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Friday, August 28, 2009
Arts / Today's Top Five / News Today's Top 5: Friday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 8:00 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, Aug. 28, 2009 — as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
• Death Under Cover at Grand Central Events
• Kung Fu Panda screening at Symphony Park
• MitOsis Live, featuring comedians Colby Davis and James Lee Walker II at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre
• Summer Sketch at Actor's Theatre of Charlotte
• AM at The Evening Muse
Film / Film Reviews / News In the Loop: Savage satire
Posted By Matt Brunson on Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 12:00 AM
By Matt Brunson
IN THE LOOP
***1/2
DIRECTED BY Armando Iannucci
STARS Peter Capaldi, Tom Hollander
With only a couple of notable exceptions, American films about the war in the Middle East have tended to be so ineffectual that audiences are less inclined to wring their hands over the real-world events being addressed and more likely to wring filmmaker necks over wasting their time. Leave it to the Brits, then, to make a topical movie that actually matters — and trust the cheeky bastards to also take that unexpected extra step by turning it into a comedy.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Film / Film Reviews / News Taking Woodstock: Bad vibes
Posted By Matt Brunson on Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 11:55 PM
By Matt Brunson
TAKING WOODSTOCK
DIRECTED BY Ang Lee
STARS Demetri Martin, Imelda Staunton
A major disappointment from director Ang Lee, Taking Woodstock purports to tell the true story of how the legendary youth festival came together in time for a few blissful days of peace and music during the summer of '69. Forget, for a moment, that Michael Wadleigh's Oscar-winning 1970 documentary Woodstock basically functions as the beginning, middle and end of the event's filmic chronicle; on its own terms, Taking Woodstock is a dramatically shaky work, misguided in some spots and misleading in others.
Film / Film Reviews / News Play the Game strikes out
Posted By Matt Brunson on Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 11:50 PM
By Matt Brunson
PLAY THE GAME
*
DIRECTED BY Marc Fienberg
STARS Paul Campbell, Andy Griffith
Andy Griffith is a TV legend and a North Carolina legend, but as far as his big-screen legacy is concerned, it basically boils down to his award-worthy film debut in 1957's superb A Face in the Crowd, his reprisal of his breakthrough Broadway and television role in the 1958 movie adaptation No Time for Sergeants, and his lovely supporting turn in 2007's Waitress. Adding this feeble comedy to his resume at this late date changes nothing, although who am I to argue with an 83-year-old who's admirably keeping fit and focused?
Griffith, absurdly forced to take second billing under TV actor Paul Campbell (late of the new Battlestar Galactica, now on the new Knight Rider), plays Joe, a widower hoping for companionship during his twilight time at a retirement home. Joe's grandson David (Campbell), a self-styled player who has no trouble scoring with the women, elects to teach Joe the various steps on how to be a ladies' man, a concept Joe has trouble grasping since he's always subscribed to the notion of true love. But as the two men spend time together, Joe predictably learns how to woo the widows (among them ones played by Doris Roberts and Liz Sheridan) while David predictably learns how to truly care about a woman after he meets and falls for perky Julie (Marla Sokoloff).
The David-Julie material is completely stale, save for a last-minute twist that's clever but also problematic in both execution and intent. The Joe segments could be worthwhile if writer-director Marc Fienberg treated the dating habits of the elderly with more thought and respect and with less emphasis on ridiculous sight gags (Joe decked out in "playah" duds) and lame Viagra jokes. The last-named does lead to an extended close-up of Joe's face as he receives the first blow job of his life. And those who consider this the highlight of the film will want to stay seated for the end-credits outtake, where Griffith improvises an orgasm that seems to last as long as the entire eight-year run of The Andy Griffith Show.
Boomer with Attitude / News A great songwriter is gone
Posted By John Grooms on Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 5:12 PM
A great songwriter died yesterday, a woman who helped give rock 'n' roll a boost in the early '60s when schlockmeisters were trying to eviscerate the young art form. Ellie Greenwich, who died Wednesday at age 68, wrote classic girl group songs like “Be My Baby,” “River Deep Mountain High,” “And Then He Kissed Me,” “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” and lots more.
She started writing songs with husband Jeff Barry, as part of the corps of Brill Building rock-pop songwriters that also included the likes of Carole King and Neil Sedaka. In the 1980s, a Broadway musical, Leader of the Pack, based on her songs, was a big hit. You can find more info on Ellie Greenwich, but also check out the immortal Crystals, for whom Greenwich and Barry wrote this song, “Da Doo Ron Ron.
Film / Film News / News Opening Friday
Posted By Matt Brunson on Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 3:16 PM
The Final Destination -Bobby Campo, Nick Zano
Halloween II - Tyler Mane, Malcolm McDowell
In the Loop - Peter Capaldi, Tom Hollander
Play the Game - Paul Campbell, Andy Griffith
Revanche - Johannes Krisch, Irina Potapenko
Taking Woodstock -Demetri Martin, Eugene Levy
Arts / See & Do: The Weekender / News The Weekender
Posted By Anita Overcash on Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 3:10 PM
Check out these events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area this weekend— as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28
Symphony Park
Tonight you can check out a film screening of Kung Fu Panda on the lawn of Symphony Park at SouthPark Mall. And best of all, it’s free.
• Comedy Comedians Colby Davis and James Lee Walker II make up mitOsis live, a show aimed at laughter, happening at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre. more...
• Music The L.A. based group, known as AM is in town to bring its musical mix of sounds, from pop to soul, to the stage of The Evening Muse. more...
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29
Ovens Auditorium
It's show time at Ovens Auditorium and Cedric The Entertainer is in the house. Be prepared to be heavily entertained.
• Food Service is personable and food is made with loving care at Passion 8 Bistro. more...
• Comedy If an evening of sketch comedy is what you want, look no further. Summer Sketch at Actor's Theatre of Charlotte is ready for some funny business with subjects ranging from Broadway to wrestling, fairytales to philosophy, and court TV to technology. more...
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
Crüe Fest, featuring bands like Godsmack, Theory of a Deadman, Drowning Pool, Charm City Devils and of course, Mötley Crüe is set to rock Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre today. Now, ain't that a prescription to kick-start your heart?
• Sports Charlotte Roller Girls’ intra-league bout between the Fraid Knots and the Cockpit Candies happens tonight at Bojangles’ Coliseum. Wheel there be action? Of course, it’s roller derby. more...
• Theater The Color Purple, a moving musical presented by Oprah Winfrey, continues with its final performance at Belk Theater. more...
Film / Film Reviews / News Revanche explores heavy themes
Posted By Web Editor on Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 2:53 PM
(The drama Revanche, an Oscar nominee this year for Best Foreign Language Film, opens in Charlotte tomorrow. Following is Curt Holman’s review from the Atlanta Creative Loafing.)
Götz Spielmann's crime drama Revanche arrives in theaters just in time to shore up Austria’s cultural reputation. While Sacha Baron Cohen puts the most frivolous face imaginable on faux-Austrian pop culture in Brüno, Revanche renews the country’s credentials for serious artistry with a sober, surprising character study initially disguised as a thriller about star-crossed lovers and organized crime.
News 'Cash for appliances' coming soon
Posted By Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman on Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 2:17 PM
The federal government has set aside stimulus funds to buy back clunker appliances. States, who will create their own rebate programs, are required to submit their clunker program plans by October. Expect the money to hit the streets late this year or in early 2010.
The ultimate hope for the program is three-fold: It will help American households become more energy-efficient, which will benefit the environment. At the same time, the program will help consumers save money on their energy bill while boosting sales for retailers and manufacturers.
The US government is in the process of forming a new program designed to boost struggling home appliance manufacturers and retailers (and the environment) by spurring cautious consumers to buy energy efficient models. The program will reward consumers who buy qualifying Energy Star models of appliances (refrigerators, washing machines, etc.), hopefully increasing sales while reducing harm to the environment.According to a report by the Baltimore Sun , the federal government has set aside $300 million in stimulus money, which it will give to states. Each state will develop its own reward program. Maryland, for example, which will receive $5.4 million dollars, is working with its utility companies already running appliance rebate programs to develop the new program. The government is encouraging states to include heating and cooling appliances and water heaters in the rebate system. All states must submit their plans to federal officials by October 15, and rebate money could be available by the end of this year or early next year.
More from The Environmental News Network.
The N Word / News Ted Kennedy: The lion takes a rest
Posted By Nsenga Burton on Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Ted Kennedy died yesterday and I must say that I am sad. No, he was not perfect, but he was consistent. Luckily for many he did not become president but was allowed to work in the Senate, paving the way for the Voting Rights Act, Immigration Act of 1965 and the Anti-Apartheid Act, which called for sanctions against South Africa, pressuring the country to end it's racist regime. He symbolized what a senator should be: a man who works hard for his constituents and the world community. Ted Kennedy was one in a million and his leadership in the Senate will be truly missed.
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Battle of the Hoods: Round 2 55
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Is this it for the Outer Banks?
European scientists now believe Global Warming is accelerating faster than they originally predicted.
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And now the good news . . . Ann Coulter's sales drop dramatically
