26 | May 4, 2017 | The orland park prairie orland park opprairie.com MINI of ORLAND PARK Saturday, May 13 11am - 2pm Test drive a new MINI and receive a $500 Credit Voucher towards the Lease or Purchase of any new MINI in-stock, offer valid until May 31, 2017. Enjoy live entertainment, food and beverages and multiple raffle drawings. Prizes include: a Sony 32" BRAVIA TV, MINI Sticker Kit from the Daytona Championship Car, MINI display car and MINI accessories. Plus, prizes from P.F. Chang's, Submarine City, Orland Park Bakery, Girl In The Park and Nothing Bundt Cakes in Orland Park. Check out our MINI Car Show featuring the members of Chicago MINI Motoring Club, Northwest Indiana MINI Maniacs and MINI in Northern Illinois. Live MINI and motor hard. 708.460.4545 • 11030 W. 159th St, Orland Park Located next to BMW of Orland Park www.miniorlandpark.com
opprairie.com Life & Arts the orland park prairie | May 4, 2017 | 27 rating: PG-13 | genre: Biography, Drama, History | run time: 115 minutes ‘The Founder’ bitters one’s taste on McDonald’s Ray Kroc Virginia Davis Orland Park resident As the last credits rolled out of sight on the big screen and the lights came up, this movie-goer remained seated, trying to process her feelings about this fellow Ray Kroc, cleverly portrayed by actor Michael Keaton (“Batman,” “Birdman”) in the biopic “The Founder.” Was he worthy of admiration for his stubborn tenacity and endless years of pounding the pavement in pursuit of fame and financial success? Or, was he a cunning conniver, stealing ideas and trampling over the very people who helped him reach the top — namely the affable but meek McDonald brothers, Dick and Mac (aptly played by John Carroll Lynch and Nick Offerman)? The movie takes place largely in Chicago and its suburbs (though, surprisingly, was shot entirely in Georgia and New Mexico). The year is 1954, and Kroc, age 52, is at it again, this time running around and hawking his super-duper but cumbersome five-spindle milkshake maker, with dismal results. He has the enthusiasm, charm and drive to be an effective salesman; it is the product and boring spiel that turn people away. Disheartened but not yet willing to give up, Kroc sets out westward to southern California to check out what’s what in the drive-in restaurant business. Arriving in San Bernardino, he encounters owners Dick and Mac McDonald at their busy, thriving burger stand (named McDonald’s, of course) and eagerly accepts an invitation of a tour of the kitchen. He watches in awe, as the employees run around in sync and with calm precision, delivering fast and efficient service while serving up a delicious 35-cent meal of burger, fries and Coke to throngs of hungry customers. Unlike the post-World War II era drive-ins, where food was served on trays brought to customers in their cars, patrons could now place their orders at the window and enjoy a fast yet satisfying meal, conveniently served in disposable wrappers and paper cups. Kroc is especially captivated by the restaurant’s golden arches, a mere architectural adornment for the brothers, but to Kroc, a mighty symbol of American power and prosperity. Kroc, the hapless yet shrewd entrepreneur, had just stumbled upon the world’s first, true introduction to fast food, as we know it today, and he instinctively knew he had to have a slice of the action. Wholly impressed with everything he has just witnessed, Kroc insists on franchising the business. The brothers are skeptical, citing their own past failure at controlling every aspect of a franchise as absentee bosses. In the end, they relent, a contract is drawn up and Kroc opens up his first McDonald’s eatery in Des Plaines. Though business is booming, Kroc soon grows restless, his mind constantly churning up new ideas and ways to improve and expand the brand, much to the disapproval of the more conservative McDonald brothers. To Kroc’s credit and per the terms of his contract, he seeks the brothers’ permission for every innovation he dreams up, but despite adamant refusals from the own- Handmaidens Youth Ministry helps children and teens fighting cancer ers he boldly and shamelessly plows ahead, brothers be damned. Despite his decidedly cutthroat means of getting what he wants, Ray Kroc clearly manipulates with an underlying charm that captivates his franchisee investors, even winning the heart of the wife of one of those investors. This seems like the right moment to introduce Kroc’s long-suffering and seemingly depressed wife, Ethel Kroc, played by veteran actress Laura Dern. Poor Ethel has stood by her own version of “Ralph Kramden” and his half-baked, get-rich-quick schemes for years, patiently tolerating her husband’s neglect and eternal promises of fame, fortune and dinners at the country club. The moment over dinner when Ray asks his wife for a divorce, Ethel’s expression is one of resignation and defeat. She does not contest his request. (In an effort to inflict more hurt, or perhaps because he is simply that greedy, Kroc denies his exwife any share of his growing empire in the divorce proceedings.) This fact is relevant in further understanding the character of this man. Over time, Kroc’s success and popularity far eclipsed the brothers, and six years after opening his first restaurant, he bought out their business for $2.7 million, arches and all. He assumed the McDonald’s name as his own (after all, he mused, who would want to eat at a place called Kroc’s?), and even claimed to be the originator of the golden arches. He further reneged on a handshake promise to share his profits with his ex-partners for life. In the end, the viewer is left with ambivalent feelings about this driven, hardworking salesman, which, incidentally, was what producer John Lee Hancock (“The Blind Side”, “Saving Mr. Banks”) intended all along, according to published reviews. Did success spoil Ray Kroc? For certain, the success that he enjoyed mid-life was heady and exciting — never mind that it was made on the backs of others. His business tactics were less than honorable. Still, Ray Kroc was the quintessential overnight sensation, thirty years in the making. “Fortune favors the bold” and “persistence” were among his favorite mantras of the day. In present-day America, it is hard to imagine a time when the fast-food industry did not exist. Today, there are, reportedly, more than 36,000 Mc- Donald’s restaurants in 118 countries, serving millions of customers a day. That is a lot of burgers and fries! After seeing the movie and knowing what I do about “The Founder” of McDonald’s, will I still patronize my local restaurant? The answer is “yes,” but if the first bite tastes a little bitter, I will know why. Have you seen a movie recently and want to let everyone know about it? The Orland Park Prairie is looking for residents to review the latest new releases for its Unscripted feature. The best reviews will be published in The Prairie and online at <strong>OP</strong>Prairie.com. Keep reviews around 400 words or fewer and try not to give away the key moments of the movie. Submit your review to bill@opprairie. com. Please include your name and phone number in the email. Submitted by Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation In the spirit of giving, the Handmaidens Youth Ministry of Saint Spyridon Hellenic Orthodox Church in Palos Heights are helping children and teens fighting cancer. The girls recently sponsored a toy and gift card drive to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundations. The girls collected hundreds of toys and $45 in gift cards to help children and teens fighting cancer. The Handmaidens at Saint Spyridon Hellenic Orthodox Church are girls between 7 and 17 years of age who work on service projects that teach young girls to offer their time and talents to the church and to the community at large. For more information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, contact Colleen Kisel at (708) 687-8697 or visit the Foundation’s website at www.treasu rechest.org. Saint Spyridon Hellenic Orthodox Church Handmaidens display donated toys for the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation. Photo submitted
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