Stax gets 'a-maizing'
birthday recognition

There are a few more days left to get in on the “MAiZE craze” at the Agricenter.   This year all about a tribute to Stax Records’ 50th Anniversary, with the trademark “Stax snapping fingers”  smack dab in the middle of 8 acres of corn. 

If you know the way through the Stax maze you can walk the pathway in about a half an hour, but one hour is the normal time it takes visitors to wind through more than 2 miles of twists and turns with some 85 decision points.

There are approximately 150 such MAiZE sites across the United States, Canada and Europe.  The ‘maizes’ are the creation of Utah’s Brett Herbst, who created the first corn maze in 1996. His original agricultural puzzle in American Fork, Utah drew media attention when it attracted about 18,000 people in only three weeks, and he has designed more than 1,200 mazes since 1996.

Herbst, 36, is said to be a hands-on kind of guy, involved in all areas of his company’s year-round operations – from designing, cutting and marketing to consulting.  He still manages the   flagship maze in Utah, Cornbelly's Corn Maze & Pumpkin Fest at Thanksgiving Point

The MAiZE will be Haunted Friday and Saturday nights and open through Halloween night. 

Admission for the MAiZE is $8 for ages 12 and up, $6 for ages 6-11, and free for kids 5 and under. The Haunted Maze cost is $9 for ages 12 and up and $7 for ages 6-11.  For more information, call (901) 870-6338 or visit www.cornfieldmaze.com.It's located at the Agricenter, just south of the Farmer’s Market, across from the RV Park,

George Clooney (l) and Sidney Pollack discuss right and wrong in Michael Clayton.

Clooney steps forward
with maybe his best

Movie review
By Brown Burnett
MemphisMojo.com editor

Michael Clayton is the George Clooney star vehicle for which his fans have been waiting for several years now.    For the last few films he has camouflaged his talent to head ensemble casts as Ocean’s 11, 12 and 13 (2001-07) and Syriana (1995) come to mind.   He’s also chosen roles that allow him to simply blend in, such as Good Night and Good Luck (2006). Clooney has proven to be a pretty good comedy actor in Three Kings (1999) and in his two Coen brothers films, O Brother Where Art Thou (2000) and Intolerable Cruelty (2003) and now we see him starring in a drama that takes on the always popular topic of morality among the legal eagles - good lawyers vs. bad lawyers with an ominous evil corporation lurking  

Tony Gilroy directed Michael Clayton and does a bang-up job.  Among the films for which he’s written screenplays are the 3 big-budget, high-dollar Bourne movies (2002-07) and the underrated Proof of Life (2000) so he knows his action and suspense films.   Michael Clayton’s action is subdued and its suspense is understated, building slowly with each crease in the forehead of Clooney’s title character.

Clayton is a ‘fixer,’ a troubleshooter who takes care of a huge law firm’s emergencies.  A hit-and-run client tells Clooney/Clayton he had heard how great he is at his job  only to be corrected when Clayton says, “I’m a janitor,” referring to how he has to clean up missteps and screw-up by clients.  A few minutes later, we see Clooney pull his car off to the side of a back road and walk up a hill to look at some horses, when his leased Mercedes suddenly explodes in the background.   Why was he looking at the horses when he clearly didn’t have time for pastoral gazing?  And who’s trying to kill him by bombing his car?  We kick into flashback mode and we have our movie.

Clooney’s character is obviously deeply flawed, conflicted, broke and desperate but we don’t really know what type of person he is.  A good guy?  A bad guy?  A hard-luck case?   We then learn  that the hottest lawyer in Clooney’s firm, Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson) has simultaneously had a bi-polar relapse and an attack of conscience. But which came first, the bi-polar relapse or the conscience?  Edens’ timing couldn’t be worse since all this happens just before he was to lead the defense of a corporation that could make or break their law firm.

As Clooney digs into Wilkinson’s world, our hero/anti-hero is tired of his ‘fixer’ role and seems to want to do the right thing – for a change – and see if his friend is really telling the truth under all that madness.  And what if the claims of corporate shenanigans are real?    Who’s right?  Who’s wrong?  Who, if anyone, will be paid off? Clayton’s roadblocks to the truth include the always interesting Tilda Swinton as a desperate corporate climber and Clooney’s own law firm teammates such as Michael O’Keefe.  Clooney’s cop brother (David Lansbury) and the head of the firm (Sidney Pollack) are skeptical of this ‘white light’ conversion and to make things more complicated there are 2 shadowy private detectives Terry Serpico and Robert Prescott, who seem to resort to ‘any means necessary’ for their clients.

The suspense isn’t built around “who are the bad guys?” because we learn that right away.   Instead it’s all about the mystery of the evolution of Clooney’s character.  Is he seeking the truth in a true change of conscience or is he just trying to beat his creditors? That may not sound that suspenseful but the combination of Gilroy’s writing and directing, some plum-role acting by Wilkinson, and Clooney’s career-best performance make Michael Clayton one of the year’s best films.

I give Michael Clayton an ‘A-.’    It will be a surprise if Hollywood insider Clooney doesn’t come away with some Oscar recognition for  himself, the film and Wilkinson.

Friday, Oct. 26th
-Misc.-

THROUGH SUNDAY: River Arts Fest - Visual, performing, and culinary arts, art exhibitions, artist market, live music, and food tastings, 6-9 p.m., FREE, South Main Historic Arts District, Downtown, www.riverartsfest.org

-Theatre-
Through SUNDAY: William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer's Night Dream ," 8 p.m. @ Lohrey Stage, Theatre Memphis; 682-8323

Through Nov. 4: Bram Stoker's "Dracula," @ Hatiloo Theatre; 502-3486

-Dance-
Salsa Lessons. Free. Details: 755-8860. Fridays @ Celeste Dance Club-Studio

-Misc. -
Bean Bag Poetry Night. Fridays. 9:30 p.m. @ Nappi by Nature

Wine and Cheese Night. Fridays. 6-10 p.m. @ Seize the Clay (Poplar)

-Museums-
Through Jan. 6: "Pissarro: Creating the Impressionist Landscape," free with museum admission @ Brooks Museum; 544-6200

Through Dec. 2: Art Today exhibition @ Memphis Brooks Museum; 544-6200

Through Nov. 26: "Stax Here and Now - Current Images of the Stars of Stax Records" @ Stax Museum; 946-2535

Lee Friedlander, American, (b. 1934) Shiloh, 1981

Through Dec. 30: "Lee Friedlander's Shiloh" photographic exhibit @ Memphis Brooks Museum; 544-6200

Through Jan. 6: "Wrapped in Splendor" - Paisley Shawls from the Permanent Collection @ Memphis Brooks Museum; 544-6200

Through Jan. 13: "Vistas and Visions -American Printmakers in Mexico" @ Memphis Brooks Museum; 544-6200

Saturday, Oct. 27th
-Misc.-
Memphis Roller Derby Carnival: Live music by The Red Mollies, Organ Thief, The Vacant, Area 69, and DJ Zac Solution,a wheel of torture, arm wrestling contest,dunk tank, 7:30 p.m., $10 @ Skatepark of Memphis, 7740 Trinity #118, Cordova. 737-8448, www.memphisrollerderby.com

Architect's Party,costume party with live music by Dr. Zarr's Amazing Funk Monster, screening The Rocky Horror Picture Show. 8 p.m.-1 a.m. $25 @ Asken, Nixon and Ferguson, 1500 Union; 869-4243

Hollyweird Costume Party, live music, 9 p.m., Benefit for Friends for Life @ Mid-South Fairgrounds Creative Arts Building, 272-0855

THROUGH SUNDAY: River Arts Fest - Visual, performing, and culinary arts, art exhibitions, artist market, live music, and food tastings, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., FREE, South Main Historic Arts District, Downtown, www.riverartsfest.org

-Racing-

LAST DAY: NASCAR Busch Series Sam's Town 250 , @ Memphis Motorsports Park, 358-7223.

-Dance-
Ballet Memphis presents "A Midsummer Night's Dream, 8 p.m. @ The Orpheum, more info at 537-2525

-Memphis Symphony-
Debussy's "La Mer," featuring guest violinist Jennifer Koh, 8 p.m. @ The Cannon Center, 525-1515

-Theatre-
"All the Way from Magnolia Springs," one-woman comedy about a tomboy growing up in Mississipp, 8 p.m. @ Bartlett Performing Arts Center; 385-6440

Through SUNDAY: William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer's Night Dream ," 8 p.m. @ Lohrey Stage, Theatre Memphis; 682-8323

Through Nov. 4: Bram Stoker's "Dracula," @ Hatiloo Theatre; 502-3486

-Music-

Ravi Shankar and Anoushka Shankar, 8 p.m. @ Germantown Performing Arts Centre, 757-7256

The Daddy Mack Blues Band, 7:30 p.m. @ Center for Southern Folklore, 525-3655

Fall Out Boy, Plain White T's and others, 7 p.m. @ Mud Island Amphitheatre, 576-7241

Anita Baker, 7 p.m. @ DeSoto Civic Center, 662-280-9120

-Museums

The Avenue by Claude Pissarro

Through Jan. 6: "Pissarro: Creating the Impressionist Landscape," free with museum admission @ Brooks Museum; 544-6200

Through Dec. 2: Art Today exhibition @ Memphis Brooks Museum; 544-6200

Through Nov. 26: "Stax Here and Now - Current Images of the Stars of Stax Records" @ Stax Museum; 946-2535

Through Dec. 30: "Lee Friedlander's Shiloh" photographic exhibit @ Memphis Brooks Museum; 544-6200

Through Jan. 6: "Wrapped in Splendor" - Paisley Shawls from the Permanent Collection @ Memphis Brooks Museum; 544-6200

Through Jan. 13: "Vistas and Visions -American Printmakers in Mexico" @ Memphis Brooks Museum; 544-6200

-PinkPalace-
"Our Place in Space," Saturdays, Sharpe Planetarium, 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. (Saturdays only) ; 320-6320

Seasonal Stars Show, noon and 3 p.m. @ Pink Palace Planetarium (Saturdays only); 320-6320

Through November 9th: Hurricane on the Bayou, narrated by Meryl Streep @Pink Palace IMAX; 320-6320

Through November 9th:" Deep Sea:  Narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet" with an original score by Danny Elfman @ Pink Palace IMAX; 320-6320

Through Nov. 26: "Stax Here and Now - Current Images of the Stars of Stax Records" @ Stax Museum; 946-2535

Through SUNDAY: "On Track in Memphis," model train exhibit @ Pink Palace Museum: 320-6320

Sunday, Oct. 28th
LAST DAY: River Arts Fest - Visual, performing, and culinary arts, art exhibitions, artist market, live music, and food tastings, 11 a.m. -5 p.m., FREE, South Main Historic Arts District, Downtown, www.riverartsfest.org

-Dance-
Ballet Memphis presents "A Midsummer Night's Dream, 2 p.m. @ The Orpheum, more info at 525- 3000

-Memphis Symphony-
Debussy's "La Mer," featuring guest violinist Jennifer Koh, 2:30 p.m. @ Germantown Performing Arts Centre, 537-2525

-Music-

Jim Malcolm performs traditional Scottish folk songs, 4 p.m. @ Cafe Francisco, 400 N. Main,
276-1527

-Theatre-
Through Nov. 4: Bram Stoker's "Dracula," @ Hatiloo Theatre; 502-3486

LAST DAY: William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer's Night Dream ,"2 p.m. @ Lohrey Stage, Theatre Memphis; 682-8323

-Museums-
GUIDED TOUR of "Pissarro: Creating the Impressionist Landscape," free with museum admission @ Brooks Museum; 544-6200

Through Dec. 2: Art Today exhibition @ Memphis Brooks Museum; 544-6200

Through Dec. 30: "Lee Friedlander's Shiloh" photographic exhibit @ Memphis Brooks Museum; 544-6200

Through Jan. 6: "Wrapped in Splendor" - Paisley Shawls from the Permanent Collection @ Memphis Brooks Museum; 544-6200

Through Jan. 13: "Vistas and Visions -American Printmakers in Mexico" @ Memphis Brooks Museum; 544-6200

-Dance-
African Dance Class. Middle Eastern and North African dancing. 5 p.m. @ TheatreWorks

Ballroom Dancing Classes. $5. Sundays. 6 p.m. @ Berclair Civic Club

Middle Eastern Dance Class. 2-4 p.m. Sundays @ Rhodes College (Bryan Campus Life Center)

-Misc.-
South Main Fellowship—for people of any faith. 4 p.m. Sundays @ 387 S. Main

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