Diversions

Richard Ollarsaba has packed a lot of music, and a lot of mileage, into the 11 years since he graduated from Corona del Sol High School.

The title stands for “Big Friendly Giant,” and the title character is just that—a pleasant colossus (Mark Rylance) whose job is deliver pleasant dreams.

For all the faults of his movies, even for all the supposed great faults of his character, I’ve always had a soft spot for director Brian De Palma.

The Angry Birds franchise began in 2009 as a video game, the object of which was to launch roly-poly little birds from a slingshot at little green pigs.

The Arc and Sprout Film Festival— Showcasing films about, starring, and in some cases made by people with intellectual and development disabilities, this 2nd annual fest, presented by The Arc of Arizona and Chandler-Gilbert Arc, can be taken in all in one day.

Back in 2009 Jane Austen collaborated with another young writer. A fellow named Seth Grahame-Smith added cannibal ghouls and martial arts action scenes to Austen’s 1813 masterpiece Pride and Prejudice, and called the results Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

Next time you’re driving along one of Tempe’s streets and a behemoth utility truck looms alongside, don’t worry that an alien mothership has landed.

Now in theaters, and the leader in this year’s Oscar nominations: The Revenant; Norm of the North