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Soderbergh's finest hour

Back in 2000, director Steven Soderbergh had the year of his life. Snagging Best Picture Oscar nods for "Traffic" and "Erin Brockovich," Soderbergh earned two Best Director nods in the same year -- an accomplishment not seen since Frank Lloyd back in 1929. Ultimately he won for "Traffic" and we still remember it over that year's big winner, Ridley Scott's "Gladiator." Penned by writer Stephen Gaghan (writer/director of 2005's "Syriana") with inspiration gained from the British mini-series "Traffik," "Traffic" carries a heavy message on a topic we're all familiar with: drugs. From the West Coast to the U.S.-Mexican border and way over in Washington D.C., a massive portrait is painted on how drugs can factor into almost anything and, ultimately, do harm to us all.

Film Illuminated on DVD

"Everything Is Illuminated" is a wonder of a film, and it achieves something so rare that it is hard to believe it comes from a first-time director/screenwriter. Its achievement lies in its uncanny ability to evolve from a quirky, hilarious road picture into a solemn and poetic meditation. The central theme is remembrance, involving one of the most horrific events of the 20th century: the extermination of the European Jewish community in World War II. Acclaimed actor Liev Schreiber ("The Hurricane") adapted the autobiographical novel by Jonathan Safran Foer for the screen and finally got it produced by Warner Independent Pictures after a couple years of shopping for a financier.

This is one filet of a film brotha

Having never endured the divorce of my parents, I'm not sure I could ever truly empathize with the kids in Noah Baumbach's "The Squid and the Whale," but that fact in no way dulled the impact the film had on me. Produced by Wes Anderson, "Squid" factors in all the subtle dark humor, and a bit of the intricate set decoration, of "The Royal Tenenbaums" and "Rushmore" while at the same time feeling, unlike Anderson's directorial triumphs, wholly organic and unrehearsed. It's 1986, Park Slope, Brooklyn, and 16-year-old Walt (Jesse Eisenberg, autobiographically modeled after Baumbach himself) and 12-year-old Frank (Owen Kline, son of Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates) must deal with their parents Bernard (Jeff Daniels) and Joan's (Laura Linney) divorce.

Fascinating biopic hits DVD

Many times, when renting a film based on hype or awards season, the viewing ends in disappointment: the acting is not as great as its accolades suggest, the story is not as interesting or the plot is not as driven. "Capote" is certainly not one of these films. While watching this movie it is easy to understand why "Capote" found such incredible critical success and garnered so many awards for Phillip Seymour Hoffman who nails the role of his life. The film begins slowly, but once the plot gets rolling it is impossible to look away. And while the beginning may be a little slow paced, the writing is sensational and witty enough to keep any viewer intrigued.

IDS CLASSIC ALBUMS

For the last decade, audiences have been mesmerized by what most consider the forefather of instrumental hip-hop, DJ Shadow's 1996 masterpiece Endtroducing. It's the kind of album you fall in love with while driving through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, its soundscapes larger than the panorama ahead, its vibe more modern than the sun setting behind the pines. Endtroducing has the uncanny ability to take the listener on a voyage to, as one trademark sample states, "the inner juices of human beings."

Hasidic artist proves to be indestructible

Matisyahu, a Hasidic Jewish reggae rapper, is easily the most intriguing artist to hit mainstream airwaves in years. Often described as Bob Marley reggae meets Sublime, dub-ska-punk meets hip-hop meets Phish inspired jam; Matisyahu's sound is a fusion of genres which is finding welcome ears in pop audiences across the country. A bona fide teenage hippie by 14, Matisyahu (aka Matthew Miller) was more interested in music than the classroom, eventually dropping out of high school to follow Phish on a national tour.

'Fab Four' bore

You have to give Stereolab credit for one thing: they stick to their guns. The "groop," as they're called, are famous for blending '50s and '60s pop with subtle shades of electronica and cleaner-than-clean sonic polish. In Fab Four Suture, Stereolab doesn't break any new ground, but for some people, that is more than enough. If you like adding variety to your days-long shuffled playlist, there's no other band out there quite like Stereolab. As background music, Fab Four Suture (or any of the groop's records) can make any party a little bit groovier. But if you're looking for a record to slip into your car's stereo, this album will probably get boring.

Album features 'both sides' of Ben

With the attraction of purchasing or pirating music online, the album as a work of art has begun to fade away, and the double album is becoming almost as rare as vinyl. Maybe that's what makes Both Sides of the Gun, Ben Harper's follow up to 2003's Diamonds on the Inside, so refreshing. Like most double albums, it could fit on one disc. However, the album works best as two halves. Gun showcases the Harper that his fans have grown to love as well as a new Harper. "Morning Yearning" fills the role of opening track beautifully.

An open invitation from his Purpleness

No matter how often the media poke fun at his bizarre and reclusive lifestyle or how many times Dave Chappelle ranks on his quirky, sexual purpleness, Prince is still one hell of a talented musician. Which is why listening to 3121, the newest addition to the artist formally known as the artist formally known as Prince's repertoire, is so disappointing. Following in the footsteps of 2004's Musicology, a highly successful, but fairly mediocre album, Prince attempts to return to the '80s synth-pop rhythms and sounds that made him exclaim, "Baby I'm a star," and mixes things up with a bit of hip-hop and Latin instrumental flavor.

Who let this dog out?

If you make out with your spouse who's trapped in an animal's body, is it still considered beastiality? Apparently not in this update of the old Disney "Shaggy Dog" films. Tim Allen plays a busy father too obsessed with his career as a Los Angeles deputy District Attorney to be concerned with his wife ("Sex and the City's" Kristin Davis), son (Disney slave Spencer Breslin) and daughter (an overacting and annoying Zena Grey). But faith intervenes when a genetically altered canine bites Allen, transforming him into a dog and allowing him to see the errors of his ways.

Jones' directorial debut a masterpiece

Open upon a town right on the border of Texas and Mexico. Nothing much ever happens here aside from the daily affairs of the Border Patrol, whose job it is to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing into America. Somehow, a man named Melquiades Estrada (a paranoid but content Julio Cedillo) crosses that border and with it comes a warm friendship and ranching job from Pete Perkins (Tommy Lee Jones looking old and weathered).

Best to stay away

It's official. The video game industry has taken the entertainment industry by storm. Video games have always been successful by themselves, but now with the release of "Stay Alive," a film which revolves around one, it seems this fad is getting ridiculous. The film is about an underground horror video game of the same name that causes one to die the same death as in the game. After the death of three friends, some fellow gamers decide to commemorate their friends' untimely deaths by playing the game they played right before they died.

This ain't no ordinary heist

When I sat down to watch "Inside Man," I was more interested in seeing if director Spike Lee could pull off a bank heist movie about race, gender and other social issues than the story itself. Cause, you know, he's Spike Lee, and that's what he does. He makes movies about social issues. I tend to think he's hit or miss; often morally ambiguous, his movies and characters are fully human, faults and credits to their names.

NEW: Mark Cuban on Sampson

IDS Sports Editor Matt Mattucci talked by e-mail with Mark Cuban, billionaire IU alumnus and owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. Cuban offered some of his thoughts on IU's newest hire: On picking Sampson: "I love it. It's a brilliant choice." On IU fans' reactions: "I don't know how people will respond, but they should love it. He can coach. He can recruit. He knows how to win."

For weeks, Hoosier fans, players and alumni have begged for answers regarding the new men's basketball coach. Tuesday afternoon, nearly five weeks after Mike Davis' resignation, IU nation received a response: Kelvin Sampson.

Sampson's resume

New Hoosier coach has lengthy list of postseason accolades and Big 12 conference milestones:

The reactions

Freshman Ben Allen's laptop became the center of attention at the men's basketball study table Tuesday afternoon, as several members of the team crowded together to read an ESPN.com article saying Oklahoma's Kelvin Sampson would be their next coach.

Graduate students plan morning protest

Graduate students looking to fight a significant increase in health care costs will take their views to the Sample Gates this morning, as part of a rally the Graduate Employee Organization organized.

Illegal immigration debate comes to IU

The United States could potentially have 12 million new felons or 12 million new citizens, depending on two sets of immigration reform legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

Hoosiers bring age-old martial art to IU campus

Judo has been around for hundreds of years since its development in 17th-century Japan. Now the martial art is entering its 42nd year at IU. The Hoosiers started a judo club in 1964, flourishing in the 1970s under U.S. Olympic coach Dan Phytila and producing numerous national and regional champions.