Arts & Entertainment
Blank Stare
In case you were wondering, staring at random farm animals isn’t exactly thrilling. Not that barnyard voyeurism is the primary subject of The Men Who Stare at Goats, but it features more than enough to go around. The first major studio film by character actor Grant Heslov, Goats follows reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) as he ventures on a whim to the Middle East in an attempt to impress his estranged wife.
Guilty Pleasures: Hancock (2008)
What more can a guy ask for than a comedy with flying people and explosions? John Hancock (Will Smith) is a misunderstood lowlife with Superman-like powers who not only stops crime but also smashes buildings and cars for fun.
Ready to Rumble
As The Men Who Stare at Goats demonstrates this week, there’s no right way to represent a war on the big screen.
Royal Ghosts of Ancient Iraq
Ah, the Penn Museum. It’s so close, and yet so difficult to motivate yourself to visit. If you haven’t set foot inside the picturesque South Street locale since your freshman year toga party, consider checking out the museum’s fascinating new exhibit: Iraq’s Ancient Past: Rediscovering Ur’s Royal Cemetery.
Flying High
Evoking something between Itzhak Perlman and Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Chicago-based singer/songwriter/violinist Andrew Bird took the stage on Sunday night clad in a scarf, a tattered suit coat and no shoes.
Second-Rate Island
Even though Flight of the Conchords predated Andy Samberg’s The Lonely Island, I Told You I Was Freaky feels slightly worn-out; Flight of the Conchords is a novelty act that’s no longer novel.
Defibrillator: Elvis Costello, "My Aim is True"
I spent much of my teenage years being pissy and rebellious. Not pissy in the emo way, or rebellious in the cool way, just a little dissatisfied and willing to espouse my contrarian beliefs to anyone who would listen.
For the iPod in Your Head
In 2009, what makes good hip hop? It can be a tricky question for young MCs who, like most college students, were barely old enough to speak when the genre had its golden age in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
Artist to Watch: Jared Evan
In what seemed like a blink of an eye, rapper Jared Siegel dropped his last name, started hanging out with Diddy and got signed to Interscope Records.
What A Thrill
To say that This Is It has emerged as the most anticipated film of the year is an understatement.
Guilty Pleasures: Flash Gordon (1980)
There’s no escaping it: Flash Gordon is pretty awful. Given the franchise’s sci-fi pulp serial origins, this sub-par quality isn’t exactly shocking.
Behind the Lens
One of the most important relationships on a film set is between the actor and the director. Actors depend on directors to portray their characters with insight, while directors rely on actors to convert their creative visions into a reality.
Into the Sky
At some point or another, almost everyone has marveled over the journey and mystery of Amelia Earheart.
To Infinity! Almost...
That an English-language Astro Boy film has actually made it to the big screen should be considered an accomplishment in itself.
Proper Education
“I feel old, but not very wise,” admits a 17-year-old Jenny (Carey Mulligan), a familiar feeling to students who have accomplished so much, and yet nothing at all.
Guilty Pleasures: Selena (1997)
Once upon a time, Jennifer Lopez proved that she could act. Okay, maybe we're being a little harsh on Jenny from the Block, but in 1997 she did in fact exhaust her limited acting skills playing the title role in Selena, a biopic of Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez.
In Real Life
Jesus of Nazareth (b. 0-30 AD) Not everyone can cause a stir about the most famous historical figure of all time, but Mel Gibson achieved that — and put a whole new spin on Jesus — with The Passion of the Christ (2004). For the fans: Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (b.
The Imperfect Storm
Rain Machine, Kyp Malone’s solo project, seems to operate under the umbrella of two different styles: the multi-instrumental sound strewn across the opening of the album and the soulful-crooner-over-guitar tone that ends Malone’s brainchild.
One Track Mind: 10.22.09
“Shoot First” by Apathy, featuring B-Real and Celph Titled Apathy’s message is simple: “Shoot first, ask questions last.” This lack of apology is just part of what makes this track so damn good.
