Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/201420
Huske Unplugged: A Songwriter's Showcase Stinker Stinker Runner Runner (Rated R) by HEATHER GRIFFITHS For a film about an international online gambling ring, Runner, Runner (91 minutes) was pretty boring. It's hard to pinpoint exactly where it went wrong, beyond placing a big red circle over the entire thing. It was clearly meant to be a slick crime thriller about a used-to-be rich white guy using his smarts to triumph over a still-rich white guy. What it ended up being was a waste of my time. First, the writing was lackluster. Brian Koppleman and David Levien (Ocean's Thirteen) share writing credits, but their script was all over the place. Not even the characters we're supposed to root for are Huske Unplugged showcases local songwriters and offers the community a chance to support likeable. For example, local artists as well as enjoy original entertainment. Richie Furst (Justin Timberlake) is trying to pay his way through Princeton, but he can't afford it because, get this, he made For Greg Biltz, Huske Unplugged has always been about the songwriters. It started more than two years ago when Biltz approached Huske Hardware House too much money as a Wall-Street guy. When you are finished wiping away a owner Josh Collins about doing a songwriters' roundtable. Since that first season, tear, you might ask yourself why we should feel sorry for Richie because he (a) lost his job before he had the chance to make a ton of money defrauding more than 100 songwriters have graced the stage at Huske Unplugged. Some investors on Wall-Street and (b) chooses to attend an Ivy League school have met with success as professional musicians and songwriters and others instead of an affordable university. continue to perform locally. Second, the acting was subpar. Frankly, Affleck couldn't handle even One of the best things about Huske Unplugged is that no one knows what the minimal complexity of the character, which makes the hubbub over to expect ahead of time. Whoever walks in the door that night and signs up to "Batffleck" a little more understandable. And let's not forget to mention participate gets a shot at that evening's prize money and a chance to compete for a spot in the semi-finals. Whoever happens to be sitting in the restaurant that Gemma Arterton as Rebecca Shafran, whose acting choices apparently consisted of selecting which tight dress she would wear to best convey night gets to experience original entertainment with his or her meal. "lacking a moral compass." Sometimes the songwriters that participate in Huske Unplugged have written Third, what was up with the directing? Brad Furman seemed to have little dozens of songs before and perform in pubs and at concerts on a regular basis. control from scene to scene. The film lacked narrative flow, the characters They bring a strong stage presence and confidence that comes with spending flailed around on-screen and the camera didn't know who to focus on in a lot of time performing in front of people. For other songwriters who take the stage, this is the only song they've ever written and they've never performed it for the close-up shots. Rumor has it that Affleck called up his Argo editor in an attempt to save the film in post-production, but it didn't work. anyone before, much less in public. They bring added flavor to the event as they Anyway, on to the plot. Richie can't afford his expensive education so he not only put themselves on the line but learn to engage the crowd and the judges. withdraws from Princeton and enrolls part time at a university while working The songs are funny, sad, inspiring, contemplative and everything in between. Most of all, they are a reflection of the artists, the people who choose to put what part-time as an accountant. Wait, no he doesn't. Instead, he funds his education by encouraging Princeton faculty, staff and students to engage in online gambling is on their heart into words and set it to music — and then take a chance and so he can get commissions for adding to a major social problem while denying share it with strangers. any personal moral culpability in their gambling addictions. Last season, prizes worth more than $20,000 were awarded to participants. When the dean catches him, he decides to mend his ways and use the The prizes were impressive and included cash, a year lease on a car, a day of smarts that got him into Princeton to come up with an alternate plan to pay recording at Manifold Recording Studios and a $15,000 scholarship to PCG his tuition. Wait, no he doesn't. He plays some online poker, loses his stake, Nashville, a company specializing in artist development. But for Biltz, it's still runs some scenarios through a computer and then flies to Costa Rica to inform all about the songwriters and the joy that comes with being on the stage and the owner of the site about some supposed cheating. being heard. The event takes place on Wednesday evenings. Oct. 30 is the first Once in Costa Rica he has no way of contacting site owner Ivan Block of two weeks of semi-finals, and the music starts at 8 p.m. Even if you are not a musician or a songwriter but you are a music lover or even just a music liker, this (Affleck) so he goes home in defeat, having learned a valuable lesson about gambling. Wait, no he doesn't. He parlays his audacious charm into a job is an event worth experiencing. offer from Ivan, and then gets his friends to help do borderline illegal stuff. For the audience, Huske Unplugged is a chance to support local artists But then, surprise, surprise, it all goes horribly wrong for Richie and the feds and to celebrate the diversity and variety that this kind of event brings to the get involved. I wonder if our plucky little hero will triumph over both the feds community. While it doesn't cost anything to attend, the music and passion and his dishonest boss while also getting the girl and tons of that come to life at Huske Unplugged often leave both the money? If you already know the answer to that question, you listeners and the artists feeling richer for the experience. can probably skip the movie. Find out more about Huske STEPHANIE CRIDER, Editor. Now Showing at Wynnsong 7, Unplugged at www.facebook.com/ COMMENTS? Editor@upandcominCarmike 12 and Carmike Market HEATHER GRIFFITHS, Contributing HuskeHardware. gweekly.com. Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandFair 15. by STEPHANIE CRIDER comingweekly.com. 36 UCW OCT. 30 - NOV. 5, 2013 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM