Native son’s ‘Short Term 12’ is worthy of high acclaim

The drama "Short Term 12," written and directed by Maui native son Destin Daniel Cretton and playing at the Kahala 8 theaters, is outstanding. It’s about troubled teens in a foster-care facility and received rave reviews nationally.

Its star, Brie Larson, 23, as Grace, is superb. She reminds me of Jennifer Lawrence, also 23. John Gallagher Jr. also stands out. Both portray staffers in their 20s who work with youngsters every day and report to higher "more qualified" therapists who are not as close to the kids as they are. Grace, much-loved by the kids, has a troubled past herself.

Cretton worked in such a facility after college graduation. Hopefully he will receive Oscar notice. I may be showing some bias here, but hey, nothing like hoping that a local boy will make it big. Check out "Short Term 12." You will likely walk out feeling good …

KALAKAUA AVENUE shut down for a street party and was jammed with people enjoying entertainment and buying food from booths Saturday night. It was all for the rebranding of DFS Galleria. The large three-level store at Kalakaua and Royal Hawaiian avenues is now known as T Galleria — T stands for travelers. The first two floors are open for shopping by the public. The third floor is duty-free and available only to international travelers.

A red-carpet walk on Royal Hawaiian to Kalakaua for invited guests was lined by Polynesian dancers and drummers. The gala inside the Galleria drew an international cast:DFS Chairman and CEO Philippe Schaus; DFS cofounder Robert Miller‘s daughters, Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece and Alexandra von Furstenberg;Daniel Dae Kimof "Hawaii Five-0"; actor Ingo Rademacher; Japanese-Argentine model Jessica Celeste Michibata; Taiwanese actor Ethan Ruan; English singer-songwriter Estelle and DJ Rashida, who is, believe it or not, a disc jockey. Starr Kalahiki, Taimane and the Noisettes, rockers from London, performed outside at the party …

Regular isle visitor Kenzo Tsujimoto, 72, has made it big as CEO of the Capcom video games in Japan and now he’s also on his way to making his name as a producer of high-quality wine in California’s Napa Valley. He calls them "cult wines," but you have to be wealthy to be a member of that cult.

"I wish to open a wine bar and restaurant here in Hawaii," he wrote in an email. "We are now studying the feasibility."

Tsujimoto has an apartment here and was spotted in BLT Steak at the Trump International Hotel while here last month. It’s not surprising he was in BLT: His Kenzo Estate wines are carried there, as they are in many excellent Honolulu dining spots. Kenzo wine prices at BLT range from $240 to $300 a bottle, assistant GM John Romero said. They are $80 to $250 when purchased at the winery or when ordered online at KenzoEstate.com. They are not sold in stores.

Tsujimoto has a connection with Thomas Keller, owner of the world-famous French Laundry restaurant in Napa Valley. Visitors to Kenzo Estate can taste wines and have sandwiches from Keller’s Bouchon restaurant, also in Napa, for $80. There are tastings priced lower, but no Bouchon sandwiches …

PBS HAWAII presents "Life Begins at 80 … and the Music Never Ends: An Evening with Joy Abbott and Betty Loo Taylor" Monday at 7:30 p.m. The singer and jazz pianist perform classics and standards. Jimmy Borges drops by for a cameo performance. Abbott and Taylor combined in 2008 to record "For All We Know," which won a Na Hoku Hanohano Award for jazz album of the year …

———

Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.