“Behind the Candelabra”: Stellar film debuts May 21 on HBO
From left, Michael Douglas and Matt Damon star in “Behind the Candelabra.” Photo credit: Claudette Barius/HBO
HBO’s “Behind the Candelabra” could have been an over-the-top, campy film.
But, thanks to direction by Steven Soderbergh, a script by Richard LaGravenese and performances by Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, this movie rises far above that realm.
The story centers on the covert five-year relationship between flamboyant entertainer Liberace and the much-younger Scott Thorson, whose book the movie is based on.
The many aspects of the entertainer’s personality are demonstrated, including the supremely talented musical side, but the love affair between Liberace and Thorson especially conveys the dichotomy of the two lives he lived onstage and off.
Douglas delivers a phenomenal performance as he absolutely immerses himself in the Liberace role, and Damon is equally as adept as he displays the vulnerability of Thorson’s character.
Both actors are extremely successful at making their characters authentic, and along with the deft directing skills of Soderbergh and an affecting, straightforward script by LaGravenese, this movie is a first-rate film.
“Behind the Candelabra” debuts at 8 p.m. Sunday, May 26, on HBO.
– Melissa Hayer
mhayer@opubco.com
Follow me on Twitter: @MelissaHayer
More prayer services planned tonight
Several more metro churches have shared their plans to host special prayer services tonight.
Here’s the pertinent information:
“Service of Prayer and Remembrance,” 7 p.m. tonight, First United Methodist Church of Oklahoma City, 131 NW 4. An offering will be taken up to aid tornado relief efforts.
Wednesday Night Prayers, 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. tonight, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 325 First Street, Edmond.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Oklahoma picks up eighth 2014 football commitment from Tulsa Union tight end Carson Meier
NORMAN — Tulsa Union tight end Carson Meier committed to Oklahoma on Wednesday, becoming the Sooners’ eighth commitment for its recruiting class of 2014.
Meier, a three-star prospect according to Rivals, also holds scholarship offers from Duke, Oregon State, Rice, Rutgers, SMU, Washington State and Wisconsin.
News of Meier’s commitment was first reported by ESPN.com.
Meier (6-foot-7, 220 pounds) is ranked No. 9 on The Oklahoman’s Super 30 list, which ranks the state’s top college football prospects.
Oklahoma’s inexperienced tight ends struggled to get on the field last season, as they adapted to the college game and the Sooners’ deep wide receiver corps flourished. OU didn’t add any tight ends in its 2013 signing class.
“Knuckleheads” creators donating profits from issue 2 to tornado relief
Brian Winkeler and Robert Wilson IV, creators of the comic “Knuckleheads,” will donate their proceeds from this week’s second digital issue to tornado relief following the recent tornado in Moore, Oklahoma.
Winkeler is from Yukon; Wilson is formerly of Oklahoma City. (Colorist Jordan Boyd is also an Oklahoma native.)
“Robert and I decided to donate all of our profits to tornado relief,” Winkeler said in an e-mail. “We won’t actually get sales figures and money for a couple of months, but we figure the need isn’t going to go away in a couple of weeks so as money comes in from sales of the issue we’ll put it all towards the effort.”
- Matt Price
Senate Moment of Silence for Oklahoma Tornado Victims
From C-SPAN:
U.S. House Observes Moment of Silence for Oklahoma Tornado Victims
This screen shot, provided by C-SPAN, shows Rep. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, speaking in the U.S. House chamber on Wednesday. Right behind Lankford is Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Cheyenne; behind Lankford’s right shoulder, wearing a white shirt and blue tie, is Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Westville.
Note: Click on picture to see larger version.
Ways to help in Oklahoma
Ree Drummond and her Confessions of a Pioneer Woman blog listed links for helping our tornado victims.
Note from PW: Yesterday I posted a list of organizations that are helping Oklahoma tornado victims. You can see that list here if you’d like to help, or check out this page on NewsOK’s website for a regularly updated list including local organizations and drop-off centers. Please continue to pray for those who are hurting in Oklahoma. http://tinyurl.com/payjvax
Vacation trip: Keep ‘em entertained
“Are we there yet?”
“How much farther?”
“I need to go to the bathroom.”
“I’m hungry.”
If you are or have been a parent with small children, those are examples of the kind of things you hear when you take the family on vacation. Some are easy to answer, others more difficult. Some, such as a reference to a potty stop or a feed-me situation, can lead to delays, but require action … quickly.
If you’re driving, the degree of difficulty probably will increase significantly. Plus, you can multiply by the number of little ones on board.
So, is there a perfect system for handling “requests” from the underage travelers? No. Each family is different. Is there a way to make traveling by vehicle more enjoyable and less stressful? Yes.
Here are some options:
Journaling: If the children are of the age they can write, show them how to keep a trip log or diary, day by day. You can make one, or pick one up at any store that sells writing utensils. It depends on what you want to spend.
Keeping children entertained while traveling on a vacation can be a challenge or a simple task. (Thinkstock/Getty Images)
You might slip a postcard or some other visual element into the pages. These travel journals for years to come are great for reliving a trip with your family or sharing memories with theirs. They’re also a good way to improve on writing skills.
If you take photographs along the way, maybe you could add one here and there in the journal.
Writing to Grandma or a friend: A little “wish you were here” note, or a description of the trip (maybe even pulled from the journal entries) and mailed or transmitted to family and/or friends can be fun.
Remind the kids that they’re telling about their experience, so make it interesting.
Reading: Good reading material can be beneficial most anywhere, but should be something that is easy to read and comprehend. I wouldn’t suggest a thick book on a difficult topic.
Young minds can become bored quickly and the young ones will need another activity. Take a break every so often and play a game, or do an
Listening to music. (Thinkstock illustration)
observation exercise (counting types of vehicles, houses, buildings, airplanes, or something similar).
A little variation in activities is good.
Games: Simple and quiet are best. You want to avoid driver distractions. This is where some of the items listed above can help. This is where some electronic games are wonderful.
Draw the trip: If the travelers are too young to write but like to draw, have them draw something they have seen that day, or that they think they will be seeing soon. Have them draw you as you travel.
These can become keepsakes, and they probably will go well in the journal.
Watch a show or movie: If your vehicle has a DVD player, this can be a great benefit. If possible, however, use headphones. It’s that driver distraction thing, you know.
Listen to the music: Radios, CD players … any similar devices that can be used … are excellent. Remember those headphones.
There’s a starter list. Feel free to add any and all you can to make it a fun time. Length of journey, time of travel and number (and ages) of travelers will have a lot to do with what preparations you need to make.
Check out http://knowit.newsok.com/recreation-oklahoma for resource material and other suggestions. Then go have fun!
OK Sweetheart, DEERPEOPLE, Nathan Siler (Portraiture), Beau Jennings and others donate proceeds from music to tornado relief
Musicians are giving their talents and time to raise money for victims of Monday’s tornado in Moore, both in concert and on record. In addition to the massive outpouring of performers setting up benefit concerts to help those who lost so much this week, a number of performers are donating their income this week to help ease the suffering.
“I’ve been posting on our FB about how to donate to the Salvation Army to help folks in Moore,” said Erin Austin of OK Sweetheart. “I want to donate all of my record sales this week to the cause as well!”
Nathan Siler of Fellowship Students and Portraiture will donate all proceeds from records and performances to relief efforts.
“A good way to donate to The American Red Cross is to come to our show tonight – everything that Portraiture makes will be given to them – even our CD sales, cover charge,” Siler wrote on his Facebook page. “Whatever ends up in our hands at the end of the night is going to American Red Cross!”
On Tuesday, DEERPEOPLE, Beau Jennings, Everybody Talks, Sunny Side Up and Dylan Black all announced they would donate revenue from their music for this much-needed effort. Please do this — this is a great community effort to help make things right again for the many people who have lost so much. Below are links to these artists and their work. Other artists who are interested in donating through music sales, please feel free to email me at glang@opubco.com. I’ll keep the list updated.
– Lang
Several metro area churches hosting prayer services tonight
Several Oklahoma City area churches are hosting prayer services tonight in effort to provide prayers and solace to people affected by the storms that have ravaged the state in the last few days. 
Journey Church in Norman will hold a prayer vigil for tornado victims at 7 p.m. tonight at the church, 3801 Journey Parkway.
The Rev. Clark Mitchell, the church’s senior pastor, said the event will be a time “to come together as a community and encourage one another in faith that God can do anything.”
The church is serving as a hub for local relief efforts, with the house of worship serving as a shelter and meal site for tornado victims.
Church representatives said donations and volunteers are still needed. An updated list of immediate needs and volunteer opportunities is available at www.journeychurch.tv/relief.
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Also, Messiah Lutheran Church will hold a special prayer service at 7 p.m. tonight at the church, 3600 Northwest Expressway.
The Rev. Mark Muenchow said the service is an opportunity for the community to “lift up in our prayers all those who have been impacted by the devastating storms in our state over the past few days.”
And Crossings Community Church, 14600 N Portland, will hold a prayer service from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. tonight in the church’s Venue area.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
