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♦ SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2006 6C %IPBL .\ 1 • yK ‘ -" 4r*» i - «!►•' S 4 -\\f, $m ' ’ -S/< mtSfc. lm TT jjL I'C, _ ' %. v ' - _ t ?l* ~ ♦«. #.\ fep jtli ill ' ZkiWl flßhihhK^^^mbp^i Sk \lHm iuife- # *lf I • k ’ Bhk |ji'» InWJssl 1 I it r I v l|? ; / ° t jS > * t * > |fc|"" ~»»u J v J~ "* * .S jg ’"'"*■ — —H H : -—-* im Ijl 1 jjSjJsßs Soy Blake’s ‘Yell’ emphasizes humanity over numbers, dispels myths By William Kerns Morris News Service LUBBOCK, Texas - Before Michael Blake first put pen to paper - and he writes all of his works longhand - to cre ate “Dances with Wolves,” he already had envisioned the story as a trilogy. He followed “Dances” more than 10 years later with “The Holy Road,” and mentioned during a recent interview that the third saga will be called “Shadows on the Land” and will guide major figures’ descendants into the 20th century. Somewhat surprisingly, however, Blake has taken his first detour into the world of non-fiction, pains takingly documenting the FALL From page jC into situations in character. Nov. 10 STRANGER THAN FICTION: As if an inces sant interior monologue weren’t irritating enough, an IRS agent discovers that the voices he has been hear ing are actually an author writing his tale. Problems arise when he discovers that she is writing his demise. Will Farrell plays the IRS agent and Emma Thompson plays the blocked writer. FUR: Loosely based on the so-called Indian uprisings of the 1800 s by introducing us to the Indian and white leaders who strategized, won and lost. Blake tears away rumors and half-truths and quickly makes history draw breath within the gripping pages of his new venture, “Indian Yell: The Heart of an American Insurgency.” For now, set aside the nag ging thought that Blake’s history can only repeat itself, that, with a change of names and years, gov ernmental corruption that plagued General Custer’s elite Seventh Cavalry might be compared to modern-day news unveilings. There is a “same as it ever was” aura surrounding the perceived life of photographer Diane Arbus, this story centers on the artist’s discovering odd and disquieting people on the fringes of society, people who eventually become her muses. Nicole Kidman is Ms. Arbus and Robert Downey Jr. plays one of her models. A GOOD YEAR: This film reunites director Ridley Scott with his cinematic gladiator Russell Crowe, but don’t expect any bloody battles. Instead, the gentle film features Mr. Crowe as a London banker who find he has inherited at vineyard in Provence. The pair will get back to violent business in American Gangster, a period Art on a summer Sunday treatment of insurgents then and now. Instead, sit back and consume first the detailed research that inevitably con nects so many confrontations in the American West. Then marvel at Blake’s choice of words, the manner in which he draws readers into the past, where they are allowed a glimpse of the lies, truths, racism and human desire for glory that fueled decisions leading to so much loss of life. “Indian Yell” recounts a dozen significant battles in the American frontier and, just as importantly, gives us a clue as to the mindset of participants. Unlike the leaders of the day, Blake places empha crime drama scheduled for a 2007 release. Nov. 17 CASINO ROYALE: After years of increasingly improb able adventures, super spy James Bond is rebooted and brought back to his gritty roots. Daniel Craig steps into the secret agent’s shoes, becoming the sixth actor to swig martinis in the series. TENACIOUS D IN OTHE PICK OF DESTINY’: A (sort of) origin story for the hard-rockin’ acoustic duo, this comedy follows the D’s misguided attempts at steal ing a guitar pick carved from Satan’s tooth. Seriously. UfESTYU Special to the Journal Here are scenes from the Fine Art Society of Middle Georgia’s sixth annual Summer Art Show on Sunday at the clubhouse at Eagle Springs. This was a juried show with cash prizes. There was also a ribbon for Peoples Choice, where viewers voted for their favorite art. Margaret Mathews won that honor. The Art Show was put together with Nancy Steinberg at the helm. Edna Garrett, president, handed out the awards. Mary Ellen Rivera was responsible for the refreshments with the help of members. wtfLNMWMW nSHHBI fIHHHMKiIIsIISH- t"ESH "I p^x*™ffpiwniMHßtei' \~'"‘j if.. ‘>*^l a—hm «■ k< _r * j nRHiI I hH^B 4$ i l3i ■ m§i tfeiteiglr Mu , *iEi |B ■ | I . *""— *«£■■ S BH it-MTVvt ge. pg .-. SB ; IM;.• } aMSr^jJ^ q| B m jptC\|■»#** « l filpHjjH BHtf' ft 8 WH! I I Hih !«i IBMHHHHnBnHHB sis on humanity over num bers. If a general reports an often exaggerated number of insurgents killed, Blake reveals whether ledgers reflect warriors or women and children. And more than once, he writes, it was not violence, but rather language difficul ties or undefined cultural differences, that resulted in blood spilled. In fact, Blake dares to begin his saga with the story of a skinny, emaciated, weak cow that wandered off. The Sioux saw a convenient, if not filling, meal; the cow’s owner claimed an Indian raid. And the interpreters of the day were largely incom petent. HAPPY FEET: Hugh Jackman (again?!) and Robin William lend the voice talent to this animated tale of a penguin who, having failed to woo with song, becomes a dancing fool. Unlike that other penguin movie, nobody gets eaten by a leopard seal. FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: The informal troupe responsible for Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show and A Mighty Wind lampoons awards season with this mock doc about a film cast and crew who unexpectedly find themselves being hyped as Oscar favorites. Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy and Ricky Gervais star. In the course of its pages, readers learn of the quirks, bravery and attitudes of such leaders as Geronimo and Cochise, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. Yet Blake also introduces a soldier here, a trader there, who earns the Indian’s trust with honesty - and then makes it crystal clear that the Boy General, George Custer, was fascinat ed by Indian ways. There are pages devoted not only to Custer’s initial pining for his wife, and also to his later relationship with an Indian captive who may have played a role in how his corpse was treated at battle’s end. Blake’s fascinating account consistently places readers smack dab in the middle of HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL battlefields, and his research and travels inspire him to proffer reasons as well as results. “Indian Yell” is as enlight ening as it is entertaining - indeed, it’s a page turner - although Blake cannot resist salting his ending with con troversy by zooming forward in time to a final page devot ed to imprisoned Leonard Peltier. Affected by past and pres ent, Blake refuses to play it safe, writing, “The United States will never live up to its glorified billing as a bea con for humanity so long as it refuses to legitimately recognize and respect other cultures, starting with the Indian citizens living within its borders today.”