Page 6 March 15, 2018 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
the missing author.
The Vanishing of Sidney Hall is a heavyhanded
character drama that deals with a
young man’s personal struggle with adult
responsibilities. The story itself, while an
interesting premise, follows a non-linear
structure that feels like the script was dropped
and the pages were scattered about only to
be put back out of order. The story weaves
in and out of three different timelines, with
each one heartbreaking for a variety of
reasons. For as dark as the film is on the
page, however, it is an absolute beauty to
watch on screen. Cinematographer Daniel
Katz creates breathtaking images of romantic
pastel landscapes and vibrant cityscapes that
feel as if it’s buzzing with spontaneity and
mystery.
The performances from Lerman and
Fanning are spellbinding, with extra praise
going to Lerman for also being one of
the executive producers of the film. Kyle
Chandler as the persistent detective brings
an eagerness to the story, and Michelle
Monaghan as Sidney’s mother strikes all
the right emotional chords. The Vanishing of
Sidney Hall premiered at the 2017 Sundance
Film Festival -- and while its subject matter
may weigh heavy, the overall package is an
emotionally engaging viewing experience for
anyone willing to take the journey.
119 minutes. The Vanishing of Sidney Hall
is rated R for language and some sexual
references. Now streaming on Amazon. •
Reviewed by Katrena Woodson,
Teen and Young Reader Librarian,
El Segundo Public Library
This week’s review features a few picture
books that are perfect to read for Easter. The
first book is called Fancy Nancy and the
Missing Easter Bunny and it is part of the
Fancy Nancy series by Jane O’Conner. In
this installment of O’Conner’s popular series,
Fancy Nancy can’t wait for Easter! To make
it even more exciting, the class pet, Nibbles
the bunny, is staying at the Clancys’ house
over the weekend. When some of Nancy’s
friends come over for an Easter egg hunt,
Nibbles goes missing! Nancy and her friends
take it upon themselves to find Nibbles before
anyone notices that the bunny has gone
missing. The kids must use their problemsolving
skills and teamwork in order to find
Nibbles. This is a perfect springtime read
for older readers looking for a lighthearted
adventure. Readers from age 4-8 will find
this an enjoyable story, especially if they
are fans of the Fancy Nancy series already.
The second book, Everybunny Dance! by
Ellie Sandnall, is perfect if you want to get
your kids up and moving around. This is a
fun, high-energy, read-aloud book. The brief
rhyming phrases lay the groundwork for the
bunnies dancing, singing and playing. The
bunnies are having a spectacular time until…
a fox shows up! All the bunnies run and hide
until they realize that the fox only wanted to
Entertainment
join in with their fun. The illustrations are
colorful and detailed, giving readers plenty
to look at as they proceed. Not only will kids
love acting out the dance moves with the
story, but it could also provide a challenging
counting book since there are as many
as 24 bunnies per page. Children ages 4-8
will love this rambunctious tale.
The El Segundo Public Library offers
access to its collection of titles in a variety
of formats, including traditional hardback,
e-books and books on CD. To check out
Fancy Nancy and the Missing Easter Bunny
by Jane O’Conner and Everybunny Dance!
by Ellie Sandall, or any other title on your
to-read list, please visit the library to apply
for your library card, or please contact the
reference staff for further assistance. •
Film Review
Morgan Rojas.
Check It Out
Everybunny Dance! by Ellie Sandnall. Fancy Nancy and the Missing Easter Bunny by Jane O’Conner.
Katrena Woodson.
Tortured Artist Is Overwhelmed
in The Vanishing of Sidney Hall
By Morgan Rojas
for www.cinemacy.com
In today’s day and age, thanks to our
continuously connected world, it is more and
more common for kids to catapult to fame and
achieve a level of success that was previously
not attainable until adulthood. Take Emma
Gonzalez and Malala Yousafzai, for example,
and their fight for social justice that has
cemented their reputations as modern-day
heroines. They have become the face of the
millennial revolution. Luckily, they seem
capable of dealing with the price of fame
-- both the highs and the lows -- but what
happens when the pressure of the spotlight
is just too much?
In director Shawn Christensen’s drama
The Vanishing of Sidney Hall, he explores
this coming-of-age theme through the titular
protagonist Sidney (Logan Lerman) and his
unusual way of coping with unexpected
success. Sidney begins as a controversial
and boundary-pushing high school writer
who outshines his peers by a landslide and
considers Hunter S. Thompson and David
Foster Wallace aspirational heroes. When a
teacher takes notice and submits his work to
a publishing house, Sidney’s life is forever
The Vanishing of Sidney Hall. Courtesy of A24.
changed. He falls in love with his next-door
neighbor Melody (Elle Fanning), signs a book
deal, skyrockets to an international bestseller
and then goes missing.
Fame wasn’t something Sidney wanted.
It was just a byproduct of the surprising
outcome of the success of his page-turning
debut novel, Suburban Tragedy. The book,
which was based on the death of one of his
high school classmates, flies off the shelves.
Meanwhile, Sidney flies off the handle. He
begins having panic attacks and his ego
swells to the point that it puts his relationship
with Melody at risk. Ultimately he leaves
town, but not without burning every copy
of Suburban Tragedy he can find. Sidney
has become a “somebody,” but all he wants
to be now is a “nobody.” His actions seem
inspired by Fahrenheit 451, while the reaction
to success seems more like Joaquin Phoenix.
Nonetheless, Sydney’s disappearance piques
the interest of an amateur detective (Kyle
Chandler), who makes it his mission to find
“A film is never really good unless the
camera is an eye in the head of a poet.”
– Orson Welles
Fancy Nancy and the Missing
Easter Bunny/Everybunny Dance!
“There are many little ways to enlarge your
child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.”
– Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
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