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(08/21/13 11:13pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Aaron Carter headlines a semester full of great upcoming concerts. Here's a look at his upcoming show, as well as a few other highlights.Aaron CarterBuskirk-Chumley Theater, Oct. 8Even though former pre-teen starlet Aaron Carter hasn’t released an album in 11 years, he’s visiting Bloomington. He comes to the Buskirk-Chumley as part of his “After Party Tour,” which could be a nod to the fact that he hasn’t released new music since he was 14. But now, at the ripe old age of 25, everyone’s invited to his party as he tours the U.S. and Canada. Even though he’s a legal adult now, it’s a safe bet that he still has a sweet tooth, too. Did you know that Carter’s hit “I Want Candy” is actually a cover from the 1960s? Carter’s brand of pop-rap worked well for his pre-teen self. He is the youngest male solo artist ever to have four top forty singles. But how will those hits stack up now that his voice has changed?Carter isn’t the only act coming through town this fall that will make audiences nostalgic. Even though we’re in a completely different era of music, most of us can still hum the “na-na-nas” in “Aaron’s Party.” Maybe that’s why he chose to stop in a college town full of millenials during this tour.Whether you choose to attend his concert ironically or sincerely, Carter ought to show you a good time. We’ll figure out if he’s still good at basketball.And, with any luck, Shaq himself might make a guest appearance.No AgeWaldron Arts Center, Sept. 15This L.A. duo comprised only of guitarist Randy Randall and drummer/vocalist Dean Sprunt is known for its experimental, noisy punk rock. But they come to Bloomington on the heels of their fourth release, “An Object,” which presents a quieter sound. Rather than the abrasive, driving punk of 2010’s “Everything In Between,” No Age let their songs brood and drone more on their new album. Having said that, don’t expect their live show not to be full of raucous energy. They are still a rock band, after all.WaxahatcheeRussian Recording, Sept. 22Brooklyn singer-songwriter Katie Crutchfield brings her talents to Bloomington with her band Waxahatchee. The critically acclaimed “Cerulean Salt,” released in March, presents an unpredictable style of rock and roll. It’s sometimes loud and sometimes quiet, but always raw and emotional.Crutchfield’s folky vocals and harmonies combine with guitars and bass which are often fuzzy and distorted. The intimate setting of Russian Recording will provide a good environment for her well-crafted songs to flourish.Titus AndronicusThe Bishop, Sept. 23These New Jersey punk prodigies are still supporting last year’s underrated “Local Business” with one of the fiercest live shows in the country. Consequence of Sound named Titus Andronicus the Best Live Act of the Year back in 2010, and their performances have only gotten tighter with time.For three albums, the band has perfected the art of writing emotive punk songs. Patrick Stickles’ emotionally transparent and heart-wrenching lyrics combined with the band’s explosive guitar leads and aggressive, shout-along choruses are a match made in punk heaven. For any non-believer, be sure to check out the band’s impressive debut, “The Airing of Grievances,” or 2010’s truly epic masterwork, “The Monitor.”Danny Brown and Action BronsonBluebird Nightclub, Sept. 24The “2 High 2 Die Tour” should please the hardcore hip-hop heads in town. The tour brings together Detroit rapper Danny Brown, known for his acclaimed 2011 mixtape “XXX,” and New York MC Action Bronson, a front-runner for the funniest rap personality the genre has seen in some time.While they both have plenty of hilarious quotables throughout their songs, don’t let that undersell their skill. Brown and Bronson are two of the most consistent rappers in the underground, and their talent as rhymers is undeniable.It’s worth noting that both artists have had their fair share of notoriety in the live setting — Danny recently received oral sex while performing, and Bronson is known to abandon the stage mid-performance to spit rhymes from the crowd. Expect a wild night and don’t forget to bring munchies.Laura StevensonThe Bishop, Oct. 2This Long Island singer-songwriter brings her unsung talents to Bloomington once again. Stevenson released her third album, “Wheel,” in April. Her brand of rock and roll takes influence from the indie rockers of the 1990s — the brash noise of Built To Spill and the quirky melancholy of Neutral Milk Hotel. Even though the Bishop is an intimate setting, don’t expect Laura to hold anything back.Charles BradleyBluebird Nightclub, Dec. 7At first glance, Charles Bradley might seem like a washed-up soul singer from yesteryear. But at the age of 64, his music career is only a few years old. His debut album, “No Time for Dreaming,” was released in 2011, and he comes to Bloomington after the release of his sophomore effort, “Victim of Love,” in April.Though his stage antics might be more reserved than those of James Brown, his vocals certainly aren’t. Bradley wails and croons with all the emotion of the soul greats of old, and his set will provide some welcome nostalgia.
(04/25/13 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>We got the best of the best for your wet, hot American summer, from your blockbuster films to new albums from indie darlings.MoviesThe Great GatsbyEveryone, mark your calendars for May 10, because there’s no party like a Jay Gatsby party. Director Baz Luhrmann brings the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel to life on the big screen. The film plays out the relationship of Midwesterner Nick Carraway and his neighbor, the mysterious and affluent Jay Gatsby, and all the people who become intermingled in this 1920s-based drama. The star cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby, Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan and Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway. Besides all the beautiful people, the film has a banging soundtrack produced by Jay-Z, including songs from Lana Del Rey, Florence + The Machine and Jay himself. Get your finest flapper attire ready, because this party is about to blow.Iron Man 3 It’s a real shame to see as fresh a character as Tony Stark fall prey to the superhero rising-up-out-of-the-ashes-into-glory movie trope, a cliché used as recently as last summer’s “The Dark Knight Rises”. Here’s hoping that Robert Downey Jr. gets his fill of inflated self-satisfaction before Iron Man burns itself out completely. Midnight’s ChildrenThough Salman Rushdie’s Booker prize and “Best of the Bookers”-winning novel of the same name has been regarded as unfilmable, the electric, science fiction epic “Cloud Atlas” last year seems to have set a precedent for attempting to break new entertainment ground. Whether the director Deepa Mehta, best known for her work in George Lucas’ TV series “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles” is the woman for the job, however, begs scrutiny. The Great GatsbyCapping off this year’s most controversial novel adaptions, Baz Lurhmann’s “The Great Gatsby,” while hardly the most faithful adaptation to the great American classic, certainly cannot be faulted for lacking vision. Never before have the roaring 20’s seemed so like the volatile powder keg that would erupt in 1929 — though it remains doubtful that the teacher who will be reading essays on the influence of Jay-Z and Beyoncé in Scott Fitzgerald’s novel will be as keen on the film. The Hangover, Part IIIMaybe if Little Five hadn’t been this past week it would be a bit more difficult for you to imagine an indefinite hangover. How this series of increasingly unfortunate events has managed to stretch its way past four years remains one of the Great Questions of the Universe, and while this installment cannot really promise a new premise — how many ways are there to be hungover and confused? — fans of the series should look forward regardless. It’s a mystery how the film will attempt to trump its own ante now that transsexual sex and hard nudity have been exhausted. Man of SteelSuperman is back. If the latest trailer is to be believed, this reimagining of Superman’s origin story is worth the retread. Zack Snyder, who helmed the hit-and-miss adaptations of “300” and “Watchmen,” brings his immaculate visual eye to the picture. Henry Cavill (“Immortals,” “The Tudors”) plays the titular man of steel Kal-El, who is living away from the spotlight. For reasons unknown, fellow Kryptonian General Zod (played by the disturbingly good Michael Shannon) is on a warpath to track down Kal-El on earth. Will Superman be able to stop the villain? Well, yeah, but it’s going to look better than ever.Star Trek Into DarknessWhether or not you’re obsessed with Benedict Cumberbatch, the “Star Trek” sequel promises to reach new heights of action and melodrama. In the long-awaited follow-up to 2009’s “Star Trek” franchise reboot, Captain Kirk(Chris Pine) and his USS Enterprise crew are caught off guard by a series of attacks on earth. The crew goes on the hunt for a mysterious human responsible for the violence, John Harrison (Cumberbatch). J.J. Abrams, the newly appointed “Star Wars” director, returns for his second “Star Trek” movie to go grimmer than “Star Trek” has ever gone before.Monsters UniversityI really don’t think it’s a coincidence Pixar decided to release “Monsters University” while I am in university. They knew my big kid façade was just that: a façade. It’s been far too long since Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan (Sully) have been on the silver screen back in 2001 with “Monsters Inc.” On June 21, “Monsters University” will premiere, chronicling the beginning of Mike and Sully’s friendship and how they overcame their differences to become the best friends we know and love today. Billy Crystal and John Goodman have returned to voice the green cyclops monster and purple furry giant, respectively. Everything good in the world is happening. So, thank you, Pixar, for continuously lengthening my childhood as far as it’s immaturely possible. Frances Ha Noah Baumbach is back with a film he wrote with star Greta Gerwig. Trailers suggest this would fit as a lovely companion piece to HBO’s “Girls,” detailing the ins and outs of being a twenty-something female in contemporary American society. Gerwig — always on the brink of stardom — is the sweeter, more awkward, blonde answer to quirky girl Zooey Deschanel. The Bling Ring Sofia Coppala, a true master of experimental film and storytelling, brings us into the true and seedy tale of Hollywood teens who robbed starlets like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan to attain fame. In the same vein as “Spring Breakers,” Emma Watson and her band of fabulous cronies will probably supply the most fun you’ll have all summer. Man of SteelSuperman has never really been my favorite. I’m much more a Spiderman guy. But Zack Synder’s reboot appears to be taking a page from Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. Things look bleak for Superman/Clark Kent: daddy issues and internal struggle abound. Pair that with some killer action sequences, Amy Adam’s Lois Lane and a rugged beard, then we’re on board. The Way, Way Back (opening July 5th) — Reuniting a few “Little Miss Sunshine” cast members and written by the Oscar-winning team behind “The Descendants,” this Sundance favorite looks to be indie breakout of the summer. Young love, a water park, unlikeable adults acting like teens. What’s not to adore?Blue JasmineWoody Allen’s annual release looks like a potential return to form for the director. While audiences fawned over 2011’s “Midnight in Paris,” I was underwhelmed. Allen heads to San Francisco this year to chronicle the breakdown of an unhappy New York housewife. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett stars as said housewife.Kick-Ass 2 The dog days of summer come to a close with this hardcore sequel. The self-made superheroes return with the addition of Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes. While director Jeff Wadlow will have to strive to match the original in wit, the return of the foul-mouthed Hit Girl (played by the luminous Chloe Grace Moretz) is alone worth the price of admission. Epic “Epic” is brought to you by Blue Sky Studios and director Chris Wedge, who also brought you “Ice Age” and “Rio.” Although it’s a comedy, its name suggests “Epic” shouldn’t be taken lightly. The movie tells the story of Mary Katherine (Amanda Seyfried), who finds her way into a secret forest civilization of miniscule people and talking animals. “Epic” looks as if it’s aiming to please children and parents alike. The kids will laugh at its slapstick humor, while adults will appreciate the stunning imagery. “Epic” might not be on par with Pixar masterpieces like “Wall-E” or “Up,” but it looks to be a step in the right direction.The Lone RangerDisney, producer Gore Verbinski and eccentric actor Johnny Depp were all part of the team that brought you “Pirates of the Caribbean.” This time, they take to the old west. With “The Social Network” star Armie Hammer playing the titular character, “The Lone Ranger” looks to be another blockbuster hit for this winning team. Depp’s Tonto proves to be as memorable as his Captain Jack Sparrow, who should certainly be in the conversation for best movie character of the millennium. Since Disney is producing, “The Lone Ranger” will probably draw a PG-13 rating, so it will have universal appeal for kids, teens and parents alike.Grown Ups 2No.Music "ARTPOP" - Lady Gaga Of course Gaga is releasing the comprehensive experience of “ARTPOP” this summer with an indeterminate date. Keeping her fans hungry for more, the next single is said to drop soon with the album coming out later in the summer. With Mother Monster delayed in the hospital right now, we’re unsure as to whether the album will be here in a timely manner, but the facts are these: 1. “ARTPOP” must always be in all caps. It’s just how it is. 2. Gaga is collaborating with Azealia Banks and Kendrick Lamar for this release. 3. The album will be released in two volumes and will feature a supplementary mobile app that enhances the “ARTPOP” experience to the fullest. Thank you, Gaga.“Once I Was An Eagle" - Laura MarlingLaura Marling performs a new, unreleased song at every single show she plays, and “I Was An Eagle,” the title track of her upcoming album, may be one of the greatest lyrical compositions the indie folk pixie has written. Going a little more down the blues/rock ‘n’ roll road, her current singles “Where Can I Go?” and “Master Hunter” are fiercer, brassier and more instrumental than her past work. This album is guaranteed to be a change of pace.“Trouble Will Find Me” - The NationalThe sixth album from this renowned rock ‘n’ roll indie band featured its first single “Demons,” which was nothing special for the band. Its soft-spoken nature and honest lyricism are two of the band’s best attributes, but we hope that the album delivers more than The National’s tender side. “Random Access Memories” - Daft PunkAfter achieving cult status with its 2010 TRON: Legacy soundtrack, electronic music duo Daft Punk is back and here to “Get Lucky.” Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter, everyone’s favorite Parisian robots, have been making waves by promoting their new album “Random Access Memories” through Saturday Night Live commercials. Though the French duo hasn’t toured since 2007, they’re ready to prove how Daft Punk works it harder and makes it better. The two chrome-dome androids have selected Pharrell Williams as their new companion for the single “Get Lucky,” making him Daft Punk’s first vocal companion since Romanthony. Romanthony joined the group for 2001’s seminal album “Discovery,” which remains a dance club staple 12 years after the fact. And now we’re gonna celebrate…one more time. “Crawling Up the Stairs” - Pure X Pure X’s 2011 record
“Pleasure” is easily one of the best records of the last several years.
It’s a stoned-and-drunk, summer-night porch record with catchy melodies
buried under layers of deceptively simple guitar parts, bouncy
basslines and basic drumming. “Crawling Up the Stairs” already looks to
be different from “Pleasure.” The vocals are louder, the guitars are
often strummy and straightforward, and the pedals are not as present.
The basslines, however, still sound like Paul McCartney groovin away on
“Rain.” The effect is more evocative of a hungover trip to the lake on a
bright hazy day than Pleasure’s dark and oppressively humid summer
midnight.“Monomania” - DeerhunterMonomania, which is
streaming now on NPR’s website, is disjointed and slapdash compared to
the precisely considered flow of “Microcastle” and “Weird Era
Continued” or the thematic consistency of “Halcyon Digest.” It feels
more like frontman Bradford Cox’s bedroom recording project Atlas Sound
than the full band of Deerhunter. The result is a bunch of poppy,
catchy songs that sound like they were tossed together by old friends on
some hot, beery afternoon. Whereas earlier Deerhunter albums could be
slow and challenging, this one is pure jangly rock and roll. If you need
an album to soundtrack your daytime summer escapades, this is the one.“Twelve Reasons To Die” - Ghostface KillahThe Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nothing to mess with. Ghostface Killah, one of the leading members of hip-hop’s enigmatic Wu-Tang Clan, is up to promising things as a solo artist in 2013. He dropped his 10th studio album, “Twelve Reasons to Die,” last Tuesday. The album is based on a comic book series of the same name. Currently, Killah is touring the United States with producer Adrian Younge and staying strong at the ripe young age of 42. Killah and Younge will be dropping by the Bluebird Nightclub on May 2, so local devotees of the Wu-Tang way of life have something to look forward to.Modern Vampires of the City – Vampire Weekend One of indie rock’s most celebrated and popular acts is back this May with a new set of quirky indie pop songs to soundtrack your summer. Despite already having two excellent albums under their belt, Modern Vampires has the potential to not only be Vampire Weekend’s best album, but also the potential to be the album of the year. Singles “Diane Young” and “Step” are two of the catchiest songs of 2013, and the latter’s heartfelt lyrics show a maturity that has been unseen in the band’s career to date. …Like Clockwork – Queens of the Stone Age It’s been six years since the last Queens of the Stone Age album, so any fan excitement is well justified. However, there are plenty of added tidbits that make …Like Clockwork a must hear for any music fan. First, Dave Grohl (ex-Nirvana drummer, Foo Fighters frontman) will be playing drums with the band for the first time since 2002’s classic Songs for the Deaf. Add in special appearances by Elton John and the Arctic Monkey’s Alex Turner, and you’ve got the most hotly anticipated hard rock album of the summer. In the meantime, let the lead single “My God is the Sun” melt your face off with its intensity.The Gifted - Wale Little 500’s Wale will release his second full-length album under the Maybach Music label this summer. There’s still no word on whether Wale’s anticipated collaboration with Jerry Seinfeld will make the cut, but people can expect MMG rappers Rick Ross and Meek Mill to be present. The big question is whether Wale will continue down the road to hip-hop stardom by repeating the party anthem vibe of 2011’s Ambition, or return to thoughtful, socially conscious rhymes of his earlier work. If Wale’s 2013 mixtape, Falorin, is a sign of things to come, we can expect a lyrically recharged Wale this summer.Born Sinner – J. Cole J. Cole’s sophomore rap album has been littered with pushbacks and delays as his singles “Miss America” and “Power Trip” have failed to blow up like his breakthrough single “Work Out” did a few years ago. However, Born Sinner is a big record for J. Cole to prove his staying power in the industry, as a flop could wind up sending J. Cole’s career in the same direction as B.o.B. or Asher Roth. Sharing a release date with Wale will certainly spark some friendly competition between the two rappers, so don’t be surprised if J. Cole breaks the sophomore slump with a successful follow-up. Soft Will – Smith WesternsThese Chicago indie rockers released one of 2011’s most underappreciated records with Dye It Blonde, and this summer they are set to prove it wasn’t a fluke. Equipped with blistering guitar work and lo-fi sensibilities, Smith Westerns are one of the genre’s best-kept secrets. The album’s lead single, “Varsity”, locked up a Best New Track from Pitchfork this spring, and the new songs that have shown up in band’s recent live gigs prove that the best songs may still be on the way.
(03/21/13 4:00am)
We review the newest singles from Beyonce, Azealia Banks, and Earl Sweatshirt.
(03/07/13 5:00am)
WATCH AND READ ALL THIS STUFF
(02/28/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Don’t search “thrift stores” on Google and go. We tried this and found that many listed online are out of business or closed during the hours listed on their websites. Make sure to call smaller shops, or really any store besides Goodwill or Plato’s Closet, before you go to make sure they’re still around and/or open as advertised. Here are the Weekend staff’s favorite places to thrift, in ascending order of cheapness. CheapestSalvation Army, 115 N. Rogers St. Call them at 812-334-1366. The Salvation Army store here in Bloomington can’t compare to the behemoth that is the Indianapolis branch, but if you don’t want to make the long drive, it will do. Almost everything is less than $5. The quality and selection isn’t as consistently good as Goodwill, but for the lowest prices in town, we’ll take it. Pro tips: They have a small student discount, so bring your IU student ID. Goodwill, 1264 Liberty Drive. Call them at 812-336-8104.If you have a car, the non-College Mall Goodwill is the way to go. The one close to campus tends to be fairly picked over, so make the drive west for the freshest stuff. Prices are slightly more than Salvation Army, but most clothing is still comfortably less than $10. Target and other area stores seem to donate some of their overstock to Goodwill, so you can sometimes find new, mall-brand clothing with tags still on. Pro tips: The whole store is on sale every first Saturday. Sign up for the rewards card to track your purchases and donations. If you donate enough, they sometimes give you store credit!CheaperVintage Vogue by GW, 422 E. Kirkwood Ave. Call them at 812-335-3513.If you missed it last time you walked by, it’s tucked in the alley between Which Wich and Chipotle. Local Goodwill stores filter some of their nicest or brand-name items to Vintage Vogue. Although the Weekend editors still prefer normal Goodwill stores, Vintage Vogue has a nice, boutique-y vibe that’s more pleasant to shop in than normal Goodwill, and its proximity to campus can’t be beat. Prices are a few dollars more than normal Goodwill, between $7 for a shirt to $30 or more for a designer jacket. Pro tips: Your Goodwill rewards card works here, too. And the whole store will be on sale this Saturday.Plato’s Closet, 1145 S. College Mall Rd. Call them at 812-333-4442.Plato’s is the oddball of this bunch. They’re not a typical thift store — rather, they’re a for-profit resale store. The great thing about Plato’s is that you can often bring in your old clothes, sell them off and shop for free with your profits. Pieces here are more typical, on-trend, brand-name items. If you can get over all of the middle-schoolers that shop at Plato’s, it’s surprisingly rewarding. Prices clock in anywhere between $4 for a tank top to $40 for fancy, designer jeans. Pro tips: Plato’s also has a rewards card you should sign up for. If you sell your clothes fairly often, your stamps can add up to a 15 percent off coupon for store merchandise. CheapAmused, 212 W. 4th St. Call them at 812-332-8733.Although it’s also a skate and smoke shop, Amused has a surprisingly good selection of groovy vintage threads. The clothes are definitely a little more free-spirited than Plato’s or Cactus Flower, so expect lots of tie-dye, lace and flowy linen dresses. Prices range from $8 for a simple top to $35+ for longer dresses. Pro tips: Be aware of the new clothes mixed in with the vintage pieces, or you’ll end up spending lots more than you intend to. Cactus Flower, 322 E. Kirkwood Ave. Call them at 812-333-8279.While the main floor of the store sells modern pieces, walk up the winding staircase and onto a floor that sells everything from old satin gloves to oversized men’s flannels. This is definitely more of a curated vintage store than a thrift store, so not everything in the shop is cheap. But if you’re willing to pay a little extra, you’ll walk out with some pretty unique things. And if you’re poor, check out the cardboard box near the shoe rack to find funky men’s shirts for a few bucks. Prices range from $5 for a women’s tee to $50+ for pristine vintage boots. Pro tips: The shoe wall here is fabulous. And don’t miss the vintage robes and lingerie!By Kelly Fritz and Amanda Arnold
(02/07/13 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After her performance at the Super Bowl XLVII, it’s evident that Beyoncé
is a living legend and a true pop icon for the post-Madonna generation.
If you are not a Bey-liever, it’s in our interests to bring you to our side. Here are 50 reasons.1. TOUR DE FORCEThe Queen announced shortly after the Super Bowl XLVII “The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour” is coming to a stadium near you in 2013, and the promo video is worthy of royalty.2. STAR SPANGLED When Beyonce was found out for lip-syncing the inaugural national anthem, she had a press conference and she sang it live, a cappella. “I will absolutely be singing live,” she said about the Super Bowl. “This is what I was born to do.”3. LADIES ONLY For the Super Bowl XLVII Halftime show, Beyonce selected only women for her band, her sidekicks and her back-up dancers. She’s been committed to her all-female band, “The Suga Mamas,” since 2006.4. PLEAD THE FIFTH This year, Beyonce will be releasing her fifth studio album, for which she has already recorded almost 50 songs. It entails collaborations with Azealia Banks, Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. 5. TALENT Beyonce has a 3.5 vocal octave range and is classified as a Wagnerian soprano. 6. TEAM PLAYERStarting with the R&B group Destiny’s Child, Beyonce flourished with the international pop sensation and reunited with them for the Super Bowl XLVII, as well as releasing a new single called “Nuclear” for a compilation of their love songs.7. OBAMA The president of our country has formally endorsed Beyonce. “Beyonce could not be a better role model for my girls,” he said. 8. MICHELLE OBAMA The First Lady teamed up with our pop sensation to create an awareness campaign for healthier lifestyles and exercise called “Let’s Move!”9. GOOD HUMAN Aug. 19, 2012, Beyonce enlisted multiple celebrities to perform for World Humanitarian Day, encouraging people to help the homeless, give to charity and volunteer when needed.10. A CHILD IS BORN Beyonce’s first child, Blue Ivy, seems to be following in her mother’s footsteps. Blue Ivy became the youngest person to ever appear on a Billboard chart when Jay-Z used a sample of her voice crying in his song “Glory,” recorded when she was only 2 days old. 11. BABY BOOMER Her pregnancy announcement broke the record for the most tweets recorded per second for a single event, and propelled the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards to become the most-watched broadcast in MTV history, with 12.4 million viewers. Her performance at the Super Bowl also helped the event rack up a staggering 24 million tweets in one night, with her performance eclipsing the actual game in Twitter activity. 12. SUPERMOM Can we talk about how great she looks for being a new mom? Not only has she breastfed in public, fearless of the public eye, but Bey claims that Blue Ivy Carter is “so much more fulfilling than anything else in the world.” 13. BIG SIS Her little sister, Solange Knowles, continues to make spectacular records and is on tour right now.14. EMPIREBetween albums, concerts, endorsements, perfumes, clothing lines and other gigs, Beyonce is reputedly worth upwards of $300 million and growing. 15. BEAUTYLICIOUSShe was named “World’s Most Beautiful Woman” by People Magazine in 2012 and also named “Miss Millenium” by GQ. She was the only non-model, non-athlete to have ever been on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue back in 2007. 16. HAIR GENETICS It’s no wonder Beyonce’s hair always seems to be impeccable: she gets her good taste in hairstyles from her mother, Tina Knowles. Tina owned a hair salon in Houston when Beyonce was growing up, in which the young Destiny’s Child would often rehearse. Not to mention, Bey has the supernatural capability of making her hair stand on end and blow in the wind luxuriously every time she performs.17. BEST DRESSED Let’s be real: the only fashion faux pas Beyonce has committed only really happened when she was wearing those atrocious matching costumes when she was in Destiny’s Child. Her red carpet style and street style have been hitting it out of the park for the past five or six years at the very least.18. UP CLOSE The superstar is getting personal with her upcoming HBO documentary “Life is But a Dream,” a retrospective of the idol’s intimate life.19. GOOFYB is widely known to be a humble person, but she also has a great sense of humor. Behind-the-scenes videos always show her joking around, and she describes herself as “silly” and “goofy.” We think it’s endearing.FROM HER ROOTS20. CHILD PRODIGY Beyonce’s first-ever experience singing in public was at a school talent show, where at age 7 she sang John Lennon’s “Imagine” and won. She beat out 17-year-olds andreceived a standing ovation. Does this make her the chosen one? 21. TINY DANCER Beyonce began dance training, specifically in ballet and jazz, in elementary school, before she’d even begun singing. That means she’s been dancing for more than 22 years.22. STRUGGLESShe didn’t get to fame completely unscathed. Her parents were separated for a year and almost divorced in 1995. She suffered from severe depression for two years, between 1999 and 2001, after a six-year relationship ended and Destiny’s Child went through legal and personal troubles. And she went through a miscarriage before she was able to have her daughter Blue Ivy. 23. PRIVATE LIVESMany artists let the stardom get to their heads, but Jay-Z and Beyonce have been perfectly poised and professional throughout their long careers. I cannot help but wonder what they are like behind closed doors.DIVA24. DANCE VARIETY Queen B doesn’t just stick to the hip-shaking or low-key booty popping of her pop and hip-hop peers. In addition to her prowess in hip-hop dance, she also shows her technical dancing skill in other styles. Check out the video for “Countdown” to see her do contemporary/modern choreography, “Love on Top” for jazz and Broadway, and “Get Me Bodied” and “Single Ladies” to see her take on “j-setting” styled hip-hop dance, which originated as a mixture of cheerleading and hip-hop stylization. 25. SEPARATE THRONESJay-Z and Beyonce are each superstars in their own right. Jay-Z is the king of hip-hop, she is the Queen of R&B.26. BILLS, BILLS, BILLSShe ain’t need no man to pay her bills. Last year, Beyoncé made $40 million, while Jay-Z cruised in at a measley $38,000.27. SASHA FIERCE Bey describes Sasha Fierce as the alter-ego she takes on when she performs, and she says the persona helps her to stay humble and grounded and “not to lose herself” to the diva lifestyle. 28. RELATABLE FASHIONBey’s fashion choices are much more relatable than the uber-sexed-up Rihanna, cutesy Katy Perry or extreme Lady Gaga. 29. BODY POSITIVE B is very obviously not a size 0, but she’s never publicly bemoaned her curvy figure or tried to diet it away. In fact, a 2012 survey concluded that Beyonce’s bootylicious body was the “most desired” among women, more so than those of thinner models and actresses. Moreover, her clothing line, House of Dereon, is specifically tailored to fit well-endowed women. 30. GAYONCÉ Queen B has repeatedly voiced her support for the LGBT community and wrote a letter of encouragement when artist Frank Ocean came out. VOCAL FEATS31. SUSTAINED NOTES She can sustain a note in full belt voice and straight tone, without the use of vibrato to help, for more than 14 seconds, which is quite a feat, especially in pop singing. 32. KEY CHANGESIn “Love on Top,” Beyonce covers six keys total, with three of the key changes falling within two minutes of the song. 33. HIGH BELT Her vocal break from chest voice to head voice is about a G sharp. Most female singers break at least 4 to 5 notes lower. In plain English: the diva’s range is above average. 34. LIVE SINGINGFacing accusations of having lip-synced, B very obviously sang live at the Super Bowl, and still maintained a full, gorgeous belt, despite dancing full out.SUPERLATIVES35. NUMBER ONESEach of her personal albums have debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Charts, and each has gone platinum. 36. AWARDS ON AWARDSShe is the first female artist to win six Grammy Awards in a single night, which she did in 2010. She’s won 12 Grammys as a solo artist, and 16 if you count Destiny’s Child’s wins. She’s nominated for another this year: Best Traditional R&B Performance For “Love on Top.” 38. SONGWRITING Beyonce is credited as a cowriter on almost all of her songs, and in 2001, she was the first African American woman to win Songwriter of the Year from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. She also cowrote Nelly’s “Grillz.” 39. SERIOUS ACTRESS Her turn as Deena Jones in 2006’s “Dreamgirls” earned her a Golden Globe nomination for “Best Actress — Musical or Comedy,” and helped the film earn the 2006 Golden Globe for “Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy.” She also showed off her acting chops in a critically acclaimed portrayal of Etta James in 2008’s “Cadillac Records.” 40. COMIC ACTRESS Although she wasn’t nominated for any awards, Beyonce’s comic roles in 2002’s “Austin Powers in Goldmember” and 2006’s “Pink Panther” helped lead the two films to widespread commercial success and proved that she doesn’t take herself too seriously. 41. “BEYONCÉ HAS ONE OF THE BEST VIDEOS OF ALL TIME” ~Kanye WestTHE DIVA’S DIVAS:42. ETTA B played Ms. James in the motion picture “Cadillac Records.”43. DIANA Ms. Ross is frequently cited as one of Beyonce’s big role models.44. WHITNEY A big role model for Mrs. Carter, Whitney Houston lip-synced her 1991 national anthem for the Super Bowl XXV.45. PRINCE Studying all the past Super Bowl performers, Beyonce cited Prince as a key inspiration.46. MARIAH Bey has testified that Mariah Carey was one of the first singers she ever heard riffing.47. MICHAELThe King of Pop is credited as Queen B’s major musical influence and idol, and we say she’s usurped his throne.TOP TUNES48. “CRAZY IN LOVE” Beyoncé claims that this track was the debut of Sasha Fierce herself, and is widely considered one of the greatest pop songs of our time.49. “COUNTDOWN” Not only is “Countdown” a collaboration of nine songwriters, including Bey herself, but the music video is challenging, incorporating modern dance with the 60s mod culture.50. “HALO”Halo is a vocal feat. Queen B’s voice floats effortlessly between her raspy lower register and her incredibly pure head voice, gliding through a smooth middle belt. A song this technically difficult would be almost impossible for anyone but B to sing.
(11/29/12 11:01pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>You voted. We counted. Here are the results for Best of Bloomington 2012.Best pizza Mother Bear’s Pizza Best dessert Baked! Best late-night munchiesPizza X Best breakfastThe Village Deli Best ethnicSiam House Best fast foodTaco Bell Best wingsBuffa Louie’s Best burgerBub’s Burgers and Ice Cream Best clothing storeUrban Outfitters Best place to liveSouthside Best local coffeeSomaBest music venueBluebirdBest student athleteCody ZellerBest dorm food courtWrightBest greek houseDelta ChiBest student organizationIU Dance MarathonBest fake Twitter account@TheBigHandsomeBest barKilroy’s on KirkwoodBest local drinkHairy Bear (Bear’s Place)Best food truckThe Big CheezeBest drinking gameSink the Biz (Nick's)
(10/31/12 10:59pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Some hidden gems aren’t so hidden. They’re right in front of us, but we
miss them behind the bulk and familiarity of national chains. In the
end, we’re the ones missing out. And in this case, we’re missing out on The Book Corner. Located
on the downtown square, The Book Corner is a must-visit for book-loving
Bloomingtonians. Whether you’re looking for a textbook or a light read,
try out The Book Corner. This charming, independent book shop offers a
wide variety of books and comics and a particularly great selection of
magazines. It won’t disappoint. Operating for more than 60
years, The Book Corner is a veritable Bloomington establishment. Chances
are you’ve already walked by — you’ve just never stepped inside. Go
local and visit The Book Corner. By Bridget AmecheVintage Phoenix Comic Books has been the friendly neighborhood comic book store for more than 20 years. It might also be Indiana’s best comic book store.Located just off the corner of Sixth and Walnut streets downtown, Vintage Phoenix is a promised land for fans of every sort, offering collector’s issues and bargain back copies. Vintage mint-condition issues are available at a premium, but casual fans can find used comic books for as little as 25 cents. Vintage Phoenix cherishes the art-deco comic culture. Between their signature red sign and extremely organized racks, it’s difficult to leave without finding a new treasure.The store dedicates entire sections to DC and Marvel staples as well as new-age graphic novels and art books. Toy enthusiasts will find a plethora of figurines, too. Even those who are new to comic books should drop by the store, because every passionate nerd used to be “normal” at some point.By Jeff LaFaveIf you love movies, you love Plan Nine Video.Next door to the Vintage Phoenix on Sixth Street, Plan Nine has the best collection of new releases, classics, cult and genre flicks in Bloomington. You’ll find Blu-Ray, DVD and VHS releases in a selection that is always expanding.The store is well-organized, with different sections arranged by director, genre and studio. The horror section in particular is deliciously specific, with subgenres as niche as “Non-satanic Malevolent Children.” If you’re in the mood for some post-Halloween terror, Plan Nine has one of the most complete horror collections around, including a wide array of exploitation and gross-out flicks.It’s easy to get lost in the rows and rows of great selections, but the friendly and seriously geeky staff is ready to offer suggestions. Plan Nine has movie screenings and IU Cinema ticket giveaways.If you’re bored with Netflix’s limited selection and want picks from actual film buffs, Plan Nine is the place to go.By Patrick BeaneBloomington’s “other” mall feels more like Narnia than it does a shopping center. Where else are you going to find a glass elevator and indoor waterfall?Located across Kirkwood Avenue from the courthouse, the Fountain Square Mall is a cozy, charming retreat in the middle of downtown.About 20 businesses and shops call Fountain Square Mall home, all hidden gems in their own right. Several cats are usually lounging in Howard’s Bookstore. Stefano’s Ice Cafe is tucked away in the basement and offers great sandwiches and coffee at low prices. You can find a hole-in-the-wall bar, smoke shop, tabletop gaming store and more.The mall is hardly bustling, but that’s the point. Stop by Fountain Square Mall on a crisp autumn day for a feeling you won’t find anywhere else downtown.By Patrick BeaneBuried deep in the south central corner of Bloomington at the corner of Woodlawn Avenue and East Maxwell Lane is Bryan Park, a 33-acre land plot with a draw for everyone.The park, which derives its name from a former IU president, was bought for $1 in 1951 and opened to the public six years later. Then, it featured a bridge and a picnic area. Today, it boasts everything from a pool to basketball and tennis courts.When the weather is nice, you can take a dip in the pool, which features two water slides and a diving board, take a stroll down one of the two trails or get in touch with your active side on the courts. When you want to entertain inner kid, you’ve got two playgrounds.While the walk might be a bit of hike, especially for those living on the northern side of campus, the park not only offers entertainment but also a charming environment this time of year with the crisp autumn temperatures and falling leaves.By Amanda ArnoldThe Alley Bar is for those who know what they want.Located just west of Kirkwood and College avenues, Alley Bar is easy to miss for those who are prone to blinking or sneezing. The self-described “cozy” Alley Bar is sandwiched between the Irish Lion and The Tap, an upcoming craft beer bar. Its Facebook page claims Alley Bar opened on Aug. 1, 1977, but pictures of the bar date the establishment back to the 1930s. A notice informing the bar of its prohibition violation still hangs on the wall.It’s a humble watering hole known for domestic beer and peanuts galore. Patrons relax after a long day or night at work, cracking shells and sipping a pint. The solo bartender welcomes you to the aged bar, and the hum of one large television provides much of the conversation. Every Friday, the bar introduces a new craft beer to the lineup. There’s no dance floor or T-shirt giveaways to attract passersby, but Alley Bar is the sort of place where everybody knows your name. Or will soon, anyway.By Jeff LaFave
(10/25/12 5:39pm)
What's the best Bloomington has to offer? Voting ends for Best of Bloomington on Nov. 8.
(10/25/12 5:28pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“Inland Empire” (2006)The ambiguous, twisted realities in David Lynch’s films should be recognized as some of the scariest cinematic works ever. But “Inland Empire” is wild even for him. For almost all three hours, the film’s narrative is indiscernible. As the characters wander through situations that might be real, the confusion grows exponentially. Anything could happen, and that makes it painfully suspenseful and horribly terrifying. If you can stomach it, “Inland Empire” will be three of the freakiest hours you’ll spend in front of a TV screen.“Trick ’R Treat” (2007)Why listen to one horror story when you can have four? Get greedy, and watch director Michael Dougherty’s 2007 cult classic “Trick ’r Treat.” The film intertwines four Halloween stories, morphing one film into a horrifying anthology. The unifying theme — or person — is Sam (Quinn Lord), a tiny trick-or-treater clad in anything-but-adorable orange footie pajamas with a burlap sack draped over his head. “Trick ’r Treat” is a gruesome ode to the darkest holiday of the year. “The Mist” (2007)Frank Darabont is no newcomer to horror. Writer of your beloved childhood’s “Tales of the Crypt,” Darabont writes today for AMC’s zombie thriller “The Walking Dead.” Don’t overlook his 2007 horror film “The Mist,” based on the 1980 novella of the same name written by the king of horror, Stephen King. When a freak storm unleashes dangerous creatures on a small town, its bewildered residents hide out in a grocery store. The claustrophobic wait for what will come is enough to make you want to flee the theater. “A Tale Of Two Sisters” (2003)“A Tale of Two Sisters” was the first South Korean horror film to show in American theaters — and it’s not one audiences will forget anytime soon. When two sisters return home from a mental institution, tensions rise with their hysterical stepmother and aloof father. This familial disaster sounds like a recipe for classic psychological horror, and it is. This family of four is haunted by deaths in the family. Soon, their paranoia and past will become your own as you watch in heightened suspense. “In The Mouth Of Madness” (1994)Ever feel like you’re going insane? John Carpenter’s underrated gem “In The Mouth of Madness” gets weirder and weirder, then goes for broke with a madcap ending. Sam Neill stars as John Trent, an investigator searching for the missing horror writer Sutter Crane (Jürgen Prochnow). The lines between fiction and reality begin to blur when Trent visits a small town that inspired Crane’s writing. Or is it the other way around? Awesome creature effects and spooky atmosphere make this a Halloween must.“Re-Animator” (1985)One of the main characters is a decapitated head. Sounds like fun, right? When it comes to macabre humor, it’s hard to beat the camp classic “Re-Animator.” Top-notch character actor Jeffrey Combs plays a freaky med student who gets his roommate wrapped up in bringing the dead back to life in this adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft story. Their would-be Frankenstein antics escalate into a bloody ending as goofy as it is scary. “Bride of Re-Animator” takes things even further.“Hausu” (1977)When you think of Japanese horror, you probably think of terrorizing classics like “Audition” and “Ju-On,” remade in English as “The Grudge.” I think of “Hausu” (“House”), the feverishly freaky 1977 camp classic. Belonging to the prestigious Criterion Collection, “Hausu” switches up visual styles and tones so often it’ll make your head spin. A young girl and her classmates visit her aunt’s country home. It’s not long before they’re haunted by a demonic cat, a carnivorous piano and possessed pillows. “Hausu” needs to be seen to be believed.
(09/06/12 1:07am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>September signals the beginning of fall, and with that, the annual onslaught of mediocre TV pilots. This season seems even more dire than most, but Weekend sifted through the garbage to pick which shows have the best chance at surviving the fall.Best of the WorstGuys with Kids (NBC)A trio of new dads tries to stay young while juggling the responsibilities of parenthood. It hopes to be half as funny as Zach Galifianakis with a baby in “The Hangover.”Nashville (ABC)A new musical drama, “Nashville” follows the country-star dreams of newcomer Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) and the fall of legendary Rayna James (Connie Britton).Arrow (The CW)Billionaire Oliver Queen is discovered alive on a remote Pacific island after being presumed dead during his five-year hiatus. Under the alias Arrow, he fights the wrongs of society and tries to rectify his now-fallen family name.Vegas (CBS)Movie star Dennis Quaid jumps to the small screen to star in this Western drama. Quaid plays the sheriff of 1960s Vegas who is forced to deal with a Chicago mobster when his illegal operations are moved to Sin City.Beauty and the Beast (The CW)The CW’s spin on fairy tales, “Beauty and the Beast” follows a police detective who teams up to solve crime with a doctor who has the tendency to turn into a beast when he’s angered. If you’ve been hoping for a “Law & Order” and fairy-tale mash-up, this might be your gig.The RestThe Mob Doctor (FOX)A surgeon indebted to the South Chicago mafia is forced to work for the mobsters. The lines between right and wrong are blurred in this medial drama with a twist.The New Normal (NBC)
“The New Normal” follows Bryan and David, a gay couple in search of a
surrogate mother for their prospective child. Add a single mom and
biggoted Nana. Hilarity ensues.Ben and Kate (FOX)What happens when your older brother helps you raise your daughter? Probably something heartwarming and hilarious in the watered-down vain of Judd Apatow’s parental comedies.Malibu Country (ABC)Reba McEntire stars as a country star who moves to Malibu after her husband cheats on her. The conventional sitcom is big on heart, song and stereotypes.Elementary (CBS)“New Holmes. New Watson. New York.” Taking advantage of the BBC’s masterful “Sherlock” and the Robert Downey, Jr. franchise, American television is desperately trying to put its own spin on the famous detective and Watson, played by Lucy Liu.Last Resort (ABC)From the network that brought us “Lost” comes another ensemble shipwreck drama. This time, the stranded characters are U.S. military personnel under attack by their own nation for disobeying orders.
(06/28/12 2:55pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>WEEKEND's staff picks for some of the best releases of 2012 so far.Music“PUT YOUR BACK N 2 IT” Artist: Perfume Genius Throwing us a softball, Mike Hadreas launched his album with the music video for “Hood,” which was banned from YouTube for its costar, Arpad Miklos, a gay pornstar, which deemed it not “family safe” (because the rest of YouTube is an exemplary model for any nurturing household). We were reminded that even in the liberal world of alternative musicmaking, we withdraw into the same Puritanical bullshit. On the title track, “Dark Parts” and “Sister Song” we’re introduced to a morbid (and homoerotic) underworld of inherent gay melancholy. Little did we know that not all queer anthems are candy pop and Madonna sparkle.“REIGN OF TERROR” Artist: Sleigh Bells The sophomore LP can be especially daunting for a band whose debut relied on a sound that was both heralded as unprecedented and almost equally scrutinized as novelty. Sleigh Bells made sure their listeners knew there was more to them than woofer-busting levels on February’s “Reign of Terror,” swapping blasting-in-the-red beats for squeaky clean double bass drums and more traditional metal elements that can still stun when laid beneath Alexis Krauss’ candy-sweet vocals.“SWEET HEART SWEET LIGHT” Artist: Spiritualized Spiritualized mastermind J. Spaceman said that taking experimental medication for a degenerative liver disease while writing his latest album “Sweet Heart Sweet Light” rendered him perpetually confused — as rel ected by the cover art — but his final product sounds anything but. Never one to aim for less than outer space with his songwriting, Spaceman wisely lets his massive-hearted, classic rock-reverent melodies and motifs lead the way on one of the biggest-sounding rock epics of a year that has seen many.“QUARANTINE” Artist: Laurel Halo If some music is cinematic, Laurel Halo’s “Quarantine” is filmed in IMAX 3-D. The album is alive with lush textures and precise samples. Halo’s unconventional songwriting and disarmingly flat voice set her apart from her experimental contemporaries. “Quarantine” is a visionary sonic universe meant for getting lost in.“THE MONEY STORE” Artist: Death GripsThe first of two records out this year on Epic, “The Money Store” is Death Grips’ hot-blooded follow-up to last year’s stellar “Exmilitary.” The band sutures more genres than make sense to create a blacked-out Frankenstein’s monster of noise. Intense from start to finish, “The Money Store” is fit for those hot summer nights when you just need to let loose and scream. You have those, right?Movies“MOONRISE KINGDOM” Starring: Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Bruce Willis When we were just kids, we knew a world of possibilities not yet rendered impossible. We knew a time before the complications of commitment or the superi ciality of sexual attraction. Director Wes Anderson remembers this world in vivid detail. With a childlike color palette, absurdist plot developments and a close study of common depressive symptoms, the iconic director does not fail us. But “Moonrise Kingdom” lays all these cards on the table and deals us a new hand. Buried in the narrative of juvenile delinquents are the bones of every relationship you’ve ever sought as a sanctuary. Scout’s honor.“THE AVENGERS”
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo
The Marvel super squad was united on the silver screen for the first
time this summer, and it was done splendidly. The producers faced a
daunting task interweaving multiple stories and giant personalities. What’s most impressive? Director Joss
Whedon pulled it off. This movie gives the audience a glimpse into each
hero’s life, from their uneasy competition for alpha-hero to the
potentially world-ending battle/bonding session against alien forces
(weird, but awesome).
“21 JUMP STREET”
Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum
This is a surprisingly genius comedy, despite the death of a great
comedian (fat Jonah Hill) and the casting choice of a man that used to
“Step Up” and ball for “Coach Carter” (Channing Tatum ). The two stars
perfectly capture the jock and nerd combo, while appearances from the
likes of Ice Cube and Johnny Depp give the movie a tongue-in-cheek
sense of humor. “THE KID WITH A BIKE”Starring: Thomas Doret, Cécile De France, Jérémie Renier Pan left, pan right, following the boy who bites, stabs, pedals to find his father. Praise “The Kid with a Bike” for doing little more. Not stylish, not stuntmen, the Dardenne brothers film with élan. Seldom preening, young troublemaker Cyril (Thomas Doret) is exuberantly private. By no means honest, the film at least is ambivalent. Hail its vision of a world in which crisis is and is not averted.“THE CABIN IN THE WOODS” Starring: Kristen Connoly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison What if the best horror movie in years isn’t very scary? Joss Whedon’s “The Cabin In The Woods” has its shocks, but the real thrills come from the film’s wit and inventiveness. Putting more spins on the genre than “Scream,” the twists in this ingenious flick come fast, hard and early. “Cabin” is one of those rare movies that has fun having fun with its audience and delivers on all its promises
(05/13/10 9:01pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This week's issue is movie-centric, with previews of all the big summer movies from IDS staffers, Brent Wiliamson's review of "Iron Man 2" and a conference call with Sam Rockwell. Each movie preview is linked up here:"Inception" from Cory Barker."Robin Hood" from Brent Williamson."Toy Story 3" from Brian Welk."The Karate Kid" from Steven Arroyo."Eclipse" from Adam Lukach."The A-Team" from Doug Evans."The Last Airbender" from Brent Williamson."Jonah Hex" from Brent Williamson.Check them out to get ready for the summer movie season!
(05/13/10 4:45pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Along with several other schools, WEEKEND staffers Brian Welk and Chad Quandt recently participated in a conference call with “Iron Man 2” star Sam Rockwell to talk about the film. Rockwell stars as Justin Hammer,one of the villains.NOTE: Below is a transcription of the interview. Portions ran in this week's WEEKEND section.Question: My question is actually about Jon Favreau and what distinguishes him as a director from the Edward Allesee’s out there making a movie work.Sam Rockwell: Yes. I think Jon is just – well, he’s a good writer, although you know Justin Theroux wrote the script, but he’s a great writer you know. He wrote “Tropic Thunder” with Ben Stiller and he really wrote an amazing script.But I think what makes Jon so special is he’s an actor. He’s a really good actor, and he understands how to make things fresh and real. He’s got a big bullshit mirror and he kind of – he knows when it doesn’t feel real. I think that’s what is so unique is that he wanted to really make it seem like this could really happen, you know what I mean? I think that’s sort of the key to Favreau’s technique. Q: My question really is how did you get involved with the project to begin with? Are you a fan of the comics? Sam Rockwell: It was a series of events. I knew Justin Theroux who wrote the script and we went to the theater at Williamstown together. We were friends. He’s an actor as well. And then Jon Favreau and I had done “Made” together with Vince Vaughn and Jon had called me once about screen testing for Tony Stark and then it didn’t come together, and Downey, of course, got the part and was amazing. Then my girlfriend was in the first one and we sat down and had dinner with Downey and we ended up doing a guinea pig movie together, and so it all sort of came together.Q: You seem to have dancing in a lot of your movies, Sam. What is the (inaudible) a personal choice or do directors just love seeing you dance? Sam Rockwell: I think sometimes they know I can dance and I ham it up a little bit.Q: Alot of people make movies to do hero things, how was it playing the villain? Sam Rockwell: It’s fun to play bad guys. You get to break all the rules and stuff. It’s a really fun challenge. It’s really good. It’s really fun. Q: Was there anything particular about the film that you liked in terms of, I guess, filming, any things that really were a lot of fun? Sam Rockwell: I think the scenes with Mickey Rourke were very fun for me to do. There’s a lot for me to do in the scenes, and it was a really – it was a good time.Q: How much did you know about Justin Hammer and “Iron Man” in general before taking the role? Sam Rockwell: I guess I knew very little. I knew nothing. I got the comic books as soon as I got the part and looked at it a little bit, and it was described to me by Justin Theroux and Jon Favreau.Q: You go last year from one of your more notable works as working in “Moon”, a small budget, simple set kind of indie movie. What was the change of pace like going to working at this big budget high tech action super hero movie?Sam Rockwell: Well, you get up to your dressing room and you’re getting paid a little more money, and but the experience, the actors, director experience, I don’t know, it’s more exhausting and challenging in different ways, but I found “Iron Man” pretty challenging as well. It’s a different experience, obviously more time and money with “Iron Man”. Q: It was said in an interview that the first “Iron Man” that there was a lot of improvisation going on with the first script, and I was wondering if you saw a lot of that going on. Was there any of you guys kind of creating it live on the set for this one, and if so, was there any that you thought were really memorable? Sam Rockwell: I have to say most of it was Justin Theroux who wrote the script and Favreau would come in with various ad libs. I think most of it was the two of them and really Justin Theroux writing a great script. I did very little improvisations, actually. Q: Do you usually try to stay away from that or it was just for this film?Sam Rockwell: No. I mean, I’m pretty good improviser, but I’m not a writer, so I like to have some structure, and I think Theroux provided that and Favreau provided that in a big way and that I prefer it.
(04/15/10 1:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>CHANGE IS GOOD...… especially in the music industry and especially if it’s for the better. By better, we mean toward more meaningful lyrics, more nuanced composition and more recognition for acts that are doing just that. For the most part, that’s not where the music industry’s been, but if some of music’s current trends bear out, that could be where it’s going.WEEKEND writers check in on all of music’s biggest genres: * Adam Lukach on Hip-Hop * Brian Marks on Indie * Brad Sanders on Metal * Brett Eppley on Pop * Brian Welk on RockPLUS, we investigate some of the industry’s biggest issues: * Jenna Blumenfeld on illegal downloading * Brad Sanders on the Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger * Cory Barker on the death of music journalismWe have it all covered in this week’s issue, so enjoy -- because music needs a change.
(03/31/10 8:08pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>All media producers just love going to the time travel well, but not every use is a big splash. For every “Back to the Future,” there is a random episode of “Stargate.” Here is a quick look at the best and worst uses of time travel in popular culture.BEST“Lost” Season Five (2009): Already confusing enough, the “Lost” writers decided to make the show even more difficult by using time travel as the primary storytelling device in season five and ended up crafting the most complete series of episodes since the first season. Even more kudos for using the “Whatever happened, happened” rules of time travel. — Cory Barker“Doctor Who” (1963-present): Take a renegade alien who’s decidedly more attractive than Alf or E.T., give him a somewhat malfunctioning time machine and various love interests/sidekicks and you’ve got an icon who’s survived for a total of 31 years on air — including the original and remake series — and more than a dozen actors in the title role. — Allison Tyra“The Terminator” (1984): In his pre-governor days, Ah-nuld was the epitome of badass with his shades, leather and giant guns. Even if the humans never could quite seem to save the future from Skynet, the fans understand — if they actually won, there’d be no more sequels and spin-off series. — AT“Back to the Future” (1985): It’s the ultimate time-travel movie, even if it did leave us a bit confused about the space-time continuum and what happens if you end up on a date with your mom when she was a hot teenage girl. The trilogy also immortalized the DeLorean, even if those weird doors never quite caught on. — AT“The Time Machine” by H.G. Wells (1895): This is the work most associated with time travel as we know it. H.G. Wells’ novel has been riffed, copied and re-adapted too many times to count. Nevertheless, its frightening depiction of post-industrial society still rings true today, making it a classic in every sense of the word. — CB“Groundhog Day” (1993): Of all the holidays to relive over and over again, Groundhog Day is pretty far down on my list — and apparently, Bill Murray’s, too. Whether it’s telling off your boss or admitting you love someone you see every day, everyone has an idea of how to get the perfect — or not-so-perfect — day “right.” Unlike the rest of us, though, Murray gets a lot more do-overs. — AT“The Simpsons” “Treehouse of Horror V” (1994): Homer uses a tricked-out toaster to travel to the prehistoric era, where he tries and fails to keep from killing something that will change the future and make Flanders emperor of the universe, put his house under water or make it rain donuts. I agree with Homer when he decides that if you can’t follow the rules, break all of them. — Brian Welk“Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut (1969): Vonnegut’s anti-war time travel novel masterfully explores free will. As it turns out, people don’t really have much free will and instead humanity does what it does because it’s all we can do. Bleak, but pretty awesome. — CBWORST“The Butterfly Effect” (2004): This film is a case of interesting concepts and ideas with an extremely flawed execution. The premise is in the title, but the changes in the timeline are often disturbing, gross or just generally dumb. — CB “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (book: 1999) (film: 2004): I’ve experienced what is maybe the best Harry Potter movie and book too many times, but for each, my mind is boggled by the logic of Hermione’s Time Turner. It seems to defy all the established rules of time travel in pop culture. So everything has already happened to save Harry’s life in some alternate time/universe and will continue to happen in some kind of endless cycle so long as future Harry always rescues the Harry being attacked by Dementors? And Sirius will still die arbitrarily two books later? — BW“Heroes” (2006-present): Much like many of the other techniques used on this series, never has time travel been so stupid. What originally looked like it was going to be a new take on string theory ended up being an amalgamation of no consequences and nonsense. — CB “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III” (1993): It means bad things for your movie if I believe more in the human-size fighting amphibians than the random time-travel mission back to feudal Japan. — CB
(03/25/10 2:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>WEEKEND staffers share their own personal fan passions:I think everyone knows I love television, but despite my amateur critic status, one of my favorite shows is the CW's "Smallville." The show has been on for way too long at this point -- 9 years! -- but I still convince myself that it's good. Even though it's probably never been "good." The writing is haphazard half of the time, the characters are either stagnant or wafer-thin and there's been more retcons in the last few seasons that even some of the comic books this Superboy series is based on would be embarrassed. But you know what? I don't care. I don't care that critics haven't paid attention to the series since 2003, when it was still semi-relevant and actually, seriously good. I don't care when people say lead Tom Welling cannot act or it's ridiculous that an origin story has taken nine years to develop. Because at this point, the characters are like family. I've seen every episode aside from the newest season at least three times, I make random references from mediocre episodes that only a few people would ever get, have the theme song on my iTunes library and still spend a good 30 minutes on the message boards each week talking about the series.These things might make me a horrible critic without credibility, but I don't really care. -- Cory BarkerI've never been someone you'd think of as a "gamer." The last time I played a console game was in middle school when I was obsessed with "GoldenEye007," and I've never even tested the waters of new-fangled things like MMORPGS. But there is a series of online game that I absolutely love: "Submachine." The "Submachine" series currently consists of eight Flash-based games by Polish artist Mateusz Skutnik. Each is a little different and more difficult than the previous one, but the basic premise involves collecting clues that unlock different parts of the labyrinth that is the Submachine, a nebulous device that (from what I’ve experienced so far) is a series of underground time machines. The ultimate goal is to escape for good and finally learn what the hell the Submachine was made for.They’re not very stressful games, which is part of the appeal to me. There are no penalties for clicking on the wrong thing, and no timer that needles you to work faster our you’ll lose. I’m a very stress-phobic, non-competitive person, something that turns me off from the rules and conventions of regular video and computer games (and most games in general). All you have to do while playing one of these point-and-click games is explore the surroundings, find the clues and solve the puzzles. It’s cerebral but not too intenseThe artwork is also very minimalist and eerie, with a soundtrack of whistling wind and bumps-in-the-night that hearkens to my love of Gothic fiction and old horror movies. Wow, I am such a dork.-- Megan ClaytonLong before I was reading Pitchfork or penning mediocre music reviews for WEEKEND, I spent my middle school bus rides discussing music with my classmates, always lauding my tastes over theirs.What’s ironic is the genre that was then the victim of all of my diminishing remarks and pretentious opinions has now become my most oft-listened brand of tunes, hip-hop. The one person I can point to for this change is Kanye West.It was hearing “Jesus Walks” during my freshman year of high school that would forever change the way I listen to music. That sounds melodramatic, however there is a lot of truth to it. And while my love for that music has certainly grown, my loyalty to Kanye has never faded.Sometimes it’s not easy being a Kanye apologist; his antics are often inexcusable. But as a fan who regards the man as something of a genius, it’s much easier for me to see Mr. West as a misunderstood artist who’s just got maturity issues rather than the “international asshole” that so many view him as.Opinions aside, it’s utterly refreshing to see someone invariably willing to bear their heart on their sleeve the way Kanye is and appreciate so much of what the world has to offer rather than the diplomatic money-making machines that many musicians are these days.To me, Kanye’s drive derived from his passions and his love of life make him a role model. His missteps and his sometimes-monumental mistakes, well, they just make him human. -- Adam LukachI must admit that growing up I never was interested in seeing "Rocky." It seemed so cliché to me. The guy gets beat up, finds motivation, and then always wins in the end. Where’s the excitement in that, right? Wrong. Since I started college and decided to give these movies a chance, I am a huge "Rocky" fan, my friends would say nearly to the point of obsession.Perhaps a big reason these movies mean so much to me is my ability to connect with the main character. I have never boxed in my life, but I have been poor and felt the frustration of wanting to keep from being “just another bum from the neighborhood”. The more I watch these movies I realize they aren’t as predictable as I once thought. Rocky’s life follows a unique path, and I found myself very surprised with where it all ended. The boxing scenes may be a bit predictable, but they are still exciting to watch. Another aspect that makes these movies great is their ability to capture the spirit of the time period. The first two movies have a strong 70’s feel. The next two capture the heart of the 80’s, with "Rocky IV" even having strong Cold War overtones. Even "Rocky V" is reminiscent of the early 90’s.It isn’t easy being a fan of movies over 20 years past their prime, but the "Rocky" series means a lot to me. Rarely can films determine the spirit of your life.-- Derrick NaylorWhen a show really makes me laugh out loud, I don't stop watching for a while. Eventually the comedy loses its flavor and I lose interest. But while some comedies have come and gone from my list of favorites, one just seems to hang on and not let me go. "The Office" - witty, sweet and catch-phraseable. The real life situations turned upside-down are hysterical, and the writers (who based the show off the British version) just seem to know how much I enjoy dry humor. Sometimes, I feel like the show is tailor-made to my specifications.I started watching "The Office" after the first two seasons had come and gone, but after seeing the first "Pilot" episode I had to Netflix-order the past seasons and watched each episode diligently.And how could I not? The shows writers and Michael Scott creates situations that make me cringe from the level of awkwardness. Some things that happen are almost impossible to watch, and the cast of characters like Creed, Kelly and Andy are unstoppable. Add on the cute romance between Jim and Pam (as a girl, that was a plus) to the gross Dwight-Angela saga, you have it all. The perfect witty comedy.-- Meg Ely
(03/10/10 9:32pm)
The winners of our Oscar contest have been selected and will be notified by 5 p.m. this Friday. First place is $20, and the three runners up will receive a pair of Kerasotes movie tickets.
(03/03/10 10:35pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Brian Welk’s predictions are the official word from WEEKEND, but here’s who the rest of the staff thinks will win:BEST PICTURE“The Hurt Locker”: 33 percent“Avatar”: 27 percent“Inglourious Basterds”: 20 percent“Up In The Air”: 13 percent“District 9”: 7 percentBEST DIRECTORKathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker”: 60 percentJames Cameron, “Avatar”: 20 percentQuentin Tarantino, “Inglourious Basterds”: 13 percentLee Daniels, “Precious”: 7 percentBEST ACTORJeff Bridges, “Crazy Heart”: 53 percentJeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker”: 20 percentGeorge Clooney, “Up in the Air”: 13 percentColin Firth, “A Single Man”: 7 percentMorgan Freeman, “Invictus”: 7 percentBEST ACTRESSSandra Bullock, “The Blind Side”: 40 percentGabourey Sidibe, “Precious”: 27 percentMeryl Streep, “Julie & Julia”: 20 percentCarey Mulligan, “An Education”: 13 percentBEST SUPPORTING ACTORChristoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds”: 93 percentMatt Damon, “Invictus”: 7 percentBEST SUPPORTING ACTRESSMo’Nique, “Precious”: 60 percentVera Farmiga, “Up in the Air”: 20 percentMaggie Gyllenhaal, “Crazy Heart”: 13 percentPenelope Cruz, “Nine”: 7 percentBEST ANIMATED PICTURE“Up”: 73 percent“Coraline”: 20 percent“Fantastic Mr. Fox”: 7 percentBEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAYQuentin Tarantino, “Inglourious Basterds”: 53 percentMark Boal, “The Hurt Locker”: 27 percentJoel Coen and Ethan Coen, “A Serious Man”: 20 percentBEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAYJason Reitman, Sheldon Turner, “Up in the Air”: 46 percentGeoffrey Fletcher, “Precious”: 20 percentNeill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell, “District 9”: 20 percentJesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche, “In the Loop”: 7 percentNick Hornby, “An Education”: 7 percent
(02/28/10 11:54pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Oscars less than a week away! Next Sunday, March 7, the winners for film's most prestigious awards will be announced -- and if you can pick 'em all right, you'll win cash!Head over to our sweet little form, fill out your winning picks for all the major categories and be entered to win $20!DO IT. NOW!