Sir Paul still draws crowds, still rocks

(Posted Thursday) I headed to Missoula earlier this week to check out Paul McCartney at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Worth. Every. Penny.

Sir Paul still rocks. Sir Paul still puts on a great show. Sir Paul still impresses.

When your catalog is as deep as his, I can only imagine how difficult it would be to plan a set list that ticks every box with fans. Sure, there were a few tracks from his latest record, “New,” and they sounded pretty good. He hit the highlights of his Wings years with “Band on the Run,” “Listen to What the Man Said,” “Live and Let Die” and “Maybe I’m Amazed.” He touched upon a range of Beatles material, from “I Saw Her Standing There” to “Let It Be.” Things got fun with “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” and “All Together Now,” more subdued with “Blackbird,” and yes, he did “Yesterday,” “The Long and Winding Road” and “Hey Jude,” too.

One of the highlights of the evening was a performance of the George Harrison song “Something,” from “Abbey Road,” which McCartney played on a ukulele given to him by his late friend and bandmate. It was a touching and lovely version of a classic song.

With a crowd of 25,000, the show on Tuesday has been called the largest ever held in the state of Montana. And it was clear the assembled masses loved every minute. If McCartney every comes this way again, I’d be hard pressed to let the chance to see him pass me by.

Carolyn Lamberson

‘Boyhood’ leads weekend pack

(Posted Tuesday) Few filmmakers excite the appetite of critics more than  Richard Linklater does. Showing both a facility for mainstream (“School of Rock”) and independent film (“Waking Life,” his “Before” trilogy), Linklater is receiving some of the best reviews of his career for his film “Boyhood.” And lucky for area movie fans, “Boyhood” is opening Friday here in Spokane.

Oh, so are a gaggle of other offerings, from the blockbuster (“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”) to the curious (James Cameron’s 3D study “Deep Sea Challenge”).

Friday’s openings follow:

“Boyhood”: In his “Before” series, Linklater links three films over a 14-year period. Here, he follows a character (played by Ellar Coltrane) over a dozen years, from ages 5 through 18 – in real time. As Philadelphia Inquirer critic Stephen Rea wrote, “Is it dumb to say, ‘Wow’?” … I don’t care. Wow.”

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (3-D and standard): Reboots are all the rage. And Jonathan Liebesman (“Battle of Los Angeles”) does what he can with our favorite surfer-speak mutant turtles. Whoa, dude, seriously?

“I Origins”: Mike Cahill follows his haunting Sundance darling “Another Earth” with this sci-fi-based look focusing on a scientist (Michael Pitt) who discovers that eyes truly may be a path to the human soul. Even if you don’t wear glasses.

“The Hundred-Foot Journey”: Lasse Hallstrom adapts the book about an upstart Indian restaurant opening across the road from a fabled top-flight French eatery run by a demanding chef (Helen Mirren). Go light on the curry, please.

“Into the Storm”: The storm of several centuries hits the big screen, instead of opening on the Syfy channel where such disaster flicks boasting no-name casts typically play.

“Step Up All In”  (3-D and standard): The movie franchise that helped launch the career of Channing Tatum churns on with a new cast and a sorta new storyline. Let’s dance!

“Deepsea Challenge 3-D”: James “Size Does Matter” Cameron follows his own self as he braves the depths of the ocean in his Deepsea Challenger submersible. Question: How did he fit that ego in such a small vehicle?

And at the Magic Lantern:

“Whitey: United States of America vs. James J. Bulger”: Joe Berlinger (“Paradise Lost: The Murders at Robin Hood Hills”) documents the story of a former Boston mobster who may, or may not, have been a confidential informer for the FBI. Who to believe, a murderous crook or the government? Hmmmm, hard choice.

Lots to choose from. So go. See a movie. Enjoy.

Dan Webster