Community Arts

Jokes on the rise

Giggles, clicks, chortles, chuckles, hoots, cackles, sniggers and guffaws. Laughter in all its forms will be available this Friday and Saturday at the first ever IU College Comedy Festival. The spectrum of comedians performing ranges from IU students to professionals. The Union Board-sponsored event is free and takes place 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Indiana Memorial Union. All three of IU's student comedy groups (Full Frontal Comedy, Awkward Silence and All Sorts of Trouble for the Boy in the Bubble) will be performing along with visiting student comedy groups from other universities.

Revenge, the Bergman way

The 1960s were a time of great cultural change, both in America and abroad. The film community saw classics born, and the world watched with awe at a new band of filmmakers accurately labeled "auteurs," the authors of the new cinematic generation. Ingmar Bergman is one of the pinnacle filmmakers of that generation and possibly of all time. When Bergman released "The Virgin Spring," it was received by the cosmopolitan left as an instant classic, an astonishing tale of tragedy and love. However, mainstream values didn't quite coincide with some of the film's more graphic elements, and so it did not initially fare well in the U.S. However, after winning the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film at the 1961 Oscar ceremony, it propelled to worldwide success.

Suck on this

The film, boiled down into one scene, would be emo-child Justin watching the front of a girl's t-shirt. He's supposed to be planning his debate rebuttal, but he can't stop looking at the "Club sandwiches, not seals" logo. Justin (Lou Pucci) is a 17-year-old, whose life is wracked with the tumult of being 17. Per the title, he still sucks his thumb, but the film isn't about his thumbsucking. It's about him being 17, and to Justin, that involves sucking his thumb. He loves an environmentally minded girl named Rebecca, his teachers want him self-medicated on Ritalin and his parents haven't really resigned themselves to the fact that they're old enough to have kids.

A trippy fix of British fun

I have to be honest, when I first saw the trailer for "Nanny McPhee," I thought it looked trippy. I'm as big a fan of trippy movies as the next guy, but this one initially looked like it lacked the substance deep enough to see and enjoy it. How wrong I was. "Nanny McPhee" (based on a popular British series of children's books in the 1960s and 70s) comes out of nowhere as a crafty, funny subversion of the family movie norm, whose frank awkwardness becomes a point of intrigue. Bottom line: the whole thing is bizarre but in a good way. The story is weird but absorbing. At some undisclosed time, in some undisclosed, British-sounding place, there was a man, Cedric Brown (Colin Firth), whose wife died, leaving him with seven disgruntled, poorly behaved children. After the nanny service in town blacklists him, he resorts to his only option: the strange, ugly woman who appears at his doorstep promising that she can make his children well-behaved. Of course, she will do this with magic and trickery and requires Sunday afternoons off.

2005: A Cinematic Odyssey

If you keep up with box office statistics, then chances are you're under the impression that the past year was a giant flop for the film world. No money means none of the movies must've been good. Well, that's a bunch of nonsense. The fact is, unlike last year's overflowing abundance of biopics, 2005 was one damn worthwhile year for diverse filmmaking. We've seen franchises in every form: the end of "Star Wars," the fourth "Harry Potter" installment and the beginning of "The Chronicles of Narnia." We've seen Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn crash weddings to get laid while Steve Carell finally lost his virginity at 40.

Superbowl XL

It's not outside. There are no cars nearby, and none have their "gates" open or have people "tailing" them. But make no mistake, this is a full-on tailgate party. "This is a huge game," junior Dan Park says about the NFL's divisional playoff game between the Chicago Bears and the Carolina Panthers. "We've gotta get up for this one." Park and his fellow orange-and-navy-clad Bears fans scream at the TV as their recently infallible defense gets torched by the Panthers' Steve Smith. The Bears would go on to lose, but that's not to the credit of the 15 or 20 inebriated students hinging on every Jake Delhomme pass. It's comfortable and warm, and everyone has a tidy seat on the couch or floor. There's plenty of food and plenty of beer -- plenty of tailgating.

Dark 'Twist' on literary classic

On his 2005 rendition of the much-adapted tale of Oliver Twist, Roman Polanski, known best for directing the noir classic "Chinatown" and the critically acclaimed "The Pianist," does not force his audience to work hard to decipher the intricacies of his characters. From the outset of the film, each character, with the notable exception of Fagin (Ben Kingsley), lacks complexity with conflicting emotional bonds toward other characters. Instead each are painted with a simple stroke: good for Oliver or bad for Oliver.

Classic clothing pieces that work for everyone

A dark character study

It's very refreshing to see Pierce Brosnan without a tuxedo. For the last decade of his life, Brosnan has been known almost exclusively as James Bond, and in that super secret agent's shoes, he has arguably done more to further sexism and misogyny than any other man alive. Apparently, Brosnan understands that and has made a movie about a man who could be dutifully described as Bond's alcoholic half brother, the one who didn't make it into MI6. I'm not sure if he agreed to act in this film to both reinvent himself and tear down the Bond myth, but that is the result. He plays this role perfectly.

'Annapolis' goes down hard

It's about time someone made a movie about the United States Naval Academy. As one of the best and most competitive institutions in America, it is a great setting for a Hollywood movie. It is even better when one captures the hard work, intensity and mental strain that goes into trying to become a naval officer. However, this movie doesn't even manage to come close to mastering this feat. "Annapolis" is about local shipbuilder Jake Huard (James Franco) and his devotion to the United States Naval Academy, the place he has known and loved his entire life.

Airplane thriller takes flight

The movie begins. The camera slowly zooms in on Jodie Foster, her face looking eerily similar to that of Michael Jackson's. We see that she has just been to the morgue to make the last preparations for her husband's body. But wait, how is he talking to her in the subway? Is she mad? And what's this business regarding his deadly fall? "Flightplan" is just beginning to ominously forebode, later splintering into many different possibilities.

Vile, disgusting and hilarious

No dirty joke you've ever heard can compare to the legendary vaudeville joke about the Aristocrats. Director and comedy veteran Paul Provenza teams up with comedic magician Penn Jillette (of comedy/magic troupe Penn and Teller) in order to expose what is widely considered the dirtiest joke imaginable. Usually told by comedians to other comedians as an ad-lib preparation, "The Aristocrats" is rarely told to those not in the business. Now, the "comedian's joke" is finally exposed to the general public, and examined to see why it has such longevity.

The lighter side of rock

Despite the acquisition of new guitarist Ryan Mendez, it is not his play which distinguishes this new release from the Yellowcard's prior albums. Rather, it is the fact that nine out of the 14 tracks on Lights and Sounds feature string parts, each one written by utility bandsman Sean Mackey. The violins, violas and cellos proudly outline Yellowcard's solid core, but likely wear out their welcome in the ears of many rock purists. The album's intro is a slightly out-of-place piano/orchestral tidbit which lasts a minute and a half.

Cat Power exceeds 'Great' expectations

Chan Marshall, or Cat Power as she is known in the music business, has never been terribly concerned with quickly releasing records. In fact, the release of her latest album, The Greatest, marks just her second record of original work since 1998's Moon Pix. The Southern-raised Marshall, who dropped out of high school and moved to New York in the early '90s, began her music career by releasing three landmark indie rock albums throughout 1995-96. Her music production promptly decelerated during the following years, but has certainly made the strong case favoring quality over quantity. However, this may be the biggest reason why one of the most promising singer/songwriters of our time has only flirted with widespread fame.

Christian rockers are back

In their fourth major label release, Testify, P.O.D., reaches back to its roots only to expand and improve on their already unique sound. Through their fusion of reggae and rock, this Christian rock group continues to showcase its ability to change styles and yet still remain true to themselves. This time, however, P.O.D. tries something a little different and strays from the formula of most rock albums by including guest vocalists on three of the songs, a trait commonly found on hip-hop and rap albums. Testify showcases a nice blend of songs ranging from some harder metal to the rap and reggae songs that have helped to create P.O.D.'s image.

locally kept,world acclaimed SECRET

Epic , Def Jam , Sony BMG, Virgin, Drive-Thru and Atlantic. If you know music then odds are you know what these random names allude to. That's right, record labels. These are just some of the thousands of labels -- monstrous and minute alike -- in the music industry. Every band or singer who wants to make a living off of their talent, dreams of signing with a label that is nationally recognized. But in the midst of those musicians fantasizing about how they'll spend their first million, there are some record labels that emphasize music for music's sake. A small, modestly marked office off of Second Street in Bloomington is the backbone to a fair amount of bands these days. Secretly Canadian, Bloomington's own independent music label, hosts an ensemble of eclectic and talented musicians on its bill.

A trippy fix of British fun

I have to be honest, when I first saw the trailer for "Nanny McPhee," I thought it looked trippy. I'm as big a fan of trippy movies as the next guy, but this one initially looked like it lacked the substance deep enough to see and enjoy it. How wrong I was. "Nanny McPhee" (based on a popular British series of children's books in the 1960s and 70s) comes out of nowhere as a crafty, funny subversion of the family movie norm, whose frank awkwardness becomes a point of intrigue. Bottom line: the whole thing is bizarre but in a good way. The story is weird but absorbing. At some undisclosed time, in some undisclosed, British-sounding place, there was a man, Cedric Brown (Colin Firth), whose wife died, leaving him with seven disgruntled, poorly behaved children. After the nanny service in town blacklists him, he resorts to his only option: the strange, ugly woman who appears at his doorstep promising that she can make his children well-behaved. Of course, she will do this with magic and trickery and requires Sunday afternoons off.

2005: A Cinematic Odyssey

If you keep up with box office statistics, then chances are you're under the impression that the past year was a giant flop for the film world. No money means none of the movies must've been good. Well, that's a bunch of nonsense. The fact is, unlike last year's overflowing abundance of biopics, 2005 was one damn worthwhile year for diverse filmmaking. We've seen franchises in every form: the end of "Star Wars," the fourth "Harry Potter" installment and the beginning of "The Chronicles of Narnia." We've seen Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn crash weddings to get laid while Steve Carell finally lost his virginity at 40.

locally kept,world acclaimed SECRET

Epic , Def Jam , Sony BMG, Virgin, Drive-Thru and Atlantic. If you know music then odds are you know what these random names allude to. That's right, record labels. These are just some of the thousands of labels -- monstrous and minute alike -- in the music industry. Every band or singer who wants to make a living off of their talent, dreams of signing with a label that is nationally recognized. But in the midst of those musicians fantasizing about how they'll spend their first million, there are some record labels that emphasize music for music's sake. A small, modestly marked office off of Second Street in Bloomington is the backbone to a fair amount of bands these days. Secretly Canadian, Bloomington's own independent music label, hosts an ensemble of eclectic and talented musicians on its bill.

Superbowl XL

It's not outside. There are no cars nearby, and none have their "gates" open or have people "tailing" them. But make no mistake, this is a full-on tailgate party. "This is a huge game," junior Dan Park says about the NFL's divisional playoff game between the Chicago Bears and the Carolina Panthers. "We've gotta get up for this one." Park and his fellow orange-and-navy-clad Bears fans scream at the TV as their recently infallible defense gets torched by the Panthers' Steve Smith. The Bears would go on to lose, but that's not to the credit of the 15 or 20 inebriated students hinging on every Jake Delhomme pass. It's comfortable and warm, and everyone has a tidy seat on the couch or floor. There's plenty of food and plenty of beer -- plenty of tailgating.