but that's as far as the magic goes. Steve Carell plays Burt, a quiet, bullied child who comes out of his shell once he discovers the gift of illusion from an old master magician, Rance Holloway (Alan Arkin). Burt's longtime pal Anton (Steve Buscemi) is equally mesmerized, and so they become a team and eventually take Las Vegas by storm. But after a 10-year run, their act is feeling a little tattered in the cape, as evidenced by dwindling audiences and groans from casino owner Doug Munny (James Gandolfini), who wants to replace them. There's a new guy in town, Steve Gray (Jim Carrey), who is dazzling crowds on the street with his gritty physical illusions that Wonderstone describes as "monkey porn." The strain between this new competition and their old routines drives a wedge between Burt and Anton, with Burt feeling arrogantly confident he can do the act without his old friend. He fails miserably. But a chance encounter at a Vegas rest home puts Wonderstone in touch with his heroic mentor Holloway, who is living out his days in dejected silence. After pestering the old man incessantly, Burt gets Rance to agree to help find the wonder in magic once again. I loved it every time Alan Arkin's Holloway appears on screen. I found myself wanting to see more of his life story, instead of the whiny Wonderstone. And speaking of Wonderstone, Steve Carell is just too nice a guy to be playing such an egocentric jerk. "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" is simply a mild, affable, somewhat entertaining distraction. tukINING WITH AIR MED Above, Mike Burrus (left), Shawn Wilkins (second from right) and Joe Schilling (far right) talk to Air Med crew members who dropped by for some training. The Hill AFB Fire department has undergone a few changes in the past few months. One of the changes is the new Fire Chief and crew at Little Mountain Test Facility. Chief Jeff Harriott and his new crew are being trained on how to coordinate with the Air Med medical transport crew. Being in a rural community and 30 minutes away from a medical facility, the site has seen the Air Med crew come to the rescue a few times over the years. The three government employees and 50 Boeing employees rely on the expertise and training of the well-equipped remote station of Hill AFB Fire and Rescue. They also support the local rural community as needed in stressful emergency situations. Training consisted of landing the helicopter in a small area, how to radio the pilot coordinates, wind speed, briefing the medical crew about the emergency, contingency planning and safety of the ground crew. At left, Chief Jeff Harriott observes the activities. KIM COOK/U.S. Air Force Fitness Center plans Firecracker Flight Line 10K as it moves its location N ow that the weather has warmed up running events are being sponsored by the Warrior Fitness Center, and the center just completed a half marathon on June 1. Look for those results in the next edition of the Hilltop Times. Because of manning constraints the Firecracker 10K has changed locations. The July 2 run will now be on the flight line. Grab your co-workers and friends and get ready for the holiday weekend by racing around like firecrackers. 9 The race will begin at 8 a.m. Contact the Warrior Fitness Center for questions or to sign up, at 777-2762, as some of the details are still being finalized. |