The Milwaukee Post

14 • Milwaukee County Post • May 12, 2017 ENTERTAINMENT By TOM JOZWIK Post Film Critic Poor U.S. Rep. Stan Lohman (Richard Gere) in "The Dinner." Just as his bill to benefit the mentally ill is about to be voted upon in Congress — in the midst of his campaign for gover- nor — an epic family crisis occurs. Seems Stan's son and Stan's brother's son, teenagers, have capped off a night of partying by com- mitting the kind of crime that could put them both behind bars for a long, long time. Fortunately (or unfor- tunately), outside of family members, nobody knows what the boys have done. Stan convenes a family meeting at a swanky restau- rant to discuss what the Lohmans should do. The confab also involves Stan's wife, Katelyn (Rebecca Hall); Paul, his "psycho brother" (Steve Coogan), as a congressional aide labels him; and Claire (Laura Linney), Paul's wife. The aide (Adepero Oduye) sits in on a little of the discussion, but the culprit cousins (whose roles in the flick aren't large) do not. The tagline of the novel- based movie asks, "How far would you go to protect your children?" It's a fascinating question and responses vary in "The Dinner," depending on the responder. The answering process brings out the diners' true colors amid observations like "They are good kids (who) took a wrong turn"; "It was an accident"; "(It's neces- sary to) go public as a family to save our children"; and "Be realistic. They got away with it." Regrettably, the rather lop- sided dinner debate con- sumes but a small portion of the two-hour film. Nearly as much time is devoted to (a) unstable Paul's monologues and (b) an implausible, irrel- evant sequence in which the brothers, who are not at all close, visit Gettysburg. The visit presumably debunks the view, summarized by ex- history teacher Paul, that "history can't compete" with today's games and gad- getry, that "history is over (and) everything is happen- ing in this second." Coogan's performance as the family man suffering from mental illness (every family has such a sufferer, the script contends) is out- standing and Coogan's Paul has "The Dinner's" most outrageous lines. Gere represents a fine choice for the smooth, hand- some pol who works the room en route to his restau- rant table — there to hear the brotherly admonition, "You can stop smiling now, Stan, it's just us." Hall and Linney are fine as, respec- tively, a grieving stepmother (to Chloe Sevigny's kids) and a longtime wife and par- ent hardened by her own past battle with cancer and her spouse's ongoing unpredictability. Flashbacks, detours (Gettysburg, remember, plus a racism motif and a maître d's mini-lectures prior to various courses at the fancy restaurant), character inconsistencies and a con- clusion that seems almost comedic make the story murky. I overheard a dis- gruntled patron summariz- ing "The Dinner" as "a train wreck." I wouldn't go that far. But it's definitely a messy movie. 'Dinner' provides food for thought in unappetizing plot Richard Gere, as U.S. Rep. Stan Lohman, presides over a family meal at a swanky restaurant in "The Dinner." The Orchard "The Dinner" ★★ Starring: Steve Coogan, Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Rebecca Hall, Chloe Sevigny, Adepero Oduye Director-screenwriter: Oren Moverman MPAA rating: R Running time: 120 minutes Showings: www.marcus- theatres.com At a glance Richard Gere well-cast as smooth politician MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Museum Mile Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The Mother's Day event will offer free admission at four locations and reduced admission at North Point Lighthouse. Each museum will offer free docent-led tours and light refreshments. There will be free activities for children and families. A free, continuous shut- tle bus will travel between locations. The museums and exhibits they have on view are: ■ Jewish Museum Milwaukee, 1360 N. Prospect Ave. "Fabric of Survival: The Art of Esther Nisenthal Krinitz." 414-390-5730. ■ Charles Allis Art Museum, 1801 N. Prospect Ave. "Carlos Hermosilla Alvarez and Colin Matthew: Echoing Concerns." 414-278- 8295. ■ Museum of Wisconsin Art at Saint John's on the Lake. "Delia Wells: A Spiritual Journey." 414-831- 6875. ■ Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, 2220 N. Terrace Ave. "Ornate/Activate." 414-271- 3656. ■ North Point Lighthouse, 2650 N. Wahl Ave. 414-332-6754. Exhibits, artifacts and maritime his- tory about the lighthouse's role in Great Lakes ship- ping. 360-degree view. $5 free for 12 and younger and 65 and older. The East Side museums are also within walking dis- tance. The day coincides with the annual Art in the City Plein Air MKE 2017 paint- ing competition. More than 100 painters will compete for $6,000 in prizes through May 21 along the Milwaukee Museum Mile. They will have 2 1/2 hours to create paintings along Prospect and North avenues. Artists will be at Colectivo on Prospect throughout the day. More information is at www.milwaukeemuseum- mile.org. MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Repertory T heater is proud to name a s s o c i - ate artist M a y Adrales as a new a s s o c i - ate artis- tic direc- tor for the 2017- '18 sea- son beginning this fall. Adrales, a nationally rec- ognized and highly respect- ed director who's made a reputation for directing new works, was last seen at The Rep directing "Yellowman," and will direct "The Who & The What" and "Animal Farm" this upcoming sea- son. By adding a second and new associate artistic direc- tor to the company, a role that is envisioned to be occupied by a new mid- career artist every one to two years, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater aims to build the pipeline of talent- ed directors ready to take on institutional leadership roles by building their expe- rience in producing, budget- ing, board governance and fundraising. "The notion of long-term collaborator, May Adrales, joining our company as an additional associate artistic director, is exciting and will bring a fresh global perspec- tive, particularly within our John (Jack) D. Lewis New Play Development Program, as she has directed more than 20 world premieres over the last decade, in a myriad of eclectic styles, at some of the nation's most prestigious theatre compa- nies to great acclaim," said Artistic Director Mark Clements. "Milwaukee Rep is cur- rently one of our nation's most highly respected and exciting theater companies, and I am extremely proud as a Milwaukee Rep Associate Artist that it has been my artistic home since 2010," Adrales said. Milwaukee Museum Mile Day coincides with Mother's Day Milwaukee Rep names May Adrales new associated artistic director Adrales

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