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L. Kent Wolgamott: Best Bets, 5/12

Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 11:56:19 pm CDT

The summer movie season officially started last Friday with the opening of “Mission: Impossible III,” a seemingly can’t-miss hit that misfired a little at the box office, taking in a mere $48 million — less than the opening weekend for the second installment of the series. Perhaps Tom Cruise has weirded out his audience.

Next up in the big picture sweepstakes is “Poseidon,” the remake of the ’70s disaster film about a capsized ocean liner. Jeff Korbelik, who saw the picture while I was covering some politics Tuesday night, enjoyed the picture, agreeably suspending his belief.

But the best movie opening in Lincoln this week is “Tristram Shandy: A Cock & Bull Story.” A “This is Spinal Tap”-like satire of the movie business starring the always funny Steve Coogan, it’s opening at the Ross Media Arts Center today.

Here’s a piece of advice for potential moviegoers this week: If you want to see a picture that isn’t “Mission: Impossible III” or “Posideon,” see it now.

Next Friday, “The DaVinci Code” and “Over The Hedge” are going to suck up screens right and left, and many long-running films and smaller pictures will be exiting the theaters to make room for what is likely to be the biggest single box office weekend of the summer season.

MoPix movie

There are two films playing in the MoPix auditorium at the Douglas Grand Theatre this week. “Hoot” will run during the matinee screenings. It is available only with captions for deaf viewers. “The Sentinel” will play the evening screenings. It has both captions for the deaf and descriptions for the blind.

On stage

TADA Productions is re-teaming William Shomos and Cris Rook in the title roles of “Sweeney Todd,” Stephen Sondheim’s dark musical about a barber hell-bent on revenge.

Shomos and Rook played the the barber and baker, respectively, in a 1998 production of it at the old Star City Dinner Theatre.

The current version, on stage tonight and Saturday at Kimball Recital Hall, also pairs Michael Tully and Olga Saad as the young lovers. They played opposite each other in TADA’s production of Disney’s “Beauty and The Beast.”

Clubland

It’s a very slow week on the local music scene with no notable touring bands coming through town, at least that I know of.

I will, however, recommend a show. Wednesday night, The Awkwards and Thoughtless Poetz will bring their hip-hop to Duffy’s Tavern. The new CD from Thoughtless Poetz is excellent, and they’re friends with The Awkwards, which should make for a great time.

Reach L. Kent Wolgamott at 473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com.