She Likes to Watch

Don’t miss Roman Polanski’s brilliant neo-noir “Chinatown”

Murder, incest and corruption reign in the brilliant neo noir "Chinatown."

With all the hoopla surrounding Roman Polanski’s impending extradition, trial and sentencing on charges of having unlawful sex with a 13- year-old girl in 1977, it’s easy to overlook his astounding track record as a director.

After all, Polanski has helmed some of Western civilization’’s finest films, including “Knife in the Water,” “Rosemary’s Baby” and “The Pianist.” His undisputed masterpiece, however is 1974’s “Chinatown.”

Smart, cynical private eye J.J. Gittes (Jack Nicholson) specializes in catching cheating spouses in the act in 1930s Los Angeles.  So when he’s hired by Evelyn Mulwray, to track her husband — the chief engineer for the city’s Water and Power Department — to a secret love nest, Jake thinks nothing of the assignment.

Then the real Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway) shows up.

What began as a clear case of marital infidelity turns into something far more sinister, as Gittes uncovers crime, corruption, incest and murder.

Nominated for 10 Academy Awards, “Chinatown” established Nicholson as one of Hollywood’s most powerful leading men and secured Polanski’s place among the filmmaking elite. Screenwriter Robert Towne (“Mission: Impossible,” “The Firm”) won an Oscar for best original screenplay.

“Chinatown” screens at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Fremont theater, 1025 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $7.50.

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Tune in this Thursday to watch Cal Poly student Katie Berger test her word puzzle skills on “Wheel of Fortune.”

Originally from University Place, Wash., Berger is a biology major who enjoys water sports, traveling and playing the piano.  She tried out for the popular game show during a Wheelmobile event in Paso Robles.

“Wheel of Fortune” airs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday on KSBY (Channel 6).

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Meryl Streep breaks into song in the movie musical  “Mamma Mia!”, based on the music of Swedish pop superstars ABBA.

Beautiful bride-to-be Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) lives with her mother, entertainer-turned innkeeper Donna Sheridan (Streep), on a Greek island. Sophie wants nothing more than to have her father walk her down the isle. There’s only one problem; she doesn’t know who Dad is!

So Sophie, without her mother’s knowledge, mails wedding invitations to the three most likely candidates: Irish architect Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Swedish adventurer Bill (Stellan Skarsgard) and British banker Harry (Colin Firth).

When all three men arrive on the island along with Donna’s old bandmates, Rosie (Julie Walters) and Tanya (Christine Baranski), merry, musical chaos ensues.

“Mamma Mia!” features some of ABBA’s most-beloved hits, including “Dancing Queen,” “Waterloo” and “Take a Chance on Me,” performed by A-list actors in a lovely, lavish setting.

“Mamma Mia!” screens at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Theatre at the Old Grammar School, 1350 Main St. in Cambria. Admission is free.

For more information, call 927-8190 or visit the Allied Arts Association of Cambria online.

It’s tempting to take a different approach to mourning Michael Jackson

As my fellow blogger Pat Pemberton writes today, “Mourning Michael Jackson is not easy.”

Michael Jackson is the perfect example of what happens when a celebrity’s notoriety eclipses his or her fame.

It’s difficult to praise his musical genius, skilled choreography and unmistakable talent for showmanship, when faced with all the controversy that clouded his latter-day career — his bizarre physical appearance and weird behavior, his legal troubles, his financial problems.

The first half of his life was so promising, so influential. The second half was alienating and disappointing.

It’s far easier to, as Pat says, draw a distinction between one public persona and another.

Michael Jackson the pop star versus Michael Jackson the alleged child molester.

Mel Gibson the family man versus Mel Gibson the anti-Semite.

Michael Richards the “Seinfeld” goofball versus Michael Richards the racist.

Roman Polanski the filmmaker versus Roman Polanski the creep.

Such an approach makes it easier to reconcile our own memories while acknowledging each artist’s flaws. It’s a cop out of sorts, yes. It’s not a perfect solution. In some ways, you might even say, it’s cheating.

But it’s ultimately more graceful and gracious than piling blame on the head of a dead man.

It’s a way to say, “I remember you, Michael.” It’s a way to say, “I’ll miss you.”

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Above photo courtesy of AP Photo/Lennox McLendon.

I once read an article titled “When good art happens to bad people.”

The premise was this: Behind some of the world’s greatest masterpieces are morally questionable people.

Case in point: Roald Dahl wrote several wonderful children’s books including “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Matilda” and “The BFG.” He’s also been accused of racism, sexism and other evils of his era.

Playwright Norman Mailer stabbed his wife.

Beat writer William S. Burroughs shot his.

François Villon, the 15th-century French poet, killed a priest, spent stints in prison for street brawls and was banished from Paris after a church robbery.

And that’s just the writers.

Add artists, musicians and actors to the mix and you’ve got murder (Caravaggio), child abuse (Bing Crosby, Joan Crawford), assault and gang activity (Notorious B.I.G., Tupak Shakur, et al).

Add to the list Roman Polanski, a film director whose scars include a troubled childhood in Nazi-controlled Poland and a murdered, pregnant wife.

Polanski’s 1977 trial on charges that he drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl — and its bizarre aftermath — are the subject of a new documentary by director Marina Zenovich.

“Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired” premieres tonight on HBO at 9 a.m. EST. (Part of a series of summer documentaries, it’s slated to air through July 5.)

To me, “Wanted and Desired” poses an interesting question.

What do we do when an artist as talented and highly respected as Polanski commits a reprehensible, inexcusable crime? Should we cross “Chinatown” off the American Film Institute’s “Top 100″ list? Deny him an Oscar for “The Pianist”?

Do we buy R. Kelly albums, knowing about his underage child sex scandal? Or watch Mel Gibson films, considering his anti-Semitic remarks?

What do we do when smart, talented, gifted people do very bad things?

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Movie poster courtesy of MovieWeb.com.

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P.S. After further research I have removed the name of silent film comedian Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle from the list of so-called “Hollywood baddies.”