Movie Review

Forrest Gump team reunites for unusual film experiment Here

Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in Here.

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

The quality of the career of director Robert Zemeckis can almost be broken evenly in half. His first 12 films, which included the Back to the Future trilogy, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Forrest Gump, and Cast Away, were mostly hits both with critics and audiences. But in his last 10 films starting with The Polar Express in 2004, Zemeckis has become obsessed with pushing technological boundaries, which has ironically hindered the success of those movies.

His latest boundary-pushing film is Here, which uses the highly unusual technique of never moving the camera. Instead, it’s what happens at this one particular corner of the world that’s of interest, from the time of dinosaurs to the rise of COVID, and many other things in between. The film sees a small parcel of land go through many changes, finally resulting in a house built around 1900, a home that goes on to be occupied by a number of people over the course of 120 years or so.

The most prominent among them are Al (Paul Bettany) and Rose (Kelly Reilly), who buy the house soon after Al comes home from World War II. They raise a family of three children, with one of them, Richard (Tom Hanks), becoming the main focus of the film. He falls in love with Margaret (Robin Wright), has a child of his own, discovers a love of painting, gives up that passion to provide for his family, and more as he spends almost his entire life under the same roof.

The marketing for the film wants to make sure you know that it is the long-awaited reunion of Zemeckis, Hanks, and Wright following the Oscar-winning smash hit that was Forrest Gump (Eric Roth, who wrote Gump, also co-wrote this film with Zemeckis). Zemeckis clearly liked the storytelling from Gump, as much like Forrest being part of many historical 20th century moments, the small area of land in an unnamed Eastern state in Here somehow sees it be both the home of the son of Benjamin Franklin and the inventor of the La-Z-Boy recliner (fact check: not true).

Zemeckis was inspired to use just one angle in the film from the graphic novel by Richard McGuire on which it is based. Similar to the novel, Zemeckis inserts rectangles that show small glimpses of different time periods overlaid on the current scene, fading them in and out to help with transitions. Although at times the film can feel more like theater than a movie, these brief looks at other eras within another era help the film feel more dynamic.

What doesn’t work is the computer-generated imagery in the film. Before the house is built, everything on screen (save for the actors) is CGI and it feels wholly unnatural. And for some reason, Zemeckis has the nearly 70-year-old Hanks and nearly 60-year-old Wright play themselves as young as teenagers, and the de-aging technology simply isn’t believable. As their characters age, the effect improves, but only slightly.

Because the performances of everyone in the film are chopped up into small pieces, it’s tough to say any one of them stands out. As the bigger stars, Hanks and Wright naturally draw attention, and they acquit themselves well. Bettany and Reilly are fine, but they seem to be playing mid-century caricatures instead of actual human beings. Actors in other time periods aren’t given enough to do to be judged properly.

Alternately cheesy and poignant, Here is a bold swing from a filmmaker who has made many in his long career. Because of the inherent emotions that come with following characters over a long period of time, the story has an impact, although it constantly has to contend with Zemeckis trying to distract viewers with displays of technical prowess.

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Here opens in theaters on November 1.

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Weekend Event Planner

These are the 17 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

Photo courtesy of Moment Factory

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Halloween weekend in and around Dallas will be about way more than just haunted houses, although you'll have plenty of opportunities on that front. Choices include two new light events, five local theater productions, an opera production, a trio of concerts, a big-name comedian, a symphony concert, a dance production, a music festival, and a great animated movie screened while an orchestra plays its score live.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, October 31

Halloween events
With Halloween kicking off the weekend, there's no better way to celebrate than attending one of the many themed events around the area. If you want something different than your neighborhood, you can Trick or Treat on Downtown Streets, starting at Main Street Garden. Pumpkin Nights at Howell Farms in Arlington offers 5,000 pumpkins in themed areas, while Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics at The Filter Building features horror film theme songs and more. But haunted houses are the favorite choice, with options including Fright Festat Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Dark Hour Haunted House in Plano, Reindeer Manor presents Thrasher Slashers Scarepark in Grand Prairie, Screams Halloween Theme Park in Waxahachie (not open on Halloween night),The Parker House in Denton, Haunted Shadows Lake Trail in The Colony, J&F House of Terror in Garland, and Junkyard Haunted House in Dallas.

Fever and Moment Factory present Astra Lumina
Astra Lumina is an enchanted night walk that invites visitors to discover the wonder of visiting stars. Guests will set off across mysterious grounds to discover a celestial pathway of lustrous light, cosmic visions, and astral song. The multi-sensory immersive experience, which actually started last week, takes place at Trinity Forest Adventure Park through December 15.

Undermain Theatre presents Exit the King
Eugène Ionesco’s absurdist comedy is set in the crumbling throne-room of the palace in an unnamed country where King Berenger the First has only the duration of the play to live. Once, it seemed he ruled over an immense empire and commanded great armies; now his kingdom has shrunk to the confines of his garden wall. Refusing to accept his end, he is attended by his present and former Queens who must help him face the final inevitable truth of life. The production runs at Undermain Theatre through November 24. (UPDATE: The October 31 performance has been canceled.)

Friday, November 1

The Light Park
The day after Halloween, The Light Park will officially kick off the "real" holiday season. It is a mile-long, drive-thru spectacular where guests will witness millions of lights synchronized to a mix of music by DJ Polar Ice. Priced per vehicle, rather than per person, the more is truly merrier for visitors who want to travel through the longest light tunnel in the world. The event takes place both at Riders Field in Frisco and Hurricane Harbor Arlington through January 5.

Opera Arlington presents Cinderella
Opera Arlington will present Cinderella, Pauline Viardot’s charming and whimsical operetta. Audiences can step into a world of enchantment as the opera brings to life the beloved story of Cinderella as never seen before: set in a storybook reimagining of Paris. There will be performances on Friday and Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Arlington.

Rod Wave in concert
Rapper Rod Wave may not have the broad name recognition of artists like Kendrick Lamar, Drake, or Jay Z, but that hasn't stopped him from dominating the charts for the past four years. Every one of his last five albums, including the recently-released Last Lap, went to No. 1 on the Billboard Rap chart, and most of them also made it to No. 1 on the overall Billboard 200. He'll perform at American Airlines Center.

Dane Cook: Fresh New Flavor
Comedian and actor Dane Cook is known for his stand-up comedy specials, stage presence, and outrageous observational humor. In addition to stand-up comedy, he is known for his various acting roles in movies such as Mr. Brooks, My Best Friend’s Girl, Dan in Real Life, Employee of the Month, Good Luck Chuck, Waiting..., and more. He'll perform at Majestic Theatre.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Elgar’s Enigma Variations"
At this concert, pianist Anne-Marie McDermott joins with Estonian conductor Anu Tali for Amy Beach’s Piano Concerto and Alisson Kruusmaa’s ethereal Arabesques. Elgar’s crowning achievement, Enigma Variations, hides an unsolved mystery that has puzzled music sleuths for more than a century. There will be three performances through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center.

Mainstage Irving-Las Colinas presents A Little Night Music
Set in 1900 Sweden, A Little Night Music explores the tangled web of affairs centered around actress Desirée Armfeldt and the men who love her: a lawyer by the name of Fredrik Egerman and the Count Carl-Magnus Malcom. When the traveling actress performs in Fredrik's town, the estranged lovers' passion rekindles. This strikes a flurry of jealousy and suspicion between Desirée; Fredrik; Fredrick's wife, Anne; Desirée's current lover, the Count; and the Count's wife, Charlotte. The production runs through November 16 at Irving Arts Center.

Theatre Arlington presents The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Jr.
Flat Stanley, the beloved children’s book written by Jeff Brown, is a literary and pop culture phenomenon. Everyone’s favorite two-dimensional hero has a new life in The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Jr., filled with infectious songs and non-stop adventure. The production runs through November 10 at Theatre Arlington.

Photo courtesy of Moment Factory

Fever and Moment Factory present Astra Lumina at Trinity Forest Adventure Park through December 15.

AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Menopause the Musical 2
Five years after their chance encounter in a department store, the ladies from Menopause the Musical will present more hijinks on the high seas. Menopause The Musical 2: Cruising Through ‘The Change is a hilarious and heartfelt look at the joys of menopause and friendship, plus hot flashes, mood swings, and memory lapses. The trip of self-discovery will be backed by a new soundtrack of toe-tapping parodied hits from the '70s, '80s, and '90s. There will be three performances through Sunday at Wyly Theatre.

TITAS/Dance Unbound presents Okareka
TITAS welcomes the debut of Okareka from New Zealand, whose Mana Wahine (Strong Women) bursts upon the stage in a multimedia collage of captivating imagery and dance. Inspired by the historic story of a young Maori heroine, as well as women’s stories from the dancers’ families, powerhouse movement is amplified by bold projections, chant, original soundscape, traditional implements, and historical motifs drawn from Maori (indigenous) culture and the impact of history. There will be performances on Friday and Saturday at Moody Performance Hall.

Saturday, November 2

City of Carrollton presents 14th Annual Festival at the Switchyard
The annual Festival at the Switchyard in downtown Carrollton will be headlined by rock band The Wallflowers. Other performers include Deep Blue Something, School of Rock, Jason Kyle Wickens, Havana NRG, Pearl Gem, Mock Lobster, and Downtown Fever. The one-day festival will also include live children’s entertainment, community performances, rides and games, face painting and balloon art, a beer garden, and an array of food vendors and festival booths.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse In Concert
The Spider-Verse movies have been some of the most inventive animated films in recent memory, and now fans can enjoy a screening of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse alongside a diverse ensemble of musicians and instrumentalists performing the film’s iconic score and soundtrack live. The lineup includes a full orchestra, a skilled scratch DJ on turntables, as well as percussion and electronic instrumentalists. There will be two performances on Saturday at Majestic Theatre.

Whiskey Myers in concert
Texas band Whiskey Myers is six albums deep into their career and they just keep getting bigger. Although their latest album, 2022's Tornillo, was a step down sales-wise from their No.1 self-titled album in 2019 (which went to No. 1 on the Billboard Country chart), their popularity has allowed them to play bigger venues. That will be evident when the southern rock/country band plays at Dos Equis Pavilion, joined by 49 Winchester and Angel White.

Ochre House Theater presents Patti & Theo
Patti and Theo are struggling artists in Brooklyn, New York. They are big boozers, and time will tell if the Drinking Religion outlives them. Audiences can come wade into the wild and boozy waters of Patti and Theo’s nightmarish world, and bear witness to the unraveling of their lives as they try one last time to love each other. Song, music, and shadow play highlight this story of two lovers who hold each other passionately at arm’s length. The production runs through November 23 at Ochre House Theater.

Morrissey in concert
Regarded as one of the most influential figures in British pop, Morrissey has released four albums as lead singer of The Smiths and 13 solo studio albums, most recently I Am Not a Dog on a Chain in 2020. Of course, he's also known for his propensity to cancel concerts, if not whole tours, so keep your fingers crossed that he'll show up for this date at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

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