It's aiming to reopen again sometime in spring 2021.
Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
In response to the current high rates of COVID-19 infection around Fort Worth, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is temporarily suspending its public hours, closing the museum to daily visitors, according to a December 29 release.
As the museum is currently open only on Saturdays and Sundays, the closure will go into effect on January 2.
The museum will instead move to a hybrid programming through the winter, continuing to offer in-person learning opportunities and special events, as well as digital experiences. In-person programs like Little Scholars and Museum School will go on, albeit with limited openings. Other events, like Noon Year's Eve, field trips, and more, will transition into virtual events.
“We are focused on engaging museum guests by moving many of our programs online and special one-of-a-kind events,” said Van Romans, Museum President, in a statement. “We will also use this time to design and develop new exhibits and guest experiences to delight the community after full reopening in Spring 2021.”
The museum recently announced a new high-tech exhibit that will allow visitors to track current science-related events around the world. That exhibit is scheduled to debut in spring 2021, putting it in line with the museum's intended reopening following the temporary closure.
The museum will continue working closely with its community educational partners during this time and will fully reopen to the public once it is safe to do so. Residents can check the museum website for up-to-date information about all offerings in 2021.
Comedy film duos have a long history, from Laurel and Hardy in the 1920s and ‘30s to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in movies like Baby Mama. But the majority of duos have either been friends or work partners, relationships that can be close, but not as close as family. The new film A Real Pain aims for the comedy that a great duo can bring, but hits deeper because the two lead characters are related to each other.
Benji (Kieran Culkin) and David (Jesse Eisenberg) are first cousins who decide to take a trip to Poland to visit the childhood home of their grandmother, who has recently passed. Their personalities could not be more different, with David buttoned-down and reserved and Benji extremely social, if a little wild. This contrast is on display from the moment they leave on their trip, affecting almost every aspect of their journey.
The two meet up with a diverse tour group in Poland, including guide James (Will Sharpe), recently divorced Marcia (Jennifer Grey), married couple Mark (Daniel Oreskes) and Diane (Liza Sadovy), and Eloge (Kurt Egyiawan), an African man who has converted to Judaism. As the group visits various historical sites, David confronts contrasting feelings about Benji, who goes from charming to abrasive seemingly at the drop of a hat.
Written and directed by Eisenberg, the film is about both the family we have and the history of those who came before us. With Benji and David being Jewish and their grandmother having escaped from the Nazis in World War II, the themes hit harder than they might in other situations. Eisenberg takes care to honor his Jewish ancestors both in the way he has Benji and David talk about their grandmother and the places they visit.
But even though emotions are heightened due to the significance of the trip, the film is far from a dour affair. Benji keeps things interesting at almost all times with a series of impulsive decisions, many that are entertaining for both the tour group and the audience watching the film. He is one of those film characters that is great to watch on screen, but would likely be too much to handle if you were confronted with him in real life.
The relationship between Benji and David is a complicated one; the two obviously have love for each other, but they rarely see eye-to-eye on the best way to approach certain situations. This tension keeps the film grounded, and Eisenberg does a great job at showing the push-and-pull the two cousins have with each other. The little moments, especially when Benji and David go their separate ways, say a lot as the characters try to reconcile where each is at in their respective lives.
Eisenberg has always been an understated performer, so this role is almost perfect for him. Culkin, fresh off his Emmy-winning role in HBO’s Succession, is an ideal foil for Eisenberg, as he has a manic energy that he can control or not control at will. It’s also nice to see Grey in action again, as she brings just the right touch to her supporting role.
The drama in A Real Pain comes from the life experiences of its two main characters, which are on full display despite the story only doling out details in small doses. The film is subtle yet powerful, a testament to Eisenberg’s filmmaking ability and the actors never trying to make too much of their scenes.
