Page 24 THE VILLADOM TIMES I & III • January 13, 2010 The history of the Ford assembly plant in Mahwah will be the subject of an upcoming lecture by Tom O’Brien. The presentation, which is being sponsored by the Mahwah Museum, will be held at the Ramapo Reformed Church Education Building, 100 Island Road, Mahwah, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21. Through a visual presentation and narrative of the plant’s history, O’Brien will review the planning, development, operations, and demise of the Ford facility, including the impressions and experiences of people who worked there. O’Brien to present Ford plant’s history The Ford Motor Company operated the Mahwah-based assembly plant from 1955 to 1980. At the time it opened, it was the largest motor vehicle assembly plant in the United States. The Ford plant helped contribute to Mahwah’s economic development. O’Brien has served as the president of the Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce and is currently a member of the Mahwah Museum Society Board of Trustees. Admission to the lecture is $3; free for members of the Mahwah Museum. Refreshments will be served. DVDs (continued from Restaurant page) as a guidance counselor who is secretly writing a romantic novel. DVD extras include a retrospective featurette, deleted scenes, and cast and writers’ commentary. “Passing Strange: The Movie” (IFC Films), based on the stage musical, is the semi-autobiographical story of a young black man who leaves 1970s Los Angeles for a European odyssey of sex, drugs, rock and roll, and redemption. Director Spike Lee filmed the final three Broadway performances in front of live audiences with multi-camera coverage and edited them into a seamless performance, retaining much of the excitement of live theater. The title character in “Youth” (Daniel Breaker) is an upper middle class teenager in Los Angeles who longs to be a musician. His single mom (Eisa Davis) lives a comfortable life and enjoys many material possessions. She forces Youth to attend services at the local Baptist church, where he experiments with punk rock and drugs with other member of the church youth choir. Later, he travels to Amsterdam and Berlin where he continues his journey of discovery. The film is narrated by the show’s author/ co-composer/lyricist, Stew. De’Adre Aziza is excellent in three different roles, which might strike film viewers as unusual though it is common on Broadway. Lee’s use of close-ups, audience reactions, an intermission sequence showing the actors backstage, and a few crane shots enhance the theatrical experience. Extras include interviews and a behind-the-scenes featurette. “Fame” (M-G-M Home Entertainment) is a remake of the 1980 film that follows a group of young dancers, singers, actors, and artists through four years at New York City’s High School of the Performing Arts. With the suc- cess of such youth TV talent shows as “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance,” it’s easy to see why the film merited a remake. A primary problem is focusing on 10 characters. Inevitably, the balance of screen time is uneven. Reducing that number and delving deeper into characterization would have resulted in a richer film. The TV series was able to do this by devoting more time to a smaller group of principals. Kelsey Grammer, Bebe Neuwirth, Megan Mullaly, and Charles S. Dutton are on hand as teachers, but the students are a bland group compared to the edgy cast of the earlier film. This may be partly because the new “Fame” is PGrated rather than R, like the original. Dance sequences are nicely staged, but don’t expect any impromptu, trafficjamming choreography in Midtown Manhattan. “Fame,” available in Blu-ray and DVD, contains both theatrical and extended versions, deleted scenes, a music video, character profiles, and a featurette on the movie’s dances. The Blu-ray edition contains a digital copy. “Falling Up” (Anchor Bay), directed and co-written by David M. Rosenthal, focuses on Henry O’Shea (Joseph Cross), who is on his way to a nursing degree until his father’s sudden death forces him to take a job as a Manhattan doorman. But no amount of warnings from either his high-strung boss (Joe Pantoliano, “The Sopranos”) or laid-back coworker (Snoop Dog, “Old School”) can prevent Henry from breaking rule No. 1: never fall for the beautiful daughter (Sarah Roemer) of one of the building’s wealthiest tenants. Annette O’Toole is funny as Henry’s mom, who undertakes a job in a porn shop to help with family finances. “Falling Up” is mildly amusing, but never really goes for big laughs. It settles for presenting likable characters in very predictable scenes leading to the inevitable, and viewers are likely to forget it a few days after seeing it. The only extra on the DVD release is a behind-the-scenes featurette. Rather than working to have fun, Aries, just remember the good times and TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 try for more of the same. This way you It’s important to take responsibility won’t have to try so hard in the long for your actions, Taurus, even if those run. ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Rather than working to have fun, Aries, just remember the good times and try for more of the same. This way you won’t have to try so hard in the long ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 run. actions weren’t the most honerable. You’ll redeem yourself in the next few TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 days. It’s important to take responsibility for your actions, Taurus, even if those GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 actions weren’t the most honerable. Pay attention to even the smallest of You’ll redeem yourself in the next few details, days. Gemini. This will help you be week. In - May 22/Jun 21 GEMINI fact, you may like it so much Pay attention to even the smallest of that you stick with it. details, Gemini. This will help you be precise in allJun 22/Jul 22 do this CANCER - things that you week.are fact, you most like it so much You In at your may persuasive this that you stick withuse it to your advanweek, Cancer, so it. CANCER - Jun around you will not be deavors. Others 22/Jul 22 You are at your most persuasive this able to resist you. week, Cancer, so use it to your advantage by dabbling in some financial enLEO - Others around deavors.Jul 23/Aug 23 you will not be Rather than putting able to resist you. all of yourself out precise in all things that you do this tage by dabbling in some financial en- some Jul 23/Aug surprise. This will LEO - things as a 23 make you seem all yourself out Rather than puttingevenofmore irresistable. there as you typically do, Leo, leave some things as a surprise. This will VIRGO - seem even 22 make you Aug 24/Sept more irresistable. elegant way is a breath of fresh Your VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 and circumstance, you quietly make a Your elegant way in this world. Cheers place for yourself is a breath of fresh air, you. While others are all pomp to Virgo. and circumstance, you quietly make a place for yourself in this23 LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct world. Cheers to you. there as you typically do, Leo, leave air, Virgo. While others are all pomp body and feel the recharge that this SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 brings. Indulge your senses this week, Libra, by hitting a spa or taking a stroll LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 through nature. Reconnect with LiIndulge your senses this week, your body hitting spa or taking a stroll bra, byand feela the recharge that this brings. through nature. Reconnect with your You have a knack for getting your point across and helping SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22others see You your wayknack rightgetting your that have a is the for way. Use this point across and helping others see to your advantage at work when you that yourscore is the right way. Use this need to way a big deal. to your advantage at work when you need to score a big-deal. 23/Dec 21 SAGITTARIUS Nov SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 may yourself, Sagittarius. You just It’s time to see how far you can push find that the boundaries you set were yourself, Sagittarius. You just may self-perceived and that the sky truly is find that the boundaries you set were the limit. self-perceived and that the sky truly is the limit. It’s time to see how far you can push Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle Answer to Last Week’s Puzzle CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 You need to speak up, Capricorn, CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 even though what you have to say has the You need to speak up, Capricorn, even potential to you someone. There is though what hurt have to say has thea flaw in to plan that must be brought potential the hurt someone. There is a to light. flaw in the plan that must be brought to light. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18blessings Pay close attention to the Pay close have in life, Aquarius. This that you attention to the blessings that you have in to stay positive when is the ideal way life, Aquarius. This is the ideal way to stay positive when you’re faced with a tough situation in you’re facedcome. a tough situation in the days to with the days to come. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 People can’t understand why you are People can’t understand why you are focusing in on the most trivial of defocusing in on the most trivial of details. It’s because details thrill you, Pitails. It’s because details thrill you, Pisces. Press on with your plan. sces. Press on with your plan. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20